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Good morning, everybody. Today is September 1, 2026. The time is 10.02 a.m., now call this regular session of Commissioner's Court to order. Got pledges to the flags in a moment of silent prayer.

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one state under one minute is.

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Thank you.

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It's great to see everybody this morning with us. I hope

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everyone's doing well. We're going to move to item three on our agenda, which are citizens to be

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heard. I will keep a time and give an update of about a minute remaining for the speaker. If you'll

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please just come up to the podium and I call your name, please state your name and then begin your

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comments. The first is Michael. Is it Mayor? Mayor, I apologize. Come on up.

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Five minutes, sir. Good morning. Thank you, sir. Good morning, Judge

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Kutcher and commissioners. I appreciate the opportunity to speak. As a long

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time resident, homeowner and independent businessman in Guadalupe County, I

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care about this community's future. This is why I'm here to strongly oppose this

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five point six five percent tax rate hike. Do not tell us this is an unavoidable emergency.

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The fact show a series of choices. Sheriff Ray has publicly stated that budget constraints

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can force him to pull school resource officers out of Navarro and Mary and ISD schools. At the

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same time his department is requesting 1.28 million for 21 new vehicles this year after

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are already budgeting 1.11 million for vehicles last year plus another 600,000 to equip them.

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That is nearly 1.9 million for vehicles and outfitting.

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While school safety coverage is treated as secondary.

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Where has he been willing to tighten his own budget the way he expects taxpayers to tighten

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theirs?

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Last September this court raised property taxes 4% and used the money for substantial raises

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for elected officials.

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How far down the organization chart that those increases actually go.

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Telling county workers who are struggling under the same inflation as the rest of us.

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They you appreciate them rings hollow when their paychecks don't reflect it.

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Especially while several elected officials have filed salary grievances so

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you can even more of our money for themselves.

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For years the appraisal district has taxed us on inflated market values.

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Paper gains we never received.

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the state legislature then cut homeowners a break with homestead relief this

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court answered by raising the rate and clawing back those savings. You are

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sitting on 49.6 million and undersigned reserves more than 20 million above

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your own required cushion. Yet this budget still draws down 8.75 million from

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those reserves while asking taxpayers for another 5.65% increase. If this

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were truly a financial emergency these reserves would be used instead of raising

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taxes, these are choices, not inevitable abilities. The court has given massive 10-year property

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tax abatements and tech giants like Cloudverse and Palomino Alpha. At the same time Judge

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Kutcher and his family owned approximately 186 acres of land involved with the Palomino

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Alpha Data Center project. A lawsuit has been filed in District Court alleging a conflict

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of interest in how these deals were handled. We the tax fares are now forced to pay to defend

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in that case. This raises serious questions about whether private interests are being prioritized

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while everyday homeowners and rural landowners are asked to make up the difference.

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Raising taxes one more time as you prepare to leave office is not responsible stewardship.

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You get to walk away, we get the bill and live with higher taxes for years to come.

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I urge you to do the right thing and reject this tax increase vote no. Thank you.

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Thank you for your comments.

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Yes, sir.

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Next is Monty Parker.

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Good morning.

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Good morning.

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I was going to speak on the agenda item, but this is fine.

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And no matter.

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Any speaker that signed up, it's your choice.

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If you'd like to speak now, you're welcome to.

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If you'd like to wait until the item, you tell us.

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And we can do that also.

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Not that far into the item.

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I'll be fine.

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Yes, sir.

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Good morning, judge and commissioners.

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I'm part of Parker.

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I'm a resident of Portland County.

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I'm here today to ask you to make public safety.

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be a higher

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I want to be clear that I recognize that this court has funded the Sheriff's Office and added positions in the past. But the question before us now is whether the proposed budget provides a staffing our county needs today.

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According to information provided by the Sheriff's Office, we are approximately 90 sworn officers, deputies, I'm sorry, below safe operational staffing standards. Call for service or up by approximately 1100 per day over this time last year.

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here. Sorry about that. The Sheriff's Office submitted a request for additional personnel

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including additional deputies and supervisory staff. The county jail requested 25 additional

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detention officers get the proposed 27 budget contains zero new positions. At the same time,

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the proposed budget includes 3 million for future land and potential building purchases

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This is along with 8.75 million in new capital projects funded from the general fund.

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The proposed budget also projects a general fund balance for approximately 20.6 million

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above the county's own 20% reserve target.

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This is simply not a question of whether the county has money, it's a question of priorities.

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We are a growing county that demands a law enforcement are increasing.

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Our jail house is nearly the same number of inmates as neighbor in Chomale County, yet

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Glorlube County has dramatically fewer budgeted detention officers.

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We can buy new buildings, we can purchase land, we can buy patrol vehicles, radios and

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equipment, but equipment cannot answer a 9-1-1 call.

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A patrol vehicle cannot respond to an emergency without a deputy behind the wheel.

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I understand that you have to make difficult budget decisions, but those decisions reveal

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what we value most. I'm asking this court to reconsider the proposed budget to work with the sheriff to add

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sworn personnel and detention staff as the sheriff's office has determined. Before we prioritize

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future buildings and discretionary projects, we need to make sure we have enough people to protect the

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citizens who are here today. Public safety should not be what is left over after everything else is

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funded. It should be one of the county's first priorities. At the end of the day, will your vote reflect

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what your constituents want or what you want. Thank you. Thank you.

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Next is Noah Webster.

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Good

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morning. Good morning, Judge and Commissioners. My name is Noah Webster. I live in precinct

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too and I'm a proud and borrow ISD parent. I have read the 244 page proposed budget and I do

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genuinely understand the pressures that you have conveyed, lower taxable value, rising insurance,

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real growth costs. These are simple facts. Here's another fact. This budget asks taxpayers

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for more money before it has forced real cuts. Calling this budget restrained, because it adds

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no new positions, is not the same thing as cutting waste. From 2022 to now, the pattern established

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in your published budgets has been growth,

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unmitigated growth, not prioritization, not optimization,

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not lean, not efficiency growth.

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So let me be clear about what I am not saying.

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The Sheriff's Office faces real population-driven demand

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to get grown.

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More people, more calls, it's simple.

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The county fire department needs equipment,

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simple, schools require security.

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Public safety is not the place for casual cuts,

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but legitimacy does not mean that every dollar

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on every line is automatically justified.

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Fourteen positions in this budget pay over $100,000.

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Two of those salaries are set by state law,

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so I just count those.

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The remaining 12 are decided by this body.

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Since 2022, this body has enabled those salaries to increase or hold at over a hundred

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thousand dollars. None have been reduced. That should be examined before any

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tax rate is even discussed. Of the 4 JP offices, just as the peace offices, they

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carry the same duties and responsibilities before state law. One of them,

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Downstairs, JP2, runs 35 to 62 percent lower operating costs than the other three.

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And when you compare caseloads, it doesn't add up.

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So credit to Judge Shockley, but Downstairs, this is called a management success.

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But it's not equally applied or expected from the other JP's.

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This court should study on why one JP office can run such a lean and efficient operation

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and the others cannot.

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And then there's still discretionary expending on the table that has yet to be discussed. Automotive

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allowance is totally $82,400. I haven't had an allowance in 30 years, so forgive me. Vehicle

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purchase, training, memberships, non-urgent capital. A serious package of these items alone

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is $1.8 million, and they are the lowest risk cuts in your entire 244-page budget.

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If you

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I've rapidly approached, in my underwear at home, half of your $5 million request.

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There's another set of decisions this court has already made that also belongs in this discussion.

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Your chapter 312 agreements, also known as tax abatements, had not been approved.

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The Council would likely have more levy today.

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Some of those large projects might also not be here.

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However, this is the trade-off.

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Abatements can bring investment, they remove taxable value from the role and shift this pressure

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onto us, the taxpayers.

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Those prior choices are part of why this budget is so tight.

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That should be acknowledged and taken into consideration before asking the public for a taxing

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credit.

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Now accountability requires owning that trade-off, Judge.

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You cannot approve large, multi-year tax abatements and then treat the resulting revenue shortfall

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And the pressure created as an unavoidable reason to raise taxes on existing homeowners

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and businesses, without first exhausting internal cuts.

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So the question I have for you is very simple.

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Will this court raise taxes first and cut later or will it demand performance, efficiency,

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and accountability of the decisions already made and only then decide whether a tax rate

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is still necessary. When the county raises its rates, it is not doing it in a vacuum.

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It stacks more pressure onto every family across the county, already carrying

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school tax and growth costs in districts like Navarro. This is not an abstract.

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This is the cumulative tax burden of the people who live here. I am not asking you

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question. I am asking you to stop a rate increase until you have demonstrated due diligence

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on internal cuts and the fiscal consequences of the abatements approved by this court.

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Not after. Burst. I believe that we taxpayers will always fund what is necessary, but we should

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not be asked to fund what has not been challenged. Thank you for your time and God bless Texas.

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Thank you.

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Richard A. Coons.

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Good morning. How are you?

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All right, my

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name is Richard A. Coote's, a resident of Walloughby County, here to speak on

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pros next year's budget.

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I heard some disturbing information that concerns me, my family, my friends and fellow residents of

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this county. One of the most disturbing is the basic work that the sheriff has done

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and proposed to help expand protections for the citizens of this county.

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which was turned down. I understand these are not easy decisions made as commissioners in the

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court. There's a lot of different interests that you have to balance and I'm sure all of you are

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trying to make the best decision that you feel is in the best interest of the citizens of this county.

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But now not expanding and adding new deputies that are needed for the safety and protection of

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the citizens, businesses, and future growth of the county is the wrong decision.

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It's not an easy one.

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There's a lot of people that have to bear a burden.

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There are other areas as Ari had been mentioned that we may look at to try to cut, to help fund those.

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I encourage you strongly.

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Look heavily at that.

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It's not an easy decision to tell somebody, no, you can't have this program or

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we have to cut back because we have to look out for the safety of the system.

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is that that's top priority.

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It, it saddens me to see that we've made these decisions

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and we're heading down this road and it is concerning

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because to me it's a road that we keep heading down towards.

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I've seen that not just in this county

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but in other areas of this state.

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We live in a time with good safety.

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And sometimes we take that as granted and think everything's going to be okay. But when you are in a crisis, if you're in emergency and you need those resources and they're not available because you weren't willing to make those tough decisions ahead of time, you can't make that up.

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I'll do it as you all know my family owns more than a thousand feet of the waterfront

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is on dead men's creek and Lake Placid I bring more than 30 years of direct experience

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on activity on Lake Placid. From 2010 to 2017 our property served as a primary

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staging area for the Texas Game Wardens working Lake Placid. I also speak from a professional

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budget experience and my day job a work for an environmental services company

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with more than 60 million dollars in revenue I manage one of eight division

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serving throughout Texas our review P&L performance and budgets on a oversight

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daily I have nearly over 40 years of operational and budget experience for

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those reasons I support the public safety priority behind judge Ray proposal to

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reallocate the 3 million currently reserved for possible land and building

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purchase. Sound budgeting means matching limited resources to the most

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immediate, measurable, and operational need. I reserve for a credible, a reserved

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for a credible near-term property acquisition can be justified, but the court

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should compare the possible future need against the documented staffing and public

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safety needs that now exist. Lake Placid is not returning to the community at

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left. Since the dam construction began in 2023, the

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sensual official consensus estimates show Guadalupe County added 11,000

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residents, reaching 211,225 as far as Guadalupe County.

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again alone added little over 4,000 residents reaching 41,000. That is a 13.4%

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increase growth in early two years. Lake classes return to normal pool levels

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this year after years of restricted recreational use. The public is

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returning to a lake that worked largely was unavailable during extraordinary

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population growth. Suns Island reopened with 45 waterfront

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combatants and over a highway 90 they opened up with the 40 plus rental boat facilities.

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Our own active duty, military and veteran water service activities at my location with

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SS American Memorial coming back online.

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This is not just a request for boat.

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Renewed lake means use more vehicles, traders, more public pressure at public asset points,

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more traffic on surrounding roads, more calls involving accidents, disturbances,

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missing persons, swimmers, disabled boats, emergency response. The sheriff needs

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enough commission personnel to cover the lake and the surrounding area without

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weakening response elsewhere in the county. Texas game warns are the primary

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state water safety enforcement officers and I work closely with them for many

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years but game awards cannot replace local patrol traffic enforcement and

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shoreside response. The file fiscal year 27 budget contains no new positions or

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no identified marine patrol. Sheriff Ray proposed funding 14 positions across

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11 county offices through the 3 million reallocation. That proposed proposed a

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reduce more than 100 requests to a priority list. However, the two sheriff

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position shown in the list are crime victim liaison and a record supervisor both are important

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but neither is a patrol deputy. I ask the court to support Sheriff Ray's real allocation

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effort and add commission patrol capacity for Lake Placid and the surrounding area. Those

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positions should be filled now before peak lake after you expose the staffing gap. I also

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So ask the court to finance the plan responsibly.

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Use suitable one-time funds for one-time needs such as a patrol boat,

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trainer, rescue, safety equipment, and marine training.

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Fund permanent deputies from a dependable reoccurring revenue source.

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If a prop-app position is genuinely near-term, preserve what it reasonably requires, but do

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not preserved.

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We're all 3 million for possible future use while demonstrated public safety needs to go unfunded. One minute remaining. Sheriff Ray has made visible progress with the Sheriff's System and today, but equipment and systems cannot patrol the road, answer a car, or perform a rescue without trained people. The road will not wait for the next budget cycle. Lake activity will not wait. Please give Sheriff Ray patrol staffing and one time equipment need to keep pace with the county services.

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Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

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Chrisie, sorry, I can't read the last name.

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Philla.

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Philla, I apologize. How are you?

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I'm good, thank you.

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Good morning, judge and commissioners.

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My name is Chrisie Philla.

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I'm here today on behalf of the Guadalupe County Sheriff's

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Citizen Academy alumni.

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Those of us who have gone through the citizens academy

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have had the opportunity most residents in the county

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haven't had.

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We've been inside the Sheriff's Office.

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We've toured the facilities, we've met the deputies, detention officers, dispatchers, and staff.

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We've seen firsthand what these men and women are responsible for every single day, and I can tell you it's a lot.

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What also became very clear to us is there's simply not enough people to do the job this county is asking them to do.

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These aren't numbers on a spreadsheet to us anymore. We've met these people.

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We've seen what happens behind the scenes when someone calls 911.

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We've seen what it takes to patrol a county road.

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We've seen the detention operation and the responsibilities that come with keeping

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that facility safe.

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We've seen the amount of work being carried by these men and women of this department.

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And there's another cost to being this understaff that we cannot ignore.

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It's overtime.

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time. When there aren't enough deputies and detention officers to cover the required

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shift, the work does not disappear, someone still has to do it. That means existing employees

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are working additional hours and the county is paying overtime at a higher hourly cost

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simply to maintain the necessary coverage. We should be looking very closely at how many

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overtime hours are currently being required because of these staffing shortages and what

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those hours are costing taxpayers. At some point, repeatedly paying overtime to compensate

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for a vacant or unfunded position stops being a savings. It becomes an expensive way of managing

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a staffing problem that still hasn't been resolved. And there's a human cost to that overtime

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to. These men and women are working long hours and jobs that already require constant attention

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and good judgment. But take and burn out matter in law enforcement and corrections. We cannot

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continue asking the same people to feel every gap indefinitely. You cannot continually

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to ask fewer people to do more and more and expect their eventually not to be consequences.

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And those consequences don't just affect the Sheriff's Office. They affect every one of

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us. When there aren't enough control deputies, response times and

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coverages are affected. When there aren't enough detention officers, the safety of the

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people working inside that jail is affected. And when staffing becomes so thin that

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deputies have to be moved from one critical responsibility to cover another,

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eventually something has to give. And that should concern everyone in this room.

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And I think it's important to remember why each of you sit on this court.

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You are elected to represent the people of Guadalupe County.

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The decisions made here should reflect the needs and priorities of the community you

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elected to serve.

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We are here telling you that the public safety is one of those priorities.

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This is not about politics, it's not about personalities and it shouldn't be about which

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elected official proposed which plan.

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This is about public safety.

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While Luke County is growing, calls for service are growing, the responsibilities of the sheriff's

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office is growing. The staffing has not kept up. We understand the Commissioner Court has a

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responsible responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer money and we expect you to be. But there's

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money in this budget. So this is ultimately a question of priorities. If you have the resources available

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that adequately staffing the agency responsible for protecting the people of

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one of counties should be one of the highest priorities. A healthy reserve

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account will not answer a 911 call. It's not going to patrol a county road. It's

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not going to super-rather jail pod and it will not stay between a child and a

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threat at one of our schools. One minute remaining. People do those things.

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Japanese do those things. The attention officers

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Do those things? And right now, there's simply not enough of them. On behalf of the citizen of Cadmium alumni, I'm asking the court to listen to what the sheriff, the men and women doing this job, and the citizens you are elected to represent are telling you. The need is real. The money is available. Please fund the request. Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

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Next is patterns are ready.

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Yes, sir. Robin Villarreal.

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Yes, ma'am. Lane Ward.

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Yes sir. Stephen Fikes.

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00:25:50,650 --> 00:25:56,710
Good morning. Good morning, gentlemen. Ma'am, voted for you, voted for you, voted for you.

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I don't think so. I don't think so. No, except maybe you owe me money. So, I don't do good with prepared notes.

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I like personally engaging. I was going to reserve to the item, but I'm going to say hello.

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I'm out of new Bronfels. Now I'm in the county and how y'all got to deal with me. I was part

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of the group that helped fundamentally change the New Bronfels City Council and the new mayor.

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I hope we don't have to do that here. I know three of you are on your way out. I don't think we will.

303
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So, I'm here to simply ask for just common sense.

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Remember the three of you that are leaving are about to be citizens.

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You're going to be an HEB, hopefully not one more, one more and it's us.

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Right?

307
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Right.

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We're going to see you out there.

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You're going to have to deal with us and interact with us as fellow citizens.

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You're going to need the services that we all need, not that you don't know.

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00:26:54,710 --> 00:27:03,130
But on a more personal level, you're going to be in a position to be served instead of

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being the servants, right, and the representatives for us.

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So thank you for your service.

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Thank you for running.

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Thank you for dealing with all the misinformation out there.

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Truth which I'd like just to make sure that everybody here knows,

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00:27:16,490 --> 00:27:19,570
state law says these school districts are responsible

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for establishing their own safety program.

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Our amazing sheriff has supplemented that

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where he's seen weaknesses out of his own shallow budget.

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I want to say shallow. I mean, it's just not conducive to operating a safe department right now.

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So what she said, everything. I can't wind up. So fire department.

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We have a volunteer fire department that tries, but just can't handle the growth.

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Frankly, they miss calls, don't answer calls. We have Guadalupe County Fire Department now.

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00:27:56,030 --> 00:28:01,130
it's time to trick a little bit of that money into SO and FD and let the

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volunteer fire department supplement those calls. We've got a fire department

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they don't have a home, well they have a home but they can't staff it because we

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don't have money. Now all of us here are trying to take you guys how to do your job

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with our money. We don't see the things that you all see behind closed doors and you

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got to sit there and listen to us talk and yap and with the oftentimes out of

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context because we're ill-educated. Better educators, right? I mean, one way or the

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other, we're going to find out. Three of you ain't going to be here to have to do

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00:28:31,730 --> 00:28:34,550
with the fallout if there's anything that you don't educate us on properly.

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But just remember that. You saw what happened into Bronfels and they say,

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seguins and next new Bronfels. No. Hopefully we're better prepared for the growth

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00:28:44,970 --> 00:28:50,830
that's inevitable that the Bronfels was. So all this back and forth, guys,

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00:28:51,490 --> 00:28:56,650
commissioners court with the sheriff and with the school district that like to

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00:28:56,650 --> 00:29:01,730
speak out of turn sometimes my wife teaches there right I'm an employer I'm a

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00:29:01,730 --> 00:29:07,410
Marine Corvette my tax payer and I observe and then I make decisions and I

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00:29:07,410 --> 00:29:13,430
rabble rouse so and I'll use all of those to rabble rouse ask the teachers ask my

341
00:29:13,430 --> 00:29:20,970
brother marines and ask Ellie and FD. So, I'd like you all to keep your seats. The ones

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00:29:20,970 --> 00:29:25,490
that are still here after the other three are gone. And I'd like you to be good citizens

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and friends once you're gone. Knowing that you make good decisions with our money, right.

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Think it through when you have your conversations outside of being in front of us, what we're

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asking for you, safety for the community, fund that so properly, fund FD, pull back that

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00:29:44,390 --> 00:29:48,870
money you're going to give the volunteers, bless the hearts, let them get what FD doesn't

347
00:29:48,870 --> 00:29:54,970
need, right, over equipment or whatever, just whatever supplemental, and let FD step up and

348
00:29:54,970 --> 00:29:57,730
do what they're designed to do, please, fund them properly.

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If you see me need to be.

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I'll buy a barbecue, but I'd really rather show it. So thank you. Thank you for your comments.

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00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:10,040
Karen Macias.

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00:30:14,410 --> 00:30:20,490
Good morning. Good morning commissioners and judge and commissioners. I'm Karen Macias,

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a resident of Cibola since 1995. Mr. Wolverton is my commissioner. My message is twofold budget

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responsibilities and safety concerns for your citizens. Your decisions also affect not just

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the citizens but the future generations and our Sheriff's Department.

356
00:30:40,830 --> 00:30:44,150
Please take your judiciary duty seriously.

357
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Our citizens and future generations deserve a sound budget that also manages growth and

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safety.

359
00:30:51,390 --> 00:30:56,850
I appreciate Sheriff Ray's transparency about what is going on in this Commissioner's Court.

360
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Your citizens should not have to come here to tell you safety should be first for your residents

361
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that's in your deputies.

362
00:31:04,370 --> 00:31:09,290
Please support Sheriff Ray with his budget recommendations.

363
00:31:10,010 --> 00:31:13,470
And for his staff, I say thank you to all of them

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and the deputies here today.

365
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Thank you very much.

366
00:31:16,250 --> 00:31:17,130
Thank you for your comments.

367
00:31:19,820 --> 00:31:21,640
We don't have anybody else that signed up

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00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:22,840
under Citizens to be heard.

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Is there anybody else in the courtroom

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00:31:24,460 --> 00:31:26,740
that would like to speak under Citizens to be heard?

371
00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,380
Is there anybody online or on the call

372
00:31:35,380 --> 00:31:38,200
that would like to speak and address commissioners court at this time.

373
00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,000
I don't see a hand raised.

374
00:31:41,860 --> 00:31:45,220
Okay, I know we still have a few individuals that signed up to speak

375
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that are going to wait until the public hearing on the budget.

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If somebody would like to speak during the public hearing but

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00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:59,580
has not signed up, please raise your hand. We'll try to identify you and invite you up to the podium.

378
00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:05,880
We're going to move to item 4 on our agenda, which is a presentation, and that's retirement

379
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:10,700
recognition for Dr. Theresa Salzage for her years of service to Grubblypie County.

380
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:15,100
I know we have a few gifts to present.

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I do want to invite up Dr. T. and staff from HR.

382
00:32:21,980 --> 00:32:25,900
We won't make her give a big speech today, but today is her last day.

383
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She is retiring, believe it's going to go spend some more time with family and all that.

384
00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:35,880
We just really, I'm sure others have comments, but we just want to take a moment and show

385
00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:37,520
you our appreciation and our thanks.

386
00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:43,100
You've been phenomenal in every way, so I just want to say thank you for everything.

387
00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:44,240
Court members?

388
00:32:49,740 --> 00:32:54,240
Of course, thank you, Dr. T. It's been an honor to work with you.

389
00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:57,240
You will be missed.

390
00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:08,060
your impact has been very positive and always honest and forthright and that's

391
00:33:08,060 --> 00:33:13,320
the way you are and I appreciate that your personality fit it to a T with

392
00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:17,720
this responsibility that you had. One of the tougher roles in the county being

393
00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:23,860
HR director for different departments and truly appreciate you and wish you

394
00:33:23,860 --> 00:33:27,700
the best. Thank you. Yes. Thank you very much. No. Thank you.

395
00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,880
I'll only go here. I was

396
00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:36,560
going to tell you about eight months now, but you're a fantastic person. I've

397
00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:41,320
learned so much from you and we will miss you dearly. So have a good life and

398
00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:48,660
enjoy it. Thank you so much. I'm just going to say let's tell the people online and

399
00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:57,260
in this audience. 95% of the time when you walk in that justice center and you hang

400
00:33:57,260 --> 00:34:04,220
a right and you go down that hall, that lady's office is open and that lady welcomes you

401
00:34:04,220 --> 00:34:17,860
into her office. And her expertise, you cannot match it. In what she does, the advice

402
00:34:17,860 --> 00:34:29,600
she gives, words can't describe it. But that friendly open door, that is so important.

403
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:37,220
that is so important, we're going to seriously miss her, she will, it will be

404
00:34:37,220 --> 00:34:44,780
extremely difficult to replace her. She has absolutely been an asset to this

405
00:34:44,780 --> 00:34:47,900
county. Thank you. Thank you so much.

406
00:34:52,940 --> 00:34:53,780
Well you know I love you.

407
00:34:58,220 --> 00:34:59,500
It's so...

408
00:35:00,180 --> 00:35:08,260
Interesting and entertaining and educational every time I talk to you. You have an amazing ability

409
00:35:08,260 --> 00:35:12,980
to look at things from such an aerial view and you know all of the problems and you're

410
00:35:12,980 --> 00:35:19,180
still positive all the time. And when things have gotten out of control or stressful

411
00:35:19,580 --> 00:35:23,960
or even when they're really good you always have a very steady perspective and it's been amazing.

412
00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:28,480
I think you've truly been a blessing to this county. You've been a voice of reason and encouragement.

413
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:38,680
You've been positive when people are feeling down, you've helped people come back to feeling the role that they're meant to feel, and I really couldn't appreciate you enough.

414
00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:46,240
I think that you are one of the people that truly has positively touched everyone's life you've come across, and I really can't thank you enough for everything.

415
00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:52,860
I hope that you have the best life you can have and wish you all the best going forward. We'll miss you so much.

416
00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:54,600
Thank you. Thank you so much.

417
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:03,780
I want to tell each of you how much I appreciate the opportunity to have served as the HR director

418
00:36:03,780 --> 00:36:05,480
for Guelda Becounting for the last four years.

419
00:36:06,620 --> 00:36:11,700
This is a decision that was extremely hard for me, hard for me, even today, but I know

420
00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:13,180
it's the best one for my family.

421
00:36:14,020 --> 00:36:18,820
The blessing of being here and the support of the court that sits here today in the judge

422
00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:31,640
As well as the previous commissioners on burger cope, I there's not one day that I felt like I was not supported by the court and not many people can say that in their positions and I am so very thankful.

423
00:36:32,220 --> 00:36:37,200
I'm thankful for your servants heart what you do every day for your precinct members.

424
00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:46,640
Sometimes I know you feel like it's a long hard journey and people don't know what you do but I do know what you do and I am appreciative of that.

425
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:52,960
I'm also appreciative of the HR team two members had one lady's on a vacation the other

426
00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:58,960
is at a conference, but I can't be more proud of the team, the HR team, what each one

427
00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:03,180
of them today, Tina, Julian and Nat, Emily and Lois are out of the office.

428
00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:08,340
I am very, very thankful and appreciative and proud of the work they do.

429
00:37:09,020 --> 00:37:13,200
If I can ever be assistance to you now or in the future, you all have my numbers as well

430
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:14,420
as half of Guadalupe County.

431
00:37:14,420 --> 00:37:19,380
so if you need to call me do so but I know one thing you'll never have another

432
00:37:19,380 --> 00:37:24,360
person with this East Texas twang and I've heard three or four people say we're

433
00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:27,860
gonna miss talking to you and the way you talk and meet my twang and I'm gonna

434
00:37:27,860 --> 00:37:32,660
miss giving you my twang and here in yours too so thank you so much if you need

435
00:37:32,660 --> 00:37:36,720
anything from me please don't hesitate to call this has been truly a blessing to

436
00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:38,440
me and I thank you. We're

437
00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:06,920
gonna take a take a take a picture to you from me.

438
00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:07,220
All

439
00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:26,580
right,

440
00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:09,720
we'll move to item five on our agenda which is public hearings under public hearing item a the proposed

441
00:39:09,720 --> 00:39:18,940
Guadalupe County budget for fiscal year 2026, 2027 will open the public hearing at 10.41 a.m.

442
00:39:19,180 --> 00:39:26,700
We did have three individuals that had signed up under citizens to be heard that stated they prefer to speak under this item.

443
00:39:27,100 --> 00:39:30,280
Would you like to come up and speak now under the public hearing?

444
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:33,040
First was Patton's a Roddy good

445
00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:43,100
morning Judge Kutcher and commissioners for those of you who don't know me

446
00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:48,720
My name is Patton saw that day. I am an assistant county attorney in the civil division of the county attorney's office

447
00:39:48,720 --> 00:39:54,980
I along with Stephen ties stepped into the very large shoes of the late great Robert Edlinger

448
00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:59,800
I'll be forthright with you today. I'm coming before

449
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:29,460
I want you to ask you to take the opportunity to do the right thing when finalizing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. In doing so, I'm asking you to remember who we serve, the good citizens of Wadalupe County. Every employee is a part of serving those citizens. I myself came to Wadalupe County in 2017. Before that, I practiced law here since 2006. Every day, I drive from San Antonio.

450
00:40:29,460 --> 00:40:35,440
Thank you. And back because I want to serve Wadalupe County because I like what's happening

451
00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:40,880
here and I like the work that we do. Other people that I work with work long hours

452
00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:45,480
to ensure that our county government gives the people the services they deserve and that

453
00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:53,440
they pay for. However, the current discussion about the upcoming budget has left many

454
00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,220
Many of those people uncertain and demoralized.

455
00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:04,620
A cost of living increase has been proposed, but it is a cost of living increase that

456
00:41:04,620 --> 00:41:08,380
falls behind the current rate of inflation by almost a full percentage point.

457
00:41:09,580 --> 00:41:12,460
The longevity base is being taken away as well.

458
00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:17,580
These proposals make it harder for county employees to put food on their tables and take

459
00:41:17,580 --> 00:41:18,460
care of their families.

460
00:41:19,140 --> 00:41:21,880
But that isn't the only consequence of these choices.

461
00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:29,860
As I've done my job, I've heard from many employees that think that Wattalupa County does not care about them.

462
00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:37,600
They are demoralized because the return they are getting for their hard efforts is effectively a cut in their pay.

463
00:41:38,860 --> 00:41:42,960
They ask themselves, why should I work as hard if I'm not appreciated?

464
00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:47,360
Why shouldn't I explore other options like Hays County,

465
00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:52,260
Kumau County, Bayer County, or the private sector?

466
00:41:53,620 --> 00:41:56,180
Obviously, we don't want that.

467
00:41:56,900 --> 00:42:02,180
Our employees are our greatest assets, as you yourselves have said.

468
00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:09,000
This is a real problem in one that has over a dozen elected officials.

469
00:42:09,220 --> 00:42:11,560
The majority of elected officials in this county

470
00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:18,000
represented by County Attorney Wilborn and Sheriff Ray came to you to try to solve.

471
00:42:19,020 --> 00:42:23,520
The proposed attacks increased that would have cost an extra $80 a year per household.

472
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:31,720
They were willing to put their names on it along with yours to handle whatever pressure politically or otherwise that would ensue.

473
00:42:33,380 --> 00:42:41,120
We increased our revenue by raising the maximum tax rate but only by a little more than a third of what would have been sufficient to at least

474
00:42:41,120 --> 00:42:46,960
make do. As a result of that, the sheriff and the county attorney dug into the numbers

475
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:52,080
again and came to you with a proposal that you've heard about today to use $3 million

476
00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:57,300
that is set aside for potential land purchases. These are purchases that haven't been agreed

477
00:42:57,300 --> 00:43:02,360
to yet. They haven't been done yet. Nothing's happened with them yet. They're just out there

478
00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:09,460
in the ether. That money, which would help greatly to address the shortfalls that you've heard

479
00:43:09,460 --> 00:43:14,900
about today is just there just in case we need to expand.

480
00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:21,680
Now normally having money set aside just in case would be nothing but a prudent way of

481
00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:22,380
doing things.

482
00:43:22,980 --> 00:43:32,140
But what I'm here to tell you today is that just in case is right now, right this second,

483
00:43:32,780 --> 00:43:37,440
it is sitting in the room with us as we speak, it is the proverbial elephant in the room.

484
00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:46,240
this is not a future concern. It is a part of the urgent now. Please adopt the

485
00:43:46,240 --> 00:43:49,760
proposal put forward by the majority of the elected officials in this

486
00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:55,460
county and supported by I believe a great number of citizens. Times may be tough

487
00:43:56,080 --> 00:44:01,520
but if you do the right thing you'll make us safer make us more successful and

488
00:44:01,940 --> 00:44:03,140
and you'll make us proud.

489
00:44:04,260 --> 00:44:05,100
Thank you for your time.

490
00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:06,640
Thank you for your comments.

491
00:44:08,260 --> 00:44:09,880
Next, Robin Villarreal.

492
00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:17,580
Good morning.

493
00:44:18,540 --> 00:44:19,380
Good morning, Judge.

494
00:44:19,380 --> 00:44:20,340
Good morning, commissioners.

495
00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:24,240
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today on the half of the Admin employees

496
00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:26,100
of the Guadalupe County Attorney's Office.

497
00:44:26,820 --> 00:44:29,480
We work hard every day to serve the citizens of our county.

498
00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:33,300
This is a community that I live in and where I want to work to make a difference.

499
00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:37,000
My family and friends live here and I take pride in helping them to protect.

500
00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,060
For those who don't know me, my name is Robin Villarreal.

501
00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:45,640
I'm a paralegal for the Guadalupe County Attorney's Office, and in November, I will have 17 years with the county.

502
00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:49,500
I'm here today to share my disappointment with the discussions and

503
00:44:49,500 --> 00:44:53,100
the decisions made by this court for what I believe will be a finalized budget today.

504
00:44:54,060 --> 00:44:56,560
I understand that managing a budget is not easy.

505
00:44:57,360 --> 00:44:59,260
Their competing priorities, rising costs and

506
00:44:59,260 --> 00:44:59,980
difficult decisions.

507
00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:25,920
I also understand that not every request can be funded every year. I know the budget won't ever make everyone happy, but this year feels extra defeating. I believe we need to recognize that county employees are not simply a line item in a budget. We are the people to keep the county operating. We serve the public, we respond to problems, we maintain essential services, and we continue showing up every day despite increasing demands.

508
00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:31,260
I recently had someone tell me that a member of this court was treating us as

509
00:45:31,260 --> 00:45:37,780
human resources. For the county, instead of valuable members of this team. Some of

510
00:45:37,780 --> 00:45:42,120
you who may not know my job entails, I'll share this little part with you. Every law

511
00:45:42,120 --> 00:45:45,820
enforcement agency in this county, most surrounding counties, and many in the

512
00:45:45,820 --> 00:45:50,360
state of Texas, contact me for assistance. Every felony case and misdemeanor case

513
00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:55,180
that come through the county attorney's office, cross my desk, many multiple times. I

514
00:45:55,180 --> 00:45:57,660
I share an office with Missy Mergo who is also a paralegal.

515
00:45:58,220 --> 00:46:00,420
She has been with the county almost as long as me.

516
00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:02,880
She gets eight, 17 years in January.

517
00:46:03,460 --> 00:46:08,100
She is the first point of contact intake and prepares the cases for review and for grand jury.

518
00:46:08,820 --> 00:46:14,520
The number of cases we see has more than doubled and the number of staff remains the same.

519
00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:20,580
We are continually asked to take on additional duties and handle pressing immediate matters.

520
00:46:21,160 --> 00:46:23,920
There is no reward for their increasing responsibilities.

521
00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:26,860
In fact, this year we will be taking home less than last year.

522
00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:27,960
That stinks.

523
00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:30,920
There is no additional help approved in this budget.

524
00:46:31,440 --> 00:46:35,880
And I'm not sure how we can be expected to continue managing this overwhelming workload.

525
00:46:36,460 --> 00:46:39,880
We recently went to come out County District Attorney's Office for a meeting regarding

526
00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:42,940
AXON, which is electronic discovery and case submission.

527
00:46:43,760 --> 00:46:46,780
We were shocked to hear, so yeah, that's another project we have.

528
00:46:46,780 --> 00:46:49,820
We were shocked to hear they have double the admin staff

529
00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:55,600
And they have exact almost exactly the same number of cases coming in monthly

530
00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:58,900
Even more discouraging their paid more to

531
00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:05,380
With regard to the budget the caller proposed for employees equates to a wash with increase in expenses

532
00:47:05,380 --> 00:47:10,860
We are saddled with and then on top of that the cancellation of the additional longevity base creates additional financial

533
00:47:10,860 --> 00:47:15,600
and employee morale concerns, longevity pay is more than just an added bonus.

534
00:47:15,880 --> 00:47:19,840
It's a recognition for employees who have chosen to dedicate years of their lives to this county.

535
00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:25,220
It tells an employee we see your service, we appreciate your commitment, your experience matters.

536
00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:28,520
Taking away that benefit is signifying just the opposite.

537
00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:33,760
When that benefit is removed, employees understandably ask themselves, just staying here still matter.

538
00:47:34,320 --> 00:47:37,460
I will tell you for me personally, it doesn't feel like it.

539
00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,480
We should be encouraging experience employees to stay not giving them reasons to leave.

540
00:47:43,100 --> 00:47:45,180
Losing experience employees comes with a cost.

541
00:47:45,820 --> 00:47:51,200
When someone with 5, 10, 15, 17, or 20 years of institutional knowledge leaves, the county

542
00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:52,520
doesn't simply lose employees.

543
00:47:52,860 --> 00:47:54,720
We lose experience, knowledge, and training.

544
00:47:55,320 --> 00:48:00,640
I will tell you, I am tired of training people to start in our office that eventually leave.

545
00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:03,320
That is yet another duty that's added to us.

546
00:48:04,260 --> 00:48:06,900
Morales is another issue that I believe deserves serious attention.

547
00:48:06,900 --> 00:48:11,220
In my office, the Morales is at a critical stage regarding these issues.

548
00:48:11,860 --> 00:48:15,820
Employees notice when they are consistently asked to take on responsibilities and deny

549
00:48:15,820 --> 00:48:17,620
additional compensation or assistance.

550
00:48:18,120 --> 00:48:23,080
They notice when a benefit that recognizes years of service to this county is taken away.

551
00:48:23,780 --> 00:48:28,260
Isn't simply about wanting more money, it's about wanting employees to know their work matters,

552
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:31,000
and their commitment to this county is appreciated.

553
00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:35,720
I would respectfully ask the court to consider looking at the compensation picture as a whole.

554
00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:40,760
I believe employees deserve transparency about the financial reason behind decisions and

555
00:48:40,760 --> 00:48:44,180
clear understanding of whether there's a plan to address compensation in the future.

556
00:48:44,980 --> 00:48:48,860
Every year, there are talks of substantial raises, making our salaries competitive,

557
00:48:49,360 --> 00:48:54,340
with surrounding counties and additional staff to help with overwhelming amount of work, and that never happens.

558
00:48:55,260 --> 00:48:58,260
Years ago, we were asked to fill out the survey and outline our job duties.

559
00:48:58,260 --> 00:49:05,900
The county should have saved that money paid for that and recognized the employees identified in that study because changes didn't come from it.

560
00:49:06,380 --> 00:49:12,720
The court should also consider the long-term cost of doing nothing. If employees leave because they can make significantly more money,

561
00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:20,700
the county will have to compete for those replacements, and in many cases replacing an experienced employee can cost more than the cost they have now.

562
00:49:21,700 --> 00:49:27,040
During my career, I've been offered many other job opportunities and for many years, I didn't consider them.

563
00:49:27,040 --> 00:49:30,960
I said I was flattered, but I loved my job and I was happy where I was.

564
00:49:31,320 --> 00:49:32,740
Now that isn't the story.

565
00:49:33,580 --> 00:49:37,440
With the disappointment I'm feeling in my job now, I may consider leaving for the private sector.

566
00:49:38,060 --> 00:49:44,660
I can make more money in my work ethic, my degree, and my contributions will be considered when salary is negotiated.

567
00:49:45,400 --> 00:49:49,040
Please know I am not the only employee in this county that is considering the same.

568
00:49:49,900 --> 00:49:53,300
Money isn't everything, but when we are continually underpaid,

569
00:49:53,300 --> 00:49:59,000
when compared to surrounding counties and underappreciated, leaving Guadalupe County will be the option chosen.

570
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:29,980
So today I'm asking the Court to reconsider the decision regarding raises in the cancellation of the longevity base. I'm asking the Court to look for ways to provide meaningful compensation, increases, restore or replace the longevity incentive, and establish a clear path toward improving employee compensation. We are not asking for anything unreasonable, we're asking for fairness, and we're asking the Court to remember that investing in the people who serve this county is ultimately investment in this county. Thank you for your time.

571
00:50:29,980 --> 00:50:32,940
I'm considering the concerns of the employees of my office.

572
00:50:33,460 --> 00:50:33,920
Thank you.

573
00:50:36,280 --> 00:50:37,540
Next, Lane Ward.

574
00:50:46,890 --> 00:50:47,270
Good morning.

575
00:50:48,130 --> 00:50:48,830
Good morning, Judge.

576
00:50:49,270 --> 00:50:50,550
Good morning, y'all.

577
00:50:51,610 --> 00:50:53,790
My name is Lane Ward, and I'm a prosecutor

578
00:50:53,790 --> 00:50:56,210
of the Guadalupe County, and I have been for about a year now.

579
00:50:57,150 --> 00:50:59,150
And I'm also the newest prosecutor

580
00:50:59,150 --> 00:51:02,170
to the county, only having graduated law school last year.

581
00:51:03,010 --> 00:51:06,350
So I can tell you that the overwhelming message

582
00:51:06,350 --> 00:51:13,010
being sent to law students across this country every year is that prosecutors are on the wrong side of the law and

583
00:51:13,990 --> 00:51:18,090
If you don't believe me go sit in on any death penalty class or any criminal procedure class

584
00:51:18,090 --> 00:51:25,770
And you will hear all about how law enforcement are the bad guys and how if you want to fight your justice, you need to fight against them

585
00:51:26,270 --> 00:51:32,730
And you will hear all about everything the criminal justice system gets wrong and very little about what it gets right

586
00:51:33,910 --> 00:51:38,890
And why that should matter to everyone sitting in this room today is because that is the

587
00:51:38,890 --> 00:51:42,370
environment that this county is recruiting its future prosecutors from.

588
00:51:44,050 --> 00:51:48,570
And of the small number of law students that do choose to go to the prosecutors office,

589
00:51:48,930 --> 00:51:54,190
a large number of those prosecutors are only going to use the county, whatever county they're

590
00:51:54,190 --> 00:51:59,450
working in for one or two years before they go and accept a higher paying job in the private

591
00:51:59,450 --> 00:51:59,830
sector.

592
00:52:02,180 --> 00:52:07,280
And what this county says to its prosecutors every year through the longevity bonus is

593
00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:11,860
that we value, we appreciate you staying and working for this county, and even when everyone

594
00:52:11,860 --> 00:52:16,340
tells you that you're on the wrong side of justice, we are telling you that you are not.

595
00:52:18,200 --> 00:52:22,940
And if we are going to take that message away, I think it's really important that we think

596
00:52:22,940 --> 00:52:25,700
really hard what we're going to replace that message with.

597
00:52:26,740 --> 00:52:30,620
Because right now we're telling our prosecutors that work in this county and work for the people

598
00:52:30,620 --> 00:52:36,220
this community every single day that hey we know that you're accepting less pay to work in this

599
00:52:36,220 --> 00:52:41,880
county but hey also by the way that one thing that is designed that one thing that's put into place

600
00:52:41,880 --> 00:52:48,920
to reward you for staying we are going to take away. And what this county has said across years in

601
00:52:48,920 --> 00:52:54,700
the past is we want you to stay continue fighting for this community. We appreciate your experience

602
00:52:54,700 --> 00:53:00,600
and we appreciate the work that you do for our people and I'm up here today asking this county

603
00:53:00,600 --> 00:53:06,180
continue telling its prosecutors and its employees. Thank you. Thank you.

604
00:53:08,810 --> 00:53:14,850
Right, is there anybody else in the courtroom that would like to speak during the public hearing on the county budget?

605
00:53:17,800 --> 00:53:18,660
Please come on,

606
00:53:20,740 --> 00:53:21,400
Mr. Fikes.

607
00:53:25,880 --> 00:53:28,500
Just support with all four.

608
00:53:31,140 --> 00:53:39,360
I probably wouldn't share this because I'm going to lay myself out here for the public.

609
00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:43,920
It's been about three years ago, when I lived Indy Bromford, Vigwad-Lupy County.

610
00:53:44,740 --> 00:53:45,640
There was a bad arrest.

611
00:53:46,100 --> 00:53:48,720
I found myself in a situation where I had to protect my daughter and myself.

612
00:53:49,820 --> 00:53:57,440
And NBPD arrested me, brought me over to Sheriff Ray's find establishment where I got to

613
00:53:57,440 --> 00:54:01,100
spend an amazing 27 hours of a Sunfield vacation.

614
00:54:05,040 --> 00:54:08,660
Their office declined to pick the case up.

615
00:54:08,660 --> 00:54:17,460
But he said their side of law is often seen as the bad people, the bad side of law enforcement.

616
00:54:18,620 --> 00:54:25,180
I personally got to experience people of this caliber going above and beyond in their

617
00:54:25,180 --> 00:54:25,440
job.

618
00:54:25,580 --> 00:54:30,460
They didn't just pick a case up, you know, here's another schmuck that got himself in trouble

619
00:54:30,460 --> 00:54:31,280
that's prosecuted.

620
00:54:31,420 --> 00:54:31,640
No.

621
00:54:32,300 --> 00:54:37,080
And then to further expound upon that, I took a bucket list trip.

622
00:54:37,540 --> 00:54:42,060
I drove all the way to Virginia, went to Quantico. I'm a West Coast Marine, New East Coast

623
00:54:42,060 --> 00:54:46,500
guys are weirdos. But I wanted to go to Quantico to say I had been to this historic Marine

624
00:54:46,500 --> 00:54:52,140
Corps base. And when I tried to make entry, my own brothers denied me and said that Nitz picked

625
00:54:52,140 --> 00:54:59,820
me up as a felon. I called their office. Was that you? Yeah. Took her time. Could have just

626
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:28,860
We don't have time for this. Spence, she literally told me, where are you at? And I said, I'm in the parking lot. I can't even get on to my own base. You know, they call me a felon. And she said, don't hang up. Put me on speaker and walk back in that building above and beyond. I walk back in after being in public and embarrassed in front of all the other people trying to gain access to the base. She tells them, give me a fax number.

627
00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:30,680
Where do you need it, sent?

628
00:55:31,420 --> 00:55:33,740
What do I gotta do to help this Marine get on his base?

629
00:55:34,580 --> 00:55:35,340
He's not a felon.

630
00:55:35,520 --> 00:55:36,580
We didn't pick the case up.

631
00:55:36,620 --> 00:55:40,540
It never saw a judge, it's not unfounded, right?

632
00:55:40,780 --> 00:55:41,620
Not prosecutable.

633
00:55:42,240 --> 00:55:46,620
Send the letter, I get on base, and of course I had some choice words after I gained access.

634
00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:50,080
For the jerk that called me a felon.

635
00:55:52,520 --> 00:55:55,100
They're right about, I'm an employer, right also.

636
00:55:55,240 --> 00:55:57,300
I own Apex Electrical AC and heating, a little plug.

637
00:55:57,300 --> 00:56:05,740
So we've recently hired a business coach and one of the biggest takeaways from that that

638
00:56:05,740 --> 00:56:09,360
we've, and we knew it, sometimes you know things you just got to be reminded that you

639
00:56:09,360 --> 00:56:16,260
know these things in business, but he reminded us that it costs less money to retain a tier

640
00:56:16,260 --> 00:56:25,980
one employee, tier one staff than it does to continuously train tier 3s and tier 2s or it

641
00:56:25,980 --> 00:56:33,060
cost less money to produce a tier two into a tier one employee than it does to

642
00:56:33,060 --> 00:56:38,580
continuously cycle through people that just aren't up to the to the standard.

643
00:56:38,980 --> 00:56:44,760
Now granted, they're all such young people, right? They're not going to retire

644
00:56:44,760 --> 00:56:46,220
within the next 15 years.

645
00:56:48,230 --> 00:56:52,750
But a lot of us with the skill are age-ish groups here.

646
00:56:52,910 --> 00:56:57,900
I'm not calling out anybody's age. People are skill that need to train the next

647
00:56:57,900 --> 00:57:07,380
generation of Tier 1 public servants. We're not getting any younger. So, granted, we have

648
00:57:07,380 --> 00:57:11,400
a little bit of money set aside. The same thing I grabbed about earlier. I'd

649
00:57:11,400 --> 00:57:15,780
not want to show you please. Before you vote on this day, maybe table the issue. Go back,

650
00:57:15,860 --> 00:57:20,660
have another talk. See if you restructure some things. Pick out the priorities that

651
00:57:20,660 --> 00:57:24,780
we're all clearly asking for here. I mean, the people that took time away from their

652
00:57:24,780 --> 00:57:29,220
businesses from their families, from their daily schedules to come drive this

653
00:57:29,220 --> 00:57:35,860
point home. Please reconsider. Table it. Talk about it again. See what you can

654
00:57:35,860 --> 00:57:39,420
do to restructure it and give us what we're asking for please. And take care

655
00:57:39,420 --> 00:57:45,000
of them. They took care of me on the other side of our continent. Thanks. Thank

656
00:57:45,000 --> 00:57:50,260
you. Anybody else would like to speak under the or during the public

657
00:57:50,260 --> 00:57:50,500
Not caring?

658
00:57:53,250 --> 00:57:54,210
Chief, how are you?

659
00:57:54,630 --> 00:57:54,790
Good.

660
00:57:54,890 --> 00:57:55,130
How are you?

661
00:57:55,350 --> 00:57:55,670
Doing well.

662
00:57:56,150 --> 00:57:56,350
Morning.

663
00:57:58,640 --> 00:57:59,460
Good morning, Judge.

664
00:57:59,740 --> 00:58:00,160
Commissioners.

665
00:58:00,660 --> 00:58:02,280
Gary Kerbert, City of Seguine, Fire Chief.

666
00:58:03,040 --> 00:58:05,980
There's a lot of discussion today about public safety within the county.

667
00:58:06,460 --> 00:58:08,020
A challenge that's been before all of us.

668
00:58:08,260 --> 00:58:12,700
I face it myself and I certainly understand the struggles of a budget and providing that ongoing

669
00:58:13,180 --> 00:58:14,060
public presence.

670
00:58:14,860 --> 00:58:19,400
One thing that I have not heard discussed is unfortunately going to add to your struggles

671
00:58:19,400 --> 00:58:20,480
not take away from it.

672
00:58:20,480 --> 00:58:24,160
There's a lot of representation in this room for fire.

673
00:58:24,620 --> 00:58:27,000
There's a lot of representation in this room for law enforcement.

674
00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:31,040
There is no representation in this room for emergency medical services.

675
00:58:31,780 --> 00:58:34,940
Currently, EMS is not provided by this county of Walupi.

676
00:58:35,100 --> 00:58:36,040
It is contracted out.

677
00:58:36,460 --> 00:58:38,220
I am one of those subcontractors.

678
00:58:38,800 --> 00:58:43,420
That is also seeing an escalation in costs and a huge escalation in need.

679
00:58:44,140 --> 00:58:46,840
The reality is when we respond to public emergencies,

680
00:58:46,840 --> 00:58:49,700
the vast majority of them are medically based.

681
00:58:49,700 --> 00:58:53,900
and I am the largest provider of that service in Saraguay-Lipi County.

682
00:58:54,340 --> 00:59:00,180
I cover 440 square miles and there's been no conversation about dramatically increasing

683
00:59:00,180 --> 00:59:06,580
the compensation or budget for EMS while that is not before you on this year's budget.

684
00:59:07,200 --> 00:59:11,440
I would just encourage each of you to consider the future of what that looks like because

685
00:59:11,440 --> 00:59:17,720
where we sit today along with most of my public safety partners I am in an unsustainable state.

686
00:59:18,260 --> 00:59:19,180
Thank you very much.

687
00:59:19,980 --> 00:59:21,260
Thank you for your comments.

688
00:59:28,160 --> 00:59:28,740
Good morning.

689
00:59:31,370 --> 00:59:35,490
Commissioners Judge, good morning. I know what you're all thinking. Oh boy, he's

690
00:59:35,490 --> 00:59:41,850
back at the podium. Here we go again. Unfortunately, yes, yes, I am. I'm here today

691
00:59:41,850 --> 00:59:45,210
with the parent statements because yet again, there is a need to advocate for our

692
00:59:45,210 --> 00:59:48,710
community. Commissioner Zott and German, I'd like to thank you for your service

693
00:59:48,710 --> 00:59:51,990
and support, not just for the fire department, but for all of the citizens of

694
00:59:51,990 --> 00:59:55,570
this county who you do to free represent. Unfortunately, there are counterparts in

695
00:59:55,570 --> 00:59:58,470
this governing body that I believe in service the same way as we do.

696
00:59:59,350 --> 00:59:59,970
Unfortunately, the...

697
01:00:02,120 --> 01:00:29,980
Today, some of what I had to say may seem harsh. Accountability is rarely comfortable. Over these past months, sitting in these chambers, I've heard talks of vital and essential services who may lose or see reduced funding, meals on wheels, the food bank, the library, public safety entities. The very services this community depends on. For years now, you've seen the news Guadalupe County is one of the fastest growing in the country. So where is the money? Tax abatement is given to multi-million dollars.

698
01:00:29,980 --> 01:00:34,740
our corporations, irresponsible government spending, and pay raises for government officials.

699
01:00:35,240 --> 01:00:39,000
While some of the most essential services in the most vulnerable in our community get

700
01:00:39,000 --> 01:00:43,520
picked clean and left out in the cold, I've seen the county throw millions at capital funding

701
01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:48,060
projects, only to scoff when asked for a fraction that for meaningful and essential services.

702
01:00:48,820 --> 01:00:51,840
Services that support those in our communities who need them most.

703
01:00:53,460 --> 01:00:57,100
We've been told to figure it out, I ask what would you have us cut?

704
01:00:57,100 --> 01:01:01,780
but not pair of bills, not train, not gain certification.

705
01:01:02,500 --> 01:01:04,680
I've heard repeatedly the ESDs are the answer,

706
01:01:05,360 --> 01:01:07,220
but with no hard facts to back up that opinion,

707
01:01:07,920 --> 01:01:09,520
the residents in the unincorporated area

708
01:01:09,520 --> 01:01:10,860
need to pay their fair share,

709
01:01:11,680 --> 01:01:13,780
and that non-stattutorily required organizations

710
01:01:13,780 --> 01:01:16,380
in the community are just coming with their hands out,

711
01:01:16,700 --> 01:01:17,860
like we are beggars on the corner.

712
01:01:19,000 --> 01:01:20,900
Commissioner Olverton, as a commissioner

713
01:01:20,900 --> 01:01:23,960
of over 20 plus years, why didn't you solve this problem

714
01:01:23,960 --> 01:01:24,740
in your prior terms?

715
01:01:24,740 --> 01:01:29,440
as a commissioner with 20 plus years, you should know that funding from an ESD is not an overnight solution.

716
01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:32,460
It can take years to receive that funding in a meaningful amount,

717
01:01:32,920 --> 01:01:35,440
enough to truly sustain an entire emergency service operation.

718
01:01:36,140 --> 01:01:39,500
You've been in a position for responsibility and power in this county for over two decades,

719
01:01:40,000 --> 01:01:41,600
but what does the county have to show for it?

720
01:01:42,280 --> 01:01:45,340
You've repeatedly made the statement that all the counties around us have ESDs,

721
01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:49,600
but I ask, if everyone around you jumped off a bridge, would you too?

722
01:01:49,600 --> 01:01:54,820
There is no one size fits all solution or answer to public safety.

723
01:01:55,320 --> 01:01:56,640
No two counties are the same.

724
01:01:57,420 --> 01:01:59,000
No one solution works for all.

725
01:01:59,620 --> 01:02:03,040
I've never claimed to have the answers, but I've asked this toward directly,

726
01:02:03,160 --> 01:02:06,960
what is the timeline, what is the plan, there doesn't seem to be one.

727
01:02:07,700 --> 01:02:09,400
Hoping things get better is not a plan.

728
01:02:10,280 --> 01:02:12,460
We've all heard the repeated disdain for the volunteers,

729
01:02:13,180 --> 01:02:15,200
and they believe the ESDs are the answer to the problems.

730
01:02:15,820 --> 01:02:18,920
But I have yet to hear from you a plan, our most vocal opponent.

731
01:02:19,480 --> 01:02:23,740
It begs the question, why do you hate the public servants in the community so much?

732
01:02:24,180 --> 01:02:26,600
Why such contempt for the citizens of the county you serve?

733
01:02:27,940 --> 01:02:35,500
When GCFR pays one firefighter a base salary of $67,000 a year, starting, but an entire

734
01:02:35,500 --> 01:02:40,000
fire department is expected to operate a fleet of trucks, purchase and maintain vital life-saving

735
01:02:40,000 --> 01:02:44,360
equipment, pay their operating expenses, and conduct annual training and certifications

736
01:02:52,200 --> 01:03:00,240
I keep hearing things like the volunteers can't provide the same level of service as a paid department, yet for years we have, well being neglected.

737
01:03:01,060 --> 01:03:06,240
Last time I checked the VFDs come when the paid departments in the city's call for help via mutual aid.

738
01:03:06,620 --> 01:03:11,600
We don't simply stop at the district lines and say that's not our problem, it's not our district.

739
01:03:11,600 --> 01:03:15,140
the dedicated volunteers who have faithfully served this county for decades

740
01:03:15,140 --> 01:03:20,080
show up because it's not a part of an issue and even undersfunded and

741
01:03:20,080 --> 01:03:23,980
understaffed we still put the priority where it matters truly serving our

742
01:03:23,980 --> 01:03:29,220
people the citizens of this county to protect lives and preserve property. The

743
01:03:29,220 --> 01:03:32,580
civil fire department builds the county whenever they respond to a call in the

744
01:03:32,580 --> 01:03:37,760
county. Yet volunteer departments don't build GCFR, SIGGIN, shirts or

745
01:03:37,760 --> 01:03:42,040
similar when they call for help. Maybe that's just what being a good neighbor means, doing

746
01:03:42,040 --> 01:03:46,540
what is right without trying to get something for yourself. Some of you may think I'm angry.

747
01:03:47,700 --> 01:03:52,660
I'm not. A shame is a better descriptor. And a shame to bearly this again to scratch the

748
01:03:52,660 --> 01:03:58,480
surface. Disappointed, dismayed, come closer. I've sat through week's accounting meetings

749
01:03:58,480 --> 01:04:02,680
and budget workshops and heard the same thing echoed in an over and over. Our people,

750
01:04:05,960 --> 01:04:06,080
our

751
01:04:06,080 --> 01:04:06,660
Well, they are.

752
01:04:07,080 --> 01:04:09,640
Today I'm here to remind you who your people truly are.

753
01:04:10,060 --> 01:04:12,640
It's the 70 year old widow, grandmother, alone

754
01:04:12,640 --> 01:04:13,600
on a fixed income.

755
01:04:14,680 --> 01:04:16,860
The young newly wed couple just starting out in life,

756
01:04:17,360 --> 01:04:18,820
the rancher, trying to get by.

757
01:04:19,640 --> 01:04:22,420
However, in fiscal year 2526, this governing body

758
01:04:22,420 --> 01:04:24,940
will allocated nearly 10% pay raise for themselves

759
01:04:25,400 --> 01:04:27,040
and other elected and precinct officials.

760
01:04:27,920 --> 01:04:30,780
Commissioner Wolberton, you earned just shy of $100,000

761
01:04:30,780 --> 01:04:34,280
coming in at $95,800, based on Google results

762
01:04:34,280 --> 01:04:40,900
With your auto stipend and your longevity pay only one volunteer fire partner in the county takes in more annually than you make as an

763
01:04:40,900 --> 01:04:45,000
Individual that one VFD runs hundreds of calls for service every year

764
01:04:47,020 --> 01:04:53,780
Commissioner Engelke you come in even higher 96,250 total with your adjustments yet. I was respectfully

765
01:04:53,780 --> 01:04:57,660
I've repeatedly heard from the constituents of your district can't get a phone call returned

766
01:05:01,900 --> 01:05:30,460
Do you want to change an adult diaper? Do you want to get up at 3am and run a cardiac arrest, run into a structure fire? I don't know that anyone does, but the firefighters of this county do it because it's what needs to be done. Judge, you receive $130,306 according to Google, more than any of the VFDs in the county. I'm not saying the hard work in county employees don't deserve money, a pay raise, a cola, inflation is through the roof,

767
01:05:30,460 --> 01:05:36,060
but fair as fair and cost for emergency service products and support services are outpacing

768
01:05:36,060 --> 01:05:41,000
national average of inflation yet no cola was given to county departments to protect

769
01:05:41,000 --> 01:05:46,580
our families as we sleep. We're told to make do and figure it out. I respect the judge's

770
01:05:46,580 --> 01:05:51,240
previous sentiment that we should all suffer together but that doesn't seem to be the case

771
01:05:51,240 --> 01:05:57,300
across the board. A few weeks ago I flatly asked Chief Board to GCFR that if from Queenie

772
01:05:57,300 --> 01:06:01,040
shut down at the beginning of the month if they could take over our service area tomorrow

773
01:06:01,040 --> 01:06:06,540
if we were forced to fold up shop. Is the answer? No. They do not have the staffing or

774
01:06:06,540 --> 01:06:11,400
apparatus to do so at this time. A few weeks ago I called for GCFR units on a major motor

775
01:06:11,400 --> 01:06:15,360
vehicle accident. At the same time we were also dispatched for a large brush fire on our

776
01:06:15,360 --> 01:06:21,160
side of the county. However no GCFR units showed up to either. Why you ask? Because they were

777
01:06:21,160 --> 01:06:25,260
all committed to another large brush fire on the other side of the river. Instead units

778
01:06:25,260 --> 01:06:30,680
from Marion, shirts, lake Dunlap, New Berlin, Sivolo, and New Bronfels responded to support

779
01:06:30,680 --> 01:06:36,180
McQueenie. In case you care, these fast-moving fire was nearly 40 acres, but we stopped without

780
01:06:36,180 --> 01:06:41,500
any loss of lives or homes. Why did these departments show up for a paycheck? No. They showed

781
01:06:41,500 --> 01:06:45,460
it because the citizens deserve to be safe, and we in the fire service respect human life.

782
01:06:46,180 --> 01:06:51,420
Just a few nights ago, we responded as a GCSO deputy was assaulted and injured in the line

783
01:06:51,420 --> 01:06:55,920
a duty protecting our community. And what did I see when I arrived? Nearly 20

784
01:06:55,920 --> 01:07:00,780
law enforcement units. However, over half of them were from New Braunfels. Because yet again,

785
01:07:01,180 --> 01:07:05,180
public safety is in a priority to some members of this court, and our Sheriff's Department is

786
01:07:05,180 --> 01:07:08,120
not adequately funded for safe and effective operational levels.

787
01:07:12,760 --> 01:07:13,940
I repeatedly heard county

788
01:07:13,940 --> 01:07:18,380
employees referred to as our people while losing sight of who pays the salary and elects them to

789
01:07:18,380 --> 01:07:24,340
office, expecting them to honor campaign promises to do the right thing. Not once have I heard the

790
01:07:24,340 --> 01:07:29,680
citizens referred to as our people. A few weeks ago Commissioner Wolverton

791
01:07:29,680 --> 01:07:36,000
implied that the GCFR station, the FM725 opens and CBLO has a station mile excuse me

792
01:07:36,000 --> 01:07:39,220
a few weeks ago Commissioner Wolverton implied that when the GCFR

793
01:07:39,220 --> 01:07:43,380
station at 725 opens and CBLO has a station eight miles away in Santa Clara

794
01:07:43,380 --> 01:07:47,120
that somehow those two stations can absorb the calls for service and the

795
01:07:47,120 --> 01:07:51,200
volunteers can be done away with. The volunteers are already bursting at the

796
01:07:51,200 --> 01:07:52,280
seems to keep up with the calls.

797
01:07:52,800 --> 01:07:54,720
Just yesterday, McQueenie had four calls,

798
01:07:55,020 --> 01:07:56,220
all at the same time.

799
01:07:56,860 --> 01:07:59,000
Dunlap had seven calls before 2 p.m.

800
01:07:59,780 --> 01:08:01,000
Requiring over half a shirt,

801
01:08:01,120 --> 01:08:02,840
CMS is fleet to respond simultaneously.

802
01:08:03,740 --> 01:08:05,520
Another thing that we have not heard anything about

803
01:08:05,900 --> 01:08:08,180
is where is the added funding for EMS in this contract?

804
01:08:08,760 --> 01:08:10,080
When will we see added medic units

805
01:08:10,080 --> 01:08:10,900
for this side of the county?

806
01:08:11,520 --> 01:08:13,340
Medic 4 and Marion is rarely in quarters.

807
01:08:13,820 --> 01:08:15,500
Response times have gotten longer this year

808
01:08:15,500 --> 01:08:17,460
as we wait for other stations to cover these calls.

809
01:08:18,040 --> 01:08:21,120
To be clear, I am not opposed to GCFR.

810
01:08:21,660 --> 01:08:24,020
We all know the VFDs will go away eventually.

811
01:08:24,560 --> 01:08:26,860
What I am opposed to is no clear plan.

812
01:08:28,060 --> 01:08:32,800
When a 40-acre fire takes 21 apparatus from eight departments, I fail to see how two

813
01:08:32,800 --> 01:08:37,580
or three stations with approximately six to nine personnel can adequately cover roughly

814
01:08:37,580 --> 01:08:43,100
60 square miles that is already running a collective approximate 1,500 to 2,000 calls combined

815
01:08:43,100 --> 01:08:43,520
a year.

816
01:08:43,520 --> 01:08:47,960
With the amount of growth and construction currently occurring in that area,

817
01:08:48,380 --> 01:08:51,980
according to Google, an area of this size and geographical setting such as ours

818
01:08:51,980 --> 01:08:57,240
can see anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 calls for service annually once populated.

819
01:08:57,940 --> 01:09:00,960
The path we are on with no defined plan is a recipe for disaster.

820
01:09:01,420 --> 01:09:06,060
It is not a question of if but when will our worst day be and how many of our

821
01:09:06,060 --> 01:09:10,520
residents will pay with their lives. We have seen in the past two years historic

822
01:09:10,520 --> 01:09:14,360
rainfall impact on our neighbors to the west. Just this July, we had a small

823
01:09:14,360 --> 01:09:18,980
cell dump massive rainfall in our area and calls for service were nonstop. All

824
01:09:18,980 --> 01:09:22,600
the departments worked together. In May of this year, violence formed produced a

825
01:09:22,600 --> 01:09:26,760
small EF-1 tornado in our county. What is preventing that next time from being a

826
01:09:26,760 --> 01:09:32,120
catastrophic EF-4? What happens when the next flood of 98 or 2002 occurs on the

827
01:09:32,120 --> 01:09:36,320
Guadalupe? What happens when we have a truly mass casualty incident? What

828
01:09:36,320 --> 01:09:40,000
happens when a fire like Paradise, California or Boulder, Colorado or

829
01:09:40,000 --> 01:09:46,480
spoke in Washington happens here. We are inadequately equipped and understaffed county wide to mitigate

830
01:09:46,480 --> 01:09:52,940
those realities. This is playing with people's lives. As I mentioned in a previous meeting, if the

831
01:09:52,940 --> 01:09:58,160
residents don't feel safe, they will leave. And then the budget shortfall will be far greater than

832
01:09:59,040 --> 01:09:59,880
This is a slippery.

833
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:05,580
Very slow and a deadly gamble with our residents' lives. You may say, oh my lord, he's painting

834
01:10:05,580 --> 01:10:11,580
a target on his back. Oh well, so be it. I didn't join the fire department with lofty

835
01:10:11,580 --> 01:10:15,840
goals of public office and getting rich. I did join to protect the residents in my community

836
01:10:15,840 --> 01:10:22,180
and of Guadalupe County. Some folks in this county are afraid of you, of this court, and

837
01:10:22,180 --> 01:10:27,620
they don't dare to speak up for fear of reprisal. I am not one of those people. At least at

838
01:10:27,620 --> 01:10:36,220
But at the end of the day, I can look myself in the mirror with a clear conscience that I have made every effort to advocate for the residents who depend on our department and the citizens of this county that I swore to serve.

839
01:10:36,860 --> 01:10:46,580
It seems that some of you may have forgotten your oath. I have not. I imploring you to remember who does you swore an oath to serve and do the right thing and fund this county's emergency services.

840
01:10:46,960 --> 01:10:54,140
Fire, police, and EMS adequately and appropriately. Not for me, but for your constituents. Thank you for your time.

841
01:10:54,140 --> 01:10:54,900
Thank you.

842
01:10:57,860 --> 01:10:59,800
Is there anybody else who would like to speak?

843
01:11:00,920 --> 01:11:01,680
Come on up.

844
01:11:05,600 --> 01:11:06,100
Good morning.

845
01:11:09,880 --> 01:11:11,380
Good morning, Judge, commissioners.

846
01:11:13,490 --> 01:11:22,610
I want to share some concerns I have regarding the direction of fire protection in Guadalupe County, particularly as you work through the upcoming budget and can you plan for the future of Guadalupe County fire rescue?

847
01:11:23,170 --> 01:11:30,190
And I'd like to introduce, I am Jared Smith. I am here representing the Guadalupe County Professional Firefighters, which is the members of GCFR.

848
01:11:30,190 --> 01:11:39,370
I understand the county as a whole is facing difficult financial situations, decisions, and I recognize that every department is competing for limited resources.

849
01:11:40,230 --> 01:11:48,370
However, I believe we need to have a serious discussion about whether our current spending decisions regarding fire protection are consistent with the long term direction of the county.

850
01:11:49,250 --> 01:11:55,330
The question I keep coming back to is this, if we already know that the long term goal is to grow the county fire department,

851
01:11:55,330 --> 01:12:00,250
at what point do we begin directing more of our available resources toward building that department?

852
01:12:01,290 --> 01:12:08,250
My understanding is that the proposed 2027 budget includes approximately $1.2 million for volunteer fire departments,

853
01:12:08,550 --> 01:12:13,290
along with the discussion of potentially providing another 500,000 similar to what was approved last year.

854
01:12:14,630 --> 01:12:21,450
If that additional funding is approved, we could potentially be talking about approximately $1.7 million directed towards volunteer fire departments,

855
01:12:21,450 --> 01:12:28,830
While GCFR receives no new firefighter positions in the next budget year, I believe that deserves serious discussion.

856
01:12:29,290 --> 01:12:35,670
I want to be clear that this is not an argument against volunteer firefighters or the service that they provide at this county.

857
01:12:36,690 --> 01:12:43,070
Volunteer firefighters have served our community for decades, many have sacrificed nights, weekends, holidays, family time,

858
01:12:43,210 --> 01:12:47,430
and their own money to protect their neighbors, their service deserves recognition and respect.

859
01:12:48,470 --> 01:12:53,610
But recognizing that service in questioning the county's long term financial strategy are two different things.

860
01:12:54,090 --> 01:12:56,890
Our infrastructure is growing, but our staffing is not.

861
01:12:57,370 --> 01:13:02,050
One of my biggest concerns is that GCFR is already facing significant staffing needs.

862
01:13:02,790 --> 01:13:07,090
And receiving no additional positions in the next budget year is going to put us another year behind.

863
01:13:07,890 --> 01:13:14,510
Currently, we have approximately five personnel assigned to station 71 and two personnel at the Dronomo Station.

864
01:13:15,250 --> 01:13:20,070
At the top same time, the county is continuing to expand its fire station infrastructure.

865
01:13:20,670 --> 01:13:23,830
We have a brand new station expected to open by the end of this year.

866
01:13:24,750 --> 01:13:29,570
The FM-25, 725 station remodel is expected to be ready for occupancy next year.

867
01:13:30,230 --> 01:13:34,830
We also have two temporary portable stations intended to expand our coverage throughout

868
01:13:34,830 --> 01:13:35,270
the county.

869
01:13:35,850 --> 01:13:39,510
These are important investments, but they raise a very basic question.

870
01:13:40,150 --> 01:13:42,090
Where are the firefighters who are going to staff them?

871
01:13:42,090 --> 01:13:48,710
We cannot simply take firefighters from station 71, or another existing assignment, and move them into a new station.

872
01:13:49,490 --> 01:13:52,950
Doing that does not increase our overall emergency response capabilities.

873
01:13:53,470 --> 01:13:55,750
It simply creates a coverage gap somewhere else.

874
01:13:57,910 --> 01:14:01,750
We cannot improve coverage in one part of the county by taking coverage away from another.

875
01:14:02,290 --> 01:14:06,290
Moving the same limited number of firefighters into more buildings is not growth.

876
01:14:06,650 --> 01:14:09,170
It is spreading an already limited workforce even thinner.

877
01:14:09,170 --> 01:14:25,250
If we are building new stations specifically to improve response times and expand coverage those stations need additional personnel otherwise we are spending taxpayer dollars building the infrastructure of a larger fire department without funding the firefighters necessary to operate it

878
01:14:25,250 --> 01:14:36,890
If our station without firefighters is just a building taxpayers are paying for readiness I also believe we need to look at how we measure the value taxpayers receive from every dollar spent on fire protection

879
01:14:36,890 --> 01:14:42,190
There is a fundamental difference between purchasing equipment and purchasing guaranteed readiness.

880
01:14:43,230 --> 01:14:46,470
An engine sitting inside a station does not answer a 911 call.

881
01:14:47,010 --> 01:14:49,210
An ambulance does not provide care by itself.

882
01:14:49,890 --> 01:14:53,410
SCBAs sitting on an apparatus do not make an interior fire attack.

883
01:14:54,030 --> 01:14:54,570
People do.

884
01:14:55,150 --> 01:14:59,970
This becomes even more important when we look at the actual response capabilities of the department received.

885
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:29,320
The meeting for county funding. The reality is that some volunteer departments do not consistently respond to calls they are dispatched to. And there are also responses where an adequate number of certified or qualified personnel may not be available. It department responding with an apparatus does not necessarily mean it has arrived with the personnel necessary to perform the functions required at that emergency. If an engine arrives at a structure fire, but does not have enough qualified firefighters to safely perform interior firefighting operations,

886
01:15:29,320 --> 01:15:31,940
Another department still has to provide those firefighters.

887
01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:37,500
If an EMS capable apparatus responds without appropriately certified medical personnel,

888
01:15:38,040 --> 01:15:40,840
another agency still has to provide that level of patient care.

889
01:15:42,120 --> 01:15:44,060
And if the department does not respond at all,

890
01:15:44,380 --> 01:15:46,540
another department ultimately has to cover that call.

891
01:15:47,400 --> 01:15:51,660
For both the county fire rescue, that means our already limited personnel can end up responding

892
01:15:51,660 --> 01:15:55,540
outside their primary areas to provide the staffing and capabilities that are still needed.

893
01:15:56,320 --> 01:15:58,140
That affects more than the original incident.

894
01:15:58,140 --> 01:16:06,060
Every time GCFR resources have to leave their normal coverage areas compensate for a lack of response or qualified personnel elsewhere,

895
01:16:06,560 --> 01:16:13,540
the taxpayers and the communities those GCFR units normally protect can be left with reduced coverage until those resources return.

896
01:16:14,760 --> 01:16:21,040
That is why I believe county funding should be tied not simply to the existence of a department station or apparatus,

897
01:16:21,460 --> 01:16:25,580
but to the actual level of service and operational capability being provided.

898
01:16:25,580 --> 01:16:31,060
simply having names on a department roster does not tell us what capability is

899
01:16:31,060 --> 01:16:36,080
available when a call occurs. For departments receiving county taxpayer funding I

900
01:16:36,080 --> 01:16:39,980
believe we should be measuring things such as percentage of dispatch calls

901
01:16:39,980 --> 01:16:45,140
actually responded to average response times number of personnel actually

902
01:16:45,140 --> 01:16:49,780
responding to the incidents number of certified and qualified firefighters and

903
01:16:49,780 --> 01:16:55,200
emergency medical providers number of EMTs and paramedics available training and

904
01:16:55,200 --> 01:17:02,000
certification compliance, apparatus availability, ability to perform the operational functions

905
01:17:02,000 --> 01:17:03,580
expected of that department.

906
01:17:04,040 --> 01:17:08,660
How frequently another department must provide the personnel or resources necessary to handle

907
01:17:08,660 --> 01:17:09,460
that incident.

908
01:17:10,210 --> 01:17:14,000
This should apply objectively to anyone receiving taxpayer funding.

909
01:17:14,600 --> 01:17:19,580
If a department is consistently responding, maintaining qualified personnel, training, and providing

910
01:17:19,580 --> 01:17:23,880
meaningful emergency response capability to its community, the numbers should demonstrate

911
01:17:23,880 --> 01:17:28,820
that. If a department is not consistently responding or cannot provide sufficient qualified

912
01:17:28,820 --> 01:17:33,920
personnel when it does respond, the county should know that as well before deciding how

913
01:17:33,920 --> 01:17:39,700
additional taxpayer dollars are allocated. When taxpayer fund, fire and EMS, they're ultimately

914
01:17:39,700 --> 01:17:46,100
paying for readiness. They're paying for trained and qualified firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics

915
01:17:46,100 --> 01:17:50,600
who are available in someone's house, someone's house catches fire at 2 in the morning. When someone

916
01:17:50,600 --> 01:17:54,900
one suffers a heart attack or a stroke when a child stops breathing or when a serious

917
01:17:54,900 --> 01:18:00,020
vehicle accident occurs. They are paying for equipment that is inspected, maintained,

918
01:18:00,400 --> 01:18:05,800
tested and ready, but most importantly they are paying for enough qualified people to be there

919
01:18:05,800 --> 01:18:11,480
when the call comes in. We need a transition plan. I'm not suggesting that the county shut down

920
01:18:11,480 --> 01:18:16,940
every volunteer fire department. A transition of this size cannot happen overnight. Volunteer

921
01:18:16,940 --> 01:18:23,840
Department can continue to serve an important role by providing supplemental manpower mutual aid and additional coverage as GCFR grows.

922
01:18:24,740 --> 01:18:26,840
But there needs to be an actual transition plan.

923
01:18:27,460 --> 01:18:29,800
If GCFR is the future of county fire protection,

924
01:18:30,280 --> 01:18:33,460
that every budget should move us a little closer toward that goal.

925
01:18:34,120 --> 01:18:38,460
Instead of continually increasing VFD funding without defined performance expectations,

926
01:18:38,860 --> 01:18:42,700
I believe the county should consider establishing a reasonable funding baseline

927
01:18:42,700 --> 01:18:49,940
and time-future funding to measure measurable response, staffing, certification, training, and operational standards.

928
01:18:51,060 --> 01:18:56,460
Departments receiving county taxpayer funding should be able to demonstrate what level of service that investment is producing.

929
01:18:57,380 --> 01:19:02,660
County funding should be based on capability and performance, not simply on maintaining the status quo.

930
01:19:03,380 --> 01:19:08,480
At the same time, we should begin directing additional available funding toward adding GCFR positions.

931
01:19:08,480 --> 01:19:13,820
Even if we cannot fund every position GCFR needs immediately, we need to fund something

932
01:19:13,820 --> 01:19:14,580
every year.

933
01:19:15,200 --> 01:19:20,760
Add positions gradually, increase staffing on existing apparatus, staff the new stations

934
01:19:20,760 --> 01:19:26,960
without removing coverage from existing stations, expanding our coverage, reduce areas that

935
01:19:26,960 --> 01:19:29,220
depend entirely on volunteer availability.

936
01:19:29,820 --> 01:19:34,600
Most importantly, develop a realistic five-year staffing and transition plan to commissioners

937
01:19:34,600 --> 01:19:40,880
court, department leadership, employees, volunteers and taxpayers know where we are going so that they

938
01:19:40,880 --> 01:19:43,820
know where we are going and what it is going to cost to get there.

939
01:19:44,740 --> 01:19:46,980
We also need to decide how we are going to fund it.

940
01:19:47,560 --> 01:19:52,720
The county assistant district, county assistance district, has also been discussed as a potential

941
01:19:52,720 --> 01:19:57,580
funding mechanism for approximately two years, but from my perspective we have not seen any meaningful

942
01:19:57,580 --> 01:19:59,960
movement toward determining whether we are actually going to pursue.

943
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:26,680
Let's assume that. If a county assistance district and its associated sales tax could provide a sustainable funding source for fire and MS, that I believe we should seriously evaluate that. Determine what revenue it could realistically generate. Determine where it could be legally, where it could legally be collected. Determine how those funds can legally be used. Determine the impact on taxpayers. Put the numbers in front of the commission's court and the public and make that decision.

944
01:20:26,680 --> 01:20:30,540
If it makes financial and operational sense, move forward with it.

945
01:20:30,860 --> 01:20:35,340
If it does not, then take it off the table and identify another sustainable funding source.

946
01:20:36,320 --> 01:20:41,440
What concerns me is continuing to discuss possible solutions year after year while simultaneously

947
01:20:41,440 --> 01:20:43,840
saying there is not enough money to add firefighters.

948
01:20:44,600 --> 01:20:46,700
At some point, the discussion has to turn into action.

949
01:20:47,340 --> 01:20:52,840
Whether the solution involves a county assistance district, reallocating existing funds, establishing

950
01:20:52,840 --> 01:20:57,820
publishing performance requirements for VFD funding, identifying another dedicated revenue source,

951
01:20:58,220 --> 01:21:02,040
or some combination of these options we need a long term financial plan.

952
01:21:02,740 --> 01:21:04,800
At some point, the budget has to reflect the plan.

953
01:21:05,320 --> 01:21:10,960
The county is growing, development is continuing, call volume and service demands are increasing.

954
01:21:11,740 --> 01:21:21,300
New fire stations are being built, existing facilities are being improved, yet the personnel responsible for providing the actual service are not growing at the same pace.

955
01:21:21,980 --> 01:21:26,120
receiving no new GCFR positions in the next budget does not simply leave us

956
01:21:26,120 --> 01:21:30,520
where we are today. It puts us another year behind and every year we postpone

957
01:21:30,520 --> 01:21:34,260
addressing the staffing problem makes the eventual solution larger and more

958
01:21:34,260 --> 01:21:39,020
expensive. That is why I believe we need to seriously examine the approximately

959
01:21:39,020 --> 01:21:42,960
1.27 million currently proposed for volunteer fire departments and any

960
01:21:42,960 --> 01:21:47,200
additional funding being considered and ask whether some portion of future

961
01:21:47,200 --> 01:21:51,200
increases could be better invested in building the county fire department we

962
01:21:51,200 --> 01:21:55,540
We know we are ultimately going to need, especially when some of the department's receiving

963
01:21:55,540 --> 01:21:59,700
county funding may not consistently answer their dispatch calls, or provide sufficient

964
01:21:59,700 --> 01:22:02,100
qualified personnel when they do respond.

965
01:22:02,720 --> 01:22:06,940
I believe we have an obligation to determine exactly what level of service taxpayers are

966
01:22:06,940 --> 01:22:08,500
purchasing with that funding.

967
01:22:09,200 --> 01:22:13,900
This is not about volunteers versus crew firefighters, it is about determining the level of service

968
01:22:13,900 --> 01:22:18,780
Guadalupe County needs and developing the most reliable, accountable, and financially sustainable

969
01:22:18,780 --> 01:22:19,960
system to provide it.

970
01:22:19,960 --> 01:22:24,160
We're already investing in the infrastructure of a larger county fire department.

971
01:22:24,600 --> 01:22:26,080
Now we need a plan to staff it.

972
01:22:26,560 --> 01:22:30,820
I respectfully ask that we begin having the discussion as part of the current budget process,

973
01:22:31,100 --> 01:22:36,360
and consider developing a formal multi-year staffing funding and transition plan for GCFR.

974
01:22:36,900 --> 01:22:41,860
We cannot continue to build stations without firefighters discussing funding solutions without

975
01:22:41,860 --> 01:22:47,040
acting on them, increasing funding without measuring the service being provided, and postponing

976
01:22:47,040 --> 01:22:50,920
GZFR staffing another year while expecting the problem to solve itself.

977
01:22:51,160 --> 01:22:53,900
At some point, the budget has to reflect the plan.

978
01:22:54,620 --> 01:22:57,580
If GZFR is the future of fire protection in Guadalupe County,

979
01:22:57,800 --> 01:22:59,780
I believe it is time we begin funding that future.

980
01:23:01,440 --> 01:23:03,640
Respectfully, Guadalupe County Professional Fire Fire Association.

981
01:23:04,400 --> 01:23:05,320
Thank you for your comments.

982
01:23:05,600 --> 01:23:05,860
Thank you, sir.

983
01:23:07,500 --> 01:23:09,480
Sir, anybody else in the courtroom?

984
01:23:09,860 --> 01:23:10,220
Yes, sir.

985
01:23:10,400 --> 01:23:11,140
I'll see you coming up.

986
01:23:16,180 --> 01:23:17,060
Good morning. How are you?

987
01:23:17,780 --> 01:23:19,040
I'm doing great, Judge. How are you all?

988
01:23:19,040 --> 01:23:25,660
Well thank you very much for having me. My name is John Amder. I'm a resident of Precinct 2.

989
01:23:26,180 --> 01:23:31,020
I am also an employee with the County Attorney's Office. I work as Dave's first assistant.

990
01:23:34,740 --> 01:23:39,920
You've heard a lot. You'll have a lot of tough decisions to make. I don't want to belabor the point.

991
01:23:41,100 --> 01:23:47,880
But when Mr. Fikes came back up here, he shared an anecdote that I hadn't heard before about Robin.

992
01:23:49,240 --> 01:23:54,300
I didn't know about that, but I'm not surprised to hear it because, quite frankly,

993
01:23:55,720 --> 01:24:04,900
that type of behavior is consistent with the actions of a lot that my office's employees.

994
01:24:07,010 --> 01:24:10,220
I see people going above and beyond on a regular basis.

995
01:24:10,920 --> 01:24:16,740
Dave and I both regularly get phone calls at 3 a.m.

996
01:24:16,740 --> 01:24:23,680
when there's an issue, we get phone calls on the weekends and a lot of times these phone

997
01:24:23,680 --> 01:24:30,520
calls are coming from employees of the county attorney's office who were contacted first,

998
01:24:30,760 --> 01:24:37,440
maybe because they're working, handling the on-call telephone, maybe because they're uniquely

999
01:24:37,440 --> 01:24:43,560
Robin Villareal and she's the person that law enforcement oftentimes is most comfortable

1000
01:24:43,560 --> 01:24:49,480
contacting. These people I'm proud to work with because they go above and beyond

1001
01:24:49,480 --> 01:24:58,620
consistently. And I will be honest if Robin leaves she will be replaced. Any of us

1002
01:24:58,620 --> 01:24:59,960
can be replaced. The problem

1003
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:29,200
The problem is not finding somebody to fill that position. The problem is finding somebody of that caliber. That level of dedication. She is not a gun for hire. She is working here because she cares about the county because she cares about the position because she cares about the office. And I'm using Robin as an example because she volunteered herself by coming up here and speaking, but the truth of the matter is, I have three rows of people here.

1004
01:25:29,200 --> 01:25:33,520
every single one of them with my office who feel the same way. I've got a

1005
01:25:33,520 --> 01:25:38,540
prosecutor right there. He has gone above and beyond already. He is a phenomenal

1006
01:25:38,540 --> 01:25:43,980
asset to our office. We only hired him recently within the last year and he's

1007
01:25:43,980 --> 01:25:51,540
already shining. I have gotten compliments from judges, from lawyers, people who

1008
01:25:51,540 --> 01:26:00,440
talked about the level our office is performing at and I'm not saying that to

1009
01:26:00,440 --> 01:26:08,340
pat anybody on the back I'm saying that to illustrate a point what we do what

1010
01:26:08,340 --> 01:26:14,900
the sheriff's office does is very interconnected with the daily lives of

1011
01:26:14,900 --> 01:26:17,320
people who live in Guadalupe County.

1012
01:26:19,730 --> 01:26:23,470
As counties grow population increase

1013
01:26:23,470 --> 01:26:27,950
crisis, crime inevitably is going to increase as well.

1014
01:26:28,630 --> 01:26:31,930
Sheriff Ray is already stretched incredibly thin.

1015
01:26:32,650 --> 01:26:34,450
You know this, you've heard the statistics,

1016
01:26:34,690 --> 01:26:36,270
you've heard this meeting after meeting,

1017
01:26:36,270 --> 01:26:38,110
and I'm not going to belabor that point either.

1018
01:26:38,810 --> 01:26:40,950
But he sends his people out to make calls

1019
01:26:41,370 --> 01:26:43,090
as do the local police departments.

1020
01:26:43,450 --> 01:26:47,850
They make calls, and they may get somebody off the streets temporarily.

1021
01:26:49,010 --> 01:26:52,890
And that may alleviate some of the immediate danger

1022
01:26:52,890 --> 01:26:59,910
but that's only the beginning. That is only the beginning, and when these people are brought through the justice system,

1023
01:27:01,930 --> 01:27:11,590
whether the resolution is to try and rehabilitate them, or just keep them out of circulation for the safety of the public for some period of time,

1024
01:27:12,170 --> 01:27:18,050
it is necessary to have law enforcement that feels like they are backed up by their leaders.

1025
01:27:18,050 --> 01:27:27,650
It is necessary to have a caliber of prosecutors and their support staff who can handle the demands of the job and feel like they're supported.

1026
01:27:28,490 --> 01:27:35,370
I've been here less than two years whether you grant or don't grant the longevity is not going to affect me.

1027
01:27:36,030 --> 01:27:46,770
I can tell you it's going to mean a lot more to people in this office who are looking to their leaders to y'all for a sign that they're valued.

1028
01:27:47,630 --> 01:27:54,410
Dave is running out of levers to pull within his office, so he'll share a fray if y'all

1029
01:27:54,410 --> 01:28:01,630
don't give some indication to their rank and file that they matter, they will be replaced.

1030
01:28:02,310 --> 01:28:08,390
100% they will be replaced, whether they're going to be replaced with people who know what they're doing,

1031
01:28:08,530 --> 01:28:14,670
who can manage to keep the citizens of this county as safe as these dedicated people do,

1032
01:28:15,370 --> 01:28:22,290
I would not bet on that. I know you'll have a tough decision. I'm asking you, as a constituent,

1033
01:28:23,090 --> 01:28:30,190
as somebody who is in the trenches daily and who sees what these people are going through and

1034
01:28:30,190 --> 01:28:36,990
what they give time and time again, give them a nod. Let them know that they matter to you. Let them

1035
01:28:36,990 --> 01:28:42,350
know that they are seen. I promise it's going to go a long way with them. Thank you very much.

1036
01:28:42,350 --> 01:28:43,690
Thank you for your comments

1037
01:28:44,490 --> 01:28:48,470
Is there anybody else in the courtroom that would like to speak during the public hearing?

1038
01:28:53,320 --> 01:28:54,120
Sir good

1039
01:29:00,110 --> 01:29:03,490
morning. Good morning. How are you sir doing? Well, we're in

1040
01:29:03,490 --> 01:29:09,910
I just want to take a few months to speak as a career law enforcement officer and somebody it was a definitely an outsider to this county

1041
01:29:09,910 --> 01:29:15,230
I was brought here to look at some of the processes of the Sheriff's Office and see where we could improve

1042
01:29:16,690 --> 01:29:17,990
So being an outsider

1043
01:29:17,990 --> 01:29:22,890
I certainly don't have all of the politics and inner workings of Guadalupe County,

1044
01:29:22,890 --> 01:29:24,810
and perhaps that serves as a benefit today.

1045
01:29:26,330 --> 01:29:29,190
I want to just share a few observations that the...

1046
01:29:29,190 --> 01:29:32,510
When I got here, the sheriff's office was woefully behind in a number of ways

1047
01:29:32,510 --> 01:29:36,590
between the equipment that was needed from safety equipment.

1048
01:29:36,610 --> 01:29:42,110
When it involves the use of a taser, we had a very outdated JPX and unutilized system.

1049
01:29:43,130 --> 01:29:46,450
We had training. Training is behind in a number of areas.

1050
01:29:47,810 --> 01:29:51,910
We didn't have both of us for some folks and we had many that were expired.

1051
01:29:52,710 --> 01:29:55,130
So I know there was comments about why those were purchased.

1052
01:29:57,130 --> 01:29:59,670
We had ineffective in-car systems.

1053
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:05,980
For our cameras, most of them were no longer functional, couldn't get the evidence it was needed for those.

1054
01:30:08,070 --> 01:30:19,270
More important than that, we had a personnel that was deflated. They were not in a position where they felt comfortable to speak out, speak up about things that they had seen or their experiences over the time prior to my arrival.

1055
01:30:21,290 --> 01:30:31,290
They liked the voice. They have one now, through Sheriff Ray. We gave him what was needed. Sheriff Ray continued to advocate for their improvements and he still does.

1056
01:30:33,670 --> 01:30:39,910
We show you a new sheriff's office, a mission and a public that's public focused, but they're overworked.

1057
01:30:40,150 --> 01:30:47,750
What we're asking them to do, what we need them to do, to be a modern agency, to do what the public demands of us is causing them to be inferior forward.

1058
01:30:48,910 --> 01:30:51,570
We've shared many of the stats involved with them.

1059
01:30:53,630 --> 01:31:02,650
This also creates a flood downstream of those services with the county attorney's office, probation, every one of the departments as these individuals are adjudicated.

1060
01:31:02,650 --> 01:31:03,310
I

1061
01:31:06,540 --> 01:31:11,760
also observed a group of elected officials come together, which in my previous blue county

1062
01:31:11,760 --> 01:31:14,620
I would have never seen that would have been next to impossible.

1063
01:31:15,600 --> 01:31:20,780
In doing so, they came up with a different plan, I guess something that was a bit outside

1064
01:31:20,780 --> 01:31:22,680
of what the court had provided.

1065
01:31:24,260 --> 01:31:28,940
I found that amazing that that group of people would come together, I just never would have

1066
01:31:28,940 --> 01:31:29,500
experienced that.

1067
01:31:30,700 --> 01:31:36,020
So you have an elected group of law enforcement, emergency services, and professionals are

1068
01:31:36,020 --> 01:31:38,260
all advocating for additional resources.

1069
01:31:40,610 --> 01:31:44,890
I hope you've heard them and you choose to really listen to the cautions and not just

1070
01:31:44,890 --> 01:31:47,190
to do so in quiet contemplation.

1071
01:31:48,770 --> 01:31:55,330
Did you actually come here with an idea that you'd listen and determine whether or not any

1072
01:31:55,330 --> 01:32:00,050
of that information is valid or whether you have a pre-determined decision?

1073
01:32:00,590 --> 01:32:03,650
So I do hope that this has been valuable for all the people that have spoken.

1074
01:32:04,410 --> 01:32:05,310
I do appreciate your time.

1075
01:32:05,710 --> 01:32:06,010
Thank you.

1076
01:32:06,250 --> 01:32:06,630
Thank you.

1077
01:32:09,170 --> 01:32:12,690
Is there anybody else in the courtroom that would like to speak during the public hearing?

1078
01:32:17,680 --> 01:32:17,940
Okay.

1079
01:32:18,200 --> 01:32:19,380
Any commissioners?

1080
01:32:19,660 --> 01:32:20,740
Would you like to make any comments?

1081
01:32:23,440 --> 01:32:30,560
I just wanted to give a brief overview and make this very, very simple and fairly quick.

1082
01:32:30,560 --> 01:32:35,820
We've talked about budget for months now and there's a tremendous amount of challenges

1083
01:32:35,820 --> 01:32:37,820
is that we've had to face and address,

1084
01:32:38,000 --> 01:32:39,080
and I want to go through some of those.

1085
01:32:39,200 --> 01:32:40,940
But first, I want to say thank you to everybody

1086
01:32:40,940 --> 01:32:42,180
that's in the courtroom today.

1087
01:32:42,760 --> 01:32:45,260
Thank you for all the individuals that took time out

1088
01:32:45,260 --> 01:32:46,200
to come up and speak.

1089
01:32:47,800 --> 01:32:50,420
Listening and making notes of the individual concerns

1090
01:32:50,420 --> 01:32:53,780
that were brought up, I was reflecting on everything

1091
01:32:53,780 --> 01:32:55,040
that has to be considered.

1092
01:32:55,120 --> 01:32:57,060
And what everybody got to witness from the speakers

1093
01:32:58,060 --> 01:33:01,500
is a true representation of part of the things

1094
01:33:01,500 --> 01:33:02,620
that have to be considered.

1095
01:33:03,560 --> 01:33:10,180
but still really really important issues with the growing county what we're

1096
01:33:10,180 --> 01:33:14,700
all experiencing or growing pains and at a time when there's more need in

1097
01:33:14,700 --> 01:33:20,320
every single department we got really punched in the teeth with a budget that

1098
01:33:20,320 --> 01:33:24,720
doesn't provide normal revenue stream that we've consistently seen year over

1099
01:33:24,720 --> 01:33:30,180
year and we were on our heels from day one we went through a budget process

1100
01:33:30,180 --> 01:33:35,080
we're reviewing $27 million of requests from all departments that shows an

1101
01:33:35,080 --> 01:33:39,460
as a reflection of the need that is in within all 42 county departments

1102
01:33:40,200 --> 01:33:43,800
thinking we could address a number of those with the budget that was coming up

1103
01:33:43,800 --> 01:33:49,280
but then on July 23rd to the 25th and we got our appraisal role from the appraisal

1104
01:33:49,280 --> 01:33:55,160
district found out we had almost $1.5 billion less for appraise value knowing

1105
01:33:55,160 --> 01:34:01,260
that we didn't have the revenue to cover are already coming in expenses much less being

1106
01:34:01,260 --> 01:34:04,460
able to address the need of the departments that have been talked about for the sheriff,

1107
01:34:04,720 --> 01:34:11,700
for law enforcement, for fire, for EMS, for roads, for courts, for plating, environmental

1108
01:34:11,700 --> 01:34:17,200
health-related issues, flood and drainage mitigation, the list goes on and on.

1109
01:34:18,360 --> 01:34:23,360
So I know we have a lot to discuss today, there's going to be a number of decisions that

1110
01:34:23,360 --> 01:34:24,340
that we're going to have to make.

1111
01:34:24,980 --> 01:34:27,400
There's been a lot of conversation here online

1112
01:34:27,400 --> 01:34:30,720
and in the public, but the only decision that has been made,

1113
01:34:30,820 --> 01:34:32,000
and I'd like this to be very clear,

1114
01:34:32,180 --> 01:34:35,020
the only decision that has been made so far

1115
01:34:35,020 --> 01:34:38,660
in this budget process is to cap the amount of tax rate

1116
01:34:38,660 --> 01:34:40,640
at a 5.65% increase.

1117
01:34:41,320 --> 01:34:42,700
There's not a single other decision

1118
01:34:42,700 --> 01:34:44,620
that has been made to this point.

1119
01:34:45,140 --> 01:34:46,560
I think that's been misconstrued.

1120
01:34:46,600 --> 01:34:47,800
I know there's a lot of misunderstanding

1121
01:34:47,800 --> 01:34:48,920
about the process.

1122
01:34:49,900 --> 01:34:51,880
We started in May meeting with departments

1123
01:34:51,880 --> 01:34:57,360
have individual department head interaction, we went through, got the certified role, we

1124
01:34:57,360 --> 01:34:59,740
Calculate taxes, we go through that whole thing.

1125
01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:29,980
Then we come to budget workshops that happened to end of July and on August the 10th and 11th. And those were the actions that were taken by this Commissioner's Court is only to set that tax rate. And that tax rate can be set at anything today as long as it doesn't exceed the 3549 or what we've been referring to as the 5.65% tax increase. We could have a smaller tax increase. More money can be pulled out of reserve.

1126
01:35:30,820 --> 01:35:35,360
amount of our savings account to fund request positions those reserves could be

1127
01:35:35,360 --> 01:35:39,920
decided upon by this group or a majority to offset the amount of tax increase to

1128
01:35:39,920 --> 01:35:47,680
citizens. But I just I wanted to run through just a quick few items and show the

1129
01:35:47,680 --> 01:35:51,780
tax rate information. We have another public hearing right after this about the

1130
01:35:51,780 --> 01:35:58,700
tax rate but go through and talk briefly about this says recommended budget but

1131
01:35:58,700 --> 01:36:00,880
this was the start of the process.

1132
01:36:03,100 --> 01:36:05,440
I don't want to bore you with too much but I

1133
01:36:05,440 --> 01:36:10,020
show this slide to show that this is the biggest change in our budget, the

1134
01:36:10,020 --> 01:36:17,560
taxable value in 2025 going from 21.976 billion to 2026 being right under

1135
01:36:18,240 --> 01:36:24,840
$21 billion. This has not happened previously. Typically we have an increase in a

1136
01:36:24,840 --> 01:36:30,360
price value. Looking at the chart above, you look at the historical tax rate from 2006,

1137
01:36:31,640 --> 01:36:36,280
and you look at this drastic change that started in 2021 when a price value is increased

1138
01:36:36,280 --> 01:36:42,020
drastically, it pushes the tax rate down. Some have said we should have left the tax rate

1139
01:36:42,020 --> 01:36:48,880
the same. Going back and looking at 2021, 22 and 23 when this tax rate started to decrease,

1140
01:36:48,880 --> 01:36:53,540
if we would have left the tax rate the same we would have had over 20% tax

1141
01:36:53,540 --> 01:36:57,640
increases. Our required tax notice that would have sent went out to the

1142
01:36:57,640 --> 01:37:03,100
public would have showed not the 6.7 and 10.9% increases we already had but

1143
01:37:03,100 --> 01:37:08,660
would have showed high teens low and mid 20% tax increases. And that wasn't it

1144
01:37:08,660 --> 01:37:12,780
wasn't palatable it wasn't something the court wanted to do or was willing to do

1145
01:37:12,780 --> 01:37:14,600
to the citizens that we represent.

1146
01:37:16,280 --> 01:37:21,920
Moving forward, this was the biggest challenge this year in our county, and it's still the

1147
01:37:21,920 --> 01:37:26,300
biggest challenge we're going to have to face today to talk about risk mitigation, about

1148
01:37:26,300 --> 01:37:30,820
our risk tolerance on our amount of funding we're willing to spend.

1149
01:37:31,460 --> 01:37:35,620
The decisions we make today absolutely do affect not only the operation of the departments

1150
01:37:35,620 --> 01:37:41,200
we're talking about, but also the citizens tax rate, their tax liability, the need to offset

1151
01:37:41,200 --> 01:37:48,520
those future costs, how it affects employees, what it changes on our EMS contracts, on emergency

1152
01:37:48,520 --> 01:37:56,160
medical services, about health care for county employees, about paid days off, and over time lines

1153
01:37:56,160 --> 01:38:03,220
and all those things. So where did 1.08 billion dollars go? Well, I believe a mistake was made

1154
01:38:03,220 --> 01:38:09,620
and a recalculation of over 65 tax ceilings was done that changed everything.

1155
01:38:10,240 --> 01:38:16,420
In addition to that mistake and recalculation or a recapture, if you will, of multiple

1156
01:38:16,420 --> 01:38:21,620
years of free ceiling accounts, we had additional state exemptions that came in that were approved

1157
01:38:21,620 --> 01:38:28,320
by the voters last November that increased our total reduction of new property tax exemptions

1158
01:38:28,320 --> 01:38:31,220
for personal property for businesses to almost $400 million.

1159
01:38:31,220 --> 01:38:37,200
dollars. You add back in 864 million dollars and we have a lot less money today than we did last

1160
01:38:37,200 --> 01:38:43,500
year. So I say that there was a great representation of all the things we have to consider during the

1161
01:38:43,500 --> 01:38:49,920
speakers because it really was law enforcement needs, public safety things that I think when we

1162
01:38:49,920 --> 01:38:56,720
talked to anybody it's the most talked about and wanted and needed service. When we talk to people

1163
01:38:56,720 --> 01:39:00,880
and I want to speak for the court, when I have interaction with the public and ask a taxpayer what

1164
01:39:00,880 --> 01:39:06,500
you want your money spent on. They usually say public safety, law enforcement, fire,

1165
01:39:06,940 --> 01:39:12,020
EMS, and roads. Those are the things that people typically want a majority of their money

1166
01:39:12,020 --> 01:39:17,920
spent on. I think everybody can agree on that, but the challenge is where does the money

1167
01:39:17,920 --> 01:39:23,720
come from. And then if we do spend additional funds on those important priorities, how do

1168
01:39:23,720 --> 01:39:28,320
you address those needs moving forward? And that's really what it gets down to. I wanted

1169
01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:34,580
to show this chart because it really lays the groundwork and tells the story as to what

1170
01:39:34,580 --> 01:39:40,080
our county is faced with today when we started out. We were working through a budget process

1171
01:39:40,080 --> 01:39:45,900
that we anticipated. We were going to be able to add positions and do things and make changes

1172
01:39:45,900 --> 01:39:51,400
and address issues and instead we were back on our heels going we don't even have the funds

1173
01:39:51,400 --> 01:39:53,580
to address what we have already spent.

1174
01:39:55,670 --> 01:39:58,270
Looking down at this chart right here,

1175
01:39:58,590 --> 01:39:59,910
our current tax rate is

1176
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:28,820
Number 3304, and it shows our property tax collections. The important line to notice this bottom. The no-new revenue rate, which is supposed to bring in the same money as the previous year, would have made us $4 million short in maintenance and operation. Going to a 2.2% increase made us 2.4 million short. The 4% increase I recommended originally still without adding any positions, any coales cost of living, adjustments for employees or any major changes.

1177
01:40:28,820 --> 01:40:37,600
has left us $1.15 million short without any of those needed resources being addressed

1178
01:40:37,600 --> 01:40:38,600
within departments.

1179
01:40:39,160 --> 01:40:45,060
The 5.65% tax increase simply gets us to a break even point to be able to provide

1180
01:40:45,060 --> 01:40:48,920
the existing services that Grobbler County is providing today to the citizens.

1181
01:40:50,560 --> 01:40:56,720
The chart up on top are some built-in expenses that were decided on before we ever started

1182
01:40:56,720 --> 01:41:02,820
our budget process and before we ever considered a department request from the sheriff, from

1183
01:41:02,820 --> 01:41:06,080
fire, from county attorney's office, from anybody.

1184
01:41:07,140 --> 01:41:12,640
And that was restructure of debt services in preparation to build major projects, but

1185
01:41:12,640 --> 01:41:18,640
also trying to build and prop up an INS rate to build a jail or adult detention facility

1186
01:41:18,640 --> 01:41:19,320
in the future.

1187
01:41:20,020 --> 01:41:24,160
Health insurance initially was a 15% increase for county employees.

1188
01:41:24,160 --> 01:41:31,760
of almost 800 county employees we spend almost $15,000 per year on that county

1189
01:41:31,760 --> 01:41:35,280
employee to be able to receive health insurance from our self-funded insurance.

1190
01:41:35,940 --> 01:41:42,200
We reduce that to 8% knowing that we're going to have additional cost. We are

1191
01:41:42,200 --> 01:41:46,680
going to probably have to pull from our health care fund which is a balance of

1192
01:41:46,680 --> 01:41:50,820
about $6 million because when you're self-funded you don't only pay for the

1193
01:41:50,820 --> 01:41:55,400
service that's provided to the county employee, you also have to pay for the claim on the

1194
01:41:55,400 --> 01:42:01,140
other side. And if that claim goes above 125,000, that hits our stop loss insurance and

1195
01:42:01,140 --> 01:42:06,520
administrative costs, which is an additional cost on top of that. Those are things that

1196
01:42:06,520 --> 01:42:10,140
not everybody thinks about. They kind of take them for granted. But when you go get a prescription

1197
01:42:10,140 --> 01:42:15,640
and you go to a doctor, we're paying about $11 million a year for our county employees

1198
01:42:15,640 --> 01:42:19,520
to have a really, really good health insurance. And those costs continue to go up, and that's

1199
01:42:19,520 --> 01:42:24,100
what that line represents was that built-in initial cost before you ever started.

1200
01:42:25,160 --> 01:42:28,560
365 labs for a computer-aided dispatch for law enforcement.

1201
01:42:29,220 --> 01:42:31,080
We had to do a budget amendment in the current year.

1202
01:42:31,200 --> 01:42:37,140
This is the built-in expense for fiscal year 27 and that is the software maintenance cost

1203
01:42:37,640 --> 01:42:41,600
just for the CAD system for law enforcement that we haven't had in the budget before.

1204
01:42:42,100 --> 01:42:43,340
It's $800,000.

1205
01:42:44,680 --> 01:43:06,960
When you have an $800,000 hit in some of these lines with health insurance, staggered hiring positions for firefighters, built in EMS contracts, we had spent almost $5 million in needed items that had to be addressed in this budget before we ever started also at the same time with the value also being $4 million short before we ever started.

1206
01:43:06,960 --> 01:43:09,460
I just want to put some of that in reference.

1207
01:43:09,780 --> 01:43:13,020
All what I'm saying doesn't change the fact that we're going to have to have discussions

1208
01:43:13,020 --> 01:43:17,280
later on this agenda to talk about reserves, fund balance.

1209
01:43:17,760 --> 01:43:24,600
What risk appetite there is for the Commissioner's Court to spend funds on needed issues on employees

1210
01:43:24,600 --> 01:43:25,360
on positions.

1211
01:43:26,040 --> 01:43:30,160
Just wanted to give some of that information during the public hearing.

1212
01:43:30,460 --> 01:43:34,800
So everybody kind of has an understanding of where we started out in this process because

1213
01:43:34,800 --> 01:43:38,040
because there were no sunshine and no roses when we got these numbers.

1214
01:43:38,400 --> 01:43:42,820
It was, it really was doom and gloom for us going, we've never been faced with this kind

1215
01:43:42,820 --> 01:43:43,360
of short file.

1216
01:43:43,360 --> 01:43:45,000
How are we going to address all the needs?

1217
01:43:48,440 --> 01:43:53,780
Commissioners, any, any comments, any of you would like to make during the public hearing?

1218
01:43:55,000 --> 01:43:59,800
Yeah, I would, you know, I was kind of attacked, but that's okay.

1219
01:44:00,280 --> 01:44:06,720
For over 24 years, I tried to get ESDs in this county, but as everybody else county government

1220
01:44:06,720 --> 01:44:07,720
It takes three votes.

1221
01:44:08,320 --> 01:44:12,180
I was the only one who lived inside the corporate city.

1222
01:44:12,600 --> 01:44:14,040
Everybody else is in the corporate area.

1223
01:44:14,540 --> 01:44:16,240
So when they said, well, here comes another tax.

1224
01:44:16,580 --> 01:44:17,940
They said, oh, no, no, we don't want that.

1225
01:44:18,420 --> 01:44:20,520
So it failed every blessed time.

1226
01:44:21,440 --> 01:44:24,420
And one other thing is I have always advocated

1227
01:44:24,420 --> 01:44:25,200
for the employees.

1228
01:44:25,700 --> 01:44:28,100
And I think now more than ever, we need to get them

1229
01:44:28,100 --> 01:44:29,980
from the back of the bus to the front of the bus.

1230
01:44:30,320 --> 01:44:32,360
We always fund everybody else.

1231
01:44:32,360 --> 01:44:35,180
And then the two employees are the very last to get it.

1232
01:44:35,760 --> 01:44:41,920
When you look at the nonprofits, the state of Texas asks them to come into us, we can't afford it anymore.

1233
01:44:42,520 --> 01:44:48,300
And so, for that, they gave them no franchise taxes, no property taxes, no sales taxes.

1234
01:44:48,880 --> 01:44:52,660
You know, you just go to the public private sector and then get your money.

1235
01:44:52,880 --> 01:44:54,060
Well, they didn't. They came to the county.

1236
01:44:54,540 --> 01:44:59,800
You know if you want to make some money that you need to tell them nonprofit

1237
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:29,880
We don't have any more money. And all those non-mandated services that we provide, we can't afford that either. We need to take care of our county first, our personnel, the backbone of Guadalupe County, or the personnel that we have. And, you know, I've had a cable every year, and it seems to fall on deaf ears. But this year, hopefully, they will take care of our employees first, give them the longevity, give them the IAS for a $4,000 month for everybody inside the way there. It was too much. It $3.7 million. And then the judge actually told me,

1238
01:45:29,880 --> 01:45:32,980
you know how much we're in debt and we are in debt.

1239
01:45:33,320 --> 01:45:35,840
Now can we pull from the reserve?

1240
01:45:36,160 --> 01:45:38,720
Yes, how much do you want to pull from the reserve?

1241
01:45:39,600 --> 01:45:42,600
Say $20,000 or $20 million fine,

1242
01:45:43,020 --> 01:45:44,480
then we got the shortfall taken care of.

1243
01:45:44,800 --> 01:45:46,940
But next year, your cost of government

1244
01:45:46,940 --> 01:45:48,420
went from here to here.

1245
01:45:49,280 --> 01:45:51,900
Next year with the income that we're having in

1246
01:45:51,900 --> 01:45:54,660
is still down here, you have to borrow again

1247
01:45:54,660 --> 01:45:57,680
and again and again in person, you have no reserve.

1248
01:45:57,680 --> 01:46:02,360
And then right now the reason that we got a AAA plus rating is because we have a reserve.

1249
01:46:03,060 --> 01:46:07,020
Chris, what was the actual bond percentage that we got?

1250
01:46:07,220 --> 01:46:09,940
2.8 for the $20 million.

1251
01:46:12,060 --> 01:46:13,380
Come out the interest rate.

1252
01:46:13,640 --> 01:46:15,080
Yeah, tax notes.

1253
01:46:15,320 --> 01:46:16,740
3% and then the last three.

1254
01:46:18,740 --> 01:46:19,920
Yeah, 3%.

1255
01:46:19,920 --> 01:46:23,060
We wouldn't have gotten that without a reserve, a healthy reserve.

1256
01:46:23,720 --> 01:46:26,600
Now, we're trying to do our very best with limited funds.

1257
01:46:26,600 --> 01:46:32,100
So, I know it's hard for you, but once again, I think the money should go to the employees

1258
01:46:32,100 --> 01:46:37,720
to say thank you, to keep them here, and I've done it every year, and I'm sorry if the

1259
01:46:37,720 --> 01:46:42,320
police chiefs have sat with me, but you know, volunteer fire partners are just that volunteers.

1260
01:46:42,820 --> 01:46:46,440
We need paid professional firefighters if we're going to do this stuff right.

1261
01:46:47,020 --> 01:46:51,800
And the Sheriff's Department, he needs people, but once again, where's the money going to

1262
01:46:51,800 --> 01:46:52,200
come from?

1263
01:46:52,640 --> 01:46:54,900
I can fund it for one year, maybe even two.

1264
01:46:54,900 --> 01:47:01,820
But after that, the money's all gone, you know, we can raise your taxes. I think the very first day I said raise it to 40 cents

1265
01:47:01,820 --> 01:47:04,980
Oh, no, no, we're not gonna do that, but that would cover our cost

1266
01:47:04,980 --> 01:47:09,000
But then you have people the way they're saying no, well, I can't afford a 40 cents increase

1267
01:47:09,000 --> 01:47:15,840
But I pay an extra $50 or $50 a hundred of the valuation inside the cities as does the city of civil love

1268
01:47:15,840 --> 01:47:22,600
Seguine everybody else or around around the same cost but they're getting all the services that everybody in uncorporated area want

1269
01:47:22,600 --> 01:47:24,060
But they don't want to pay for it.

1270
01:47:24,600 --> 01:47:28,500
So they're going to have to step up to the plate and say, yes, we'll take the SDs, we'll

1271
01:47:28,500 --> 01:47:31,960
take the special districts, because the sheriff can have a special district over there,

1272
01:47:31,960 --> 01:47:33,900
which for all that money goes to law enforcement.

1273
01:47:34,360 --> 01:47:37,640
But once again, it takes three votes to get this thing on the ballot.

1274
01:47:37,940 --> 01:47:39,400
So that's all I got to say.

1275
01:47:39,640 --> 01:47:39,920
What

1276
01:47:42,440 --> 01:47:47,060
was said in the district, yeah, for less, but it's still, if we didn't have reserve

1277
01:47:47,060 --> 01:47:51,640
and get the AAA plus rating, we wouldn't have gotten that, believe me, I'm working the banking

1278
01:47:51,640 --> 01:47:56,760
business I sit on the board director's bank and trust and I know what it takes to get

1279
01:47:56,760 --> 01:48:01,980
a low interest rate and it's yeah if we do away with all our reserve you know we're not going to

1280
01:48:01,980 --> 01:48:09,600
get it. It's just it's just finance folks. Any other comments during the public hearing?

1281
01:48:09,880 --> 01:48:14,880
I'm going to speak out for a while but Judge can you get back to that graph that you put up

1282
01:48:14,880 --> 01:48:26,950
about the 1.04 billion this one yes I have those are you that know me know I'm

1283
01:48:26,950 --> 01:48:35,350
not scared to take on issues and say what I feel if you look up there the key

1284
01:48:35,350 --> 01:48:42,190
takeaway state required exemptions and corrections over 65 tax ceiling

1285
01:48:42,190 --> 01:48:44,430
reduce the taxable value.

1286
01:48:46,640 --> 01:48:55,270
I listen to everyone of you good people, and I agree with you, but we're

1287
01:48:55,270 --> 01:49:05,710
sitting up here right now in a situation where we are taking the brunt of what the state has

1288
01:49:05,710 --> 01:49:13,110
inflicted upon us. It's not the county employees, it's not the volunteer farm departments, it's what

1289
01:49:13,110 --> 01:49:19,050
But the state has done to us, and I seriously agree with Commissioner Ott in that I think

1290
01:49:19,050 --> 01:49:22,170
the appraisal district probably ought to be audited too.

1291
01:49:26,300 --> 01:49:31,960
You know, I listen to all of y'all, and I agree with all of y'all, but no one brought up

1292
01:49:31,960 --> 01:49:34,500
that point that we lost this value.

1293
01:49:35,880 --> 01:49:38,660
We've got to figure out how to get out of this hole.

1294
01:49:38,660 --> 01:49:47,000
and it's not Grodaloupe County because I sat in last week on a they called it the

1295
01:49:47,000 --> 01:49:54,060
legislative conference. It was counties from all over the state and they're all

1296
01:49:54,060 --> 01:49:59,180
talking about it and the cities around here are all talking about it. They're

1297
01:49:59,180 --> 01:49:59,900
fighting and

1298
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:29,980
Fighting and fighting. Where's the money gonna come from? So we'll figure through this. We will figure through this and we will do what's right for the people. But think about it when you talk to your state legislators. Not this body up here. This body up here. Yes, there are things that can be done different. I'm not gonna argue that point. The other thing that

1299
01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:33,640
that I'm going to say is, these people all talk about growth.

1300
01:50:34,540 --> 01:50:39,960
And we've talked about it some in this body here.

1301
01:50:41,640 --> 01:50:44,620
One of the things that has happened with the growth

1302
01:50:45,360 --> 01:50:48,480
is, and I've heard it here in different ways,

1303
01:50:48,800 --> 01:50:51,960
all the people coming in, all the people coming in.

1304
01:50:52,880 --> 01:50:56,940
But the houses that are being built by these developers

1305
01:50:56,940 --> 01:51:05,580
are not paying the taxes. They pay a little bit but they're not paying what we

1306
01:51:05,580 --> 01:51:13,820
need to pay for a jail, for sheriff, for fire, the schools. We're not part of the

1307
01:51:13,820 --> 01:51:20,580
schools. But they're not paying the bill. But the developers are making their

1308
01:51:20,580 --> 01:51:25,180
money and they're leaving and they're leaving all of us right here with the

1309
01:51:25,180 --> 01:51:31,020
problems. When I ran four years ago, I said this was going to happen. We're going to

1310
01:51:31,020 --> 01:51:38,360
hit a wall. I didn't know the state would do this, but we're hitting a wall. And I'm

1311
01:51:38,360 --> 01:51:44,360
very upset about what it's doing to our people that are here, our employees. I worked for

1312
01:51:44,360 --> 01:51:51,440
a company where we were taught a quality program. I have told, I don't know how many people

1313
01:51:51,440 --> 01:51:56,540
of this light about this lately. First thing you take care of your customers, that's our

1314
01:51:56,540 --> 01:52:01,520
tax fares. The next is your employees. We can't do it without our employees and the third

1315
01:52:01,520 --> 01:52:09,020
is management which is the elected officials and department heads. We're trying and we're going

1316
01:52:09,020 --> 01:52:15,420
to try. I'm going to address one other thing that keeps coming up. Paying for fire protection

1317
01:52:15,420 --> 01:52:22,540
with the SERP not ESDs. I'm willing to look into that but these taxing districts we look into

1318
01:52:22,540 --> 01:52:29,080
we looked into that. In pre-sync 4, I'm not going to speak for the other pre-synx but in pre-sync 4,

1319
01:52:29,500 --> 01:52:39,340
I had three businesses that I could tax with sales tax 3. I'm not going to do that to three businesses.

1320
01:52:39,340 --> 01:52:48,600
is, that's insane. So I'm just saying we'll get in a little more discussion after a while,

1321
01:52:48,740 --> 01:52:58,460
but we have been given, we have been dealt a hand that is not good. And I just hope people will

1322
01:52:58,460 --> 01:53:06,680
understand what we're trying to get through and we're trying to listen to everybody, but it is

1323
01:53:06,680 --> 01:53:12,880
extremely difficult. So that's all I'll speak after a while. I've spoke long and

1324
01:53:12,880 --> 01:53:16,820
out. Commissioner's and the other comments.

1325
01:53:18,900 --> 01:53:33,340
We'll go after me. Okay. What's usually ladies first. So we have discussed this many times.

1326
01:53:33,340 --> 01:53:40,460
have had a lot of budget workshops and I think all of y'all are aware of the revenue shortfall

1327
01:53:40,460 --> 01:53:46,700
of what we're faced with. I do want to recognize former commissioner sideburner sitting in the

1328
01:53:46,700 --> 01:53:52,080
audience who's probably very happy he's not sitting up here right now doing this today.

1329
01:53:53,700 --> 01:54:01,640
But I get it. You know I've been serving this county in this city and my community for over 40 years

1330
01:54:02,380 --> 01:54:10,640
and I do care. That's why I'm here. And I have a passion to help people. That's just a

1331
01:54:10,640 --> 01:54:17,640
burden or a benefit. It depends on how you look at that. And as some of you have alluded

1332
01:54:17,640 --> 01:54:22,340
to today, you know, there are some of us who are not running again and this is the end of our term.

1333
01:54:22,960 --> 01:54:26,520
There are some comments that we don't care, but that is not the case of my part.

1334
01:54:26,520 --> 01:54:37,400
I'm here and I care and I listen and I hear what y'all are saying. The judge did a fantastic job of explaining the finance part of it.

1335
01:54:38,220 --> 01:54:50,960
We are faced with a tax rate that we have a ceiling on now. We are faced with 101 requests for positions for fiscal year 27.

1336
01:54:50,960 --> 01:54:53,700
171 position requests.

1337
01:54:56,300 --> 01:54:59,800
Appreciate the fact that Elections gathered together

1338
01:54:59,800 --> 01:54:59,900
heard.

1339
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:29,500
To try to come up and formulate a plan and it's appreciated, but the five of us have to make the decision. And I've stated my apprehensions about the reserve fund, savings account, whatever you want to refer to it as, as, as Commissioner Walerton said, it, it, it stacks on for the next year. So the three million keeps being thrown around with the building purchase, the land purchase.

1340
01:55:29,500 --> 01:55:36,180
that's historically been in our budgets just because the just in case patent

1341
01:55:36,180 --> 01:55:41,740
comment then I totally respect you Patten always. We've discussed this

1342
01:55:41,740 --> 01:55:47,300
before there are preliminary discussions about what may happen with that for

1343
01:55:47,300 --> 01:55:55,940
the future growth of the county but in relation to what we're faced with going

1344
01:55:55,940 --> 01:56:01,760
forward. It's tough decisions, tougher than I've ever faced out of this will be going on my

1345
01:56:01,760 --> 01:56:10,400
eighth year. So I respect everyone and everybody has said in relation to people who may say things

1346
01:56:10,400 --> 01:56:17,560
on social media and bash me. I don't pay attention to social media. I know what I know. People come up to

1347
01:56:17,560 --> 01:56:23,500
me who know me and say, how am I doing? I'm doing fine. I take care of my family and that's what I do.

1348
01:56:23,500 --> 01:56:29,400
I do the best I can sitting in this seat, but I also look at the long-term future and

1349
01:56:29,400 --> 01:56:30,320
I've always said that.

1350
01:56:31,940 --> 01:56:36,860
So we set the 5.65 increase, we've set that ceiling.

1351
01:56:37,520 --> 01:56:43,500
My initial take for employees, I think in the initial discussions, we all agreed helping

1352
01:56:43,500 --> 01:56:45,420
our employees was a 4% COLA.

1353
01:56:46,180 --> 01:56:51,060
It went to three, which I think we've all agreed to, and it's a definite benefit.

1354
01:56:51,060 --> 01:56:55,680
that I had proposed also 3%, plus $1,000 base longevity,

1355
01:56:56,020 --> 01:56:57,960
which we typically have.

1356
01:56:58,380 --> 01:57:00,780
That's still up for discussion, as the judge said.

1357
01:57:01,020 --> 01:57:02,980
The only thing we've said is the tax rate.

1358
01:57:04,620 --> 01:57:08,000
So, going forward in our agenda item coming up,

1359
01:57:08,000 --> 01:57:09,460
we'll have more discussion, I'm sure.

1360
01:57:10,380 --> 01:57:12,220
But I just wanted to state those things

1361
01:57:13,930 --> 01:57:17,340
and clear up some of the money here around me personally,

1362
01:57:17,620 --> 01:57:20,060
because it's, I'm human and it's frustrating.

1363
01:57:20,060 --> 01:57:25,200
but I don't take it to heart because I know what I do and I care for this

1364
01:57:25,200 --> 01:57:30,200
community. My family, I'm generations of family in Guadalupe County over 150

1365
01:57:30,200 --> 01:57:36,600
years. So I am here, my boys are here, my family is here. So I care about the

1366
01:57:36,600 --> 01:57:40,940
future and I'm not going anywhere. I'm already thinking of things what I'm going

1367
01:57:40,940 --> 01:57:45,800
to do after this to help with the community. So we'll figure it out because we have

1368
01:57:45,800 --> 01:57:51,220
to. And we're going to move forward. Not everybody is going to be happy, but we're going

1369
01:57:51,220 --> 01:57:52,220
to do what we need to do.

1370
01:58:00,210 --> 01:58:02,050
So I'm going to talk in a little bit of bullet points since

1371
01:58:02,050 --> 01:58:06,550
a lot of things were said today. I think a lot of valuable things have been said. And I

1372
01:58:06,550 --> 01:58:11,990
think, first of all, when I extend some thanks to the citizens that took their time to come

1373
01:58:11,990 --> 01:58:16,510
here today and talk to us, I appreciate you because everyone's time is really your

1374
01:58:16,510 --> 01:58:18,670
and more important resource your time in your health.

1375
01:58:19,830 --> 01:58:24,370
We also want to thank the Court because this has been quite a ride, we've had quite a

1376
01:58:24,370 --> 01:58:24,570
ride.

1377
01:58:25,170 --> 01:58:29,070
We have a lot of years of experience in this court, I personally have really benefited

1378
01:58:29,070 --> 01:58:31,070
from that, from learning from everyone here.

1379
01:58:31,870 --> 01:58:37,970
And it is true that it is, you know, the last last round, last dance for a few of us, last

1380
01:58:37,970 --> 01:58:44,430
term for a couple more few of us might just be me in a few years and I really will miss

1381
01:58:44,430 --> 01:58:45,090
the experience.

1382
01:58:45,090 --> 01:58:48,750
I want you all to know that there has been a lot of negative rhetoric about members

1383
01:58:48,750 --> 01:58:53,230
of this court and whether or not you agree with certain things they say and certainly

1384
01:58:53,230 --> 01:58:57,390
we've had some split votes on this court as we all know but I have to tell you this

1385
01:58:57,390 --> 01:59:04,470
group works really, really hard I mean they really do I have really gotten to know them

1386
01:59:04,470 --> 01:59:09,370
in the last year and a half it has been an honor to do that they are unique each one

1387
01:59:09,370 --> 01:59:13,610
of them in their belief set but I can tell you that they each have a very strong belief

1388
01:59:13,610 --> 01:59:18,490
you said, and they really truly are all doing their best and putting in a lot of heart

1389
01:59:18,490 --> 01:59:19,310
and a lot of work.

1390
01:59:19,430 --> 01:59:22,790
And so I truly want to thank each one of you for all of the work you've done.

1391
01:59:22,850 --> 01:59:24,590
I think a lot of it goes unrecognized.

1392
01:59:24,670 --> 01:59:29,050
I think that when there are problems that everyone directs it toward Commissioner's Court,

1393
01:59:30,170 --> 01:59:32,770
if you're angry about something, it comes toward Commissioner's Court.

1394
01:59:33,590 --> 01:59:39,410
In the last month, all of us together, I mean, it's probably countless, how much contact

1395
01:59:39,410 --> 01:59:44,290
of negativity we have gotten in every direction from almost every department,

1396
01:59:44,550 --> 01:59:48,130
citizens, et cetera. And you have to understand that all five of us are here

1397
01:59:48,130 --> 01:59:52,070
because we want to be here. We're not forced to be here. You have to learn so

1398
01:59:52,070 --> 01:59:55,270
many different things, so many different areas of expertise. And each one of

1399
01:59:55,270 --> 01:59:59,510
those areas runs deep, right? I mean, all people here that represent your various

1400
01:59:59,510 --> 01:59:59,970
This is apartment-

1401
02:00:01,920 --> 02:00:07,200
We have to do the best we can with a combination of resources and needs that are available to us.

1402
02:00:08,340 --> 02:00:23,240
I really want to emphasize that because I think these last few weeks have really been difficult for all of us with a lot of the commentary, a lot of the pressure, a lot of the hate that's been directed toward us before a lot of decisions have been made.

1403
02:00:23,240 --> 02:00:29,700
I think that sometimes it's very hard also as a governing body because you don't want to alarm

1404
02:00:29,700 --> 02:00:35,700
the public but you want to inform the public and having outlets to send information to the

1405
02:00:35,700 --> 02:00:40,820
public so everyone understands sometimes it's very difficult to do in a streamlined fashion so I want

1406
02:00:40,820 --> 02:00:45,440
to talk a little bit about my perspective. I like to do that let you know kind of where I'm coming

1407
02:00:45,440 --> 02:00:51,020
from in the decisions that I make and talk about some of the issues. I speak sometimes a little more

1408
02:00:51,020 --> 02:00:54,380
family and some members of the court. Some of them speak very eloquently, and I admire

1409
02:00:54,380 --> 02:00:58,580
them for that. I like to do a little bit more short strokes.

1410
02:01:01,250 --> 02:01:02,010
I've said it a couple

1411
02:01:02,010 --> 02:01:07,050
times, so I'll say it again. We had a very unexpected, large differential in what we expected

1412
02:01:07,650 --> 02:01:13,330
in taxable value, that being what we know so far, a total of exemptions in 65 and over households

1413
02:01:13,330 --> 02:01:18,950
over the cumulative effect of the year since 2022 onward. We were informed that those have

1414
02:01:18,950 --> 02:01:21,830
not been all accounted for, suddenly they were found.

1415
02:01:22,030 --> 02:01:25,850
I believe the verbiage used was swept up into the technology.

1416
02:01:26,530 --> 02:01:28,190
And because of that being swept up,

1417
02:01:28,650 --> 02:01:30,510
the difference between the number that we received

1418
02:01:30,510 --> 02:01:32,650
from our tax assessor and the number we received

1419
02:01:32,650 --> 02:01:34,890
from our appraisal district was 1.5 billion.

1420
02:01:35,510 --> 02:01:37,590
We received a 2.4 billion in total

1421
02:01:37,590 --> 02:01:40,750
from the tax assessor and a $3.9 billion factor

1422
02:01:41,130 --> 02:01:43,110
from the appraisal district, giving us a difference

1423
02:01:43,110 --> 02:01:45,830
which became a negative in our ability

1424
02:01:45,830 --> 02:01:48,610
to use those funds of 1.5 billion.

1425
02:01:49,470 --> 02:01:53,950
What's unfortunate is that even that we've heard from both entities, we still don't truly

1426
02:01:53,950 --> 02:01:57,630
understand the mistake, not because of a lack of comprehension on our part but because

1427
02:01:57,630 --> 02:01:59,910
of the information that's not available to us at this time.

1428
02:02:00,690 --> 02:02:05,150
We initially discovered that on July 27th, there's been a lot of rhetoric that we've been holding

1429
02:02:05,150 --> 02:02:06,530
back information, that's not true.

1430
02:02:07,150 --> 02:02:11,370
We learned about it on July 27th and because of how that factored into the calculus of what

1431
02:02:11,370 --> 02:02:13,590
money we had, we started this at a deficit.

1432
02:02:14,070 --> 02:02:14,890
It was unexpected.

1433
02:02:14,890 --> 02:02:18,850
it. It's not because anyone doesn't want to give money. It's not because people are holding

1434
02:02:18,850 --> 02:02:24,690
back. It's because we are faced with an unexpected issue. I've said several times I think that we

1435
02:02:24,690 --> 02:02:30,370
do need to engage the services of an outside auditor because I think that we are in a risky situation

1436
02:02:30,370 --> 02:02:35,270
that we do not understand exactly what this problem is. We don't understand exactly how it happened

1437
02:02:35,790 --> 02:02:39,470
and it happened outside of any department that's within the purview of commissioners court.

1438
02:02:39,910 --> 02:02:44,450
So we don't have the ability to fully understand which means that our ability to understand

1439
02:02:44,450 --> 02:02:46,910
and if it will happen again, the likelihood of reoccurrence

1440
02:02:46,910 --> 02:02:49,070
into which extent isn't unknown to us.

1441
02:02:49,890 --> 02:02:50,650
It's a problem.

1442
02:02:51,170 --> 02:02:53,230
Well, I would like for us to do in the next fiscal year

1443
02:02:53,230 --> 02:02:55,090
is engage the services in an outside order

1444
02:02:55,090 --> 02:02:57,010
so that they can go through with the numbers

1445
02:02:57,010 --> 02:02:58,590
that the appraisal district has given us,

1446
02:02:59,010 --> 02:03:00,590
work together with our tax assessor

1447
02:03:00,590 --> 02:03:02,090
and see what we can come up with

1448
02:03:02,090 --> 02:03:03,770
so that we can make decisions going forward.

1449
02:03:04,250 --> 02:03:07,310
Now, the benefit of that is that we will be able

1450
02:03:07,310 --> 02:03:09,110
to look at those numbers and those figures

1451
02:03:09,110 --> 02:03:11,930
and get that information throughout the next fiscal year,

1452
02:03:11,930 --> 02:03:19,070
plan accordingly and speak and communicate with our departments and the public as it goes so that this is not an unexpected surprise this time.

1453
02:03:20,250 --> 02:03:24,850
However, the element of surprise is not commissioners court's fault and it is very unfortunate.

1454
02:03:28,240 --> 02:03:36,960
I think what this comes down to is who is more risk averse than others because we have, as you've seen in the charts,

1455
02:03:37,580 --> 02:03:41,940
it would require an increase in the tax rate to even balance the budget to what it was last year.

1456
02:03:41,940 --> 02:03:46,300
Okay, so that has to happen if we're even going to get what we have last year.

1457
02:03:46,380 --> 02:03:49,720
That's without a caller, that's without longevity, that's without new positions, that's without

1458
02:03:49,720 --> 02:03:55,580
re-grades, that's without equipment, trucks, things that people need by itself.

1459
02:03:56,340 --> 02:04:02,300
And then on top of that, we come down to, are we willing to take money out of the fund

1460
02:04:02,300 --> 02:04:02,880
balance or not?

1461
02:04:02,960 --> 02:04:07,900
Are we willing to move several line items that are set aside for capital projects, building,

1462
02:04:07,900 --> 02:04:14,360
land, etc. and use that money for things that are one-time factors in part but also largely

1463
02:04:14,360 --> 02:04:14,960
reoccurring.

1464
02:04:15,440 --> 02:04:19,080
A lot of the things that we've heard today and the feedback that we've heard throughout

1465
02:04:19,080 --> 02:04:23,480
the last few weeks have been people saying, hey, we need essential services, we need more

1466
02:04:23,480 --> 02:04:28,840
bodies, we need people, we want our employees to get a raise as well, but we need people.

1467
02:04:29,020 --> 02:04:32,860
And of course, as you know, those are reoccurring costs because you can pull it out of the savings

1468
02:04:32,860 --> 02:04:39,160
account this year, but if we don't have that fund generation next year, like we've enjoyed

1469
02:04:39,160 --> 02:04:43,480
prior years, then we would have to pull it back out again and again and again and again,

1470
02:04:43,960 --> 02:04:47,660
unless we have a better year. No, we don't know, right? So the risk, it comes back to the

1471
02:04:47,660 --> 02:04:55,480
risk of our city factor. And I think that, you know, myself, I am inclined, as I've said

1472
02:04:55,480 --> 02:04:59,460
before to use some of that money that we have set aside for M.

1473
02:05:08,600 --> 02:05:29,880
No, no, not to the extent that it has, at the very least. But I think that we do need to spend the money and the time to really understand what caused this. And if it's something that we see coming in the future that we communicate to the department's early, hey, if we have a problem coming, it might not be a cola next year. But I think if, in my opinion, and through the people we've spoken to, my constituents, the employees, I speak to, they'd

1474
02:05:29,880 --> 02:05:34,000
department has an elected I speak to, I think if the choice was, hey, do we spend some

1475
02:05:34,000 --> 02:05:38,520
of this money now to make holes, some of the tenured people we have and to move forward

1476
02:05:38,520 --> 02:05:42,620
the best we can in the situation we're in, knowing that maybe next year for our deficit

1477
02:05:42,620 --> 02:05:46,640
there may not be a co-order, may not be longevity. If we have a repeat problem and they know that

1478
02:05:46,640 --> 02:05:56,180
ahead of time, I think it's better to be a little riskier with it now. Now, I have to tell

1479
02:05:56,180 --> 02:06:01,740
you what I think is not productive is fighting between the department's

1480
02:06:01,740 --> 02:06:06,680
department heads fire departments in different people competing interests

1481
02:06:06,680 --> 02:06:11,440
between the precincts different entities different offices no matter what

1482
02:06:11,440 --> 02:06:16,320
you are I look at this room some of you are my friends some of you I don't know

1483
02:06:16,320 --> 02:06:20,280
well some of you don't like me at all and that's okay because what I truly

1484
02:06:20,280 --> 02:06:26,900
care about is the people and you know growing around talking to people as a

1485
02:06:26,900 --> 02:06:31,040
prosecutor as a person in private practice as a person that was campaigning now as a person

1486
02:06:31,040 --> 02:06:34,900
that holds office I think that what really resounds what's really the most important

1487
02:06:34,900 --> 02:06:38,060
what all of you can probably agree to is the people the citizens right it's not us in

1488
02:06:38,060 --> 02:06:41,880
this room typically with the exception of you that are citizens of course but us in the room

1489
02:06:41,880 --> 02:06:45,320
the ones that are making the decisions the ones that are boots on the ground it's not

1490
02:06:45,320 --> 02:06:52,680
about us it's about them don't we need to be as employees here as good as we can be for

1491
02:06:52,680 --> 02:07:02,400
the people, and that's really what this is about. I have to tell you, fire departments publicly

1492
02:07:02,400 --> 02:07:08,500
shaming other fire departments. It's not good. It's not productive. It doesn't cause anything

1493
02:07:09,040 --> 02:07:09,800
going to happen.

1494
02:07:11,880 --> 02:07:15,640
Law enforcement against law enforcement. It's not good. You're all important.

1495
02:07:15,780 --> 02:07:19,420
You do different jobs. You have different tasks. It's true. Absolutely. Right? Different levels of

1496
02:07:19,420 --> 02:07:23,640
things. But at the same time, the competition, we have to find a way to work together. We're

1497
02:07:23,640 --> 02:07:28,940
not doing it. We are very divisive among ourselves. I wish it wasn't that way. I think that

1498
02:07:28,940 --> 02:07:31,820
it can be better. I think it will be better, but you have to understand that we have been

1499
02:07:31,820 --> 02:07:38,020
faced with some serious challenges this year. The court has been put in some very precarious

1500
02:07:38,020 --> 02:07:42,840
situations. There have been different things said and different future actions spoken

1501
02:07:42,840 --> 02:07:47,700
about to the court that of course puts us in an odd position because each of us are trying

1502
02:07:47,700 --> 02:07:52,060
to do what we think is truly best and so when your back is against the wall with a situation

1503
02:07:52,060 --> 02:07:56,400
like that and you're doing what you think is your best among threats, among division,

1504
02:07:56,780 --> 02:08:02,160
it is difficult but I want you to know that certainly we are all aware of those things.

1505
02:08:03,040 --> 02:08:06,440
I want to speak briefly to the volunteer fire department, I'm sure that's a that's a

1506
02:08:06,440 --> 02:08:09,380
trigger warning for half of you up here but here we go.

1507
02:08:10,340 --> 02:08:16,560
In precincts 1 and 4 we do not have the GCFR staffing in personnel present as precinct

1508
02:08:16,560 --> 02:08:20,540
does and enjoys and is precinct three enjoys from the City Fire Department.

1509
02:08:20,840 --> 02:08:26,200
It is certainly an essential service, while I agree absolutely that not all the volunteer

1510
02:08:26,200 --> 02:08:28,840
fire departments are operating at equal capacity, and they're not.

1511
02:08:29,400 --> 02:08:35,500
I am telling you that precinct one and precinct four specifically, the volunteer fire departments

1512
02:08:35,500 --> 02:08:42,800
that are Marion, New Berlin, McQueenie, like Dunlap, St. Hills, and Kingsbury, we need them.

1513
02:08:43,300 --> 02:08:46,660
And I know the Commissioner of Government and I feel extremely strongly about the fact

1514
02:08:46,660 --> 02:08:51,520
that we really cannot for the safety of our people go forward with a budget that does not

1515
02:08:51,520 --> 02:08:53,140
include additional funding for them.

1516
02:08:53,680 --> 02:09:00,700
Now I understand that GCFR feels that if we give to one we take away from the other, but

1517
02:09:00,700 --> 02:09:02,620
we have to figure out a way for that not to be the rhetoric.

1518
02:09:03,040 --> 02:09:05,640
You're very important to and rely on you, you really have both of you.

1519
02:09:06,260 --> 02:09:10,340
But precincts one and four, and for those of you that are citizens, I want you all to hear

1520
02:09:10,340 --> 02:09:13,120
of this precinct one, I have the most rural area

1521
02:09:13,120 --> 02:09:15,280
out of any one, 52% of the total county.

1522
02:09:15,440 --> 02:09:16,920
We have almost doubled the county road mileage

1523
02:09:16,920 --> 02:09:17,840
of any of the precinct.

1524
02:09:18,280 --> 02:09:20,320
Precinct three is 90 something percent city limits.

1525
02:09:21,080 --> 02:09:22,900
Precinct four, similarly situated to myself.

1526
02:09:23,680 --> 02:09:25,180
We have volunteer fire departments,

1527
02:09:25,300 --> 02:09:27,100
I think at this point in time in the fiscal year,

1528
02:09:27,100 --> 02:09:29,280
they have responded to upwards of 3,500 calls.

1529
02:09:29,860 --> 02:09:31,420
There are some that are very qualified.

1530
02:09:32,000 --> 02:09:32,900
There are some, there are citizens

1531
02:09:32,900 --> 02:09:33,900
that are doing the best they can.

1532
02:09:34,240 --> 02:09:36,260
Of course, we were not ignorant to that fact.

1533
02:09:37,240 --> 02:09:38,080
I want the court to know,

1534
02:09:38,100 --> 02:09:40,040
and I know there's been some severe opposition to that,

1535
02:09:40,040 --> 02:09:45,280
But I know that click and speak for Commissioner Garmin and I having recently talked to him about this that the two of us feel

1536
02:09:45,280 --> 02:09:52,000
Very strongly about it and feel that we are putting the public at at a very dangerous situation if we do not have that in a rural the rural area

1537
02:09:52,440 --> 02:09:58,060
I also support the growth of GCFR. I think that we should be forward facing in that one of the conversations

1538
02:09:58,060 --> 02:09:59,940
I think the court will be having right now and I

1539
02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:13,180
I have a feeling I know where it will go is whether or not we are going to entertain the idea of any new positions in this budget. And I don't know that that's something that we can do certainly for everyone. Maybe no one is going forward with this conversation.

1540
02:10:15,190 --> 02:10:30,570
But I will say that I think that it needs to be recognized that the people that are the volunteers in R2 precincts have done a tremendous amount of work. It's been very valuable. I know that over the last two weekends I've been made aware of many phone calls that the volunteer fire departments have received for dispatch.

1541
02:10:31,310 --> 02:10:35,910
and they have gone and covered multiple fires to the two double digits each day

1542
02:10:35,910 --> 02:10:40,050
of the last two weekends. GCFR has also been covering fires the whole time.

1543
02:10:40,250 --> 02:10:43,150
They're busy. They are all at capacity. They are all covering things

1544
02:10:43,150 --> 02:10:47,250
constantly. GCFR needs more people. The volunteer fire department is doing more

1545
02:10:47,250 --> 02:10:52,410
money to be able to operate. GCFR is going to grow. All of these things are facts.

1546
02:10:53,070 --> 02:10:57,870
But right now today, similar to last year, you're right. We don't have a plan.

1547
02:10:57,870 --> 02:11:01,170
I agree with you, Mr. Smith, you're correct, we need one.

1548
02:11:02,110 --> 02:11:06,590
Right now, today, in precincts one and four, if we don't have them, we do not have people

1549
02:11:06,590 --> 02:11:08,370
that are covering buyers in the rural area.

1550
02:11:08,630 --> 02:11:09,230
That's the bottom line.

1551
02:11:09,570 --> 02:11:10,670
I mean, we have to have it.

1552
02:11:11,010 --> 02:11:11,130
We

1553
02:11:15,290 --> 02:11:18,470
want to let somebody else top for a little bit, if you want to.

1554
02:11:21,270 --> 02:11:23,150
Anybody else want to make any comments?

1555
02:11:25,900 --> 02:11:29,040
I have more to say in some specific thing that I don't want the court wants to reserve.

1556
02:11:29,440 --> 02:11:32,780
More of the conversation for the actual action item if we want to try to cover a lot of

1557
02:11:32,780 --> 02:11:33,420
this just up top.

1558
02:11:33,620 --> 02:11:34,180
That's your preference.

1559
02:11:34,180 --> 02:11:39,680
Do we want to cover more of the conversation right now at front or during the action item?

1560
02:11:44,820 --> 02:11:47,760
I'm just going to get to know what she says about fire.

1561
02:11:48,500 --> 02:11:55,700
Two weekends ago, GCFR was up at North of Sagan at a big fire.

1562
02:11:56,780 --> 02:12:00,820
There's close to 40 acres outside of Marion on fire.

1563
02:12:03,140 --> 02:12:13,020
and who put it out? The volunteers. So to this rhetoric about, are they qualified or not?

1564
02:12:14,420 --> 02:12:22,200
If my pastor is on fire, I want a wet hose there. I want that truck there. I don't care if it says

1565
02:12:22,200 --> 02:12:28,940
was McQueenie, or New Berlin, or GCFR, and my constituents are the same way.

1566
02:12:30,120 --> 02:12:39,000
And until we figure out how to make GCFR move forward, these volunteers are our firefighters.

1567
02:12:39,920 --> 02:12:40,660
They're all we got.

1568
02:12:42,160 --> 02:12:43,380
We got to make it work.

1569
02:12:44,520 --> 02:12:51,620
And to some of the points that were made, and I'm going to dedo that anybody by diesel lately,

1570
02:12:52,480 --> 02:12:58,020
And when that gets to that far, you've got that big old trucks in there wrong, think it's

1571
02:12:58,020 --> 02:12:58,840
running on air?

1572
02:12:59,520 --> 02:13:01,880
No, it's running on $5 a gallon.

1573
02:13:03,380 --> 02:13:05,340
So we got to fund these people.

1574
02:13:06,180 --> 02:13:14,600
I mean, there can be all the argument in the world about in GCFR, we keep up more money

1575
02:13:14,600 --> 02:13:15,500
into that thing.

1576
02:13:16,760 --> 02:13:23,940
But the bottom line is when I look at the run numbers the volunteers are the ones that are making it work.

1577
02:13:24,960 --> 02:13:28,800
Marion ran 637 calls last year.

1578
02:13:29,520 --> 02:13:33,000
Gee, I like to sit in my living room at night.

1579
02:13:33,280 --> 02:13:36,920
I don't want to go out to a fire or emergency call.

1580
02:13:37,080 --> 02:13:38,080
God bless them.

1581
02:13:38,700 --> 02:13:41,460
Marion ran over 450.

1582
02:13:42,260 --> 02:13:49,320
This year, most of them are right now at what they ran last year, so we need to fund them.

1583
02:13:49,980 --> 02:13:59,680
In Commissioner Aud has a few other things that I'm in agreement with, but I will stand by those volunteer

1584
02:13:59,680 --> 02:14:09,640
fire departments to the end of time until there's an alternative. And right now, if my

1585
02:14:09,640 --> 02:14:16,300
house is on fire in precinct 4, my volunteer fire department through the ones that are

1586
02:14:16,300 --> 02:14:25,200
going to come put it out. And I have witnessed it personally in my own family when we almost

1587
02:14:25,200 --> 02:14:32,480
lawless to house and that McQueenie chief came up there by himself and started ripping

1588
02:14:32,480 --> 02:14:40,310
boards off the house to keep the part from going under the house that we need to support

1589
02:14:40,310 --> 02:14:45,250
them and we will support them. That's all I have to say for now again.

1590
02:14:47,910 --> 02:14:52,710
I wanted to briefly discuss one of the propositions I had within the Environmental Health Department.

1591
02:14:52,890 --> 02:14:56,010
Mr. Worms, can you see this file that is available? I think she just stepped outside.

1592
02:14:58,640 --> 02:14:59,520
Thank you, Mr. Ritter.

1593
02:15:14,370 --> 02:15:18,170
While he's doing that, I wanted to bring up one of the issues that we receive some correspondence

1594
02:15:18,170 --> 02:15:24,070
from the sheriff in regard to the chaplain position. This court did discuss the availability

1595
02:15:24,070 --> 02:15:30,210
of a chaplain position for the sheriff's office. It's my understanding, and if I'm unclear

1596
02:15:30,210 --> 02:15:35,790
on that, then sheriff, I would like for you to clarify this for me. We did bring this up,

1597
02:15:35,950 --> 02:15:40,410
and I understand that that position is paid for entirely and annually from the commissary

1598
02:15:40,410 --> 02:15:43,770
funding however our county attorney informed us that it does need to be

1599
02:15:43,770 --> 02:15:46,850
something that comes before commissioners court due to some of the

1600
02:15:46,850 --> 02:15:51,630
different expenses that come into to play retirement being one of them is

1601
02:15:51,630 --> 02:15:54,150
that am I most understanding that this is from our last conversation from our

1602
02:15:54,150 --> 02:15:55,070
previous court

1603
02:15:57,180 --> 02:15:58,860
yeah okay

1604
02:16:00,940 --> 02:16:02,440
doesn't necessarily have to go in front of the

1605
02:16:02,440 --> 02:16:05,720
court of the position to be created I don't know if anybody's requested a written

1606
02:16:05,720 --> 02:16:08,940
opinion from my office if one's created I will have to one but there is no

1607
02:16:08,940 --> 02:16:13,620
specific guidance has to this is for the chaplain and I don't know I don't think

1608
02:16:13,620 --> 02:16:27,300
So I don't think anyone's requesting it unless somebody feels differently than I do, so I don't want to speak for the rest of the court members, but I wanted just to give my impression because I know we had received correspondence from the sheriff in regard to the creation of a chaplain position asking us to do that.

1609
02:16:28,300 --> 02:16:33,320
So the court has an obligation to create that chaplain position for it to ever make it into there.

1610
02:16:33,320 --> 02:16:33,480
Right.

1611
02:16:33,760 --> 02:16:37,240
The question is whether or not that's going to be the duty of the court, just as a

1612
02:16:39,080 --> 02:16:44,720
pro forma requirement or those actual, there's any authority for you to deny that request.

1613
02:16:45,140 --> 02:16:46,440
I've not done the research on that.

1614
02:16:46,760 --> 02:16:50,220
If this was going to be out of asset, for future money, you'll have the authority to say no, you cannot.

1615
02:16:50,620 --> 02:16:50,720
Right.

1616
02:16:50,960 --> 02:16:55,540
Out of that, there is no guidance from either the legislature or the Attorney General's office.

1617
02:16:55,700 --> 02:16:58,860
So it would be the opinion of my office that it would be controlling at that point.

1618
02:16:59,300 --> 02:17:00,200
I haven't done any research.

1619
02:17:00,960 --> 02:17:09,220
I know that you all, for it to make it into the budget, you all have to create that position, whether you have the ability to deny it or not, has not been asked of me yet.

1620
02:17:09,340 --> 02:17:11,200
I'll let you know if you all ask me to prepare a-

1621
02:17:11,200 --> 02:17:13,160
Well, no, I'm not asking you to deny it.

1622
02:17:13,300 --> 02:17:25,420
I was my understanding in the last conversation that we had before this court that the retirement, perhaps the benefits were the reasons that we needed to, maybe to talk about it as a court and vote on it, other than just the simple creation of it.

1623
02:17:25,420 --> 02:17:30,840
And again, if that were massive forfeiture, do you have the authority to deny or approve it?

1624
02:17:31,280 --> 02:17:32,720
I don't know if this is just-

1625
02:17:32,720 --> 02:17:33,400
Simply commentary.

1626
02:17:34,160 --> 02:17:37,140
Since this is from commentary, no specific guidance on that.

1627
02:17:37,540 --> 02:17:43,080
My point was, you may have to rely on an opinion from my office to make that determination,

1628
02:17:43,480 --> 02:17:44,980
but no opinion has been requested yet.

1629
02:17:45,560 --> 02:17:50,600
Okay, so I think there must be some sort of misunderstanding here, because we received

1630
02:17:50,600 --> 02:17:55,640
correspondence from the sheriff and sheriff, you know any input you have is totally welcome

1631
02:17:55,640 --> 02:18:00,340
but in our correspondence from the sheriff we have received that if we don't do this then

1632
02:18:00,340 --> 02:18:07,020
we will, there's a potential that he is going to mandamus us to do this and as a court

1633
02:18:07,020 --> 02:18:10,340
member I'm surprised and a little confused about that because I don't feel like there was

1634
02:18:10,340 --> 02:18:11,840
any negative conversation about it.

1635
02:18:11,900 --> 02:18:12,680
I think we brought it up.

1636
02:18:12,820 --> 02:18:17,720
We talked about whether or not we needed those ancillary funds for retirement perhaps benefits

1637
02:18:17,720 --> 02:18:21,520
But I don't feel that there was any negativity from the court in regard to that position.

1638
02:18:21,660 --> 02:18:28,820
Just to agree with you on that, I believe there's been resistance by the courts to allow any additional funding from any other sources that the departments have available to us.

1639
02:18:28,820 --> 02:18:35,300
The discretionary funds say the hot check, the prosecutors fund, the asset for the funds that both the sheriff and I carry.

1640
02:18:35,580 --> 02:18:39,500
There has been resistance from the court, specifically from the judge saying that if nobody can get.

1641
02:18:40,920 --> 02:18:47,440
If the courts not going to authorize to come out of general fund, then those of us that have other funds available to us should also be denied.

1642
02:18:47,440 --> 02:19:01,820
the ability to do that. So that, I think, I'm not going to speak for the sheriff, because I don't know what the motivation behind that was, but the question would then be whether the court has the ability to deny it. That's not been presented to my office for a written opinion. I can prepare one in a day or so.

1643
02:19:02,720 --> 02:19:07,540
But prior to a man day mistaking place, I think the court would need that law from me.

1644
02:19:09,540 --> 02:19:12,460
What I want to know is, can we talk about that right now?

1645
02:19:13,080 --> 02:19:15,780
As I stated before in the paracord, I have no issue with it.

1646
02:19:16,100 --> 02:19:20,760
I think that it would be fine and beneficial if we did have a chaplain that is paid for

1647
02:19:20,760 --> 02:19:22,740
at a commissary fund on an annual recurring basis.

1648
02:19:23,300 --> 02:19:26,480
I don't have an issue with that person's benefits in a retirement.

1649
02:19:26,480 --> 02:19:28,760
I think that it would be a benefit to the county.

1650
02:19:28,760 --> 02:19:31,240
I think that that person would be made available to our law enforcement.

1651
02:19:31,260 --> 02:19:32,500
I think that it's a positive thing.

1652
02:19:32,520 --> 02:19:35,000
I wanted to see if the court would entertain that conversation right now.

1653
02:19:36,620 --> 02:19:39,280
Any concerns about having the conversation now?

1654
02:19:39,580 --> 02:19:40,080
No, no.

1655
02:19:40,280 --> 02:19:41,160
There's no legal concerns.

1656
02:19:41,460 --> 02:19:42,460
We're presenting the budget.

1657
02:19:42,620 --> 02:19:44,940
There are no legal concerns about having the court potentially.

1658
02:19:45,140 --> 02:19:47,940
And to your point, I did voice concern early ongoing.

1659
02:19:48,080 --> 02:19:50,760
But we also then consider other special revenue funds,

1660
02:19:50,760 --> 02:19:54,200
because you do have records management for the county clerk,

1661
02:19:54,340 --> 02:19:58,120
the fire code for the fire marshal asset forfeiture for yourself.

1662
02:19:58,660 --> 02:19:59,920
But if you remember at the end,

1663
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:29,200
For those conversations, it was also my understanding is that the sheriff has complete control over the commissary and could do that without our approval. That's when the conversation, the commissioner's referencing came up going, hold on, I'm not sure. So that wasn't my opposition to the creation of position. I thought the sheriff could do that without our permission. I think that there's no guidance on it. And so if he were to make the request and you all denied it, then guidance would be necessary. If he makes the request and you all don't give any pushback on it, then it doesn't matter.

1664
02:20:30,220 --> 02:20:36,520
But if we don't make a decision on, I guess that's the question, can you still do it if we don't say yes or no?

1665
02:20:36,620 --> 02:20:40,080
There's no way for it to go into a budget if you don't put it into there.

1666
02:20:40,260 --> 02:20:44,820
So the point being, the Commissioner's Court has to create a position for the auditor to then have a budget

1667
02:20:44,820 --> 02:20:46,480
position for to come out of that money.

1668
02:20:46,940 --> 02:20:52,180
So is it just an act that just requires your signature, one that you're going to be bound to do,

1669
02:20:52,500 --> 02:20:55,780
that he could then mandamus you to do or not, and I don't have the answer to that?

1670
02:20:55,780 --> 02:21:03,660
I leaned towards, he can probably, man, Damace, you should have get to that, but not, but no request of my office has been made to make that ultimate legal decision.

1671
02:21:04,160 --> 02:21:11,840
But he can say I'm hiring you, but until there's a position available through the budget, there's no way to make that happen.

1672
02:21:12,420 --> 02:21:21,740
The point is, whether it's just an act you have to just sign your name to, or if you're all getting a right to vote on it, that's not that.

1673
02:21:21,740 --> 02:21:24,040
But I guess we don't have that question in front of us just yet.

1674
02:21:24,300 --> 02:21:30,300
If you all decide, yes, he's going to be able to use those funds to be able to do that without any question from the commissioner's court, then it's a moot point.

1675
02:21:30,740 --> 02:21:35,020
If the court is to say no, we're not going to put that in the budget, then is when the mandamus question comes up.

1676
02:21:35,400 --> 02:21:41,460
That's when my opinion becomes necessary as to whether or not it can be done without y'all's authority and whether y'all could be mandamus into doing it.

1677
02:21:42,040 --> 02:21:47,760
I think for me, some of the confusion came from me, I attended one of the meetings with the department heads and some of the electives.

1678
02:21:47,760 --> 02:21:53,140
We were presented, we were given a proposition, there were 14 new positions in this proposition,

1679
02:21:53,720 --> 02:21:58,420
there wasn't conversation about the chaplain, we had the conversation in court, I did

1680
02:21:58,420 --> 02:22:03,860
not feel that we were necessarily opposed to it, certainly not a majority was opposed

1681
02:22:03,860 --> 02:22:09,660
to it and so I was surprised to receive that correspondence, it was not my impression

1682
02:22:09,660 --> 02:22:14,060
of how we left the conversation, I wanted to address it now with the court, if we can

1683
02:22:14,060 --> 02:22:17,300
talk about that, if it's something that we want to have included now and I think that

1684
02:22:17,300 --> 02:22:21,600
That would end the conversation in one aspect or another, and if we need further guidance

1685
02:22:21,600 --> 02:22:25,080
or further opinion, then we're all here in the same room moving forward with it since

1686
02:22:25,080 --> 02:22:26,680
we are on a timeline for a response.

1687
02:22:27,460 --> 02:22:27,740
Sure.

1688
02:22:30,260 --> 02:22:34,880
Any other comments or thoughts on the chaplain position being funded out of a commissary?

1689
02:22:36,100 --> 02:22:37,420
It doesn't matter to me.

1690
02:22:43,710 --> 02:22:45,630
I think we need to have some opinions from court members.

1691
02:22:45,830 --> 02:22:46,750
As I said, I'm for it.

1692
02:22:46,810 --> 02:22:50,830
Could any of the rest of you let us know so that we can try to include or not include that

1693
02:22:50,830 --> 02:22:52,250
in the decisions we have today?

1694
02:22:53,090 --> 02:22:59,350
I am not opposed to it individually. My only question for the sheriff is there's been continued

1695
02:22:59,350 --> 02:23:06,490
comments about deficiencies in having the number of detention officers. Online I think

1696
02:23:06,490 --> 02:23:12,130
it's said 25 short is the chaplain more of a preference or priority at this point using

1697
02:23:12,130 --> 02:23:19,910
those commissary funds as opposed to attention additional detention officer. Because in the

1698
02:23:19,910 --> 02:23:25,110
request that we receive from the sheriff. I think and share if you might have to

1699
02:23:25,110 --> 02:23:28,250
correct me if I'm wrong. I don't remember the number of detention officers

1700
02:23:28,250 --> 02:23:33,550
for the jail that were requested in your submission. According to our latest

1701
02:23:33,550 --> 02:23:37,450
staffing analysis, we're 25 short. It really is 24 and a half. I'll just round it

1702
02:23:37,450 --> 02:23:40,530
off to 25 because we can't pay for half of the detention officer.

1703
02:23:43,370 --> 02:23:44,670
In statute, we

1704
02:23:44,670 --> 02:23:47,210
cannot use or the court cannot use

1705
02:23:47,210 --> 02:23:49,710
commissary funds for operational cost.

1706
02:23:50,230 --> 02:23:52,390
So I think there would be a discussion

1707
02:23:52,390 --> 02:23:55,430
that we would probably maybe even need a legal opinion

1708
02:23:56,130 --> 02:23:57,910
on whether or not that could be used

1709
02:23:57,910 --> 02:24:01,350
for detention officers because I would argue

1710
02:24:01,350 --> 02:24:03,150
that that's part of the operational cost

1711
02:24:03,150 --> 02:24:03,970
to running the jail.

1712
02:24:05,390 --> 02:24:07,430
So it's apples and oranges to me

1713
02:24:07,430 --> 02:24:09,850
because it's commissary fund versus county funds.

1714
02:24:10,450 --> 02:24:12,290
You just see it as two different things.

1715
02:24:12,850 --> 02:24:13,210
Yes, sir.

1716
02:24:13,210 --> 02:24:17,790
How many detention officers were in your budget request this year? I think it was 25

1717
02:24:18,590 --> 02:24:26,110
Actually, no, it was not because we sectioned it off into a four-year plan. I think 25 was the total over the four-year plan

1718
02:24:26,110 --> 02:24:33,450
I believe we asked for two this year two detention officers. Correct. Yes, sir. Sorry. I didn't have that list

1719
02:24:35,550 --> 02:24:36,030
Okay

1720
02:24:36,030 --> 02:24:36,070
Okay.

1721
02:24:37,250 --> 02:24:37,950
Thank you.

1722
02:24:38,350 --> 02:24:42,250
Any other questions for the chair from the chaplain position?

1723
02:24:42,570 --> 02:24:47,850
So the funding, other commissary fund for the chaplain is still a chair requested rate

1724
02:24:47,850 --> 02:24:53,050
of, is it, 2201, what is the, what is the funding, the pay rate?

1725
02:24:53,390 --> 02:24:53,910
The pay rate.

1726
02:24:54,230 --> 02:24:56,230
I don't remember the pay rate off the top of my head.

1727
02:24:56,350 --> 02:24:57,170
I'd have to look at it.

1728
02:24:57,170 --> 02:24:59,970
It gets 22 hours.

1729
02:25:02,600 --> 02:25:03,420
That's the same.

1730
02:25:06,280 --> 02:25:12,600
This has come to the court before as far as funding someone out of a special fund.

1731
02:25:13,300 --> 02:25:18,560
And it lasts for two, three years, and then all of a sudden they come up and say, oh, we run out of money. We need to put him back in a regular budget.

1732
02:25:19,140 --> 02:25:26,480
So for two years, I'll be here. I understand you want it. You feel it's really, really needed.

1733
02:25:26,480 --> 02:25:28,460
But as long as it continues to come out of the

1734
02:25:28,460 --> 02:25:29,920
Commissary Fund, I have no problem with it.

1735
02:25:30,080 --> 02:25:33,560
But when you try to move it into the general fund, then, you know, you have my

1736
02:25:33,560 --> 02:25:35,720
Permission to get rid of the position if it does not come out.

1737
02:25:35,720 --> 02:25:37,180
No, I won't be here when that happens.

1738
02:25:38,140 --> 02:25:40,100
It's, uh, the Commissary Fund is very healthy.

1739
02:25:40,400 --> 02:25:40,560
Yeah.

1740
02:25:40,640 --> 02:25:42,820
It brings in more than it puts out by a long shot.

1741
02:25:43,080 --> 02:25:46,880
So I have absolutely no qualms about the fact that the

1742
02:25:46,880 --> 02:25:48,360
Commissary Fund is going to be able to write for it.

1743
02:25:48,360 --> 02:25:51,660
I know you've done the research on how effective a

1744
02:25:51,660 --> 02:25:56,440
a Reverend or a priest or wherever you want to call him can work inside the way

1745
02:25:56,440 --> 02:26:00,320
there maybe you can reach these people and put him on right path and that's sure

1746
02:26:00,320 --> 02:26:04,480
would be nice. Thank you. It'd be nice if they didn't come back, right?

1747
02:26:04,800 --> 02:26:05,200
Absolutely.

1748
02:26:07,850 --> 02:26:11,490
Any other comments? Questions? No, I think we have a consensus.

1749
02:26:11,650 --> 02:26:16,390
I'm going to give you the floor with that. Thank you. I did want to talk about

1750
02:26:16,390 --> 02:26:19,610
environmental health briefly and miss Valdez if you wouldn't mind coming to the

1751
02:26:20,990 --> 02:26:24,770
Ms. Feldes and I had the opportunity to have a conversation yesterday and she did have

1752
02:26:24,770 --> 02:26:29,550
a proposition for the court within this budget cycle that I do support and wanted to bring

1753
02:26:29,550 --> 02:26:30,150
in front of you.

1754
02:26:30,370 --> 02:26:35,210
So Ms. Feldes, if I start to say this incorrectly or lack some detail, please feel free to jump

1755
02:26:35,210 --> 02:26:35,390
in.

1756
02:26:36,390 --> 02:26:41,370
There is a court to position that is currently and recently vacant within environmental

1757
02:26:41,370 --> 02:26:41,910
health.

1758
02:26:42,090 --> 02:26:43,950
The pay is roughly $20 an hour.

1759
02:26:46,150 --> 02:26:53,890
Ms. Valdez is suggesting that we use that money if we are able to abolish that position

1760
02:26:53,890 --> 02:26:58,550
because of some necessary grade and step adjustments for the planer, assistant planer, and flood

1761
02:26:58,550 --> 02:26:59,250
pain manager.

1762
02:27:00,010 --> 02:27:04,210
One of the concerns that I know that Ms. Valdez has related to me and that I certainly agree

1763
02:27:04,210 --> 02:27:13,050
with is that all three of these individuals are doing more complicated work than the person

1764
02:27:13,050 --> 02:27:16,350
in the position of clerk two is really able to do

1765
02:27:16,930 --> 02:27:20,090
from the job description, and that work is being covered

1766
02:27:20,090 --> 02:27:22,130
by other individuals within the development center.

1767
02:27:22,910 --> 02:27:25,510
The three individuals are slammed very much.

1768
02:27:25,710 --> 02:27:27,170
So, and I know Miss Valvez has made a request

1769
02:27:27,170 --> 02:27:29,990
for a development coordinator, but at the very least,

1770
02:27:29,990 --> 02:27:32,950
if these three individuals who are very slammed in,

1771
02:27:33,070 --> 02:27:34,990
as I understand, excelling in their performance,

1772
02:27:35,370 --> 02:27:37,990
were able to benefit from the grading step adjustment.

1773
02:27:38,130 --> 02:27:41,170
That would be two steps for the planner,

1774
02:27:41,170 --> 02:27:45,430
There are two steps for the Assistant Planner in one step for the floodplain manager and

1775
02:27:45,430 --> 02:27:49,430
the money that we're currently going to the court to will cover all of that adjustment.

1776
02:27:49,430 --> 02:27:51,010
It will be no extra cost to the court.

1777
02:27:51,490 --> 02:27:55,330
These are three full-time positions that are already filled as well as if there's anything

1778
02:27:55,330 --> 02:27:56,010
you'd like to add.

1779
02:27:56,910 --> 02:27:57,530
No, ma'am.

1780
02:27:57,590 --> 02:27:58,110
That is it.

1781
02:27:58,630 --> 02:28:03,550
Basically, at this point, you know, I don't feel responsible asking for another position.

1782
02:28:03,710 --> 02:28:09,230
When we have the situation we have and the departments that are also requesting items.

1783
02:28:09,230 --> 02:28:15,410
However, I was trying to think outside the box as I did ask for relief for those three

1784
02:28:15,410 --> 02:28:17,190
individuals in a great and step.

1785
02:28:17,490 --> 02:28:26,050
And so due to this position recently becoming vacant, those three individuals are already

1786
02:28:26,050 --> 02:28:27,730
taken on additional tasks in the office.

1787
02:28:27,870 --> 02:28:29,310
As you all know, we are a small department.

1788
02:28:29,890 --> 02:28:31,730
I don't have an assistant admin.

1789
02:28:31,890 --> 02:28:32,990
I don't have an assistant director.

1790
02:28:33,430 --> 02:28:36,430
So anything extra really falls on other employees or myself.

1791
02:28:37,250 --> 02:28:38,850
I'm not asking for anything for myself.

1792
02:28:39,030 --> 02:28:41,950
I will continue to do what I need to do to make the department operate.

1793
02:28:42,490 --> 02:28:44,730
It's just the three individuals that I have.

1794
02:28:44,890 --> 02:28:50,170
I have to think of a way to try to keep them and also help with the burden that they

1795
02:28:50,170 --> 02:28:52,630
are taking on by taking on those additional duties.

1796
02:28:52,930 --> 02:28:58,330
And so that is why I propose this idea to do away with the clerk and it's not that I want

1797
02:28:58,330 --> 02:28:59,270
to lose a position.

1798
02:28:59,530 --> 02:29:03,110
Obviously, people are probably thinking, okay, you're asking for position but then you're

1799
02:29:03,110 --> 02:29:04,130
wanting to lose a position.

1800
02:29:04,130 --> 02:29:09,470
It's just, I have to think of a way to handle the situation with what's going on right now in the office.

1801
02:29:10,090 --> 02:29:12,170
And so that is, that would be my proposal.

1802
02:29:13,230 --> 02:29:17,130
And I do want to signify that the position that Ms. Fathers did request was a position,

1803
02:29:17,390 --> 02:29:23,670
a development coordinator, a person that would need a specific skill set and experience to fulfill,

1804
02:29:24,130 --> 02:29:27,030
and they would be able to do a certain caliber and level of work.

1805
02:29:27,350 --> 02:29:32,010
So the position she's asking for, that she's certainly acknowledging that we're perhaps not in a

1806
02:29:32,010 --> 02:29:37,270
financial position to fund at this point, that sort of work was not able to be covered

1807
02:29:37,270 --> 02:29:41,610
by the person previously in the clerk role, and it wasn't the same job description by

1808
02:29:41,610 --> 02:29:43,090
any means or anywhere near it.

1809
02:29:43,230 --> 02:29:47,430
So I do support this change, and I would hope that the rest of the court will as well.

1810
02:29:47,790 --> 02:29:48,190
The

1811
02:29:52,860 --> 02:29:55,500
other questions from Miss Valdeaux as well, she's at the podium.

1812
02:29:57,920 --> 02:29:59,980
I know Danielle, we had originally talked about that.

1813
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:26,240
We talked about moving the position from the engineer because the engineer position is vacant. And then if there were a potential vacancy of moving that position around, but if we didn't do that, and you had the opportunity of keeping that engineering employee that moves over longer and restructuring job duties, do you think this clerk adjustment is a better fit for right now to address those problems with existing employees?

1814
02:30:26,240 --> 02:30:36,100
I think for right now that that position as I've told the court even if I do and I'll use the word inherit that position that position moves to my department.

1815
02:30:36,100 --> 02:30:36,580
Right.

1816
02:30:37,140 --> 02:30:48,940
There already is some conflict there because they are the pay is higher than the current assistant planner who is doing a majority of the duties for planning as well as the planner.

1817
02:30:48,940 --> 02:30:50,920
So that already creates a conflict.

1818
02:30:51,240 --> 02:30:56,560
So even when that position, if it were to move over to my department, yes, I would ask

1819
02:30:56,560 --> 02:31:02,560
to increase additional duties onto that because of what the pay rate is for that position.

1820
02:31:02,700 --> 02:31:04,700
I believe that they should have additional duties.

1821
02:31:05,380 --> 02:31:09,640
If that position is kept now, if that position is vacant, then if there would be a further

1822
02:31:09,640 --> 02:31:13,120
adjustment or we would need to realign everything, I would have to do that at that time.

1823
02:31:14,460 --> 02:31:14,820
Okay.

1824
02:31:14,940 --> 02:31:18,200
And I just wanted to have that conversation because I know there's a lot of things moving

1825
02:31:18,200 --> 02:31:24,300
around in your department and at the development center because of that vacancy, the pass-through

1826
02:31:24,300 --> 02:31:29,860
program for reviewing all the plots that are coming in workload has gone up 10th old

1827
02:31:29,860 --> 02:31:34,060
over a short period of time where it's busy in a lot of other departments, but I think

1828
02:31:34,060 --> 02:31:39,440
your area has increased probably quite a bit faster than what was originally anticipated.

1829
02:31:39,840 --> 02:31:40,000
Yes, sir.

1830
02:31:40,360 --> 02:31:45,860
I mean, just in approved law, recorded lots alone, I think we've had 5,800 lots from January

1831
02:31:45,860 --> 02:31:47,620
to July, so a matter of seven months.

1832
02:31:47,620 --> 02:31:54,740
that's not subdivisions that are pending, development, that's pending, it's not septic, floodplain, code enforcement, that's all in my department.

1833
02:31:55,360 --> 02:32:03,680
So again, employees already have a majority of additional duties, and I know there's other departments, and a lot of these departments support our department or work with our department.

1834
02:32:04,180 --> 02:32:11,620
But my biggest thing is, again, I don't feel comfortable sitting up here asking for a position when I do have maybe an alternative solution.

1835
02:32:11,620 --> 02:32:28,320
and really, you know, what I'm hearing from citizens is, you know, law enforcement, and that's my thing, it should be law enforcement first responders first, and that would be fair to the other departments, if maybe, you know, I'm not going to ask for something that other departments are not getting it's not, it's not a fair.

1836
02:32:29,240 --> 02:32:39,820
And I don't want our services to decline and affect the service that we provide to the citizens because I do really take that to heart, and I expect the employees and myself to provide the best service we can.

1837
02:32:39,820 --> 02:32:41,740
and I just don't want to see a downfall in that

1838
02:32:41,740 --> 02:32:43,640
because I'm overworking people.

1839
02:32:44,460 --> 02:32:46,580
And I'll be honest with you, a real eye opener to me

1840
02:32:46,580 --> 02:32:49,720
was the other day when I had an employee tell me

1841
02:32:50,140 --> 02:32:51,320
that they did not want to take off

1842
02:32:51,320 --> 02:32:53,600
for a medical appointment because they didn't want

1843
02:32:53,600 --> 02:32:56,500
to fall behind, that's problematic to me.

1844
02:32:56,520 --> 02:32:57,920
And that's when I said I got to start thinking

1845
02:32:57,920 --> 02:32:58,520
of a solution.

1846
02:32:58,560 --> 02:33:01,800
If I don't get anything position wise,

1847
02:33:02,000 --> 02:33:03,860
then I need to be able to figure out something

1848
02:33:03,860 --> 02:33:07,620
to keep the people here so they don't have that fear

1849
02:33:07,620 --> 02:33:12,140
if I take off I'm going to come back to you know 100 more emails and that's not an exaggeration

1850
02:33:12,740 --> 02:33:17,940
or more workload or fall behind and so that that's why I'm approaching the court with this just

1851
02:33:17,940 --> 02:33:23,380
to try to come up with some way to think outside the box. Any other questions, comments?

1852
02:33:24,260 --> 02:33:29,440
Sure. Daniel, thank you. Commissioner, I have it. I was going to ask real quick. Could you go

1853
02:33:29,440 --> 02:33:35,980
through those the positions and the regrade requests? You were talking about environmental health.

1854
02:33:35,980 --> 02:33:43,800
Yes, I'm just trying to keep a note of what we're talking about. Yes. No problem. Let me pull some of that the first the first position is the planar position

1855
02:33:44,960 --> 02:33:46,000
Okay, and

1856
02:33:49,550 --> 02:33:50,070
Okay

1857
02:33:50,910 --> 02:33:52,950
Planner. Yes assistant planner

1858
02:33:53,830 --> 02:33:58,650
No, no, the the three positions are a planner assistant planner and floodplain manager

1859
02:33:59,230 --> 02:34:07,330
The current stepping grade is an 11-5 Danielle is that correct? Yes, okay. I've got the sheet here. Okay great

1860
02:34:08,350 --> 02:34:11,130
And a two-step increase, of course, be a 13-5.

1861
02:34:11,410 --> 02:34:15,850
The current for the assistant planner is a 9-3,

1862
02:34:16,130 --> 02:34:18,790
but the two-step increase being an 11-4.

1863
02:34:19,450 --> 02:34:22,330
Current for the floodplain manager is an 8-3,

1864
02:34:22,490 --> 02:34:24,770
with a one-step increase being a 9-3.

1865
02:34:26,770 --> 02:34:30,290
Total cost on the high set of that is 24k.

1866
02:34:30,750 --> 02:34:32,550
If you're giving the two-step increase

1867
02:34:32,550 --> 02:34:34,150
to both the planner and assistant planner,

1868
02:34:34,610 --> 02:34:37,410
if you're doing the one-step for each of those three positions,

1869
02:34:37,410 --> 02:34:44,110
the approximately 14K, both which fall within the monies that have been set aside for that clerk

1870
02:34:44,110 --> 02:34:45,690
to position that is unfilled.

1871
02:34:46,370 --> 02:34:47,110
Just slide.

1872
02:34:47,550 --> 02:34:48,530
Thank you for going today.

1873
02:34:48,950 --> 02:34:52,750
No, I have the detail at least wrote down so we can revisit that.

1874
02:34:53,630 --> 02:34:54,230
Yes, sir.

1875
02:34:54,310 --> 02:34:56,110
Just one more thing to this environmental health.

1876
02:34:56,470 --> 02:34:59,890
So I do the environmental health hearings and her employees

1877
02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:13,920
They come out there are doing way above and beyond. They bring a case and they've got pictures. They go back out to the location, take more pictures, everything else. So whatever she's saying for her employees is the truth there.

1878
02:35:19,710 --> 02:35:33,930
Commissioner Garmin, I'm going to cut you a phone call. You're good. Todd Judge, could you come back up again? I have a different topic and he's not aware that I'm bringing this up.

1879
02:35:33,930 --> 02:35:45,810
So we have the Marion Project. We've spent $2.7 million on it. It's going to be a, well it is a beautiful building.

1880
02:35:49,170 --> 02:35:57,730
And Judge Fries and Hans sent all of us recently an email about his staffing needs.

1881
02:35:57,730 --> 02:35:58,750
there

1882
02:36:02,430 --> 02:36:09,310
is there is concern that we're going to open this beautiful building and

1883
02:36:09,310 --> 02:36:14,610
we're going to put a sign up there while we're only open Monday, Tuesday, and

1884
02:36:14,610 --> 02:36:22,270
Wednesday because we've got to work the rest of the time. So and and and we want to

1885
02:36:22,270 --> 02:36:29,030
try to put a tax clerk there but the tax assessor says he doesn't exactly know

1886
02:36:29,030 --> 02:36:35,770
how he can get it done. And I know things are tight. And I have not said anything to judge

1887
02:36:35,770 --> 02:36:44,270
reason on about this. But I'm proposing that if any kind of way, we could get a part-time clerk

1888
02:36:44,270 --> 02:36:54,190
for the JP and a part-time clerk for the tax office. And they are there, maybe they could help each,

1889
02:36:54,190 --> 02:37:08,550
It could be one in the same people, but anyhow, so we can keep the doors open on a brand new facility that we built and served the public.

1890
02:37:09,230 --> 02:37:11,650
I'm just sort of judge, what do you think of that idea?

1891
02:37:12,850 --> 02:37:14,810
I'm open to any kind of discussions.

1892
02:37:16,270 --> 02:37:20,910
I'm sure everybody's got my letter here and we're not going to go into my letter if you really want to.

1893
02:37:20,910 --> 02:37:27,610
I understand the situation, but at the end of the day, I've got to take care of my office

1894
02:37:28,190 --> 02:37:29,790
the best way I can.

1895
02:37:31,710 --> 02:37:35,030
Like I said, I'm not going to get into the merits of my letter.

1896
02:37:35,390 --> 02:37:36,630
I mean, that's how I want to.

1897
02:37:37,870 --> 02:37:40,990
But I'm open to any suggestions for any kind of help.

1898
02:37:41,870 --> 02:37:47,830
And so, and if it's not now, maybe a few months down the road as we get going,

1899
02:37:47,830 --> 02:37:54,090
There's other avenues, I kind of came to a few different commissioners and said that, okay,

1900
02:37:54,190 --> 02:37:57,250
how can we just change some things up that were so far behind?

1901
02:37:58,990 --> 02:38:02,730
If you really want to, my office hasn't put in full time on since 2012.

1902
02:38:03,590 --> 02:38:07,470
Last year, he'll give the part time at the very last minute.

1903
02:38:08,130 --> 02:38:15,050
But there's other avenues that we can discuss at a different time in the future.

1904
02:38:15,050 --> 02:38:17,790
and maybe in the future at least, but I'm open to anything.

1905
02:38:18,550 --> 02:38:21,290
Making the part-time full-time would help tremendously.

1906
02:38:23,210 --> 02:38:25,490
A part-time or part-time to full-time?

1907
02:38:25,790 --> 02:38:26,410
Part-time to full-time.

1908
02:38:26,430 --> 02:38:27,790
I've got two part-time to now.

1909
02:38:27,970 --> 02:38:32,490
If you get that part-time to full-time, oh, she is wonderful.

1910
02:38:32,850 --> 02:38:39,550
I mean, they're eager to learn, do more, but I know that's the situation, so but that's

1911
02:38:39,550 --> 02:38:39,910
up to you all.

1912
02:38:39,910 --> 02:38:45,770
When you look at the workload and the amount of money to bring in from your second only to precinct one

1913
02:38:45,770 --> 02:38:50,670
And if you had a a way station, you'd be far ahead of precinct one. Oh, yeah

1914
02:38:51,190 --> 02:38:57,570
Well, what I've always looked for is productivity and actually people don't say but how much money you bring into the county

1915
02:38:57,570 --> 02:39:03,930
You're bringing in quite a bit of money to the county and then taking care of that. So it's yeah, it's I see where it's needed

1916
02:39:03,930 --> 02:39:08,450
You just look at the numbers. It's one, four, two, and three.

1917
02:39:09,510 --> 02:39:13,930
And if anybody wants to sit down with me and go over the OCA numbers,

1918
02:39:14,150 --> 02:39:18,370
if there's any, you know, or even in the citizens want to go over it with me,

1919
02:39:18,750 --> 02:39:21,110
contact my office. I'll sit down with them. I'll show them the numbers.

1920
02:39:21,550 --> 02:39:24,490
I did Hayes County, Kamala County, and World County.

1921
02:39:24,750 --> 02:39:26,750
And so I can just show them the numbers.

1922
02:39:26,990 --> 02:39:29,810
So if you have a part time, you could back full time.

1923
02:39:30,390 --> 02:39:31,550
I got two part times.

1924
02:39:35,290 --> 02:39:42,810
It's not the total answer, but it certainly helps him at the present time, because everybody

1925
02:39:42,810 --> 02:39:45,570
keeps comparing us to coalmountain haze.

1926
02:39:46,110 --> 02:39:58,410
Well, they don't fund tax exempt people, they don't do fire EMS, they have ESDs, and so

1927
02:39:58,410 --> 02:39:59,790
all the money goes towards

1928
02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:29,240
It's really needed in the county employees to get the job done. Once again, we need to take care of our employees first, and if there's anybody left over, then you don't let out. But this year, there's not a couple of you left over. And that's why I understand the situation. And so, and that's why I'm not screaming on hollering the top of my lungs, I understand tight budgets. And I'm just looking for the future going okay. Maybe we can just keep going here.

1929
02:40:29,240 --> 02:40:35,520
I'm trying to tell the clerk says I don't want to lie to tell him something hopefully they'll stay

1930
02:40:36,080 --> 02:40:39,820
To move both his part times of full-time. What was that cost Chris?

1931
02:40:42,880 --> 02:40:44,340
Run that's it run the force

1932
02:40:45,780 --> 02:40:52,020
Even if it's not even I would love both part time to it just one of them at least it would help anything would help kind of deal

1933
02:40:53,340 --> 02:40:55,700
Look at one if you'll run the numbers for one.

1934
02:40:59,020 --> 02:41:00,720
I'm not sure what they're being paid now

1935
02:41:06,680 --> 02:41:11,820
We have three and a three and a three and two halves three and two halves and so it's yeah

1936
02:41:15,280 --> 02:41:20,510
And there's 44,000 a part time does that sound correct?

1937
02:41:20,750 --> 02:41:25,790
What would that cost difference?

1938
02:41:27,170 --> 02:41:28,210
$20,000

1939
02:41:30,230 --> 02:41:32,650
We found out that the city's shirts is not

1940
02:41:33,210 --> 02:41:36,630
controlling any unincorporated area in the fire department that's $25,000

1941
02:41:36,630 --> 02:41:40,050
out there. Judge, would that help us keep the doors open?

1942
02:41:41,390 --> 02:41:44,770
Absolutely. I mean, you know, and like I said, the numbers there, if you really want

1943
02:41:44,770 --> 02:41:52,400
to go look at the numbers, I mean, let's just compare us to Christmas one. And I ran

1944
02:41:52,400 --> 02:42:00,640
the numbers from March of 25 to March of 26. And we were 200 cases more and Odyssey. Then

1945
02:42:00,640 --> 02:42:07,200
if you're going to go into OCA, OCA comes into as far as warrants. Judge Hunter does a

1946
02:42:07,200 --> 02:42:12,780
lot more warrants. And then that's more of the judges part there kind of do not just cases

1947
02:42:12,780 --> 02:42:19,400
that the clerks are entering. And at the end of the day, yes, court gets busier and

1948
02:42:19,400 --> 02:42:25,500
the judge gets a little bit busier, but it's not that. It's not the judges that are so burdened

1949
02:42:25,500 --> 02:42:28,760
with this. It's the clerks because the clerks are behind their doing all the paperwork.

1950
02:42:29,660 --> 02:42:33,180
Once again, there's a backbone of this county. There. There.

1951
02:42:34,160 --> 02:42:39,620
I will echo to you that the Justice of the Peace precinct one is also requesting that one

1952
02:42:39,620 --> 02:42:45,040
of his part time clerks be moved to a full time as well and I would ask that if we are inclined

1953
02:42:45,040 --> 02:42:47,660
to do this for precinct four that we would do it for precinct one as well.

1954
02:42:47,960 --> 02:42:48,100
I agree.

1955
02:42:48,720 --> 02:42:54,100
I'm going to add to that the new Justice of the Peace coming into precinct four, Captain

1956
02:42:54,100 --> 02:43:01,200
Torrance we are and I talk and we're talking about different ways to new programs for the

1957
02:43:01,200 --> 02:43:07,960
That way station because that office has just clerks just putting in tickets, which it's revenue for the county.

1958
02:43:09,660 --> 02:43:14,760
But ways that we can streamline that somehow, with different programs I talked to the constable,

1959
02:43:14,860 --> 02:43:17,560
did not go into the sheriff's office to that, I think it's 3.65,

1960
02:43:20,120 --> 02:43:22,660
3.65, you know, to streamline that.

1961
02:43:22,860 --> 02:43:28,120
They went on it, that's where, you know, alleviated a lot of data entry from these clerks kind of deal.

1962
02:43:28,120 --> 02:43:34,140
And so there's avenues that we're starting to look at trying to figure it out hopefully down the room. We'll go figure it out

1963
02:43:34,140 --> 02:43:38,680
But so when Katherine worked for you originally for she went to end the VA. So she's

1964
02:43:39,400 --> 02:43:45,400
Rising star that woman is extremely intelligent and I was exactly what to do on computers and how to scream my things

1965
02:43:46,220 --> 02:43:50,160
My back. It's going to be MBAs lost when she goes out of that way

1966
02:43:50,160 --> 02:43:56,460
But she'll do a great job for the county and as she has always for you and that she's like having two people absolutely

1967
02:43:58,540 --> 02:44:06,780
Commissioner JP one has $24,000 part time and then for the conversation later we

1968
02:44:06,780 --> 02:44:11,720
would have to determine if it was a clerk one or a clerk to clerk one 62

1969
02:44:11,720 --> 02:44:16,000
thousand three thirty two clerk to 65 thousand six thirty so those would be

1970
02:44:16,000 --> 02:44:22,960
different so Judge when you said earlier on I was I got two part times so is

1971
02:44:22,960 --> 02:44:30,000
44,000. You have a single part time line for 44,000. I guess they're taking two part times out of it. Right.

1972
02:44:30,260 --> 02:44:35,900
So any any department that has one, two, three part times either just a single part time line.

1973
02:44:35,980 --> 02:44:40,680
Okay. We put a note in there if we know how many positions the number of hours worked in the pay rate.

1974
02:44:40,980 --> 02:44:47,780
So we just have the cumulative. Okay. Yeah. But to your point it then it gets to a discussion for you if the

1975
02:44:47,780 --> 02:44:52,260
of course willing to do that. Are you taking one of the part times which is probably half

1976
02:44:52,260 --> 02:44:57,060
of that money or you want to be thinking about what the schedule is to leave a part time

1977
02:44:57,060 --> 02:44:59,980
and do that? Are you taking two part timers making it one?

1978
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:29,160
Full time and telling somebody, I don't have a spot for you anymore. That's going to be that hard decision. If you know, whatever you'll come up with there. Thank you. Yes, sir. When you look at his numbers, he, he definitely is the extra staff. Once again, it's, it's revenue coming in and he's more than making up for it. Yeah. It's, it's a wash. I have a couple other individual items to bring up if we are ready to move forward.

1979
02:45:31,900 --> 02:45:39,000
I have been contacted by Judge Kailer, he is our magistrate, as you all know, he is doing

1980
02:45:39,000 --> 02:45:44,800
a great job, he is our full-time magistrate, Miss Senni Middleton, she is an attorney,

1981
02:45:45,420 --> 02:45:50,540
she is our part-time magistrate, and they do have a lot of fear, I think, going forward

1982
02:45:50,540 --> 02:45:56,680
due to the, I'm sorry, let me interrupt myself a quick judge, the current clerk for the Justice

1983
02:45:56,680 --> 02:45:58,460
this is a piece precinct one is a clerk one.

1984
02:45:58,980 --> 02:45:59,700
That is a clerk one.

1985
02:45:59,740 --> 02:46:00,000
Yes, sir.

1986
02:46:00,220 --> 02:46:00,340
Okay.

1987
02:46:00,620 --> 02:46:01,500
Back to the match rate.

1988
02:46:01,680 --> 02:46:07,500
So, Ms. Middleton is covering every single night and every single weekend and every

1989
02:46:07,500 --> 02:46:08,300
single holiday.

1990
02:46:08,860 --> 02:46:12,760
There are some times of course that you would imagine that a person might need some time

1991
02:46:12,760 --> 02:46:14,360
off of that is their schedule.

1992
02:46:16,080 --> 02:46:22,180
And Judge Kailer is, I think, worried that there might be some burnout in the near future.

1993
02:46:22,920 --> 02:46:29,020
they are looking for a part-time magistrate reason I'm bringing this up again as the court

1994
02:46:29,020 --> 02:46:33,960
knows I am for using some of our money that we have set aside for building purchases.

1995
02:46:34,480 --> 02:46:38,040
I'm trying to look at some things that are not huge expenses.

1996
02:46:38,500 --> 02:46:43,800
If we can, a part-time magistrate is $35,000, that would be somebody to assist with the

1997
02:46:43,800 --> 02:46:45,760
night's weekends in covering for Judge Cailer.

1998
02:46:45,940 --> 02:46:50,700
I know Judge Cailer intends to be able to help us with the other courts if and when needed.

1999
02:46:51,240 --> 02:46:54,060
However, we don't have enough coverage for that.

2000
02:46:54,160 --> 02:46:56,680
I wanted to bring that to the court's attention and see if the court had an appetite for

2001
02:46:56,680 --> 02:46:57,440
that at this time.

2002
02:46:58,440 --> 02:47:02,900
His concern is that if Miss Middleton does become burned out, then it would be difficult

2003
02:47:02,900 --> 02:47:03,740
to find another person.

2004
02:47:03,800 --> 02:47:07,020
If we don't have another person to cover those hours, that would be an immediate need and

2005
02:47:07,020 --> 02:47:11,720
a problem as we are trying to put people through that system at the speediest rate possible.

2006
02:47:13,300 --> 02:47:15,080
I just like to get the court's thoughts on that.

2007
02:47:26,450 --> 02:47:27,950
The court doesn't have a current appetite for it.

2008
02:47:27,950 --> 02:47:28,290
I'll move on.

2009
02:47:28,310 --> 02:47:30,230
I just wanted to bring it up.

2010
02:47:30,230 --> 02:47:32,870
Do you have any comments or questions?

2011
02:47:37,010 --> 02:47:39,570
Okay. I appreciate the feedback. We move on to the next one.

2012
02:47:42,810 --> 02:47:48,610
So the next thing I wanted to talk about, and again, this is something I've brought up several times, was our

2013
02:47:48,610 --> 02:47:54,050
admin commissioner's court admin. Again, as we've discussed with the court, I don't think that her

2014
02:47:54,050 --> 02:47:57,110
celebrate the way that she's graded as appropriate at all.

2015
02:47:57,690 --> 02:48:05,230
Multiple counties that are within our similar numeric comparison have an administrative

2016
02:48:05,230 --> 02:48:06,570
assistant for each commissioner.

2017
02:48:06,790 --> 02:48:12,250
We have one administrative assistant total for all four commissioners.

2018
02:48:12,870 --> 02:48:21,790
I again want to reiterate my hesitation and apprehension toward losing a lot of the tenure, especially

2019
02:48:21,790 --> 02:48:28,990
in this building, and I think it would be quite a hardship on the Commissioner's Court.

2020
02:48:29,150 --> 02:48:34,990
If we lost our admin, I am asking that she is regraded from a grade seven to a grade

2021
02:48:34,990 --> 02:48:35,490
nine.

2022
02:48:35,950 --> 02:48:39,690
The total cost difference in that is $8,000 in change.

2023
02:48:40,370 --> 02:48:42,650
I wanted to discuss the Court's appetite on that.

2024
02:48:42,990 --> 02:48:48,930
As an alternative to that, I would ask that the Court take half of my conference budget

2025
02:48:48,930 --> 02:48:53,250
it and give that to her, and I believe that Commissioner Garment want to speak for you,

2026
02:48:53,270 --> 02:48:57,590
but prior a conversation yesterday, he would be willing to make a similar contribution.

2027
02:48:57,590 --> 02:49:01,790
But I wish that the court initially would change that grade from a 7 to a 9.

2028
02:49:07,980 --> 02:49:14,500
The numbers again, like the set, increase in the $8,000 in change.

2029
02:49:14,680 --> 02:49:18,460
I'm not sure about the full number, but it is less than $9,000.

2030
02:49:18,460 --> 02:49:26,060
position is a 7-2 right now that would be paid this is with the 3% coal on the

2031
02:49:26,060 --> 02:49:35,420
grading step at 24, 27 per hour and the request would be going to a 9-2 would be a

2032
02:49:35,420 --> 02:49:38,520
A rate of 2778 per hour.

2033
02:49:38,980 --> 02:49:39,220
This

2034
02:49:49,340 --> 02:49:50,900
is a 3% consideration.

2035
02:49:51,440 --> 02:49:52,080
Yes,

2036
02:49:55,460 --> 02:49:57,860
I believe that is with the 3%.

2037
02:50:07,250 --> 02:50:20,240
Commissioners, you know, comments? Our admin is just like any other department, but we're

2038
02:50:20,240 --> 02:50:21,940
seeing more and more work.

2039
02:50:24,400 --> 02:50:33,570
And she is getting the job done, facilitating things. I mean, there's

2040
02:50:33,570 --> 02:50:42,800
things that people don't see like she keeps having to deal with families that someone passes

2041
02:50:42,800 --> 02:50:50,400
on and they don't want to accept the body and she has to find a place with dignity to

2042
02:50:50,400 --> 02:50:53,300
go with that and she spends a lot of time on that.

2043
02:50:55,940 --> 02:51:03,400
she definitely is getting the job done and I think I could support a pay

2044
02:51:03,400 --> 02:51:10,060
increase for it takes a long time to train someone too and she's moved into

2045
02:51:10,060 --> 02:51:13,120
that very well we don't want to lose her

2046
02:51:25,090 --> 02:51:28,250
so the challenge I see and people are

2047
02:51:28,250 --> 02:51:34,730
given say here he goes again is what we're doing is a leapfrog effect care is we're

2048
02:51:34,730 --> 02:51:42,390
now going individually, departmentally, and we're nitpicking and not saying that people

2049
02:51:42,390 --> 02:51:46,110
aren't deserving of it, but then we're going to have another department head come up

2050
02:51:46,110 --> 02:51:52,030
and another one, Mr. Douglas is shaking her head, it's going to turn into something that

2051
02:51:52,030 --> 02:52:03,740
we've discussed and the challenges we faced. So again, I can't justify that leapfrog

2052
02:52:03,740 --> 02:52:12,500
effect because it's going to turn into what we're doing. It's it's a process but I

2053
02:52:15,000 --> 02:52:15,400
understand

2054
02:52:15,400 --> 02:52:21,960
everybody's burden as we've heard all morning from from different departments so that's just my

2055
02:52:21,960 --> 02:52:25,260
initial reaction as y'all would expect.

2056
02:52:33,220 --> 02:52:36,920
Any other thoughts on that individual item?

2057
02:52:59,970 --> 02:53:09,010
I want to urge the Court. I don't want to comment too heavily on the change that this

2058
02:53:09,010 --> 02:53:17,230
is going to experience, but going forward in the future, I am the only person that intends

2059
02:53:17,230 --> 02:53:23,190
to run again, and I want people that are experienced and are doing a good job to stay and give

2060
02:53:23,190 --> 02:53:28,330
the best service possible to the county. I really want to urge this court to look at our

2061
02:53:28,330 --> 02:53:32,930
administrative assistant in the unique situation that she's in. This is the only administrative

2062
02:53:32,930 --> 02:53:38,390
of assistant in the county that serves four different elected officials and other counties

2063
02:53:38,390 --> 02:53:40,570
of similar size have four of them.

2064
02:53:41,010 --> 02:53:44,890
I mean, similar budgets, similar size, I mean, it's not a difference of one person, it

2065
02:53:44,890 --> 02:53:46,730
is a difference of three people.

2066
02:53:47,450 --> 02:53:52,850
And I do not want to be in a position in the near future where I am having to train brand

2067
02:53:52,850 --> 02:53:53,510
new people.

2068
02:53:53,690 --> 02:53:58,290
I am the baby commissioner up here and I really would like to keep as much tenure as we

2069
02:53:58,290 --> 02:53:58,950
possibly have.

2070
02:53:59,190 --> 02:54:02,810
We have a lot of people that have been here for a long time and retirement is on the

2071
02:54:02,810 --> 02:54:08,750
horizon. I'm really happy for them. I'm slightly nervous for myself with that coming up and I would

2072
02:54:08,750 --> 02:54:13,870
really urge this court to either please vote to take some of this money out of my conference

2073
02:54:13,870 --> 02:54:17,570
budget and I know Commissioner Garmin's I don't want to speak for you but with our conversation I

2074
02:54:17,570 --> 02:54:22,410
knew you agree to make this whole or I give her a re-gray. It is not that it is not the same as everyone

2075
02:54:22,410 --> 02:54:27,730
else but I have to say I don't think there's any issue with certain departments advocating for

2076
02:54:27,730 --> 02:54:31,990
themselves or advocating for their people or keeping someone that is that is very quality. I may not

2077
02:54:31,990 --> 02:54:36,250
agree with all of the people, necessarily, and the things that they do and how they handle

2078
02:54:36,250 --> 02:54:36,750
their business.

2079
02:54:36,950 --> 02:54:40,690
But the fact remains that people that really do a good job, we need to keep them.

2080
02:54:43,050 --> 02:54:44,550
I mean, it's a fact across the board.

2081
02:54:44,750 --> 02:54:48,230
I don't, I don't discredit any department from coming up and advocating for themselves.

2082
02:54:48,690 --> 02:54:50,130
That's what I'm doing for myself.

2083
02:54:50,130 --> 02:54:54,310
That is our one and only admin and I'm, I'm going to do that the same as I wouldn't hold

2084
02:54:54,310 --> 02:54:57,090
that against any other person that's going to advocate for their employees.

2085
02:54:57,210 --> 02:54:58,410
People need to feel supported.

2086
02:54:58,510 --> 02:54:59,970
They need to feel supported by the people they've been doing.

2087
02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:27,280
We work for, I want to support our admin, and truly, and really, I would ask this court to reconsider not giving that raise. And if you won't do it, then I would like some feedback on taking the money out of our conference budget. We did just take money out of Commissioner Wolverton's conference budget. We all agreed on that budget amendment to provide some of the employees in this building with panic buttons, so that they are safer in this building. Certainly, we all supported that, so I know that we can make changes to people's conference budgets.

2088
02:55:27,280 --> 02:55:30,120
So I'm asking that if we won't give her a raise, we did the same with mine.

2089
02:55:31,380 --> 02:55:35,600
One of the differences is mine was a non-occurring transfer.

2090
02:55:36,140 --> 02:55:39,740
It's a one-time deal where yours may not be.

2091
02:55:40,120 --> 02:55:40,500
I understand.

2092
02:55:41,720 --> 02:55:46,400
I've given Mr. Bosch his money out of my line also to take care of problems that we had he was

2093
02:55:46,400 --> 02:55:46,840
short on.

2094
02:55:47,780 --> 02:55:53,520
I've done every bit of my education and I think I had something like $3,000 left over which

2095
02:55:53,520 --> 02:55:55,660
was far more than what I actually needed.

2096
02:55:55,660 --> 02:55:59,600
and so some of the, I guess, the conference lines are

2097
02:56:01,440 --> 02:56:03,920
grossly, you know, it's got too much money in it.

2098
02:56:04,140 --> 02:56:08,560
All you need is 18 hours, anyway, but it just, you know,

2099
02:56:09,740 --> 02:56:14,040
my money went as a one-time thing to help the safety of this county.

2100
02:56:14,740 --> 02:56:19,900
I understand. I do. And if that needs to be something that continues for as long

2101
02:56:19,900 --> 02:56:22,400
as I'm here, I don't have a problem with that, but again, I really want to

2102
02:56:22,400 --> 02:56:25,100
She rears the necessity of keeping her here.

2103
02:56:26,040 --> 02:56:27,960
Is there somewhere we can meet in the middle on that?

2104
02:56:35,720 --> 02:56:39,380
She was hired to take over the commission's court agenda and

2105
02:56:39,380 --> 02:56:41,820
everything else and help Steven out.

2106
02:56:41,980 --> 02:56:42,820
Is that worked out?

2107
02:56:43,740 --> 02:56:45,480
She's now doing the agenda by herself.

2108
02:56:45,800 --> 02:56:46,860
She's doing the agenda by herself.

2109
02:56:48,360 --> 02:56:51,460
So it's been able to take some stuff off of Mr. Hive's invite.

2110
02:57:04,260 --> 02:57:05,580
I'm just going to say it again.

2111
02:57:05,780 --> 02:57:10,400
I don't have a problem with what Commissioner Alt is saying.

2112
02:57:10,400 --> 02:57:18,620
I will say this, I do my job differently, probably than the other commissioners.

2113
02:57:20,050 --> 02:57:30,460
She absolutely knows where I am every day, she'll say I call in anything going on,

2114
02:57:30,640 --> 02:57:30,900
Taylor.

2115
02:57:31,240 --> 02:57:31,380
No.

2116
02:57:32,380 --> 02:57:35,020
Yes, you got to check her this.

2117
02:57:35,020 --> 02:57:43,690
I keep her extremely busy and that's just me.

2118
02:57:44,050 --> 02:57:46,690
I'm not speaking for the other three commissioners.

2119
02:57:47,570 --> 02:57:52,310
I believe that she deserves some compensation.

2120
02:57:53,190 --> 02:58:04,950
She is the face of this court when we are having court because she's there on the computer with people interacting and so forth.

2121
02:58:04,950 --> 02:58:09,250
So I have no problem with what Commissioner Aud is proposing.

2122
02:58:13,040 --> 02:58:13,980
Commissioners, I did.

2123
02:58:14,300 --> 02:58:22,420
Miss State, the straight grade increase was the 2427 to 2778.

2124
02:58:22,540 --> 02:58:25,880
When you go up to step or grade, excuse me, eight or nine,

2125
02:58:26,420 --> 02:58:29,120
that entry level step that's highlighted is one more over.

2126
02:58:29,540 --> 02:58:34,860
So it actually could be a 2427 per hour

2127
02:58:36,440 --> 02:58:38,580
to $28.46.

2128
02:58:39,580 --> 02:58:42,600
On my calculations, we're not based on $28, it was based on $27.

2129
02:58:42,660 --> 02:58:43,380
Okay, it was the $27.

2130
02:58:43,520 --> 02:58:47,580
And that is the discretion of the losses managers,

2131
02:58:47,860 --> 02:58:53,440
the people in there so you can absolutely use that $27.10 or $27.78.

2132
02:58:54,800 --> 02:58:58,420
Well, if we don't have three votes for it then I don't know that that's even a relevant conversation

2133
02:58:58,420 --> 02:59:02,300
but I will urge this Court again to look at what she's expected to do

2134
02:59:02,300 --> 02:59:06,180
and I wouldn't say this out loud without her permission and having talked to her about

2135
02:59:06,180 --> 02:59:11,940
this, but she's expected to work for all four of us for $49,000 a year before tax.

2136
02:59:13,600 --> 02:59:19,240
That is, I can't imagine somebody in that position doing one job for all four people that

2137
02:59:19,800 --> 02:59:20,940
is making that.

2138
02:59:21,060 --> 02:59:23,780
I mean, that's an expectation to do a whole lot of things.

2139
02:59:24,820 --> 02:59:27,420
And again, our surrounding counties have four people doing that job.

2140
02:59:27,420 --> 02:59:39,760
I mean, we it's not it's not good. It's not it's not a good mindset. The expectations of the task of this person has to do and the complications are are such that I believe that she is deserving of a higher compensation.

2141
02:59:43,080 --> 02:59:43,680
Yes, sir.

2142
02:59:45,400 --> 02:59:52,360
I believe that there's some people who want to comment from during the public because we're still under the public carrying of the right.

2143
02:59:52,360 --> 02:59:54,040
That's right, it's from Zoom.

2144
02:59:54,460 --> 02:59:57,940
Okay, is somebody raised their hand or made a note on there

2145
02:59:57,940 --> 02:59:58,720
that they'd like to speak?

2146
02:59:58,800 --> 02:59:59,100
Yes, sir.

2147
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:13,260
Okay. Will you unmute them, please? Okay. Can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, ma'am. Okay. I just wanted to say that I appreciate where

2148
03:00:13,260 --> 03:00:19,540
Kusura on is coming from because I would like my staff to make more money as well. They work very,

2149
03:00:19,540 --> 03:00:25,600
very hard. And she mentioned when she brought this up that people cannot live on the mount that

2150
03:00:26,300 --> 03:00:27,620
her employee is making.

2151
03:00:28,560 --> 03:00:33,380
There are 138 people that make less than what her employee is making.

2152
03:00:34,300 --> 03:00:39,920
And she wants to raise them to a higher grade, which would make 240 people that are making

2153
03:00:39,920 --> 03:00:41,700
less than her employee is making.

2154
03:00:42,360 --> 03:00:46,940
There are 12 people in the County Courts Office that have been here for years that don't

2155
03:00:46,940 --> 03:00:47,800
make that much money.

2156
03:00:48,300 --> 03:00:55,260
So she said we need to look at all the positions if we have people making less than

2157
03:00:55,260 --> 03:00:57,200
that 49,000 a year.

2158
03:00:57,940 --> 03:01:00,480
So I think it's imperative that we look at all the positions.

2159
03:01:01,060 --> 03:01:05,500
We have nine people in the clerk's office that make less than 2312.

2160
03:01:06,240 --> 03:01:14,920
Four people in JP one, one in JP two, two in JP three, and one in JP four.

2161
03:01:16,100 --> 03:01:21,660
Four in the elections office, three in purchasing, 16 in the tax assessment office.

2162
03:01:26,330 --> 03:01:29,550
11 in building maintenance, 11 in fire department,

2163
03:01:30,210 --> 03:01:32,070
six of the county sheriff's office,

2164
03:01:32,990 --> 03:01:34,390
two of the fire marshal's office,

2165
03:01:34,610 --> 03:01:36,650
constable's office, none in adult detention,

2166
03:01:36,910 --> 03:01:39,710
21 road and bridge, three in environmental health.

2167
03:01:41,030 --> 03:01:42,830
I mean, there's a lot of people in the county

2168
03:01:43,270 --> 03:01:44,190
that need more money.

2169
03:01:46,630 --> 03:01:51,340
I was telling you that we are having trouble

2170
03:01:51,920 --> 03:01:54,820
completing our job in the county parks office

2171
03:01:54,820 --> 03:01:55,980
with regard to the minutes

2172
03:01:55,980 --> 03:01:58,560
that's because we can't get all the paperwork

2173
03:01:58,560 --> 03:02:01,120
and by Friday to get the minutes done.

2174
03:02:01,500 --> 03:02:01,700
Is

2175
03:02:12,900 --> 03:02:15,360
there anybody else online that would like to make comment

2176
03:02:15,360 --> 03:02:16,300
during the public hearing?

2177
03:02:23,270 --> 03:02:25,950
Okay, not hearing anybody else, commissioners?

2178
03:02:26,470 --> 03:02:28,870
Any other comment on those items or that item?

2179
03:02:29,250 --> 03:02:29,450
No, sorry.

2180
03:02:29,870 --> 03:02:31,870
Yes, Ms. Keele, I

2181
03:02:34,110 --> 03:02:35,530
think taking a jab at our employee

2182
03:02:35,530 --> 03:02:37,510
is absolutely and completely inappropriate.

2183
03:02:37,710 --> 03:02:38,970
There are plenty of people in this courtroom

2184
03:02:38,970 --> 03:02:40,630
I could take jobs at and I won't do that

2185
03:02:40,630 --> 03:02:41,750
because it's not professional.

2186
03:02:42,550 --> 03:02:43,670
There are plenty of people in your office

2187
03:02:43,670 --> 03:02:44,810
I could do the same thing with.

2188
03:02:45,370 --> 03:02:50,450
You're taking these low blows, you're telling the court good luck, publicly, you're turning

2189
03:02:50,450 --> 03:02:55,130
around and looking at another elected official and making smart comments toward her during

2190
03:02:55,130 --> 03:02:56,890
this court is inappropriate to court.

2191
03:02:57,070 --> 03:02:58,650
I'd ask that you refrain from that.

2192
03:02:59,030 --> 03:03:00,990
We are not here to tear anybody else down.

2193
03:03:01,470 --> 03:03:05,510
You may have your opinions, but I do not think that it's productive for you to tear somebody

2194
03:03:05,510 --> 03:03:08,590
down when they're not able to look at you and defend themselves.

2195
03:03:09,070 --> 03:03:12,810
The things that you have said in front of this court yesterday in your hearing for your

2196
03:03:12,810 --> 03:03:17,270
salary agreements in this last court session have been completely inappropriate and critical

2197
03:03:17,270 --> 03:03:20,790
of people that are trying to do their jobs well, I'd ask that you rethink that behavior

2198
03:03:20,790 --> 03:03:21,650
and cease from it.

2199
03:03:21,750 --> 03:03:22,230
Thank you.

2200
03:03:29,510 --> 03:03:30,270
Dr. T.

2201
03:03:33,740 --> 03:03:35,240
Let you wish you retirement.

2202
03:03:36,940 --> 03:03:38,060
Yesterday, yeah.

2203
03:03:38,340 --> 03:03:38,940
Yes, ma'am.

2204
03:03:39,040 --> 03:03:40,160
It's my last day.

2205
03:03:41,400 --> 03:03:44,600
Always there to give us some guidance and redirects.

2206
03:03:44,600 --> 03:03:51,000
I don't want anybody to get their feelings hurt or anything because I understand the importance

2207
03:03:51,000 --> 03:03:52,140
of this topic.

2208
03:03:54,160 --> 03:04:01,820
Maybe these discussions should happen in executive session if you need to because I don't

2209
03:04:01,820 --> 03:04:09,840
want, it's one thing if you know the person and they're okay, but if you start calling out people by name, there's so many HR

2210
03:04:10,540 --> 03:04:18,680
avenues that somebody could go down and I don't want the court to be held in the future responsible for something that you're only trying to do.

2211
03:04:18,680 --> 03:04:25,020
really your intent is to help somebody. That's just my HR two cents. I don't know

2212
03:04:25,020 --> 03:04:30,140
where we'll go from here. I'm just kind of worried because I don't want somebody

2213
03:04:30,140 --> 03:04:34,840
to come back and start saying something about. It's okay. It's one thing you

2214
03:04:34,840 --> 03:04:38,320
know the person and they're okay with it but sometimes when you get started then

2215
03:04:38,320 --> 03:04:43,800
we start saying other people and they get upset and I'm just giving a

2216
03:04:43,800 --> 03:04:50,360
Yeah, you're just you're just voicing your professional opinion my professional opinion even though I

2217
03:04:51,320 --> 03:04:54,540
Knowledge the very difficult situation you're in

2218
03:04:54,540 --> 03:04:59,680
Thank you for the the recommendation. I think it's well

2219
03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:29,800
Well, I think it's good for us to always remember when we're talking about positions remembered to our best to use titles as opposed to individual names. So individual employees aren't single doubt. I think it's very difficult. If we were talking about a single employment action and or issue outside of budget, absolutely. I think that's appropriate places to do that in closed session when we're talking about a budget in pay ranges and grades that could affect other positions and other departments.

2220
03:05:29,800 --> 03:05:35,240
I think it's very difficult for us to go into a closed session on that part of it unless

2221
03:05:35,240 --> 03:05:41,240
we get down to that very specific single related action, but I appreciate the recommendation

2222
03:05:41,240 --> 03:05:47,700
and the guidance, I think if we can just do our best to keep things moving forward, but

2223
03:05:47,700 --> 03:05:52,740
when we talk about positions do just that, talk about the position and not the person in it.

2224
03:05:53,080 --> 03:05:56,700
I want to say that that is something that I have discussed with Taylor and it's something

2225
03:05:56,700 --> 03:06:01,380
that she is fine with, I definitely appreciate Dr. T's recommendation toward the others.

2226
03:06:02,880 --> 03:06:06,880
But not being able to speak about anything that occurs in the executive session, certainly

2227
03:06:06,880 --> 03:06:11,320
I'm aware of that and everyone sitting up here knows what was discussed during an executive

2228
03:06:11,320 --> 03:06:12,280
session or what wasn't.

2229
03:06:12,420 --> 03:06:13,120
So we'll leave it at that.

2230
03:06:16,110 --> 03:06:16,450
I am.

2231
03:06:16,530 --> 03:06:17,530
Did you have something else?

2232
03:06:19,670 --> 03:06:20,810
This is Keal who would like to respond.

2233
03:06:22,050 --> 03:06:24,010
I will allow one more minute.

2234
03:06:24,190 --> 03:06:25,490
I don't want to cut anybody off.

2235
03:06:25,490 --> 03:06:30,510
it's just also want us to be productive and efficient this afternoon already and we have

2236
03:06:30,510 --> 03:06:36,840
a lot to go through. Miss Keele. Yes, sir. I just wanted to say that I didn't direct

2237
03:06:36,840 --> 03:06:42,260
that toward anyone, but we are talking about one position and one employee. So it was obvious

2238
03:06:42,260 --> 03:06:47,240
who it would be. I have no problem with Taylor. Taylor is doing a fine job. She's just not

2239
03:06:47,240 --> 03:06:52,620
doing what we need. We need to work together longer for her to be able to get a raise.

2240
03:06:52,620 --> 03:06:59,560
The importance of the comment was that you mentioned four weeks ago, or five weeks ago,

2241
03:06:59,560 --> 03:07:03,340
that if people are making less than $49,000 a year, we need to look at that.

2242
03:07:03,900 --> 03:07:07,940
And I think you really need to take the time to look at who all is making less.

2243
03:07:08,620 --> 03:07:12,260
We have to start our people at 1876 an hour.

2244
03:07:13,820 --> 03:07:16,960
There are other positions in the county that don't have to do that.

2245
03:07:17,960 --> 03:07:19,880
So please take that into consideration.

2246
03:07:25,460 --> 03:07:27,740
Any other discussion on that topic?

2247
03:07:28,600 --> 03:07:29,080
Yes.

2248
03:07:29,460 --> 03:07:35,100
I did want to talk a little bit about there are several regrades and I do, you know,

2249
03:07:35,160 --> 03:07:43,060
I understand the court is in the position there are, but there are, if we would be open

2250
03:07:43,060 --> 03:07:48,200
to talking about this, there are several reclassifications and or regrades for several folks that

2251
03:07:48,700 --> 03:07:53,140
I do want the court to consider there are some requests in this proposition with several

2252
03:07:53,140 --> 03:07:58,040
of our departments and there are several department heads here if they want to talk about those

2253
03:07:58,040 --> 03:08:03,800
specifically. I certainly would be open to some of those changes. I know Ms. Balk was

2254
03:08:03,800 --> 03:08:09,420
unable to be here today. We did speak last night. She has several clerk ones that are currently

2255
03:08:09,420 --> 03:08:15,640
making 1876 an hour. She is requesting that there be three reclases to 207 an hour. I do

2256
03:08:15,640 --> 03:08:21,220
want to make that known. In there are several other regrails or reclassification requests

2257
03:08:21,220 --> 03:08:25,000
as well. I see several of the department heads here that have made those if they want

2258
03:08:25,000 --> 03:08:31,540
to contribute to this conversation, of course, I ask that they do that. At the very end

2259
03:08:31,540 --> 03:08:34,300
of all the things that I've spoken about, and I want to thank the Court for the time

2260
03:08:34,300 --> 03:08:40,480
that you've given me for this, I do want to talk about fire briefly. It is my understanding

2261
03:08:40,480 --> 03:08:44,680
that from GCSO, if we do have an additional position of the Court has an appetite for

2262
03:08:44,680 --> 03:08:49,500
that, that it be the fire captain, I think that that would be something very effective in

2263
03:08:49,500 --> 03:08:56,360
their leadership that they have wanted to reissue their request for in talk about how

2264
03:08:56,360 --> 03:08:57,220
it is necessary.

2265
03:08:57,460 --> 03:09:01,200
I do think that forward looking with them and helping them continue to grow each time

2266
03:09:01,200 --> 03:09:01,880
is important.

2267
03:09:02,380 --> 03:09:07,380
I understand the situation that we're in very much so, but I do think that it is unlikely

2268
03:09:07,380 --> 03:09:09,760
that we will have a problem of this magnitude next year.

2269
03:09:10,120 --> 03:09:15,300
And again, if we do, we will know about it certainly much more in advance at this time.

2270
03:09:17,140 --> 03:09:22,040
I also wanted to say that there are three position requests in this proposition from the

2271
03:09:22,040 --> 03:09:26,460
county attorney's office having spoken to Mr. Bilbo and I understand that if there were

2272
03:09:26,460 --> 03:09:29,360
to be one it would be the legal administrative assistant for felony.

2273
03:09:29,940 --> 03:09:35,860
I do want to issue my support for that request for him having worked in that office and looking

2274
03:09:35,860 --> 03:09:40,100
at the volume that I once knew in knowing how much the population has increased.

2275
03:09:40,100 --> 03:09:46,180
I do think it is imperative that that office have more staff here to come up and talk about it.

2276
03:09:46,520 --> 03:09:51,160
I just want to issue my support for that. I think that the folks that are doing the prosecution there,

2277
03:09:51,400 --> 03:09:53,760
it's just an incredibly important job having done that myself.

2278
03:09:55,780 --> 03:09:56,720
It's so important.

2279
03:09:56,880 --> 03:09:59,860
And I think there's so much that goes on said, you know, it's interesting, so there's always

2280
03:10:00,000 --> 03:10:28,380
You know, different, like, firefighters, you know, have everybody knows, and law enforcement, everybody knows, and then there's prosecutors, and I feel like we're kind of like the warehouse, gosh, y'all, you guys are not meeting more, but in this category where, you know, people are like, oh yeah, someone takes care of that at the end, but no one really gives it the recognition it deserves, and I do want to issue that support for them, and that administrative assistance, and understand that it would be of tremendous help to this office. Thank you, Commissioner, and I won't speak for a long time. I am still making that request.

2281
03:10:28,380 --> 03:10:32,460
that we've made a clear way, we think that that could happen financially.

2282
03:10:32,580 --> 03:10:49,240
If the court is not inclined to give that additional position to me, and if the court's not inclined to give me the two position regrails, I would ask that y'all authorize my office to create that position and fund it for at least the next year through asset for future funds.

2283
03:10:49,420 --> 03:10:56,720
And to include those position regrails on paralegal positions, there are two paralegal positions that are requested that for as well.

2284
03:10:56,720 --> 03:11:03,200
So, I know the stance that has been taken thus far, I would prefer those be taken out of

2285
03:11:05,100 --> 03:11:07,320
general funds and not from asset forfeiture.

2286
03:11:07,480 --> 03:11:12,080
I have enough money to fund that position for two years out of asset forfeiture with the money that currently exists.

2287
03:11:12,540 --> 03:11:17,520
I don't want to deplete those funds in that manner, but I would rather deplete those funds than

2288
03:11:18,180 --> 03:11:22,780
lose the people that are going to want to believe in because they're being overworked so handily.

2289
03:11:22,780 --> 03:11:29,580
So, that's going to be my request that the court put those into the budget, either through

2290
03:11:29,580 --> 03:11:32,340
the General Fund or in case an arrow through asset for a picture.

2291
03:11:33,380 --> 03:11:37,320
But Dave, I was going to just point out, I know you probably looked at this, but there's

2292
03:11:37,320 --> 03:11:39,280
been a lot going on this budget season.

2293
03:11:39,560 --> 03:11:44,100
But if you look at within your department, please notice that within the grade and step, in

2294
03:11:44,100 --> 03:11:49,420
addition to the coales, number of employees also had a grade or a step increase because

2295
03:11:49,420 --> 03:11:54,680
because it's every other year, which equates to a 5.6% increase, and there are a couple

2296
03:11:54,680 --> 03:11:59,140
of employees that were fixed, if you will, because they weren't placed on the grading

2297
03:11:59,140 --> 03:12:02,740
step correctly that resulted in a larger housing.

2298
03:12:02,740 --> 03:12:05,460
I haven't seen where those were, so yeah, thank you for that, I just wanted to ask you to

2299
03:12:05,460 --> 03:12:05,600
get it.

2300
03:12:05,820 --> 03:12:06,160
Thank you.

2301
03:12:06,320 --> 03:12:06,500
Thank you.

2302
03:12:10,580 --> 03:12:13,060
And again, I don't want to speak for several other department heads that are in here,

2303
03:12:13,080 --> 03:12:17,120
but please know that I would welcome you to come up here if any of you want to talk.

2304
03:12:17,780 --> 03:12:24,840
and that being said, I want to shift to the last topic that I had other than that, which is law enforcement.

2305
03:12:26,360 --> 03:12:31,840
First, when I tell you that there, when the proposed budget was a court position for the Constable Precinct 1,

2306
03:12:32,480 --> 03:12:39,960
I have spoken with the Constables Office and Precinct 1 does have a part time unfilled deputy position currently.

2307
03:12:39,960 --> 03:12:55,380
That deputy position is funded either I believe it's $33,000 or $5,000 and the Constable's office would ask that this court instead of continuing to dedicate funds to that unfilled part time position.

2308
03:12:55,900 --> 03:13:03,240
The Constable's office is having a hard time and has had a hard time filling that position because they cannot find someone that wants to work only part time.

2309
03:13:03,500 --> 03:13:07,220
They are requesting that that position be shifted to a full time deputy.

2310
03:13:07,220 --> 03:13:08,720
I do support that.

2311
03:13:09,220 --> 03:13:12,860
The difference in cost in salary for that is $38,000.

2312
03:13:13,420 --> 03:13:17,360
I understand their additional costs are associated with benefits and retirement, so

2313
03:13:17,360 --> 03:13:18,960
I do want to acknowledge that to the court.

2314
03:13:19,480 --> 03:13:24,760
But again, I would ask that Constable Precinct 1 be considered for having that part-time

2315
03:13:24,760 --> 03:13:30,240
deputy moved to a full-time deputy and remove the request for a clerk from that.

2316
03:13:31,440 --> 03:13:36,260
Again, I would like to say that precinct 1 is increasing as we all are in population.

2317
03:13:36,260 --> 03:13:41,600
we have 52% of the county, we do have the way station and as was previously acknowledged

2318
03:13:41,600 --> 03:13:46,660
it is the precinct one is the busiest court-wise, they are doing a lot of work, they are covering

2319
03:13:46,660 --> 03:13:51,400
Judge Hunters, Dr. Judge Hunters has Dr. Judge three to four days a week, now to appreciate

2320
03:13:51,400 --> 03:13:52,740
the court's consideration on that.

2321
03:13:54,000 --> 03:13:57,480
Do we want to talk about that for a second or law enforcement as a whole because I do

2322
03:13:57,480 --> 03:13:58,820
want to talk about the sheriff's office next?

2323
03:13:59,240 --> 03:13:59,600
Court

2324
03:14:02,220 --> 03:14:06,220
goes preference, constable individually or just continue with the law enforcement

2325
03:14:06,220 --> 03:14:06,880
conversation.

2326
03:14:11,240 --> 03:14:16,060
I'm going to talk about the elephant in the room.

2327
03:14:16,520 --> 03:14:22,500
I am not a fan of how the commissioner's court has been painted in social media.

2328
03:14:23,080 --> 03:14:26,820
I think that was very difficult for all of us to stomach.

2329
03:14:28,160 --> 03:14:30,460
I think that all of us up here are trying to do a job.

2330
03:14:31,800 --> 03:14:33,560
It is very difficult for all of us.

2331
03:14:33,560 --> 03:14:39,400
we receive phone calls in emails from people that are angry at us from all of the things

2332
03:14:39,400 --> 03:14:44,320
on social media that we've received. I will only speak for myself in saying that it is

2333
03:14:44,320 --> 03:14:49,340
very frustrating to have to tell people that my position is that I support law enforcement

2334
03:14:49,340 --> 03:14:55,360
when I continue to get feedback that I must not because of things that they see on social media.

2335
03:14:55,540 --> 03:14:58,920
I think that what's important for all of us that work for the county, this is our dedication, right?

2336
03:14:58,920 --> 03:14:59,980
And so we call it

2337
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:29,940
But my dad, now we used to work both of us in the Harris County Court House, we used to call out the county mental bubble, right? Because those of us that work in the county, it becomes a world that it becomes the echo chamber of what you think, but what's way more impopulous than us is the public. And the perception of the public is not the same as all of ours because we live and breathe this every day. So I think that what's important is to think about how the public perceives certain things. So at least for myself, despite not liking

2338
03:15:29,940 --> 03:15:35,500
the light that I have been painted in, it does not change the fact that I do continue

2339
03:15:35,500 --> 03:15:39,080
to support law enforcement and I do think that we need more boots on the ground.

2340
03:15:39,740 --> 03:15:45,080
I think that we are not able to fulfill the request anywhere near what we thought or

2341
03:15:45,080 --> 03:15:48,340
hoped we could and certainly not to the extent of the request.

2342
03:15:49,040 --> 03:15:54,500
I know that this court has been really discouraged by a lot of the things that have been going

2343
03:15:54,500 --> 03:16:00,800
on in the media. And I want you all to know that I feel for all of you. And I very much

2344
03:16:00,800 --> 03:16:03,780
appreciate all of the work that all of you have done. I think that you have done an incredible

2345
03:16:03,780 --> 03:16:09,520
job, each one of you, for your time, and for your dedication. I don't think that it's fair

2346
03:16:09,520 --> 03:16:16,020
the way that we've been perceived. But I do ask that we try to look past that and do what's

2347
03:16:16,020 --> 03:16:24,340
right. And in my opinion, I know we're all doing what we think is right. So I don't mean

2348
03:16:24,340 --> 03:16:29,180
that we do need some boots on the ground and I don't mean to disagree with the recommendation

2349
03:16:29,180 --> 03:16:32,840
presented here by the elected officials. I appreciate that the elected officials in

2350
03:16:33,620 --> 03:16:39,820
department heads got together and made a recommendation. I would be more comfortable with boots

2351
03:16:39,820 --> 03:16:44,380
on the ground deputies than I would be with several more people in the office because I think that the

2352
03:16:44,380 --> 03:16:53,900
concern is more people to respond to calls. That would be my number one thought. So I would ask that

2353
03:16:53,900 --> 03:16:56,520
at this court at least consider several positions

2354
03:16:56,520 --> 03:16:58,920
for the sheriff's office in the form of patrol deputies.

2355
03:16:59,420 --> 03:17:02,400
If the sheriff wants to talk about preferring

2356
03:17:02,400 --> 03:17:04,080
one of these office positions over that,

2357
03:17:04,140 --> 03:17:05,480
certainly I'm open to that.

2358
03:17:06,280 --> 03:17:07,840
My thought is boots on the ground.

2359
03:17:08,040 --> 03:17:09,320
I know that we can't do a lot,

2360
03:17:09,560 --> 03:17:11,540
but I think that we should try to do at least some.

2361
03:17:12,340 --> 03:17:14,620
So I do wanna issue my support for that.

2362
03:17:16,820 --> 03:17:18,620
That includes constable precinct one,

2363
03:17:19,160 --> 03:17:20,520
moving the deputy part time to full time.

2364
03:17:20,640 --> 03:17:21,960
I think that we should look at doing

2365
03:17:21,960 --> 03:17:24,680
three more deputies for the Sheriff's Office,

2366
03:17:25,280 --> 03:17:26,160
patrol deputies.

2367
03:17:26,600 --> 03:17:28,360
I think that also I wanna acknowledge

2368
03:17:28,360 --> 03:17:30,420
some of the conversation that's happened in the public

2369
03:17:30,420 --> 03:17:33,420
about being worried about some of these folks

2370
03:17:33,420 --> 03:17:35,000
being able to cover some of the schools.

2371
03:17:35,220 --> 03:17:36,860
I know that's a more complicated conversation

2372
03:17:36,860 --> 03:17:39,420
for this court to have perhaps at a later date.

2373
03:17:39,960 --> 03:17:42,100
I will say that I am close to several people

2374
03:17:42,100 --> 03:17:44,160
who do school safety resourcing and auditing

2375
03:17:44,160 --> 03:17:45,920
for the state on a personal level.

2376
03:17:46,040 --> 03:17:48,240
So I have been engaging in conversations with them

2377
03:17:48,240 --> 03:17:49,860
about different options that we can discuss.

2378
03:17:49,860 --> 03:17:54,900
I know that might be a bigger piece than we can bite off at this moment, but I would

2379
03:17:54,900 --> 03:18:00,140
ask the court to consider some of those and see if we can really do our best at looking

2380
03:18:00,140 --> 03:18:04,380
at that, maybe despite some of the feelings, and again, I'm not indicating that anybody

2381
03:18:04,380 --> 03:18:08,040
in the court makes decisions based off of that, but I do want to acknowledge that that has

2382
03:18:08,040 --> 03:18:14,820
gone on, and I want to acknowledge that nevertheless, I think that everyone is doing what they perceive

2383
03:18:14,820 --> 03:18:19,640
is right and what they believe in in the best way they know how we may not always like it,

2384
03:18:19,760 --> 03:18:25,000
I certainly don't, but I am asking that we do help and we do further a few more positions

2385
03:18:25,000 --> 03:18:25,880
for the sheriff's office.

2386
03:18:32,740 --> 03:18:36,300
Commissioner, is any thoughts or comments on those items?

2387
03:18:37,120 --> 03:18:43,520
You don't want to take that out of reserve? Yes, again, I'm going to reissue the request I made

2388
03:18:43,520 --> 03:18:47,580
originally when we first talked about this, that we do have the three million set aside for land

2389
03:18:47,580 --> 03:18:48,440
in building purchases.

2390
03:18:49,500 --> 03:18:52,480
Part of the conversation today did surround us having a building

2391
03:18:52,480 --> 03:18:55,820
in precinct 4 that were worried about staffing a fire station

2392
03:18:55,820 --> 03:18:57,360
that we don't have enough fire fighters for.

2393
03:18:57,780 --> 03:19:00,480
The building in precinct 4, we're looking to try to put some folks

2394
03:19:00,480 --> 03:19:02,320
in there, but from the tax assessor's office,

2395
03:19:02,520 --> 03:19:04,460
we have some space that's unfilled

2396
03:19:04,460 --> 03:19:07,140
in several of the JP's offices, things like that.

2397
03:19:07,380 --> 03:19:12,240
So we are, and I know that we have to do this to anticipate growth.

2398
03:19:12,500 --> 03:19:14,440
I absolutely, I no doubt about it.

2399
03:19:14,440 --> 03:19:16,060
But this is a weird year.

2400
03:19:17,960 --> 03:19:21,440
I don't want to repeat myself with some of the things that I've said about anticipating

2401
03:19:21,440 --> 03:19:25,960
the changes, but I do think that we cannot look away from the fact that the population

2402
03:19:25,960 --> 03:19:27,060
is exploding.

2403
03:19:27,280 --> 03:19:33,800
And I do not think no matter what, that we can say, same amount of firefighters, same amount

2404
03:19:33,800 --> 03:19:37,780
of law enforcement, way more people in the county that that's safe.

2405
03:19:38,060 --> 03:19:42,960
And even if it's just a little bit, I think it is better than nothing, I think we need

2406
03:19:42,960 --> 03:19:43,260
to try.

2407
03:19:43,260 --> 03:19:45,600
So yes, I understand that it is coming out of the reserve.

2408
03:19:45,860 --> 03:19:51,940
I understand that that is a fund that is not ever changing and it is not, we can't rely

2409
03:19:51,940 --> 03:19:56,340
on that to continue to be supported year after year, but I think that everybody in this

2410
03:19:56,340 --> 03:19:59,980
room has heard enough about what we've talked about that, don't anticipate the same thing.

2411
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:29,240
Any problem to be reoccurring in that, you know, next year if we are in some sort of extreme dire straits, there may not be a cola. We understand. But I think that people right now would rather be supported, have a few more boots on the ground, have the extra felony paralegal, move apart time to a full time, have an extra firefighter, things like that right now, to the best that we can. And next year if we can't, if we don't see that sort of abundance, we don't see that sort of abundance. I understand we can't pull continually from a general fund.

2412
03:20:29,240 --> 03:20:38,160
But I do think that right now it's more important to me to have those extra personnel than to buy land and I acknowledge that it is a recurring cost, yes.

2413
03:20:41,400 --> 03:20:44,440
We also need help in every department we have here.

2414
03:20:44,760 --> 03:20:46,080
I understand. I do.

2415
03:20:48,320 --> 03:20:51,100
Everybody is a valuable cog in this machine.

2416
03:20:53,000 --> 03:20:53,940
I understand.

2417
03:20:56,220 --> 03:21:04,380
I'm not trying to prioritize anybody over anybody else, it is simply that law enforcement

2418
03:21:04,380 --> 03:21:08,400
is law enforcement and when any of us need help, that is who we're calling, if we have

2419
03:21:08,400 --> 03:21:15,220
a fire, I mean, those two things are the life or death things, I mean, everyone here

2420
03:21:15,220 --> 03:21:18,200
is important jobs, I have an important job, but their job is more important than my job.

2421
03:21:18,200 --> 03:21:25,660
I understand that we have JP's that need extra people we have the county attorney over that way it needs extra people

2422
03:21:25,660 --> 03:21:30,260
Actually, he needs more space and extra people. So there's a lot of things we're going to look into but

2423
03:21:31,540 --> 03:21:35,200
It's a tough one if you spin all this money this year

2424
03:21:36,300 --> 03:21:37,660
Where's he going to come from next year?

2425
03:21:38,500 --> 03:21:41,720
That's that's the only question. I understand and like I don't have a crystal ball

2426
03:21:41,720 --> 03:21:45,200
I wish I'd save the governor would get his head. I was back side and get things right

2427
03:21:45,200 --> 03:21:45,240
Right.

2428
03:21:45,880 --> 03:21:47,080
It's going to be very, very difficult.

2429
03:21:47,560 --> 03:21:48,420
I understand that.

2430
03:21:48,500 --> 03:21:52,880
And like I said, you know, we're spending, I can't, sorry, I can't remember this figure,

2431
03:21:53,020 --> 03:21:59,020
but I know our COLO is 1.8 or 2.4 for the 3%, I know it's one of those, and that's obviously

2432
03:21:59,020 --> 03:21:59,600
a big difference.

2433
03:21:59,800 --> 03:22:03,540
But a lot of numbers that are in front of me right now, but if we come to a situation

2434
03:22:03,540 --> 03:22:07,120
where we can't do that next year, and that might be something that offsets it, that might

2435
03:22:07,120 --> 03:22:10,440
be something that we have to do, I acknowledge that and understand that, but I think if you

2436
03:22:10,440 --> 03:22:14,720
ask anyone in this room and you ask people in the public as well, would you rather look at

2437
03:22:14,720 --> 03:22:18,220
that for next year, would you rather at least have several more boots on the ground?

2438
03:22:18,220 --> 03:22:22,060
I think their answer is going to be boots on the ground, fire fighters, I think that's

2439
03:22:22,060 --> 03:22:22,760
going to be their answer.

2440
03:22:22,940 --> 03:22:23,760
It's what I believe.

2441
03:22:23,960 --> 03:22:24,560
It's my opinion.

2442
03:22:24,840 --> 03:22:29,940
So, I just want to make sure that I get that off my chest and make that clear.

2443
03:22:30,380 --> 03:22:34,740
I'm saying completely, but we need to also understand that next year, I got two guys that

2444
03:22:34,740 --> 03:22:35,240
will be here.

2445
03:22:35,720 --> 03:22:42,740
We have to sum up tax rate because you're creating more cost, more overhead, and the only way

2446
03:22:42,740 --> 03:22:46,220
We're going to be able to pay for is the tax increase and we already heard the people

2447
03:22:46,220 --> 03:22:47,280
complain about that.

2448
03:22:48,520 --> 03:22:49,640
I understand that.

2449
03:22:49,920 --> 03:22:50,080
I do.

2450
03:22:50,160 --> 03:22:54,080
Because I do believe you voted no when I said 40 cents because that would have covered

2451
03:22:54,080 --> 03:22:54,300
everything.

2452
03:22:54,480 --> 03:22:56,440
I voted no to a double digit tax increase.

2453
03:22:56,620 --> 03:22:57,080
That's correct.

2454
03:22:57,320 --> 03:23:01,100
Because I think a double digit is more than the then the populist can stomach.

2455
03:23:01,260 --> 03:23:03,400
I don't think people want a double digit tax increase.

2456
03:23:03,400 --> 03:23:05,780
How would a fund all these programs?

2457
03:23:06,620 --> 03:23:09,000
I don't know what you're going to be able to fund these programs is to do that.

2458
03:23:10,080 --> 03:23:13,140
I don't think that we need a double-digit tax increase.

2459
03:23:13,520 --> 03:23:14,900
I think you can do it without that.

2460
03:23:15,480 --> 03:23:20,080
Well, I think that the total, if we look at some of these things, it's not just a few

2461
03:23:20,080 --> 03:23:24,940
of them, but just everybody, everyone who actually needs extra people and every office needs

2462
03:23:24,940 --> 03:23:25,100
it.

2463
03:23:25,380 --> 03:23:29,580
I understand that every office needs it, and I think that that's not feasible right now

2464
03:23:29,580 --> 03:23:32,300
for us to be able to do these things for every office.

2465
03:23:32,480 --> 03:23:33,180
I wish it was.

2466
03:23:33,380 --> 03:23:34,240
I don't think it is.

2467
03:23:34,980 --> 03:23:38,760
I know that there are some that feel that all or nothing is the approach.

2468
03:23:39,700 --> 03:23:40,680
I'm not one of those.

2469
03:23:41,040 --> 03:23:43,580
I think that sometimes we have to look at certain things and make decisions.

2470
03:23:43,820 --> 03:23:47,080
I know it's hard and I respect your decision and if your decision is not the same as mine,

2471
03:23:47,240 --> 03:23:47,760
I respect it.

2472
03:23:48,020 --> 03:23:48,200
I do.

2473
03:23:52,540 --> 03:23:53,200
I think so.

2474
03:23:57,330 --> 03:23:58,690
Commissioner, is there any other comments?

2475
03:24:03,380 --> 03:24:04,100
I'm so sorry.

2476
03:24:04,260 --> 03:24:05,960
One more that I didn't bring up.

2477
03:24:06,280 --> 03:24:09,960
It was a request by several of the retirees and retired law enforcement.

2478
03:24:09,960 --> 03:24:14,980
They asked that the court also think about the retiree cola because they are not feeling

2479
03:24:14,980 --> 03:24:18,460
that the cola this year is adequate.

2480
03:24:18,840 --> 03:24:22,180
I did inform them that I would pass that concern along to the court.

2481
03:24:23,040 --> 03:24:24,100
So I am doing that.

2482
03:24:24,680 --> 03:24:31,120
Chris Klein, could you give us just a quick summary without, I mean, details of just how the

2483
03:24:31,120 --> 03:24:38,140
retiree cola works, how it affects our retirees, what that looks like, and what we've historically

2484
03:24:38,140 --> 03:24:38,520
done.

2485
03:24:38,520 --> 03:24:39,560
You

2486
03:24:42,600 --> 03:24:43,460
can reach a microphone.

2487
03:24:44,660 --> 03:24:45,780
Thank you.

2488
03:24:45,800 --> 03:24:48,880
I didn't want you all to hear my crunching over here.

2489
03:24:50,500 --> 03:24:50,780
Yes.

2490
03:24:51,480 --> 03:24:55,220
Historically, the county has done retiree pay raises every three years.

2491
03:24:55,740 --> 03:24:59,840
The problem for the county with retiree pay increases.

2492
03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:29,720
Is that if we're doing it every year, they increase our mandated contribution, right, which affects the entire payroll. The last COLA cost limit for retirees was done in 2025. So we'd be scheduled to do them again in 2028. And right now, we're looking at a funded ratio of 91.6, which is incredibly important for unfunded actual reliability for pension plan, right? And that's, that's what changes. What that means, right?

2493
03:25:29,720 --> 03:25:32,000
that the simple version is for TCDRF,

2494
03:25:32,140 --> 03:25:34,380
Texas County and District Retirement System.

2495
03:25:34,620 --> 03:25:36,500
We take a look at all of our retirees,

2496
03:25:37,040 --> 03:25:40,800
what that pension costs and liability is on the county side,

2497
03:25:40,940 --> 03:25:41,140
right?

2498
03:25:41,580 --> 03:25:43,800
How much money we're funding out of our budget

2499
03:25:43,800 --> 03:25:46,220
that's paid for with tax rate to say,

2500
03:25:46,280 --> 03:25:48,420
if all these people are retiring because they're this age,

2501
03:25:48,580 --> 03:25:50,700
this is what we owe, how much of that is funded

2502
03:25:50,700 --> 03:25:52,460
and how much is still a liability

2503
03:25:52,460 --> 03:25:54,560
or a potential cost hanging out there.

2504
03:25:55,140 --> 03:25:57,720
So one, we want to see the retirees get a bump

2505
03:25:57,720 --> 03:26:02,700
because their cost of living is going up but we want to watch that ratio because if we never

2506
03:26:02,700 --> 03:26:08,700
address it the county could have a huge bill hanging out there that's a bigger check that has

2507
03:26:08,700 --> 03:26:16,620
to be written at some point as your work age and population of county employees goes up over time and

2508
03:26:16,620 --> 03:26:23,680
people start to retire at a higher rate. That's a real cost and it can be millions of dollars. So it's just one of those things

2509
03:26:23,680 --> 03:26:32,360
you have to continue to kind of be diligent about but also be incremental and change and just keep

2510
03:26:32,360 --> 03:26:39,300
chipping away so that that future bill doesn't get so large and it's a weird dynamic when people go

2511
03:26:39,300 --> 03:26:45,640
and retirees get a cost of living well it's yes but like I said historically we've done it every

2512
03:26:45,640 --> 03:26:51,070
three years doesn't mean to your point commissioners that it couldn't be addressed every year it couldn't

2513
03:26:51,070 --> 03:26:56,870
be done on a different timeline, a different amount, all those things, it's another cost

2514
03:26:56,870 --> 03:26:58,250
to a county budget.

2515
03:26:58,650 --> 03:26:59,510
We appreciate the information.

2516
03:26:59,530 --> 03:27:00,410
Thank you so much.

2517
03:27:06,320 --> 03:27:09,700
Any other thoughts, comments during the public hearing?

2518
03:27:09,900 --> 03:27:10,780
Just get the reserve.

2519
03:27:13,590 --> 03:27:15,870
I mean, we've had a lot of this discussion this year.

2520
03:27:15,930 --> 03:27:21,630
We've talked about the unprecedented value loss at the same time, the unprecedented amount

2521
03:27:21,630 --> 03:27:23,470
of need that departments are feeling.

2522
03:27:24,210 --> 03:27:36,710
I have mixed emotions about it because I've tried to remove myself from having a number of budgets under the belt and how things have happened before because this is different.

2523
03:27:37,150 --> 03:27:39,970
We've never had to address our issues like this before.

2524
03:27:41,210 --> 03:27:50,810
I too have felt frustration about the way things have been handled and communicated because I don't think it's been as productive at times that it could have been.

2525
03:27:51,390 --> 03:27:56,770
I think there's been some things that were intentionally stirred up that haven't been as

2526
03:27:58,230 --> 03:28:03,450
helpful and assistive in these conversations, but I also understand that there's people

2527
03:28:03,450 --> 03:28:06,930
feel like they're at dire straits to try to address the needs that aren't being looked

2528
03:28:06,930 --> 03:28:07,790
at the same way.

2529
03:28:08,770 --> 03:28:11,630
I'm extremely conservative, I don't just say that.

2530
03:28:11,810 --> 03:28:15,930
For all the departments coming up saying they don't have what they need, maybe that's proof

2531
03:28:15,930 --> 03:28:23,710
from a little too conservative, sometimes, but at the same point, I am truly concerned

2532
03:28:23,710 --> 03:28:29,250
about the future of our county and level of spending while also trying to address the

2533
03:28:29,250 --> 03:28:34,010
needs that are in all these departments. I won't be here next year. That's been referenced

2534
03:28:34,010 --> 03:28:38,250
multiple times, but like Commissioner, I still care. I don't have to be here. I could not

2535
03:28:38,250 --> 03:28:42,450
show up tomorrow and say, good luck. I hope it works out for you all. I could have done that

2536
03:28:42,450 --> 03:28:48,530
months ago, but I'm still here. I plan on staying until my last day, December 31st, and

2537
03:28:48,530 --> 03:28:56,970
doing my best to try to do my job. I won't be around to have these conversations next

2538
03:28:56,970 --> 03:29:03,710
year going, how do you address a budget shortfall? What's a tax rate have to look like to support

2539
03:29:03,710 --> 03:29:08,690
budget decisions that were made last year, which are today? How does a depressed real estate

2540
03:29:08,690 --> 03:29:14,090
state market plan to that. What about the state legislature right now about to consider

2541
03:29:14,090 --> 03:29:21,870
changing the over 65 exemptions to 55 to have a lower level of freeze. School tax exemptions

2542
03:29:21,870 --> 03:29:27,490
going up to 140,000 when we have brand new homes being built in Guadalupe County that are

2543
03:29:27,490 --> 03:29:34,910
140 to 170,000 dollars. So it's all those things. I mean, anybody that has talked about spending

2544
03:29:34,910 --> 03:29:39,910
money out of fund balance as a backup plan. They're not wrong. There's no right or wrong

2545
03:29:39,910 --> 03:29:45,930
answer. It's, again, it gets down to a discussion about risk and what is the court willing

2546
03:29:45,930 --> 03:29:55,550
to risk and anticipate is going to happen. Again, my very careful nature is concerned about

2547
03:29:55,550 --> 03:29:59,970
spending $3 million out of fund balance on reoccurring whether it's

2548
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:29,980
There may be equipment or operational positions because if what I've been told and what I've looked at from a county budget standpoint on revenue, is that all of this tax, taxable value issue and the freeze recalculation was not completely taken care of this year. We don't know that for sure, but we expect and anticipate there may be some residual value loss next year. Now, could that be half a billion? Could it be a hundred million?

2549
03:30:29,980 --> 03:30:36,480
not sure, but there's going to be some of that. The other thing is real estate market that we're

2550
03:30:36,480 --> 03:30:42,020
watching right now in our county is the foundation of what the tax base is going to be for next year.

2551
03:30:42,940 --> 03:30:46,760
It's going to be very similar to what it was last year because there's not much has changed.

2552
03:30:47,020 --> 03:30:51,640
You have higher interest rates, you have costs going up, you got these geopolitical events that are

2553
03:30:51,640 --> 03:30:58,460
almost war that are driving things. Cattle are being led in from Mexico, cattle markets off for the

2554
03:30:58,460 --> 03:31:01,700
last few weeks, fuels up, but oil is stable.

2555
03:31:01,900 --> 03:31:04,020
I mean, there's all these different things that are going on.

2556
03:31:04,020 --> 03:31:07,340
When I think about a budget, all these people are right.

2557
03:31:07,520 --> 03:31:11,820
The county employees are not just a line in a spreadsheet,

2558
03:31:12,800 --> 03:31:16,500
but also on this side, if those numbers aren't in that spreadsheet,

2559
03:31:16,760 --> 03:31:17,840
the positions don't exist.

2560
03:31:18,180 --> 03:31:20,140
So there's got to be a balance in consideration

2561
03:31:20,140 --> 03:31:23,440
to what that economy looks like for the county,

2562
03:31:24,100 --> 03:31:26,680
what the tax rate implications of the decisions

2563
03:31:26,680 --> 03:31:34,160
we make today are, maybe there is some middle ground, maybe there is some flexibility to do that,

2564
03:31:34,320 --> 03:31:41,100
and not spend as much out of the fund balance, because I can't hear all the need more so now

2565
03:31:41,100 --> 03:31:45,800
today than ever before, but I don't know if I can get to an item on the agenda later and say,

2566
03:31:45,900 --> 03:31:51,440
let's spend $3 million, because I think that $3 million turns into another three next year before

2567
03:31:51,440 --> 03:32:00,020
you start still with increased EMS still with a change in debt service still with extra extra

2568
03:32:00,020 --> 03:32:05,400
colas and adjustments for county employees that turns into five or six before you've made any

2569
03:32:05,400 --> 03:32:09,780
decision again and still going to have the need for law enforcement still going to have the need for

2570
03:32:09,780 --> 03:32:17,620
fire for more road construction for EMS contracts for expansion of all the services and I think that's

2571
03:32:17,620 --> 03:32:23,720
the biggest concern for me it almost feels like to me watching this is my 16th

2572
03:32:23,720 --> 03:32:30,420
county budget right watching history repeat itself going what happens and

2573
03:32:30,420 --> 03:32:35,100
what today and what money is spent today is absolutely going to be the first

2574
03:32:35,100 --> 03:32:40,520
amount of money that's spent next year if things aren't completely different and

2575
03:32:40,520 --> 03:32:43,980
everything that's shaping up through September 1st today is not completely

2576
03:32:43,980 --> 03:32:50,740
different than last year. It's almost identical versus the free recalculation.

2577
03:32:51,420 --> 03:32:55,540
Everything else is looking very, very similar which makes me believe with my

2578
03:32:55,540 --> 03:32:58,800
history and experience at the county and doing budgets that we're going to have

2579
03:32:58,800 --> 03:33:03,180
similar revenue issues next year. And while spending money on that fund

2580
03:33:03,180 --> 03:33:08,360
balance addresses some of these issues now, you're almost as a court and a county

2581
03:33:08,360 --> 03:33:12,260
committing to a certain amount of tax increase before you start next year. And if

2582
03:33:12,260 --> 03:33:16,620
If everybody's okay with that, let's be okay with it, but let's have that conversation.

2583
03:33:17,340 --> 03:33:24,360
Because if it were another automatic 5, 6, or 8% tax increase next year because of

2584
03:33:24,360 --> 03:33:29,880
what we're deciding today, while still having to find other money to expand law enforcement

2585
03:33:29,880 --> 03:33:36,700
fire, EMS, other departments, pay for employees, insurance, road construction, and flood mitigation,

2586
03:33:37,200 --> 03:33:41,160
is everybody okay with that because I think that's really what we're talking about today.

2587
03:33:42,180 --> 03:33:47,200
And again, I will be watching from a field feed and cows not thinking about county budgets,

2588
03:33:47,520 --> 03:33:52,820
but somebody's going to be sitting here and going to have to address those things going.

2589
03:33:53,780 --> 03:33:57,020
I really wish they wouldn't have spent that money the way they did,

2590
03:33:57,140 --> 03:34:02,780
or maybe they did the right thing, but it was on a measure amount to try to fix some of the problems,

2591
03:34:02,780 --> 03:34:09,000
but not too big, too deep of a hole because I think in the sense that we can spend too much money

2592
03:34:09,000 --> 03:34:13,360
we can also be too careful and shut everything off and just create bigger problems in the future.

2593
03:34:14,440 --> 03:34:21,200
So I mean just once the court's thoughts on spending some fun balance on some of these needed

2594
03:34:21,200 --> 03:34:26,900
things now but being okay with that built-in tax increase if that's where it works out.

2595
03:34:35,380 --> 03:34:40,040
It's not going to be something to set well with the people, but if they want the services,

2596
03:34:40,520 --> 03:34:42,420
it's the only way we're going to be able to get to them.

2597
03:34:43,080 --> 03:34:48,180
Once again, if we continue to dip out of our reserve, like I said, $3 million this year,

2598
03:34:48,540 --> 03:34:51,640
well next year's going to be $6 million because you already take the $3 million out and so

2599
03:34:51,640 --> 03:34:56,660
you want the same thing, it just keeps adding and adding that in pretty soon, your reserve

2600
03:34:56,660 --> 03:34:57,060
is gone.

2601
03:34:57,060 --> 03:34:59,980
if we don't get some large corporation size.

2602
03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:05,480
I hear this guy, you know, a lot of taxable value to it. Right now, rooftops don't pay the bills.

2603
03:35:08,240 --> 03:35:30,640
I know we criticize for the data centers. But if it comes to fruition, you've already run the numbers on it. That will almost double our income or our what we get on taxes. And then we won't have any trouble. But right now, people don't want data centers. But we have to have some sort of large corporations come inside the way.

2604
03:35:30,640 --> 03:35:32,500
because rooftops don't make it.

2605
03:35:34,550 --> 03:35:36,590
Well, not just talking about those projects,

2606
03:35:36,850 --> 03:35:38,530
but just economic development in general,

2607
03:35:38,530 --> 03:35:40,390
there's a lot of conversation that goes on

2608
03:35:40,390 --> 03:35:44,250
and I completely understand any citizen being concerned

2609
03:35:44,250 --> 03:35:47,290
and not supporting the idea of abatements

2610
03:35:47,290 --> 03:35:49,130
or incentives for projects.

2611
03:35:49,710 --> 03:35:51,770
But also with the history I have the county,

2612
03:35:51,870 --> 03:35:54,890
I've also watched projects be built

2613
03:35:54,890 --> 03:35:58,190
that otherwise would not have been built in Guadalupe County.

2614
03:35:58,370 --> 03:36:00,110
And this region or in the state of Texas,

2615
03:36:00,110 --> 03:36:06,790
is unless you had cities and a county coming together with Chamber of Commerce and EDCs saying

2616
03:36:06,790 --> 03:36:11,950
we want this type of activity here, we want these businesses here, we want these jobs here,

2617
03:36:12,390 --> 03:36:17,250
and we're willing to prove that by supporting you. So I know it's very easy, and again, I respect

2618
03:36:17,250 --> 03:36:22,150
the people that oppose them to look at an abatement, say we're giving up this much value, but I would

2619
03:36:22,150 --> 03:36:27,770
argue in every one of those situations on the opposite side count the other value we have received

2620
03:36:27,770 --> 03:36:30,030
because we wouldn't have otherwise received it.

2621
03:36:30,270 --> 03:36:33,130
There would be thousands of jobs not located here.

2622
03:36:33,530 --> 03:36:35,010
We wouldn't have an Amazon in shirts.

2623
03:36:35,210 --> 03:36:37,190
You wouldn't have a caterpillar.

2624
03:36:37,790 --> 03:36:40,790
You wouldn't have Niagara, Marichi, Steele.

2625
03:36:40,930 --> 03:36:42,570
You wouldn't have retail coming in.

2626
03:36:42,650 --> 03:36:43,770
The Academy facility.

2627
03:36:44,350 --> 03:36:45,510
The list goes on and on.

2628
03:36:45,710 --> 03:36:48,270
Not only in Central Globally County,

2629
03:36:48,590 --> 03:36:52,410
but on the West End and smaller areas.

2630
03:36:52,670 --> 03:36:54,730
Tinker and razors over by the New Brown Falls Airport.

2631
03:36:55,010 --> 03:36:55,970
It's a holiday monitoring,

2632
03:36:55,970 --> 03:37:03,410
like a pipeline lead detector manufacturer of the components that do that and they're in the county

2633
03:37:03,410 --> 03:37:08,550
that's not in the city and they wouldn't have relocated here. You have all of those things and

2634
03:37:08,550 --> 03:37:14,270
I understand it you people say make them pay their fair share and we understand that and respect

2635
03:37:14,270 --> 03:37:20,430
that line of thinking I know I do but I also know there will be a lot less jobs a lot less industry

2636
03:37:20,430 --> 03:37:25,530
commercial and industrial projects that would have been built in around Guadalupe County if we

2637
03:37:25,530 --> 03:37:31,090
would be participated in some of those so I mean you just talk through all those

2638
03:37:31,090 --> 03:37:35,370
things and it's there's a lot going on in our county it's an exciting time to

2639
03:37:35,370 --> 03:37:40,370
be in county government believe it or not even as I've joked with my family being

2640
03:37:40,370 --> 03:37:46,630
the largest human piñata in Guadalupe County I still enjoy the job still

2641
03:37:46,630 --> 03:37:52,810
respect the people even if we don't agree and we're all experiencing just

2642
03:37:52,810 --> 03:38:03,230
extreme growth, a lot of growing pains, and we're also in a constant transition and constant

2643
03:38:03,230 --> 03:38:08,110
shift of what needs are and what's going on, what the public wants, how we communicate

2644
03:38:08,110 --> 03:38:14,390
with everybody, so it's a different time, but it's also until all the elected officials,

2645
03:38:14,570 --> 03:38:21,730
all the employees at the county, we are the lucky ones, not everybody gets to do what we

2646
03:38:21,730 --> 03:38:24,670
conversations go today, everybody remembers that.

2647
03:38:25,090 --> 03:38:27,030
You know, Judge, when you talk about the, uh,

2648
03:38:27,750 --> 03:38:29,870
the abitements we've given, it's just on brick and mortar.

2649
03:38:30,310 --> 03:38:32,390
Winter fixtures and equipment is not abated.

2650
03:38:32,830 --> 03:38:33,910
Latter roads are not abated.

2651
03:38:34,170 --> 03:38:37,630
So we're giving up a very small amount to be able to get more in the future.

2652
03:38:38,130 --> 03:38:39,710
And that's what some people just can't see.

2653
03:38:40,510 --> 03:38:42,510
It, uh, yeah, we're going to yell that.

2654
03:38:42,730 --> 03:38:45,370
Well, why'd you give this guy a, you know, nine-year abatement?

2655
03:38:45,530 --> 03:38:47,810
Well, it's actually nine-year on brick and mortar only.

2656
03:38:47,990 --> 03:38:49,150
And it goes down to five years.

2657
03:38:49,150 --> 03:38:53,290
So at that point plus the rollback tax that we're going to get will be a huge shot in the arm.

2658
03:38:54,150 --> 03:38:58,370
There's a lot of things we have to look at to make sure this county continues to run properly.

2659
03:39:00,930 --> 03:39:05,430
I don't know if everybody understands it until they sit in this air and look at the numbers.

2660
03:39:06,430 --> 03:39:09,370
How do you stress that dollar? It's not easy.

2661
03:39:13,090 --> 03:39:14,510
That's what we're being asked to do.

2662
03:39:16,870 --> 03:39:19,830
In our next public hearing, we'll talk about the tax rate.

2663
03:39:19,830 --> 03:39:22,810
but currently we have that to go with, right?

2664
03:39:24,050 --> 03:39:27,430
So bottom line to me, it comes down to what I've said before.

2665
03:39:29,540 --> 03:39:33,900
101 positions, we have to decide if we're going to fund

2666
03:39:33,900 --> 03:39:37,420
out-of-reserve additional, 3% COLA.

2667
03:39:38,080 --> 03:39:41,420
I'm still in favor of that, or even a 4%.

2668
03:39:42,460 --> 03:39:46,840
Possibly bringing back the baseline of 1,000 in addition to.

2669
03:39:47,740 --> 03:39:56,640
But scenario let's just say okay one million dollar land purchase thing comes into play

2670
03:39:57,660 --> 03:39:59,980
Where do you go with it who?

2671
03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:09,840
It gets what? What positions get funded? How does that work? Those are the decisions we're going to have to make, and it's 140 and we're in our first public hearing.

2672
03:40:12,200 --> 03:40:30,740
But to me, that's the bottom line, because we can't do 101 positions, law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, everybody has a need. We talk about the growth. It's really exponential growth. I think that's what we've faced. We have growth, but it's like

2673
03:40:34,980 --> 03:40:59,260
We have been conservative, that's what this court has been, physically responsible and put us in the position that we're in, where we have that option to go into reserve, if the court decides to do that, but to me it's a matter of choice on where that money goes, three million or one million, you start to decide if that is going to come up.

2674
03:40:59,260 --> 03:41:08,340
So, I'm still being physically responsible, as y'all know I am, it's tough, but boots

2675
03:41:08,340 --> 03:41:15,260
on the ground for sure, support law enforcement, that was my first love, career, what I wanted

2676
03:41:15,260 --> 03:41:19,800
to do, and maybe I'll do that on my next career, I don't know yet.

2677
03:41:22,610 --> 03:41:23,710
But it's challenging.

2678
03:41:23,710 --> 03:41:38,770
And you all have sat here being patient and it's been very respectable conversation, but I think we need to move on because we're going to come right back to it in an agenda item.

2679
03:41:39,250 --> 03:41:39,250
So,

2680
03:41:44,140 --> 03:41:48,380
everybody, I'm ready to close this portion of the public hearing.

2681
03:41:48,380 --> 03:41:53,220
Yes, sir. All right, we have been on the proposed

2682
03:41:53,220 --> 03:41:57,280
Graudlew County budget for fiscal year 2627 public hearing.

2683
03:41:57,320 --> 03:42:00,860
We will close that public hearing at 1.43 p.m.

2684
03:42:01,180 --> 03:42:04,080
We'll move to item B under public hearing.

2685
03:42:04,180 --> 03:42:07,840
That's the proposed Graudlew County tax rate for 2026.

2686
03:42:08,660 --> 03:42:13,980
We will open that public hearing at 1.44 p.m.

2687
03:42:16,020 --> 03:42:17,400
Give me just a second.

2688
03:42:23,380 --> 03:42:30,000
I know we talked a lot about the budget this morning and early afternoon, as stated,

2689
03:42:30,200 --> 03:42:37,360
the court previously took action to vote on a proposed tax rate of 3549, the current

2690
03:42:37,360 --> 03:42:43,660
tax rate is 3304, no new revenue rate, or the rate in which it's calculated to bring

2691
03:42:43,660 --> 03:42:50,540
in the same money as the prior year, excluding new property, came in at 3359, with that

2692
03:42:50,540 --> 03:43:00,020
prior vote on the tax rate of 5.65% increase. Again, that proposes rates 3549, and that is

2693
03:43:00,020 --> 03:43:08,200
broke down if maintenance and operation at 2808. INS are interested in syncing at 2.0212

2694
03:43:08,200 --> 03:43:17,120
or 2.12 cents and lateral road at 0.529. Is there anybody in the audience that would like

2695
03:43:17,120 --> 03:43:21,100
to make a comment during the public hearing on the tax rate portion.

2696
03:43:21,460 --> 03:43:21,980
Taylor,

2697
03:43:28,810 --> 03:43:30,270
anybody online?

2698
03:43:33,820 --> 03:43:34,200
No sir.

2699
03:43:34,460 --> 03:43:34,700
Okay.

2700
03:43:35,000 --> 03:43:35,340
Thank you.

2701
03:43:36,040 --> 03:43:40,500
Commissioners, any comments during the public hearing portion on the tax rate?

2702
03:43:41,400 --> 03:43:42,040
Oh, sure.

2703
03:43:49,130 --> 03:43:54,750
Yeah, no, we had a lot of discussion on tax rates early on in the budget process.

2704
03:43:54,750 --> 03:44:00,550
We looked at multiple options, recommended was 4%, the change came in once we voted on

2705
03:44:00,550 --> 03:44:07,590
proposed at a 5.65. No, the commissioners court absolutely did not want to have to consider

2706
03:44:07,590 --> 03:44:13,530
the tax rate increase. As we talked about in detail, the value loss in additional needs

2707
03:44:13,530 --> 03:44:22,890
on a substantial level. This was the tax rate of 3549 is that tax rate that basically got

2708
03:44:22,890 --> 03:44:27,470
us back to even with the value loss that we've been talking about all morning. That was

2709
03:44:27,470 --> 03:44:33,750
was just a fun current operations prior to considering any additional future expenses

2710
03:44:34,550 --> 03:44:41,930
or additions. With nobody wishing to make comment during the public hearing on the tax

2711
03:44:41,930 --> 03:44:49,690
rate, we'll close that public hearing at 146 p.m. We'll move to item 6 on our agenda, which

2712
03:44:49,690 --> 03:44:55,490
are consent items. The following may be acted upon in one motion, a commissioner, the county

2713
03:44:55,490 --> 03:44:59,890
judge or a citizen may request items to be pulled for separate discussion and or action.

2714
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:07,940
An under-consent items, item A, the bill list, item B, the EVA list, item C, the PCA bill list,

2715
03:45:08,500 --> 03:45:15,340
item D, departmental monthly and revenue reports for July 2026, item E and accordance with

2716
03:45:15,340 --> 03:45:20,040
globally county travel policy, authorization for Judge Squires to travel out of state

2717
03:45:20,040 --> 03:45:24,760
for the following educational training. National Judicial College, designing and presenting

2718
03:45:24,760 --> 03:45:27,940
and courses effectively, faculty, development workshops

2719
03:45:27,940 --> 03:45:31,960
September 28th through October 1, 2026 in Reno, Nevada.

2720
03:45:32,880 --> 03:45:35,600
Item F, the Texas Veterans Commission Notice

2721
03:45:35,860 --> 03:45:41,340
of Grant Award R, national 2025-201800,

2722
03:45:42,280 --> 03:45:45,520
6653 in the amount of $110,000

2723
03:45:45,840 --> 03:45:48,680
for the fiscal year 2027 Veterans Treatment Court.

2724
03:45:49,400 --> 03:45:51,880
Item G, the contract renewal with Granicus

2725
03:45:51,880 --> 03:45:58,680
for Swagget, Election, Suite, and Cloud Camera Support, Item H, TAC, County Information

2726
03:45:58,680 --> 03:46:05,760
Resources Agency, or CIRA, Interlocal Agreement Renewal, Item I ratify the Non-Renewal

2727
03:46:05,760 --> 03:46:11,000
Letter for the Global Tell link agreement for the inmate phone services located at 2617

2728
03:46:11,000 --> 03:46:17,250
North Guadalupe Street, Sigeen, Texas, Item J, the official Bond, Oath, and Writer for

2729
03:46:17,250 --> 03:46:23,590
John Edwards, number 890-181-2-0, part-time deputy council, Precinct 3-Gwatt-Lupy County,

2730
03:46:24,270 --> 03:46:31,610
item K, the civil process fee schedules for sheriff and councilors, item L, the naming

2731
03:46:31,610 --> 03:46:37,530
of the following private lanes, Precinct 1, red lane, located off FM 1044, and Charo

2732
03:46:37,530 --> 03:46:42,930
lane, located off Woodrow Center Road, and item M, the excavation permit applications

2733
03:46:42,930 --> 03:46:45,430
for a while road located in Precinct 4.

2734
03:46:47,150 --> 03:46:49,850
Judge, I would like to item E pulled for discussion.

2735
03:46:51,390 --> 03:46:57,050
All right, we will remove item E, the travel to discuss separately.

2736
03:46:57,250 --> 03:47:00,390
Any other items, commissioners, you'd like removed from consent?

2737
03:47:01,710 --> 03:47:02,070
No, sir.

2738
03:47:03,230 --> 03:47:08,090
Hearing no other items to be removed, is there a motion to approve the remaining items?

2739
03:47:08,630 --> 03:47:09,590
I'll make the motion.

2740
03:47:09,590 --> 03:47:10,130
Second.

2741
03:47:10,350 --> 03:47:10,910
Second.

2742
03:47:11,270 --> 03:47:19,130
Do you have a motion in a second to approve consent items as listed except item E in any

2743
03:47:19,130 --> 03:47:19,790
other discussion?

2744
03:47:22,720 --> 03:47:22,840
All right.

2745
03:47:22,940 --> 03:47:23,960
Hearing no other discussion.

2746
03:47:23,960 --> 03:47:25,340
All those in favor say aye.

2747
03:47:25,620 --> 03:47:25,880
Aye.

2748
03:47:26,500 --> 03:47:26,700
Opposed?

2749
03:47:26,860 --> 03:47:27,180
Same sign.

2750
03:47:28,120 --> 03:47:29,300
Hearing no opposition.

2751
03:47:29,300 --> 03:47:30,380
That motion passes.

2752
03:47:30,740 --> 03:47:36,360
We'll move back to item E and that was in accordance with Robert County travel policy authorization

2753
03:47:36,360 --> 03:47:41,160
for Judd Squires to travel out of state in September 28th through October 1,

2754
03:47:41,280 --> 03:47:42,820
re-known about a Commissioner Wharton.

2755
03:47:42,940 --> 03:47:45,440
Judge, it seems that he has sufficient hours this year,

2756
03:47:45,660 --> 03:47:48,760
and once again, it looks as though he's using taxpayer money

2757
03:47:48,760 --> 03:47:50,760
to get his doctorate and jurisprudence.

2758
03:47:51,420 --> 03:47:55,820
I don't think he should be getting that doctorate on the backs of county taxpayers.

2759
03:47:56,680 --> 03:48:01,600
So I would like a motion that we do not approve his out of county,

2760
03:48:01,820 --> 03:48:02,920
or actually his out of state travel.

2761
03:48:02,920 --> 03:48:11,340
Well, there's plenty of courses and taxes that he can go to, so that would take this care of this is just.

2762
03:48:12,320 --> 03:48:21,900
I would ask Judge Wires did ask if this was pulled, that he had the opportunity to step out of court and come speak to the court in regard to this item.

2763
03:48:22,140 --> 03:48:25,820
Would the court be inclined to continue with the agenda until his arrival?

2764
03:48:26,220 --> 03:48:28,140
And I just let him know not today.

2765
03:48:28,140 --> 03:48:33,440
They have, like, some other time if you want to come aside here, but he has, you know,

2766
03:48:33,700 --> 03:48:35,600
just how many hours does he need?

2767
03:48:36,720 --> 03:48:38,960
I don't know anything about his hours.

2768
03:48:39,280 --> 03:48:40,160
I can't say that.

2769
03:48:40,280 --> 03:48:43,500
I just, I want, he gave me a little blip to talk about it for court when it detail.

2770
03:48:43,920 --> 03:48:48,040
And also asked that he could come and dress the court if it became an issue.

2771
03:48:48,180 --> 03:48:51,940
Well, I've just asked to pull it if somebody wants to make a motion to approve it.

2772
03:48:52,040 --> 03:48:52,540
They can do that.

2773
03:48:52,940 --> 03:48:53,200
Okay.

2774
03:48:53,420 --> 03:48:54,940
Well, then let me give the court, excuse me.

2775
03:48:55,020 --> 03:48:57,300
No, I was going to say there was a motion to deny.

2776
03:48:57,300 --> 03:49:01,380
Hi, yes, is there a second on that motion? I just don't want to leave a motion.

2777
03:49:01,580 --> 03:49:03,060
I'm sorry. It was

2778
03:49:08,120 --> 03:49:11,660
a motion to deny the out-of-state travel for judge

2779
03:49:11,660 --> 03:49:12,860
squires. Is there a second?

2780
03:49:16,210 --> 03:49:19,610
Okay, that motion fails for a second. Is there any other

2781
03:49:19,610 --> 03:49:24,490
motion that would like to be considered? I'm new to approve item E.

2782
03:49:27,840 --> 03:49:28,280
I have a

2783
03:49:28,280 --> 03:49:32,340
motion to approve the out-of-state travel. Is there a second?

2784
03:49:35,940 --> 03:49:36,520
I just want more

2785
03:49:36,520 --> 03:49:43,120
information. So yeah, I'm on board with that idea. He is walking over currently. I can give you

2786
03:49:43,120 --> 03:49:49,000
what I know for now. He says this is judicial training. This is part of what he needs to be on the

2787
03:49:49,000 --> 03:49:54,300
teaching faculty for the National Judicial College. There are less than five judges in Texas that are

2788
03:49:54,300 --> 03:49:59,740
on this faculty. He has received a full scholarship for this conference for tuition and fees.

2789
03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:10,800
He would be asking for reimbursement for food and travel and has attached the agenda in scholarship letter to the item and is on the way. So that's what I have at this time.

2790
03:50:15,820 --> 03:50:19,500
There is a motion to approve the out of state travel. Is there a second?

2791
03:50:33,020 --> 03:50:38,900
That motion does fail for lack of a second. Do we want to?

2792
03:50:41,170 --> 03:50:47,970
Do you all mind if we take like a five minute recess to fill up water?

2793
03:50:47,970 --> 03:50:53,230
use a bathroom if the judges coming over it kind of coincides with what we

2794
03:50:53,230 --> 03:50:57,530
need to address when keeping moving on is everybody okay with that yes let's

2795
03:50:57,530 --> 03:51:02,010
let's do ten nine minutes it's one fifty one right now we'll recess we'll

2796
03:51:02,010 --> 03:51:06,570
come back at two o'clock all right

2797
03:51:49,420 --> 03:51:56,980
coming back from our break we will reconvene

2798
03:51:56,980 --> 03:52:04,680
During this regular session of Commissioner's Court at 2 p.m., we were on item E under consent

2799
03:52:04,680 --> 03:52:09,240
which was pulled for separate discussion and that item is in accordance with Guadalued

2800
03:52:09,240 --> 03:52:14,280
County travel policy authorization for judge squires and travel out of state for the following

2801
03:52:14,280 --> 03:52:19,740
educational training, national judicial colleges designing and presenting courses effectively

2802
03:52:19,740 --> 03:52:26,360
the faculty development workshops September 28th through October 1, 2026 in Reno, Nevada.

2803
03:52:26,860 --> 03:52:32,680
No, Judge, I know you came over as we were talking. Do you want to come up and give any additional information?

2804
03:52:37,200 --> 03:52:39,060
Court member, go ahead. No, no, no, no.

2805
03:52:39,240 --> 03:52:43,180
No, I was just going to ask if there were any questions, comments for the Judge Royce here?

2806
03:52:44,100 --> 03:52:50,560
I just want to know how does going to this conference help Guadalupe County when it's become a teaching facility

2807
03:52:50,560 --> 03:52:52,200
for the National and Judicial College?

2808
03:52:52,680 --> 03:52:53,840
How does it help to go out with the county?

2809
03:52:54,860 --> 03:52:57,000
And do you even get any CLEs

2810
03:52:57,000 --> 03:52:58,740
or continue an education question for them?

2811
03:52:59,280 --> 03:53:01,200
Well, I'll answer both those questions in order.

2812
03:53:01,680 --> 03:53:07,460
So I think continuing legal education for us lawyers

2813
03:53:07,460 --> 03:53:08,980
and judges that require that.

2814
03:53:09,280 --> 03:53:11,960
Number one is statutorily required by law

2815
03:53:12,900 --> 03:53:15,400
being a licensed attorney and a member

2816
03:53:15,400 --> 03:53:17,780
of the Texas Bar College.

2817
03:53:17,780 --> 03:53:19,500
I'm required to have 15 hours.

2818
03:53:19,500 --> 03:53:22,480
and then as a member of the Texas Bar College

2819
03:53:22,480 --> 03:53:23,880
I'm required to have 30 hours.

2820
03:53:24,780 --> 03:53:28,120
So continuing legal education I think speaks for itself.

2821
03:53:28,400 --> 03:53:30,320
Any education I think speaks for itself

2822
03:53:30,320 --> 03:53:35,160
and it helps me serve the mic constituents

2823
03:53:35,160 --> 03:53:37,960
by being a better judge, by learning the techniques

2824
03:53:37,960 --> 03:53:40,480
that other judges across the country and the world

2825
03:53:40,480 --> 03:53:43,400
are using to effectively manage their dockets,

2826
03:53:43,760 --> 03:53:46,180
make sure cases are heard in a timely manner.

2827
03:53:47,040 --> 03:53:48,080
The list goes on.

2828
03:53:48,080 --> 03:53:54,880
So the second question was, do I receive it in continuing legal education credits more

2829
03:53:54,880 --> 03:53:55,180
of this?

2830
03:53:55,640 --> 03:53:59,800
Every class I've taken with National Judicial College, which, by the way, is the largest

2831
03:53:59,800 --> 03:54:05,320
judicial training organization in the world comes with CLE.

2832
03:54:06,280 --> 03:54:10,960
And I do receive CLE credit for the classes I take with the National Judicial College.

2833
03:54:11,480 --> 03:54:17,780
This course specifically is designed for people who have been invited to the National Judicial

2834
03:54:17,780 --> 03:54:19,840
college to become members of their faculty.

2835
03:54:21,300 --> 03:54:27,920
I did an informal search for how many judges in Texas are currently serving as faculty

2836
03:54:27,920 --> 03:54:31,980
members at the NJC, and I think they're less than five in the entire state.

2837
03:54:32,640 --> 03:54:39,940
So I think it not only is wonderful opportunity for me, professionally, to grow as a judge,

2838
03:54:40,140 --> 03:54:45,020
but it would also be a feather in the cap for Guadalupe County to have one of less than five

2839
03:54:45,020 --> 03:54:49,340
in the entire state of Texas, be a faculty member on the National Judicial College faculty

2840
03:54:49,340 --> 03:54:57,080
staff. Not only that, I received a full scholarship to attend, full tuition scholarship, all

2841
03:54:57,080 --> 03:54:59,820
the fees are paid for, the hotel is paid for.

2842
03:55:00,140 --> 03:55:29,000
All of my meals except for one meal a day is paid for. That's right. And so the only cost I'm asking to be covered is my flight in one meal a day. Question me, how many CLEs do you get by taking this course? I couldn't find any other way there because it was all about teaching and getting a degree to be on this thing. Once again, how does that actually help? Guadalupe County. Well, I've already answered that question and you've asked two questions there. So the first one.

2843
03:55:29,000 --> 03:55:34,260
I've already answered. The second one is, I don't know until they actually finish the

2844
03:55:34,260 --> 03:55:42,460
class. So every hour that you spend in the class, and I think they're four days, I don't

2845
03:55:42,460 --> 03:55:49,860
know exactly how many. It's in the PDF. You get about an hour of CLE credit for each one

2846
03:55:49,860 --> 03:55:58,840
hour that you take there. So maybe 40, 30? And how many hours do you need per year to

2847
03:55:58,840 --> 03:56:05,360
continue your license? My license 15 to be a member of the State Bar College I need

2848
03:56:05,360 --> 03:56:19,840
30. So once again to be part of the State Bar College once again how does it help a

2849
03:56:19,840 --> 03:56:27,660
do a better job. And as a former educator, as a professor at St. Mary's Law School, coming

2850
03:56:27,660 --> 03:56:32,500
from a family of teachers and professors, my father was a professor at Texas Lutheran University

2851
03:56:32,500 --> 03:56:38,240
for 40 years. I have two brothers that are teachers. One is a professor, a full professor,

2852
03:56:38,580 --> 03:56:44,680
a tenure professor, a Texas A&M. Education is part of my blood. And I think education is important

2853
03:56:44,680 --> 03:56:51,040
for everyone to have, whether that is technical training, whether it's a college degree, whether

2854
03:56:51,040 --> 03:56:55,500
it's practical on the job experience, apparently good.

2855
03:56:56,380 --> 03:57:01,180
So this course, if you retire, you could just move right into the teaching degree with

2856
03:57:01,180 --> 03:57:01,320
this.

2857
03:57:01,960 --> 03:57:07,340
Well, I could potentially teach in a non-compensated role right now, if you chose to.

2858
03:57:11,200 --> 03:57:11,980
That's my question.

2859
03:57:12,120 --> 03:57:15,900
So I just don't see how it benefits Guadalupe County other than, you know, which have one

2860
03:57:15,900 --> 03:57:16,420
on the board.

2861
03:57:16,420 --> 03:57:24,240
What part of my answer did you not understand that you said that it benefit you go out with the county could be one of five people on this

2862
03:57:25,640 --> 03:57:27,220
prestigious, I guess, faculty?

2863
03:57:28,500 --> 03:57:31,700
Well, I just like our deputies and law enforcement

2864
03:57:32,740 --> 03:57:36,880
officers get master peace officer certifications. How does that help them?

2865
03:57:39,640 --> 03:57:40,740
They just get more money.

2866
03:57:41,360 --> 03:57:44,560
Well, I don't get any more money for it. I'm doing it because I love learning.

2867
03:57:46,240 --> 03:57:50,560
I just think if someone wants to do that much for their own benefit that they should pay for it.

2868
03:57:50,960 --> 03:57:53,480
Why can't you do that for just my benefit? That's just what I'm thinking.

2869
03:57:53,920 --> 03:57:57,820
It's my opinion. It can come to the vote so you can ask the other questions.

2870
03:57:58,920 --> 03:58:03,440
I see a lot of money going out of this place. We're going to have your CLEs in place.

2871
03:58:03,980 --> 03:58:05,180
And this will give you more.

2872
03:58:05,440 --> 03:58:10,280
This is a full tuition scholarship. All I'm asking for is a plane ticket and one meal a day.

2873
03:58:11,540 --> 03:58:11,940
That's it.

2874
03:58:11,940 --> 03:58:16,220
But I know that you didn't use all of your training budget last year and you donated

2875
03:58:16,220 --> 03:58:22,220
that for emergency buttons, and I don't buy education like I do, and that's your decision.

2876
03:58:22,520 --> 03:58:22,840
That's right.

2877
03:58:23,060 --> 03:58:24,140
For me, it's important.

2878
03:58:24,600 --> 03:58:30,200
And I think from the voters, it's important, and the voters voted me back in knowing that

2879
03:58:30,200 --> 03:58:36,720
I am very qualified for my position, and I am so because I take continuing legal education

2880
03:58:36,720 --> 03:58:39,020
and I try to improve daily.

2881
03:58:39,820 --> 03:58:43,080
And so learning is a lifetime experience for me.

2882
03:58:43,440 --> 03:58:47,200
You heading for a doctorate degree in the PhD program.

2883
03:58:48,000 --> 03:58:49,500
And this would help you tremendously.

2884
03:58:50,720 --> 03:58:53,920
This course does not count towards the doctoral program.

2885
03:58:54,300 --> 03:58:55,000
It does not.

2886
03:58:55,320 --> 03:58:55,980
It does not.

2887
03:58:56,260 --> 03:58:56,620
OK, I know.

2888
03:58:56,760 --> 03:58:57,360
That's what I heard you.

2889
03:58:58,260 --> 03:58:59,580
Anyway, I'm sorry.

2890
03:59:00,040 --> 03:59:03,400
I said, I heard you when you said did not go towards it.

2891
03:59:03,420 --> 03:59:03,620
OK.

2892
03:59:05,590 --> 03:59:06,610
Any other questions?

2893
03:59:06,610 --> 03:59:10,550
Any other questions, comments?

2894
03:59:13,370 --> 03:59:17,330
I'm sure there's differing, you know, mindsets on training and all these things.

2895
03:59:17,630 --> 03:59:22,750
I think what we're used to as a group is probably saying more training that is tied specific

2896
03:59:22,750 --> 03:59:27,330
like Commissioner's Court training is going to be South Texas Judges and Commissioner's Conference

2897
03:59:27,330 --> 03:59:33,770
specific to roads, budgeting, you know, disaster recovery and response or whatever it is.

2898
03:59:33,770 --> 03:59:39,210
So even with some of these items, I don't know who's concerned about this and who isn't on the court, right?

2899
03:59:39,670 --> 03:59:47,870
Thank you probably had the interaction with the most concerned on the court about the training, but I think just at first glance it was kind of like, okay, is this

2900
03:59:48,470 --> 03:59:51,910
Is this a normal judge is training or it sounds like it's something a little bit?

2901
03:59:52,290 --> 03:59:59,970
It is absolutely admirable. Yeah, it's just not something maybe everybody's used to singing that's probably the initial knee jerk was kind of

2902
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:29,740
I like it. How does this fit the same way? So I think that's probably where some of this initiated today, but I appreciate you soft pedaling back is just trying here. I want to tell the court just a little bit. And with my experience as a lawyer, there are certain trainings and certain things that you can't get into until you have some sort of qualification. It's certainly more

2903
04:00:29,740 --> 04:00:35,580
applicable for judges. I do think the more qualified that we can have our attorneys and judges

2904
04:00:35,580 --> 04:00:40,240
be the better. This is something I would support if any of our attorneys wanted to do it, or if

2905
04:00:40,240 --> 04:00:45,820
any of our judges wanted to do it, if they could get into it. I also think that accolades received

2906
04:00:45,820 --> 04:00:51,240
by our leaders are a positive thing for the county. I think it makes the county more attractive. I

2907
04:00:51,240 --> 04:00:56,440
think that if all of our judges could do something like this, if they wanted to do it, I'm sure they

2908
04:00:56,440 --> 04:01:00,680
could if they wanted to. I would support all of them for doing this. I think you know, Chris

2909
04:01:00,680 --> 04:01:04,300
Klein won an award recently. I think that's awesome. I mean, different ones of our elected officials

2910
04:01:04,300 --> 04:01:09,140
that are acknowledged for doing a great job in their own fields. I think is a good thing for

2911
04:01:09,140 --> 04:01:14,180
the county. It's a great look for the county and I think it attracts quality people. I think it's

2912
04:01:14,180 --> 04:01:19,060
a good thing. I think that any of us that are winning awards or doing things to better ourselves

2913
04:01:19,060 --> 04:01:25,180
in our respective fields is a good thing. Who handles your load while you're gone? Who handles

2914
04:01:25,180 --> 04:01:31,680
your load while you're going your cases my cases yeah so I still maintain my all

2915
04:01:31,680 --> 04:01:36,440
of my the filings I handle while I'm gone I I'm able to do that for my laptop

2916
04:01:36,440 --> 04:01:42,760
and I schedule my doc at around around being at the CLE right so no cases

2917
04:01:42,760 --> 04:01:45,360
will be missed nothing will be dropped any

2918
04:01:48,240 --> 04:01:49,960
other questions from Judge

2919
04:01:49,960 --> 04:01:54,420
as well as the podium. Motion to approve item E in the consent list.

2920
04:01:56,960 --> 04:02:01,040
Second. Do you have a motion and a second?

2921
04:02:01,620 --> 04:02:03,800
Let me just a second.

2922
04:02:05,940 --> 04:02:13,000
Motion and a second to approve item E that was previously removed from consent items. Any other comments or questions?

2923
04:02:16,600 --> 04:02:19,420
All right, hearing no other discussion. All those in favor say aye.

2924
04:02:19,420 --> 04:02:20,040
Thank you.

2925
04:02:20,040 --> 04:02:20,300
All right.

2926
04:02:20,680 --> 04:02:21,160
Opposed?

2927
04:02:21,480 --> 04:02:21,600
Aye.

2928
04:02:22,020 --> 04:02:22,980
Motion does pass.

2929
04:02:23,200 --> 04:02:24,080
40A is one day.

2930
04:02:24,640 --> 04:02:25,320
Thank you.

2931
04:02:25,400 --> 04:02:26,300
Thank you for your consideration.

2932
04:02:26,300 --> 04:02:27,200
May I be excused?

2933
04:02:27,380 --> 04:02:27,660
Yes, sir.

2934
04:02:27,800 --> 04:02:28,260
Have a good day.

2935
04:02:28,400 --> 04:02:28,480
Thank you.

2936
04:02:29,400 --> 04:02:34,380
We'll move to item 7, which are action items, discussion, possible, motion relative to item

2937
04:02:34,380 --> 04:02:39,500
A, request to fund the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department for its supplemental funding for

2938
04:02:39,500 --> 04:02:40,680
fiscal year 26.

2939
04:02:41,420 --> 04:02:41,880
Mr. Pender.

2940
04:02:42,280 --> 04:02:46,840
Judge commissioners, this is a fundamental fundering request to follow up with the money that

2941
04:02:46,840 --> 04:02:50,700
It was allocated in the budget this year for the Kingsbury Fire Department.

2942
04:02:51,160 --> 04:02:54,980
They're utilizing their funds to purchase radios, they've already purchased those radios.

2943
04:02:55,100 --> 04:02:59,380
This is just the agreement put forth to you guys so you can authorize them to receive

2944
04:02:59,380 --> 04:03:03,700
those payments and later on we have a budget amendment to move the money to their line.

2945
04:03:06,370 --> 04:03:11,490
And the supplemental or additional budget amendment is on the agenda later to move the funds.

2946
04:03:11,510 --> 04:03:14,670
So the funds allocated for this is $6,685.

2947
04:03:14,670 --> 04:03:20,970
dollars. They actually spent more on the radios. They spent $8,000. So they're out of

2948
04:03:20,970 --> 04:03:25,070
pocket a little bit, but this is just what the court had allocated for them.

2949
04:03:28,100 --> 04:03:33,820
Moving up to the perub. Do you have a motion? Is there a second? Second. Do you have a second

2950
04:03:33,820 --> 04:03:37,020
and the other discussion? I was just going to say just I have the paperwork

2951
04:03:37,020 --> 04:03:40,360
send the orders office with the clear check and everything. So we'll get it all cleared

2952
04:03:40,360 --> 04:03:44,580
up this one. Okay. There do have a motion and a second. Any other comments or

2953
04:03:44,580 --> 04:03:45,560
questions, court members?

2954
04:03:48,110 --> 04:03:50,830
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

2955
04:03:51,290 --> 04:03:56,930
Aye. Opposed, same sign? Aye. Motion does pass four yeas, one nay.

2956
04:03:58,870 --> 04:04:05,570
Item B, order prohibiting outdoor burning, Mr. Pinter. Judge commissioners, as you can see, and as you have heard,

2957
04:04:06,210 --> 04:04:10,010
fire departments are busy and so what this is is just to implement the burn

2958
04:04:10,010 --> 04:04:14,630
effective tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. for 90 days. Currently in Guadalupe County

2959
04:04:14,630 --> 04:04:20,370
where at 6.29 on the KBDI. Bear County is at 5.50. Come out County is at 5.85.

2960
04:04:20,630 --> 04:04:26,550
Gonzales is 6.46. Hayes County is 5.80 and Wilson is 6.26. Several counties around us

2961
04:04:26,550 --> 04:04:29,510
have started to implement those burn bands and it's my recommendation to do so

2962
04:04:29,510 --> 04:04:29,950
also.

2963
04:04:33,300 --> 04:04:40,160
You can approve the order of outdoor burning, band outdoor burning. Second, we have a motion

2964
04:04:40,160 --> 04:04:45,560
and a second to approve the order prohibiting outdoor burning in the other discussion. Isn't it

2965
04:04:45,560 --> 04:04:52,580
true, Patrick, that most of the time when we do this, you make it rain. So you can call it all.

2966
04:04:52,840 --> 04:04:57,780
It started raining last week when I put this on. I filed it on Monday. We got about three days of

2967
04:04:57,780 --> 04:04:59,980
rain last week and there's a tropical storm coming into the...

2968
04:05:00,420 --> 04:05:07,840
All right. Hopefully we'll get a little bit of rain this week. Okay. Then you have everybody asking, why didn't you do it sooner? All right.

2969
04:05:09,880 --> 04:05:29,980
We do have a motion and a commissioner. So Patrick, I've been asked in the past about those numbers that you that you keep giving out KVDI numbers. What's the threshold? What does that mean? My 500 is the threshold. So basically, the most your content in the ground to a certain level. So when I say 500, that's five inches under the ground, 606 inches. So the moisture content in the ground. It's

2970
04:05:29,980 --> 04:05:31,100
It's about that deep.

2971
04:05:34,680 --> 04:05:36,500
Any other comments, questions?

2972
04:05:37,260 --> 04:05:42,840
Right, we do have a motion and a second to approve the order for the burn ban and item

2973
04:05:42,840 --> 04:05:46,100
B, hearing no other comments or questions, all those in favor say aye.

2974
04:05:46,420 --> 04:05:46,600
Aye.

2975
04:05:47,260 --> 04:05:48,080
Opposed, same sign?

2976
04:05:49,000 --> 04:05:50,800
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

2977
04:05:51,660 --> 04:05:56,240
Action, item C, approve the change order with UES for additional construction material,

2978
04:05:56,240 --> 04:06:02,060
testing services for the emergency operation center project in the amount of $7,120.

2979
04:06:02,560 --> 04:06:06,900
Mr. Pinder. Judge, commissioners, UES is the fund we have hired to complete our third

2980
04:06:06,900 --> 04:06:09,620
party inspections and testing on the facilities.

2981
04:06:10,300 --> 04:06:14,400
This change order is to include some of the items that were not listed in the original scope

2982
04:06:14,400 --> 04:06:23,480
of work. The funds coming out of this is for the lines that we have set aside currently.

2983
04:06:23,480 --> 04:06:27,160
So we have the funds in a separate line that's in a contingency fund.

2984
04:06:27,420 --> 04:06:31,820
So I did we do have some other information that was just they'll be coming back with another proposal.

2985
04:06:32,000 --> 04:06:39,080
We have to have a third party inspection for the installation on the exterior of the buildings and the interior of the buildings.

2986
04:06:39,540 --> 04:06:44,520
And so this is this was just made aware this week actually yesterday of that.

2987
04:06:44,520 --> 04:06:47,820
So don't be in another proposal from this firm or different firm to for that.

2988
04:06:47,820 --> 04:06:55,320
So how did all this fall through the cracks what's that how did it all fall through the cracks not knowing that this was coming?

2989
04:06:55,540 --> 04:07:01,420
It couldn't have been in the original quote so the original quote covered all of the building the site work

2990
04:07:01,960 --> 04:07:09,880
This I don't know. This is just different additional man hours. We've been back and forth with this firm and also with the contractor in this firm was

2991
04:07:10,860 --> 04:07:13,880
This is you yes you yes, and they were

2992
04:07:14,780 --> 04:07:15,740
We hired them.

2993
04:07:15,880 --> 04:07:16,280
We picked them.

2994
04:07:16,280 --> 04:07:16,920
We hired this formula.

2995
04:07:17,200 --> 04:07:18,060
So we picked them.

2996
04:07:18,140 --> 04:07:19,700
We gave them all the information they needed.

2997
04:07:19,900 --> 04:07:20,900
Now they're coming back to them.

2998
04:07:20,960 --> 04:07:21,940
Well, you didn't have this there.

2999
04:07:22,240 --> 04:07:24,000
The scope of work seems to have changed.

3000
04:07:24,220 --> 04:07:27,520
There's additional added items that the contractor did not have.

3001
04:07:27,720 --> 04:07:30,100
The general contractor or general conditions.

3002
04:07:30,560 --> 04:07:31,600
There's been some additional changes.

3003
04:07:31,960 --> 04:07:34,420
So whatever the architect threw up was incorrect.

3004
04:07:36,360 --> 04:07:37,780
Or lacking, I should say.

3005
04:07:38,920 --> 04:07:42,120
I don't know if it's an architectural issue or it's actually a construction issue.

3006
04:07:42,120 --> 04:07:46,900
I was just advised we needed to do some additional testing just like the city has requirements on their third party

3007
04:07:46,900 --> 04:07:51,320
This could be a city requirement for a third party inspection test. You know, they're gonna test the asphalt

3008
04:07:51,320 --> 04:07:54,380
They're gonna test the concrete. They're in test compactions. They're gonna test steel

3009
04:07:54,380 --> 04:07:57,760
They're gonna test all that different things. This is just how we hard to do that

3010
04:07:57,760 --> 04:08:02,860
It's not like a portion of the building was missed in the scope of work and we're having to test the ground

3011
04:08:02,860 --> 04:08:09,080
We're an expansion of the buildings going right. This is yeah additional required testing on the existing plan that was

3012
04:08:09,500 --> 04:08:15,720
in progress. Yes, correct. Like this one has caught some concussion, construction issues,

3013
04:08:16,000 --> 04:08:20,300
like concrete compaction testing, 23 days after the concrete was poured, the concrete didn't

3014
04:08:20,300 --> 04:08:24,380
pass the test, so we had to go back and revise the foundation, things like that. So, for like

3015
04:08:24,380 --> 04:08:29,740
a dumpster pad, things like that. This is all planned. Yes, it's all on the budget. How much

3016
04:08:29,740 --> 04:08:34,320
is the plan? I mean plan, like construction wise, because to me, change order indicates

3017
04:08:34,320 --> 04:08:40,480
on planned. This is a change order based on the inspection testing. So this is what they think

3018
04:08:40,480 --> 04:08:44,640
will take it to get to the remainder of the project. So you know, like when we had that soil

3019
04:08:44,640 --> 04:08:49,560
testing issue and we had to retest and there was a change order with that to these, these were the

3020
04:08:49,560 --> 04:08:53,500
people that ultimately were doing that testing, right? Correct. Except that the change order came

3021
04:08:53,500 --> 04:08:57,940
through someone else's name. No, it was this firm. There was somebody else's name on that change order

3022
04:08:57,940 --> 04:09:00,180
remember that was it was about five minutes ago.

3023
04:09:00,560 --> 04:09:02,840
So BSW is the dark attack firm.

3024
04:09:03,280 --> 04:09:05,300
They're the ones that, and if we don't construct

3025
04:09:05,300 --> 04:09:07,040
that's the way BSW who is the architect,

3026
04:09:07,420 --> 04:09:08,420
I think we do is the contractor.

3027
04:09:08,940 --> 04:09:11,840
So now, this is the firm that actually did the testing.

3028
04:09:11,980 --> 04:09:15,080
So if we don't actually order the testing through UES

3029
04:09:15,080 --> 04:09:16,520
because that's the firm we were using.

3030
04:09:16,680 --> 04:09:20,720
So we do initially paid for the change order

3031
04:09:20,720 --> 04:09:21,280
the first time.

3032
04:09:22,080 --> 04:09:24,120
And this is kind of the fear and the concern

3033
04:09:24,120 --> 04:09:25,880
that we had going into this is that,

3034
04:09:25,880 --> 04:09:29,220
you know, we have this deadline and then they're even the change order started coming in.

3035
04:09:29,600 --> 04:09:36,400
I didn't really think that the first version of the, excuse me, gosh, now I'm turning.

3036
04:09:36,700 --> 04:09:41,020
The dirt testing was, I didn't really agree with it.

3037
04:09:41,100 --> 04:09:41,940
I didn't like it.

3038
04:09:42,000 --> 04:09:46,860
I think it was a foreseeable thing that they should have not had to come back and ask for more

3039
04:09:46,860 --> 04:09:47,580
money for it.

3040
04:09:48,320 --> 04:09:52,120
But, I mean, are we in a situation where we're on such a tight deadline with this funding

3041
04:09:52,120 --> 04:09:53,680
that we really just have to move forward?

3042
04:09:54,620 --> 04:09:56,380
I mean, how many more of these are they able to do?

3043
04:09:56,600 --> 04:09:58,780
Well, I think that's the other question.

3044
04:09:58,940 --> 04:09:59,560
And maybe y'all...

3045
04:09:59,560 --> 04:09:59,980
I mean...

3046
04:10:00,000 --> 04:10:29,980
Commissioner, you know, or Patrick, you know, but it, it really is, we don't want to, we don't want to be in a position where we feel like we're forced to make a decision and they keep just having these change orders over and over and over and over and over. I think we're there. So it could give us. We do have another agenda item. I don't want to talk about a construction management company to help us look at those things like Mr. Enkouki speak on, on this from his perspective. Right. That's all right. I mean, I can talk about it now or then. But. If this is something that we have to do.

3047
04:10:29,980 --> 04:10:33,720
to move forward with this thing or when ultimately lose money because of the federal

3048
04:10:33,720 --> 04:10:36,020
funding involved and I guess we have to do it.

3049
04:10:36,280 --> 04:10:36,820
Correct.

3050
04:10:37,480 --> 04:10:41,380
It's part of the, you know, we had an original agreement with UES.

3051
04:10:41,960 --> 04:10:44,500
This is third-party inspections.

3052
04:10:45,380 --> 04:10:53,780
This was something that came up with the EOC project and it's adding $7,100 and $7,122

3053
04:10:54,070 --> 04:10:59,920
their original requirement by the city as the permitting entity to do

3054
04:10:59,920 --> 04:11:04,840
this testing? Or are we testing this to make sure what we're building meets a certain

3055
04:11:06,380 --> 04:11:10,320
specification materials testing to make sure it's meeting the specifications like they

3056
04:11:10,320 --> 04:11:14,380
tested the concrete to make sure it met the PSI. They're testing the steel to make sure that's

3057
04:11:14,380 --> 04:11:19,080
going to hold up. They're testing the sheet metal. They're testing the the default back-to-wire

3058
04:11:19,080 --> 04:11:25,740
building. The dictates the need for the testing. There are owners rep. So if this if this this

3059
04:11:25,740 --> 04:11:31,440
This firm doesn't do the testing, then there's nobody at the county that can watch and oversee the testing.

3060
04:11:31,660 --> 04:11:36,100
So they're having an engineer sign off on this saying that it will not fail, if it does fail.

3061
04:11:36,440 --> 04:11:39,220
The warranties could go back to, it's basically coming back to you.

3062
04:11:39,220 --> 04:11:46,060
If we didn't do the testing, we're not covering the investment, probably to make sure that it was done right to begin with.

3063
04:11:46,300 --> 04:11:52,460
And then if we don't do that, and we run into a problem, we don't have anything that we can lean on to say, see,

3064
04:11:53,900 --> 04:11:58,380
We didn't do that, so we're not sure who's fault is it and it becomes a back and forth by it.

3065
04:11:58,960 --> 04:11:59,380
That's right.

3066
04:12:00,400 --> 04:12:02,000
So, like I said, there was a foundation issue.

3067
04:12:02,160 --> 04:12:05,640
Later on, we can go back and pull all the engineering reports, all their testing reports,

3068
04:12:05,820 --> 04:12:07,120
because they send me reports every day.

3069
04:12:07,640 --> 04:12:09,360
And so, at the end of the week, they compile them.

3070
04:12:09,400 --> 04:12:11,160
So, we can see all the reports every week.

3071
04:12:11,480 --> 04:12:13,280
They're out there every day, pulling test samples.

3072
04:12:16,440 --> 04:12:19,720
Is this part of the grant that we got or is this out of our budget?

3073
04:12:19,920 --> 04:12:20,960
This is out of our budget.

3074
04:12:20,960 --> 04:12:21,520
that it's not.

3075
04:12:28,130 --> 04:12:28,650
Gallauds.

3076
04:12:31,940 --> 04:12:33,140
If there's no further discussion,

3077
04:12:33,420 --> 04:12:35,200
I'll move to approve a change order with UES

3078
04:12:35,200 --> 04:12:38,340
for additional construction, material testing services

3079
04:12:38,340 --> 04:12:40,680
for the emergency operations center project

3080
04:12:40,680 --> 04:12:42,220
in the amount of $7,120.

3081
04:12:45,480 --> 04:12:46,000
Second.

3082
04:12:46,520 --> 04:12:48,680
You have the motion in the second commissioner?

3083
04:12:49,000 --> 04:12:50,360
One other question, just...

3084
04:12:50,960 --> 04:12:53,080
We're already testing the concrete, correct?

3085
04:12:53,560 --> 04:12:53,800
Yes, sir.

3086
04:12:54,060 --> 04:12:55,320
What else are they going to test?

3087
04:12:55,560 --> 04:12:57,180
The center block, the...

3088
04:12:57,180 --> 04:12:58,400
Grout, there's a mortar.

3089
04:12:59,720 --> 04:13:04,220
I'll send you the actual full report, but they're testing everything on the project.

3090
04:13:04,420 --> 04:13:05,240
There are third-part tests.

3091
04:13:05,360 --> 04:13:07,000
They're actually going in and doing the steel test.

3092
04:13:07,660 --> 04:13:10,000
I mean, the pressure bar in the slab, they're testing.

3093
04:13:10,200 --> 04:13:15,380
Yes, they tested the gravel, they tested the concrete, they tested all the dirt compaction

3094
04:13:15,380 --> 04:13:17,140
tests, all those different things.

3095
04:13:19,380 --> 04:13:21,380
Can we pay all those bills?

3096
04:13:22,060 --> 04:13:23,020
Not Orpo?

3097
04:13:23,940 --> 04:13:24,560
Yes, sir.

3098
04:13:24,560 --> 04:13:33,900
There was the original scope was, so the total for everything is $72,000 at the end of $71,750.

3099
04:13:34,240 --> 04:13:36,900
Why was that not part of the architectural bid?

3100
04:13:37,160 --> 04:13:38,660
It's not part, it's the soft cost.

3101
04:13:39,860 --> 04:13:42,020
Right, it's the owner's responsibility, the owner's rep.

3102
04:13:42,580 --> 04:13:45,940
Because they can't hire an inspection firm, it's not ethical.

3103
04:13:46,700 --> 04:13:47,220
We have to.

3104
04:13:48,000 --> 04:13:52,580
If they hire their own inspector to tell us all the work they did is okay, then how are you supposed to?

3105
04:13:55,280 --> 04:14:01,480
It's like a lot of times where you have professional services, engineering, geotech, some of that

3106
04:14:01,480 --> 04:14:07,120
where it's the owner's responsibility to do those initial services, just like on road construction

3107
04:14:07,120 --> 04:14:12,140
where you may be required to do initial design, look at cost of utility relocation, all those things

3108
04:14:12,140 --> 04:14:16,120
and right-of-way acquisition before you actually get somebody else.

3109
04:14:16,800 --> 04:14:18,180
It's kind of similar, right?

3110
04:14:18,180 --> 04:14:19,380
You're going to need on the Marion?

3111
04:14:20,360 --> 04:14:21,600
You're going to need this on Marion?

3112
04:14:22,700 --> 04:14:25,680
No, I've already paid all the bills on Marion.

3113
04:14:26,160 --> 04:14:27,440
All the additional testing?

3114
04:14:27,800 --> 04:14:27,980
Yeah.

3115
04:14:29,180 --> 04:14:29,940
We did it.

3116
04:14:31,540 --> 04:14:34,380
Coming up after the fact is what bothers me the most.

3117
04:14:35,120 --> 04:14:36,320
If she'd all be brought up front,

3118
04:14:36,460 --> 04:14:37,880
so we know exactly what's going to cost.

3119
04:14:38,840 --> 04:14:39,960
This thing is just,

3120
04:14:40,420 --> 04:14:42,500
what's the cost overrun on this project right now?

3121
04:14:43,080 --> 04:14:44,580
I have to, I can't quote that off.

3122
04:14:44,640 --> 04:14:46,000
Tough man, sir. I'd have to get you.

3123
04:14:46,000 --> 04:14:50,500
but it's too late now, but, you know, I'm just curious as to how we're still within budget.

3124
04:14:51,400 --> 04:14:52,200
We're still within budget?

3125
04:14:52,300 --> 04:14:52,480
Yes.

3126
04:14:53,540 --> 04:14:54,880
Yeah, there's some contingency.

3127
04:14:54,880 --> 04:14:55,800
We're still within budget.

3128
04:14:55,920 --> 04:14:59,860
We have, I think there's last meeting we talked about, there was...

3129
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:11,400
There was over 200,000 in contingency that was still available. So we're within the budget, within the fees, within everything that we've anticipated. So.

3130
04:15:16,410 --> 04:15:24,890
This is something we have to do. Yes. Correct. That's our contractor. Right. We do have a motion and a second. Any other comments or questions?

3131
04:15:28,040 --> 04:15:36,280
All right. Hearing no other discussion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Hearing no opposition. That motion passes.

3132
04:15:36,280 --> 04:15:47,660
We'll move to Action Item D, award the contract for RFP 26-16 drug testing services to DSI Medical, the sole responsive foreposer, Mr. Kennedy-Hamm.

3133
04:15:48,340 --> 04:15:54,020
This is tied to consent item F, which is the Texas Veterans Commission Grant Award.

3134
04:15:54,860 --> 04:16:01,840
On July 21st, Commissioners Court approved the order to advertise and the specifications for this RFP for drug testing services.

3135
04:16:01,840 --> 04:16:08,080
When it closed on August 10th, we received three submissions, but only one of those was responsive.

3136
04:16:08,460 --> 04:16:17,620
That response was reviewed by various departments, and DSI still meets the needs for this contract.

3137
04:16:21,000 --> 04:16:28,260
Commissioners, DSI is the group that I believe is currently being used for veterans treatment courts.

3138
04:16:28,260 --> 04:16:39,100
So when we have veterans come into that program, they all have a device either a self-checked device or an ignition interlock if it's tied to a DWI.

3139
04:16:39,780 --> 04:16:55,160
They also as part of the treatment program for 14 to 16 or 18 months, however long that individual is involved, they have random drug tests that happens once if not multiple times during the month.

3140
04:16:55,160 --> 04:16:58,280
and then they're also going to probation to have testing done.

3141
04:16:59,120 --> 04:17:03,700
I do want to take just a brief moment to say a big shout-out to Doreen in my office who

3142
04:17:03,700 --> 04:17:07,880
does all of the work, all of the background paperwork, everything.

3143
04:17:08,020 --> 04:17:14,360
Not only for veterans' treatment court, but also for this $110,000 grant, which covers

3144
04:17:14,360 --> 04:17:19,920
100% of the costs for the veterans in the program on their devices, some additional treatment

3145
04:17:19,920 --> 04:17:21,640
and things that go into that.

3146
04:17:21,640 --> 04:17:30,720
So without her time spent on that, these veterans would be paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars each every month to be involved in the program.

3147
04:17:31,060 --> 04:17:39,720
So I know we only got one. Things have been working out well. She keeps them walking the straight and narrow, confident we can keep things going.

3148
04:17:39,800 --> 04:17:43,900
I just wanted to say thank you to her for all her hard work while we were talking about that.

3149
04:17:46,140 --> 04:17:51,900
I'll make a motion that we approve item E in order to contract for RFP 26616 drug testing

3150
04:17:51,900 --> 04:17:55,520
services, the DSI Medical, the sole response proposal.

3151
04:17:55,940 --> 04:17:56,400
So I have to.

3152
04:17:56,680 --> 04:18:01,380
Do you have a motion in a second on agenda item D in a further discussion?

3153
04:18:03,720 --> 04:18:06,780
Hearing no other comments for questions, all those in favor say aye.

3154
04:18:06,980 --> 04:18:07,120
Aye.

3155
04:18:07,700 --> 04:18:08,600
Opposed same time?

3156
04:18:09,520 --> 04:18:11,400
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

3157
04:18:11,400 --> 04:18:18,460
And we'll move to item E, task orders 1 and 2 with brought us in associates for owners

3158
04:18:18,460 --> 04:18:23,680
representative services for the emergency operations center slash warehouse project and

3159
04:18:23,680 --> 04:18:25,800
the emergency response center project.

3160
04:18:26,440 --> 04:18:27,580
Mr. Cuttingham.

3161
04:18:27,920 --> 04:18:33,520
Brought us in associates was awarded the primary contract for the owners representative services.

3162
04:18:34,200 --> 04:18:39,520
The first project that was requested that they be brought upon was the emergency operations

3163
04:18:39,520 --> 04:18:42,200
action center and the emergency response center.

3164
04:18:43,060 --> 04:18:54,040
Mr. Tinder and purchasing met with broader syn Associates to discuss a potential scope of work and they came back to us with these two proposals with not to exceed amounts.

3165
04:18:54,760 --> 04:18:59,800
It's up to Commissioner's Court to formally activate them for these projects.

3166
04:18:59,800 --> 04:19:00,920
All

3167
04:19:05,340 --> 04:19:23,800
right, so these proposals are for the two projects with the ARPA funding if the court wishes to bring this owners rep on to help manage and go through some of these processes possibly save us some money, look at cost savings streamline the process.

3168
04:19:23,800 --> 04:19:24,360
So,

3169
04:19:26,640 --> 04:19:29,120
again, this was a proposal not to exceed.

3170
04:19:29,820 --> 04:19:33,200
They did a proposal on each project.

3171
04:19:34,300 --> 04:19:37,040
And Mr. Pinder may have some more specific details,

3172
04:19:37,040 --> 04:19:39,620
but it's just for the consideration,

3173
04:19:39,780 --> 04:19:41,940
if we want to get them in five months,

3174
04:19:42,660 --> 04:19:45,640
I want them five months to feel to finish this out.

3175
04:19:46,380 --> 04:19:49,800
And another maybe mixed emotions about having somebody come in

3176
04:19:49,800 --> 04:19:51,680
to help oversee construction projects,

3177
04:19:51,680 --> 04:19:54,240
but feel like this is extremely unique

3178
04:19:54,240 --> 04:19:59,960
because it is tied to ARPA or America Rescue Plan Act funds, which are federal dollars that have been...

3179
04:20:00,000 --> 04:20:29,900
A hard deadline of December 31, 26 to be spent. The other thing is, Mr. Pender, I want to say thank you on behalf of the Court for taking on additional duties. Patrick's also not a construction manager. He's done his very, very level best to be involved in a number of different things. Try to help out, oversee this and medial in mess with north global loopy street and go through all these things. But having somebody come in that knows construction that can help facilitate

3180
04:20:29,900 --> 04:20:34,240
some of these things and even if we don't save money but promote efficiency and get to the

3181
04:20:34,240 --> 04:20:39,480
end of the project and they've done be done correctly or we know ahead of time if something's going

3182
04:20:39,480 --> 04:20:44,080
to pop up like some of the inspection stuff we just talked about I think it could be a benefit.

3183
04:20:44,600 --> 04:20:50,360
This might not be a good fit for every county project but I also feel like once we get to a jail

3184
04:20:50,360 --> 04:20:56,580
conversation a government center a large bomb call that we're going to absolutely have to have

3185
04:20:57,720 --> 04:21:01,100
construction oversight involved and this may be a good way to dip our toes into

3186
04:21:01,100 --> 04:21:04,560
that to see what we like what we didn't like if the company is good if we'd

3187
04:21:04,560 --> 04:21:10,420
like to change scope of work when we go out and bid services and go okay look the

3188
04:21:10,420 --> 04:21:14,920
main thing is get us done the correct way in budget by the end of the year but I

3189
04:21:14,920 --> 04:21:20,810
feel like there may be some other benefits to it. Any any other questions or

3190
04:21:20,810 --> 04:21:22,450
thoughts concerns.

3191
04:21:27,760 --> 04:21:33,580
I will move to approve for task orders one and two with

3192
04:21:33,580 --> 04:21:38,440
broadest and associates to be the owner's representative services for the

3193
04:21:38,440 --> 04:21:44,120
emergency operations center warehouse project and the emergency response

3194
04:21:44,120 --> 04:21:52,600
center project. Second. New have a motion and a second on action item E and the

3195
04:21:52,600 --> 04:21:53,260
other discussion.

3196
04:21:57,460 --> 04:22:00,280
Hearing no other comments or questions all those in favor say

3197
04:22:00,280 --> 04:22:06,600
aye. Aye. Opposed same time? Hearing no opposition that motion passes. Thank you

3198
04:22:06,600 --> 04:22:11,600
Don. Moved to item F approval of the additional services request number one with

3199
04:22:11,600 --> 04:22:17,500
paid Dawson consulting engineers LLC the amount of $4,500 for revisions to

3200
04:22:17,500 --> 04:22:21,740
extend the sanitary sewer line as part of the North Royal Lupy Street public

3201
04:22:21,740 --> 04:22:24,540
look, water and cemetery sewer extension projects.

3202
04:22:24,760 --> 04:22:27,280
We are hitting on all the fun topics today, aren't we?

3203
04:22:27,340 --> 04:22:29,660
Right on the top today, like most of these are mine,

3204
04:22:29,820 --> 04:22:31,100
and I should have rethought that.

3205
04:22:34,020 --> 04:22:37,100
So judge commissioners, I spoke with commissioner Engelke

3206
04:22:37,100 --> 04:22:37,740
about this.

3207
04:22:38,080 --> 04:22:40,800
So to give you an update on the water and sewer line

3208
04:22:40,800 --> 04:22:43,200
on North Waterloo District, they have tied everything in.

3209
04:22:43,540 --> 04:22:47,120
Water is tied in from in front of the front of animal control

3210
04:22:47,120 --> 04:22:50,380
all the way down to the 12-inch or 16-inch line

3211
04:22:50,380 --> 04:22:55,000
that is in the corner down there about the triple, the sewer line is tied in in front

3212
04:22:55,000 --> 04:22:57,100
of the sheriff's office and it extends it all the way in.

3213
04:22:57,460 --> 04:23:01,420
The current facility that is the ESC building has the water and sewer tied in.

3214
04:23:01,740 --> 04:23:06,640
So the line is in, they're currently backfilling pavement, things like that, down by the sheriff's

3215
04:23:06,640 --> 04:23:06,920
office.

3216
04:23:07,880 --> 04:23:14,020
Commissioner Engelke and I spoke about potentially extending from the current, or where

3217
04:23:14,020 --> 04:23:18,940
the manhole is in front of the new filled facility, a water sewer line to where animal

3218
04:23:18,940 --> 04:23:20,080
control is located.

3219
04:23:20,080 --> 04:23:22,760
What animals control currently is, I believe, on a septic tank.

3220
04:23:23,580 --> 04:23:30,100
So the plan is to, for this, for paid off to do the design and engineering to extend

3221
04:23:30,100 --> 04:23:34,740
it from there to this location, and then we're just going to cap it off, stub it up, just

3222
04:23:34,740 --> 04:23:35,280
leave it there.

3223
04:23:35,720 --> 04:23:39,980
If the animal control facility is upgraded later, the septic tank fails later.

3224
04:23:40,300 --> 04:23:44,500
We have ability to come in and tie that in at that point.

3225
04:23:44,780 --> 04:23:46,360
This is just for the engineering costs.

3226
04:23:46,360 --> 04:23:51,100
I did speak with the contractor, once he has the actual plan, he can give me a better

3227
04:23:51,100 --> 04:23:52,980
hard number on the actual installation.

3228
04:23:53,280 --> 04:23:58,180
He's not anticipating the construction cost to exceed more than $10,000 or $11,000 at

3229
04:23:58,180 --> 04:23:58,660
that point.

3230
04:23:59,060 --> 04:24:03,760
We do have the money in our construction line for that, but it's just to get the sewer line

3231
04:24:03,760 --> 04:24:09,480
across the street, and then they can finish the project as far as road surfaces and things

3232
04:24:09,480 --> 04:24:09,860
like that.

3233
04:24:09,960 --> 04:24:12,120
They're currently on site, and they can do the work.

3234
04:24:12,260 --> 04:24:15,640
They're still going to stick there until we can get this part taken care of.

3235
04:24:15,640 --> 04:24:17,620
they're anticipating another week or two and they'll be done.

3236
04:24:18,260 --> 04:24:21,450
Okay. Good afternoon.

3237
04:24:22,170 --> 04:24:24,990
I do believe the animal shelters on sewer already.

3238
04:24:25,570 --> 04:24:27,090
Yeah, this would just be to run them.

3239
04:24:27,290 --> 04:24:30,310
Okay, to hook it up to the city sewer system.

3240
04:24:30,490 --> 04:24:33,630
Is it animal control on sewer or is it on sewer?

3241
04:24:33,930 --> 04:24:36,450
It's on sewer because there is one of the parts,

3242
04:24:36,670 --> 04:24:39,270
ports that we wanted to get fixed was the,

3243
04:24:39,270 --> 04:24:40,630
as Commissioner Engelke knows,

3244
04:24:40,630 --> 04:24:44,470
there's that port right there by that window that kind of

3245
04:24:44,470 --> 04:24:49,190
Right. Yes, smells. Yes, smells. Yes. So there's conflicting.

3246
04:24:49,810 --> 04:24:56,350
I need to verify that. Well, you can may know the historians of it. And now Danielle is up here.

3247
04:24:56,830 --> 04:24:59,450
So the general idea in the beginning was

3248
04:25:00,000 --> 04:25:29,280
While we're doing this, let's do this now for future. So I did try to confirm with the city to figure out if it was on septic or sewer. They have no records of either. They actually said that the last record there was that they had was an oh nine, but it did not state if it was on sewer or septic. And I think that building was built five. Is that correct? So we don't know without going out there. I mean, we can go out there and probe if y'all need to to see.

3249
04:25:29,280 --> 04:25:34,780
and look around, but City could not provide any permitting or any idea what it's on.

3250
04:25:36,000 --> 04:25:41,600
I mean it's it's fitting for animal control, right? I mean the discussion check on the animal control.

3251
04:25:42,300 --> 04:25:47,160
The architect on animal control. That was when you were here commissioning.

3252
04:25:47,700 --> 04:25:48,040
Sorry.

3253
04:25:50,320 --> 04:25:57,120
No idea. I don't recall putting a septic tank in there.

3254
04:25:57,120 --> 04:26:04,740
So the Pike Dawson came in we had to sit survey companies come out that is why we extended the sewer line all the way to in front of the sheriffs

3255
04:26:04,740 --> 04:26:08,120
I'll correct the city had no sewer lines over there

3256
04:26:08,120 --> 04:26:13,580
So that's the whole reason we spent the 400,000 that's what I was going to say when we did the law enforcement

3257
04:26:13,580 --> 04:26:18,000
Edition where dispatches upstairs and I mean the new portion of the building

3258
04:26:18,820 --> 04:26:24,400
We built into that parking lot from the back of the the jail or adult detention facility forward

3259
04:26:24,400 --> 04:26:31,000
I feel like we had to go a fairly long way from the parking lot in that back corner to relocate to get out to the street

3260
04:26:31,000 --> 04:26:38,240
But that that line ended before the metal building on the record management. I don't know that that line extended that

3261
04:26:38,240 --> 04:26:43,320
But I also don't remember that being a focus of ours because we weren't talking about an extension

3262
04:26:43,320 --> 04:26:50,040
We were just doing a connection. So how do we I mean, I think it's smart to consider this now

3263
04:26:50,660 --> 04:26:55,520
But how do we find out if it's really can do we have them go do line locates?

3264
04:26:55,520 --> 04:27:01,860
I mean snake a camera do anything else to go. Hey prove to us how it's connected so we can make a good decision

3265
04:27:02,500 --> 04:27:07,180
We can work with environmental health for showing you key and I we can we can try to track this down

3266
04:27:07,660 --> 04:27:12,320
But the survey companies are out there engineering like they did the entire Guadalupe street from

3267
04:27:12,740 --> 04:27:15,000
Strupple all the way to I-10 so there was no

3268
04:27:15,000 --> 04:27:21,860
So, sewer line and Jennifer from the city did not show any indication of new or existing

3269
04:27:21,860 --> 04:27:26,940
sewer lines in that area for the 50 water line ins right there by the hydrant, but we took

3270
04:27:26,940 --> 04:27:28,700
it all the way to turn it off.

3271
04:27:28,860 --> 04:27:33,580
I know Zach's coming back, but Chris, do we have a bill that would show different from

3272
04:27:33,580 --> 04:27:39,160
the city for animal control like other buildings, like do we have something, do we have a different

3273
04:27:39,160 --> 04:27:40,740
water usage amount in that?

3274
04:27:40,740 --> 04:27:47,100
like have its own line as well. Right because I mean if it's just it's just bathrooms and that it may

3275
04:27:47,100 --> 04:27:52,320
not be the same. I talked with Doug Piet who's the current supervisor at the animal animal shelter

3276
04:27:52,320 --> 04:27:58,620
and he was there when it was built and he's telling me it's on sewer. It's on sewer. I do not recall ever

3277
04:27:58,620 --> 04:28:04,160
putting in a septic tank. Yeah and Mike actually brought up a good point if it was on septic it hasn't

3278
04:28:04,160 --> 04:28:09,680
been cleaned out in the last 15 years since it's been there so we would have problems by then with all

3279
04:28:09,680 --> 04:28:16,760
animals in the waste. But the best way to find out is to have Ricky get a camera down to find out.

3280
04:28:17,040 --> 04:28:22,080
All right. A mystery to be solved at another time. This is what's the right thing. This is really a

3281
04:28:22,080 --> 04:28:29,140
thrill. This is interesting. Yeah. There we go. Next one. All right. Is it any other discussion

3282
04:28:29,140 --> 04:28:36,340
on item F? No sir. So we'll take if everybody's okay, we'll take no action on item F and we'll wait

3283
04:28:36,340 --> 04:28:37,900
to get some additional information.

3284
04:28:38,760 --> 04:28:42,060
We'll move to item G, Budget Amendment 26-93,

3285
04:28:42,400 --> 04:28:44,280
to transfer funds from the Long-to-Fired Department

3286
04:28:44,280 --> 04:28:47,460
allocation budget to Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department

3287
04:28:47,460 --> 04:28:48,820
and contingent upon approval

3288
04:28:48,820 --> 04:28:50,960
the funding request by Commissioner's Court,

3289
04:28:51,120 --> 04:28:54,300
which was earlier on this agenda board.

3290
04:28:55,000 --> 04:28:55,840
So Chris can write the check.

3291
04:28:56,800 --> 04:28:58,300
Motion to approve item G.

3292
04:29:00,040 --> 04:29:00,900
Second, second.

3293
04:29:01,260 --> 04:29:05,620
Do we have a motion and a second to approve action item G?

3294
04:29:05,620 --> 04:29:06,920
Any other discussion?

3295
04:29:09,180 --> 04:29:11,940
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

3296
04:29:12,180 --> 04:29:12,620
Aye.

3297
04:29:13,220 --> 04:29:13,820
Opposed?

3298
04:29:14,120 --> 04:29:14,260
Aye.

3299
04:29:14,980 --> 04:29:17,860
Motion does pass four yeas, one nay.

3300
04:29:20,420 --> 04:29:27,140
And we'll move to item H, Budget Amendment 26-94, to transfer funds from the Emergency Response Center or Fire Station Budget

3301
04:29:27,140 --> 04:29:33,660
to the Emergency Operations Center slash warehouse for additional professional services and appliance expenses.

3302
04:29:35,520 --> 04:29:38,660
We're starting to buy the equipment, things for the building.

3303
04:29:39,020 --> 04:29:43,260
We notice that there's more money in the line and not as much in other lines.

3304
04:29:43,260 --> 04:29:44,840
So we're just moving the funds around.

3305
04:29:45,000 --> 04:29:47,380
So we're moving the money from the fire station into the warehouse.

3306
04:29:47,720 --> 04:29:51,240
That's all this is so that we can align with the purchases.

3307
04:29:51,820 --> 04:29:56,160
So we had to spend some money out of that one line for the $120,000 permit for the city.

3308
04:29:56,640 --> 04:29:59,840
We just have to move some money so we can keep ordering the equipment so it'll be here.

3309
04:30:00,000 --> 04:30:02,000
By the time the bill we try to open.

3310
04:30:05,450 --> 04:30:09,450
And we do have some additional funds that are basically carry over in

3311
04:30:10,150 --> 04:30:16,790
capital project funds, 700 for, or if our owner furnished items, or FF&E furniture fixers equipment,

3312
04:30:17,370 --> 04:30:21,550
because we won't be finished by the end of September, the end of this month, it's going to go into

3313
04:30:21,550 --> 04:30:29,810
the first few months of fiscal year 27. Do you need a conference table? I got a brand new 144-inch

3314
04:30:29,810 --> 04:30:34,090
Walnut, London, the Box, the furniture, and two big

3315
04:30:34,090 --> 04:30:34,690
conference rooms.

3316
04:30:34,990 --> 04:30:37,530
Whose conference table is still in the box?

3317
04:30:38,530 --> 04:30:43,950
Well, it was ordered for precinct three, the elbow building,

3318
04:30:44,210 --> 04:30:45,510
along with the two workstations.

3319
04:30:46,390 --> 04:30:48,010
Be surprised what I find over there.

3320
04:30:48,270 --> 04:30:49,270
And I got a big screen TV.

3321
04:30:49,290 --> 04:30:51,090
I'm still looking for the cord for it, see if it works.

3322
04:30:55,010 --> 04:30:56,750
Shoot me a text of the size as commissionary.

3323
04:30:56,850 --> 04:31:00,190
But yes, we definitely include that in our furniture purchases.

3324
04:31:00,190 --> 04:31:05,510
I see you can certainly come get it reallocate it like I said still in the box. I was talking with the

3325
04:31:11,410 --> 04:31:23,720
Questions on that budget amendment no sir. Move to approve budget amendment 26-94 transfer funds from the emergency response center fire station budget

3326
04:31:24,480 --> 04:31:30,500
To the emergency operations center warehouse for additional professional services and appliance expenses

3327
04:31:30,500 --> 04:31:31,760
We

3328
04:31:36,440 --> 04:31:39,840
do have a motion and a second to

3329
04:31:41,000 --> 04:31:44,040
To approve that budget amendment, any other comments or questions?

3330
04:31:44,140 --> 04:31:44,780
Yeah, I have a question.

3331
04:31:45,020 --> 04:31:45,320
Yes, ma'am.

3332
04:31:45,440 --> 04:31:49,420
Some of the things that Commissioner Wolverton is talking about, what could they be used

3333
04:31:49,420 --> 04:31:51,440
in lieu of some of these furnitures or fixtures?

3334
04:31:54,760 --> 04:31:57,040
I've got pictures of, I'm happy to show them.

3335
04:31:57,740 --> 04:31:57,740
So

3336
04:32:00,340 --> 04:32:03,100
we have not ordered the furniture for the building.

3337
04:32:03,300 --> 04:32:09,140
This is for like, for jurators, those other items, shelving, wire shelving for the warehouse,

3338
04:32:09,360 --> 04:32:11,520
things like that that are also additional costs.

3339
04:32:11,520 --> 04:32:16,920
We haven't Dawn's office is bidding the package out for all of the furniture, so if we have the

3340
04:32:17,800 --> 04:32:21,760
Like the conference table or the two destations in the office. Yes, we can definitely

3341
04:32:25,500 --> 04:32:30,010
So we can we can definitely do that we can

3342
04:32:31,090 --> 04:32:34,030
We allocate county resources to the different building. Yes

3343
04:32:36,470 --> 04:32:39,610
Makes me think you really want to get rid of that box

3344
04:32:41,230 --> 04:32:42,590
Seven boxes, okay

3345
04:32:43,770 --> 04:32:47,690
We do have a motion and a second. Any other comments or questions?

3346
04:32:49,030 --> 04:32:54,940
All right. Hearing no other discussion. All those in favor? Say aye.

3347
04:32:56,460 --> 04:32:57,040
Opposed?

3348
04:32:58,340 --> 04:33:00,680
Hearing no opposition. That motion passes.

3349
04:33:03,870 --> 04:33:09,350
We will move to item I. Budget amendment 26-95 to transfer funds from the jail.

3350
04:33:09,610 --> 04:33:14,630
Sign on recruitment bonus. Budget to overtime. Budget for additional cost.

3351
04:33:14,630 --> 04:33:18,650
Any questions on this item?

3352
04:33:21,560 --> 04:33:28,180
I know, originally, with Mr. Hernandez, Sheriff, and Preview Sheriff, we had a real challenge

3353
04:33:28,180 --> 04:33:34,140
trying to hire detention officers and trying to find unique ways in any kind of tool to

3354
04:33:34,140 --> 04:33:42,000
attract anybody, became a conversation to have a sign on bonus because the jail and the

3355
04:33:42,000 --> 04:33:43,640
the SLR and dire straits, right?

3356
04:33:44,940 --> 04:33:46,820
But with the activity that's going on now,

3357
04:33:46,960 --> 04:33:48,900
it seems like need to shift some of those resources

3358
04:33:48,900 --> 04:33:51,600
over time to be able to compensate current staff

3359
04:33:52,210 --> 04:33:55,080
and kind of refocus instead of trying to attract.

3360
04:33:55,420 --> 04:33:56,840
It's, let's pay the people we have

3361
04:33:56,840 --> 04:33:58,820
because they need to work more hours, correct?

3362
04:33:59,700 --> 04:33:59,940
Okay.

3363
04:34:01,300 --> 04:34:03,420
Any questions or comments on that?

3364
04:34:06,770 --> 04:34:07,390
Is there a motion?

3365
04:34:10,050 --> 04:34:10,770
I still have a little.

3366
04:34:12,070 --> 04:34:12,390
Second.

3367
04:34:12,390 --> 04:34:15,610
Do you have a motion and a second to approve?

3368
04:34:16,350 --> 04:34:20,970
Budget amendment 26-95, action item I, any other discussion?

3369
04:34:25,140 --> 04:34:27,620
All right, having no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

3370
04:34:28,220 --> 04:34:28,360
Aye.

3371
04:34:29,060 --> 04:34:29,540
Any opposed?

3372
04:34:31,480 --> 04:34:33,620
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

3373
04:34:34,820 --> 04:34:40,540
And we'll move to item J, budget amendment 26-96 to transfer funds from elections, hourly

3374
04:34:40,540 --> 04:34:48,060
the employees and election equipment for additional early voting clerks, temporary part time and election judges and clerk expenses.

3375
04:34:50,570 --> 04:34:52,870
Is Miss Kio online still?

3376
04:34:53,290 --> 04:34:56,380
Yes sir, just unmuted.

3377
04:34:56,800 --> 04:34:59,980
Okay, can you hear us?

3378
04:35:08,320 --> 04:35:09,000
Ms.

3379
04:35:13,390 --> 04:35:19,950
Kiel, can you hear us? Ms. Kiel, can you hear us? Hello?

3380
04:35:24,080 --> 04:35:26,220
Maybe on the phone or something,

3381
04:35:29,680 --> 04:35:34,080
I will talk briefly for just a second.

3382
04:35:34,320 --> 04:35:36,740
Let me if somebody wouldn't mind texting her please.

3383
04:35:38,080 --> 04:35:41,820
I know what currently there's a vacancy within the elections administrator position.

3384
04:35:42,140 --> 04:35:47,300
We had a new EA that came in that was operating off of a prior director's budget.

3385
04:35:48,540 --> 04:35:55,220
Historically the elections budget will see saw a little bit because one year you'll have a presidential election

3386
04:35:55,220 --> 04:36:00,080
which is very, very busy with a lot of expense for not only ballots and over time,

3387
04:36:00,260 --> 04:36:03,860
but also election and early voting clerks and equipment and all those things.

3388
04:36:04,360 --> 04:36:07,220
Then when you typically go to more primary or local races,

3389
04:36:07,720 --> 04:36:10,860
it's still very busy, but it's much different than that presidential.

3390
04:36:11,080 --> 04:36:12,560
So the budget goes up and down.

3391
04:36:13,180 --> 04:36:19,760
I think with Ms. Keele being more involved in the elections now with a big election coming up,

3392
04:36:19,760 --> 04:36:31,140
Trying to get staff ready. This is trying to re-allocate some of the funds that are within the budget towards needed just to be able to handle the upcoming elections.

3393
04:36:32,120 --> 04:36:35,240
I think that's a fair description of what's going on.

3394
04:36:40,900 --> 04:36:43,340
Okay. Can you unmute Ms.

3395
04:36:46,600 --> 04:36:47,420
Kiel? Can you hear us?

3396
04:36:48,440 --> 04:36:50,540
Hang on a second. Sorry.

3397
04:36:54,570 --> 04:36:55,910
I can hear you. Can you hear me?

3398
04:36:56,150 --> 04:36:57,130
Yes, ma'am. We can hear you.

3399
04:36:57,130 --> 04:37:02,610
Okay. We're on the budget amendment for elections moving from the hourly

3400
04:37:02,610 --> 04:37:06,190
employees election equipment to the early voting clerks temporary part time

3401
04:37:06,190 --> 04:37:13,250
and election judges. Yes sir. We are out of money and we have to have people come

3402
04:37:13,250 --> 04:37:18,650
in and test machines prior to October 1 because the ballots have to go out I

3403
04:37:18,650 --> 04:37:25,490
believe on September 15th and we need money to pay people to do that or

3404
04:37:27,600 --> 04:37:27,740
we

3405
04:37:27,740 --> 04:37:28,620
you won't have an election.

3406
04:37:32,020 --> 04:37:34,680
And you're confident in moving it from those lines

3407
04:37:34,680 --> 04:37:37,040
and you feel like even if it's moved, it'll,

3408
04:37:37,500 --> 04:37:39,880
it's not gonna affect anything else negatively.

3409
04:37:40,840 --> 04:37:42,040
I am not confident.

3410
04:37:42,660 --> 04:37:45,940
I requested Roxanne and Chris to look

3411
04:37:46,620 --> 04:37:50,280
and that was the suggestion given to me.

3412
04:37:51,000 --> 04:37:54,360
Okay, so no, I'm not confident about anything out there.

3413
04:37:54,600 --> 04:37:57,560
We're trying to, trying to become more confident.

3414
04:37:58,180 --> 04:38:02,120
I did contact Missy and had her come out today and that's who I was just

3415
04:38:02,120 --> 04:38:06,440
visiting with and we might look at some help out here.

3416
04:38:08,700 --> 04:38:10,400
And I should have reached here.

3417
04:38:11,600 --> 04:38:12,040
Three sets.

3418
04:38:12,040 --> 04:38:14,920
We're doing everything we can to make it happen.

3419
04:38:15,440 --> 04:38:19,260
Three sets, I should have thought a little further ahead when I asked that question.

3420
04:38:19,260 --> 04:38:24,520
I apologize, but on the hourly employees because of the vacancies I know the

3421
04:38:24,520 --> 04:38:26,500
money's good there on the election equipment.

3422
04:38:26,500 --> 04:38:43,320
You and I previously talked about the potential desertification of only a few curbside units but there wasn't clear direction on that we had left election equipment in with the new elections administrator coming in not knowing if we were going to need those funds.

3423
04:38:43,920 --> 04:38:53,640
So I think we're safe in that and I think everybody hears you that we need their early voting clerks temporary part time in the judges to come in test equipment and be able to run the upcoming elections.

3424
04:38:53,640 --> 04:39:01,780
So all right, the equipment that was going to be decommissioned has been extended to be used

3425
04:39:01,780 --> 04:39:09,280
to November. So it will be needed next year. And I don't know if you and Chris discuss that

3426
04:39:09,280 --> 04:39:15,340
in budget. I have no idea but they will have something we'll have to be done for next year.

3427
04:39:15,940 --> 04:39:22,460
We did talk about that but I think we were also uncertain on what was going to be decommissioned

3428
04:39:22,460 --> 04:39:24,280
and when, what that looked like,

3429
04:39:24,560 --> 04:39:27,980
there were also talks and interests by certain people

3430
04:39:27,980 --> 04:39:30,780
wanting to switch all election equipment altogether

3431
04:39:30,780 --> 04:39:33,600
at one time, which is a couple of few million dollars

3432
04:39:33,600 --> 04:39:35,540
that we didn't have in those conversations.

3433
04:39:36,000 --> 04:39:38,160
So I believe there's additional funds

3434
04:39:38,160 --> 04:39:40,840
in a smaller amount for some election equipment,

3435
04:39:40,900 --> 04:39:42,460
but not to replace the whole system.

3436
04:39:43,200 --> 04:39:44,660
Right, I totally agree with you.

3437
04:39:44,880 --> 04:39:45,140
Okay.

3438
04:39:47,400 --> 04:39:48,840
That would be a long-term thing.

3439
04:39:49,500 --> 04:39:49,620
Right.

3440
04:39:53,340 --> 04:39:54,900
Any other questions?

3441
04:39:57,960 --> 04:39:58,800
Is there a motion?

3442
04:39:58,960 --> 04:39:59,800
Yes, move to approve.

3443
04:40:14,180 --> 04:40:26,540
Second, we do have a motion and a second on action item j, budget amendment 26-96, any other comments or questions? One question, when will we get an idea of how much it's going to cost us for this new equipment?

3444
04:40:28,290 --> 04:40:33,170
Talk about the entirety of replacing all election equipment, ones that are out there do

3445
04:40:33,170 --> 04:40:33,730
we have to.

3446
04:40:34,190 --> 04:40:41,350
Tracy, do you have any quotes or estimates on the curbside or polling unit?

3447
04:40:42,070 --> 04:40:47,230
I do not at this time and I was just thankful that they extended the time through November

3448
04:40:47,670 --> 04:40:51,530
to allow us to have that, because we were looking at purchasing.

3449
04:40:52,310 --> 04:40:54,190
This is what we were looking at purchasing.

3450
04:40:54,190 --> 04:41:02,790
So, instead of purchasing new equipment, we were looking at taking the voting, the express

3451
04:41:02,790 --> 04:41:08,310
vote machines that we have and being able to run those out to curbside, but we needed

3452
04:41:08,310 --> 04:41:12,410
what we needed was carts to transport them.

3453
04:41:13,070 --> 04:41:20,890
And so, we were looking at purchasing carts to carry those very large machines that we

3454
04:41:20,890 --> 04:41:29,570
all vote on out to occur. And I did not feel like it was in our best interest to purchase

3455
04:41:30,250 --> 04:41:36,210
carts and spend money for something that if the company is decommissioning these machines,

3456
04:41:36,270 --> 04:41:41,870
are they coming out with new machines? And I don't have an answer to that question yet.

3457
04:41:41,870 --> 04:41:45,890
that I still got questions out to that company.

3458
04:41:47,090 --> 04:41:51,950
I'm hearing that they need to and they want to,

3459
04:41:52,010 --> 04:41:53,430
they just don't have them right yet.

3460
04:41:53,850 --> 04:41:57,110
Which is why I guess that it was left,

3461
04:41:57,850 --> 04:41:59,830
they're extended to go through November.

3462
04:42:00,510 --> 04:42:03,690
Maybe they're still trying together new equipment

3463
04:42:04,570 --> 04:42:07,530
to get through until it's done, right?

3464
04:42:08,070 --> 04:42:09,570
And so that makes sense, I'm sorry.

3465
04:42:09,570 --> 04:42:15,010
After the 26th election, November, our next major one will be in 28, correct?

3466
04:42:19,440 --> 04:42:22,140
I don't know. I can't answer that question.

3467
04:42:22,860 --> 04:42:27,200
Because you have entities that have... I mean, we may have a runoff in November,

3468
04:42:27,600 --> 04:42:29,600
so then that's going to run into January.

3469
04:42:30,420 --> 04:42:36,900
We have special elections, other entities call special elections all the time.

3470
04:42:36,900 --> 04:42:50,520
We had nine elections from December to June of last year, and from December of 25 to June 26, there were nine elections that were held.

3471
04:42:51,480 --> 04:42:55,920
So I just not knowledgeable enough to tell you the answer.

3472
04:42:56,280 --> 04:43:01,560
No, that's a good point, though. I was explaining a little bit before you got on about historically with elections.

3473
04:43:01,560 --> 04:43:05,540
budget had ceased out a little bit based on presidential and gubernatorial

3474
04:43:05,540 --> 04:43:10,520
races and elections but you are correct. One thing we have seen also over the last

3475
04:43:10,520 --> 04:43:15,960
couple years is more additional activity for city elections, for

3476
04:43:15,960 --> 04:43:21,180
primaries, for small local elections, for bonds, for schools. So like she said

3477
04:43:21,180 --> 04:43:25,840
instead of having one big election, one smaller it has been active across the board

3478
04:43:25,840 --> 04:43:30,320
also. We may have a big one on the Justice Center.

3479
04:43:34,360 --> 04:43:36,480
Any other comments, questions?

3480
04:43:39,360 --> 04:43:45,380
I would do have a motion and a second on agenda item J, the budget amendment number 26-96.

3481
04:43:46,520 --> 04:43:49,220
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

3482
04:43:49,460 --> 04:43:49,580
Aye.

3483
04:43:50,280 --> 04:43:51,160
Opposed, same time?

3484
04:43:52,440 --> 04:43:54,540
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

3485
04:43:55,460 --> 04:43:59,180
Move to action item K, the capital project fund bill list.

3486
04:43:59,380 --> 04:43:59,920
Move

3487
04:44:02,580 --> 04:44:04,980
to approve capital project fund bill list.

3488
04:44:05,520 --> 04:44:11,900
second. Second. Do you have a motion and a second to approve agenda item K? Any

3489
04:44:11,900 --> 04:44:18,660
other discussion? No, sir. Hearing no other comments or questions, all those in

3490
04:44:18,660 --> 04:44:21,880
favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

3491
04:44:22,100 --> 04:44:27,120
Yes, sir. Motion does pass four yays, zero nays, and one abstinence in

3492
04:44:27,120 --> 04:44:27,820
commission around it.

3493
04:44:35,180 --> 04:44:38,320
All right, we'll move to agenda item L, the outcome of the

3494
04:44:38,320 --> 04:44:41,240
salary grievance committee public hearing on the recommendation to the

3495
04:44:41,240 --> 04:44:47,620
Commissioner's Court regarding this year, 2027 salary and personal expenses for the following elected county and

3496
04:44:47,620 --> 04:44:55,720
precinct officers, one, John Terry, Justice of the Peace precinct, three, two, Teresa Keele, county clerk, and three, James

3497
04:44:55,720 --> 04:44:57,440
Sprinter Constable Precinct 1.

3498
04:44:58,340 --> 04:44:59,860
I believe you have

3499
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:29,980
We have the orders and recommendations in front of you, commissioners on the individual outcomes of the grievance hearing. We did hold the salary grievance committee meeting in this room yesterday at nine o'clock. If you remember, we chose originally to create, create the salary grievance committee from the list of grand jurors. We selected nine members in a raffle and additional four alternates in that same raffle.

3500
04:45:29,980 --> 04:45:32,640
to round out that board or that committee.

3501
04:45:33,560 --> 04:45:36,000
There were a few conflicts, one in school,

3502
04:45:36,680 --> 04:45:39,620
so we had individuals that could not show up yesterday,

3503
04:45:39,820 --> 04:45:41,180
did not respond to the summons.

3504
04:45:42,720 --> 04:45:45,560
I said that wrong, they were unable to come.

3505
04:45:46,100 --> 04:45:48,820
They did respond to the summons by stating

3506
04:45:48,820 --> 04:45:51,820
that they were unable to show up for valid reasons.

3507
04:45:52,520 --> 04:45:54,480
So we had eight members that showed up

3508
04:45:54,480 --> 04:45:56,140
for the salary grievance committee

3509
04:45:56,720 --> 04:45:58,660
and went through the individual items.

3510
04:45:58,660 --> 04:46:04,520
Why that number is important is in the local government code that lays out the structure

3511
04:46:04,520 --> 04:46:10,140
and the authority of the salary grievance committee is if all nine members of that grievance

3512
04:46:10,140 --> 04:46:15,640
committee approve a change then commissioner's court shall make that change in the budget.

3513
04:46:16,660 --> 04:46:21,940
In that section local government code if six to eight members of that grievance committee

3514
04:46:21,940 --> 04:46:28,220
approve a recommendation to change then commissioner's court shall reconsider that

3515
04:46:28,220 --> 04:46:36,260
recommendation in this setting. If you look at the votes in favor and against on each

3516
04:46:36,260 --> 04:46:42,880
of these items, the three items respectively had a 6-to-2 vote, 7-to-1 vote, and an 8-0

3517
04:46:42,880 --> 04:46:48,560
vote. So by statute, we really need to look at each one of these individually and reconsider

3518
04:46:49,140 --> 04:46:53,400
the recommendation of the salary grievance, the pay for these individuals, and then make

3519
04:46:53,400 --> 04:46:59,780
a determination if we're going to go with that recommendation that change keep things the same

3520
04:47:00,720 --> 04:47:05,480
but again based on local government code we do have to reconsider these.

3521
04:47:06,540 --> 04:47:13,580
Which is I put in front of everybody. The disease transport and autopsies called for

3522
04:47:13,580 --> 04:47:17,040
for the entire year from 25 to 26.

3523
04:47:17,920 --> 04:47:23,300
JP1 had 12, JP2, 14, JP3, 11, JP4, 18,

3524
04:47:24,160 --> 04:47:26,940
and autopsy is called four, with JP1, 8,

3525
04:47:27,600 --> 04:47:31,960
JP2, 7, JP3, 4, and JP4, 7.

3526
04:47:32,420 --> 04:47:33,840
And it's been brought to my attention

3527
04:47:33,840 --> 04:47:35,860
that they don't have grunt under the autopsy.

3528
04:47:36,060 --> 04:47:37,560
And more importantly, Sasha, if you now call

3529
04:47:37,560 --> 04:47:39,300
and just ask them over the phone.

3530
04:47:40,060 --> 04:47:41,880
Yeah, autopsy is in question.

3531
04:47:42,080 --> 04:47:42,360
In question.

3532
04:47:42,360 --> 04:47:43,140
We

3533
04:47:47,240 --> 04:47:57,580
want to take these I mean one at a time. I know you started on the JP, but yes, first on list was John Terry justice to the piece precinct three.

3534
04:48:00,460 --> 04:48:13,280
His current pay is based out of $88,400. He requested a 3% cost of living which equates to $2,652 for a request of $91,052.

3535
04:48:13,280 --> 04:48:20,520
dollars, but when you add in the longevity auto allowance cell phone, the current pay

3536
04:48:20,520 --> 04:48:32,900
is $96,260, and the recommended change was to make that total $97,972. Basically equating

3537
04:48:32,900 --> 04:48:38,860
to the 3% increase in the base pay.

3538
04:48:39,080 --> 04:48:41,060
Are the other 3JPs getting the same?

3539
04:48:42,200 --> 04:48:44,920
Because we're getting a phone call right after this.

3540
04:48:45,940 --> 04:48:52,760
So that is a good point about this process where there's a time requirement for a Commissioner's

3541
04:48:52,760 --> 04:48:58,880
Court to post public notice to individual and citizens in the county of what elected officials

3542
04:48:58,880 --> 04:49:03,240
are going to be compensated and pay, allowances, and any compensation.

3543
04:49:04,500 --> 04:49:08,980
For these individuals that filed agreements, they've gone through a process to be reconsidered

3544
04:49:08,980 --> 04:49:11,960
for any other elected officials that did not file agreements.

3545
04:49:12,260 --> 04:49:17,920
We are unable to consider a change because the posting and publication has already taken place

3546
04:49:17,920 --> 04:49:24,340
and we're about to consider adopting a tax rate and setting them and adopting a budget here in just a little bit.

3547
04:49:24,340 --> 04:49:35,780
So to your point that is part of the challenge with even a recommendation from the salary grievance committee is with one JP, one constable in the county clerk there.

3548
04:49:36,500 --> 04:49:44,420
We create a situation there where you're going to have elected officials compensated differently based on the events that have taken place if you will.

3549
04:49:44,420 --> 04:49:44,980
Right

3550
04:49:52,340 --> 04:49:55,980
and then going forward if they if this is approved and they're always ahead of the game

3551
04:49:56,480 --> 04:49:58,160
based on historical

3552
04:50:04,070 --> 04:50:29,360
And there was a unique conversation and dynamic that went on also at the initial budget, right? Everybody's reeling and trying to find a solution, additional funding, all of those things. And in that conversation on the day, we talked about elected official salary and compensation. Some elected officials are trying to make it a priority to get, or get county employees a color or cost of living.

3553
04:50:31,240 --> 04:50:38,160
And with that, that went on, there was a decision that was made to not focus on the elected officials.

3554
04:50:38,680 --> 04:50:44,460
Because I think everybody was trying to get the focus addressed on getting the employees a cost of living.

3555
04:50:46,300 --> 04:50:54,620
Right, wrong and different, I don't know if others have reflected on that decision, thought if they would do the same thing if we went back and revisited that.

3556
04:50:54,620 --> 04:50:59,080
but again because of timing it's a challenge today. Now the discussion in

3557
04:50:59,080 --> 04:51:03,520
front of us is do we accept the recommendation of salary agreements or do we

3558
04:51:03,520 --> 04:51:08,440
not change it leaving these three elected officials more consistent with

3559
04:51:08,440 --> 04:51:12,260
what the rest of the elected official pool is receiving which is no

3560
04:51:12,260 --> 04:51:14,760
cola and no additional longevity.

3561
04:51:16,860 --> 04:51:20,560
Two things really quick. One, Judge Terry wanted

3562
04:51:20,560 --> 04:51:24,820
the audience in the court to know that he was unable to be here due to a

3563
04:51:24,820 --> 04:51:32,880
Dr. Appointment to please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Constable

3564
04:51:32,880 --> 04:51:38,680
Springer indicated to this committee he did not want an additional raise and

3565
04:51:38,680 --> 04:51:44,340
they did not give him anything additional. I think he's where he are. He thought

3566
04:51:44,340 --> 04:51:49,620
it would be best if we gave he just threw a number out everybody 60,000 and

3567
04:51:49,620 --> 04:51:53,520
lower gave them the increase. No, I'm talking about this grievance committee

3568
04:51:53,520 --> 04:51:55,680
that's what he said during the grievance committee.

3569
04:51:56,220 --> 04:51:59,740
Well, to your point, Commissioner, technically they voted,

3570
04:51:59,960 --> 04:52:02,320
but his salary did not change.

3571
04:52:02,500 --> 04:52:04,200
Right, they did, they voted to not make a change.

3572
04:52:04,560 --> 04:52:04,980
Right, right, right.

3573
04:52:05,180 --> 04:52:06,560
They did, I'm sorry to interrupt.

3574
04:52:06,840 --> 04:52:06,960
Yeah.

3575
04:52:07,380 --> 04:52:11,100
He said that his indication was that it was not necessary,

3576
04:52:11,100 --> 04:52:12,240
he had other concerns.

3577
04:52:13,400 --> 04:52:23,460
Nonetheless, they made a motion to increase his salary to 89.340.

3578
04:52:25,080 --> 04:52:32,760
So the motion and the action still was to increase his pay even though he said that wasn't the most important to him.

3579
04:52:32,960 --> 04:52:35,100
So this

3580
04:52:37,630 --> 04:52:49,310
was based on 3% longevity or cola and what mainly the salary portion which were told was and they weren't all exactly considered the same.

3581
04:52:49,310 --> 04:52:54,690
There were different decisions made for the three that are in front of us.

3582
04:52:54,930 --> 04:52:55,830
It makes you an iteration.

3583
04:53:04,860 --> 04:53:08,040
Any thoughts, commissioners on how you would like to handle this?

3584
04:53:19,500 --> 04:53:26,360
I know it's a difficult conversation, like a lot of the discussion and decisions we have to make today.

3585
04:53:27,180 --> 04:53:35,560
I know I voted a certain way and voiced my concern just to try to keep consistent pay increase for elected officials.

3586
04:53:35,560 --> 04:53:42,200
just like county employees but again it's been a challenging and unique year but I

3587
04:53:42,200 --> 04:53:45,880
think we really just need to get down to what we're not talking about the

3588
04:53:45,880 --> 04:53:51,060
individual person's ability to do their job now what's going on I think we have

3589
04:53:51,060 --> 04:53:55,720
a tremendous amount of really really good people that care deeply in our county I

3590
04:53:55,720 --> 04:54:00,920
think it really gets down to a discussion of do we change these based on the

3591
04:54:00,920 --> 04:54:04,960
recommendation of the grievance committee or do we keep them consistent in the way

3592
04:54:04,960 --> 04:54:08,120
that other elected officials in the county are being compensated this year.

3593
04:54:08,880 --> 04:54:15,540
After a conversation, both with Judge Terry and Constable Springer, after the grievance

3594
04:54:15,540 --> 04:54:23,800
committee meetings, they both did indicate to me that it was more of the process that they

3595
04:54:23,800 --> 04:54:27,600
disagreed with and not that either one of them wanted more money for themselves.

3596
04:54:27,600 --> 04:54:32,860
They both wanted me to indicate to the court that they do not need this court to vote

3597
04:54:32,860 --> 04:54:37,900
either one of them in for more money, but that they did not like that the elected officials

3598
04:54:37,900 --> 04:54:43,980
overall did not want the excuse me did not receive the call as same as everyone else.

3599
04:54:44,240 --> 04:54:50,100
So I think that it is both of their desires as indicated to me within the last 24 hours

3600
04:54:50,100 --> 04:54:55,600
that they do not care for the court to vote in the additional increase for themselves.

3601
04:54:55,600 --> 04:54:59,300
they just didn't find it to be fair the way the process continued.

3602
04:55:04,530 --> 04:55:34,030
So do you want to do a cola for everybody and reinstall the longevity is normal and then a thousand dollars to the hourly people? I'm just I'm just relaying the message that I'm just serious. We don't do anything or we do something. Well, I don't. I don't think I understand a question. Can you? Well, you said they didn't want the raise, but yet the committee voted on a raise. Right. Yes, I understand. So we have to either say we go along with it.

3603
04:55:34,030 --> 04:55:40,590
the committee, or we don't go with committee, or we go ahead and do everybody just to fix their way.

3604
04:55:41,210 --> 04:55:44,610
3% cola, the reinstalled longevity way is supposed to be.

3605
04:55:45,610 --> 04:55:51,670
Is that what you're looking for? No, no. I it's my understanding that we can't make any adjustments to any elected officials

3606
04:55:53,170 --> 04:55:59,010
outside of those that file these grievances. Is that correct? I mean, Mr. Ties,

3607
04:55:59,010 --> 04:56:05,870
because Miss Klein, when I make the statement about not having enough time to repost salaries

3608
04:56:05,870 --> 04:56:11,010
for elected officials, followed the required process to then consider all the other

3609
04:56:11,010 --> 04:56:13,170
electeds that didn't go through the grievance process.

3610
04:56:13,690 --> 04:56:14,210
Correct.

3611
04:56:14,410 --> 04:56:21,250
As we stand right now, you're sealing on all of the elected officials except for these

3612
04:56:21,250 --> 04:56:24,670
three, what's on that spreadsheet that was passed.

3613
04:56:24,670 --> 04:56:50,630
The recommendation by the committee has become your new ceiling on or has become the new option for these however you must consider this recommendation at this court hearing, however, it is still within the discretion of the court because it was not a nine, no we're not nine members who voted unanimously on any one item.

3614
04:56:50,630 --> 04:56:51,590
My

3615
04:56:58,850 --> 04:57:27,610
question about this is I'm inclined to agree with the committee because as I said yesterday to them this is a process and the process was followed but my question is okay you give this increase to a certain elected official and I did question that my

3616
04:57:27,610 --> 04:57:33,430
my mind right away what do you do with the rest but the other thing is let's take the

3617
04:57:33,430 --> 04:57:42,790
justice of the peace free sink three if we if we grant this and he's no longer in

3618
04:57:42,790 --> 04:57:50,290
that office does it go back to what everybody else is getting or does it set it for that

3619
04:57:50,290 --> 04:57:56,830
office am I am I making sense what I'm saying my understanding of the statute reading it

3620
04:57:56,830 --> 04:57:58,890
is that it applies to the office and not the person,

3621
04:57:59,330 --> 04:58:01,450
so I think that the budget line would remain consistent,

3622
04:58:01,550 --> 04:58:04,570
depending on regardless of who the person is in the chair.

3623
04:58:05,490 --> 04:58:09,850
Well, the number show that precinct three is, I guess,

3624
04:58:10,210 --> 04:58:14,330
so when it comes to workload, they're at the bottom of it.

3625
04:58:14,630 --> 04:58:16,930
Everybody else has more going through

3626
04:58:16,930 --> 04:58:18,610
their office than precinct three,

3627
04:58:18,930 --> 04:58:22,270
simply because it's been compressed so much,

3628
04:58:22,650 --> 04:58:24,770
it's just a city of shirts and an unfortunate sub-block.

3629
04:58:24,770 --> 04:58:31,510
Well, they don't have, I guess, the issues that the one, two, and four have.

3630
04:58:35,040 --> 04:58:41,440
And to your point, Commissioner German, Commissioner's Court has to set the salaries for elected officials every year.

3631
04:58:42,000 --> 04:58:45,340
It's going to be a process that has to be revisited no matter what's going on.

3632
04:58:45,640 --> 04:58:51,960
So, if pretty thing three wasn't there next year, you could put it back to what all others are getting.

3633
04:58:52,860 --> 04:58:55,420
We can put it back any year to anything.

3634
04:58:55,420 --> 04:58:59,420
this is just for the remainder, this is for this one going forward for this fiscal year.

3635
04:59:02,680 --> 04:59:04,520
I'm inclined to not support any of these.

3636
04:59:06,160 --> 04:59:12,240
I think that it would be, let me say this way, the intent of the commissioners court and

3637
04:59:12,240 --> 04:59:17,440
making the decision to not give the elected officials the extra-cola was so that we could

3638
04:59:17,440 --> 04:59:25,580
have more to either make the tax rate better for the public or to support the employees.

3639
04:59:26,080 --> 04:59:28,500
and I think in that spirit, I will continue with that.

3640
04:59:28,620 --> 04:59:30,440
I think it helps that at least two of the three

3641
04:59:30,440 --> 04:59:32,100
have said that they do not want the raise,

3642
04:59:32,760 --> 04:59:34,380
that they just disagree with the process.

3643
04:59:35,220 --> 04:59:37,500
I hear them. I hear what they've said.

3644
04:59:37,640 --> 04:59:39,620
I understand that they, you know,

3645
04:59:40,040 --> 04:59:41,260
made a stand for accountability.

3646
04:59:41,720 --> 04:59:43,380
I appreciate them doing that.

3647
04:59:43,700 --> 04:59:45,400
I also appreciate the Grievance Committee.

3648
04:59:45,660 --> 04:59:45,820
I

3649
04:59:48,470 --> 04:59:51,470
appreciate the Grievance Committee for being present.

3650
04:59:51,850 --> 04:59:54,430
However, I think that this was a very complicated budget year

3651
04:59:54,430 --> 04:59:59,910
and we were really unable, you know, within one session or even one day to.

3652
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:13,080
Explain it in the complexities of what we are having to go through for this. So I'm inclined not to support any of it, although I really appreciate them, but we didn't have enough show up to make it mandatory. I'm a court. My thought is that we don't approve these.

3653
05:00:16,660 --> 05:00:22,540
What was your question? My question is if we just do longevity that doesn't affect the salaries, correct?

3654
05:00:25,070 --> 05:00:27,910
There's longevity is something they have earned over the years.

3655
05:00:30,940 --> 05:00:35,940
It would not affect the salary, it affects the compensation, but not actually their salary.

3656
05:00:35,940 --> 05:00:37,160
All right, the salary stays the same.

3657
05:00:37,320 --> 05:00:43,580
The longevity that we're looking at on these pages is reflective of their years of service at $5 per month.

3658
05:00:43,960 --> 05:00:49,500
There's no additional longevity in for these elected officials, just like the other elected officials,

3659
05:00:49,500 --> 05:00:52,140
and the county employees at the moment.

3660
05:00:53,640 --> 05:00:56,020
I was just looking for the hourly employees.

3661
05:00:58,150 --> 05:01:02,090
I guess we'll go try to figure it out.

3662
05:01:07,860 --> 05:01:17,800
I am going to move to deny the outcome of the salary agreements committee public hearing in the recommendation of the commissioners court regarding fiscal year 2027 salary and personal expenses for the following elected county and precinct officers.

3663
05:01:18,520 --> 05:01:23,480
One, John Terry, just as the piece precinct three, two, three, secure, county clerk and three, James Bringer, Constable, precinct one.

3664
05:01:24,360 --> 05:01:24,680
Second.

3665
05:01:25,560 --> 05:01:30,900
Do have a motion and a second to deny the outcome and or recommendations of the salary

3666
05:01:30,900 --> 05:01:34,340
cleavants committee on the listed elected officials.

3667
05:01:35,440 --> 05:01:37,000
Any other comments or questions?

3668
05:01:41,230 --> 05:01:44,310
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

3669
05:01:44,690 --> 05:01:44,770
Aye.

3670
05:01:45,430 --> 05:01:45,930
Opposed?

3671
05:01:46,330 --> 05:01:46,650
Opposed.

3672
05:01:46,970 --> 05:01:49,910
Motion does pass four yeas one nay.

3673
05:01:54,220 --> 05:01:54,440
All right.

3674
05:01:54,520 --> 05:01:59,600
We'll move to item in, set salaries, expenses and allowances of elected county and precinct

3675
05:01:59,600 --> 05:02:03,460
officers for fiscal year 2026, 2027 budget.

3676
05:02:05,540 --> 05:02:08,920
As we've discussed and just because of the

3677
05:02:08,920 --> 05:02:15,140
action that was just taken, the salaries would be set at the published amounts that were

3678
05:02:15,140 --> 05:02:19,160
already in the newspaper and what we have seen previously.

3679
05:02:25,700 --> 05:02:29,980
Okay, move to approve action item in, setting the salaries, expenses and allowances of elected

3680
05:02:29,980 --> 05:02:33,440
the county in precinct officers at the fiscal year 2026, 2027 budget.

3681
05:02:34,500 --> 05:02:35,020
Sorry.

3682
05:02:36,460 --> 05:02:41,640
Do you have a motion and a second on action item M to set the salaries, expenses, and

3683
05:02:41,640 --> 05:02:47,200
allowances of elected county in precinct officers at the fiscal year 2026, 2027 budget?

3684
05:02:47,740 --> 05:02:48,980
Any other comments or questions?

3685
05:02:53,210 --> 05:02:54,490
Right, hearing no other discussion?

3686
05:02:54,530 --> 05:02:55,830
All those in favor say aye.

3687
05:02:56,090 --> 05:02:56,430
Aye.

3688
05:02:57,110 --> 05:02:57,630
Opposed?

3689
05:02:58,590 --> 05:03:00,570
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

3690
05:03:04,710 --> 05:03:14,290
and we will move to item in, adopt the Glowloop County budget for fiscal year 2026, 2027, or FY27.

3691
05:03:15,210 --> 05:03:24,070
I know we had a long public hearing this morning, heard a lot of feedback and comments from citizens, had some really good discussion.

3692
05:03:24,250 --> 05:03:25,450
Thank you everybody for that.

3693
05:03:26,250 --> 05:03:33,030
I know we went through a number of individual items that we probably are going to be revisiting

3694
05:03:33,030 --> 05:03:37,530
through part of this discussion, but just wanted to ask the court where would you like to start?

3695
05:03:39,070 --> 05:03:47,770
Like to talk about reserves, spending, or not spending funds out of there. I think a big part of

3696
05:03:47,770 --> 05:03:56,050
that conversation ends up being determined and or dictated by the court's willingness to spend

3697
05:03:56,050 --> 05:04:01,870
spending those funds. Unless we want to go into the budget to look at reducing or moving money around

3698
05:04:01,870 --> 05:04:04,050
that's already there if it's not the reserves.

3699
05:04:08,760 --> 05:04:10,100
It's been a long day, right?

3700
05:04:10,480 --> 05:04:13,600
So lots of discussion.

3701
05:04:13,940 --> 05:04:15,520
And this is totally meant to be funny,

3702
05:04:15,600 --> 05:04:16,860
because we need to laugh right now.

3703
05:04:17,220 --> 05:04:19,480
When Commissioner Obstetta, I'm like, OK,

3704
05:04:19,620 --> 05:04:20,960
let's get this done before she gets back.

3705
05:04:22,340 --> 05:04:26,000
Totally trying to be funny, because we need to laugh today.

3706
05:04:28,540 --> 05:04:31,780
So again, going back to the discussions this morning

3707
05:04:31,780 --> 05:04:34,920
over the last, what seems like a decade now.

3708
05:04:36,980 --> 05:04:41,000
I get it. We have emergent needs. We have

3709
05:04:41,000 --> 05:04:49,840
population growth, demands, law enforcement, fire and rescue. Every department we have,

3710
05:04:50,040 --> 05:04:58,800
right? 42 departments. But the emergent need is always man with us employees. I had mentioned

3711
05:04:58,800 --> 05:04:59,820
and a 4% initial

3712
05:05:01,960 --> 05:05:27,520
I think we all agreed on that. Secondly, going past that with the current tax rate ceiling, we have, what are we going to do with what we need to do extra? I don't like going into reserves. Everybody knows that. But I'm willing to throw around the idea of that $1 million land purchase. What can we get out of it? Essential needs.

3713
05:05:27,520 --> 05:05:37,240
I know typically and Judge Kirkman from wrong misclined a deputy total cost per deputy is around a quarter of a million dollars.

3714
05:05:37,840 --> 05:05:49,400
We didn't run the details last year. The number was right at $218,000 for salary, for equipment, for benefits, for vehicle, for everything.

3715
05:05:49,400 --> 05:05:59,200
It was right under 218,000, I think with the COLA and stuff, you probably in the $225,000 of range.

3716
05:05:59,640 --> 05:06:03,820
So, just get an ID from 900,000 for four.

3717
05:06:05,680 --> 05:06:09,840
I know a lot of agencies that are neighboring when you talk to them on their numbers.

3718
05:06:10,780 --> 05:06:13,340
The round number you use is a million for four.

3719
05:06:13,600 --> 05:06:13,840
Correct.

3720
05:06:14,200 --> 05:06:14,680
That's right.

3721
05:06:15,480 --> 05:06:18,860
So I'm not saying that's what the main is for, but I'm just trying to throw our number

3722
05:06:18,860 --> 05:06:24,080
of what we have to deal with realistically, it's not just the salary, it's the benefits,

3723
05:06:24,580 --> 05:06:27,360
the equipment in this case, everything involved.

3724
05:06:28,700 --> 05:06:33,380
That's why I always asked about space and computers and you know you get MIS involved, that's

3725
05:06:33,380 --> 05:06:34,820
a whole other budgetary process.

3726
05:06:35,200 --> 05:06:41,760
So that's the challenge we face, hopefully we can settle this in short order, but I'm

3727
05:06:41,760 --> 05:06:44,060
willing to go that little bit to see where we are.

3728
05:06:44,060 --> 05:06:49,940
But again, it's a matter of deciding who gets what, like I've always said, whether you go one million or ten million.

3729
05:06:50,380 --> 05:07:03,540
How is that allocated? So, if we do, you know, two firemen, two deputies to, you know, again, I'm willing to open up that discussion if you all want to do that, but

3730
05:07:09,940 --> 05:07:11,720
cricket's any thoughts?

3731
05:07:14,460 --> 05:07:24,280
to the discussion that we were having at length that Commissioner ought was discussing

3732
05:07:24,860 --> 05:07:27,680
like some of the positions who had Dan Yella.

3733
05:07:30,940 --> 05:07:39,660
We did mention but we didn't put a figure on I'd like to put a figure on the BFD's of

3734
05:07:39,660 --> 05:07:44,780
350,000 last year was 500,000.

3735
05:07:47,880 --> 05:07:51,560
I don't have the exact math, but the, but what

3736
05:07:51,560 --> 05:07:59,120
Commissioner ought was talking about, and the BFDs all that lumped together, you

3737
05:07:59,120 --> 05:08:08,780
could probably do that for, I'm gonna say six to 700,000. I'm not inclined to use

3738
05:08:08,780 --> 05:08:20,440
reserves for a large number reserves for to Commissioner Woolberg's point next year

3739
05:08:20,440 --> 05:08:27,100
you got to do it again. But I think we could go support Commissioner Angle Key. I think

3740
05:08:27,100 --> 05:08:34,460
we could go somewhere a million and a half something like that and be comfortable not

3741
05:08:34,460 --> 05:08:41,460
set us up for a problem next year and and and we could proceed forward. It

3742
05:08:41,460 --> 05:08:48,540
would be a good compromise for all the stuff that's been going on and we could

3743
05:08:48,540 --> 05:08:56,780
proceed forward. You've seen funds some people in different departments like the

3744
05:08:56,780 --> 05:09:02,880
JT's, the clips off. Let's let fire. Okay. You were just trying to listen, right?

3745
05:09:02,880 --> 05:09:08,200
Yeah, I just couldn't hear. Just trying to fund one or two people in every department because

3746
05:09:08,660 --> 05:09:11,740
The county attorney needs people the sheriff needs people

3747
05:09:12,360 --> 05:09:13,780
Fire said they need people

3748
05:09:14,920 --> 05:09:16,880
Everybody the clerks need people right?

3749
05:09:18,360 --> 05:09:19,780
Slaughter is flying

3750
05:09:21,260 --> 05:09:23,260
You need people always

3751
05:09:24,420 --> 05:09:29,420
She didn't have a position or a class. Yeah, she's like don't throw me in there. Yeah

3752
05:09:30,040 --> 05:09:33,200
I will still back to this, I'm sorry to interrupt.

3753
05:09:33,340 --> 05:09:37,960
I will go back to this and it's not a great deal of money.

3754
05:09:38,700 --> 05:09:44,860
But in the Marion building, we really need,

3755
05:09:46,400 --> 05:09:49,320
we're going to open the building and we can't put a sign

3756
05:09:49,320 --> 05:09:53,300
up that says, well, we couldn't fund the position.

3757
05:09:53,640 --> 05:09:56,960
So it's closed for a day or two out of the week.

3758
05:09:56,960 --> 05:09:59,980
You know we can't do that and we're not talking about

3759
05:10:00,000 --> 05:10:14,600
We've got a great deal of money here. So I'd be in support of that. So you're in support of giving Judge Hunter a full-time person. From part time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

3760
05:10:18,060 --> 05:10:20,240
Because their workload has increased.

3761
05:10:31,080 --> 05:10:40,140
So you'll correct me if I'm wrong. It seems like there may be a consensus or at least the start of a direction to spend some additional funds.

3762
05:10:41,280 --> 05:10:46,120
Either out of, I mean really what it comes down to remember we talked about budgeting

3763
05:10:46,120 --> 05:10:50,220
and those of tax rate options where if there was a shortfall, there was a certain amount

3764
05:10:50,220 --> 05:10:55,100
of money that goes unspent within departments that would kind of cover some of those funds.

3765
05:10:55,800 --> 05:11:01,180
I think that's still true but you're trying to anticipate what those unspent funds look

3766
05:11:01,180 --> 05:11:06,060
like based on past years and just want to make everybody think for a sec that it may be

3767
05:11:06,060 --> 05:11:10,940
a little bit different and tighter moving forward because we've tried to shift some expenses

3768
05:11:10,940 --> 05:11:15,120
and maybe push the limits a little more than normal if you will because it's so tight.

3769
05:11:15,860 --> 05:11:22,360
That means trying to push revenue projections a little bit, trying to utilize those funds

3770
05:11:23,060 --> 05:11:26,140
in a more efficient or effective way.

3771
05:11:27,540 --> 05:11:32,040
I still believe that there will be some unspent funds because it's almost impossible for every

3772
05:11:32,040 --> 05:11:37,980
department spend 100% of their dollars. What does that number? I think Chris and I could probably

3773
05:11:37,980 --> 05:11:43,700
talk for a long time and look at a number of different things. Think of million is very, very safe

3774
05:11:43,700 --> 05:11:50,620
to say. A million and a half is probably closer to what is an accurate number and you start getting

3775
05:11:50,620 --> 05:11:56,080
into a $2 million conversation. I think you're spending money you don't have is what it gets down to.

3776
05:11:56,080 --> 05:12:03,940
you, but also some of those normal expenses that would typically be in a department supported

3777
05:12:03,940 --> 05:12:09,020
by the tax rate have already been pulled out and moved to reserves. So I'm just saying

3778
05:12:09,020 --> 05:12:11,340
all this everybody knows all the details.

3779
05:12:14,770 --> 05:12:17,210
We're spending more than what we're putting

3780
05:12:17,210 --> 05:12:22,570
in to reserves and that wasn't always the case. We grew reserves over time because we had

3781
05:12:22,570 --> 05:12:28,470
a number of beneficial funding things that happen, and I won't go through all of them,

3782
05:12:28,510 --> 05:12:30,510
but it took a long time to get to that point.

3783
05:12:31,130 --> 05:12:34,430
I'm not saying that we can't spend funds out of reserves.

3784
05:12:35,030 --> 05:12:36,890
I just want everybody to be aware moving forward.

3785
05:12:38,010 --> 05:12:41,570
Your spending is ramping up in the amount of money moving into fund balance.

3786
05:12:41,570 --> 05:12:45,530
It's going to be a reducing year over year, unless, like Commissioner Wolfton said,

3787
05:12:45,610 --> 05:12:49,890
a very, very big tax changing event occurs.

3788
05:12:49,890 --> 05:12:50,110
first.

3789
05:12:52,970 --> 05:13:00,350
Judge, I'm sorry to interrupt. No, you're fine. Good. You did the budget. You're

3790
05:13:00,350 --> 05:13:07,110
the budget officer. So like I'm looking at one of our worksheets from the budget workshop.

3791
05:13:07,530 --> 05:13:14,290
Yes. If you look at, you know, we're trying not to dictate next year's budget with what

3792
05:13:14,290 --> 05:13:20,090
we do now. Is this what you were looking at? I'm looking at this one. Okay, but the bottom.

3793
05:13:20,090 --> 05:13:30,630
Okay, that's looking at what part of what you projected like I'm looking at

3794
05:13:30,630 --> 05:13:38,110
365 labs okay that's a maintenance and licensing licensing so we'll have to

3795
05:13:38,110 --> 05:13:45,990
pay that again when you made the budget what part of like this stuff right here

3796
05:13:45,990 --> 05:13:52,450
these big items, would we not do again? Do you know of any item? Let me get to the

3797
05:13:52,450 --> 05:13:55,350
worksheet you're looking at and I can...

3798
05:13:59,350 --> 05:14:04,010
There was some for security, there was some

3799
05:14:04,010 --> 05:14:12,590
items of security of the building, so I'm trying to keep us from backing ourselves in a corner

3800
05:14:13,670 --> 05:14:19,430
by looking at what we may not have to spend next year again. Am I making sense what

3801
05:14:21,310 --> 05:14:29,770
So the debt service is restructured and you'll have that cost built in now supported by the INS rate health insurance.

3802
05:14:29,770 --> 05:14:32,990
We had a long workshop on that in the presentation.

3803
05:14:33,170 --> 05:14:34,510
Those costs are going to be there.

3804
05:14:34,730 --> 05:14:42,510
We backed off the 15% projected increase and put 8% knowing that if cost go over that 8% increase.

3805
05:14:42,730 --> 05:14:47,430
We have about $6 million on our health fund reserves, which are separate.

3806
05:14:47,430 --> 05:14:51,650
it's a completely separate account to cover our health insurance costs for county employees,

3807
05:14:51,650 --> 05:14:58,010
but I think we're going to continue to see increases year-over-year of more than 5 and 10%.

3808
05:14:58,010 --> 05:14:59,850
It's going to be in that 10 to 12.

3809
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:06,940
15% increase range. That's at least what the market keeps telling us. 365 labs will be ongoing and

3810
05:15:06,940 --> 05:15:12,940
should be an MIS under software maintenance, not under capital projects. The firefighter

3811
05:15:12,940 --> 05:15:19,180
staggered positions will be fully funded and supported by the tax rate. A appraisal district

3812
05:15:19,180 --> 05:15:25,700
is a budget that changes based on the decision that board makes. A big part of the increase

3813
05:15:25,700 --> 05:15:28,860
this year was because the additional debt service when they brought Mary B.

3814
05:15:29,020 --> 05:15:34,700
Erskine to renovate that for a new facility but also the raises they gave

3815
05:15:34,700 --> 05:15:39,300
appraisal district employees and then we had a built in 15% contract that

3816
05:15:39,300 --> 05:15:46,080
increase for our EMS as chief talked about this morning. That increase will be

3817
05:15:46,080 --> 05:15:51,780
there again and again and even bigger conversations need to be had for

3818
05:15:51,780 --> 05:15:54,600
or widespread county expansion of EMS services

3819
05:15:54,980 --> 05:15:56,600
to cover a growing population.

3820
05:15:56,880 --> 05:15:58,020
So that numbers likely to,

3821
05:15:58,580 --> 05:16:01,760
that's county you're starting conversation right now

3822
05:16:01,760 --> 05:16:03,600
for next year is another 15%

3823
05:16:03,600 --> 05:16:05,900
and probably have to have a lot bigger

3824
05:16:05,900 --> 05:16:07,400
and more expensive conversations

3825
05:16:07,400 --> 05:16:10,640
to effectively have EMS coverage for the county.

3826
05:16:11,760 --> 05:16:13,480
Vehicles are always one of those things,

3827
05:16:13,680 --> 05:16:15,760
I don't know if it's still here,

3828
05:16:16,000 --> 05:16:19,120
but I know the sheriff spent a lot of time with him.

3829
05:16:19,240 --> 05:16:21,300
He was extremely helpful to sit with him

3830
05:16:21,300 --> 05:16:27,360
for a couple hours to talk through options that's still something the county should look at

3831
05:16:27,360 --> 05:16:32,000
and try to weigh against purchase, but as I mentioned in the previous workshop we put

3832
05:16:32,000 --> 05:16:36,380
that money in for vehicles because you know you're going to have a vehicle, a portion of

3833
05:16:36,380 --> 05:16:40,420
a fleet that has to be replaced no matter what every year whether you purchase or lease.

3834
05:16:41,380 --> 05:16:47,180
And even at the very worst scenario if you have the funds in there for purchase and decide

3835
05:16:47,180 --> 05:16:51,120
the lease and there's a savings, then you have some additional available funds.

3836
05:16:52,140 --> 05:16:56,920
I just couldn't add to your point, Judge, because of the sake of this conversation.

3837
05:16:57,560 --> 05:16:59,280
We don't plan on spending that money on the vehicles.

3838
05:16:59,280 --> 05:17:02,540
We're going to hold it off until the court in January and rediscover the leasing

3839
05:17:03,040 --> 05:17:04,920
program. Captain Spragals telling me

3840
05:17:04,920 --> 05:17:08,040
that we'll spend about a fifth of what we budgeted for.

3841
05:17:08,660 --> 05:17:10,300
So we just don't plan on buying the vehicles.

3842
05:17:11,560 --> 05:17:14,780
But, Sheriff, what if you run into an issue? Because it has to be bid

3843
05:17:14,780 --> 05:17:17,520
and it has to be procured correctly, right?

3844
05:17:17,720 --> 05:17:19,320
And I know there's strong opinions

3845
05:17:19,320 --> 05:17:21,380
of how that looks and what that should,

3846
05:17:21,440 --> 05:17:23,920
but what if things don't work out as planned

3847
05:17:23,920 --> 05:17:26,460
based on the conversations today next year?

3848
05:17:27,240 --> 05:17:29,700
You run into an issue where you could be

3849
05:17:30,540 --> 05:17:33,320
in a vulnerable situation of having to extend

3850
05:17:33,320 --> 05:17:36,700
vehicle use past what the plan is.

3851
05:17:37,000 --> 05:17:37,780
I don't think so.

3852
05:17:38,080 --> 05:17:39,040
I think we'll be able to maintain.

3853
05:17:40,800 --> 05:17:42,640
I think we can save that money later.

3854
05:17:44,950 --> 05:17:46,390
I didn't have to tell you that.

3855
05:17:47,210 --> 05:17:49,570
I'm just telling you for the sake of this conversation,

3856
05:17:49,570 --> 05:17:52,450
you're trying to find places to pinch money.

3857
05:17:52,870 --> 05:17:54,930
So I was just going to hold on to that,

3858
05:17:55,010 --> 05:17:58,250
but if you're trying to see where you can help our employees.

3859
05:17:58,610 --> 05:18:00,830
So I don't know how you can use that money,

3860
05:18:00,890 --> 05:18:03,830
but I'm hoping that we're not going to have to even spend all that.

3861
05:18:04,370 --> 05:18:06,610
Now, that don't mean over a period of next five years,

3862
05:18:06,730 --> 05:18:07,970
or whatever the contract is,

3863
05:18:07,970 --> 05:18:11,190
that we're not going to spend some of that money in a leasing contract.

3864
05:18:11,190 --> 05:18:16,870
But in that first year his exact words to me where we will spend a fifth of what we budgeted for this

3865
05:18:17,390 --> 05:18:21,910
Right, it's not the initial and what I've learned from him is the the the overall

3866
05:18:22,510 --> 05:18:25,670
Benefit of the leasing through his experience is

3867
05:18:26,350 --> 05:18:30,610
Being able to sell a vehicle with more usable life to a

3868
05:18:31,430 --> 05:18:38,410
Captured or a interested market right and be able to get a higher value for that vehicle versus just selling it as a a beat up

3869
05:18:38,410 --> 05:18:39,970
Use Tahoe in a county auction

3870
05:18:41,190 --> 05:18:45,910
The only concern I have, and again won't be around to see it, is the initial cost is one fifth,

3871
05:18:46,030 --> 05:18:50,310
but by the time you get to the fifth year of leasing, you're spending more on leasing than you are

3872
05:18:50,310 --> 05:18:55,470
purchasing. And if you don't have that captured audience who's interested the same way, like the

3873
05:18:55,470 --> 05:19:01,230
historically have, and you don't get that return, you're financing through an enterprise or

3874
05:19:01,230 --> 05:19:07,490
a leasing company, the money that you already had to purchase on. And then if you run into an issue

3875
05:19:07,490 --> 05:19:11,810
where you want to get out of a leasing program, it's 10 years, basically five years to get

3876
05:19:11,810 --> 05:19:16,910
into the leasing, and five years to get out if you have a program that does it once every

3877
05:19:16,910 --> 05:19:22,290
five years. So that was kind of a conversation we had going. It's very attractive initially,

3878
05:19:22,810 --> 05:19:26,850
but if you run into a longer term program that doesn't work out quite that way, does it become

3879
05:19:26,850 --> 05:19:32,070
more expensive, and the answer is it could be. So it's always just curious if y'all have

3880
05:19:32,070 --> 05:19:37,710
talked about that talk through those things. Yeah, we'll talk about it when

3881
05:19:39,330 --> 05:19:44,310
somebody else is here. Yeah, no problem. I just offering that. So we're not

3882
05:19:44,310 --> 05:19:47,210
planning on spending that money. Thank you.

3883
05:19:55,110 --> 05:19:56,390
Commissioner, is anything else you

3884
05:19:56,390 --> 05:19:58,570
want to talk about on the on the list here?

3885
05:20:00,600 --> 05:20:28,280
This is the very department's longevity $2,000 base. That was from the initial budget recommendation. It's back in size. This is good. No, this is not an update for now. This is revisiting the word shop we had. That's just the amount of what it cost in to include that. The vehicle equipment, again, if don't need the vehicles, don't need the equipment.

3886
05:20:29,840 --> 05:20:34,620
and Joe Kitchenforming was just a project that was needed to re-recover.

3887
05:20:36,280 --> 05:20:40,120
I looked at everybody's budget and I'm estimating, you know,

3888
05:20:40,180 --> 05:20:42,200
not knowing what's going to happen the next 30 days.

3889
05:20:42,460 --> 05:20:45,160
We should get some 1.5, 1.6 back.

3890
05:20:45,920 --> 05:20:47,040
I could be wrong.

3891
05:20:47,700 --> 05:20:52,440
I'll sit down with Chris, but at that point you can take care of a longevity of 1.3.

3892
05:20:53,580 --> 05:20:54,780
Never even touch the reserve.

3893
05:20:55,560 --> 05:20:56,080
what

3894
05:21:02,000 --> 05:21:10,120
if we did a thousand each for longevity that cuts it in half right 700 right

3895
05:21:13,610 --> 05:21:18,430
is that palatable and then we have 700 for other things is that in close to

3896
05:21:18,430 --> 05:21:26,630
over the 30% or it's an addition to right correct okay client have you run

3897
05:21:26,630 --> 05:21:30,890
numbers this what approximately what we're going to be getting back from the the

3898
05:21:30,890 --> 05:21:31,230
budget.

3899
05:21:33,550 --> 05:21:38,230
I was

3900
05:21:40,790 --> 05:21:48,390
looking at it. Yeah, we may still be here tomorrow, you know. That's true.

3901
05:21:48,770 --> 05:21:49,290
Trying

3902
05:21:54,630 --> 05:21:55,190
to make it fun.

3903
05:22:04,140 --> 05:22:08,640
So I think all you can see we're trying. Okay, so but the challenge

3904
05:22:08,640 --> 05:22:15,080
again is what positions, if we do positions, what positions? I'm liking the conversation

3905
05:22:15,080 --> 05:22:20,840
of where I was 3% plus the 1000 base. I think that helps everyone.

3906
05:22:23,440 --> 05:22:25,080
We had some part-time discussions

3907
05:22:25,080 --> 05:22:32,020
all ago with the like associate magistrate, Commissioner Trump brought up. We had some other part-time

3908
05:22:32,020 --> 05:22:39,600
deputies the full time with those kind of discussions. But again, what do you want to do?

3909
05:22:49,340 --> 05:22:56,040
I really wanted 2000, but you know if I don't think I'm going to get that vote so I'll at least go with 1000 to get to the people here.

3910
05:22:56,780 --> 05:22:59,960
Yeah, 3% plus a thousand, I really like to go 2000.

3911
05:23:00,640 --> 05:23:05,940
I think it's not, it's just $700,000 more and if we're going to get in, we're dipping in.

3912
05:23:06,800 --> 05:23:09,940
I'm not ready to put my title in, but maybe all up to my ankle.

3913
05:23:10,280 --> 05:23:11,620
Let me understand what you're saying.

3914
05:23:11,800 --> 05:23:15,100
You're saying a 3% cola and a 1000 won.

3915
05:23:15,100 --> 05:23:21,580
I'm saying 2,000 longevity. He's saying one with a three percent

3916
05:23:21,580 --> 05:23:28,880
We are his possibility of losing people. You heard them today

3917
05:23:30,000 --> 05:23:38,420
It's just a way of saying thank you very much for sticking with us because it's it's been a rough year and we weren't able to do as much

3918
05:23:38,420 --> 05:23:38,940
We'd like

3919
05:23:40,260 --> 05:23:40,820
maybe

3920
05:23:40,820 --> 05:23:45,900
If you know the crystal ball gets a little clearer and we'll be able to figure out what's going to happen

3921
05:23:47,180 --> 05:23:51,040
Yeah, yeah, I'm just one boat. So

3922
05:23:52,060 --> 05:23:53,000
Hey, bye-bye. I

3923
05:23:54,940 --> 05:24:02,280
Suggestion I would like to see the precinct for the part time going to full time to help him out and

3924
05:24:03,280 --> 05:24:05,160
Do we have any other part time people?

3925
05:24:06,500 --> 05:24:08,620
Yes, I'm precinct one

3926
05:24:09,120 --> 05:24:13,480
has a clerk that is part time that they want to move to full time as well that's

3927
05:24:13,480 --> 05:24:19,140
the JP. Yeah I'm in support of that. Constable one has a part time deputy

3928
05:24:19,140 --> 05:24:26,460
funded that they want to move into full time. How many deaf is he have now? He has one full time

3929
05:24:26,460 --> 05:24:35,060
one part time. So he'd have two full time. Okay that might be wrong. Two full time one part time.

3930
05:24:41,880 --> 05:24:46,300
There's one part time that is filled, there's one part time that is not filled and they're

3931
05:24:46,300 --> 05:24:47,300
having trouble filling it.

3932
05:24:47,320 --> 05:24:48,800
They want to move that into a full time.

3933
05:24:51,160 --> 05:24:53,480
Okay, so sorry, I had to read it in my head.

3934
05:24:54,040 --> 05:24:59,600
They have two full time, one part time, another part time open, I believe.

3935
05:25:00,000 --> 05:25:05,820
And someone correct me on that if I'm wrong. And I see, I see Nick about to text me, he's going to tell me.

3936
05:25:13,700 --> 05:25:38,230
I got to a certain point hours today where my brain stopped working. I was going to say constable precinct one has two deputy constables and $60,000 of part time in a single line. Yes, so one of those part time is filled and funded at 30 and there's that extra 30 that is not.

3937
05:25:42,930 --> 05:25:50,930
So would the plan be to take the one part timer and the entire 60,000 out, just adding

3938
05:25:50,930 --> 05:25:53,490
a few thousand or leaving half of that for part time?

3939
05:25:53,930 --> 05:25:57,570
No, so they have a person that is working part time that wants to stay part time, but

3940
05:25:57,570 --> 05:26:01,250
they've been unable to fill the second part time, so there's been that $30,000 sitting

3941
05:26:01,250 --> 05:26:05,910
here for this entire fiscal year, they can't get someone to accept a part time job, they've

3942
05:26:05,910 --> 05:26:08,270
only been able to speak to people that want to work full time.

3943
05:26:08,270 --> 05:26:13,470
But the person that is in the part that wants to stay part time, that's the part I didn't understand.

3944
05:26:13,530 --> 05:26:22,290
Yes, I'm asking that we changed that line so you move 30,000 out and allocate that

3945
05:26:22,290 --> 05:26:27,310
toward a full time and then fund the rest toward a full time so they can use that money to have another person.

3946
05:26:33,640 --> 05:26:34,100
Just waiting.

3947
05:26:34,900 --> 05:26:37,660
Any other comments on Constable Precinct 1?

3948
05:26:39,260 --> 05:26:41,440
So what was the final thing on it?

3949
05:26:41,440 --> 05:26:50,420
They have taking $30,000 a part-time converting it to a full-time, full-time part-time to full-time.

3950
05:27:01,380 --> 05:27:03,120
I got a call on Harvey now.

3951
05:27:09,170 --> 05:27:14,570
Well, that deputy constable, that we're talking about Commissioner, sorry.

3952
05:27:14,870 --> 05:27:15,050
Yes.

3953
05:27:15,070 --> 05:27:18,650
I know we were talking about JP1 with the clerk and JP4 but for the constable.

3954
05:27:18,770 --> 05:27:24,330
JP4 and JP1 both have part-time clerks that they would like to make into a full-time clerk.

3955
05:27:24,330 --> 05:27:29,670
those two part-time positions are filled and they want to convert those positions into full-time

3956
05:27:29,670 --> 05:27:36,210
for those people. And then Constable One has an unfilled part-time, they'd like to convert into a

3957
05:27:36,210 --> 05:27:42,950
full-time, it's not filled and that's the reason why. Okay well pretty think fours got the same

3958
05:27:42,950 --> 05:27:47,210
same issue, they had two full two full-time and one one part-time.

3959
05:27:49,290 --> 05:27:50,650
They'd like to make the part-time

3960
05:27:50,650 --> 05:27:56,910
full-time also. That would be because between one and four, you're most

3961
05:27:56,910 --> 05:27:58,690
two active customers.

3962
05:28:08,310 --> 05:28:09,090
Mr. Pender, sorry.

3963
05:28:10,750 --> 05:28:14,530
When I'll start talking about part-times in full-times. So currently I've got two

3964
05:28:14,530 --> 05:28:18,730
positions in my office that are part-time. I've got a deputy fire marshal who is part-time

3965
05:28:18,730 --> 05:28:23,190
who's funded out of the fire code. As I've heard other departments ask for additional

3966
05:28:23,190 --> 05:28:28,430
staffing. I would like to have that part-time person full-time. Inside of my current

3967
05:28:28,430 --> 05:28:33,450
I have proposed, I have worked the numbers where the budget does not have to increase at all.

3968
05:28:33,670 --> 05:28:47,730
We can lose money in certain lines out of the 408 fire coat line, take the current part time line that I have, which is funded at $37,400, which is not a whole lot, but it's a good chunk of what's needed to fund that position.

3969
05:28:47,970 --> 05:28:55,890
Judge, if you could go to the deputy farm, our position on your spreadsheet, the same is a deputy position, it's 105,964.

3970
05:28:55,890 --> 05:28:59,290
So we have found those funds inside of our current budget.

3971
05:28:59,890 --> 05:29:05,810
So if the court would allow it, we could fund a deputy fire marshal position out of fire

3972
05:29:05,810 --> 05:29:11,290
code funds completely and or use the current line that's been proposed in the judges proposed

3973
05:29:11,290 --> 05:29:16,950
budget by just taking and losing some things, you know, lose drop some radios, drop some equipment,

3974
05:29:17,270 --> 05:29:22,610
lose some training line, and just reallocate those into those lines to make it fun for that

3975
05:29:22,610 --> 05:29:23,030
position.

3976
05:29:23,030 --> 05:29:26,210
In addition, I have a temporary clerks position.

3977
05:29:26,810 --> 05:29:27,810
I'm not a temporary clerks position.

3978
05:29:27,970 --> 05:29:29,350
I have a clerks position as part time.

3979
05:29:29,670 --> 05:29:31,850
It's funded at whatever the part time position is

3980
05:29:31,850 --> 05:29:34,590
for a clerk judge is at like 29,000 something like that.

3981
05:29:35,150 --> 05:29:35,990
I did request for that position.

3982
05:29:35,990 --> 05:29:38,110
That was a $27,900.

3983
05:29:38,710 --> 05:29:39,130
Is that something?

3984
05:29:39,250 --> 05:29:39,750
Correct, yes.

3985
05:29:40,390 --> 05:29:42,250
I did ask for that position to go full time

3986
05:29:42,250 --> 05:29:43,850
because as the emergency operations center

3987
05:29:43,850 --> 05:29:44,810
where our house comes online,

3988
05:29:45,110 --> 05:29:47,270
I need somebody to sit in the desk at the front

3989
05:29:47,270 --> 05:29:48,310
for most of the time.

3990
05:29:48,710 --> 05:29:49,730
We don't have a whole lot of staff

3991
05:29:49,730 --> 05:29:50,830
and I asked for that position

3992
05:29:50,830 --> 05:29:54,970
to transfer into a clerk's time full-time position. Those are the two part-time positions

3993
05:29:54,970 --> 05:29:59,350
that I did would like to transfer over to full-time positions as the court's considering

3994
05:29:59,350 --> 05:29:59,630
this.

3995
05:30:00,000 --> 05:30:29,400
On their side, if they would just also consider those positions, if the court decides not to, then I completely understand, but those are something that I wanted to bring to the attention that we do need, we have to, part time staff, transition them to full time, fire code position, we can pay for that out of fire code funds, similar to what the sheriff's doing up his other lines, or we can take the money that's already been put in the proposed budget, move the money around. I can deal with Chris's office, and bottom line, the number says the same.

3996
05:30:29,400 --> 05:30:30,800
and it's just what lines it goes into.

3997
05:30:32,420 --> 05:30:34,500
If the court considers any additional staff

3998
05:30:34,500 --> 05:30:37,280
with the extra money that you guys have stated before,

3999
05:30:37,500 --> 05:30:39,120
if you look at fire department,

4000
05:30:39,440 --> 05:30:41,380
we have to have a minimum of three people.

4001
05:30:41,560 --> 05:30:43,140
Those positions that you pick three

4002
05:30:43,680 --> 05:30:44,920
is gonna be up to the court,

4003
05:30:45,100 --> 05:30:46,240
but we have three different shifts.

4004
05:30:46,720 --> 05:30:48,920
We can't put two people on it and one shift be short.

4005
05:30:49,320 --> 05:30:51,120
So if the court decides to do a fire position,

4006
05:30:51,460 --> 05:30:53,220
if they decide to add those different staffing,

4007
05:30:53,680 --> 05:30:55,640
we need three, a minimum of three.

4008
05:30:56,100 --> 05:30:58,580
What that looks like, how this court decides that,

4009
05:30:58,580 --> 05:31:02,060
you know, the highest paid positions will be the new captains positions.

4010
05:31:02,380 --> 05:31:05,680
I have a proposal that if we hired a captain or lieutenant and a firefighter,

4011
05:31:05,720 --> 05:31:10,360
that's three, it was up to about 220, $227,000.

4012
05:31:10,840 --> 05:31:11,580
So that would be three.

4013
05:31:11,840 --> 05:31:13,080
They don't all have to be captains.

4014
05:31:13,200 --> 05:31:14,440
They don't all have to be lieutenants.

4015
05:31:14,780 --> 05:31:15,840
They don't all have to be firefighters.

4016
05:31:16,340 --> 05:31:18,940
But we need three to make it work.

4017
05:31:19,520 --> 05:31:19,940
We can-

4018
05:31:19,940 --> 05:31:20,680
Could there be mayor?

4019
05:31:22,040 --> 05:31:22,400
They could.

4020
05:31:22,960 --> 05:31:26,140
However, then we're going to fall into the same situation we did this year,

4021
05:31:26,140 --> 05:31:31,000
We have to fund them the second year so when the judge proposed the 300,000 we have to catch it up

4022
05:31:32,240 --> 05:31:36,640
That's an unallocated that he had stated before and that's all. Thank you

4023
05:31:37,460 --> 05:31:38,200
Thank you

4024
05:31:43,410 --> 05:31:49,650
One quick question. How long will that fund last? Is it the occurring regenerating every year?

4025
05:31:51,910 --> 05:31:56,650
Believe there's over a million dollars in that fund at every commercial business that comes and pays to that fund

4026
05:31:56,650 --> 05:32:01,770
So every development every inspection. It's it's funded currently. It's funding for positions right now

4027
05:32:01,770 --> 05:32:06,370
And isn't it true also that you inspect and inspect and inspect?

4028
05:32:06,650 --> 05:32:10,690
So it's not like that's a new business and you did one inspection.

4029
05:32:10,970 --> 05:32:14,210
You're you're you're getting fees in all the time.

4030
05:32:14,210 --> 05:32:14,570
Right.

4031
05:32:14,810 --> 05:32:17,870
So if we have to go to a state health, like a state inspection, anything like that.

4032
05:32:17,910 --> 05:32:18,870
There's a fee of charge.

4033
05:32:19,110 --> 05:32:19,350
Yeah.

4034
05:32:19,370 --> 05:32:20,630
And the inspector comes out.

4035
05:32:20,930 --> 05:32:23,810
The fee is built into the permits on the initial building inspections.

4036
05:32:24,190 --> 05:32:27,490
Like if I go to a gas station, we can charge them a fee for that.

4037
05:32:27,710 --> 05:32:29,830
So I'm just curious, it's not a fee that's going to go away.

4038
05:32:29,830 --> 05:32:31,210
You can continue funding this.

4039
05:32:33,870 --> 05:32:36,670
Commissioner's Court gets rid of the fire code, it will always be there.

4040
05:32:37,350 --> 05:32:38,530
I can't do that.

4041
05:32:39,670 --> 05:32:40,110
$1

4042
05:32:56,180 --> 05:32:56,360
million.

4043
05:33:14,480 --> 05:33:16,680
Mr. Duggies, you've been sitting out there awfully quiet.

4044
05:33:22,610 --> 05:33:24,450
I was trying to get the popcorn concession.

4045
05:33:24,650 --> 05:33:25,390
Make a little bit of money.

4046
05:33:25,470 --> 05:33:26,210
That's not going to work.

4047
05:33:38,420 --> 05:33:40,640
Some of the taking notes is what we have come to.

4048
05:33:41,180 --> 05:33:42,660
Some sort of consensus on.

4049
05:33:42,660 --> 05:33:50,460
A little bit. Are we environmental health changes? Are we okay with that?

4050
05:33:52,080 --> 05:33:54,220
I didn't know extra money changed in the-

4051
05:33:54,220 --> 05:33:56,640
Yeah, just relocating. Okay, I've got no problem with that.

4052
05:33:56,960 --> 05:34:00,400
I'm abolishing a position leaving money. Okay, so we have- there's one.

4053
05:34:02,980 --> 05:34:03,460
Okay,

4054
05:34:03,460 --> 05:34:11,260
Okay. Um, 30% cola. Right. There's two and

4055
05:34:14,400 --> 05:34:16,360
$2,000 longevity.

4056
05:34:18,720 --> 05:34:19,940
Um, I think we're,

4057
05:34:19,940 --> 05:34:24,520
I mean, sneak it by grip. Possibly at one, I think we're possibly at $1,000 longevity.

4058
05:34:25,120 --> 05:34:26,780
I just trying to sneak it by Drew.

4059
05:34:29,490 --> 05:34:29,890
1000.

4060
05:34:36,020 --> 05:34:38,120
And then the part-timers, we just got straight.

4061
05:34:38,120 --> 05:34:46,120
So there was a discussion what J.P. 4, Mary and part time to full time, is that correct?

4062
05:34:46,360 --> 05:34:46,500
Yes.

4063
05:34:47,100 --> 05:34:47,500
Yes.

4064
05:34:47,880 --> 05:34:49,360
And then what about tax assessor?

4065
05:34:49,500 --> 05:34:49,980
Was that also?

4066
05:34:50,140 --> 05:34:50,680
J.P. 1.

4067
05:34:50,980 --> 05:34:52,280
J.P. 4 and J.P. 1.

4068
05:34:52,540 --> 05:34:52,740
Right.

4069
05:34:52,880 --> 05:34:53,760
J.P. 4 and J.P. 1.

4070
05:34:54,000 --> 05:34:59,040
Was there a tax assessor discussion like sometime yesterday, and we talked about this with

4071
05:34:59,040 --> 05:34:59,820
part time clerk.

4072
05:35:00,000 --> 05:35:29,040
It was the conversation that Commissioner Garman brought up about sharing the clerk between the tax assessor and JP four, but then I think we shifted into the part time to full time. And then the part time associate judge for magistrate. Yes, we did talk about that. I don't know where we I'm not sure I leaned to consensus. Yeah, we just talked about it, trying to go back through the notes myself. Are we at consensus with the JP one and JP four part time to full time though?

4073
05:35:29,040 --> 05:35:31,380
I believe so.

4074
05:35:31,940 --> 05:35:33,280
Constable or staff?

4075
05:35:34,680 --> 05:35:40,140
That's JP4, part time, full time, both, just staff, yeah, then constable 1, part time

4076
05:35:40,140 --> 05:35:44,840
or full time is a separate thing, but are we out of consensus with that?

4077
05:35:45,300 --> 05:35:48,760
Okay, so constable 4 and 1 also part time or full time.

4078
05:35:52,280 --> 05:35:57,940
JP4 is 2 part time to 2 full time.

4079
05:35:57,940 --> 05:35:58,920
I don't

4080
05:36:14,570 --> 05:36:31,270
mean to throw a wrench in the mix, but just for the magistrate position when you make that motion, if you'll title the associate judge, the court went back in January of this year and re-titled those magistrate to associate so they have the authority to magistrate felons.

4081
05:36:34,570 --> 05:36:36,930
Are we at a consensus on that?

4082
05:36:36,930 --> 05:36:37,850
I

4083
05:36:41,920 --> 05:36:47,920
believe so 35,000 yes are we at a consensus on the associate judge they would

4084
05:36:47,920 --> 05:36:56,580
magistrate an additional part time okay how about the chaplain well that was

4085
05:36:56,580 --> 05:37:01,620
at a commissary funds right so yes the other commissary funds it's not right

4086
05:37:01,620 --> 05:37:05,520
it's that's the sheriff's field but we still need to take action to create the

4087
05:37:05,520 --> 05:37:12,580
position yeah I don't know okay so we have the chaplain we are at seven okay um

4088
05:37:25,670 --> 05:37:32,210
County attorney's office fell any paralegal. I'm sorry, there's just been so many facts today, but did Mr.

4089
05:37:32,410 --> 05:37:33,750
Wilborn say that was a

4090
05:37:34,810 --> 05:37:36,070
four-feature fund

4091
05:37:36,910 --> 05:37:40,490
He said he could handle it for a while for one year for one year

4092
05:37:40,490 --> 05:37:41,430
Is

4093
05:37:44,210 --> 05:37:48,050
that out of is that out of his

4094
05:37:48,050 --> 05:37:53,610
Future fund. Yeah, yeah, okay. That's the one year for one. Yeah, that's fine

4095
05:37:57,440 --> 05:37:57,920
Okay

4096
05:37:57,920 --> 05:38:00,880
Do we want to talk about that

4097
05:38:00,880 --> 05:38:06,520
that is something I would support but I think if we want to move toward that

4098
05:38:06,520 --> 05:38:09,940
one direction or another it said they were fine with it really okay with that

4099
05:38:09,940 --> 05:38:13,500
the full picture yeah the county attorney knowing that it's going to look at next

4100
05:38:13,500 --> 05:38:18,960
year because you know he runs out of money and he needs the person so okay so what

4101
05:38:18,960 --> 05:38:21,360
is the actual cost of it right now

4102
05:38:21,360 --> 05:38:29,280
we have a great date is that the one you're talking about commissioner on I believe so

4103
05:38:29,280 --> 05:38:32,340
Yes, so $25.84 an hour.

4104
05:38:37,430 --> 05:38:38,910
Yes, that's what I'm referring to.

4105
05:38:40,430 --> 05:38:41,810
$80,000, what a fool.

4106
05:38:43,190 --> 05:38:43,630
Okay.

4107
05:38:46,670 --> 05:38:48,790
And that's his forfeiture.

4108
05:38:49,170 --> 05:38:49,490
Mm-hmm.

4109
05:39:02,140 --> 05:39:05,780
And I hate to hurt you next year if you didn't have the money.

4110
05:39:08,440 --> 05:39:11,480
He needs the person, so we'll just go ahead and give it to him now.

4111
05:39:12,100 --> 05:39:13,420
And then you save his forfeiture fund.

4112
05:39:20,220 --> 05:39:21,740
Depends on the final tally, I guess.

4113
05:39:22,420 --> 05:39:23,160
I'm fine with that.

4114
05:39:50,380 --> 05:39:55,940
So, Coswell Reyes couldn't be here, but he had just sent me a message relating to

4115
05:39:55,940 --> 05:39:59,420
same situation, part-time deputy.

4116
05:40:00,370 --> 05:40:01,090
Position.

4117
05:40:06,740 --> 05:40:17,320
Morning to do the same consideration. Full time. So, here we go, that leap frog effect that I talked about, but it's precinct to, of course, I'm going to support that.

4118
05:40:19,870 --> 05:40:27,610
I know the judges sitting back here thinking, here we go. One, two, and four. Part time full time, right? Correct.

4119
05:40:40,180 --> 05:40:41,540
Okay, then we get to.

4120
05:40:46,870 --> 05:40:50,970
I was just thinking, are we going to go through all this to get to a volunteer fire department?

4121
05:40:50,970 --> 05:40:56,110
discussion. We can do it now. Well, I'm just trying to anticipate a way to get to three votes on

4122
05:40:56,110 --> 05:41:01,950
a budget. Okay. I'm happy to sit with y'all for a long time and I actually think this has been

4123
05:41:01,950 --> 05:41:06,970
really productive to just talk through all the challenges and all those things and kind of set the

4124
05:41:06,970 --> 05:41:13,670
stage for the future. But if there's a few big hinge points that are going to divide thought

4125
05:41:13,670 --> 05:41:18,590
processes and or votes at the end, maybe we should maybe we should have some of those discussions

4126
05:41:18,590 --> 05:41:21,630
and then, I don't know, y'all tell me if you want to keep working through.

4127
05:41:21,630 --> 05:41:23,510
No, I'm happy to rip that mandate right now.

4128
05:41:23,770 --> 05:41:27,390
I don't feel comfortable voting on an increased budget unless it includes fire protection

4129
05:41:27,390 --> 05:41:33,050
for my precinct, Commissioner Garmin, I think made it an initiative to meet in the middle

4130
05:41:33,050 --> 05:41:37,490
at 350,000 extra if we can get a third vote to support that.

4131
05:41:38,430 --> 05:41:43,890
I would also stand with that, is there a third vote that would foresee a budget where we

4132
05:41:43,890 --> 05:41:44,510
can include that?

4133
05:41:44,510 --> 05:41:52,070
And I'm going to I'm going to interject this with that 350 last year we did 500 so this would be less

4134
05:41:52,910 --> 05:42:05,070
But but we kind of didn't have a good formula for the way we did it and so my suggestion is you take the run numbers and

4135
05:42:06,570 --> 05:42:12,130
Let's say that that one part apartment does 20% of the runs

4136
05:42:12,130 --> 05:42:19,790
then they get 20% of the 350,000 likewise if you have a fire department that

4137
05:42:19,790 --> 05:42:27,090
doesn't seem to get to fires, they get nothing. Commissioner, there was a

4138
05:42:27,090 --> 05:42:31,970
formula that funded volunteer fire departments that the volunteers helped

4139
05:42:31,970 --> 05:42:37,210
create themselves that we augmented and adjusted based on changes over the years

4140
05:42:37,210 --> 05:42:42,770
and then the volunteer fire departments themselves not only advocated but

4141
05:42:42,770 --> 05:42:48,010
fought to get away from that funding and it was number of parcels, geographic

4142
05:42:48,010 --> 05:42:53,330
area, runs, it was all a pro-rated amount, they would have benefited them as

4143
05:42:53,330 --> 05:42:59,310
increased contracts moved on and have changed to their benefit now would have

4144
05:42:59,310 --> 05:43:04,850
rewarded those that were more busy and would have penalized those who were less

4145
05:43:04,850 --> 05:43:11,750
busy but separation of individual contract negotiations took place chiefs and

4146
05:43:11,750 --> 05:43:16,390
boards argued to get away from the formula and now we're talking about going

4147
05:43:16,390 --> 05:43:20,690
back to it and the whole thing is messy there's no good answer that addresses

4148
05:43:20,690 --> 05:43:25,790
everything I just want to give some of that backstory that we were there and we're

4149
05:43:25,790 --> 05:43:29,090
not doing the same thing because that's exactly what they asked for was to go away

4150
05:43:29,090 --> 05:43:34,630
from it then I'd be on board with we allocate 350 in the budget and then we move

4151
05:43:34,630 --> 05:43:43,150
on at another point and figure out how that allocation is going to work. Aside from their regular

4152
05:43:43,150 --> 05:43:49,150
contracts, I can't support that because you're just doing money at a problem and you're not solving it.

4153
05:43:49,990 --> 05:43:57,010
Commissioner, we don't have anybody else that primarily covers our areas. There has been so many

4154
05:43:57,010 --> 05:44:02,490
fires in the last month where GCFR is tied up and that is who there's putting out people's

4155
05:44:02,490 --> 05:44:07,210
fires and their homes and their pastures like that that isn't who precinct 24 has right now.

4156
05:44:07,810 --> 05:44:15,150
I don't have fire protection. I have some of civilo but other than that I don't have fire

4157
05:44:15,150 --> 05:44:22,930
protection in precinct 4. I have to have the volunteers. Did you have Mary and New Berlin

4158
05:44:23,430 --> 05:44:30,990
and you have civilo? I know but I have to pay Mary and in New Berlin something they can't operate

4159
05:44:30,990 --> 05:44:37,090
on nothing. So has there been a discussion commissioner about Marion or they at a point where they can

4160
05:44:37,650 --> 05:44:45,550
do their own city funding of a fire like that. Not a fire of water and so what you're saying.

4161
05:44:45,770 --> 05:44:53,590
So the city of Marion, do they not have the capacity with their growth to support their own fire

4162
05:44:53,590 --> 05:44:57,750
part of the city of Maryland, just a general question.

4163
05:44:57,970 --> 05:44:59,890
The city of the city of Maryland.

4164
05:45:13,700 --> 05:45:24,700
It's not a huge city. And the Marian Fire Department is covering many,

4165
05:45:26,870 --> 05:45:28,750
many, a large area.

4166
05:45:28,750 --> 05:45:32,530
And now

4167
05:45:35,220 --> 05:45:39,560
I'm not going to argue, I think the city's ought to be putting more into their

4168
05:45:39,560 --> 05:45:44,920
fire departments, but the bulk of their runs are not in the city.

4169
05:45:45,260 --> 05:45:48,280
The bulk of their runs are out in the rural areas.

4170
05:45:48,740 --> 05:45:49,520
Just a general question.

4171
05:45:49,920 --> 05:45:57,900
So we did the 500 last year and I had apprehensions on that just because of the management of it.

4172
05:45:57,900 --> 05:46:01,740
So, Ms. Klein, what if we, like, what's the balance?

4173
05:46:02,180 --> 05:46:05,240
What do we have left on that account?

4174
05:46:05,380 --> 05:46:10,020
Because basically it's set aside as part of the general reserve fund that you're using

4175
05:46:10,020 --> 05:46:10,580
as needed.

4176
05:46:10,880 --> 05:46:11,060
Correct?

4177
05:46:11,940 --> 05:46:13,280
Is that how that's set up?

4178
05:46:15,600 --> 05:46:21,120
So my take on that is, let's not set an amount that they come to court like the normal

4179
05:46:21,120 --> 05:46:26,640
protocol is they need funding because this is above and beyond the contracted price.

4180
05:46:26,820 --> 05:46:27,860
What we're paying them already.

4181
05:46:29,120 --> 05:46:34,580
So, if they need additional funding as they've done with this 500,000

4182
05:46:34,580 --> 05:46:40,280
allotment, then they come before court and they get that approval and just any

4183
05:46:40,280 --> 05:46:44,400
department would love a little Christmas package on the side to say, hey, I've got

4184
05:46:44,400 --> 05:46:50,060
a half a million dollars over here that I can use but and it's misleading in my

4185
05:46:50,060 --> 05:46:52,600
opinion. They still have to come to court to get the approval.

4186
05:46:53,900 --> 05:47:02,120
So how much have we spent? I know a lot of it was with New Berlin and the fire truck with the grant, if I remember correctly.

4187
05:47:02,900 --> 05:47:07,820
So can you use your microphone? That's fine. Sorry. I would like to hear you.

4188
05:47:08,260 --> 05:47:17,960
Of the $500,000 so far you've spent $463, $13 plus the amount that you approved in today.

4189
05:47:17,960 --> 05:47:25,480
so much. Okay. But again, it all had to come back to court. I guess my take is if there's

4190
05:47:25,480 --> 05:47:30,380
a desperate need for it, then yes, that's up to the commission's court still. Even with even if

4191
05:47:30,380 --> 05:47:36,840
you set aside 350, you still have to come to court to get approval. So above and beyond the

4192
05:47:36,840 --> 05:47:43,880
contract, I don't know if I could support a separate fund for that, but going forward, of course,

4193
05:47:43,880 --> 05:47:48,880
as needed case-by-case just like with any department I mean we went through

4194
05:47:48,880 --> 05:47:56,300
how many budget amendments today so that's kind of how I envision not working

4195
05:47:56,300 --> 05:48:02,780
again I'm not not wanting to not fund volunteer fire departments I don't

4196
05:48:02,780 --> 05:48:08,900
want to do anything to take away from any kind of public safety but to try to

4197
05:48:08,900 --> 05:48:13,520
manage that money, that's just the way I see it. Because to me,

4198
05:48:13,760 --> 05:48:18,360
Crick and Frongjoy, that's that's how to general reserve that that money or is

4199
05:48:18,360 --> 05:48:26,100
it part of the tax? In current year, it's actually in, so it's in 43. It's it's in

4200
05:48:26,100 --> 05:48:30,480
there, but not for the next year's budget. Correct. It would have to be funded.

4201
05:48:30,900 --> 05:48:36,760
Not deserves. Right. So that's my point. It's if you put it under the tax revenue,

4202
05:48:36,760 --> 05:48:42,560
And that 350 takes away from what we're trying to do, I guess, with public safety, with

4203
05:48:42,560 --> 05:48:44,520
positions and what we're trying to do up here.

4204
05:48:45,720 --> 05:48:46,620
That's just-

4205
05:48:49,150 --> 05:48:59,210
I think it court is much less likely to grant individual requests, but that's what

4206
05:48:59,210 --> 05:48:59,830
they're doing though.

4207
05:49:00,130 --> 05:49:02,090
But this is a set aside fund for this.

4208
05:49:02,550 --> 05:49:07,370
I think just by very title that it's good they're going to have much more difficulty.

4209
05:49:08,330 --> 05:49:14,490
We allotted specific amounts for the six that responded to us last year and those six

4210
05:49:14,490 --> 05:49:16,310
used those allotted amounts.

4211
05:49:17,750 --> 05:49:22,970
Now granted we put some cushion on it and that cushion allowed us to give some money

4212
05:49:22,970 --> 05:49:24,810
to Geronimo VFD.

4213
05:49:25,090 --> 05:49:30,150
I still am a little confused on why we did that because we know that those items were going

4214
05:49:30,150 --> 05:49:31,030
to be used by GCFR.

4215
05:49:31,270 --> 05:49:33,030
I don't know why we didn't just give it to GCFR.

4216
05:49:35,150 --> 05:49:41,930
whatever, it's being used to fight fires, that's great, but we put it up, they used it.

4217
05:49:43,290 --> 05:49:48,650
We held them to a strict standard on it, and they followed through, I mean, they used

4218
05:49:48,650 --> 05:49:52,030
almost all of it, and I think the amount that's unused was the cushion that we gave them,

4219
05:49:52,130 --> 05:49:57,690
because we gave them, I think it was 414,000 in change that we added up, that between the

4220
05:49:57,690 --> 05:49:59,970
request of the 6VFDs that were in preceding.

4221
05:50:09,120 --> 05:50:20,860
All right, then all started with that grant, if I remember correctly. New Berlin needed the money. Correct me if I'm wrong. It was over $200,000, if I remember correctly.

4222
05:50:23,950 --> 05:50:31,950
I believe the highest request for an individual department was $129,000. But I think that's how it started. Again, like you said, it's been a long day.

4223
05:50:31,950 --> 05:50:38,650
My brain is mush. I'm going to dream about numbers tonight probably the way the way it was.

4224
05:50:38,650 --> 05:50:43,090
This is Curse Drive. I speak real quick and dress that. Yes, sir. Yes, chief.

4225
05:50:44,470 --> 05:50:58,730
So New Berlin requested $105,000, which we did use. The amount that was well, or the reasoning

4226
05:50:58,730 --> 05:51:06,590
was partly yes because we had received a grant and of course the item that we had to buy

4227
05:51:06,590 --> 05:51:16,490
was much higher amount than the grant award and however what I will say is that I don't

4228
05:51:16,490 --> 05:51:21,970
know that it necessarily started with us it mainly was the idea that there was a number

4229
05:51:21,970 --> 05:51:32,950
of departments that had deficiencies and we simply used that allotment for that and

4230
05:51:32,950 --> 05:51:37,330
used other funds to take care of the other deficiencies if that makes sense.

4231
05:51:37,330 --> 05:51:37,970
Correct,

4232
05:51:40,440 --> 05:51:40,880
thank you, sir.

4233
05:51:41,960 --> 05:51:42,560
Yes, sir.

4234
05:51:44,970 --> 05:51:49,050
You've heard about a truck, Marion about a truck,

4235
05:51:54,370 --> 05:51:55,570
and I have bought equipment.

4236
05:51:58,600 --> 05:52:01,300
They each had to come up individually, and we each had it.

4237
05:52:01,360 --> 05:52:05,820
We had to approve every time that their items that they asked for, qualified for what we

4238
05:52:05,820 --> 05:52:07,240
set this aside for, and they did it.

4239
05:52:08,060 --> 05:52:12,460
There's a lot of hesitation that they wouldn't cooperate with the parameters we set, but

4240
05:52:12,460 --> 05:52:12,820
they did.

4241
05:52:13,460 --> 05:52:24,880
I think that Commissioner Guerrero and I are both at a point where we're going to have a hard time voting for something that does not include this money, so I think that the judge is right.

4242
05:52:25,500 --> 05:52:32,280
I think we should get down to that part. If we can have a third person support that, then I think we can move forward with it.

4243
05:52:32,900 --> 05:52:37,860
If not, I think it might just be something that we just need to say and move forward one way or the other.

4244
05:52:37,860 --> 05:52:44,780
I don't like the idea of it just being money that we just need to pull from the general fund if they need it.

4245
05:52:44,860 --> 05:52:46,860
We need to have that line set aside for them.

4246
05:52:49,660 --> 05:52:54,140
I don't have a problem at all with the way we did it either where they came back.

4247
05:52:54,720 --> 05:53:01,160
They had an invoice or whatever and they showed it to the court and we voted on it.

4248
05:53:01,200 --> 05:53:04,440
That's fine and I don't think they have a problem with that either.

4249
05:53:05,220 --> 05:53:07,880
Commissioner Wolverton, I don't mean to put you on the spot

4250
05:53:07,880 --> 05:53:14,780
But is there any lesser amount you could get behind if it were tied to volunteer fire department funding?

4251
05:53:15,200 --> 05:53:23,540
No, sir. It's just so you keep doing money at it and things aren't getting any better, but they are they're getting they are responding to way more calls

4252
05:53:23,540 --> 05:53:31,160
What you need is people that they have a time that people that they have a ton of people their volunteer is and there's a lot of volunteers

4253
05:53:31,160 --> 05:53:33,320
Here's a half to pull down two jobs at times.

4254
05:53:33,900 --> 05:53:37,660
If you really want to help these people, you need to get a full-time fire department

4255
05:53:37,660 --> 05:53:43,220
over there through ESD's or special tax conditions or continue to expand the Guadalupe

4256
05:53:43,220 --> 05:53:43,560
counties.

4257
05:53:44,020 --> 05:53:47,020
I have no problem exploring all of those options.

4258
05:53:47,380 --> 05:53:51,500
I have no problem setting money aside for a fire study to explore the ESD's.

4259
05:53:51,560 --> 05:53:55,240
I have no problem with adding fire fighters for GCFR right now.

4260
05:53:55,960 --> 05:53:57,960
But we cannot add enough fire fighters.

4261
05:53:58,360 --> 05:53:59,740
We cannot create an ESD tomorrow.

4262
05:53:59,740 --> 05:54:03,320
we won't get the money the next day to have sufficient fire protection for

4263
05:54:03,320 --> 05:54:07,280
precincts one and four right now it's it's something we can't do we can we can

4264
05:54:07,280 --> 05:54:14,020
we can again we can beat this dead horse that we're putting our people at risk

4265
05:54:14,020 --> 05:54:18,780
today right now if we don't have more money for these VFDs and I want to say

4266
05:54:18,780 --> 05:54:25,440
that being said I am also in support of adding personnel to GCFR I just wanted

4267
05:54:25,440 --> 05:54:30,840
to get to this point though. I know we could talk a lot about the details of that conversation,

4268
05:54:31,120 --> 05:54:37,180
but this is what I've been thinking about leading up to today is how we get three people to vote

4269
05:54:37,180 --> 05:54:42,280
on a budget, because everybody has differing opinions and perspectives and priorities, and that's

4270
05:54:42,280 --> 05:54:47,800
natural on any multi-member board, right? If Commissioner Wolken can't support a budget that has any

4271
05:54:47,800 --> 05:54:52,880
supplemental or additional funding for volunteers, Commissioner Ott and German will not vote for a budget

4272
05:54:52,880 --> 05:54:59,780
it doesn't include it. There's a line there, right? It's just now how do we move forward

4273
05:55:00,000 --> 05:55:11,380
If there's a split like that in a very specific way, where funding is out, then two are gone, if funding is in, then one's gone no matter what. So,

4274
05:55:14,580 --> 05:55:18,480
what would y'all like to do from this point moving forward?

4275
05:55:18,480 --> 05:55:26,780
I'm going to make this, what we're paying them now on record is fine for now, but to keep

4276
05:55:26,780 --> 05:55:30,300
throwing money, I don't see it solving the problem.

4277
05:55:32,460 --> 05:55:35,720
Let me answer that a little bit, if I could.

4278
05:55:39,020 --> 05:55:42,560
When I took office before,

4279
05:55:45,040 --> 05:55:49,080
I said to myself and I said to a number of people, there's going

4280
05:55:49,080 --> 05:55:56,000
a point when fire protection is going to cost the county more than it ought to cost the county

4281
05:55:56,000 --> 05:56:07,420
because when you transition from volunteers which the volunteers know that eventually they won't

4282
05:56:07,420 --> 05:56:15,780
be able to service everything when you transition from volunteers to like GCFR or more with

4283
05:56:15,780 --> 05:56:22,920
to municipal. You're going to have a point where you're having a crossing over, not

4284
05:56:22,920 --> 05:56:29,400
a crossing over of service, but you're going to have to spend money like with GCFR to

4285
05:56:29,400 --> 05:56:34,760
build the program. But at the same time, you've got to have fire protection. And so you've

4286
05:56:34,760 --> 05:56:41,120
got to pay the volunteers to pay for that fire protection until you build that fire department.

4287
05:56:41,120 --> 05:56:43,120
But we're at that point right now.

4288
05:56:43,760 --> 05:56:54,100
We're having to almost double fund it in order to work through this scenario.

4289
05:56:54,460 --> 05:57:04,280
And I just don't think 350,000 is supplemental for those volunteers is too much to ask.

4290
05:57:12,240 --> 05:57:14,600
No, I said what I needed to, but you're correct.

4291
05:57:14,600 --> 05:57:18,780
Again, we're in a tight spot back to the volunteer fire department discussion.

4292
05:57:19,940 --> 05:57:22,780
Been involved with this for quite a while.

4293
05:57:24,060 --> 05:57:31,460
So, when we created GCFR, the idea was to help supplement the time that was missed

4294
05:57:31,460 --> 05:57:34,740
for calls Monday through Friday to Friday, right, when everybody works.

4295
05:57:35,820 --> 05:57:40,080
Had that program establish its working, we're building GCFR.

4296
05:57:40,080 --> 05:57:46,700
And the idea at the time was the balance was supposed to shift more funding to our county

4297
05:57:46,700 --> 05:57:52,900
department, less funding to the volunteers, not that you're not important, but that shift

4298
05:57:52,900 --> 05:57:53,860
hasn't happened yet.

4299
05:57:54,200 --> 05:58:00,260
So I'm still going back to historical conversations of the way, after six years, this is where

4300
05:58:00,260 --> 05:58:01,260
we're supposed to be.

4301
05:58:01,260 --> 05:58:11,280
but we're going still even or doing more for volunteers, again, don't interpret that wrong,

4302
05:58:11,820 --> 05:58:20,240
but when it comes to our own public safety, again, Sheriff, County Attorney, law enforcement,

4303
05:58:21,160 --> 05:58:25,660
fire and rescue, you name it, all departments are involved in some form or fashion with that,

4304
05:58:25,660 --> 05:58:32,800
environmental health and so my challenge like I said if we if they if you'll

4305
05:58:32,800 --> 05:58:37,860
need it you come to court and you just like you're doing now I just had that

4306
05:58:37,860 --> 05:58:44,080
little issue with it set aside that's all because why can't sheriff's office

4307
05:58:44,080 --> 05:58:49,260
have that set aside or the fire department or Linda Douglas or Teresa

4308
05:58:49,260 --> 05:58:54,000
cute it's just a little gift box over here again there's nothing wrong with that

4309
05:58:54,000 --> 05:59:02,500
but it's setting aside that funding I get it public safety I get it but for me

4310
05:59:04,020 --> 05:59:11,700
supporting that 350 is very I'm not there right now it's it's difficult when

4311
05:59:11,700 --> 05:59:17,520
I can take that 350 to GCFR or the Sheriff's Department because all day we've

4312
05:59:17,520 --> 05:59:23,980
been talking about public safety well we have our own departments right our own

4313
05:59:23,980 --> 05:59:29,180
So, again, chief, we're just in a tough position trying to go through this.

4314
05:59:29,400 --> 05:59:34,040
I understand what the judge is saying, and I'm glad he fast-forwarded it, because this

4315
05:59:34,040 --> 05:59:35,220
is going to be the crux of it.

4316
05:59:35,280 --> 05:59:38,080
I think we're in agreement with a lot of what we've talked about already.

4317
05:59:39,200 --> 05:59:46,280
The only position I had brought up revolver on 4-H, and I had brought that up in like

4318
05:59:46,280 --> 05:59:46,760
day one.

4319
05:59:47,540 --> 05:59:50,960
So there are plenty of needs, but we have to prioritize.

4320
05:59:50,960 --> 05:59:59,880
and I think we've kind of agreed to go into some of the general fund reserve utilizing what we have coming

4321
06:00:00,000 --> 06:00:07,000
And out of fiscal year 26 into 27, which may be a million or a million and a half, which is average.

4322
06:00:09,440 --> 06:00:29,940
So I think we're doing that. The problem is don't want to go much further than that on my end because of the future, right? You don't want to overspend and take a world trip and go to Disney World every year because of your own personal finances. So I look at it in that sense too, okay? So don't get misconstrued. Anybody out there listening that I don't

4323
06:00:29,940 --> 06:00:34,440
support volunteer fire departments. I mean I donate to auctions all the time and I do what I

4324
06:00:34,440 --> 06:00:43,230
can on a personal level. But the funding at some point has to balance out and then we need to start

4325
06:00:43,930 --> 06:00:49,370
like right now I think we're having that conversation so. No I 100% agree with you and I'll say

4326
06:00:49,370 --> 06:00:54,470
I don't envy the position that you guys are in like tight spot I get it. I think that we've got

4327
06:00:55,010 --> 06:01:00,430
one big issue that's kind of fighting back against the process that stair step

4328
06:01:00,430 --> 06:01:04,890
of us stepping down, which we all in the volunteer service know that in the next three to five

4329
06:01:04,890 --> 06:01:08,990
years, five to eight years, whatever that timeline might look like, the volunteers in the

4330
06:01:08,990 --> 06:01:11,610
county are eventually going to go away as the growth continues to progress.

4331
06:01:12,990 --> 06:01:14,290
Inflation is taking our butts.

4332
06:01:14,690 --> 06:01:19,490
Fire equipment nationally, engines, apparatus, commissioner Woolworthens point a few weeks ago,

4333
06:01:19,950 --> 06:01:25,430
ISO, new trucks every Senate ten years, cost of apparatus is almost tripled in some cases.

4334
06:01:26,150 --> 06:01:34,330
We have ISO ratings for the volunteer side as well, which reflect for our homeowners and their insurance policies in order to keep their budgets down and their cost expenditures down.

4335
06:01:35,370 --> 06:01:39,350
We're trying to keep pace as well, like Commissioner Durham mentioned, diesel is $5 a gallon now.

4336
06:01:39,890 --> 06:01:48,850
So, where five years ago, those budgets may have been sustainable and we were able to make things work with pancake suppers or sausage fundraisers or things like that.

4337
06:01:48,850 --> 06:01:51,490
But the gap isn't being closed anymore.

4338
06:01:52,070 --> 06:01:56,090
I went back and whittled down our budget and I'm still coming up with almost $35,000 short

4339
06:01:56,090 --> 06:01:58,090
fall and that's eliminating outside training.

4340
06:01:58,270 --> 06:02:03,470
That's to gotten cost of replacement equipment down to nearly nothing and just focusing on

4341
06:02:03,470 --> 06:02:07,990
paying our essential required bills annually, lights, insurance, I mean our insurance bill

4342
06:02:07,990 --> 06:02:10,870
is almost $30,000 a year to maintain the fleet that we have.

4343
06:02:10,950 --> 06:02:13,570
And we have one of the smaller fleets in the county because our district is smaller than

4344
06:02:13,570 --> 06:02:17,730
say new Berlin or San Jose, which is a much larger area and they arguably need more trucks

4345
06:02:17,730 --> 06:02:21,270
because they downtime and maintenance, they increase volume of calls, all those things.

4346
06:02:21,670 --> 06:02:25,270
The Commissioner Wilbertons point, we do need people.

4347
06:02:26,050 --> 06:02:30,550
Part of the problem, though, is that PPE, personal protective equipment, the turnout gear,

4348
06:02:30,910 --> 06:02:37,790
is $5,000 for more plus now, where five, eight years ago, it was maybe $2,500, $3,000 to fully equip a firefighter.

4349
06:02:38,010 --> 06:02:42,650
If I don't have in-date gear, I can't recruit members, I can't send them to academies,

4350
06:02:42,750 --> 06:02:46,490
I can't get them certified, and I can't put them on the street to respond to calls,

4351
06:02:46,490 --> 06:02:52,090
and serve the public. So, I think that the 350 is a generous offering. I have

4352
06:02:52,090 --> 06:02:55,490
the answer for that. I'm sure, again, I'm going to paint a tarry on my back with

4353
06:02:55,490 --> 06:02:59,730
some of the other chiefs in the county, but I think we all established. I'm not

4354
06:02:59,730 --> 06:03:03,930
scared of that. Yeah, no, let's just fall. And I'll come jump on the grid and give you

4355
06:03:03,930 --> 06:03:06,430
guys an opportunity to fire back and do my best to answer your questions.

4356
06:03:06,690 --> 06:03:12,390
Just so when you buy gear to get all eight volunteer fire partners together and

4357
06:03:12,390 --> 06:03:18,530
do it one lump sum you to get a better price or you just individually do it so

4358
06:03:18,530 --> 06:03:21,730
historically each department's done what they need I think that a part of the

4359
06:03:21,730 --> 06:03:26,390
problem is that the age life expectancy from one department to the next our

4360
06:03:26,390 --> 06:03:29,630
timelines aren't lined up because such you know one department is not

4361
06:03:29,630 --> 06:03:32,990
purchased when another department has some years purchased for members

4362
06:03:32,990 --> 06:03:37,470
specifically due to slightly smaller females we've got larger build guys things

4363
06:03:37,470 --> 06:03:41,410
of that nature I know us personally I'm working on a grant I believe Maryans

4364
06:03:41,410 --> 06:03:45,790
working on the same grant with an equipment vendor. That would uniform the PPE

4365
06:03:45,790 --> 06:03:48,910
between those and that will come at a zero dollar cost the departments if we

4366
06:03:48,910 --> 06:03:52,950
are awarded those grants but that's not a guarantee. I know that we right now

4367
06:03:52,950 --> 06:03:59,690
have 19 members active in status and I've got I believe 13-14 coming in within

4368
06:03:59,690 --> 06:04:03,190
the next two weeks at our next business meeting. I don't have enough PPE. I've

4369
06:04:03,190 --> 06:04:08,290
got nine sets a year. I've got a fire academy starting in October. I don't know

4370
06:04:08,290 --> 06:04:11,090
what to do. I've got to figure it out. Well, what I'm getting at it, if you got what

4371
06:04:11,090 --> 06:04:15,570
Guadalupe Fire Department, and all the other ones put together, even the cities, you know,

4372
06:04:15,690 --> 06:04:21,490
take, are you guys going in for any particular equipment right now? Piggy back. I know the

4373
06:04:21,490 --> 06:04:25,810
sheriff allows the hospitals to piggyback on everything he does. It saves us a tremendous

4374
06:04:25,810 --> 06:04:29,570
amount of money. When you can buy a train loan versus a car load, you're going to save

4375
06:04:29,570 --> 06:04:33,670
money. Absolutely. And so, yeah, I'm just asking you to look into something like that because

4376
06:04:33,670 --> 06:04:35,810
This one's in two's, it's tough.

4377
06:04:36,790 --> 06:04:39,990
100%, I'm not distributing with you in a bit, the only problem there is that we have

4378
06:04:39,990 --> 06:04:44,150
to have the funding available to us in order to then spend that money and get in with

4379
06:04:44,150 --> 06:04:44,610
those purchasing.

4380
06:04:44,810 --> 06:04:48,290
We do not have the city of Sigeam, the city of Sibleau, GCFR, shirts his budget.

4381
06:04:48,470 --> 06:04:52,010
So if we want to say, hey, we want to get in on this package with you guys and buy five,

4382
06:04:52,150 --> 06:04:55,610
eight, whatever sets a year, we have to have those capital funds available to spend.

4383
06:04:55,610 --> 06:04:56,430
That's right.

4384
06:04:57,030 --> 06:04:59,410
The English is saying that, yeah.

4385
06:05:00,000 --> 06:05:29,080
Let's come back for a budget amendment. Instead of having this lump sum city right there, once you get the contract going, then you come back and say, this is what we're going to need to fulfill what we need today. At that point, instead of just sitting there and you're buying by ones and two, you can buy by the gross. You're setting them up to fail with these budget amendments. With all the respect, GCFR has two locations in precinct two. Precinct two has a lot of the city of Seguin. Precinct three is 97% city of shirts.

4386
06:05:29,080 --> 06:05:35,240
They all have paid fire departments city shirts the city of shirts or city of civil

4387
06:05:35,240 --> 06:05:38,240
low city limits. I'm sorry, but city limits. I have paid fire departments

4388
06:05:38,240 --> 06:05:47,580
The majority of the land in precincts one in four are unincorporated areas. We are we are just not situated the same

4389
06:05:48,220 --> 06:05:50,920
We're just not situated the same. I understand why you guys are advocating

4390
06:05:50,920 --> 06:05:56,240
Would you have to have a base because everybody in city shirts simple again. They pay taxes

4391
06:05:56,900 --> 06:06:01,420
that go to that Fire, EMS, Alameda, Library, Systems, all that.

4392
06:06:02,060 --> 06:06:03,240
I understand that, too.

4393
06:06:03,500 --> 06:06:10,320
So, you know, I've tried for 24 years to get something going on on ESDs, but once again,

4394
06:06:10,360 --> 06:06:11,860
like everything else, it takes three votes.

4395
06:06:12,200 --> 06:06:17,840
I can't help the past, you can't help the past, but I doubt very serious if we did today

4396
06:06:17,840 --> 06:06:18,620
I get three votes.

4397
06:06:20,040 --> 06:06:25,800
Just a quick question. Are you all active in participating in the association?

4398
06:06:26,300 --> 06:06:27,960
In the Cali Fire Association, so we are.

4399
06:06:28,500 --> 06:06:33,500
And just, I mean, because you're standing here, right, with us, I mean, is everybody active

4400
06:06:33,500 --> 06:06:34,380
in the association?

4401
06:06:34,580 --> 06:06:38,460
No, sir, there are departments that are not participating, and there are some departments

4402
06:06:38,460 --> 06:06:41,520
we see sometimes, other departments that we see very, very rarely.

4403
06:06:42,000 --> 06:06:44,140
I was just trying to think of some common ground.

4404
06:06:44,240 --> 06:06:46,480
I have concerns with everything that's being talked about.

4405
06:06:46,480 --> 06:06:51,820
But, I mean, in a perfect world, if we had a magic wand and everybody participated in

4406
06:06:51,820 --> 06:06:58,300
the association that included G-C-F-R and municipal partners, and everybody came together

4407
06:06:58,300 --> 06:07:03,000
if there was a, let's call it an emergency fund, because in my opinion that's what it really

4408
06:07:03,000 --> 06:07:03,360
should be.

4409
06:07:03,520 --> 06:07:08,040
Like a turbo goes out on one of your fire trucks and you can't fix it, right, a transmission,

4410
06:07:08,500 --> 06:07:14,360
grinds, and chunks of gear, piston goes through the side wall of a motor, like I think those

4411
06:07:14,360 --> 06:07:17,180
those are kind of going, okay, what happens now?

4412
06:07:17,740 --> 06:07:19,800
I mean, do you think there's a scenario that would work

4413
06:07:19,800 --> 06:07:24,280
if there was a small pot of emergency funds

4414
06:07:24,280 --> 06:07:26,920
that went to the association that Yolk had worked together

4415
06:07:26,920 --> 06:07:29,500
to find out what those priorities and needs are,

4416
06:07:29,800 --> 06:07:30,720
and agree as a group?

4417
06:07:31,080 --> 06:07:32,840
I can only speak for myself in our department.

4418
06:07:32,980 --> 06:07:35,180
I know that, you know, that was one of the line items

4419
06:07:35,180 --> 06:07:36,620
that I had to access of our budget

4420
06:07:36,620 --> 06:07:38,940
to try to bring our number closer to the annual income

4421
06:07:38,940 --> 06:07:39,780
that we receive.

4422
06:07:42,970 --> 06:07:44,570
I'd be all for us just to be able to know

4423
06:07:44,570 --> 06:07:48,410
that if something did happen, we'd have that to be able to fall back on to keep us in service.

4424
06:07:48,750 --> 06:07:54,610
I can't speak for everybody. That's your other question. I do know, well, I have been told.

4425
06:07:54,810 --> 06:07:58,590
I have not seen any hard copy documentation. If Chief Stry is still listening in,

4426
06:07:58,910 --> 06:08:02,290
he's on the Association Board. He could probably comment better than this that I had.

4427
06:08:02,590 --> 06:08:06,170
I could. To my understanding, there is even one county department that has removed

4428
06:08:06,170 --> 06:08:11,330
themselves from the Association is not participating at all. So I can't speak to that. I don't know

4429
06:08:11,330 --> 06:08:14,090
of chiefs still there, but that's my understanding

4430
06:08:14,090 --> 06:08:16,110
is that one of the precinct two departments

4431
06:08:16,110 --> 06:08:18,090
has removed themselves from the association altogether.

4432
06:08:22,070 --> 06:08:23,510
Yes, that's correct.

4433
06:08:23,910 --> 06:08:26,810
There is one department that removed himself

4434
06:08:26,810 --> 06:08:28,110
from the association.

4435
06:08:28,830 --> 06:08:30,890
And Judge, I guess the answer to your question,

4436
06:08:31,090 --> 06:08:32,730
we've had that discussion before.

4437
06:08:35,810 --> 06:08:42,230
The issue becomes a matter of what the association

4438
06:08:42,230 --> 06:08:50,090
can do what it can't via by-laws. I don't know that we can fit that into those by-laws.

4439
06:08:50,850 --> 06:08:56,110
And I'm not saying that they couldn't be changed in the future, but that would require

4440
06:08:56,110 --> 06:09:02,190
some additional discussion from the board before we could accept or even consider

4441
06:09:02,190 --> 06:09:04,030
that kind of arrangement.

4442
06:09:05,950 --> 06:09:10,130
Chief Strauss is just trying to think outside the box to go if there's concerns on

4443
06:09:10,130 --> 06:09:15,750
commissioners core with that funding and revisiting each individual conversation, either having

4444
06:09:15,750 --> 06:09:24,450
a line item identified or having budget amendments, you know could that group be you know position

4445
06:09:24,450 --> 06:09:28,970
to talk together and I mean you all know each other's needs and what's going on issues you

4446
06:09:28,970 --> 06:09:34,870
advocate for and against talk through all those things and then as a group and their fire

4447
06:09:34,870 --> 06:09:39,110
community if you will the leaders within it could have some of those conversations and maybe

4448
06:09:39,110 --> 06:09:43,350
decide what's best for everybody because all of you, whether it's municipal contracts,

4449
06:09:43,650 --> 06:09:48,910
DCFR volunteers, they're all doing the same thing just in different ways but you're all

4450
06:09:48,910 --> 06:09:55,070
responding to the same citizens, right? So just trying to find a way to go, yeah,

4451
06:09:55,070 --> 06:09:56,010
Yes, we have a way to stream live.

4452
06:09:57,030 --> 06:09:57,930
Yeah, exactly.

4453
06:09:58,110 --> 06:09:58,690
And I understand.

4454
06:09:58,690 --> 06:09:59,830
And so,

4455
06:10:00,020 --> 06:10:29,580
Well, I will definitely not rule out the idea that the association could be used to bring together those discussions. I think that would probably be the best way to put it at this point. Bring those discussions together with a more unified front. I think that's doable. The bigger issue here is, and I'm just, while I got the floor, if you don't mind, I'm going to be

4456
06:10:29,580 --> 06:10:35,700
somewhat blunt about, I think, what the real issue here is. And that is, it's quite simply,

4457
06:10:36,780 --> 06:10:44,520
the original intent theory, whatever you want to call it, a GCFR was to supplement the volunteer

4458
06:10:44,520 --> 06:10:55,860
fire departments. And while that is still occurring to some degree, it's become evident that the idea

4459
06:10:55,860 --> 06:11:02,520
that the GCFR has their own area and must take care of that on top of everything else

4460
06:11:02,520 --> 06:11:06,620
is was probably a mistake when it happened, okay?

4461
06:11:07,120 --> 06:11:09,560
In fact, I'm confident it was a mistake when it happened.

4462
06:11:10,060 --> 06:11:13,340
I think we've got too far off the original rails too fast.

4463
06:11:14,780 --> 06:11:18,560
That being said, I'm definitely still a proponent of GCFR.

4464
06:11:18,880 --> 06:11:24,100
I believe that that is the future, but keep in mind something that was discussed

4465
06:11:24,100 --> 06:11:32,040
that where we're staying right now is that when we developed GCFR the idea was

4466
06:11:32,040 --> 06:11:43,080
that the or the understanding was that the county must sufficiently fund

4467
06:11:43,080 --> 06:11:49,920
the volunteer fire departments until GCFR is ready to take over and the

4468
06:11:49,920 --> 06:11:54,360
The problem that we're at right now is we're not at either one of those.

4469
06:11:54,640 --> 06:11:59,660
We're not sufficiently funding those volunteer fire permits and the DCFR is not ready yet

4470
06:11:59,660 --> 06:12:01,260
to take over the entire county.

4471
06:12:02,140 --> 06:12:08,620
So unfortunately, yes, right now it seems like a lot of money and it is, but this is investment

4472
06:12:08,620 --> 06:12:17,900
in a plan that will over time get better, but right now we've got to take care of the

4473
06:12:17,900 --> 06:12:20,460
So the issues that we have at this moment,

4474
06:12:23,320 --> 06:12:26,760
he's saying what I was trying to say a minute ago.

4475
06:12:27,040 --> 06:12:30,820
We have to take care of both right now to make it work.

4476
06:12:31,700 --> 06:12:35,300
And to my understanding, and sorry, Patrick, I'm going to put you on the spot.

4477
06:12:36,000 --> 06:12:38,960
To my understanding, Mr. Pinder would know, Fire Marshal Pinder would know better.

4478
06:12:39,460 --> 06:12:44,620
I believe there has been some conversation about trying to bring an outside entity to do consulting

4479
06:12:44,620 --> 06:12:47,680
to talk with all the volunteer departments to talk with all the career departments that

4480
06:12:47,680 --> 06:12:50,280
that respond to the county and formulate a plan

4481
06:12:50,280 --> 06:12:51,740
with an actual defined timeline,

4482
06:12:51,740 --> 06:12:54,100
whether that be two years, five years, 10 years,

4483
06:12:54,420 --> 06:12:56,640
but a way to stair step the volunteers down

4484
06:12:56,640 --> 06:12:59,180
and step GCFR incrementally,

4485
06:12:59,340 --> 06:13:01,980
well, managing that budget and what that looks like

4486
06:13:01,980 --> 06:13:04,040
and in some taxing funding and I apologize,

4487
06:13:04,340 --> 06:13:08,660
there was the ESD conversation,

4488
06:13:08,980 --> 06:13:10,600
there was an additional funding source and I apologize,

4489
06:13:10,780 --> 06:13:11,820
forget that taxable.

4490
06:13:12,420 --> 06:13:13,980
Oh, can the assistance district?

4491
06:13:14,200 --> 06:13:14,860
Yes, or that's the one.

4492
06:13:14,860 --> 06:13:21,780
So again, I'm not an expert in that realm correct so yeah, I don't think any of us are yet

4493
06:13:23,140 --> 06:13:26,320
Yeah, as Eric had stated I had mentioned that last time I was here in court

4494
06:13:26,320 --> 06:13:29,140
I did send the court some of the proposals that were sent to me

4495
06:13:29,140 --> 06:13:34,680
Basically it would just be a firm to come in and meet with the volunteer fire departments me with our fire department

4496
06:13:34,680 --> 06:13:36,580
Me with the city fire department said

4497
06:13:36,580 --> 06:13:43,500
Fund us are feed into the county and support our operations and just kind of come up with a general idea and give us some guidance

4498
06:13:44,360 --> 06:13:47,320
You've heard it a couple of times today about a plan of the vault.

4499
06:13:47,840 --> 06:13:48,640
Eric had said it.

4500
06:13:49,480 --> 06:13:50,760
Ronald Jarrett Smith had said it.

4501
06:13:50,800 --> 06:13:54,660
I think Commissioner Otto had mentioned something earlier today about, you know, she would

4502
06:13:54,660 --> 06:13:55,380
support a plan.

4503
06:13:56,480 --> 06:14:00,580
What that plan looks like and how it works out, you know, we've decided that through the

4504
06:14:00,580 --> 06:14:00,780
court.

4505
06:14:01,180 --> 06:14:05,780
How those funds, if we're looking at supporting and putting funds towards this, I think putting

4506
06:14:05,780 --> 06:14:10,800
some funds and allocating that, I did send that to the judge when the budget proposal was

4507
06:14:10,800 --> 06:14:11,440
already submitted.

4508
06:14:11,440 --> 06:14:15,760
I didn't get it those back in time those those aren't cheap and even Commissioner

4509
06:14:15,760 --> 06:14:21,340
Overton and talked about ESD's those those firms do ESD studies also however, you know

4510
06:14:21,340 --> 06:14:25,800
You have to hire those firms and they're not cheap. They're anywhere from 100,000 to 160,000

4511
06:14:25,800 --> 06:14:30,480
Depending on what you want and you can go you can do you know faces and things like that

4512
06:14:30,480 --> 06:14:38,560
But some of those firms if you package it all together it cuts down on trip charges and city meetings and group meetings and public comments and things like that

4513
06:14:38,560 --> 06:14:45,500
So I did send those to the court. I know we have to vote on the budget today, but just in that ballpark if you're not to exceed

4514
06:14:45,500 --> 06:14:54,280
A amount roughly about 150 to 160,000 dollars, you can get a good study for the county the entire unincorporated area, which they would also meet with all the volunteer

4515
06:14:54,280 --> 06:14:58,140
of Ronald Provinces individually and put out public surveys that send a community

4516
06:14:58,140 --> 06:14:59,820
survey. They do all of that.

4517
06:15:00,000 --> 06:15:29,880
That is nothing on our office. That is nothing on the commissioner's court. They then provide all that data and information back to the court. They host the public meetings. So I think that would be a beneficial towards the community in the county. So it could give some sort of guidance and it's unbiased. It's not them versus them. It's just a neutral party to come in and do the assessment. So thank you. I just wanted to say real quick. And one thing we're both a you gentlemen. I think we'll agree with this. So we're talking about volunteers and we're talking about GC.

4518
06:15:29,880 --> 06:15:32,660
and we're talking about this balance.

4519
06:15:33,020 --> 06:15:38,660
But in the meantime, the developers are building thousands of houses.

4520
06:15:39,680 --> 06:15:43,480
So we can sit here and talk about how to balance it.

4521
06:15:43,600 --> 06:15:47,660
Let's just say that it all remained stable today,

4522
06:15:47,800 --> 06:15:49,360
and there was not another house built.

4523
06:15:49,820 --> 06:15:53,060
Oh, well, yeah, we can go fund GCFR

4524
06:15:53,060 --> 06:15:55,540
and when the volunteers can't do it.

4525
06:15:57,020 --> 06:15:57,980
That's the balance.

4526
06:15:57,980 --> 06:16:01,820
but in the meantime, there's thousands of houses being built.

4527
06:16:02,440 --> 06:16:05,840
So the two of them are probably going to have to be used

4528
06:16:05,840 --> 06:16:08,080
at the same time for a while.

4529
06:16:08,680 --> 06:16:10,660
Do you all agree with what I'm saying?

4530
06:16:10,940 --> 06:16:11,100
Oh, yeah.

4531
06:16:11,420 --> 06:16:14,240
We can't lose one and not continue to support the other.

4532
06:16:14,500 --> 06:16:15,920
It's definitely a partnership.

4533
06:16:16,720 --> 06:16:21,140
And like Eric has stated, and Kurt has right,

4534
06:16:21,300 --> 06:16:23,920
the 35 square miles of GCF R-curring that covers that.

4535
06:16:23,960 --> 06:16:24,800
That was a big leap.

4536
06:16:24,980 --> 06:16:26,780
And we're dedicated to that right now.

4537
06:16:26,780 --> 06:16:31,220
So we can't support like we're not on the east or the west side of the county

4538
06:16:31,220 --> 06:16:35,720
But we're gonna get there how we get there and how fast is determined on how the court allows it, right?

4539
06:16:35,920 --> 06:16:40,940
So in the meantime, we've got like dial up a Queenie new Berlin on that side supporting that effort

4540
06:16:40,940 --> 06:16:46,780
And so it is a partnership, you know, it's not one versus the other and is it we need to maintain that partnership and

4541
06:16:46,780 --> 06:16:50,980
How the support besides the fund the volunteers or the county it's up to you

4542
06:16:50,980 --> 06:16:55,200
But we just need all we're on the same all doing the same thing. We're all here to support together

4543
06:16:55,200 --> 06:16:57,140
Yeah, we're all moving in the same direction.

4544
06:17:00,090 --> 06:17:05,030
Last thing I'd say, I mean, I think that it'd be ideal if we could get all of the association,

4545
06:17:05,350 --> 06:17:08,530
all of the chiefs, or representative from each department together, and have a formal

4546
06:17:08,530 --> 06:17:09,290
meeting with you guys.

4547
06:17:09,470 --> 06:17:10,450
I know I'd be in favor of that.

4548
06:17:10,550 --> 06:17:11,190
I think chiefs try.

4549
06:17:11,970 --> 06:17:15,090
I think the other chiefs in the room would be in favor of that, but we've got to come up

4550
06:17:15,090 --> 06:17:15,530
with a plan.

4551
06:17:15,950 --> 06:17:20,770
But in the interim, to Commissioner Dermann, on his point, something's got to be supplementary.

4552
06:17:20,930 --> 06:17:22,450
Something's got to help us to stay afloat.

4553
06:17:22,950 --> 06:17:26,230
We're just not able internally with the budgets that we're given right now to make

4554
06:17:26,230 --> 06:17:26,610
against me?

4555
06:17:27,870 --> 06:17:32,010
Well, it's nice to hear that idea coming around again because we used to have those meetings

4556
06:17:32,010 --> 06:17:38,790
and some of them got pretty heated back in the day just because that's just the nature

4557
06:17:38,790 --> 06:17:42,670
of humans and the way they are in that setting at times.

4558
06:17:43,090 --> 06:17:48,690
But it's nice to hear that again, you know, partnerships that's what we do.

4559
06:17:49,370 --> 06:17:53,910
Chief, back there, I mean, you know, we've got to work together.

4560
06:17:53,910 --> 06:17:59,870
and I think we're headed in the right direction it's just been unfortunately

4561
06:17:59,870 --> 06:18:05,110
baby steps and the explosion of the population has put us even further behind

4562
06:18:05,110 --> 06:18:11,750
right. I would say like 75 to 80% are medical calls I would think.

4563
06:18:11,890 --> 06:18:16,950
It depends on the district nationally that's roughly the average is about 70-30.

4564
06:18:17,570 --> 06:18:22,790
So you know that's important going forward having that certification and

4565
06:18:22,790 --> 06:18:28,830
What we need to do to help with that so I can justify that as far as the training goes if that's cost

4566
06:18:29,470 --> 06:18:31,190
to help with as

4567
06:18:31,190 --> 06:18:33,710
Gary chief had mentioned you know

4568
06:18:34,310 --> 06:18:37,750
EMS for them for the city of Sagan and their coverage that

4569
06:18:38,490 --> 06:18:45,410
Services being inundated and they're overwhelmed so and we're seeing that in the county through any help with that definitely

4570
06:18:46,310 --> 06:18:50,950
Is appreciated and and look forward to that partnership but

4571
06:18:53,410 --> 06:19:02,630
moving forward we have to make a decision today as by statute and you can see

4572
06:19:02,630 --> 06:19:07,910
what we're doing here so my main hesitation with even with the 500,000 last

4573
06:19:07,910 --> 06:19:12,650
year was there wasn't a plan it was just there so that's been my whole point

4574
06:19:12,650 --> 06:19:17,990
you know cart before the horse now we're talking about meeting everybody as a

4575
06:19:17,990 --> 06:19:27,550
plan to meet so that's a great thing. Chief Stry knows the history as well as I do and we always

4576
06:19:27,550 --> 06:19:32,590
come back together and work it out and the important thing is the safety of the citizens of

4577
06:19:32,590 --> 06:19:41,670
the county and I do understand that and so we just have to make the hard calls right now and move on.

4578
06:19:42,450 --> 06:19:47,290
I do apologize for having to step out. We had another county issue that needed to be addressed

4579
06:19:47,290 --> 06:19:50,250
Yes, right now, so I apologize, no disrespect.

4580
06:19:50,970 --> 06:19:51,790
I'll take it, sir.

4581
06:19:53,310 --> 06:19:59,970
I think that long-term we'll get to a point where that supplementary funding or some auxiliary backup funding isn't needed, but I think we're-

4582
06:20:00,000 --> 06:20:22,920
We're at right now today, especially because of the cost of, you know, with inflation being where it is. And obviously that's no fault of anyone in this room. But somewhere, somehow 911 calls to a lot to get answered. The citizens still need service. There's nothing stopping it from anyone in this room's house being the next call that we run. So, unfortunately, we're just out where we're at. Thank you for your comment. Thank you, guys. Thank you, sir.

4583
06:20:26,180 --> 06:20:33,590
Is there any a lesser amount that could be supported? Well, I'm just trying to thank

4584
06:20:33,590 --> 06:20:40,330
I mean, I know, Commissioner said, you know, kind of splitting the difference was half a million. She said 350. I mean, if it was

4585
06:20:41,370 --> 06:20:48,510
250, I'm just trying to again, and if it goes above and beyond that, you'd come back and you would more than likely get it

4586
06:20:50,130 --> 06:20:51,090
250, okay

4587
06:20:58,160 --> 06:21:04,160
Three three. This is like a negotiation in front of everybody, right? It is. It's fun, but it's tax dollar

4588
06:21:05,000 --> 06:21:05,480
so

4589
06:21:10,070 --> 06:21:12,790
What about the other positions that we haven't discussed?

4590
06:21:24,370 --> 06:21:32,710
I don't know if you're kind of tallying this as we talk or not, like how this would work financially.

4591
06:21:33,130 --> 06:21:39,010
As soon as you give me what you decided on, I will calculate and I will run with it.

4592
06:21:39,010 --> 06:21:44,250
Okay. So I think what Commissioner, what we have discussed already in Commissioner

4593
06:21:44,250 --> 06:21:50,990
Offs running a list here and I don't know what additional that would be with three

4594
06:21:50,990 --> 06:21:55,770
firemen, three deputies, the paralegal you discussed,

4595
06:21:58,100 --> 06:21:59,480
and then everything else we

4596
06:21:59,480 --> 06:22:04,880
talked about. If we can swing a program assistant for 4-H, that's just me

4597
06:22:04,880 --> 06:22:09,640
personally because they are also inundated, but they do the youth leadership

4598
06:22:09,640 --> 06:22:17,440
programs that Mr. Miranda is working at all of them are just like everybody else.

4599
06:22:17,860 --> 06:22:22,680
But I had mentioned that early on in my budget workshops, developing the youth leadership

4600
06:22:22,680 --> 06:22:28,720
of programs they have, which in turn would then affect them in future non-criminal activity

4601
06:22:28,720 --> 06:22:29,200
I hope.

4602
06:22:29,560 --> 06:22:32,040
And then we wouldn't have our burden with that, right?

4603
06:22:32,280 --> 06:22:33,600
I feel like I tied that in together.

4604
06:22:34,000 --> 06:22:37,400
I think non-criminal activity is a positive thing.

4605
06:22:37,400 --> 06:22:39,980
Yeah, okay, so

4606
06:22:41,340 --> 06:22:44,380
So we at three four forty-one all right

4607
06:22:52,000 --> 06:22:58,340
So that two fifty or three hundred. I think we're three. I haven't said but she's still negotiating with me

4608
06:22:58,340 --> 06:23:03,500
I'm not even gonna come back at two seventy-five. I haven't heard anything from the other side yet. Yeah, thank you

4609
06:23:05,520 --> 06:23:06,740
Two seventy-five

4610
06:23:12,040 --> 06:23:15,900
Commissioner if it's gonna get you there. It's then you know, we're gonna do what we have to do

4611
06:23:15,900 --> 06:23:25,140
you. And again, more again, according to the court, if I'm not here, starting next

4612
06:23:25,140 --> 06:23:31,000
year, during the fiscal year, those decisions are made without the judge and I, of course,

4613
06:23:31,220 --> 06:23:36,810
but setting up a baseline, I'm not in disagreement with it. So,

4614
06:23:43,380 --> 06:23:44,340
where did we land?

4615
06:23:57,780 --> 06:23:57,780
Where did

4616
06:24:00,860 --> 06:24:03,760
We're currently at two seventy five.

4617
06:24:06,260 --> 06:24:12,920
Two seventy five instead of three hundred and fifty thousand additional funding for emergency volunteer fire department.

4618
06:24:16,540 --> 06:24:17,600
Give me a second.

4619
06:24:20,840 --> 06:24:28,400
Yeah, it's just it's hard. It's hard for us because our ours used ours used all of it.

4620
06:24:29,540 --> 06:24:33,220
We've made how much more we need to fill positions.

4621
06:24:39,000 --> 06:24:47,160
You did state, you know, the the department's usage. Think about the amount to because last year three departments on the west side got a hundred thousand today.

4622
06:24:47,320 --> 06:24:53,080
Only one department got six thousand that department today that only was allocated the six. That's what they were allocated.

4623
06:24:53,600 --> 06:24:57,900
That department has to buy a fire truck also. They have a grant truck also.

4624
06:24:57,900 --> 06:24:59,280
So so

4625
06:25:00,000 --> 06:25:20,020
Today, I ask that if you do set the, just set the dollar amount, don't set the amounts per the departments and come back, we can have that conversation another time because two departments on this side need fire trucks, Eric needs a fire truck, eating $100,000. So that's a whole conversation that take a whole half a court or another day, but just set the dollar amount today if the court decides. That's all I recommend. Thank you.

4626
06:25:31,160 --> 06:25:32,220
I can do 300.

4627
06:25:36,080 --> 06:25:39,360
Now we're playing poker. I can do 300.

4628
06:25:39,360 --> 06:25:39,660
about it.

4629
06:25:45,410 --> 06:25:47,090
For the safety of the public, of course.

4630
06:25:52,100 --> 06:25:54,060
And then the other positions we've

4631
06:25:54,060 --> 06:25:54,440
discussed,

4632
06:25:56,480 --> 06:26:03,220
are we able to add three firemen, three deputies? I don't know what that costs.

4633
06:26:03,420 --> 06:26:07,240
I know we said it's about 220 of a deputy, but trying

4634
06:26:09,320 --> 06:26:12,220
to go the employee route, public safety

4635
06:26:12,220 --> 06:26:20,080
route. And that's like I said in the beginning, we have to decide what we can do with what

4636
06:26:20,080 --> 06:26:23,300
but we're allotting extra out of reserve.

4637
06:26:23,300 --> 06:26:24,980
I don't want to go much more out of that.

4638
06:26:25,800 --> 06:26:27,140
And I know there's other needs.

4639
06:26:27,340 --> 06:26:29,260
Like I said, 101 requested positions,

4640
06:26:29,280 --> 06:26:32,120
but we're trying to go through this.

4641
06:26:39,570 --> 06:26:41,130
So do you have any, like a list there,

4642
06:26:41,230 --> 06:26:42,710
that Ms. Klein can go through?

4643
06:26:42,970 --> 06:26:44,990
I do, but I wanted to make sure we finished it

4644
06:26:44,990 --> 06:26:46,450
because one of the things I mentioned earlier

4645
06:26:46,450 --> 06:26:49,150
were three reclassifications for the district clerk

4646
06:26:49,150 --> 06:26:50,470
from clerk one to clerk two.

4647
06:26:50,990 --> 06:26:54,850
The difference in that hourly is 1876 to 2007.

4648
06:26:54,850 --> 06:26:58,150
for each one, I wanted to see how the court felt about that.

4649
06:27:04,560 --> 06:27:06,580
I'm asking you how the court feels about it.

4650
06:27:07,500 --> 06:27:09,480
Can you repeat that position one more time?

4651
06:27:09,840 --> 06:27:12,500
There are several positions from the district clerk

4652
06:27:12,500 --> 06:27:16,240
that she has asked me to discuss to the court from reclass.

4653
06:27:17,140 --> 06:27:21,400
One clerk, one clerk, two hourlies 1876 to 2007.

4654
06:27:22,140 --> 06:27:24,940
I'm sure Ms. Douglas, I know she's had some similar requests as well.

4655
06:27:25,080 --> 06:27:26,820
I wanted to just get the courts appetite again.

4656
06:27:26,820 --> 06:27:38,760
And I wanted to discuss that because that's been a concern, I think, for several people with the individuals that they feel have earned clerk to payment.

4657
06:27:39,000 --> 06:27:46,500
So Ms. Douglas, I'm sure you also wanted to discuss that, but again, I just wanted to talk to the court about their appetite for it.

4658
06:27:55,800 --> 06:28:01,840
Commissioner, is there any thoughts on the regrails just on that district clerk or all the regrails?

4659
06:28:03,260 --> 06:28:08,760
The district clerk has buttered up, but Ms. Douglas is bringing it up currently as well.

4660
06:28:08,900 --> 06:28:12,220
I know she has some requests for the same, so I'm just curious if we're wanting to do that.

4661
06:28:12,520 --> 06:28:14,340
I'm not trying to make a prolonged argument.

4662
06:28:14,340 --> 06:28:21,560
I am just making sure that individuals have spoken to or that are indicating the preferences that we're considering those as well.

4663
06:28:39,940 --> 06:28:44,140
Any other thoughts on the re-grade request for departments?

4664
06:28:48,140 --> 06:28:48,600
Yes, sir.

4665
06:28:48,600 --> 06:29:05,060
I was asked to pass along from Mr. Roborn, he had asked for those two regrails for two of the employees, and he sent me a message saying asking if the court would allow him to fund the portion above in the regraile out of the asset for for sure.

4666
06:29:06,540 --> 06:29:18,220
So whatever the cost to regrade those two positions, the additional cost, if he could fund that out of the asset for for sure, if that would, if the court would consider that.

4667
06:29:20,640 --> 06:29:26,240
Does he anticipate being able to continuously fund that on an annual basis out of asset forefetcher?

4668
06:29:26,600 --> 06:29:40,410
If the paralegal position you spoke about earlier is out of the general fund, then the change in the difference will not be nearly the cost of a position.

4669
06:30:05,010 --> 06:30:29,710
Can we go back to the constables? I think we, do we want to talk about the re-rate really quick? Do we want to talk about the re-grades if the courts don't comment? If the court doesn't have an appetite for, of course, I'm willing to move on. I just wanted to bring it up and see if that was something the court wanted to discuss. In the event that it's known, yes. I'm willing to move to the constables.

4670
06:30:33,410 --> 06:30:35,070
Any other comments on re-grades?

4671
06:30:35,070 --> 06:30:37,810
So you're good with all of them?

4672
06:30:42,080 --> 06:30:46,300
It's a three grade in the, who's the clerk's office, everything else?

4673
06:30:47,600 --> 06:30:52,160
The other thing I've said, you know, I can't support the extra money for the long-term fire departments.

4674
06:30:52,600 --> 06:30:53,960
They get enough ends of so.

4675
06:30:54,760 --> 06:31:02,540
But I do, I would like to add, precinct three, the JP, not JP, the consul just called.

4676
06:31:02,720 --> 06:31:04,940
So if you'd like to also move one of those part times the full time.

4677
06:31:04,940 --> 06:31:05,800
There

4678
06:31:09,000 --> 06:31:10,020
we go. I'm waiting for.

4679
06:31:10,520 --> 06:31:12,380
Any other

4680
06:31:32,340 --> 06:31:34,800
comments on the proposal to change

4681
06:31:34,800 --> 06:31:37,160
consumable precinct three part time to full time?

4682
06:31:37,700 --> 06:31:38,760
I don't have an issue with that.

4683
06:31:39,480 --> 06:31:40,860
Oh, a problem with that.

4684
06:31:48,800 --> 06:31:51,060
Before we get to the two big ones,

4685
06:31:52,220 --> 06:31:54,920
in regard to the commissioners court administrative assistant,

4686
06:31:54,980 --> 06:31:58,700
if the court is not willing to re-grade hours

4687
06:31:58,700 --> 06:32:01,100
with the court being minimal to taking half

4688
06:32:01,100 --> 06:32:02,220
with my conference budget.

4689
06:32:02,220 --> 06:32:02,380
But

4690
06:32:07,370 --> 06:32:13,470
the action still would be to change the grade just using those funds, right?

4691
06:32:13,630 --> 06:32:16,350
I don't care how it's done.

4692
06:32:16,750 --> 06:32:20,910
I don't care if it's some sort of money that can come through a different way.

4693
06:32:21,410 --> 06:32:25,930
I don't know if that means that it's necessary to change a grade and that's where the money comes from.

4694
06:32:26,190 --> 06:32:28,670
I'm not sure what the possibilities are with that.

4695
06:32:35,070 --> 06:32:36,450
Is that a misclined question?

4696
06:32:41,930 --> 06:32:43,430
Yeah, I mean, it's a tough answer.

4697
06:32:43,430 --> 06:33:12,530
No, well, so the, so talking about the commissioner's court admin assistant position, the question was if the court wasn't wanting to regrade that still using half of salary or training in conference from precinct one commissioner, but that was knowing no matter where the money comes from to have it on great and step it needs to be tied to where it's placed in the system, right, to generate the hourly rate and then generate the

4698
06:33:12,530 --> 06:33:15,770
the salary or the compensation, right?

4699
06:33:16,010 --> 06:33:16,210
Right.

4700
06:33:16,930 --> 06:33:20,710
And I don't know if it's an option of instead of going up

4701
06:33:20,710 --> 06:33:22,650
two steps, go up one step or, I mean,

4702
06:33:22,650 --> 06:33:25,190
not steps, steps are length of service.

4703
06:33:25,310 --> 06:33:31,550
Grades are how the position is with responsibility.

4704
06:33:31,890 --> 06:33:32,110
Or more.

4705
06:33:33,450 --> 06:33:35,350
It would be very difficult with our grade and step

4706
06:33:35,350 --> 06:33:37,490
unless you re-graded the position.

4707
06:33:41,350 --> 06:33:44,710
So if you said if you wanted to just had $2,000

4708
06:33:44,710 --> 06:33:50,290
$1,000 to the position with our current grading step system that doesn't fall in window

4709
06:33:50,290 --> 06:33:50,670
Douglas.

4710
06:33:52,470 --> 06:33:55,190
I can't see how that would work.

4711
06:33:56,390 --> 06:34:04,590
If you wanted to take one position and pay it in additional flat $2,000 a year, thank

4712
06:34:05,020 --> 06:34:05,310
you.

4713
06:34:06,170 --> 06:34:07,050
I'm not crazy.

4714
06:34:11,320 --> 06:34:16,540
So really, back to your initial question, what's the court's opinion or thought on the

4715
06:34:16,540 --> 06:34:20,920
re-grade of that position, right? I mean, that's—

4716
06:34:20,920 --> 06:34:30,720
I mean, my take from the responses as far as that we are at a deadlock, and if not,

4717
06:34:30,880 --> 06:34:33,560
then I was asking you if there was some way to give her some of mine.

4718
06:34:51,460 --> 06:34:52,080
Any thoughts?

4719
06:34:55,420 --> 06:34:59,840
No, but Judge Hines would just text over, so if we're considering re-grade.

4720
06:35:00,000 --> 06:35:09,840
She would like to consider her administrator because they have taken on the entire court workload after one judge has moved over to go back out.

4721
06:35:13,520 --> 06:35:17,900
I want to finish talking about the commissioners position before we move on.

4722
06:35:23,560 --> 06:35:25,980
What would you like to do, regrade or no, regrade?

4723
06:35:28,810 --> 06:35:29,490
I want to regrade.

4724
06:35:51,220 --> 06:36:00,620
Just opens up a can of leap forward, like I said. I think the can of worms is open a long time ago. Well, we're going down this list.

4725
06:36:00,620 --> 06:36:04,040
just like, yeah, that's why I need a tally of where we are.

4726
06:36:09,300 --> 06:36:11,560
The difference is $8,000 on this.

4727
06:36:11,680 --> 06:36:18,720
It's the only person that serves multiple county officials, it's unique in comparison

4728
06:36:18,720 --> 06:36:19,660
to anybody else.

4729
06:36:28,000 --> 06:36:29,600
Yeah, that 8,000, the good one.

4730
06:36:30,760 --> 06:36:33,080
No, I don't have 8,000 in my conference budget.

4731
06:36:33,940 --> 06:36:37,320
I would give her half of my conference budget, I believe Commissioner German has indicated

4732
06:36:37,320 --> 06:36:39,820
he would give her some of his as well, if it's possible.

4733
06:36:39,820 --> 06:36:44,360
But I'm the leading that the feedback we're receiving from this client and Ms. Douglas is that that's not a possibility

4734
06:36:44,360 --> 06:36:49,120
To do the the numbers that way we can't just shift that without doing a re-grade

4735
06:36:49,120 --> 06:36:51,300
So that's why I think we're back to that conversation

4736
06:36:51,300 --> 06:36:54,760
Right if there was a way to do it. Yes, you can have it

4737
06:37:26,190 --> 06:37:29,530
So it's like two something dollars more an hour

4738
06:37:29,530 --> 06:37:34,010
I believe it's three and a few cents

4739
06:37:46,860 --> 06:37:52,420
Three dollars 51 cents from 24 27 to 27 78

4740
06:37:53,060 --> 06:37:56,200
Yes. That's from a 7-2-9-2, right? Yes.

4741
06:38:18,600 --> 06:38:25,140
It's a tough decision because she's under the court and it's not a perception-wise for the rest of the employees.

4742
06:38:28,280 --> 06:38:31,980
It's just, and I get it, I get the argument. I wish everyone could get everything.

4743
06:38:33,200 --> 06:38:38,220
So is that 24-27 with the 3% charge? Yes, sir.

4744
06:39:24,040 --> 06:39:28,340
If you figure the 3% what's the total compensation for a year,

4745
06:39:32,740 --> 06:39:35,580
3% on the current pay?

4746
06:39:35,840 --> 06:39:36,000
Yeah.

4747
06:39:45,240 --> 06:39:49,560
$50,000, $470,000, $50,000, $470,000, $412,000.

4748
06:39:49,940 --> 06:39:54,920
That's $49,004 plus $1470,000 in $12,000.

4749
06:39:55,920 --> 06:39:59,540
5676, I'm just looking at the payroll spreadsheet, Rynus.

4750
06:40:00,460 --> 06:40:20,180
49, 93. Current parades 23, 56, 49, 193. Fiscal year 27, parades 24, 27, or 50, 6, 76. It's a difference of $1,483.

4751
06:40:20,180 --> 06:40:20,740
$2?

4752
06:40:25,230 --> 06:40:25,830
No.

4753
06:40:26,530 --> 06:40:28,970
You have to be here three years to get the-

4754
06:40:28,970 --> 06:40:29,270
70.

4755
06:40:42,200 --> 06:40:43,440
What is two grades?

4756
06:40:43,440 --> 06:40:50,100
Two grades changes $3.51 an hour.

4757
06:41:11,350 --> 06:41:17,270
On giving up your education hours, we still have enough to get 18 hours.

4758
06:41:20,680 --> 06:41:22,280
Is it 18 or 16?

4759
06:41:23,280 --> 06:41:24,100
Pretty sure.

4760
06:41:24,420 --> 06:41:25,400
16 hours.

4761
06:41:26,080 --> 06:41:29,560
Either way, I mean, if it means commuting, or making a sacrifice,

4762
06:41:29,560 --> 06:41:31,740
I guess I'll make it but I don't just say great.

4763
06:41:31,960 --> 06:41:34,600
Based on these responses, I don't know that there's a way to do it.

4764
06:41:37,600 --> 06:41:40,860
I haven't used a thousand, a thousand dollars.

4765
06:41:41,080 --> 06:41:41,400
Great.

4766
06:41:41,660 --> 06:41:42,660
The most uptown.

4767
06:41:43,180 --> 06:41:45,620
I'd be willing to get inside of the house.

4768
06:41:45,620 --> 06:41:46,220
I'd be willing to see the grade.

4769
06:41:46,980 --> 06:41:52,940
And I'll go on the right step to see because they both move to the level next year.

4770
06:41:54,480 --> 06:41:55,800
Yes, about you, ma'am.

4771
06:42:35,560 --> 06:42:37,800
Any other discussion on the chief?

4772
06:42:39,160 --> 06:42:42,560
Did you have something you wanted to add before I know you said you had to leave.

4773
06:42:48,360 --> 06:42:54,920
Yes sir. I do have to go to council. This has been a fun day but I have to continue this

4774
06:42:55,660 --> 06:42:59,900
evening within the city. Good luck. Thank you for the opportunity. Just come back when

4775
06:42:59,900 --> 06:43:05,080
you serve will probably still be here. I'm hoping not. You know, you all have been talking

4776
06:43:05,080 --> 06:43:10,000
a lot about volunteer money and it seems to be a sticking point for this group and I can

4777
06:43:10,000 --> 06:43:14,400
We definitely appreciate both sides of the conversation having had volunteers as well

4778
06:43:14,400 --> 06:43:16,000
as doing away with the volunteer program.

4779
06:43:16,000 --> 06:43:20,720
I understand the struggles that exist with trying to provide adequate coverage.

4780
06:43:20,980 --> 06:43:25,420
I can also speak to the varied landscape across Guadalopeia County.

4781
06:43:26,040 --> 06:43:30,480
What I protect in downtown versus what we see on the outskirts of the county.

4782
06:43:31,320 --> 06:43:35,160
And it's impossible to wrap that up into a single package and throw it out there and expect

4783
06:43:35,160 --> 06:43:35,580
success.

4784
06:43:36,640 --> 06:43:47,220
I would ask that you might consider since the money is a sticking point for everyone rather than labeling it just for volunteers the three or five hundred thousand or wherever you're sitting.

4785
06:43:47,800 --> 06:43:52,460
If you were to allow that to be opened up to anyone that is supporting the volunteer operation.

4786
06:43:53,160 --> 06:44:01,880
For instance, if GCFR was allowed to bring before you a request in the same manner, ultimately you all make the decision as to whether or not you choose to grant that.

4787
06:44:02,700 --> 06:44:05,400
but that is in support of the volunteer mission.

4788
06:44:06,140 --> 06:44:10,060
And if that would help any of you to be more comfortable

4789
06:44:10,060 --> 06:44:13,820
with your decision making, I believe all of us are, as we spoke earlier,

4790
06:44:14,140 --> 06:44:16,840
trying to work in partnership to provide that service.

4791
06:44:17,980 --> 06:44:21,780
And if we viewed it from that landscape, because not only do

4792
06:44:22,260 --> 06:44:25,520
I support volunteers, but there are days that they support me as well.

4793
06:44:26,140 --> 06:44:28,580
So just making sure that we're all real clear about that.

4794
06:44:28,580 --> 06:44:33,120
So thank you very much. I say I got to go to council. Thanks Chief take care

4795
06:44:49,000 --> 06:44:54,740
Back to the regrade. Yeah, I can go for the administrative assistant for commissioner's court

4796
06:45:07,950 --> 06:45:11,730
By taking it out of people's lines, you just create a problem.

4797
06:45:46,930 --> 06:46:11,530
Are there not three people willing to regrade that position? We're at a deadlock. Do you want to continue that or move on to something else? Judge, can you give us your vote on that? I'm concerned about the future financial position of the county. I think we have talked about adding a lot of things today that I know are important,

4798
06:46:11,530 --> 06:46:12,570
but I cannot support.

4799
06:46:13,970 --> 06:46:20,930
I think I'm going to cast my vote based on my future concerns about where the financial

4800
06:46:20,930 --> 06:46:22,550
position of the county is going to be.

4801
06:46:22,710 --> 06:46:27,730
There's a tremendous amount of very important topics that have been discussed today.

4802
06:46:27,890 --> 06:46:28,430
A lot of needs.

4803
06:46:28,670 --> 06:46:32,670
I think people have validated and justified those the best they possibly can.

4804
06:46:34,550 --> 06:46:37,950
And it's not that I don't want to support all those things that are being talked about.

4805
06:46:37,950 --> 06:46:41,910
But I just think it's going to put the county in a very, very tough financial position

4806
06:46:41,910 --> 06:46:46,530
next year, spending more additional funds that is going to have an automatic tax increase

4807
06:46:46,530 --> 06:46:52,190
built in at the same time when trying to talk about some very big, expensive projects

4808
06:46:52,190 --> 06:46:57,210
and also these needs that we're talking about for law enforcement fire, AMS, don't go away

4809
06:46:57,210 --> 06:46:57,910
but get bigger.

4810
06:46:59,030 --> 06:47:01,430
So that's where I remain today.

4811
06:47:01,430 --> 06:47:02,370
I can

4812
06:47:06,980 --> 06:47:13,680
believe it will put this commissioners court in a very tough position if Ms. Doreen

4813
06:47:14,920 --> 06:47:17,740
retires and we also don't have an admin.

4814
06:47:18,320 --> 06:47:21,020
I think that will be quite difficult for us.

4815
06:47:25,370 --> 06:47:28,570
Is there any way we can move that money or is that a definite no, ladies?

4816
06:47:30,230 --> 06:47:30,350
No.

4817
06:47:30,630 --> 06:47:30,750
Okay.

4818
06:47:31,050 --> 06:47:31,810
Let's move to the next thing.

4819
06:47:41,740 --> 06:47:42,200
Okay.

4820
06:47:42,820 --> 06:47:45,620
Judge Heather Hines has asked if we're doing reclassification.

4821
06:47:45,620 --> 06:47:48,420
she would like her

4822
06:47:54,050 --> 06:47:58,710
admin administrator for the district courts to be moved up to two scales.

4823
06:48:19,990 --> 06:48:21,410
Everyone, what do you think about that?

4824
06:48:21,730 --> 06:48:24,690
The district judge's admin is going up two pay scales.

4825
06:48:26,250 --> 06:48:30,670
Going up two pay scales, Judge Heather Hines has just requested it.

4826
06:48:30,770 --> 06:48:33,390
If we're looking at regraings, a

4827
06:48:39,370 --> 06:48:39,910
problem with it.

4828
06:48:43,040 --> 06:48:47,120
If we're not regrating our admin, then we're not doing any regraings.

4829
06:48:47,880 --> 06:48:56,300
If we cannot find $8,000 for our admin for a re-grade, I don't see where we are going to be able to do that.

4830
06:48:57,280 --> 06:49:04,980
If that's the reasoning for other folks here not wanting to do it for hours, then I would imagine that reasoning would apply to the others as well.

4831
06:49:04,980 --> 06:49:05,840
I

4832
06:49:13,840 --> 06:49:22,520
think I'm on board with what Commissioner Autis saying if we've juggled around physicians

4833
06:49:22,520 --> 06:49:31,920
here and made part-times full-times and I'm not saying we were finished doing it but

4834
06:49:31,920 --> 06:49:33,100
we're doing it.

4835
06:49:33,100 --> 06:49:33,740
had

4836
06:49:37,160 --> 06:49:44,920
men has a completely different job than a lot of the employees in the

4837
06:49:44,920 --> 06:49:57,820
county she has four bosses has to run the court basically and I'm on board

4838
06:49:57,820 --> 06:49:59,980
with giving them all.

4839
06:50:00,000 --> 06:50:07,870
We're in an additional, colon while, we are going to, one of theальная missionaries, is an extremely important position when people call,

4840
06:50:08,290 --> 06:50:19,210
they're either going to call law enforcement for, you know, something that's going on, or they're going to call one of the commissioners.

4841
06:50:21,410 --> 06:50:25,290
And that person is a face of the county.

4842
06:50:25,290 --> 06:50:28,550
so that position is extremely important.

4843
06:50:34,120 --> 06:50:37,280
Not discounting carmen, dear carmen's back there.

4844
06:51:00,700 --> 06:51:03,640
So much client, can we get a kind of a guest moment

4845
06:51:03,640 --> 06:51:06,560
of where we are based on, I believe, Commissioner Altkip,

4846
06:51:06,660 --> 06:51:08,720
some really good notes on where we are current?

4847
06:51:09,080 --> 06:51:09,400
Yes.

4848
06:51:10,360 --> 06:51:14,260
If she's able to either give you that list or read it off,

4849
06:51:15,000 --> 06:51:16,140
can we kind of...

4850
06:51:16,140 --> 06:51:17,860
I mean, can I just don't think it's that?

4851
06:51:19,200 --> 06:51:26,420
because we keep talking and like I said before we've got to we've got to come to a point

4852
06:51:26,420 --> 06:51:30,500
or I wonder we're going to spend. I knew we would get to this point if changes were made.

4853
06:51:30,600 --> 06:51:34,160
I just want everybody to manage your expectations. That's not a two-minute calculation.

4854
06:51:35,000 --> 06:51:39,840
Well, I think the two things that we haven't hit on that between everything everyone said,

4855
06:51:39,900 --> 06:51:46,700
which I have been writing down are GCFR and GCSO. So I don't know if we want to chat about that first

4856
06:51:46,700 --> 06:51:51,660
and then the list or I can give you this list or I can't give you a list list but I can

4857
06:51:51,660 --> 06:51:56,380
read it to you. Whatever you guys want to do. If we want to talk about this,

4858
06:51:58,560 --> 06:51:59,680
I understand

4859
06:51:59,680 --> 06:52:08,940
that Mr. Pender, and you said 227, I'm seeing three individuals being more expensive than

4860
06:52:08,940 --> 06:52:24,340
And that I believe, three deputies with everything, you're looking at 750K, if that's, if someone correct me if I'm wrong with any of this, but I think that's what we're looking at, Mr. Pinder, I think you're more like 400K for three.

4861
06:52:24,340 --> 06:52:30,120
If we hired the captains it'd be $409,000 and $346 for three.

4862
06:52:31,100 --> 06:52:37,920
If we did a different combination of captain's lieutenants and firefighters I have a proposal

4863
06:52:37,920 --> 06:52:44,740
that would add six and keep it cap it at $455 for all those positions, but the lieutenants

4864
06:52:44,740 --> 06:52:48,440
would be at $367, 115 if for three engineers.

4865
06:52:49,100 --> 06:52:53,780
We would prefer the captains, the captains of the highest paid positions, but in the fire

4866
06:52:53,780 --> 06:52:59,460
department with the growth we need that rank and structure and we need to establish that so if

4867
06:52:59,460 --> 06:53:02,580
we're going to get three and they will be the same would prefer the captain so total and that

4868
06:53:02,580 --> 06:53:04,620
would be the 409-346.

4869
06:53:09,820 --> 06:53:10,000
Okay.

4870
06:53:15,110 --> 06:53:17,610
Do we need to read off these notes and we talk about this or

4871
06:53:18,830 --> 06:53:24,310
not and that's fine. Are there additional things to still consider to add to the list?

4872
06:53:24,310 --> 06:53:31,490
If we are not doing regrails, which it looks like we are not, and we are not doing any additional

4873
06:53:31,490 --> 06:53:37,270
full time positions that are not fire and long forcement related, I'm looping in the

4874
06:53:37,270 --> 06:53:41,630
prosecutors' paralegal into that then I don't think so.

4875
06:53:44,080 --> 06:53:51,740
For law enforcement is deputies, I know we didn't have the SRO conversation, but is that

4876
06:53:51,740 --> 06:53:54,960
a priority over the deputies or deputies over SROs?

4877
06:53:54,960 --> 06:53:55,820
So

4878
06:54:02,890 --> 06:54:04,730
I think the numbers is quite a bit different.

4879
06:54:07,840 --> 06:54:09,480
It's really the same thing, right?

4880
06:54:09,820 --> 06:54:14,120
Deputies are what I was, when we did our calculation on staffing analysis and we came in that

4881
06:54:14,120 --> 06:54:15,480
we were 90 short, right?

4882
06:54:15,660 --> 06:54:21,800
I had already put together a request for 70 over the next projected years, right?

4883
06:54:22,240 --> 06:54:27,060
So, and then when I broke that down, I think ultimately I submitted 30 sworn positions

4884
06:54:27,060 --> 06:54:31,560
within for the first year in that phased plan over the next several years.

4885
06:54:31,560 --> 06:54:37,780
I need 10 to fill the current SRO duties for Mary and ISD and Navarro ISD.

4886
06:54:38,200 --> 06:54:43,100
So what I was going to do is take those from those numbers because that's our staffing

4887
06:54:43,100 --> 06:54:43,460
analysis.

4888
06:54:43,460 --> 06:54:45,960
That says what we need, right?

4889
06:54:46,900 --> 06:54:48,260
And that's based on call volume.

4890
06:54:48,480 --> 06:54:53,620
That's based on call volume, calls for service, how long they're on the scene, all the activities

4891
06:54:53,620 --> 06:54:54,280
that go on.

4892
06:54:54,560 --> 06:54:59,800
But I knew I wasn't going to be able to add 10 deputies to that 90 number.

4893
06:55:00,000 --> 06:55:29,860
That we needed. So, I was hoping we were before we knew how the budget was going to shake out, you know, with the revenue coming in. I was hoping that the first 10 that I got in the proposal, if I got that, I was going to dedicate those to the SRO because by doing that, it frees up deputies for patrol. Because right now what's happening is there's plenty of days. So traditionally it has been paid for with off-duty deputies being paid by the

4894
06:55:29,860 --> 06:55:37,080
schools. That has happened for many years, right? But slowly, it's been more difficult

4895
06:55:37,080 --> 06:55:43,300
to fill gaps. And then the state came down with the mandates after the evalid shooting.

4896
06:55:43,880 --> 06:55:49,280
And they have to have somebody armed on every single campus. Now, I don't want to debate

4897
06:55:49,280 --> 06:55:55,120
whose responsibility that is. All right. But that's their state mandate. Some school that

4898
06:55:55,120 --> 06:55:58,960
you have several options to fill that mandate. There's the Guardian program, school, Marshall

4899
06:55:58,960 --> 06:56:04,240
Social program, police officers on campuses, security, however the school decides they

4900
06:56:04,240 --> 06:56:04,920
want to do it.

4901
06:56:05,780 --> 06:56:08,460
Marion does two of those.

4902
06:56:08,780 --> 06:56:13,600
They have the Guardian program and they have deputies on duty.

4903
06:56:14,040 --> 06:56:20,120
So they want the deputies there, but it supplements them fulfilling that requirement.

4904
06:56:20,680 --> 06:56:24,860
Navarro has selected to only have peace officers on campus.

4905
06:56:24,860 --> 06:56:37,580
So what has happened for me is over the last couple years to fill that void I've had to pull from patrol to send them there and that's that's continually gotten worse and worse and worse and worse and worse.

4906
06:56:37,620 --> 06:56:39,860
And there are days there have been days.

4907
06:56:40,180 --> 06:56:45,300
It's not every day but it's pretty much weekly that we're having to supplement that.

4908
06:56:46,800 --> 06:56:51,500
But there are days when we've had to provide every single deputy for every campus.

4909
06:56:52,040 --> 06:56:55,500
And the decision for me, and I'm not putting that on y'allness,

4910
06:56:55,640 --> 06:56:58,960
really the decision for me is what's going to happen if there's a shooting,

4911
06:56:59,300 --> 06:57:01,180
if there is a give-outy top incident.

4912
06:57:02,040 --> 06:57:06,080
So I waited out and I sent the deputies there to do that job,

4913
06:57:06,920 --> 06:57:11,460
because I think I'm going to be held responsible no matter how it shakes out,

4914
06:57:11,620 --> 06:57:12,280
if that happens.

4915
06:57:12,880 --> 06:57:15,600
So my hope was that we could hold that down

4916
06:57:15,600 --> 06:57:19,680
for as long as possible until we could get additional staffing

4917
06:57:19,680 --> 06:57:21,520
to change that dynamic.

4918
06:57:22,040 --> 06:57:24,040
Now, at the same time, what I hear from my personnel,

4919
06:57:24,320 --> 06:57:27,720
my patrol captain and lieutenants and deputies

4920
06:57:27,720 --> 06:57:29,540
is that, Sheriff, we can't keep this up

4921
06:57:30,380 --> 06:57:33,800
because of the increased call volume that's going on.

4922
06:57:35,120 --> 06:57:38,960
We're averaging now 1100 more calls per month.

4923
06:57:39,580 --> 06:57:41,160
A lot of people have said, well, why is that?

4924
06:57:41,240 --> 06:57:42,960
Is crime gone up? Well, we just got more people.

4925
06:57:43,380 --> 06:57:45,400
There's more calls for service that are coming in.

4926
06:57:45,820 --> 06:57:47,920
It's no different than any other department.

4927
06:57:47,920 --> 06:57:51,760
So I know I gave you more, but it's really complex.

4928
06:57:51,960 --> 06:57:56,220
There's a lot to chew on to do that, but I would need ten to do it.

4929
06:57:56,320 --> 06:57:57,640
Now, I'm not asking you for that.

4930
06:57:57,900 --> 06:58:02,640
There's a reason I haven't come up to the podium because it's been a challenging discussion.

4931
06:58:03,780 --> 06:58:08,220
So the school districts come to you and say we need this because it has to go through

4932
06:58:08,220 --> 06:58:14,120
the school board from where I don't understand from Senate Bill 3, and that correct that the

4933
06:58:14,120 --> 06:58:17,960
school board is the one who have to contract used to a near local agreement or contract?

4934
06:58:18,880 --> 06:58:21,040
Yes, we would once that happened yet.

4935
06:58:21,400 --> 06:58:27,980
No, we've had preliminary discussions but there hasn't been through my informal discussions

4936
06:58:27,980 --> 06:58:32,460
or hasn't been a willingness from the court to be able to do that.

4937
06:58:32,980 --> 06:58:37,260
I have had informal discussions with the superintendents but yes, if we agreed on something

4938
06:58:37,260 --> 06:58:40,380
like that, there would both bodies would have to agree.

4939
06:58:40,380 --> 06:58:44,060
the court would have to agree on the on the Pacific as I can't you know I can't

4940
06:58:44,060 --> 06:58:47,660
enter into a contract the court would have to approve that and then the

4941
06:58:47,660 --> 06:58:51,500
school boards would have to do it as well and it's a budgeting decision for

4942
06:58:51,500 --> 06:58:54,880
them as well but from what I understand the school board has to initiate all this

4943
06:58:55,500 --> 06:59:00,600
is the way I read it I could be wrong but the ultimate responsibility according

4944
06:59:00,600 --> 06:59:04,200
to sent bill three is the school district the superintendent of the school board

4945
06:59:04,200 --> 06:59:08,880
itself has to come to us and say you know this is what we want to do

4946
06:59:09,800 --> 06:59:14,700
That's what I thought, you know, I could be reading it wrong, but since it's their responsibility,

4947
06:59:15,080 --> 06:59:17,540
they need to come to us and say, hey, we would like this.

4948
06:59:18,100 --> 06:59:22,680
Well, I think they have through their intermediaries, so the superintendents and I, it's really no

4949
06:59:22,680 --> 06:59:25,960
different than me having a discussion with you about what the needs of the sheriff's office

4950
06:59:25,960 --> 06:59:26,160
are.

4951
06:59:26,460 --> 06:59:31,060
So I think they rely on their department heads, which are the superintendents, to put together

4952
06:59:31,060 --> 06:59:34,280
those proposals and put them in front of them and they decide how the budget's going to shake

4953
06:59:34,280 --> 06:59:34,500
out.

4954
06:59:34,940 --> 06:59:39,660
So, we can put that in front of them, but I don't know that the school board necessarily

4955
06:59:39,660 --> 06:59:41,300
needs to come in here and ask the committee to do it.

4956
06:59:41,300 --> 06:59:42,100
Oh, they don't have to.

4957
06:59:42,120 --> 06:59:44,220
They just have to be the ones asking for it.

4958
06:59:44,460 --> 06:59:49,920
I could be wrong if I'm reading the statute incorrectly, but it originates for them because

4959
06:59:49,920 --> 06:59:53,640
they're responsible for security on campus, the school board is.

4960
06:59:54,500 --> 06:59:55,360
That's where I read it.

4961
06:59:55,900 --> 06:59:59,980
Now, they can contract out with whomever they want, but from what I understand, I don't

4962
07:00:00,000 --> 07:00:29,980
It has to initiate from the school board. You know, check into that, you know, if it's what they want, fine, but once again, I think they need to ask us to come over the way they're more than happy to say yes, but once again. Commissioner, I'm asking you, because they go through me. So I don't, I, I don't know where you're really going with this point. I mean, it needs to be done. We've got to have school security, right? Whether the schools pay for it or we pay for it.

4963
07:00:29,980 --> 07:00:33,940
pay for it or how it's done with lots of options out there right but I've been

4964
07:00:33,940 --> 07:00:38,200
filling the gap in the meantime and I think I'm going to be the one that's

4965
07:00:38,200 --> 07:00:41,940
standing at the podium explaining what happens when it happens I know it's

4966
07:00:41,940 --> 07:00:45,480
in precinct three our hospitals over there all the time they patrol the campus

4967
07:00:45,480 --> 07:00:49,400
that they're in now they're you know they're doing what they can but once again

4968
07:00:49,400 --> 07:00:55,000
it's a SCUC has I think I think they have resource officers on the city of

4969
07:00:55,000 --> 07:01:00,000
I'm not certain, but they do. It's a similar top contract as we're on proposing.

4970
07:01:00,340 --> 07:01:03,360
But once again, it's contracted and initiated from the school board.

4971
07:01:04,160 --> 07:01:07,340
And that's all I'm getting at. They need to initiate it.

4972
07:01:07,400 --> 07:01:09,860
We just can't go over that. We say, this is what we're going to do for you.

4973
07:01:10,500 --> 07:01:14,980
Ask them what they want us to do. That's all I'm asking for.

4974
07:01:17,400 --> 07:01:19,340
I'm unclear on what you're asking.

4975
07:01:19,680 --> 07:01:23,480
The way I read the statute, the school board is responsible.

4976
07:01:23,480 --> 07:01:29,060
So school board is the one who has to initiate any any dialogue with us or the county or you?

4977
07:01:29,860 --> 07:01:33,740
Is that not correct? But the sheriff is saying he's had those conversations, right?

4978
07:01:34,160 --> 07:01:35,700
Some of them, right. Yeah

4979
07:01:36,340 --> 07:01:38,380
So we're just talking about two districts, correct?

4980
07:01:39,340 --> 07:01:44,760
Primarily, yes. Primarily. Yeah, they still some of my deputies do work for a new Bronfell's ISD

4981
07:01:44,760 --> 07:01:50,340
comellist at times. Yeah, not nothing like nothing like what we provide for Navarro Mary.

4982
07:01:51,480 --> 07:01:58,760
I'm not understanding, though, because I had a discussion with Marion, and Marion said

4983
07:01:58,760 --> 07:02:05,640
that what they were doing was using off-duty deputies and paying them, you know, whatever,

4984
07:02:05,860 --> 07:02:13,360
the fee per hour, that they had really in that the sheriff's, I'm quoting what I was told,

4985
07:02:13,360 --> 07:02:20,200
and that the sheriff's office coordinated, yes, so-and-so is going to be off, you

4986
07:02:20,200 --> 07:02:26,040
know, and that they would, that it was working fine for them and that they were

4987
07:02:26,040 --> 07:02:32,680
paying these off-duty deputies to be their SROs. So the only thing that we were

4988
07:02:32,680 --> 07:02:37,320
really out of as a county, which I don't have a problem with, is if the Tahoe

4989
07:02:37,320 --> 07:02:44,340
sitting there idling, it's burning fuel or whatever, which that's okay because a lot of it

4990
07:02:44,340 --> 07:02:51,280
they're working traffic and stuff like that. So I'm not understanding why there's even a

4991
07:02:51,280 --> 07:02:57,760
discussion when the schools are saying that what they're doing is working. So the schools have been

4992
07:02:57,760 --> 07:03:03,080
unaware that we've been staffing it with full-time employees when we've had to fill the gaps. That's the

4993
07:03:03,080 --> 07:03:06,980
conversations that have come up recently. They didn't know. They thought they

4994
07:03:06,980 --> 07:03:10,760
were paying deputies. They were. They didn't realize that we were having a

4995
07:03:10,760 --> 07:03:15,780
supplement. But what changed? Because if we were doing it before with paid

4996
07:03:15,780 --> 07:03:21,800
people, I hear what you're saying, but what changed? Why was what they were

4997
07:03:21,800 --> 07:03:27,720
doing before not working now where you're having to pick up the slack more and

4998
07:03:27,720 --> 07:03:34,000
I can't control deputies signing up for jobs in an off duty capacity.

4999
07:03:34,960 --> 07:03:38,940
I have absolutely no control over that. The previous sheriff would enter into a contract with the school districts.

5000
07:03:39,360 --> 07:03:44,020
I don't know how he did that because I can't, I told the school districts, I can't contract with you

5001
07:03:44,020 --> 07:03:48,160
and promise you personnel when they're in an off duty capacity.

5002
07:03:49,300 --> 07:03:51,660
I can't tell them what to do when they're off, right?

5003
07:03:51,660 --> 07:03:58,080
I can't contract with you through the court with your permission to provide an SRO program

5004
07:03:58,540 --> 07:04:03,940
where we enter into a sharing of the cost to provide those deputies.

5005
07:04:04,120 --> 07:04:09,400
But I can't promise you that deputies are going to sign up to work it on their days off.

5006
07:04:10,000 --> 07:04:11,980
And slowly over time, that's to windowed out.

5007
07:04:12,600 --> 07:04:15,700
And we've had to fill the void for school security purposes.

5008
07:04:15,880 --> 07:04:20,180
Now, Commissioner, I will tell you that Marion has not been as big of a problem and really

5009
07:04:20,180 --> 07:04:26,480
honestly rarely is a problem. It is generally working what we're doing and then the deputies

5010
07:04:26,480 --> 07:04:32,400
are supplementing what is the state requirement with the because they fulfill it with the

5011
07:04:32,400 --> 07:04:36,160
guardian program. Navarro is really where we've come up short most of the time.

5012
07:04:36,400 --> 07:04:40,880
Yeah, okay. Any other questions, comments?

5013
07:04:41,680 --> 07:04:47,500
I don't understand why Sheriff you are under the impression that we are against the SROs.

5014
07:04:48,140 --> 07:04:50,820
That's mostly been through budget discussions with me and the judge.

5015
07:04:54,080 --> 07:04:54,480
Okay.

5016
07:04:55,580 --> 07:04:57,520
The budget meeting we had downstairs?

5017
07:04:58,560 --> 07:04:59,680
Yeah, we've had...

5018
07:05:00,000 --> 07:05:29,700
We've talked about the contracts, and as far as doing school resource, but we've talked, heck, that goes back from prior to me even being the sheriff. I mean, we've had those discussions. And then Commissioner, you brought up in this budget that you think that the parents should raise money to pay for these officers. No, that's not what I said. What I said in our budget meeting, I asked if you could go back and see if you could negotiate a better deal for us, because I became aware that other school districts were contributing more, whether it be through a PTO,

5019
07:05:29,700 --> 07:05:31,640
because I had seen that several times occur,

5020
07:05:32,160 --> 07:05:33,360
or it had been through the school district

5021
07:05:33,360 --> 07:05:34,960
that were helping supplement the cost.

5022
07:05:35,240 --> 07:05:36,820
I wasn't saying parents should pay for it.

5023
07:05:37,160 --> 07:05:38,500
I wasn't saying I was against it.

5024
07:05:38,800 --> 07:05:40,920
I was simply asking back in May,

5025
07:05:41,540 --> 07:05:43,020
if you would be willing to see

5026
07:05:43,020 --> 07:05:44,560
if they could come back with a better offer

5027
07:05:44,560 --> 07:05:46,120
because I was seeing around the state

5028
07:05:46,120 --> 07:05:48,240
where other districts were contributing more,

5029
07:05:48,580 --> 07:05:50,080
and I was hoping that that could help us out.

5030
07:05:50,420 --> 07:05:51,740
It wasn't a negative thing.

5031
07:05:51,840 --> 07:05:53,520
It was simply saying that I think maybe we could

5032
07:05:53,520 --> 07:05:55,300
see if we could negotiate a little further.

5033
07:05:55,460 --> 07:05:55,840
That is all.

5034
07:05:56,140 --> 07:05:57,340
Yeah, I disagree with you.

5035
07:05:57,340 --> 07:06:04,240
If is there something I need to answer about this particular budget process, how many positions, how much money's left over?

5036
07:06:04,900 --> 07:06:12,360
Because I think we're just trying to have a conversation to understand where it's coming from because I personally am not against it at all

5037
07:06:12,360 --> 07:06:15,440
I think I think it's a great thing that we have them in schools that wasn't it

5038
07:06:15,440 --> 07:06:21,700
I was trying to see if they could give us a better deal so that we could do more that that's all I mean

5039
07:06:21,700 --> 07:06:26,340
I there's there's no reason or motivation that I would possibly have for not doing that

5040
07:06:26,340 --> 07:06:40,060
Well, Commissioner, that's not how me or my chief deputy remember that conversation and I think it's unfortunate if that was a miscommunication that we did not understand each other at that moment, but I think that what we have to do is move forward in the best way that we can. It's really our only choice.

5041
07:06:40,940 --> 07:06:42,260
So I agree with that.

5042
07:06:42,280 --> 07:06:42,600
Okay.

5043
07:06:42,600 --> 07:06:42,660
Right.

5044
07:06:44,610 --> 07:06:49,030
And the reason I brought up this, or just because if we're talking about adding positions

5045
07:06:49,030 --> 07:06:56,210
and deputies versus a 25% cost to SROs, it's a different number.

5046
07:06:56,770 --> 07:06:59,870
So I mean, I voice my concern about future finances, all that stuff.

5047
07:07:00,070 --> 07:07:02,330
I know you said, hey, we'll address it differently in the future.

5048
07:07:02,950 --> 07:07:07,370
I was just trying to get majority of the court heading in the direction going, or we're talking

5049
07:07:07,370 --> 07:07:12,490
about three deputies at 2.25 a piece, or we're talking about four SROs that are $100,000

5050
07:07:12,490 --> 07:07:18,650
because it's only 25% so that's what I was talking about and I want to tell you when we talked about

5051
07:07:18,650 --> 07:07:23,650
it downstairs I don't think I have voiced as much concern as maybe commissioner I did just

5052
07:07:23,650 --> 07:07:29,550
trying to get to the numbers and stuff but when I looked at those position requests 10 SROs were the

5053
07:07:29,550 --> 07:07:34,370
cheaper version of something you communicated was really important to school safety and the public

5054
07:07:34,370 --> 07:07:39,990
wasn't against it I was actually sitting there going that might be the priority that gets funded

5055
07:07:39,990 --> 07:07:45,130
because it's as you stated one of the most important things for for child and

5056
07:07:45,130 --> 07:07:48,690
public safety but also it was one of the cheaper options because instead of paying

5057
07:07:48,690 --> 07:07:54,010
for all 10 it was really a number to pay for 2.5 because it was only 25%

5058
07:07:54,010 --> 07:07:57,230
so if we were going to do that that conversation should have happened months ago

5059
07:07:57,230 --> 07:08:01,050
like there's no way in the money that you're trying to deliberate right now

5060
07:08:01,050 --> 07:08:04,310
that I'm going to be able to tell you what the school contract is going to be

5061
07:08:04,310 --> 07:08:09,330
because we've had no formal contract negotiations with school districts and and

5062
07:08:09,330 --> 07:08:12,690
And I'm sorry, but I don't remember the conversation that way in any form of fashion.

5063
07:08:13,470 --> 07:08:17,410
And I was going to say that that I know that's what Commissioner Ott asked was the additional

5064
07:08:18,210 --> 07:08:22,630
feedback from there, but she was asking if the school districts would pay not only for

5065
07:08:22,630 --> 07:08:25,410
the salary, but for also some of the additional equipment.

5066
07:08:25,450 --> 07:08:27,650
You said that that's not how it usually works.

5067
07:08:27,910 --> 07:08:30,310
She said, can you can you just ask and check on it?

5068
07:08:30,310 --> 07:08:32,270
And I think that was kind of the end of the conversation.

5069
07:08:32,710 --> 07:08:38,470
But in all fairness, right after that, we found out not too long that we didn't have the

5070
07:08:38,470 --> 07:08:39,010
money, right?

5071
07:08:39,010 --> 07:08:45,570
So I think that kind of stopped all conversations about positions and all those things we had our we had our budget discussion

5072
07:08:45,570 --> 07:08:46,530
What back in May?

5073
07:08:47,190 --> 07:08:51,950
Yes, that's correct. There were two months between May is two and a half months between this conversation

5074
07:08:51,950 --> 07:08:56,730
I believe our conversation was in the May teens and we found out that bad information on July 27

5075
07:08:56,730 --> 07:09:01,990
I think regardless we can get mad at each other over what I think is in this understanding because I think it is your

5076
07:09:01,990 --> 07:09:05,770
Intention to help the schools. It was also our intention to help the schools truly.

5077
07:09:08,590 --> 07:09:08,990
I

5078
07:09:08,990 --> 07:09:11,510
So what exactly are you asking of me now?

5079
07:09:12,090 --> 07:09:16,650
So the whole reason I brought up SROs was if the courts

5080
07:09:16,650 --> 07:09:18,530
willing to reallocate some of the reserves

5081
07:09:18,530 --> 07:09:20,710
for additional positions for the Sheriff's Department,

5082
07:09:21,370 --> 07:09:22,790
it's a completely different number.

5083
07:09:22,870 --> 07:09:25,610
Let's say four deputies fully funded with equipment

5084
07:09:25,610 --> 07:09:29,170
is $900,000 for SRO positions with equipment

5085
07:09:29,630 --> 07:09:32,130
is only going to be 25% of that plus equipment.

5086
07:09:32,450 --> 07:09:35,430
So I was just trying to say if we got down to numbers

5087
07:09:35,430 --> 07:09:37,470
and there's a shortfall like what's the preference

5088
07:09:37,470 --> 07:09:42,690
to just get the full amount of deputies or is it those SROs that are funded?

5089
07:09:43,130 --> 07:09:47,090
Let's guess 25% of the SROs would absolutely be a priority.

5090
07:09:47,690 --> 07:09:50,710
So I don't know that we're going to be able to get that done in the timeframe

5091
07:09:50,710 --> 07:09:54,210
that you are under right now with the time crunch on getting the budget passed.

5092
07:09:54,830 --> 07:09:58,210
It was more than happy to do it. Got me on how you want to do that.

5093
07:09:58,210 --> 07:09:59,930
that now. I mean, we need this.

5094
07:10:00,880 --> 07:10:28,160
And I've been adamant about that that we have to do it. It's a future solution to a growing county and growing schools and everything. And it's important to me that we protect those kids at those school campuses. And what we are doing now is starting to fail. And it's been it's been failing for years. I communicated that to the former sheriff when I work for him. No, I just I saw a majority of the court kind of three people working in the direction going, hey, if money's tight,

5095
07:10:28,160 --> 07:10:34,980
If instead of 100,000 salary each, if you're at 100,000 for four SROs on the salary side,

5096
07:10:35,300 --> 07:10:39,940
you already gave input and direction on some of the equipment and stuff.

5097
07:10:40,600 --> 07:10:43,360
It's like, maybe there's a scenario where that works, right?

5098
07:10:43,500 --> 07:10:46,140
You get maybe at least a handful of them or something.

5099
07:10:46,300 --> 07:10:50,220
So the contract that I utilized when I had the initial discussions was the one that the

5100
07:10:50,220 --> 07:10:52,660
Komel County Sheriff's Office has with Komel ISD.

5101
07:10:53,340 --> 07:10:54,920
They have a full-time SRO program.

5102
07:10:54,920 --> 07:11:01,120
They roughly pay about, the county pays about 70% to 80% of the salary, I forgive me,

5103
07:11:01,180 --> 07:11:05,980
I don't know the number off top of my head, but they pay about that much of the total salary

5104
07:11:05,980 --> 07:11:11,120
of the employee, but the county still bears the cost of the equipment, because the county

5105
07:11:11,120 --> 07:11:13,400
still benefits from having those deputies.

5106
07:11:13,820 --> 07:11:16,780
You're virtually getting four deputies as you stated for the price of one.

5107
07:11:17,400 --> 07:11:21,000
When those deputies are not in the school districts, they're going to be supplementing patrol

5108
07:11:21,000 --> 07:11:21,400
districts.

5109
07:11:21,400 --> 07:11:25,200
They're going to be driving back and forth from school campuses to their residents.

5110
07:11:25,200 --> 07:11:29,520
They're going to be going to training. That's more visibility within the county, right?

5111
07:11:29,680 --> 07:11:31,180
So you're providing more presence.

5112
07:11:31,800 --> 07:11:35,280
It's scientifically proven that more law enforcement presence deters crime.

5113
07:11:35,840 --> 07:11:39,660
So it's a good thing all the way around. It's really a win-win for both of them.

5114
07:11:40,140 --> 07:11:43,540
And I would have loved to have gone down this route a couple of months ago.

5115
07:11:43,820 --> 07:11:45,260
I think now it's going to be challenging.

5116
07:11:46,600 --> 07:11:53,580
It's got a call from the SCUC, and they pay for all the SROs out of the school district,

5117
07:11:53,940 --> 07:11:59,640
which is wonderful, but they're probably a whole lot richer than the Verow.

5118
07:11:59,860 --> 07:12:03,240
Because the Verow is tapped out from what I remember talking to Superintendent.

5119
07:12:03,920 --> 07:12:06,840
They are maxed out on the INS and everything, so.

5120
07:12:07,100 --> 07:12:11,160
So I was just trying to think of how they're labeled, because if they're labeled as deputies,

5121
07:12:11,160 --> 07:12:14,880
but they're only funded as SROs and you can't get something done with the school.

5122
07:12:15,340 --> 07:12:19,260
You may still be in the same situation where those aren't fully funded as deputies.

5123
07:12:20,340 --> 07:12:24,700
So just in one people thinking one thing and then doing another with the money that's being talked about.

5124
07:12:25,000 --> 07:12:30,080
Yeah, so my initial plan was is if we had the staffing because we as a state of were 90 short.

5125
07:12:30,740 --> 07:12:37,800
If we got any form of staffing, I was going to staff it and then enter into future contract negotiations with school districts

5126
07:12:37,800 --> 07:12:40,140
and put that together with the commission's court

5127
07:12:40,140 --> 07:12:41,580
to get their approval for the contract,

5128
07:12:41,980 --> 07:12:44,000
and then they would be able to offset the cost.

5129
07:12:44,620 --> 07:12:45,420
But we need the positions.

5130
07:12:45,900 --> 07:12:47,400
I mean, there's no getting around that.

5131
07:12:47,560 --> 07:12:49,060
We need the positions to do so.

5132
07:12:50,760 --> 07:12:53,380
Any other questions for this year?

5133
07:12:53,720 --> 07:12:55,080
One thing has been brought up.

5134
07:12:55,200 --> 07:12:56,520
Maybe you can clarify this.

5135
07:12:56,840 --> 07:12:59,820
It won't take a long time on this SRO program.

5136
07:12:59,860 --> 07:13:01,980
I was talking to some people from Sibolo

5137
07:13:01,980 --> 07:13:03,840
and they were trying it with steel.

5138
07:13:03,840 --> 07:13:11,400
and they said that the problem they ran into is the school days are long. Those

5139
07:13:11,400 --> 07:13:17,700
deputies have to be there a long day and so they said what happened was that

5140
07:13:17,700 --> 07:13:26,740
it sounded good on the outset but the deputies used up so much over time and

5141
07:13:26,740 --> 07:13:32,240
comp time or vacation time whatever you want to and when you got like to the

5142
07:13:32,240 --> 07:13:37,540
summer or to the Christmas holidays when you figured you would have them more and I understand what

5143
07:13:37,540 --> 07:13:42,600
you're saying when they're driving to school they're they're working so to speak. But they said

5144
07:13:42,600 --> 07:13:48,880
that they wound up being on vacation and comp time so much you didn't get to use them very much.

5145
07:13:49,080 --> 07:13:54,880
Can you elaborate on that idea? That's possible they're they're going to have to burn their time at

5146
07:13:54,880 --> 07:13:59,740
some point in time. Yeah. It's going to have to happen. So when they take that it's going to be

5147
07:13:59,740 --> 07:14:02,320
Just like school teachers, it's going to be harder during the school years.

5148
07:14:03,160 --> 07:14:08,900
We have lowered our overtime significantly since I took office.

5149
07:14:09,060 --> 07:14:14,100
When I came into office in February, I got an email from Miss Douglas who said you're

5150
07:14:14,100 --> 07:14:19,420
in the red in February and I took office in January and it was because the prior administration

5151
07:14:19,420 --> 07:14:23,020
had exhausted my entire overtime budget in three months, right?

5152
07:14:23,640 --> 07:14:28,540
So we've made some changes to our scheduling to be able to have our overtime available and

5153
07:14:28,540 --> 07:14:28,980
it's worked.

5154
07:14:28,980 --> 07:14:31,580
We've had overtime available throughout the year.

5155
07:14:32,240 --> 07:14:38,880
So now we use some of that overtime for increased projects, you know, targeting hot spot locations throughout the county,

5156
07:14:39,500 --> 07:14:41,260
traffic enforcement projects, that kind of things.

5157
07:14:41,520 --> 07:14:46,280
So those deputies that are working school resource programs, they could still come in on their days off,

5158
07:14:46,800 --> 07:14:50,160
work extra overtime, it'd be extra available personnel in the county.

5159
07:14:54,090 --> 07:14:55,630
Any other questions?

5160
07:14:57,210 --> 07:14:57,730
Comments?

5161
07:14:57,730 --> 07:14:58,090
That's it.

5162
07:14:58,390 --> 07:14:58,870
That's it.

5163
07:15:00,500 --> 07:15:30,200
This is like superpoels are from the school board and this is what we'd like some sort of an local agreement that we bring over to us because they have to initiate it. We just can't go inside their house and tell what we're going to do. The way the bill is written, they need to approach us and then we can say yes. Once again, you know, are they offering anything as any payment of anything else or, you know, I know they're probably strapped like everybody else's, but once again, the initial

5164
07:15:30,200 --> 07:15:36,240
So conversation has to originate from them because they are responsible for the safety and welfare of the children.

5165
07:15:36,700 --> 07:15:39,800
I think it has through their proxies and department heads.

5166
07:15:43,080 --> 07:15:44,760
It had reached this far.

5167
07:15:45,200 --> 07:15:45,440
No, no.

5168
07:15:45,620 --> 07:15:46,040
It was good.

5169
07:15:46,580 --> 07:15:46,680
Okay.

5170
07:15:46,940 --> 07:15:47,340
Nice to see you.

5171
07:15:47,420 --> 07:15:47,720
Thank you.

5172
07:15:51,950 --> 07:15:54,790
Any other thoughts on?

5173
07:15:56,250 --> 07:15:58,610
Yes, so even a leprositions work.

5174
07:15:58,890 --> 07:16:00,150
And we'd like to talk to you.

5175
07:16:02,220 --> 07:16:03,720
I said three deputies earlier.

5176
07:16:03,720 --> 07:16:11,220
If that was able to work, it's still preference, three, three deputies.

5177
07:16:13,220 --> 07:16:15,320
That was my suggestion as well.

5178
07:16:16,600 --> 07:16:18,040
Are you good with three deputies?

5179
07:16:19,000 --> 07:16:19,140
Yeah.

5180
07:16:19,500 --> 07:16:20,300
Yeah, fine.

5181
07:16:27,380 --> 07:16:29,060
What else is left on the list?

5182
07:16:31,970 --> 07:16:33,570
Globbled County Fire Rescue.

5183
07:16:37,580 --> 07:16:39,940
I know there are multiple positions talked about.

5184
07:16:40,540 --> 07:16:43,100
One was a chief lieutenant that

5185
07:16:45,760 --> 07:16:47,980
Any thoughts on that?

5186
07:16:49,540 --> 07:16:54,730
We need any administrative or just firefighters.

5187
07:16:56,990 --> 07:17:01,770
I thought why I heard that the captains, those are the ones that we would prefer.

5188
07:17:02,550 --> 07:17:04,250
The captains, because this is just pulling it up out.

5189
07:17:05,450 --> 07:17:06,610
The captains are the lieutenants.

5190
07:17:06,870 --> 07:17:09,710
We need with all the expansion, we need supervisors and buildings.

5191
07:17:10,230 --> 07:17:12,710
So either one of those positions would be adequate.

5192
07:17:13,410 --> 07:17:15,110
So three lieutenants or three captains.

5193
07:17:15,110 --> 07:17:20,730
So does that serve the operation the same way?

5194
07:17:20,870 --> 07:17:22,690
I mean, understand there's got to be a command structure

5195
07:17:22,690 --> 07:17:24,210
and there has to be people there

5196
07:17:24,210 --> 07:17:26,730
and needs to be leadership and experience,

5197
07:17:26,730 --> 07:17:29,530
especially in an area where something is expanding

5198
07:17:29,530 --> 07:17:31,510
and doing that, but what we've also heard

5199
07:17:31,510 --> 07:17:33,930
from the volunteers, from municipal partners

5200
07:17:33,930 --> 07:17:37,230
and all that is, I mean, people responding to calls.

5201
07:17:37,610 --> 07:17:41,730
Like, so, I mean, if money's tied,

5202
07:17:41,930 --> 07:17:44,350
is it one thing, is there a different structure to that,

5203
07:17:44,350 --> 07:17:48,810
Is that really that's still the preference is to have a captain lieutenant the firefighter?

5204
07:17:48,870 --> 07:17:54,850
I mean, what do y'all think so we have two FAOs on each shift? We have four firefighters on each shift and

5205
07:17:55,810 --> 07:17:56,450
then we have the

5206
07:17:57,950 --> 07:18:05,110
Lieutenant on each shift so we have more firefighters on each shift than we do supervisors so at that point if we hire the supervisors we can then

5207
07:18:05,690 --> 07:18:13,130
Move the firefighters to a different like different building so we can I'm lieutenant here a lieutenant here a driver driver

5208
07:18:13,130 --> 07:18:18,630
fire fighter swing but three in a location and it's just it's it's not adequate

5209
07:18:19,070 --> 07:18:23,590
it's not what we need but it'll get us by until we get to that point because

5210
07:18:23,590 --> 07:18:27,590
ultimately you want five four firefighters in each piece of equipment so an

5211
07:18:27,590 --> 07:18:32,470
engine it's the NFPA standard we go we do it with two in Toronto now so we can

5212
07:18:32,470 --> 07:18:36,150
give it three we add one we can put one in Toronto or we can put one on the west

5213
07:18:36,150 --> 07:18:41,850
side of the county so question I'm on favorite boots on the ground yeah

5214
07:18:41,850 --> 07:18:47,810
Yeah, we watch Chicago Fire and all this other crap. So do they actually wear a bucket gear and go in and fight the fires?

5215
07:18:47,810 --> 07:18:56,930
Yes, sir. Okay, that's that's good. Just I just don't want them sitting in the truck. Point fingers like everyone of our guys is certified for structural firefighting and they're also an A&T basic.

5216
07:18:57,370 --> 07:18:59,850
Yeah, that's that's what we need to know.

5217
07:18:59,850 --> 07:19:00,170
Yes,

5218
07:19:02,630 --> 07:19:06,370
so three lieutenant's if that's what the court wants to give us.

5219
07:19:07,290 --> 07:19:10,430
But what what was the preference? I know you listed a couple different options.

5220
07:19:10,430 --> 07:19:13,330
I prefer the captain, but if the lieutenants is what the court wants to give us,

5221
07:19:13,710 --> 07:19:16,710
many jurisdictions, Sibolo's run three lieutenants for many years.

5222
07:19:16,970 --> 07:19:20,410
Sigeen ran lieutenants for many years until they got to the captain's lower.

5223
07:19:20,990 --> 07:19:24,370
Sigeen, or Sibolo, he has a lieutenant in each station.

5224
07:19:24,850 --> 07:19:28,290
And then he just got a battalion chief, I'd say, less than three or four years ago.

5225
07:19:29,130 --> 07:19:30,870
So yeah, lieutenants.

5226
07:19:31,250 --> 07:19:36,690
I think I need to understand more about this work, because we talk about going out to fires.

5227
07:19:37,310 --> 07:19:44,570
and there needs to be X amount of people operating a fire truck for at least

5228
07:19:44,570 --> 07:19:48,950
probably five, right? They're eventually yes. No, to respond to a

5229
07:19:48,950 --> 07:19:51,910
structure fire, right? Oh, there needs to be more than five. There needs to be

5230
07:19:51,910 --> 07:19:59,890
at least 12, 16. Okay, so I mean when you see like city is the game, city is the

5231
07:20:00,000 --> 07:20:29,860
And you'll get all three fire stations, and they'll dump into a call. Now the GCF are there. They won't send a city truck to send our city to similarly get at least three engines. So we're asking to speak on a little bit more, but there is a standard. Yes, Commissioner, to your standard, you're asking for a DCFP does require two and two out? Yes. Outside that, the FDA does have a recommendation of minimum 12 to 15 firefighters for every residential structure fire from there. So what we're current staffing plan.

5232
07:20:29,860 --> 07:20:33,720
And what we have is for our engine companies are, is that two and two out four people,

5233
07:20:33,940 --> 07:20:38,120
our squad units are two because obviously that's all they can hold, but our ultimate goal

5234
07:20:38,120 --> 07:20:42,720
is for minimum each station to have four personnel to allow that two and two out on the

5235
07:20:42,720 --> 07:20:43,200
engine now.

5236
07:20:43,320 --> 07:20:47,480
As we grow and call by increases and we have to separate that engine onto a squad, eventually

5237
07:20:47,480 --> 07:20:51,400
we may go up to six to allow two people on the squad and four people on the engine to maintain

5238
07:20:51,400 --> 07:20:53,060
both apparatus and staff at the same time.

5239
07:20:53,900 --> 07:20:58,040
So the triplet one one and one for each of the shifts will make a difference.

5240
07:20:58,300 --> 07:20:58,460
Yes.

5241
07:20:58,460 --> 07:20:58,560
Yes.

5242
07:20:58,980 --> 07:21:00,120
Like it's not one of those.

5243
07:21:00,300 --> 07:21:01,820
It gives eight on each shift.

5244
07:21:02,780 --> 07:21:02,880
Yes.

5245
07:21:03,440 --> 07:21:03,740
Okay.

5246
07:21:04,260 --> 07:21:07,240
And the reason for the, the captain, you know, I think the Commissioner Wolfe 10s point

5247
07:21:07,240 --> 07:21:10,400
two and years is the, the captain is on shift.

5248
07:21:10,560 --> 07:21:13,020
They're not, they're not a battalion chief, they're not, they're not a, they're not a dust

5249
07:21:13,020 --> 07:21:13,300
jockey.

5250
07:21:13,740 --> 07:21:15,720
They, they are running that shift.

5251
07:21:16,100 --> 07:21:20,060
And the reason we asked for the captains was because having two lieutenants is, you're

5252
07:21:20,060 --> 07:21:21,840
going to have a power struggle like anybody else.

5253
07:21:22,080 --> 07:21:24,020
You have top A personality, someone's got to be in charge.

5254
07:21:24,260 --> 07:21:28,260
With that captain position, it's, that person's in charge of that shift now, the lieutenants

5255
07:21:28,260 --> 07:21:31,240
in charge of the other stations.

5256
07:21:31,680 --> 07:21:34,780
So that's why we were asking for the captains, but whatever commission's court decides

5257
07:21:34,780 --> 07:21:35,520
to give us will be happy.

5258
07:21:35,740 --> 07:21:38,940
And I'm sorry, it's not inherent about this, but on each shift right now, are there

5259
07:21:38,940 --> 07:21:39,560
each of these?

5260
07:21:39,700 --> 07:21:42,960
Are there a captain in the lieutenant on each of the current shifts?

5261
07:21:43,140 --> 07:21:48,160
So currently we have a lieutenant, one lieutenant, two pho's, two drivers, and four, five

5262
07:21:48,160 --> 07:21:50,380
hunters per shift, and there's three shifts to them.

5263
07:21:50,700 --> 07:21:51,520
And those are all full.

5264
07:21:51,900 --> 07:21:52,080
Yes.

5265
07:21:52,460 --> 07:21:57,800
So you're asking for the insertion of this captain into the hierarchy, which would be higher

5266
07:21:57,800 --> 07:22:01,560
than all of those folks. Is that correct? Yes and the reason being is because now we're open to

5267
07:22:01,560 --> 07:22:07,240
multiple stations and so trying to find that across the board leadership for the for the entire

5268
07:22:07,240 --> 07:22:12,200
shift not just the station for the shift now because right now the lieutenant at station seven one

5269
07:22:12,200 --> 07:22:19,680
is over the personnel at Toronto as well but if we as we add staffing we need that oversight for

5270
07:22:19,680 --> 07:22:20,000
the shift.

5271
07:22:21,340 --> 07:22:21,820
That's fine.

5272
07:22:21,820 --> 07:22:22,460
I'll give some lieutenants.

5273
07:22:22,540 --> 07:22:22,840
That's fine.

5274
07:22:23,220 --> 07:22:24,220
How does seniority work?

5275
07:22:24,920 --> 07:22:26,060
See, so a firefighter?

5276
07:22:26,120 --> 07:22:30,280
So if he had two lieutenants and one had a year or more, six months, he would be seeing

5277
07:22:30,280 --> 07:22:30,820
you lieutenant.

5278
07:22:30,920 --> 07:22:31,540
He'd be car shots.

5279
07:22:32,060 --> 07:22:36,980
He could be, but technically, on paper, they're exactly the same authority, and by SOP,

5280
07:22:37,280 --> 07:22:38,100
they're exactly the same thing.

5281
07:22:52,760 --> 07:22:56,500
How does that work with the, why

5282
07:22:59,540 --> 07:23:04,660
higher captains at that level versus promoting lieutenants

5283
07:23:04,660 --> 07:23:05,940
and hiring firefighters?

5284
07:23:06,420 --> 07:23:11,020
We would, we would, our plan would be to promote from within the new positions would,

5285
07:23:11,180 --> 07:23:15,540
so the lieutenant, the three lieutenants would be eligible to test for the three captains.

5286
07:23:15,540 --> 07:23:19,420
Not saying all three of them would get it, but they would have the chance to promote,

5287
07:23:19,660 --> 07:23:21,680
if not somebody from the outside, we could open from the outside.

5288
07:23:21,800 --> 07:23:25,720
And then that opens up a vacancy in lieutenants, fails, move up to lieutenants,

5289
07:23:26,040 --> 07:23:29,880
fire fire, flip to fails, and then we would open up additional firefire positions at the end.

5290
07:23:30,160 --> 07:23:30,500
So

5291
07:23:34,050 --> 07:23:35,450
it's a, it's a vertical movement.

5292
07:23:35,450 --> 07:23:41,330
Yeah, I'm really not trying to ask ignorant questions here and see the difference between

5293
07:23:41,330 --> 07:23:43,870
the captain and the firefighter being being significant.

5294
07:23:44,230 --> 07:23:50,250
I mean, it's, I'm almost too tired to math, but $45,000 is per?

5295
07:23:50,970 --> 07:23:57,190
That includes the overtime, that's why you get these pay scales also include the overtime.

5296
07:23:57,490 --> 07:24:02,750
So that's the built-in overtime, that's why you see it at so high, each fire position

5297
07:24:02,750 --> 07:24:06,270
has built in over time since they worked the 24-hour 48-96.

5298
07:24:06,590 --> 07:24:08,990
But the difference is still $25,000.

5299
07:24:09,210 --> 07:24:11,330
It could be higher, too, because they've worked more over time.

5300
07:24:11,590 --> 07:24:16,170
So the shorter the shifts, you know, last year we ran over on our over time line.

5301
07:24:17,570 --> 07:24:23,210
I guess I'm confused about why we are not opening this to three firefighters.

5302
07:24:26,220 --> 07:24:27,520
We can. We'll fill it.

5303
07:24:27,800 --> 07:24:28,920
What are the court prepared to sign?

5304
07:24:29,100 --> 07:24:32,640
So we were looking at trying to advance the department to the next level.

5305
07:24:32,640 --> 07:24:38,880
I'm getting the leadership established because that takes a bit longer to get

5306
07:24:38,880 --> 07:24:42,420
trained and get up there where a fireman is pretty easy to bring in. Let's try

5307
07:24:42,420 --> 07:24:46,020
to add that leadership side to the fire department so as we grow the

5308
07:24:46,020 --> 07:24:49,360
leadership is already there. We're not having to add leadership later on.

5309
07:24:54,340 --> 07:24:57,380
Whatever conditions court wants to give us, we just need three.

5310
07:25:05,360 --> 07:25:06,480
I think three firefighters.

5311
07:25:16,680 --> 07:25:41,680
You prefer firefighters instead of the command structure of the all thing and one was in it two firefighters. Just. To do what they're saying because there's a need right now. Well, that's all be the same. Yes, it has to be a triplet. That's what right. Right. Yeah. On her and boots on the ground. Like to be out there. But lieutenant will be out there.

5312
07:25:43,220 --> 07:25:50,360
I got you. I do want to make a quick announcement that the Zoom meeting is set to cut off at 6 p.m.

5313
07:25:50,540 --> 07:25:57,600
So anybody that's online, it may cut off and we'll have to restart and you would have to log back in.

5314
07:25:58,460 --> 07:26:04,860
We apologize for any inconvenience. I may make one more announcement. As we get closer, it's 544.

5315
07:26:04,860 --> 07:26:11,340
Or we could take a break if we needed to to restart the zoom.

5316
07:26:11,680 --> 07:26:15,180
But if there's a break, please try to log back on.

5317
07:26:15,500 --> 07:26:18,720
We may have to have a new, is it a new link basically in the same place?

5318
07:26:19,000 --> 07:26:20,960
It's the same link and same information.

5319
07:26:20,960 --> 07:26:26,360
We'll just restart it because once you set a parameter for zoom it can't extend it during the meeting.

5320
07:26:26,480 --> 07:26:33,660
So if we stop at 555 for example, we could set a new meeting to start at 558 or

5321
07:26:33,660 --> 07:26:37,440
four, six, and go till whatever time is set.

5322
07:26:37,780 --> 07:26:39,540
But people will have to rejoin the meeting.

5323
07:26:39,920 --> 07:26:42,680
Okay, just wanted to put that out there.

5324
07:26:42,780 --> 07:26:43,860
We're gonna have to address that.

5325
07:26:44,160 --> 07:26:46,580
So apologize for anybody watching online.

5326
07:26:47,280 --> 07:26:49,520
We may have to take a short break in a few minutes,

5327
07:26:49,520 --> 07:26:53,400
before six, and then please log back into the Zoom.

5328
07:26:54,600 --> 07:26:55,880
Link, back to firefighters.

5329
07:26:56,060 --> 07:26:57,500
The author, they need to be the same.

5330
07:26:58,720 --> 07:26:59,780
Yep, three firefighters.

5331
07:26:59,900 --> 07:27:01,180
Three firefighters, firefighters,

5332
07:27:01,180 --> 07:27:05,480
commissional government or you give a fire fighters instead of captains.

5333
07:27:07,020 --> 07:27:10,980
Yeah, yeah, we got a yes. All right. Thank you gentlemen.

5334
07:27:11,580 --> 07:27:12,020
We're

5335
07:27:18,100 --> 07:27:20,080
at a point where we can go through the summary list.

5336
07:27:20,200 --> 07:27:22,880
Yeah, maybe

5337
07:27:25,180 --> 07:27:26,420
we can beat the Zoom deadline.

5338
07:27:27,680 --> 07:27:28,500
No, thank you.

5339
07:27:30,580 --> 07:27:31,020
Right.

5340
07:27:31,020 --> 07:27:36,380
right. Any any other items we want to do

5341
07:27:47,230 --> 07:27:49,750
we want to take a break so we can

5342
07:27:50,430 --> 07:27:59,930
address the zoom related issue and also maybe clean up that list commissioners

5343
07:27:59,930 --> 07:28:05,030
are y'all okay do you think we could take a short break address the zoom issue and

5344
07:28:05,030 --> 07:28:10,030
then get the the list refined and maybe start working on some summary and

5345
07:28:10,030 --> 07:28:15,930
total of what the cost is. Yes. Is everybody okay with that? Yes. Yes. Okay. We'll go

5346
07:28:15,930 --> 07:28:23,290
ahead and recess at 545. Those again online, please just log back into the zoom hearing

5347
07:28:23,290 --> 07:28:24,970
after we get it set up. Thank you.

5348
07:29:02,690 --> 07:29:06,650
All right. Coming back from recess, we'll reconvene

5349
07:29:06,650 --> 07:29:14,990
this regular meeting of Commissioner's Court at 614 p.m. We still are on item n, which

5350
07:29:14,990 --> 07:29:23,430
is to adopt the Guadalupe County budget for fiscal year 2026, 2027 or FY27. I think we

5351
07:29:23,430 --> 07:29:32,270
took a needed pause to address the Zoom meeting link, but also just take a few minutes. We were

5352
07:29:32,270 --> 07:29:40,870
addressing and having a discussion about finalizing kind of a bullet point list of positions and or

5353
07:29:40,870 --> 07:29:47,230
additional budget items, don't know if there's anything else we need to

5354
07:29:47,230 --> 07:29:54,370
discuss. Commissioners, please hang on one second. I see I mean our MIS

5355
07:29:54,370 --> 07:29:59,350
directors standing in the view have something Chris. It's I know it's the

5356
07:29:59,350 --> 07:29:59,890
11 hours.

5357
07:30:00,000 --> 07:30:29,980
And if we're going to consider positions, I would just respectfully ask that you consider the network position I have with adding positions and about 10% of our workload is network related. I'm looking to have somebody that we can train in to replace mic for when mic is ready to retire, probably in the next possibly three to five years with our new network equipment and everything. His workloads pretty pretty full and adding.

5358
07:30:29,980 --> 07:30:33,140
the cradle points and everything for Sheriff's Office.

5359
07:30:34,940 --> 07:30:36,680
I can justify this.

5360
07:30:37,280 --> 07:30:42,980
I have a hard time asking for this hearing all the budget shortfalls and I've been kind

5361
07:30:42,980 --> 07:30:45,160
of sitting there hesitating whether or not to bring it up or not.

5362
07:30:47,460 --> 07:30:48,800
We can make it work.

5363
07:30:50,660 --> 07:30:56,560
We may not be able to deliver the same level of service that everybody's got used to and

5364
07:30:56,560 --> 07:30:59,720
if everybody can understand it might take us a little bit longer to get something done.

5365
07:31:00,860 --> 07:31:06,420
I'm willing to move forward with it. I just if there is room and we can make it work,

5366
07:31:07,060 --> 07:31:08,820
just like for you to consider it. That's all.

5367
07:31:12,620 --> 07:31:14,700
Questions or comments thoughts on that?

5368
07:31:17,010 --> 07:31:24,050
I mean the pay grade would be it would be a grade 11 position. So starting at the current page is

5369
07:31:24,050 --> 07:31:26,350
It's $3243, so grade 11 step four.

5370
07:31:27,310 --> 07:31:31,230
I figure that to be probably about $100,000 all

5371
07:31:31,230 --> 07:31:35,450
sudden done with insurance and whatnot, I would

5372
07:31:35,450 --> 07:31:37,690
have to find money to get furniture because I don't

5373
07:31:37,690 --> 07:31:39,710
have furniture to house another person in my office.

5374
07:31:40,390 --> 07:31:43,770
The furniture I have is too large to squeeze anymore in.

5375
07:31:45,130 --> 07:31:47,590
But I can shop around.

5376
07:31:47,730 --> 07:31:50,650
I can look for used cubicles, kind of things, something

5377
07:31:50,650 --> 07:31:51,030
like that.

5378
07:31:51,030 --> 07:31:57,050
But I have a quote for about 30 grand to do pupils in there and I could rearrange the

5379
07:31:57,050 --> 07:32:02,830
office and have extra seats for vendors or anything else after the fact.

5380
07:32:03,190 --> 07:32:04,070
But to

5381
07:32:06,180 --> 07:32:08,540
me, it's a big ask at this time.

5382
07:32:11,360 --> 07:32:16,080
Like you said, I know part of our budget conversation on any of the new positions that would be housed

5383
07:32:16,080 --> 07:32:17,280
within your department.

5384
07:32:17,280 --> 07:32:22,540
Like you said, because of space limitations and layout of furniture, really any position

5385
07:32:22,540 --> 07:32:26,640
and they got added was also coupled with that furniture change,

5386
07:32:26,880 --> 07:32:29,240
but like you said, so you could reconfigure.

5387
07:32:30,280 --> 07:32:33,020
It's hard to just find a place to stick somebody, right?

5388
07:32:33,280 --> 07:32:33,600
It is.

5389
07:32:34,340 --> 07:32:37,160
I had a space, I don't have the space to add another desk

5390
07:32:37,160 --> 07:32:38,520
because the desk that we got,

5391
07:32:38,800 --> 07:32:41,600
when we remodeled this building for just too long.

5392
07:32:42,640 --> 07:32:45,220
And how much was that on the furniture?

5393
07:32:45,520 --> 07:32:46,260
Do you remember the number?

5394
07:32:46,600 --> 07:32:51,600
I believe it was 30 to 35,000 for six cubicles.

5395
07:32:53,000 --> 07:32:54,360
I was on my technicians.

5396
07:32:54,940 --> 07:32:58,480
We got a conference table over here, we've got to take.

5397
07:33:02,650 --> 07:33:04,250
Okay, glad our luggage still left.

5398
07:33:04,570 --> 07:33:04,770
All right.

5399
07:33:08,570 --> 07:33:11,270
Any questions from Ms. Kamala while he's at the podium?

5400
07:33:12,510 --> 07:33:14,130
Chris, let me just ask you this,

5401
07:33:14,230 --> 07:33:15,870
because we're, I mean, we're trying up here

5402
07:33:15,870 --> 07:33:17,150
to figure some things out.

5403
07:33:17,350 --> 07:33:19,750
Is there anything from what you requested?

5404
07:33:20,610 --> 07:33:23,870
I hear what you're asking for now, if it could work out.

5405
07:33:24,350 --> 07:33:26,630
Do you know of anything from what you requested

5406
07:33:26,630 --> 07:33:32,610
it off the top of your head, where maybe you could knock 100,000 off that you know of.

5407
07:33:32,770 --> 07:33:35,550
I could maybe go through and try to do that.

5408
07:33:36,130 --> 07:33:43,010
Most of my budget is operational through it's set up to pay bills so that we keep operating

5409
07:33:43,010 --> 07:33:46,130
and set up to prepare for something for it.

5410
07:33:46,910 --> 07:33:50,130
So there's not a lot that I can...

5411
07:33:50,130 --> 07:33:50,810
Not a lot of wiggle.

5412
07:33:50,810 --> 07:34:01,650
There's not a... I usually end up with money left over to buy into your equipment, but it's always in preparation of something major happening.

5413
07:34:02,150 --> 07:34:11,690
Okay. One big thing right now is our Lenovo computers. Lenovo was dropped off the DIR contract because of Chinese parts.

5414
07:34:13,090 --> 07:34:17,550
the state has not decided to make the change to put them on the you can't use

5415
07:34:17,550 --> 07:34:21,890
this technology list. My fear is that the state puts them on that list and I've

5416
07:34:21,890 --> 07:34:32,000
got to replace 650 computers all at once. And they've gone up a lot, yeah it's

5417
07:34:32,000 --> 07:34:39,020
ridiculous. I put in my cycle through PCs so we don't have PCs hopefully older than

5418
07:34:39,020 --> 07:34:44,980
about five years old. So just to kind of keep cycling through kind of like what you

5419
07:34:44,980 --> 07:34:49,360
talked about the cars is you know just a process of replacing computers.

5420
07:34:51,800 --> 07:34:57,320
Because even in your budget I mean we've had PC life cycle replacement dollars tied to

5421
07:34:57,320 --> 07:34:59,980
funds, but if there are any additional funds

5422
07:35:00,000 --> 07:35:29,500
We've had a lot of discussions that were within a budget or unspent. We've tried to maximize or capitalize on lower cost in a current budget year to buy some of next year's request. If we know there's increases on computers, we know that there's normally say 20 or 25 new county positions with some additional printer or copy or request, scanners, anything like that. A lot of times when we get to the end of the budget process, Chris and I talk through those numbers and say, okay, go through and sweep all your lines, how much money's in your budget. Can we buy some of that equipment now?

5423
07:35:29,500 --> 07:35:34,680
for stuff we know is going to get funded for this cheaper this year I'm still

5424
07:35:34,680 --> 07:35:40,040
expecting to pay still expect enough to purchase another six fifty to

5425
07:35:40,040 --> 07:35:41,960
seven hundred fifty thousand dollars next year

5426
07:35:45,510 --> 07:35:47,710
it's just a bit different year

5427
07:35:47,710 --> 07:35:50,070
than normal any

5428
07:35:54,140 --> 07:35:57,420
other thoughts or discussion on the network administrator or

5429
07:35:57,420 --> 07:36:07,060
furniture I've got two more stations I'm trying to give them was cheap I'll

5430
07:36:07,060 --> 07:36:08,260
all over here.

5431
07:36:13,110 --> 07:36:16,570
I was going to say there's you know there's a lot of stuff

5432
07:36:16,570 --> 07:36:22,630
insured to be seen those rooms. I have I've seen a lot of it again it comes

5433
07:36:22,630 --> 07:36:27,350
down to fitting my office. I totally understand I wanted to make sure that you

5434
07:36:27,350 --> 07:36:34,030
knew of the lots of furniture. We scavenged we scavenged for the 20 years I've been

5435
07:36:34,030 --> 07:36:36,910
here fairly regularly go

5436
07:36:43,470 --> 07:36:48,830
back to district judges real quick it's sir it's a judge

5437
07:36:48,830 --> 07:36:53,250
Heinz also said that she would like to have an admin for the district court

5438
07:36:53,250 --> 07:37:00,050
I'm sorry a staff attorney for the district courts and the admin for both

5439
07:37:00,050 --> 07:37:02,810
district judges to go up two steps since

5440
07:37:05,560 --> 07:37:07,880
we're adding all these things but

5441
07:37:10,060 --> 07:37:10,480
once again

5442
07:37:10,480 --> 07:37:12,620
I think we need to find out how much money we're talking about, don't we?

5443
07:37:13,220 --> 07:37:14,200
We'll find that out.

5444
07:37:15,980 --> 07:37:17,220
Get done adding, I guess.

5445
07:37:19,180 --> 07:37:21,820
Miss Klein over that way, much in the numbers.

5446
07:37:24,160 --> 07:37:27,980
I need, we've got to have the list to start working on it and then.

5447
07:37:28,820 --> 07:37:29,220
Okay.

5448
07:37:30,320 --> 07:37:32,240
And is anybody having written down?

5449
07:37:32,460 --> 07:37:33,600
Do you want me to read what I have?

5450
07:37:34,560 --> 07:37:38,680
Do you want to talk about the staff attorney and or.

5451
07:37:40,720 --> 07:37:57,040
No, it sounded like the regraids weren't still on the table like there wasn't support for some of them and if we're not doing some of them then that's not the folks seem like the discussion had turned to considering the new positions. Is that fair?

5452
07:37:57,380 --> 07:38:02,480
I don't have a single regraid on this list that I collected that the court agreed on.

5453
07:38:02,480 --> 07:38:08,640
Correct. So for the the position request by the district judges of a staff attorney.

5454
07:38:10,120 --> 07:38:13,960
So what you would bring in that was I was bringing it up. Yes, yes, you

5455
07:38:21,130 --> 07:38:21,970
have a problem with it.

5456
07:38:23,110 --> 07:38:25,370
No problem. I

5457
07:38:28,460 --> 07:38:33,580
It's illegal. It's in your your neighborhood. Yeah, I understand

5458
07:38:34,520 --> 07:38:35,080
At

5459
07:38:37,450 --> 07:38:40,390
this point, the only positions that we've approved are

5460
07:38:42,090 --> 07:38:45,870
emergency response and something to assist felony prosecution.

5461
07:38:46,770 --> 07:38:51,570
I definitely think we will get to a point where we will need a staff attorney for the district judges.

5462
07:38:52,190 --> 07:38:56,210
I don't know if that would be shared with the county court of law judges, but it's a very useful thing.

5463
07:38:56,510 --> 07:39:05,670
I know in other counties that I've been involved in, the county attorney's office does do a decent amount of the work that a staff attorney

5464
07:39:05,670 --> 07:39:13,030
what it could do for the things that are at least neutral, or perhaps in the civil realm.

5465
07:39:13,210 --> 07:39:18,990
They're able to do that, and I don't know the capacity for that right now.

5466
07:39:19,330 --> 07:39:24,610
I have never talked to Mr. Wilburn about that, to be honest, I just can't answer that question at this time.

5467
07:39:24,950 --> 07:39:26,850
That's a three question, Judge Hines.

5468
07:39:27,110 --> 07:39:32,830
No, I know, but what I'm saying is I know that the county attorney's office in other counties that I am familiar with

5469
07:39:32,830 --> 07:39:36,850
their work and have been able to provide some of that guidance and work. I don't know

5470
07:39:36,850 --> 07:39:41,130
what that is, what the situation is. I just don't know one way or the other. I haven't

5471
07:39:41,130 --> 07:39:46,390
had the occasion to discuss that. I think it's something that will be needed in the short

5472
07:39:49,390 --> 07:39:53,830
future. But again, I don't know. I don't know if that would be something that could be contracted

5473
07:39:53,830 --> 07:39:59,970
out for them. You know, what's the, Dave says yes, he would like

5474
07:40:00,000 --> 07:40:05,160
Okay, because if we're giving the sheriff more people and other people, he's going to need the extra help.

5475
07:40:34,460 --> 07:40:45,920
To be honest, I have not thought enough about that to make a decision about that at this point in time. Because that was something I thought we. Was off the table with the progression in the.

5476
07:40:48,580 --> 07:40:51,360
Proposition that was provided to the court and

5477
07:40:53,570 --> 07:41:00,130
had it not been I would have thought more about that but that is something that I thought that we were and I know that it was.

5478
07:41:01,630 --> 07:41:08,650
In exchange for, because there were other things that were prioritized, but I just, I mean, that's not something that I have completely thought through.

5479
07:41:08,770 --> 07:41:11,730
I do see where it will be necessary in the very near future, though.

5480
07:41:12,810 --> 07:41:14,210
It's not this budget.

5481
07:41:14,570 --> 07:41:19,490
I don't feel educated enough about the topic right now to speak on it.

5482
07:41:24,540 --> 07:41:29,660
Judge, I don't think we're getting anywhere, so I'm going to make a motion that we approve of your budget as

5483
07:41:31,770 --> 07:41:32,110
presented.

5484
07:41:33,610 --> 07:41:34,830
We're going back and forth.

5485
07:41:34,830 --> 07:41:35,810
So

5486
07:41:42,050 --> 07:41:51,210
let me just restate this commissioner so I understand there's a motion to approve the budget that was

5487
07:41:51,210 --> 07:41:52,790
presented to us from you.

5488
07:41:53,290 --> 07:41:58,610
The recommended budget or the proposed budget because there's two different tax rates.

5489
07:42:00,390 --> 07:42:01,850
The recommended budget.

5490
07:42:02,070 --> 07:42:09,930
The recommended budget that had $2,000 longevity, no cola at a 4% tax increase.

5491
07:42:09,930 --> 07:42:15,030
Yes, sir. There's a motion on the table. Is there a second?

5492
07:42:23,460 --> 07:42:25,040
There's a motion. Is there a second?

5493
07:42:27,840 --> 07:42:31,520
All right, that motion fails for lack of a second.

5494
07:42:33,000 --> 07:42:41,540
Commissioners would you like to continue the conversation and or I just want to yeah, go over that list. We have what you remember.

5495
07:42:42,840 --> 07:42:45,310
I don't know

5496
07:42:45,310 --> 07:42:48,730
Well, over 10 was referring to the last one you did,

5497
07:42:49,210 --> 07:42:55,690
the 4% you're talking about, but we did on that eight hours ago.

5498
07:42:55,870 --> 07:43:00,650
I had a different, but I don't see us getting anywhere today list.

5499
07:43:02,990 --> 07:43:05,050
Yeah, I'd like to know what the number is.

5500
07:43:05,130 --> 07:43:07,030
Okay, you want to restate the list?

5501
07:43:07,190 --> 07:43:09,470
Yes, I'm, yes, I am ready to do that.

5502
07:43:10,050 --> 07:43:14,390
Okay, Ms. Klein, as these are, these are just my notes.

5503
07:43:14,390 --> 07:43:18,070
So if someone remembers it differently, please speak up, because it's just me writing as we're going.

5504
07:43:18,630 --> 07:43:21,490
These are things that I think we had a majority consensus on.

5505
07:43:22,030 --> 07:43:26,390
One are the changes in the grades that do not cost anything for

5506
07:43:27,410 --> 07:43:32,190
environmental health due to the abolishing of the clerk to position.

5507
07:43:36,700 --> 07:43:37,760
It was grades.

5508
07:43:40,220 --> 07:43:41,620
That's what I understood, right?

5509
07:43:42,500 --> 07:43:44,940
It was a re-grade, not a step-infused.

5510
07:43:44,940 --> 07:43:45,300
Yes.

5511
07:43:47,500 --> 07:43:53,180
Yes. Yes. Planner was two. Assistant planner was two and

5512
07:43:55,100 --> 07:44:00,020
Floyd Point manager was one and that is through the

5513
07:44:00,760 --> 07:44:02,680
abolishment of the clerk to position.

5514
07:44:10,520 --> 07:44:11,620
The planner from the

5515
07:44:11,620 --> 07:44:16,900
grading 11 to grade 13 but left point manager was eight to

5516
07:44:16,900 --> 07:44:20,080
grade nine and removed the clerk to position.

5517
07:44:24,680 --> 07:44:26,060
Correct. Yes. I

5518
07:44:26,060 --> 07:44:27,320
I believe that's what was talked about.

5519
07:44:29,100 --> 07:44:35,000
And so it would change, yeah, 12, 5, 13, 5, 10, 4, 11, 4, 8, 3, 9, yes, okay, I'm sorry.

5520
07:44:36,860 --> 07:44:38,100
Okay, ready for the next?

5521
07:44:38,580 --> 07:44:38,780
Yep.

5522
07:44:39,280 --> 07:44:39,440
Okay.

5523
07:44:40,200 --> 07:44:41,380
3% COLA.

5524
07:44:43,730 --> 07:44:45,170
That's easy because it's already in there.

5525
07:44:45,590 --> 07:44:45,710
Okay.

5526
07:44:47,150 --> 07:44:48,670
$1,000 long Jebady.

5527
07:44:48,910 --> 07:44:49,110
Gotcha.

5528
07:44:49,570 --> 07:44:49,670
Okay.

5529
07:44:53,500 --> 07:44:53,900
JP.

5530
07:44:53,900 --> 07:44:59,320
Let me let me be sure I understand because so we don't go back

5531
07:45:00,000 --> 07:45:12,220
You want, you're saying a 3% cola, and we give $8,000 longevity. Okay. I'm just, I want to be on page.

5532
07:45:14,480 --> 07:45:19,460
JP one, moving the clerk one from part time to full time.

5533
07:45:21,800 --> 07:45:31,520
Okay. So with, with what clerk level is it? So I know what grade one, which is grade four. And are we changing right now?

5534
07:45:31,520 --> 07:45:33,620
in the J.P. pre-held.

5535
07:45:35,860 --> 07:45:41,040
There's $24,000 and $24,000 in part time. Are you leaving that changing it? What amount?

5536
07:45:41,460 --> 07:45:47,000
No, ma'am changing the position from part time to a full time. Okay, so I would put zero in part time. Yes, ma'am. Okay,

5537
07:45:51,240 --> 07:45:52,320
J.P.4, same thing.

5538
07:45:52,320 --> 07:46:00,120
a clerk one. Yes ma'am. Great. Now their part time is 44,000.

5539
07:46:03,550 --> 07:46:04,790
Is that for one position?

5540
07:46:05,450 --> 07:46:06,350
I think they have two.

5541
07:46:08,490 --> 07:46:12,390
It's two isn't it? Yeah. So we're moving one person from part time to full time.

5542
07:46:12,530 --> 07:46:20,110
So I should take their part time from 44,000 to 22,000. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Wonderful time. Keep the part time

5543
07:46:20,110 --> 07:46:20,530
No, 22.

5544
07:46:21,050 --> 07:46:21,210
Okay.

5545
07:46:21,710 --> 07:46:21,870
No.

5546
07:46:23,150 --> 07:46:24,030
Wonderful time.

5547
07:46:24,450 --> 07:46:25,130
You keep the other one.

5548
07:46:25,250 --> 07:46:25,690
Magistrate.

5549
07:46:25,870 --> 07:46:26,250
The part time.

5550
07:46:26,430 --> 07:46:26,930
Excuse me.

5551
07:46:27,150 --> 07:46:28,270
Gosh, associate judge.

5552
07:46:28,630 --> 07:46:29,310
To perform.

5553
07:46:29,550 --> 07:46:30,330
Magistration, duties.

5554
07:46:32,560 --> 07:46:33,200
Part time.

5555
07:46:33,980 --> 07:46:34,380
How much?

5556
07:46:34,680 --> 07:46:35,400
35,000.

5557
07:46:36,140 --> 07:46:36,760
If it was Ellen.

5558
07:46:38,480 --> 07:46:39,460
Hang on a second.

5559
07:46:39,680 --> 07:46:41,000
I know I've got a question on that.

5560
07:46:41,640 --> 07:46:44,080
So, if we are looking at current

5561
07:46:49,650 --> 07:46:50,710
magistrate.

5562
07:46:51,410 --> 07:46:51,850
Okay.

5563
07:46:52,150 --> 07:46:53,730
So, 35 plus 35,000.

5564
07:46:53,850 --> 07:46:54,030
Gotcha.

5565
07:46:54,590 --> 07:46:54,770
All right.

5566
07:46:54,930 --> 07:46:55,970
35, 307.

5567
07:47:00,680 --> 07:47:02,360
What's what I have on my sheet here?

5568
07:47:04,460 --> 07:47:05,460
35, yes.

5569
07:47:06,800 --> 07:47:07,320
307.

5570
07:47:07,840 --> 07:47:08,360
407.

5571
07:47:08,460 --> 07:47:09,140
In that word, it's good.

5572
07:47:24,580 --> 07:47:25,780
Sheriff's Office, Chaplain.

5573
07:47:28,440 --> 07:47:29,180
I've got that.

5574
07:47:29,280 --> 07:47:29,980
That's commissary.

5575
07:47:30,100 --> 07:47:30,560
What grade?

5576
07:47:32,480 --> 07:47:32,880
Sheriff.

5577
07:47:33,840 --> 07:47:34,360
Sheriff.

5578
07:47:35,420 --> 07:47:37,200
Which grade for the chaplain?

5579
07:47:37,760 --> 07:47:37,980
Did we?

5580
07:47:37,980 --> 07:47:40,900
and I'm not sure we ever talked about that.

5581
07:47:45,670 --> 07:47:47,430
Okay, rate of $22 an hour.

5582
07:47:47,590 --> 07:47:48,290
I don't know if that helps.

5583
07:47:53,340 --> 07:47:54,400
Oh, that's the police.

5584
07:48:01,810 --> 07:48:03,150
Great six step two.

5585
07:48:03,410 --> 07:48:03,770
Is that right?

5586
07:48:07,430 --> 07:48:10,550
That's the right summary sheet.

5587
07:48:10,710 --> 07:48:12,770
Well, it said 22, but the six two,

5588
07:48:12,890 --> 07:48:16,270
it would be a period of $22 67 cents an hour.

5589
07:48:17,130 --> 07:48:18,770
Yeah, Judge, I haven't looked at it in a while.

5590
07:48:18,910 --> 07:48:21,050
I'm going off the numbers that Mr. Douglas gave me earlier

5591
07:48:21,050 --> 07:48:25,170
and I think you sent me the annual, right?

5592
07:48:29,540 --> 07:48:30,840
But you probably just need the hourly.

5593
07:48:31,720 --> 07:48:34,740
So do you, they just tell Chris the grade and step?

5594
07:48:35,000 --> 07:48:37,140
Yes, but then you got that, right?

5595
07:48:37,140 --> 07:48:37,560
The grade six.

5596
07:48:37,960 --> 07:48:38,360
Yes, ma'am.

5597
07:48:39,460 --> 07:48:39,940
County

5598
07:48:52,040 --> 07:48:53,640
attorney is off this felony, paralegal.

5599
07:48:54,360 --> 07:48:55,720
Okay, wait, wait, wait, okay.

5600
07:48:56,160 --> 07:48:59,960
Is that a paralegal two at a grade 10?

5601
07:49:03,500 --> 07:49:04,940
No, I think so.

5602
07:49:05,080 --> 07:49:06,380
Eight, grade eight.

5603
07:49:07,000 --> 07:49:07,680
What's a paralegal?

5604
07:49:07,680 --> 07:49:17,120
It was requested at 8.3, there are two, there are two support positions, this I think this is the legal admin felony intake that was requested.

5605
07:49:17,680 --> 07:49:24,220
And I think both the, both the paralegal and the legal admin were both graded the same at 8.3 on the, where are they?

5606
07:49:24,520 --> 07:49:25,680
Correct. Yeah.

5607
07:49:25,900 --> 07:49:27,400
On the summary sheet that I have.

5608
07:49:29,840 --> 07:49:42,740
Yeah, I think I think the conversation yeah, I was referred to as a felony paralegal, but that is that person. Yes. Okay, so felony paralegal grade eight. Yes. Yes. Okay.

5609
07:49:45,760 --> 07:49:57,300
The next four constables offices that each have an existing part-time deputy line be changed

5610
07:49:57,300 --> 07:49:59,980
into a full time. So we're removing...

5611
07:50:00,080 --> 07:50:29,420
That equivalent of the part time and going into full time. Awesome. Okay, so the constables have part time money of 60, 70, 80, and 60 respectively. Do I change those? Do we leave those? Where are those moving? You're taking half of each and you're pushing that into the full, into a full time position and then adding whatever the rest is to create that full time position because it's existing person existing space. Okay, so 60, 70, 80,

5612
07:50:29,420 --> 07:50:39,340
60 to 30 35 40 30 if I'm correct it's it's in part time of fund not a spot

5613
07:50:39,340 --> 07:50:45,420
is that right correct I think that's a confusion yeah so what how much you

5614
07:50:45,420 --> 07:50:49,840
want to leave in that part-time pot to just leave have I think half because yeah

5615
07:50:49,840 --> 07:50:53,160
I think some of them have, yeah, I can do that.

5616
07:51:04,300 --> 07:51:05,460
I just got $400.

5617
07:51:08,940 --> 07:51:10,920
I was like, I was going to be pretty synchronized.

5618
07:51:11,320 --> 07:51:11,460
OK.

5619
07:51:16,200 --> 07:51:19,760
VFD emergency fund, $300,000.

5620
07:51:21,750 --> 07:51:22,190
$300.

5621
07:51:25,660 --> 07:51:26,800
Oops, I got $3 million.

5622
07:51:27,000 --> 07:51:27,360
That's OK.

5623
07:51:27,920 --> 07:51:31,620
Well, OK, got that done?

5624
07:51:32,020 --> 07:51:32,820
Sheriff's office.

5625
07:51:34,120 --> 07:51:37,540
I think we landed on three full-time deputies.

5626
07:51:45,160 --> 07:51:45,640
How many?

5627
07:51:46,120 --> 07:51:46,520
Three.

5628
07:52:03,700 --> 07:52:12,980
I'm sorry, one detail that we did not discuss today, but we discussed in pirate court sessions, was the $1,000 based longevity addition at the timing for that.

5629
07:52:13,080 --> 07:52:16,660
I know we discussed a year versus six months of the employment history.

5630
07:52:17,020 --> 07:52:23,720
I know we discussed changing that to six months, but I can't recall if we landed on that, on that conclusion for it.

5631
07:52:26,440 --> 07:52:35,520
I'm just as long as I'm excluded from it, for personnel it's fine, sorry, one more time.

5632
07:52:37,560 --> 07:52:40,960
You'd have to change the policy.

5633
07:52:40,960 --> 07:52:45,600
Because the current personnel policy state requirement is one year to the base.

5634
07:52:45,600 --> 07:52:46,340
One year to the base.

5635
07:52:46,460 --> 07:52:51,300
The additional longevity base, three years employment to receive the regular longevity, right?

5636
07:52:51,860 --> 07:52:52,960
So we'd have to update that.

5637
07:52:52,960 --> 07:52:57,600
I mean, can we update that in this conversation or is that off the table we need to stick with

5638
07:52:57,600 --> 07:53:00,260
the here because that's what we have in front of us.

5639
07:53:01,240 --> 07:53:07,160
So if you wanted to make it that if you were here six months you got the bonus we'd have

5640
07:53:07,160 --> 07:53:08,500
to change policy.

5641
07:53:09,460 --> 07:53:09,640
Yes.

5642
07:53:10,980 --> 07:53:16,800
And Commissioner, I know I'm interrupting but the elected official salaries are already

5643
07:53:16,800 --> 07:53:17,600
posted and posted.

5644
07:53:17,600 --> 07:53:18,720
I know so it's not going to affect.

5645
07:53:19,020 --> 07:53:19,540
Well that's good.

5646
07:53:19,540 --> 07:53:20,580
It doesn't change that form.

5647
07:53:20,740 --> 07:53:22,280
Make sure that I didn't get it.

5648
07:53:29,400 --> 07:53:30,540
Are we able to do that?

5649
07:53:30,640 --> 07:53:32,440
It's on the potential policy changes.

5650
07:53:32,520 --> 07:53:34,920
If we were able to change the policy to six months,

5651
07:53:34,920 --> 07:53:36,700
I would think we should do that.

5652
07:53:37,980 --> 07:53:40,560
Shouldn't take her that long, is it HR or you?

5653
07:53:44,300 --> 07:53:45,200
I would think so.

5654
07:54:00,790 --> 07:54:03,010
Mr. Ties, do we do it now?

5655
07:54:03,330 --> 07:54:04,770
Or do we have to have it there for the time being?

5656
07:54:04,770 --> 07:54:06,190
No, it's an independent action.

5657
07:54:06,290 --> 07:54:10,270
But you've heard to take a fact you would have to do it

5658
07:54:10,270 --> 07:54:17,130
before October 1st and change policy because right now it says that flat

5659
07:54:17,130 --> 07:54:22,270
longevity amount is approved. Part-time employees at average 24 hours over the

5660
07:54:22,270 --> 07:54:28,710
course of October 1 of the previous budget year with 50% and then full-time would

5661
07:54:28,710 --> 07:54:37,510
get the full amount. So you would have to set a date in that to change the

5662
07:54:37,510 --> 07:54:39,430
personal policy, employee policy.

5663
07:54:39,730 --> 07:54:44,030
And I need a date to calculate the six months, so is it?

5664
07:54:44,430 --> 07:54:49,250
So right now you have to be here a year as of October 1st, so we then gonna make it, you

5665
07:54:49,250 --> 07:54:50,550
have to be here by April 1st.

5666
07:54:50,630 --> 07:54:54,970
Whatever date that is, I need to know that so that I can calculate, because I've got all

5667
07:54:54,970 --> 07:54:59,970
the dates higher of all of 700 people, so I need to, it would make a difference for

5668
07:55:00,000 --> 07:55:03,800
People, if it's April 1st or March 1st or that. Right.

5669
07:55:09,260 --> 07:55:12,300
We're our thoughts on keeping it October 1st and changing it to six months.

5670
07:55:14,610 --> 07:55:18,770
I say we revolve around October 1st because it's our fiscal year.

5671
07:55:22,970 --> 07:55:24,210
Not let her have it.

5672
07:55:26,600 --> 07:55:41,280
First of this year means anybody who hired January 1 of 26 will get it. We'll get it. We'll not because it's October 1 of this year. But she's saying like, October 1 is our trigger date. Right.

5673
07:55:41,280 --> 07:55:50,640
You have to for fiscal year 27 you would have had to been hired in October by October 1 of 25 to be able to get the longevity.

5674
07:55:51,380 --> 07:55:56,020
If we do it as of October 1 but 6 months it would be April 1, correct?

5675
07:55:56,240 --> 07:56:05,980
So if somebody was hired in January, February, March of this year with a change policy of 6 months they would still receive the additional longevity base.

5676
07:56:07,120 --> 07:56:09,840
That's what you're recommending, right?

5677
07:56:09,840 --> 07:56:12,860
Was what I had in mind if the Court's uncomfortable with that.

5678
07:56:13,100 --> 07:56:18,640
I mean, I can flex that to nine if we think this is necessary.

5679
07:56:20,720 --> 07:56:23,120
It is not the Hill that I'm going to die on.

5680
07:56:23,220 --> 07:56:26,180
I just wanted to bring up the details because I know we talked about it and didn't feel

5681
07:56:26,180 --> 07:56:27,920
we reached a consensus necessarily.

5682
07:56:28,820 --> 07:56:29,960
I'm final six months.

5683
07:56:30,300 --> 07:56:31,200
I just need this done.

5684
07:56:34,620 --> 07:56:35,960
I wasn't necessarily.

5685
07:56:36,200 --> 07:56:39,180
I was just saying that was something that we had talked about in prior budget discussions

5686
07:56:39,180 --> 07:56:41,560
and I wasn't remembering what we had landed on,

5687
07:56:41,700 --> 07:56:43,700
and so just for purposes of this client's calculations.

5688
07:56:44,880 --> 07:56:46,200
I'll say it right.

5689
07:56:46,240 --> 07:56:47,160
Just trying to remember the details

5690
07:56:47,160 --> 07:56:48,560
that I know the court had brought up.

5691
07:56:48,760 --> 07:56:49,320
She wanted to.

5692
07:56:49,420 --> 07:56:49,840
Oh, yeah.

5693
07:56:51,640 --> 07:56:54,480
Linda, let me say this real quick.

5694
07:56:55,220 --> 07:56:58,800
So Theresa ran me some numbers recently.

5695
07:56:59,480 --> 07:57:03,600
We have a lot of employees that have been here

5696
07:57:03,600 --> 07:57:04,660
less than a year.

5697
07:57:05,540 --> 07:57:07,820
And so I'm on board with that six months.

5698
07:57:07,820 --> 07:57:13,260
It's like a bonus, you know, thank you for staying and coming to work for

5699
07:57:13,260 --> 07:57:20,400
that's why I'm on board with that six months because it's a bunch, it's a lot of employees.

5700
07:57:23,320 --> 07:57:26,700
I know, just so we can come up and everybody can hear.

5701
07:57:33,040 --> 07:57:33,540
Yes, ma'am.

5702
07:57:34,580 --> 07:57:39,980
I'm just thinking how is that going to affect other employees that had to wait a whole year

5703
07:57:39,980 --> 07:57:42,920
before they received their longevity.

5704
07:57:46,450 --> 07:57:48,290
You understand what I'm saying, right?

5705
07:57:48,730 --> 07:57:49,010
Yes, yeah.

5706
07:57:49,810 --> 07:57:52,130
So that's just something to think about.

5707
07:57:54,200 --> 07:57:56,440
And that was my concern we had talked about

5708
07:57:56,440 --> 07:57:59,520
that is just promoting that consistency,

5709
07:57:59,940 --> 07:58:03,500
the original idea of adding the additional longevity base

5710
07:58:04,200 --> 07:58:08,140
was to try to, again, take it from three years back to one year

5711
07:58:08,140 --> 07:58:10,060
to capture more of those new employees

5712
07:58:10,060 --> 07:58:14,780
that maybe weren't being compensated as much at the county to give that initiative

5713
07:58:14,780 --> 07:58:20,140
and motivation to stay that we do try to take into consideration people starting out.

5714
07:58:20,620 --> 07:58:25,840
We had personal days prior with some of those things that change going, there's been modifications

5715
07:58:25,840 --> 07:58:31,180
to their benefits, if you will, let's try to fund a little bit extra when we can.

5716
07:58:32,960 --> 07:58:36,860
So that is the hard part, you do switch that policy, you're telling other employees that

5717
07:58:36,860 --> 07:58:41,560
had to wait that it's different but it's but I mean still the court has the ability

5718
07:58:41,560 --> 07:58:50,340
to do that. And since I'm up here I'm just going to say this is that we have been receiving

5719
07:58:50,340 --> 07:58:58,840
the base longevity since 2016. That's how long we've been receiving it. I know it's too

5720
07:58:58,840 --> 07:59:04,360
late for me and elected officials because our salaries have already been posted but if

5721
07:59:04,360 --> 07:59:11,940
there is any way that you guys can give that $1,000 base or $2,000 base to the employees,

5722
07:59:13,200 --> 07:59:15,460
I'm requesting that you do that.

5723
07:59:18,440 --> 07:59:21,880
And then by the elected officials not getting that

5724
07:59:21,880 --> 07:59:30,040
base longevity, we actually going to be making less money next year than what we're currently making.

5725
07:59:30,040 --> 07:59:37,280
Well, but we have consistently gotten that since 2016. So just some food for thought.

5726
07:59:37,800 --> 07:59:39,100
Thank you.

5727
07:59:47,510 --> 07:59:49,150
Was that the final?

5728
07:59:50,070 --> 07:59:50,550
Yes.

5729
07:59:50,910 --> 07:59:53,430
And just one question, Commissioner, you had mentioned the

5730
07:59:54,270 --> 07:59:59,930
Regrets that didn't require additional general fund budget, and I didn't know whether the court

5731
08:00:00,000 --> 08:00:30,650
What was considering allowing the county attorney for those two positions to regrade funded completely out of asset forfeiture? And I think that was dependent upon whether or not the court had an appetite for the felony paroleal coming out of forfeiture funds or being paid out of the general fund, right? Oh, and I thought the court had said that I think we are willing to pay for the felony paroleal out of the general fund.

5732
08:00:31,230 --> 08:00:35,970
Right, so I mean, I don't have a problem with that.

5733
08:00:36,110 --> 08:00:39,770
There's that's able to be covered, and I'm so sorry if I forgot.

5734
08:00:40,390 --> 08:00:40,670
I'm sorry.

5735
08:00:41,030 --> 08:00:45,330
Actually, this already, but did Mr. Reborn think that that was something he could cover annually

5736
08:00:45,330 --> 08:00:46,410
through the Forfeiture Fund?

5737
08:00:46,610 --> 08:00:46,730
Yes.

5738
08:00:46,790 --> 08:00:47,390
Those two regrades.

5739
08:00:47,670 --> 08:00:47,810
Yes.

5740
08:00:48,390 --> 08:00:53,170
And if we do get in a bind, he would understand if that was something that we might not be able

5741
08:00:53,170 --> 08:00:53,630
to.

5742
08:00:53,870 --> 08:00:53,990
Yes.

5743
08:00:54,670 --> 08:00:54,930
Okay.

5744
08:00:55,150 --> 08:00:56,870
I don't have an issue with that court.

5745
08:00:57,370 --> 08:00:57,770
I'm sorry.

5746
08:00:57,770 --> 08:00:59,370
I don't mean to be like hijacking these topics.

5747
08:00:59,370 --> 08:00:59,570
Thanks.

5748
08:01:05,450 --> 08:01:07,890
So you're saying now those are going to be under forfeiture?

5749
08:01:08,450 --> 08:01:11,650
The difference in the funding for the Lemme grades.

5750
08:01:12,130 --> 08:01:17,650
He's asking for two regrails, but he says he can cover the funding annually through forfeiture

5751
08:01:17,650 --> 08:01:18,010
funds.

5752
08:01:19,610 --> 08:01:22,350
For the positions or the difference?

5753
08:01:22,590 --> 08:01:23,170
For the difference.

5754
08:01:23,370 --> 08:01:23,730
The difference.

5755
08:01:24,150 --> 08:01:24,170
Yeah.

5756
08:01:24,390 --> 08:01:24,570
Gotcha.

5757
08:01:26,650 --> 08:01:31,830
And I think that Chris is maybe asking for simplicity purposes.

5758
08:01:31,830 --> 08:01:37,610
is they're called legal admin 2 right now if we could just call them legal admin 3 excuse me to

5759
08:01:37,610 --> 08:01:38,610
differentiate them

5760
08:01:40,720 --> 08:01:46,860
and you don't mind I'm going to talk to Linda Linda I'm looking at this thinking

5761
08:01:46,860 --> 08:01:54,340
that the difference in pay we could use we could do because payroll is not my specialty take that

5762
08:01:54,340 --> 08:02:02,920
percentage and do you know 87% general fund and the balance whatever that cost

5763
08:02:02,920 --> 08:02:06,580
of increases to that was how I was thinking that way they're still on the

5764
08:02:06,580 --> 08:02:10,820
grading step and then the system would split it up does that sound okay to you

5765
08:02:10,820 --> 08:02:14,720
okay that was just kind of off the top of my head I'm like I think we can do

5766
08:02:14,720 --> 08:02:17,380
that you think so too okay Judge

5767
08:02:26,120 --> 08:02:27,340
commissioners we talked about the

5768
08:02:27,340 --> 08:02:30,340
constables and moving the part time into full time the deputy far more

5769
08:02:32,580 --> 08:02:40,840
It's all fire code, so it's not a county, it doesn't come out of the county funds, but if the court would allow for me to do that, move by part time into full time.

5770
08:02:41,220 --> 08:02:51,400
And then I could send the numbers to Chris line, the number at the bottom never changes, we just move the money around inside of the budget that's already been submitted in this budget year.

5771
08:02:51,580 --> 08:02:56,500
So we would just basically be pulling money from lines in within the budget to pay for that position.

5772
08:02:56,500 --> 08:03:02,940
So the fire marshal deputy fire marshal position for way you did

5773
08:03:02,940 --> 08:03:04,920
the last year. Yes, the long-for sure.

5774
08:03:07,320 --> 08:03:11,880
It would be the deputy patrol deputy whatever the

5775
08:03:11,880 --> 08:03:17,160
and I'll send you where we can real reallocate the funds within the lines.

5776
08:03:17,760 --> 08:03:18,720
So, yep,

5777
08:03:23,010 --> 08:03:26,330
next year, do you have to that?

5778
08:03:26,330 --> 08:03:29,190
but we're going to be in general front line.

5779
08:03:29,730 --> 08:03:31,810
No, remember you talked about the fire code,

5780
08:03:31,990 --> 08:03:32,890
but we need that money.

5781
08:03:33,010 --> 08:03:33,570
OK, fine.

5782
08:03:35,630 --> 08:03:38,750
I still like to go back to the district admins

5783
08:03:38,750 --> 08:03:42,630
and the staff attorney for the district.

5784
08:03:43,110 --> 08:03:46,850
If we're loading up the sheriff's office

5785
08:03:46,850 --> 08:03:48,430
with extra people, which means they're

5786
08:03:48,430 --> 08:03:50,190
going to need more people and their staff

5787
08:03:50,190 --> 08:03:54,030
to handle cases, they're down one judge

5788
08:03:54,030 --> 08:03:55,850
because he moved to Co-Mail County.

5789
08:03:55,850 --> 08:03:58,090
So there are just two district judges at this time, correct?

5790
08:04:00,550 --> 08:04:01,630
Three district judges.

5791
08:04:02,890 --> 08:04:04,130
Olds, Crawford and Hines.

5792
08:04:05,270 --> 08:04:06,050
They used to be four.

5793
08:04:06,570 --> 08:04:10,530
So the workload is increased.

5794
08:04:13,390 --> 08:04:13,790
Yeah, like so.

5795
08:04:18,920 --> 08:04:20,200
Let's see what the numbers are, Jim.

5796
08:04:20,720 --> 08:04:21,140
Okay, yes.

5797
08:04:24,220 --> 08:04:25,840
Yeah, we're this deep into it.

5798
08:04:26,040 --> 08:04:27,500
We're all way up to our knees in it.

5799
08:04:30,910 --> 08:04:31,790
You're right about there.

5800
08:04:31,970 --> 08:04:32,050
Yeah.

5801
08:04:40,400 --> 08:04:41,200
Are you still here?

5802
08:04:41,580 --> 08:04:41,920
Come on.

5803
08:05:09,330 --> 08:05:39,310
Are we waiting on the summary? Are we still talking about additions? It seems like every time we pause, we bring up another panel. The last thing is that you'd be quiet, somebody else walks up. Yes, I'm sorry that that was the last. I've got a couple of questions. Did we have a consensus on the policy change on the base longevity or not from six months, nine months?

5804
08:05:39,310 --> 08:05:41,190
what you

5805
08:05:43,490 --> 08:05:47,470
like six months. It's not it's not a hill I'm going to die on.

5806
08:05:52,240 --> 08:05:53,420
It's five six months.

5807
08:05:55,620 --> 08:06:00,820
That if you could do that April first, set the date. Yeah, you're a mother. Are you fine with six

5808
08:06:00,820 --> 08:06:07,800
months? Yeah, six months. I don't like and have concerns about it but there's others. Everybody else is

5809
08:06:07,800 --> 08:06:13,480
saying they're okay with it. It seems like it's one of us hadn't thought of it.

5810
08:06:13,720 --> 08:06:18,060
No, it was just simple like what Ms. Douglas said that we have told other employees year

5811
08:06:18,060 --> 08:06:24,040
over year that they had to be here one year. It also was calculated on the part-time employees to

5812
08:06:24,040 --> 08:06:29,580
receive 50% of the additional longevity base that they work a certain number of hours on a consistent

5813
08:06:29,580 --> 08:06:35,680
schedule over a period of time. That may have to be looked at also if it's shortening it but that's

5814
08:06:35,680 --> 08:06:38,360
that policy decision.

5815
08:06:38,660 --> 08:06:40,800
I mean, that's, it's really just the history

5816
08:06:40,800 --> 08:06:43,100
because I've had those individual conversations

5817
08:06:43,100 --> 08:06:46,020
with employees that started right after the date,

5818
08:06:46,160 --> 08:06:48,920
whatever we said it, whether it's six months, nine months

5819
08:06:48,920 --> 08:06:51,200
or a year there's gonna be employees that are very close

5820
08:06:51,200 --> 08:06:52,460
that don't receive that.

5821
08:06:53,040 --> 08:06:55,220
And I've just had to have a number of those conversations.

5822
08:06:55,500 --> 08:06:57,960
So probably just have a little different history

5823
08:06:57,960 --> 08:07:01,740
and experience with it, so that's why I like that

5824
08:07:01,740 --> 08:07:03,380
consistency component of it.

5825
08:07:03,380 --> 08:07:08,340
I don't think it's wrong to consider something else. It's just one of those things.

5826
08:07:08,540 --> 08:07:14,340
Isn't it true that that's what we have to call it? I mean, it's sort of a bonus or whatever,

5827
08:07:14,640 --> 08:07:20,580
but officially that's what we have to call it. It's a longevity based, it's an addition to

5828
08:07:20,580 --> 08:07:29,400
the longevity payment. Yeah. So could we establish that for this budget it's six months, but then we

5829
08:07:29,400 --> 08:07:36,340
go back to what we've done before, it's a policy decision. Yeah, I think it's for

5830
08:07:36,340 --> 08:07:43,420
her calculations today, but we have to come back and vote on it separately. So it's just

5831
08:07:43,420 --> 08:07:50,200
for what she's asking for calculation wise. Sounds like April 1st, Chris. The way

5832
08:07:50,200 --> 08:07:54,860
to get at least close to accurate on the estimated amounts. Right.

5833
08:07:58,050 --> 08:08:00,000
We choose at the end of

5834
08:08:00,000 --> 08:08:02,920
to go back to the one year deal, it would be less.

5835
08:08:07,630 --> 08:08:11,690
And then there were three other positions, network administrator, the 4-H position in the

5836
08:08:11,690 --> 08:08:12,290
staff attorney.

5837
08:08:12,730 --> 08:08:12,950
We

5838
08:08:16,350 --> 08:08:19,670
didn't really have a consensus on those, I know we talked about them.

5839
08:08:19,750 --> 08:08:22,890
The 4-H deal was something I said at the end of the day, if there's something there.

5840
08:08:23,230 --> 08:08:23,770
That's me.

5841
08:08:24,130 --> 08:08:27,310
But the staff attorney was discussed.

5842
08:08:28,690 --> 08:08:36,270
That's why I'm curious what the numbers are, if we're able to do anything or it's something

5843
08:08:36,270 --> 08:08:39,650
before I just got a text from this book and she wants to

5844
08:08:41,750 --> 08:08:46,570
correct one position to correct three is a minimal question.

5845
08:08:48,860 --> 08:08:51,720
Good to know people are still here in the kitchen taking my offer.

5846
08:08:52,900 --> 08:08:53,940
I don't

5847
08:08:58,960 --> 08:09:02,960
think anybody can argue that we're not going through this and doing our due diligence.

5848
08:09:50,550 --> 08:09:53,510
Now she changed it to a clerk too.

5849
08:09:56,990 --> 08:09:59,870
I'm asking you to have the line open.

5850
08:11:09,160 --> 08:11:12,340
. . . . . . . . . . .

5851
08:11:23,000 --> 08:11:23,040
. .

5852
08:11:23,040 --> 08:11:23,740
running all over.

5853
08:11:52,120 --> 08:11:52,740
Not a

5854
08:11:55,680 --> 08:11:58,080
good one. It's not a good one.

5855
08:12:04,580 --> 08:12:10,620
Go back, you folks. Too late. It's never too late.

5856
08:12:26,020 --> 08:12:27,440
It's very risky in there.

5857
08:12:28,140 --> 08:12:28,620
Chief,

5858
08:12:31,260 --> 08:12:33,820
you must live a very boring life to sit here all day long.

5859
08:12:50,950 --> 08:12:55,450
Thank you, ma'am.

5860
08:13:01,690 --> 08:13:02,950
Thank you, ma'am.

5861
08:14:05,700 --> 08:14:14,500
That's what I understand, yeah, just so that's how much that's

5862
08:14:14,500 --> 08:14:15,820
This is how you get in the middle of your gym.

5863
08:15:23,810 --> 08:15:25,470
She popped up and then she disappeared.

5864
08:15:27,690 --> 08:15:28,970
She was there to like two seconds.

5865
08:15:33,150 --> 08:15:33,510
Commissioner

5866
08:15:33,510 --> 08:15:38,030
government. I think it's Commissioner Wolverton coming back.

5867
08:15:38,070 --> 08:15:38,810
Commissioner Wolverton?

5868
08:15:41,220 --> 08:15:42,040
She's back.

5869
08:15:44,540 --> 08:15:47,100
They said you popped up and they came back there.

5870
08:15:47,440 --> 08:15:50,300
Oh boy, I don't think I'm flugging it.

5871
08:15:55,760 --> 08:15:58,120
Well, we're not ready for

5872
08:16:00,680 --> 08:16:00,970
it.

5873
08:16:03,020 --> 08:16:06,680
Well, she's got my hand to talk. She shouldn't just start talking.

5874
08:16:07,500 --> 08:16:09,740
There's an end-castor that would like to speak.

5875
08:16:09,740 --> 08:16:17,560
you can project. What are we doing? Chris, we're not there yet. I mean you can get it set up

5876
08:16:17,560 --> 08:16:23,280
in case we need it. We'll wait for Commissioner Wolver 10 for those in the courtroom and watching

5877
08:16:23,280 --> 08:16:28,480
online. We apologize. We have Auditor making a summary list but we don't have the totals and numbers.

5878
08:16:29,100 --> 08:16:34,860
When I was going to ask the court what do we want to go into executive session to address some of the

5879
08:16:34,860 --> 08:16:39,920
items we have there while others trying to work on actually it's just to go

5880
08:16:39,920 --> 08:16:44,200
in and plug each of these individual items into business and legs of

5881
08:16:44,200 --> 08:16:49,040
spreadsheet. Calculate the numbers even put it in the budget to run

5882
08:16:49,040 --> 08:16:54,160
totals on expenditures and revenues to try to come up with the cost. What we have in

5883
08:16:54,160 --> 08:16:57,460
front of us is just a summary list of all the items that we're talking about

5884
08:16:57,460 --> 08:16:58,440
I'll type down in detail.

5885
08:16:58,820 --> 08:16:59,240
Right.

5886
08:16:59,940 --> 08:17:01,100
I'm trying to log on.

5887
08:17:01,200 --> 08:17:01,460
Okay.

5888
08:17:03,590 --> 08:17:04,190
That sounds good.

5889
08:17:04,550 --> 08:17:04,790
Yes.

5890
08:17:04,790 --> 08:17:05,190
Let's do that.

5891
08:17:05,290 --> 08:17:05,950
You can just start speaking.

5892
08:17:06,370 --> 08:17:08,290
You do have to raise your hand.

5893
08:17:08,750 --> 08:17:09,070
I do.

5894
08:17:09,250 --> 08:17:09,450
I do.

5895
08:17:09,870 --> 08:17:11,070
Where did she go?

5896
08:17:11,190 --> 08:17:12,930
I think she's talking to somebody.

5897
08:17:13,170 --> 08:17:13,590
It's calling.

5898
08:17:14,090 --> 08:17:14,230
Yeah.

5899
08:17:14,330 --> 08:17:14,470
Okay.

5900
08:17:14,850 --> 08:17:14,930
Yeah.

5901
08:17:16,860 --> 08:17:17,280
Okay.

5902
08:17:17,800 --> 08:17:18,220
It's wonderful.

5903
08:17:19,820 --> 08:17:20,460
It's, yeah.

5904
08:17:21,780 --> 08:17:22,200
Judge.

5905
08:17:22,420 --> 08:17:22,840
Yes, ma'am.

5906
08:17:22,900 --> 08:17:24,820
I have an end-caster that was like to speak.

5907
08:17:26,360 --> 08:17:27,020
Who is it?

5908
08:17:27,260 --> 08:17:29,500
It says end-caster was all the information I have.

5909
08:17:30,200 --> 08:17:30,640
Okay.

5910
08:17:33,460 --> 08:17:37,680
Can you unmute him? Can you hear us? Yes, sir.

5911
08:17:38,520 --> 08:17:43,060
Go ahead. Good morning, Judge Commissioner. This is Michael Castro. I don't know if we

5912
08:17:43,060 --> 08:17:47,500
spoken already on the volunteer fire department's piece of it, but speaking for

5913
08:17:47,500 --> 08:17:52,660
Geronimo, I know we sent you all an email regarding what we were kind of

5914
08:17:52,660 --> 08:17:57,340
talked about as proposals and stuff. I know this is a busy time and I've been on

5915
08:17:57,340 --> 08:18:05,120
this all day. For Dronomo, I just wanted to ask, is there any way that we can remain

5916
08:18:05,120 --> 08:18:11,340
at the 60,000? We saw that the rebeller proposal was for 45,000, but we were asking if there

5917
08:18:11,340 --> 08:18:15,260
was any way that we could remain at the 60. We do know that there are some opportunities.

5918
08:18:15,500 --> 08:18:20,500
We are working through that. We are getting better in house staff training. We got new people

5919
08:18:20,500 --> 08:18:25,800
coming on board. We got to give them up the power to make them readily available to be

5920
08:18:25,800 --> 08:18:32,740
be active and may cause an efficient manner and everything, but right now this year going

5921
08:18:32,740 --> 08:18:40,080
through leadership changes and some budget opportunities in-house, we are just asking

5922
08:18:40,080 --> 08:18:45,640
to not request for an increase. We would like to remain at the 60,000 if that's something

5923
08:18:45,640 --> 08:18:48,820
that we would like to request. Thank you all for your time.

5924
08:18:50,320 --> 08:18:52,360
Thank you Michael any

5925
08:19:00,650 --> 08:19:06,280
thoughts or conversation on that item are we going to

5926
08:19:06,280 --> 08:19:12,520
executive session for a few moments. If that is the preference of court we can do

5927
08:19:12,520 --> 08:19:15,900
that. I think we should we should knock those out.

5928
08:19:17,280 --> 08:19:17,920
Table

5929
08:19:20,160 --> 08:19:23,060
was there anybody else that had their hand raised?

5930
08:19:23,060 --> 08:19:24,840
No, they're not even, they're not even being conscious.

5931
08:19:26,540 --> 08:19:33,560
Everyone, our plan is to move to item 9, address so he's executive session items.

5932
08:19:34,200 --> 08:19:40,840
While Ms. Klein, our auditor is going through the list of summary list of changes that have been

5933
08:19:41,660 --> 08:19:45,200
recommended by a consensus and majority of the court on the proposed budget.

5934
08:19:45,820 --> 08:19:51,480
So we will move from item N before we make any decisions.

5935
08:19:51,480 --> 08:19:56,880
will move to item 9. That is executive session in accordance with chapter 551 of the Texas

5936
08:19:56,880 --> 08:19:59,980
Government Code Subchapter D. Commissioner's Court will convene in the-

5937
08:20:00,000 --> 08:20:08,340
We'll close session to discuss the following items. And any final action or vote will take place in public under executive session item A.

5938
08:20:08,940 --> 08:20:16,480
Senate Section 551.071, consultation with the governing bodies of attorney to deliberate pending or contemplated litigation.

5939
08:20:16,480 --> 08:20:23,380
As well as item B, person in section 551.074 to deliver the appointment employment and duties

5940
08:20:23,380 --> 08:20:28,020
of public officer employee and that's road and rigid administrator as well as the director

5941
08:20:28,020 --> 08:20:33,740
of human resources will recess from this regular session of commissioners court and enter close

5942
08:20:33,740 --> 08:20:36,480
session at 7.05 p.m.

5943
08:20:46,540 --> 08:20:53,800
Action of must see any comments or conversation that needs to occur in open meeting on item

5944
08:20:53,800 --> 08:20:55,060
May under executive session.

5945
08:20:55,700 --> 08:20:56,220
No, sir.

5946
08:20:56,360 --> 08:20:56,520
Health.

5947
08:21:00,090 --> 08:21:03,170
Okay, hearing no potential motions and no discussion items.

5948
08:21:03,610 --> 08:21:06,030
We'll take no action on item A. We'll move to item B.

5949
08:21:06,650 --> 08:21:09,390
Presented section 551.074.

5950
08:21:10,070 --> 08:21:15,210
To deliver the appointment employment and duties of the public officer or employee to whip,

5951
08:21:15,890 --> 08:21:18,450
well, bridge administrator and director of human resources.

5952
08:21:18,450 --> 08:21:22,590
We'll start with well, bridge administrator since it is first on the list.

5953
08:21:22,590 --> 08:21:27,430
Any discussion, any more potential actions to consider on that item?

5954
08:21:33,260 --> 08:21:33,440
Okay.

5955
08:21:33,560 --> 08:21:34,500
I know we had a discussion.

5956
08:21:34,500 --> 08:21:42,400
Is it still kind of a plan at this point with Road and Ridge Administration we've accepted

5957
08:21:42,400 --> 08:21:48,460
applications that there may be an item that we revisit in the upcoming agenda to consider

5958
08:21:48,460 --> 08:21:54,220
having interviews of a few of the applicants or just to potentially engage with the conversation

5959
08:21:54,220 --> 08:21:55,440
with current employees.

5960
08:21:55,440 --> 08:21:59,580
I know that there's kind of a different conversation.

5961
08:22:00,180 --> 08:22:02,100
I would like to have interviews with at least two,

5962
08:22:02,180 --> 08:22:03,040
maybe three people.

5963
08:22:04,540 --> 08:22:05,820
We're sorry I didn't hear that.

5964
08:22:06,640 --> 08:22:08,680
Commissioner Wolventon said he'd like to have interviews

5965
08:22:08,680 --> 08:22:12,240
with maybe two, if not possibly the candidates

5966
08:22:13,080 --> 08:22:14,380
for road and bridge administration.

5967
08:22:17,090 --> 08:22:18,430
What dates are we looking at?

5968
08:22:21,220 --> 08:22:22,120
September 15th?

5969
08:22:22,120 --> 08:22:24,300
What potential date for interviews?

5970
08:22:24,660 --> 08:22:25,500
As soon as possible.

5971
08:22:26,260 --> 08:22:27,840
I can be here 13 Friday

5972
08:22:30,240 --> 08:22:41,400
or Monday. It doesn't matter. Do we want to try to schedule interviews with candidates on a court day or a non court day on the 15th?

5973
08:22:42,420 --> 08:22:53,520
See if we can do it on the 15th. Our courts are usually long and gone out so if you do it without a court day, unless you just want to go and send court day, stay here till 10 o'clock.

5974
08:22:53,520 --> 08:22:55,200
They won't stay here until then, Bob.

5975
08:22:59,340 --> 08:23:02,560
Which individuals would like to be on that interview list?

5976
08:23:03,500 --> 08:23:04,200
I'll do it.

5977
08:23:05,000 --> 08:23:05,760
I'll be on it.

5978
08:23:06,200 --> 08:23:10,420
Well, no, I'm saying the entire quote is going to be on it, but I'm saying for either Taylor

5979
08:23:10,420 --> 08:23:19,260
and Orbury to reach out to candidates for us to schedule interviews with Mike Brooks,

5980
08:23:19,760 --> 08:23:22,720
Mark Green, and you had one of the gentlemen you went up to.

5981
08:23:23,180 --> 08:23:23,900
Mr. Murray.

5982
08:23:24,300 --> 08:23:24,800
Mr. Murray.

5983
08:23:34,400 --> 08:23:36,080
Any additional candidates?

5984
08:23:36,540 --> 08:23:43,360
All right, we'll try to reach out to candidates to consider potentially scheduling interviews

5985
08:23:44,340 --> 08:23:49,280
and see what that schedule looks like and have them communicate with court members if that's okay.

5986
08:23:51,570 --> 08:23:54,090
Okay, next is Director of Human Resources.

5987
08:23:55,730 --> 08:23:59,110
as well as some may have forgotten because it was early this morning.

5988
08:23:59,370 --> 08:24:02,770
We did have our HR director retire.

5989
08:24:03,070 --> 08:24:08,790
We took the time to acknowledge and recognize her for our service and say thank you.

5990
08:24:09,710 --> 08:24:14,150
We also went in the closed session to have that conversation saying what now?

5991
08:24:14,490 --> 08:24:18,270
The job posting and potential applicants.

5992
08:24:18,470 --> 08:24:22,270
I believe the job is still posted and we're still receiving applications.

5993
08:24:23,270 --> 08:24:28,170
Historically, with open positions like that as court, we have considered placing or naming

5994
08:24:28,170 --> 08:24:33,530
an interim director in the meantime while we go through the hiring process.

5995
08:24:33,990 --> 08:24:35,890
Is that something the court would like to consider?

5996
08:24:38,710 --> 08:24:50,010
Judge, I move that we name Lois Ali as the interim human resources director and said her salary

5997
08:24:54,500 --> 08:24:59,460
We do have a motion and a second any further.

5998
08:25:00,000 --> 08:25:02,100
Discussion? I'm sorry.

5999
08:25:05,220 --> 08:25:18,520
Hearing no other comments or questions, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? During no opposition, that motion passes. Any other items to discuss under item 9 on our agenda?

6000
08:25:21,200 --> 08:25:33,320
All right, then we will move back to our. Normal action items on our agenda, where we left off prior to going into executive session, and that was item in to adopt the

6001
08:25:33,320 --> 08:25:38,700
Gwadleud County budget for fiscal year 2026 through 2027 or FY27.

6002
08:25:39,940 --> 08:25:44,040
When we left, we had created a summary list of proposed changes to the budget.

6003
08:25:44,900 --> 08:25:49,740
This kind went into the budget room and did our best to be accurate.

6004
08:25:50,400 --> 08:25:53,580
I mean, timely to work through all of those changes to come up with a number

6005
08:25:54,260 --> 08:25:58,680
and cost for individual funds, general fund juvenile road and bridge.

6006
08:25:59,860 --> 08:26:05,240
So, especially with new funds, all of those things. Chris, I don't know if you got me to

6007
08:26:05,240 --> 08:26:10,420
just go over that summary if you want to give any more detail on what you looked at.

6008
08:26:14,160 --> 08:26:21,900
So, I went through, I've added the positions I reduced the part time. I went through the

6009
08:26:21,900 --> 08:26:27,780
longevity, redepling ethic. I have you look at it because I just went and amended anybody

6010
08:26:27,780 --> 08:26:40,660
who's been here was hired before, on or before April 1st of 2026, amended that longevity

6011
08:26:40,660 --> 08:26:45,840
because then they would get the base, although that, again, that does require a policy change.

6012
08:26:47,240 --> 08:26:52,640
On the constables, I did go through because their peace officers and our policy requires it,

6013
08:26:53,320 --> 08:26:55,380
that we include certification pay.

6014
08:26:56,120 --> 08:26:59,280
So I did add to that, but it wasn't discussed in court,

6015
08:26:59,740 --> 08:27:01,040
but it is part of our policy.

6016
08:27:01,340 --> 08:27:03,420
So I made that assumption that is included in there.

6017
08:27:06,920 --> 08:27:09,460
What you have in front of you includes all the funds.

6018
08:27:10,580 --> 08:27:12,980
I would ask Patrick Pinder here.

6019
08:27:13,620 --> 08:27:17,180
I would ask that we just leave your fire code as is

6020
08:27:17,180 --> 08:27:19,080
because I wasn't sure what to take out.

6021
08:27:20,080 --> 08:27:21,300
And it is a self-funded fund.

6022
08:27:21,300 --> 08:27:26,200
And I mean, I know Patrick had volunteered to balance it out, but the fund is healthy.

6023
08:27:26,400 --> 08:27:29,600
You can handle it, and you want to go back and do that in a later time.

6024
08:27:30,320 --> 08:27:30,860
You could do that.

6025
08:27:31,240 --> 08:27:35,740
One of the real cool, one of the challenges on the fire code was we went, or Chris went

6026
08:27:35,740 --> 08:27:41,460
through looking at those individual items, with Mr. Pender trying to find the value that

6027
08:27:41,460 --> 08:27:45,780
was equal to the amount of what the position was, but going in looking deeper when you look

6028
08:27:45,780 --> 08:27:50,260
at fuel and some of those other things, it was cutting some lines that are operational

6029
08:27:50,260 --> 08:27:55,500
on necessities below what is being used currently while fueling is up and some of those other

6030
08:27:55,500 --> 08:28:00,020
things. So appreciate the effort but at the same time if the court wishes to add a position

6031
08:28:00,020 --> 08:28:07,620
that fire code fund is healthy. It is separate from reserve or from general fund and probably

6032
08:28:07,620 --> 08:28:13,820
just to be safe would recommend that the court just add the position to the fire code as opposed

6033
08:28:13,820 --> 08:28:18,660
to reducing all those other lines creating probably future budget amendments.

6034
08:28:18,660 --> 08:28:23,420
That would, that would be my great request, please, please.

6035
08:28:25,060 --> 08:28:37,900
I've gone through, we've added those positions, taken in the county attorney's office, the two adjustments that took the increase out of the forfeiture fund.

6036
08:28:38,480 --> 08:28:44,240
Went back with the longevity because Senate Bill 22 does not pay for longevity.

6037
08:28:44,240 --> 08:28:52,540
I had to go back and make sure that Senate Bill 221 isn't more than 275,000 for the county

6038
08:28:52,540 --> 08:28:57,820
attorney and not more than 500,000 for the sheriff's office, added

6039
08:29:00,540 --> 08:29:01,800
juvenile, thank you,

6040
08:29:01,860 --> 08:29:08,700
Judge, I almost forgot about juvenile, added juvenile back in there, hopefully

6041
08:29:11,040 --> 08:29:11,300
next.

6042
08:29:11,680 --> 08:29:13,780
No, I think that's in, what did the total?

6043
08:29:13,780 --> 08:29:18,100
you're you're right at about two million dollars for the increased

6044
08:29:18,100 --> 08:29:23,440
positions and the total and the increased longevity with all the funds that's

6045
08:29:23,440 --> 08:29:30,560
around what did I say one point one point eight total about 1.7 with general

6046
08:29:30,560 --> 08:29:38,980
fund plus juvenile red bridges course affected because we added longevity that's

6047
08:29:40,900 --> 08:29:45,540
that's what it looks like on the summer sheet was that that summer sheet all of

6048
08:29:45,540 --> 08:29:52,340
lines. One million nine eighty nine oh thirteen eighteen or a million nine hundred eight nine thousand thirteen

6049
08:29:52,340 --> 08:29:52,740
and ours.

6050
08:30:00,460 --> 08:30:01,240
Court members.

6051
08:30:03,420 --> 08:30:12,270
I know that was a lot of potential changes and plugging in, but that's where I believe

6052
08:30:12,270 --> 08:30:17,510
everybody was looking for was what that total cost was to those changes.

6053
08:30:19,780 --> 08:30:20,900
So with that around

6054
08:30:20,900 --> 08:30:28,260
two million, we had discussed earlier that historically a million gets brought back in from

6055
08:30:28,260 --> 08:30:34,980
the previous year. Oh well yes. And then we were looking at all my and I was talking about the

6056
08:30:34,980 --> 08:30:40,780
million dollar land purchase that we had discussed, but that's where I was willing to be at in

6057
08:30:40,780 --> 08:30:51,540
relation to additional. So from what I'm reading in my mind at this late hour, it's really not a

6058
08:30:51,540 --> 08:30:58,280
reserve and then, or it could be less based on what we don't know comes back at the end

6059
08:30:58,280 --> 08:30:59,120
of this fiscal year.

6060
08:30:59,460 --> 08:31:00,920
Am I being correct about that?

6061
08:31:01,220 --> 08:31:06,480
Yeah, and your balance is going to change greatly differently on what departments

6062
08:31:06,480 --> 08:31:08,860
hire and fire how many positions are open.

6063
08:31:09,780 --> 08:31:16,180
What sales tax looks like if we get another February, we got a huge sales tax abound, helped

6064
08:31:16,180 --> 08:31:17,480
Offset our

6065
08:31:19,420 --> 08:31:21,500
Lost this you property taxes. That was

6066
08:31:22,380 --> 08:31:27,980
Sorry good news bad news. That's what I said to your email. It's like good news. We're getting more sales facts bad news. They're getting less property taxes

6067
08:31:32,390 --> 08:31:32,790
Okay,

6068
08:31:35,760 --> 08:31:38,200
thank you for that work on that. I'm just flying.

6069
08:31:43,340 --> 08:31:43,740
Okay

6070
08:31:43,740 --> 08:31:49,680
I mean hearing that number and total. I mean is there anything else you want to address it?

6071
08:31:49,680 --> 08:31:53,260
I would like Joe China to have an opportunity to come up and address the port

6072
08:31:58,220 --> 08:31:58,840
Good evening

6073
08:32:07,600 --> 08:32:24,740
I know that I made a request for a staff attorney, I left dinner with my family, and I actually came down here to talk about why that's important. I know public safety has been a big concern for the court as evidence to buy the positions that y'all are willing to fund, but that does include the court system.

6074
08:32:24,740 --> 08:32:29,260
and right now our court system is drowning and we are not able to keep up with

6075
08:32:29,260 --> 08:32:33,000
the massive amounts of cases coming from the county attorney's office the

6076
08:32:33,000 --> 08:32:38,460
increase in dockets and we are working with three district courts less than

6077
08:32:38,460 --> 08:32:42,740
Comal County is and they have a similar population not to mention they have

6078
08:32:42,740 --> 08:32:47,640
three full-time district courts and we have one. If we don't get a staff attorney the

6079
08:32:47,640 --> 08:32:52,360
reality is we can't keep up with the workload which is also a danger to the

6080
08:32:52,360 --> 08:32:57,200
citizens. We can't move people through, get cases closed, get people transferred to

6081
08:32:57,200 --> 08:33:03,220
TDC. If we can't move cases through the system, I've also been working on a jail competency

6082
08:33:03,220 --> 08:33:08,880
restoration program with blue bonnet that will require a mental health docket. I'm willing

6083
08:33:08,880 --> 08:33:13,980
to add that docket, but I need help on the back end. The reason that matters for taxpayers

6084
08:33:14,720 --> 08:33:21,000
is the average wait time for a bed can be up to a year where the taxpayers are paying for

6085
08:33:21,000 --> 08:33:24,980
that person to be in Guadalupe County jail, you would have to ask the sheriff how much

6086
08:33:24,980 --> 08:33:29,880
that costs per day, but it's a lot. If we can restore them to competency in our jail,

6087
08:33:29,880 --> 08:33:34,520
we can get them pled, get the case completed, and ultimately save the tax payer's money.

6088
08:33:35,020 --> 08:33:40,000
But this is something I've been asking for now for two years, and we are at a point that

6089
08:33:40,000 --> 08:33:44,560
it is almost in crisis for the courts. So I'm here to answer any questions that you might

6090
08:33:44,560 --> 08:33:50,880
have. I will also say we are putting more burden on the county attorney's office right now

6091
08:33:50,880 --> 08:33:55,340
because they have to do things that a staff attorney could do like jury charges and things

6092
08:33:55,340 --> 08:34:00,680
like that. And I know, Mr. Wilborn said that they are also overworked and understaffed.

6093
08:34:00,880 --> 08:34:06,840
So this would be a stopgap and an effort to stall having to add a complete new district

6094
08:34:06,840 --> 08:34:08,100
court here in Guadalupe County.

6095
08:34:11,340 --> 08:34:17,060
So one of the things that when this was brought up earlier, I said that I wasn't educated

6096
08:34:17,060 --> 08:34:24,740
about at the moment because I had reshifted my focus a little bit with the most recent

6097
08:34:24,740 --> 08:34:29,400
proposals, so I'm glad that you're here to talk to us about it, is that I know that sometimes

6098
08:34:29,400 --> 08:34:33,940
the county attorney can fill the role of a staff attorney in a sense, but when it comes

6099
08:34:33,940 --> 08:34:37,200
to things that are, of course, criminal, then you would have your conflict of interest.

6100
08:34:37,200 --> 08:34:42,680
So I wanted to talk a little bit about that and talk about, you know, maybe I think really

6101
08:34:42,680 --> 08:34:46,820
also research for the courts, probably right and briefing on potential appellate issues

6102
08:34:46,820 --> 08:34:52,860
so that there's no, at least minimal, overturning by the appellate courts and why that's important

6103
08:34:52,860 --> 08:34:54,380
so we can maybe talk about that a little bit.

6104
08:34:55,340 --> 08:34:59,900
So one of the things that a staff attorney brings is not just on the criminal front of

6105
08:35:00,000 --> 08:35:26,920
Obviously, it's also on the civil side. I'm not, I'm sure the courts turn me talk about the massive new legislative requirements for civil cases, motions for some re-judgment and things like that. What that is doing is taking time away from my ability and judge Crawford and judge old ability to even have criminal buckets. If we shift those to a staff attorney and they can do the research and they can help us, we spend less time doing that more time in the courtroom.

6106
08:35:26,920 --> 08:35:31,900
The other thing they can help do is research motions to suppress and things of that nature.

6107
08:35:32,140 --> 08:35:35,980
Everyone's goal is to try these cases one time for lots of reasons.

6108
08:35:36,480 --> 08:35:41,940
One, resources, but two, the cases that get appealed the most are cases with child victims

6109
08:35:41,940 --> 08:35:45,760
and you don't ever want a child victim to have to go through a second trial.

6110
08:35:46,300 --> 08:35:49,720
And a staff attorney can be working on things while we are on the bench.

6111
08:35:50,060 --> 08:35:52,580
We are oftentimes asked to make decisions very quickly.

6112
08:35:52,580 --> 08:35:56,400
And the county attorney's office does their best to give us a heads up.

6113
08:35:56,600 --> 08:35:59,520
But if we can text someone and say, I need to research on this.

6114
08:35:59,600 --> 08:36:01,020
I need a case on this right now.

6115
08:36:01,480 --> 08:36:03,740
I can't ask the county attorney's office to do that.

6116
08:36:04,860 --> 08:36:09,740
Is the county attorney's office even able to fully research or give opinions on certain criminal cases

6117
08:36:09,740 --> 08:36:11,080
when they're prosecuting entity?

6118
08:36:11,460 --> 08:36:11,760
They're not.

6119
08:36:12,260 --> 08:36:14,840
So they have to represent their vested interest.

6120
08:36:15,320 --> 08:36:21,200
They should never, they do try their best to try to give both sides if I ask.

6121
08:36:21,200 --> 08:36:23,760
but that's not their job and frankly that's unfair to them.

6122
08:36:24,240 --> 08:36:28,100
So they're an advocate, they deserve to be allowed to be an advocate and let the justice

6123
08:36:28,100 --> 08:36:30,920
system work on its own, which is why we need a staff attorney.

6124
08:36:31,120 --> 08:36:34,800
So they can research both sides and present both sides to us.

6125
08:36:35,600 --> 08:36:41,300
So we're going to talk about suppression issues as well for the court and just what that means

6126
08:36:41,300 --> 08:36:47,480
is that in often in cases one side will present a motion to suppress and so that will be

6127
08:36:47,480 --> 08:36:52,000
the suppressing evidence so that the judge or jury, whoever the trial effect,

6128
08:36:52,140 --> 08:36:55,640
cannot consider that evidence and ultimately reaching a verdict.

6129
08:36:55,900 --> 08:37:01,800
And so that decision by a judge is really important because if they do suppress that evidence

6130
08:37:01,800 --> 08:37:06,320
and later it's appealed and that appeal is granted, that it means that case has to be tried

6131
08:37:06,320 --> 08:37:11,880
again with that evidence in consideration for that subsequent verdict, which is bad.

6132
08:37:12,220 --> 08:37:16,000
It's a huge waste of time and resources and it's terrible for a victim.

6133
08:37:16,000 --> 08:37:23,620
And so I think for me, that's really of shining importance, if we can have someone that

6134
08:37:23,620 --> 08:37:25,340
provides that stop gap.

6135
08:37:26,180 --> 08:37:31,840
I think also, you know, for the judges, when you're so deep into, you know, evidence,

6136
08:37:32,340 --> 08:37:38,000
making rulings, avoiding appeal, that having somebody else that can have an expertise in

6137
08:37:38,000 --> 08:37:42,940
deeply researching and knowing, I don't know what we're using, Westlar or Lexus or whatever

6138
08:37:42,940 --> 08:37:43,580
it is, right?

6139
08:37:43,580 --> 08:37:48,500
If they're an expert on that, then it allows them to exercise at expertise, and I think

6140
08:37:48,500 --> 08:37:53,380
if we have somebody that is really good and really competent, then it can very much

6141
08:37:53,380 --> 08:37:55,780
save us a lot of time and a lot of money in the end.

6142
08:37:56,700 --> 08:38:03,380
I agree with Commissioner Ott, and my request was to set it at what a felony line prosecutor

6143
08:38:03,380 --> 08:38:03,900
would make.

6144
08:38:04,020 --> 08:38:07,020
I don't want to compete with Mr. Wilborn for quality lawyers.

6145
08:38:07,640 --> 08:38:12,500
I also understand they're not supervising someone, and so it wouldn't be fair to set them

6146
08:38:12,500 --> 08:38:17,060
like the felony chief rate or the family justice chief rate and so the

6147
08:38:17,060 --> 08:38:20,680
fairest thing I could think to do so that we all have quality attorneys, the

6148
08:38:20,680 --> 08:38:24,380
county attorneys and the staff attorney would be to set it at a felony line

6149
08:38:24,380 --> 08:38:24,640
level.

6150
08:38:27,140 --> 08:38:31,140
In court I was asked by Mr. Wilbur to let the court know that he fully

6151
08:38:31,140 --> 08:38:37,380
supports this to prevent the backlog of having the staff attorney as someone who

6152
08:38:37,380 --> 08:38:42,660
has been a trial attorney for the state. I know that when the judge, when you're

6153
08:38:42,660 --> 08:38:48,000
I'm preparing for closing arguments, questioning witnesses, running around like mad, having

6154
08:38:48,000 --> 08:38:53,360
to judge say, oh, state, by the way, I need you to do this, or can you, in addition to

6155
08:38:53,360 --> 08:38:57,040
preparing your closing argument, can you go, prepare the jury charge, can you go, prepare,

6156
08:38:58,860 --> 08:39:02,940
we need you to do our planning to fax and conclusions of law, which is what we do now.

6157
08:39:04,080 --> 08:39:08,940
And it comes to us, and so I can tell you that takes away from, it slows us down,

6158
08:39:12,440 --> 08:39:12,640
it slows

6159
08:39:12,640 --> 08:39:18,220
We have Mr. Wilborn who does support this and it would help the county attorney's office in a big way.

6160
08:39:18,680 --> 08:39:23,200
I also wanted to touch one more thing Commissioner on appeals. The number one way cases get

6161
08:39:23,200 --> 08:39:28,420
overturned is motions to suppress and jury charges and we are making decisions on the fly and

6162
08:39:28,420 --> 08:39:34,500
trying to change jury charges and if I have someone working on that from start to finish there's

6163
08:39:34,500 --> 08:39:37,980
a lot less air in that jury charge which reduces the risk of appeal as well.

6164
08:39:40,840 --> 08:39:46,260
I'm playing ping pong on the same side here as opposed to, you know, as you all know,

6165
08:39:46,540 --> 08:39:52,980
the legislature does potentially change every two years and so I remember as a prosecutor

6166
08:39:52,980 --> 08:39:59,980
with jury charges, with child victim cases, feeling very challenged about...

6167
08:40:01,100 --> 08:40:30,160
I'm hoping that that jury charge was perfect. And then sometimes you're wanting to research an issue, not even really know like what all do I need to research based on all these legislative changes? And I hope I get this right and the judge told me to come back in 15 minutes and is that enough time? And I think that's. That is really difficult. It is really nerve-wracking and ultimately it's nerve-wracking because you want justice for the parties. So I just wanting to share my experience with that and then how important I think it is.

6168
08:40:30,160 --> 08:40:33,240
It's one, ultimately, that burden's not fair for the citizens, right?

6169
08:40:33,420 --> 08:40:37,140
Because the prosecutors are representing victims, which are your constituents.

6170
08:40:37,780 --> 08:40:42,620
And it's really unfair for them to be handicapped when the defense isn't experiencing that

6171
08:40:42,620 --> 08:40:45,920
same handicap, because the defense isn't doing the things that we ask.

6172
08:40:46,240 --> 08:40:50,480
And they've been very gracious about helping, but it's really not fair to the citizens,

6173
08:40:50,480 --> 08:40:52,820
and we'd like to take that burden off the county attorney's office.

6174
08:40:55,700 --> 08:41:00,780
I had brought up before and I didn't get the support, but I would like to go ahead and

6175
08:41:00,780 --> 08:41:04,400
and add the just the judges felony line attorney

6176
08:41:05,020 --> 08:41:07,100
and also actually staff attorney.

6177
08:41:07,340 --> 08:41:09,820
And then also their administration going up one step.

6178
08:41:13,080 --> 08:41:15,300
I know you wanted to, but don't think I can get to today.

6179
08:41:15,580 --> 08:41:16,100
Hi, understand.

6180
08:41:16,440 --> 08:41:17,780
So here's the reality, right?

6181
08:41:18,180 --> 08:41:20,220
I'm trying to balance what the court is doing.

6182
08:41:20,360 --> 08:41:22,480
I've tried to listen to everything that the court is doing.

6183
08:41:22,680 --> 08:41:24,260
We adore our admin staff.

6184
08:41:24,460 --> 08:41:25,660
They work very hard.

6185
08:41:26,000 --> 08:41:29,280
They have been given so many more requirements.

6186
08:41:29,560 --> 08:41:30,880
But if the answer from the court

6187
08:41:30,880 --> 08:41:35,660
as we are not doing great increases for anybody, please ask for that next year.

6188
08:41:36,120 --> 08:41:41,180
I think our administrators are wonderful enough that they can get behind that and understand

6189
08:41:41,180 --> 08:41:44,900
especially if a staff attorney can take some of that workload off of them.

6190
08:41:45,100 --> 08:41:49,200
I will be coming right back and asking for it next year, but this is my effort to work

6191
08:41:49,200 --> 08:41:49,780
with the court.

6192
08:41:52,740 --> 08:41:54,080
I'm in support of the staff attorney.

6193
08:41:55,420 --> 08:42:00,300
I think that we have not done pay-gray rates across the board and I think for consistency

6194
08:42:00,300 --> 08:42:06,240
in fairness purposes. I think that we need to stay consistent. I am on board the staff attorney.

6195
08:42:06,400 --> 08:42:08,920
I really think it's very important to be very meaningful.

6196
08:42:09,580 --> 08:42:10,320
Thank you, Commissioner.

6197
08:42:11,840 --> 08:42:12,680
It should be the pay rate.

6198
08:42:13,020 --> 08:42:14,360
You get two of that one.

6199
08:42:15,280 --> 08:42:16,520
Do you support the staff attorney?

6200
08:42:16,760 --> 08:42:23,460
Ms. Clark, is that 165.08.81 on the summary spreadsheet? Is that?

6201
08:42:24,180 --> 08:42:28,220
I've already added it. I went down to the county attorney's office.

6202
08:42:28,760 --> 08:42:35,700
It's one of the felony attorneys, the same amount of money, and it would be $123.6.

6203
08:42:35,980 --> 08:42:37,680
But with all the benefits, the same.

6204
08:42:37,800 --> 08:42:41,120
It's $163.209.

6205
08:42:42,120 --> 08:42:43,000
$163.209.

6206
08:42:45,250 --> 08:42:50,130
And if you were to get those three admin assistance up one step, how much would that be?

6207
08:42:53,730 --> 08:42:56,770
I believe there would be round numbers.

6208
08:43:00,370 --> 08:43:05,470
It's three positions, two steps, is like about 43, two or so.

6209
08:43:05,830 --> 08:43:07,030
43,200?

6210
08:43:07,970 --> 08:43:09,290
If that's two steps.

6211
08:43:09,790 --> 08:43:10,030
Okay.

6212
08:43:12,480 --> 08:43:13,000
Ish.

6213
08:43:14,400 --> 08:43:17,660
Where are you going to go back and talk about all the other regrades or only those?

6214
08:43:17,800 --> 08:43:18,620
No, just this one.

6215
08:43:21,790 --> 08:43:22,170
Yeah, I know.

6216
08:43:22,230 --> 08:43:25,550
If you'll accept one step, maybe that would pass.

6217
08:43:25,550 --> 08:43:28,890
Yes, I would accept one step, Commissioner Wilberton, yes.

6218
08:43:29,070 --> 08:43:30,310
Yeah, it'd be 21.

6219
08:43:33,700 --> 08:43:34,140
It is.

6220
08:43:34,460 --> 08:43:35,380
Now, now I'm 32.

6221
08:43:35,880 --> 08:43:38,160
We're doing close to 1,000.

6222
08:43:38,620 --> 08:43:43,380
So, did we raise anybody else?

6223
08:43:43,920 --> 08:43:45,240
No, we're not.

6224
08:43:45,380 --> 08:43:46,440
I didn't raise anyone else.

6225
08:43:47,300 --> 08:43:47,480
Right.

6226
08:43:47,600 --> 08:43:48,520
I don't think you're going to get this year.

6227
08:43:48,760 --> 08:43:49,120
That's okay.

6228
08:43:49,500 --> 08:43:54,340
Listen, like I said up here, I'm making efforts to work with the court.

6229
08:43:54,340 --> 08:44:00,700
I am here to say, though, that the district court is a very important part of the process

6230
08:44:00,700 --> 08:44:05,740
and without a staff attorney to fill the stopgap, we are drowning.

6231
08:44:06,000 --> 08:44:09,540
And the next thing we would have to do is ask for a full another district court, which

6232
08:44:09,540 --> 08:44:13,920
comes with a court administrator and a court reporter and a significantly higher cost increase

6233
08:44:13,920 --> 08:44:15,240
to the citizens of this county.

6234
08:44:16,860 --> 08:44:17,300
Okay.

6235
08:44:18,120 --> 08:44:20,180
Do you have any other questions for me?

6236
08:44:20,180 --> 08:44:21,520
No, I do not.

6237
08:44:21,740 --> 08:44:22,160
No, ma'am.

6238
08:44:22,280 --> 08:44:22,640
Thank you.

6239
08:44:27,130 --> 08:44:27,530
Okay.

6240
08:44:31,210 --> 08:44:32,230
Any other items?

6241
08:44:37,260 --> 08:44:40,780
I didn't add that number, Chris Kahn?

6242
08:44:42,780 --> 08:44:45,560
163 209, that's with benefits and health insurance and all that.

6243
08:44:45,900 --> 08:44:50,580
I was saying just to the $1,989 for 18, just so there was all that was all.

6244
08:45:05,360 --> 08:45:05,920
I could

6245
08:45:14,880 --> 08:45:17,500
do

6246
08:45:21,020 --> 08:45:38,880
something like we could say, general fund, it takes the payroll to $64 million, $924,55, and that way I make sure that what you have in your numbers are correct. Now that doesn't include juvenile. With everything but juvenile.

6247
08:45:43,390 --> 08:45:46,570
Tell them about trying to help us give to a point to be able to include that in a moment.

6248
08:45:46,570 --> 08:45:55,290
motion to consider for approving the budget. I mean, I think it's a summary sheet that

6249
08:45:55,290 --> 08:46:00,510
is listed out as probably the most accurate detail of the changes. Correct. And without

6250
08:46:00,510 --> 08:46:06,350
listing them all, I mean, we could, the cost of living, the new positions for constables,

6251
08:46:06,710 --> 08:46:13,570
the associate judge magistrate fire departments, county attorney, sheriff, commissary, part time

6252
08:46:13,570 --> 08:46:22,590
a full time for JP-14, Consuel-1234, and again, some of these are restating that environmental

6253
08:46:22,590 --> 08:46:29,030
health change, funding from county, 24th turn, fire code, volunteer fire departments.

6254
08:46:29,550 --> 08:46:31,410
Plus the staff attorney.

6255
08:46:31,550 --> 08:46:32,570
Plus the staff attorney.

6256
08:46:32,770 --> 08:46:37,710
There may be the easiest way to be accurate and have a document that reflects the changes,

6257
08:46:37,910 --> 08:46:38,050
right?

6258
08:46:38,930 --> 08:46:46,570
That would make me maybe feel better because I just want to make sure that it all reflects

6259
08:46:46,570 --> 08:46:46,930
accurate.

6260
08:46:48,190 --> 08:46:48,750
Okay.

6261
08:46:49,290 --> 08:46:58,070
Any anything else to talk about during the budget conversation, I don't want to throw

6262
08:46:58,070 --> 08:46:58,930
a wrench in things.

6263
08:46:58,950 --> 08:47:00,210
Just brainstorming.

6264
08:47:00,250 --> 08:47:01,550
I do want to ask a question now.

6265
08:47:01,550 --> 08:47:12,970
Now, if the court is willing to spend $2,150,000 give or take out of reserves to address

6266
08:47:12,970 --> 08:47:18,130
these things that are on this list, is the court willing to spend more out of that

6267
08:47:18,130 --> 08:47:19,990
to help offset the tax increase?

6268
08:47:22,560 --> 08:47:24,620
I know that wasn't a big part of the conversation.

6269
08:47:25,220 --> 08:47:26,620
If it's not, that's fine.

6270
08:47:26,760 --> 08:47:32,960
I just want to just say, is that part of what was previously

6271
08:47:32,960 --> 08:47:35,660
considered as one of the options of spending money out of reserves.

6272
08:47:36,100 --> 08:47:39,740
That's what reduce the tax rate is what you're saying back to 4%.

6273
08:47:40,600 --> 08:47:41,800
Or any, right?

6274
08:47:42,040 --> 08:47:45,820
That's what, because part of the conversation that goes on is that fund balance,

6275
08:47:46,060 --> 08:47:51,280
how it got built, how it is, is strong, but concerned by some about future spending

6276
08:47:51,280 --> 08:47:52,340
and what that looks like.

6277
08:47:53,040 --> 08:47:56,120
But there have been comments out in the public that make you kind of think sometimes

6278
08:47:56,120 --> 08:47:59,940
that go, hey, if we do have that strong fund balance and it has saved up money,

6279
08:48:00,440 --> 08:48:03,840
some of these items that are priorities in public need should be addressed.

6280
08:48:04,060 --> 08:48:10,200
But at the same time, should some of it be used to offset the amount of tax rate increase that's going to the public?

6281
08:48:11,100 --> 08:48:12,220
So what would that number be?

6282
08:48:13,480 --> 08:48:19,000
It just depends. I mean, it gets back to that same conversation back to the court

6283
08:48:19,000 --> 08:48:22,060
going what's that's too much out of reserve, right?

6284
08:48:22,460 --> 08:48:24,200
Can we pull the chart? I'm sorry, I just...

6285
08:48:24,200 --> 08:48:27,680
No. Can we pull the chart back up with the options?

6286
08:48:27,680 --> 08:48:41,740
Was it this one? Yeah, it was it went back to the 4% increase of 3493 tax rate. We're sitting at a little over two right now with what Chris figured right?

6287
08:48:42,040 --> 08:48:51,320
It would be an additional $1,145,155 dollars. But that may be what you're getting back.

6288
08:48:54,300 --> 08:48:59,260
Yeah, that quite possibly could be a wash with what's going back with it.

6289
08:48:59,900 --> 08:49:08,040
So it does get into that conversation, or are you getting back to spending that 2.1 out

6290
08:49:08,040 --> 08:49:13,900
of reserves and what the tax rate decreased to 4% is covered by the return funds of

6291
08:49:13,900 --> 08:49:16,340
unspent, correct, budget dollars, right?

6292
08:49:18,260 --> 08:49:19,760
What do you say tax rate decreased?

6293
08:49:19,960 --> 08:49:22,220
We are just talking about a decrease in the ceiling, correct?

6294
08:49:22,620 --> 08:49:26,940
The decrease from the ceiling, it's the lower amount of increase.

6295
08:49:26,940 --> 08:49:31,480
As it turns out, 11 and a half hours makes my brain go...

6296
08:49:31,480 --> 08:49:35,220
So back to the judges, original with

6297
08:49:37,400 --> 08:49:40,780
these positions, and everything we've just discussed.

6298
08:49:43,580 --> 08:49:49,080
And I'm saying that because I feel like a lot of court members are in this direction

6299
08:49:49,080 --> 08:49:52,300
of this budget is ended up being a true compromise, right?

6300
08:49:52,600 --> 08:49:54,120
This is not a budget anybody wanted.

6301
08:49:54,780 --> 08:49:58,800
It still doesn't reflect anything that really addresses all the needs that other bodies

6302
08:49:58,800 --> 08:49:59,620
have been talking about.

6303
08:49:59,620 --> 08:49:59,760
Hello?

6304
08:50:00,110 --> 08:50:26,810
But it also has a tax rate increase to the public of us just trying to balance that revenue shortfall. But now that some of those funds have been used to address those needs, does it make it a little bit easier? A little bit softer to say we're also considering the amount of tax rate increase to the public and using some of those saved up dollars where it's at this point only a little bit more and we're addressing all the concerns.

6305
08:50:27,370 --> 08:50:34,470
If my calculation says it will be taken 3.295 out of the reserve to make everything work

6306
08:50:34,470 --> 08:50:37,010
to go back to the 4th sin increase in taxes.

6307
08:50:38,190 --> 08:50:40,030
First client, yes, ma'am.

6308
08:50:40,090 --> 08:50:42,710
Can I start entering those changes?

6309
08:50:42,930 --> 08:50:45,630
Do we have a consensus to make those changes?

6310
08:50:46,290 --> 08:50:48,650
On what you went over on the blue sheets.

6311
08:50:48,990 --> 08:50:54,650
It seemed like there were at least three court members that were willing to support the

6312
08:50:54,650 --> 08:50:56,830
three changes on the blue sheet.

6313
08:50:59,970 --> 08:51:00,370
Okay,

6314
08:51:03,370 --> 08:51:06,690
so let's, can we talk about the options on both sides of this?

6315
08:51:07,250 --> 08:51:15,810
If that is our, that is our prize package, if we pull none of the general fund and it

6316
08:51:15,810 --> 08:51:19,990
all went to a tax increase, first is if we pull, if we did no tax increase and pulled it all

6317
08:51:19,990 --> 08:51:22,390
out of general fund, what are our parameters and what's in the middle?

6318
08:51:22,390 --> 08:51:22,550
So

6319
08:51:24,860 --> 08:51:31,560
if we, you're saying if we pulled, if we went to them, and it depends on current

6320
08:51:31,560 --> 08:51:32,860
rate versus no need revenue.

6321
08:51:33,060 --> 08:51:33,240
Yeah.

6322
08:51:33,380 --> 08:51:33,600
I'm sorry.

6323
08:51:33,800 --> 08:51:37,600
I just thought we could get the boundaries of each one and we can talk about what the

6324
08:51:37,600 --> 08:51:38,020
range is.

6325
08:51:38,020 --> 08:51:38,600
No problem.

6326
08:51:38,740 --> 08:51:40,620
So the current year is at 3304.

6327
08:51:40,800 --> 08:51:43,840
No new revenue rate is supposed to bring in the previous year tax money.

6328
08:51:44,180 --> 08:51:48,380
If we went to that, we were $4 million short on maintenance and operation.

6329
08:51:48,660 --> 08:51:49,780
That's only an MMO number.

6330
08:51:49,840 --> 08:51:53,860
It's probably a little bit of a felt there if you had to pull everything out of reserves.

6331
08:51:53,860 --> 08:51:56,500
And that's with none of the changes we've talked about, right?

6332
08:51:59,460 --> 08:52:03,560
If we're talking about making those changes in addition to this, we're adding $2.15 million

6333
08:52:03,560 --> 08:52:07,100
to whatever number we're talking about. But just the no-new revenue rate,

6334
08:52:07,200 --> 08:52:10,060
we'd have to pull $4 to $5 million out of reserves.

6335
08:52:11,080 --> 08:52:19,300
And the 5.65% increase at the 3549 is just break even with the COLA-only

6336
08:52:19,300 --> 08:52:25,380
No extra long jeopardy in any of the changes and then we were talking about in addition that pulling out 2.15

6337
08:52:25,380 --> 08:52:31,640
5.65 increase is pulling 2.1 out of reserves correct so we could move

6338
08:52:32,640 --> 08:52:35,900
Money from those the two of the building the land purchase

6339
08:52:37,420 --> 08:52:46,980
You're saying try to move back to 4% correct if we move back to 4% it would be 2.1 plus that figure at the bottom of the 4%

6340
08:52:52,460 --> 08:52:53,100
So

6341
08:52:59,270 --> 08:53:05,330
that would be the building purchase line, the land purchase line in the little less

6342
08:53:05,330 --> 08:53:15,250
than 300,000 that would come out of potentially the text.match if that is the text.match

6343
08:53:15,250 --> 08:53:18,630
and estimate is a text.match something that it's like an all run on package.

6344
08:53:18,630 --> 08:53:24,870
It's an estimate that has been tried to build upon multiple years and not to

6345
08:53:24,870 --> 08:53:29,890
the labor, just because the text.funding shift and dynamics completely changing.

6346
08:53:30,650 --> 08:53:33,950
If you want a project in state and federal funding, you have to use local

6347
08:53:33,950 --> 08:53:37,950
dollars to initiate it. Don't have to initiate a project, but I mean you're not

6348
08:53:37,950 --> 08:53:41,590
going to get state and federal dollars to be major transportation projects.

6349
08:53:45,760 --> 08:53:59,740
If you have handy the chart of the tax increases over time, do you have it by percentage?

6350
08:53:59,940 --> 08:54:00,560
Do we have a bad percentage?

6351
08:54:01,120 --> 08:54:01,580
Yes.

6352
08:54:02,920 --> 08:54:03,640
This one?

6353
08:54:04,460 --> 08:54:06,460
I don't think it shows a percentage.

6354
08:54:13,600 --> 08:54:19,220
What I have done in the past, one of the easiest ways to look at this is

6355
08:54:21,300 --> 08:54:23,420
to go to where

6356
08:54:26,720 --> 08:54:27,600
would you like to start?

6357
08:54:29,860 --> 08:54:44,460
Let's just say, so a 6.5% increase is that what you're looking at or the amount of, how the numbers match up to the different options that were with your columns?

6358
08:54:44,460 --> 08:54:52,760
10.9% 6.5% 6

6359
08:54:54,770 --> 08:54:56,250
.74%

6360
08:55:02,770 --> 08:55:05,990
9.62%. We'll

6361
08:55:08,680 --> 08:55:14,660
look at a couple more of these in all. 4.93%, 6

6362
08:55:21,090 --> 08:55:42,410
.22%. Okay. Now these notices are a little bit challenging because it's combining the amount of new revenue in a calculation, that truth and taxation. So like when we talk about a 5.65% tax rate increase, our budget notice is still going to read 6.2%.

6363
08:55:42,410 --> 08:55:47,750
So that's not exactly that number when you look at that because of the state requirements

6364
08:55:47,750 --> 08:55:53,770
on how we're mandated to inform the public of what revenues coming in.

6365
08:55:54,430 --> 08:55:56,430
It's a little bit deceiving.

6366
08:55:56,690 --> 08:55:59,490
So 5.65 or 5.6.6.2 and then notice.

6367
08:55:59,930 --> 08:56:00,210
For it.

6368
08:56:00,410 --> 08:56:00,650
Okay.

6369
08:56:00,850 --> 08:56:02,310
And what was 2020?

6370
08:56:03,770 --> 08:56:04,250
Okay.

6371
08:56:04,490 --> 08:56:04,710
Thanks.

6372
08:56:04,830 --> 08:56:05,590
7.7.

6373
08:56:10,030 --> 08:56:11,190
Let me go back to this.

6374
08:56:11,190 --> 08:56:13,550
I want to make sure I didn't tell you something wrong.

6375
08:56:13,550 --> 08:56:14,530
So

6376
08:56:18,300 --> 08:56:22,260
here's the notice for the budget as we're talking about it.

6377
08:56:22,340 --> 08:56:23,560
This is the proposed budget.

6378
08:56:24,580 --> 08:56:27,380
So it shows that 6.2% increase.

6379
08:56:27,600 --> 08:56:32,040
Even though the tax rate increase over the money revenue rate is 5.65.

6380
08:56:35,840 --> 08:56:39,840
So I mean to your point, I don't know if you're just asking that.

6381
08:56:40,200 --> 08:56:45,020
But I mean the 6.2 is not that far off from the other tax rate.

6382
08:56:45,220 --> 08:56:47,240
There's a trend from a percentage standpoint.

6383
08:56:47,240 --> 08:56:50,020
point, so I think that's something we hadn't really looked at.

6384
08:56:51,820 --> 08:56:52,540
Thank you.

6385
08:56:56,500 --> 08:57:00,020
I said, didn't want to muddy the water, but I did have a few individuals that I've had

6386
08:57:00,020 --> 08:57:06,260
budget conversations, just citizens ask about fund balance and go look, think some of

6387
08:57:06,260 --> 08:57:11,860
these things should be funded, but if there's extra money there, and it's that bad, citizens

6388
08:57:11,860 --> 08:57:17,960
are also coupled with higher cost and higher everything, shouldn't some of those funds be used

6389
08:57:17,960 --> 08:57:19,980
to offset the amount of tax rate increase,

6390
08:57:26,170 --> 08:57:28,090
but then it gets back into other than you're

6391
08:57:28,090 --> 08:57:33,130
spending more out of fund balance, or offsetting what would be coming back.

6392
08:57:33,390 --> 08:57:33,610
Right.

6393
08:57:33,870 --> 08:57:40,890
You're basically watching, from the averages that typically come back, it's a year to

6394
08:57:40,890 --> 08:57:42,610
fiscal year, it's a wash.

6395
08:57:45,330 --> 08:57:52,450
But like when you were talking about commissionering, look at the 2.15 out of fund balance, you expect

6396
08:57:52,450 --> 08:57:57,170
to get let's say half of that back at least right or then spent funds. If we went down to the

6397
08:57:57,170 --> 08:58:02,570
4% just to try to limit the amount of increases much as possible, it's probably going to get that

6398
08:58:02,570 --> 08:58:10,430
one point, one five or one point five back and it's not going to be three and a half million dollars

6399
08:58:10,430 --> 08:58:15,850
out of the corner. Maybe close to two and a half million dollars not a fun amount. So I'm

6400
08:58:18,730 --> 08:58:19,310
good with that.

6401
08:58:19,310 --> 08:58:22,470
Yeah, we're, I think

6402
08:58:26,020 --> 08:58:29,840
we've done a great job of going through all of this, um,

6403
08:58:34,400 --> 08:58:35,260
um, final

6404
08:58:35,260 --> 08:58:43,370
positions, now looking at decreasing the proposed rate, getting a little out of their general

6405
08:58:43,370 --> 08:58:43,870
reserve,

6406
08:58:46,320 --> 08:58:51,320
saving the taxpayer money, providing jobs,

6407
08:58:54,280 --> 08:58:56,280
focused around public safety as we've discussed.

6408
08:58:58,750 --> 08:59:00,090
So, I don't know what else we need to talk about.

6409
08:59:00,090 --> 08:59:03,050
Are you saying the 4% or the 5.65?

6410
08:59:04,530 --> 08:59:06,610
Well, that's what the judge was saying.

6411
08:59:06,890 --> 08:59:14,650
Do we want to go a little bit further with, you know, we have the ceiling set at 3549.

6412
08:59:15,090 --> 08:59:15,310
Yeah.

6413
08:59:16,370 --> 08:59:24,550
We have that ability to go down back to his proposed 4% with what I'm saying, you see the

6414
08:59:26,090 --> 08:59:31,310
I can't see quite that well, 1.5 million, something like that, 1 million, 1.45 million.

6415
08:59:31,330 --> 08:59:39,730
That typically comes back fiscal year, that's not spent fiscal year 27, that typically

6416
08:59:39,730 --> 08:59:41,810
comes back, goes back in the reserve.

6417
08:59:42,110 --> 08:59:44,490
So on my end, I'm thinking it's a wash.

6418
08:59:45,790 --> 08:59:46,510
So we're good.

6419
08:59:46,710 --> 08:59:51,530
4% we're taking that 2 million, we've discussed out of the reserves.

6420
08:59:51,530 --> 08:59:56,530
What is 4% read on the notice?

6421
08:59:58,590 --> 08:59:59,890
The great question.

6422
09:00:04,240 --> 09:00:12,100
We have that notice in the recommended budget, right? Yeah, it would have been there. It's, yes, correct. It should be in the recommended budget.

6423
09:00:17,090 --> 09:00:34,890
I can, I can live with that 4%, I'm a little bit concerned about, you know, what if we wind up with the same mass next year, we have this year, you know, where we're going to have to go into the fund balance again, you know, that's the thing I'm concerned about.

6424
09:00:34,890 --> 09:00:38,250
But I could I could live with it.

6425
09:00:40,520 --> 09:00:42,760
It's in the big scheme of thing

6426
09:00:42,760 --> 09:00:48,160
It's just a very small amount to take out a reserve. Yeah, it's a size

6427
09:00:48,640 --> 09:00:53,880
We approve it. That's better than we have here. Yeah, you get to go home

6428
09:00:55,840 --> 09:01:02,760
Well, the other thing is too if you if you look at some of the cities and and I know the school districts are coming

6429
09:01:02,760 --> 09:01:05,040
and they're going to get pounded with taxes.

6430
09:01:05,520 --> 09:01:09,680
So we don't need to compound the problem.

6431
09:01:13,220 --> 09:01:14,620
I know Chris is looking for that.

6432
09:01:14,800 --> 09:01:18,520
I mean, not to beat the issue over and over.

6433
09:01:18,800 --> 09:01:20,960
I mean, it would have been very different

6434
09:01:20,960 --> 09:01:24,000
if the revenue loss and the appraisal loss wasn't there.

6435
09:01:24,600 --> 09:01:25,860
I think it would have been in the position

6436
09:01:25,860 --> 09:01:29,000
with increased sales tax to be able to consider

6437
09:01:29,000 --> 09:01:32,640
20 to 30 new county positions, adjustments,

6438
09:01:32,640 --> 09:01:39,060
a number of things and not had the tax increase that we're talking about.

6439
09:01:40,890 --> 09:01:41,770
Yes, ma'am.

6440
09:01:42,070 --> 09:01:47,650
So I've pulled it up on my spreadsheet and in the original recommended budget with 4%,

6441
09:01:47,650 --> 09:01:52,270
that is a 34, 93 rate.

6442
09:01:52,590 --> 09:01:59,690
The notice shows that that's a 4.75% increase because it's based on how much space in your budget.

6443
09:01:59,690 --> 09:02:04,690
and we increased the reasons 4.75s because you increased your vet service.

6444
09:02:06,760 --> 09:02:07,660
Welcome, roll.

6445
09:02:13,170 --> 09:02:13,550
Okay.

6446
09:02:16,520 --> 09:02:21,820
You have, what is the breakdown of, can you just a second, I have it here?

6447
09:02:22,440 --> 09:02:24,260
It should be 2752.

6448
09:02:24,620 --> 09:02:30,080
Oh, this is 2752, 0212 and 0529.

6449
09:02:30,700 --> 09:02:32,000
3493, yes sir.

6450
09:02:32,000 --> 09:02:46,800
So, Immunil is 2752, that service is 0212, model road 0529,

6451
09:02:57,100 --> 09:02:58,860
but the overall tactic being

6452
09:02:58,860 --> 09:03:00,700
back to what you originally said.

6453
09:03:02,180 --> 09:03:06,800
And not, I mean, I believe there's a majority of commissioners' court that's run the vote

6454
09:03:06,800 --> 09:03:07,540
on the previous.

6455
09:03:08,200 --> 09:03:20,240
I'm just thinking, for me, I think it changes in the discussion to be able, I'm still concerned about the future with potential changes and the tax rate implication levels things.

6456
09:03:20,600 --> 09:03:30,640
But if there's a willingness to address those need issues out of thumb balance, if we can help offset a little bit of that increase for the taxpayers, I think I'm more inclined to support it.

6457
09:03:30,640 --> 09:03:32,380
All right.

6458
09:03:36,070 --> 09:03:41,190
I don't have that blue sheet. I don't have that sheet.

6459
09:03:44,090 --> 09:03:46,330
So what we just need

6460
09:03:46,330 --> 09:03:52,710
to reference that in just my reference, each one individually or just read it off.

6461
09:03:52,970 --> 09:04:00,850
Let me sign. Chris Klein, if we, Chris, if there is a potential motion to consider to approve

6462
09:04:00,850 --> 09:04:07,630
the budget and the motion just references the summary sheet of changes to

6463
09:04:07,630 --> 09:04:12,830
proposed budget with the addition of the staff attorney on it. Is that are you

6464
09:04:12,830 --> 09:04:16,930
good with that? That's good and whatever other things you're talking about with

6465
09:04:16,930 --> 09:04:22,050
the major capital projects that you either are or not. You don't mind like because

6466
09:04:22,050 --> 09:04:25,510
if there's a change to those capital if we're removing those from capital

6467
09:04:25,510 --> 09:04:29,790
project from 700, they need to be removed from the list, right?

6468
09:04:30,190 --> 09:04:30,550
Correct.

6469
09:04:31,210 --> 09:04:33,330
And now I need to move the transfer's in, transfer's out.

6470
09:04:35,230 --> 09:04:36,570
Let's go to this real quick.

6471
09:04:36,850 --> 09:04:43,530
Here's the capital project bill list, or capital project fund 700 list of those listed

6472
09:04:43,530 --> 09:04:43,870
items.

6473
09:04:45,110 --> 09:04:47,790
So if you take a building out, gosh, I'm sorry.

6474
09:04:50,160 --> 09:04:55,820
So if you did, there's been discussed before, if you did, take the two main for the building

6475
09:04:55,820 --> 09:04:59,280
and purchase out of play, is it?

6476
09:05:00,110 --> 09:05:01,690
Cover what we're talking about.

6477
09:05:04,280 --> 09:05:31,020
It does, but we go back to that where it's, you have an unassigned fund balance of $49.6 million. With $8,750,000, and if you left these in, you're still basically what we're doing is deficit budgeting. We have more expenses than revenue, whatever shortfall we have you're pulling from reserves. That's what we're talking about right now, right? So whether it's for these changes, any of that stuff,

6478
09:05:31,020 --> 09:05:36,460
you can swap and plug-in play to say it's out of the general reserve fund.

6479
09:05:37,760 --> 09:05:38,900
It's the same thing.

6480
09:05:39,000 --> 09:05:39,240
Correct.

6481
09:05:39,740 --> 09:05:40,220
I get that.

6482
09:05:40,600 --> 09:05:46,860
If the court wants to, yes, we can absolutely remove building purchase and or land purchase

6483
09:05:46,860 --> 09:05:47,600
from this.

6484
09:05:48,860 --> 09:05:50,700
The result, I think, is going to be the same.

6485
09:05:50,840 --> 09:05:51,420
It'll be the same.

6486
09:05:51,660 --> 09:05:53,960
That's, I mean, is when it gets down to that.

6487
09:05:54,020 --> 09:05:55,960
It's just the preference of the court, basically.

6488
09:05:57,500 --> 09:06:01,000
I think it'd be a good idea to remove both of them at this present time.

6489
09:06:01,000 --> 09:06:05,520
time and just finish up what we have on the books now.

6490
09:06:06,240 --> 09:06:08,660
Just say and remove those two.

6491
09:06:08,980 --> 09:06:09,280
Yes sir.

6492
09:06:09,680 --> 09:06:09,880
Okay.

6493
09:06:10,680 --> 09:06:12,800
In a pinch, I mean it's all reserved money.

6494
09:06:13,100 --> 09:06:15,000
If it's needed, if there's something coming up.

6495
09:06:15,000 --> 09:06:15,480
There are all of them.

6496
09:06:15,640 --> 09:06:16,140
Just see there.

6497
09:06:17,020 --> 09:06:17,320
Okay.

6498
09:06:17,940 --> 09:06:18,920
Remove it too.

6499
09:06:19,200 --> 09:06:19,560
Yes sir.

6500
09:06:19,900 --> 09:06:21,140
Three million dollars.

6501
09:06:22,200 --> 09:06:23,880
Do we need to remove the second one?

6502
09:06:24,120 --> 09:06:26,740
Or are we solid with removing the first one?

6503
09:06:27,340 --> 09:06:28,400
Just the first one.

6504
09:06:28,580 --> 09:06:29,740
And we break even with what we have.

6505
09:06:30,220 --> 09:06:34,120
I know it's not right. I know it's not right, even. That's the long-term for it, but

6506
09:06:34,960 --> 09:06:38,640
is it more a balanced approach from what we think we're going to spend? Because it's about

6507
09:06:38,640 --> 09:06:45,280
$2 million and $152,000 with the additions on the summary sheet, the changes to the proposed

6508
09:06:45,280 --> 09:06:53,600
budget, and then the other going from $5.65 to $4 with the anticipated unspent funds from the

6509
09:06:53,600 --> 09:06:55,620
Departments that kind of options, that would be the same.

6510
09:06:55,740 --> 09:06:58,900
Yes, factors between like 260K and 290K.

6511
09:06:59,080 --> 09:06:59,460
Right, correct.

6512
09:06:59,700 --> 09:07:05,860
Yeah, so I mean, we get there with, if that's the, if that's the in-between, and we get there with just removing the building purchase.

6513
09:07:06,320 --> 09:07:06,540
Okay.

6514
09:07:08,280 --> 09:07:09,540
If that, if-

6515
09:07:09,540 --> 09:07:10,160
Yes.

6516
09:07:11,420 --> 09:07:12,080
First, third.

6517
09:07:12,700 --> 09:07:13,080
Okay.

6518
09:07:14,930 --> 09:07:24,150
I'm going to make a motion at 9.56pm to adopt the global accounting budget for fiscal year 2026.

6519
09:07:24,150 --> 09:07:38,530
26, 2027, FY27, with the changes to the proposed budget discussed with also the consideration

6520
09:07:38,530 --> 09:07:47,610
of the building purchase for 2 million to be removed from that effort projects list

6521
09:07:47,610 --> 09:07:52,830
and adding that staff of tiny for

6522
09:07:55,770 --> 09:07:57,170
the district judge position.

6523
09:07:59,970 --> 09:08:06,590
Right, we have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Do you have a motion and a second to about the

6524
09:08:06,590 --> 09:08:11,170
global county budget for fiscal year 2026, 2027? Yes, ma'am.

6525
09:08:12,070 --> 09:08:16,190
I hate to even bring this up, but does that include the pay raise for the county auditor?

6526
09:08:16,590 --> 09:08:19,750
Because it would make, it was included when they did that.

6527
09:08:19,750 --> 09:08:23,610
but is that part of your motion? Does that include the rights for the

6528
09:08:23,610 --> 09:08:23,950
Auditor?

6529
09:08:24,030 --> 09:08:24,310
Was it?

6530
09:08:24,590 --> 09:08:28,030
Because it would exceed the highest pay elected official and the court would need

6531
09:08:28,030 --> 09:08:30,250
to, the commissioners court would need to enforce that.

6532
09:08:30,630 --> 09:08:36,330
So was it automatically included when 3% was put in the budget for everybody except

6533
09:08:36,330 --> 09:08:37,190
elected officials?

6534
09:08:38,410 --> 09:08:43,570
So it was, it was already in there, you're saying that, just make sure it's very

6535
09:08:43,570 --> 09:08:50,970
transparent so that it's not either it needs to be included or specifically not included because

6536
09:08:50,970 --> 09:08:57,630
I don't want to not present it. You don't want it to be in there and not have people know

6537
09:08:57,630 --> 09:09:02,170
it's in there, right? So it's already included in there we just really need and when it's

6538
09:09:02,170 --> 09:09:08,410
to understand if we're voting on this it is including that and what you're saying is what

6539
09:09:08,410 --> 09:09:12,850
With that three percent, you're exceeding the highest common set and elected official.

6540
09:09:13,030 --> 09:09:13,730
Elected official.

6541
09:09:14,750 --> 09:09:15,950
Mr. Ties, any?

6542
09:09:18,130 --> 09:09:24,950
I would say, Mr. Engelke, if you're going to include that, it could be, you know, me

6543
09:09:24,950 --> 09:09:25,530
with your honor.

6544
09:09:25,570 --> 09:09:25,890
No, you don't.

6545
09:09:25,970 --> 09:09:26,670
You don't have to withdraw.

6546
09:09:27,170 --> 09:09:31,750
You can state that it's included in your motion, as long as your second approves.

6547
09:09:31,970 --> 09:09:32,190
Okay.

6548
09:09:32,250 --> 09:09:32,970
Second to that.

6549
09:09:34,230 --> 09:09:34,630
Okay.

6550
09:09:34,630 --> 09:09:42,850
Well then, I will do this much. I will state that the auditors, salary, COLA, 3% is included

6551
09:09:42,850 --> 09:09:44,070
in the budget.

6552
09:09:45,210 --> 09:09:45,810
Correct.

6553
09:09:46,010 --> 09:09:48,010
Now, as always, Commissioner German, seconds.

6554
09:09:48,670 --> 09:09:48,770
Yeah.

6555
09:09:49,270 --> 09:09:49,370
Okay.

6556
09:09:49,710 --> 09:09:52,810
So, we do have a motion and a second to adopt the budget.

6557
09:09:54,290 --> 09:09:56,190
Any other comments or questions?

6558
09:09:56,510 --> 09:09:57,510
Yes, this team.

6559
09:09:57,510 --> 09:09:59,970
You deserve the race tonight, believe me.

6560
09:10:00,000 --> 09:10:09,480
As much as we put you through, we do deserve it. I didn't get everything I wanted, but it's

6561
09:10:09,480 --> 09:10:15,460
enough inside the letter for me to vote with it. Any other comments, questions?

6562
09:10:17,720 --> 09:10:23,300
All right, all those, and we're hearing no other comments or questions, no further discussion,

6563
09:10:23,400 --> 09:10:29,480
all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any more opposition that motion passives?

6564
09:10:29,480 --> 09:10:34,420
I will leave the item. I will set the 2026 tax rate to fund maintenance and operation

6565
09:10:34,420 --> 09:10:45,660
expenditures for fiscal year 2027. In court, as talked about, if it still is the wish

6566
09:10:45,660 --> 09:10:55,040
of the court to be at a total tax rate of 3493, correct, then that maintenance and operation

6567
09:10:55,040 --> 09:10:59,580
Section tax rate would need to be set at 2752.

6568
09:11:02,610 --> 09:11:03,830
I also move.

6569
09:11:04,190 --> 09:11:04,670
Second.

6570
09:11:05,130 --> 09:11:07,330
We have a motion and a second to set these.

6571
09:11:07,490 --> 09:11:16,010
It's 2026 tax rates from maintenance and operation expenditures for fiscal year 2027 at 0.2752.

6572
09:11:16,350 --> 09:11:18,230
Since any other comments or questions?

6573
09:11:19,510 --> 09:11:19,910
No, sir.

6574
09:11:20,910 --> 09:11:23,750
Any other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

6575
09:11:24,650 --> 09:11:25,330
Any opposed?

6576
09:11:26,230 --> 09:11:28,350
Any opposition in that motion passes.

6577
09:11:29,310 --> 09:11:36,650
Item P set the 2026 tax rate to fund lateral road expenditures for fiscal year 2027.

6578
09:11:37,410 --> 09:11:44,150
And the lateral road rate will need to be set at 0.0529.

6579
09:11:46,650 --> 09:11:47,230
Second.

6580
09:11:47,690 --> 09:11:53,430
You have a motion in the second to set the lateral road tax rate for expenditures in fiscal

6581
09:11:53,430 --> 09:11:57,710
year 2027 at .0529.

6582
09:11:58,270 --> 09:11:59,710
Any other comments or questions?

6583
09:12:01,010 --> 09:12:01,350
No, sir.

6584
09:12:02,590 --> 09:12:02,810
All right.

6585
09:12:02,930 --> 09:12:05,330
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

6586
09:12:05,690 --> 09:12:05,930
All right.

6587
09:12:06,250 --> 09:12:06,810
Oppose.

6588
09:12:06,990 --> 09:12:07,230
Same time.

6589
09:12:07,770 --> 09:12:10,230
Hearing no opposition in that motion passes.

6590
09:12:10,230 --> 09:12:21,330
and item Q set the tax rate 2026 to fund debt service expenditures for fiscal year 2027.

6591
09:12:22,030 --> 09:12:28,450
And that rate would be 0.0212.

6592
09:12:30,470 --> 09:12:30,990
Second.

6593
09:12:31,670 --> 09:12:43,150
Did have a motion and a second to approve item Q and set the tax rate for 2026 to fund debt service expenditures of 0.0212.

6594
09:12:43,410 --> 09:12:44,270
Any other discussion?

6595
09:12:48,110 --> 09:12:48,250
Right.

6596
09:12:48,350 --> 09:12:51,170
Hearing no other comments or questions, items in favor say aye.

6597
09:12:51,570 --> 09:12:51,690
Aye.

6598
09:12:52,470 --> 09:12:52,870
Opposed?

6599
09:12:53,010 --> 09:12:53,350
Same time?

6600
09:12:54,050 --> 09:12:56,570
in no opposition that motion passes.

6601
09:12:57,410 --> 09:13:02,230
And we'll move to item R, the order setting the 2026 tax rate

6602
09:13:02,230 --> 09:13:04,390
for Glottalippe County.

6603
09:13:05,290 --> 09:13:10,030
Again, this is based on the 5.65,

6604
09:13:10,950 --> 09:13:14,150
and it shows a different maintenance and operation tax rate

6605
09:13:14,150 --> 09:13:16,450
than the actions we just took.

6606
09:13:16,890 --> 09:13:21,410
So we will need to change this order

6607
09:13:21,410 --> 09:13:37,550
We're setting the 2026 tax rate to reflect the maintenance and operation going from 2808 to 2752 and the total tax rate from 3549 to 3493.

6608
09:13:38,390 --> 09:13:41,550
3498, 3493.

6609
09:13:42,470 --> 09:13:43,750
Is that correct?

6610
09:13:43,770 --> 09:13:44,150
That's correct.

6611
09:13:44,990 --> 09:13:45,190
Okay.

6612
09:13:45,190 --> 09:13:45,230
Okay.

6613
09:13:45,510 --> 09:13:46,630
I so move.

6614
09:13:47,470 --> 09:13:47,790
Second.

6615
09:13:48,230 --> 09:13:54,510
Do you have a motion in the second to approve and adopt the order for the 2026 tax rate

6616
09:13:54,510 --> 09:14:01,890
for readily becoming with a total tax rate of 0.3493, with maintenance and operation

6617
09:14:01,890 --> 09:14:08,170
of 2752 INS at 0212 and then a lot of loaded 0529.

6618
09:14:09,270 --> 09:14:10,550
Any other comments or questions?

6619
09:14:12,710 --> 09:14:14,070
All right.

6620
09:14:14,170 --> 09:14:16,930
Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say aye.

6621
09:14:17,710 --> 09:14:17,810
Aye.

6622
09:14:18,250 --> 09:14:18,790
Opposed?

6623
09:14:19,010 --> 09:14:19,330
Same time.

6624
09:14:20,950 --> 09:14:24,310
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

6625
09:14:25,270 --> 09:14:34,490
And item S ratify the property tax increase reflected in fiscal year 2026, 2027, or FY27 budget,

6626
09:14:34,490 --> 09:14:40,250
it, pursuant to local government code section 11.008c,

6627
09:14:43,270 --> 09:14:46,910
is this reference on that section

6628
09:14:46,910 --> 09:14:54,630
of the code for that statement that reflects that 4.75% tax rate increase?

6629
09:14:55,090 --> 09:14:55,750
Yes, correct.

6630
09:14:55,750 --> 09:14:59,970
that shows the additional amount of revenue and from new products.

6631
09:15:03,240 --> 09:15:10,320
So, is there specific language we have to use in that motion, so it's done accurately?

6632
09:15:13,020 --> 09:15:17,240
Read the statute right now. It says adoption of a budget that will require raising more revenue

6633
09:15:17,240 --> 09:15:21,600
from property taxes than in the previous year requires a separate vote of the commissioners

6634
09:15:21,600 --> 09:15:27,900
court to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget. A vote under this subsection

6635
09:15:27,900 --> 09:15:33,000
is in addition to and separate from the vote to adopt the budget or a vote to set the tax rate

6636
09:15:33,000 --> 09:15:35,920
required by chapter 26 tax code or other law.

6637
09:15:37,930 --> 09:15:42,470
That is what it says. So I would recommend that

6638
09:15:42,470 --> 09:15:48,410
Moved to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the fiscal year 27 budget.

6639
09:15:51,950 --> 09:15:55,370
So the fiscal year 27 adopted budget can't be my language.

6640
09:15:55,570 --> 09:15:56,150
Recorded language.

6641
09:16:01,610 --> 09:16:06,370
So just had adopted budget basically, and what stated here pretty much,

6642
09:16:08,980 --> 09:16:11,000
still moved to ratify

6643
09:16:11,000 --> 09:16:20,540
the property tax increase reflected in the adopted fiscal year 2627 budget pursuant

6644
09:16:20,540 --> 09:16:25,620
local government code, Subsection 111.008.

6645
09:16:27,680 --> 09:16:27,900
Yes.

6646
09:16:28,220 --> 09:16:28,260
Good.

6647
09:16:28,660 --> 09:16:35,740
In fact, you have a motion in a second on action item S. Any further comments or questions?

6648
09:16:39,080 --> 09:16:42,240
Getting no other discussion. All those in favor say aye.

6649
09:16:42,580 --> 09:16:42,740
Aye.

6650
09:16:43,220 --> 09:16:43,680
Opposed?

6651
09:16:43,820 --> 09:16:44,240
Same time.

6652
09:16:45,080 --> 09:16:47,460
Hearing no opposition, that motion passes.

6653
09:16:47,460 --> 09:16:55,700
and will move to item T, the request for variance from the requirements of Section 10 Road Construction Section A9 General Requirements.

6654
09:16:56,180 --> 09:17:05,120
Guided County Subdivision Regulations roll to the 550 Riley Road, lot 70 and the Herbert Riley Subdivision located in Precinct 1.

6655
09:17:06,020 --> 09:17:11,080
Yes, at the request of the individual who is requesting the variance.

6656
09:17:11,080 --> 09:17:19,400
So I would ask that we take no action on this item today, and Ms. Rogers, if you would

6657
09:17:19,860 --> 09:17:23,120
either remind me of you put it on September 15, agenda.

6658
09:17:23,980 --> 09:17:24,580
Thank you.

6659
09:17:27,460 --> 09:17:33,920
So we'll take no action on item T. We'll move to number eight on our agenda announcement

6660
09:17:33,920 --> 09:17:35,840
of upcoming World of County Public Events.

6661
09:17:36,080 --> 09:17:39,360
Anybody want to make an announcement of the upcoming event?

6662
09:17:39,360 --> 09:17:43,060
Well, there was one for the night, but it's all over, so I can't announce it anymore.

6663
09:17:43,700 --> 09:17:47,580
Thank you.

6664
09:17:47,720 --> 09:17:47,740
Thank you.

6665
09:17:47,740 --> 09:17:48,380
Thank you for voting.

6666
09:17:48,760 --> 09:17:49,640
I have a few announcements.

6667
09:17:50,060 --> 09:17:55,560
So the City of New Bonfels and Seguine will hold separate 9-11 Memorial events for 9-11.

6668
09:17:56,020 --> 09:18:07,600
New Bonfels Police Department will hold theirs at 7-30 a.m. at the main plaza and the City of Seguine will hold their September 11 event at downtown Central Park at 8-45 a.m.

6669
09:18:07,600 --> 09:18:09,980
and that's on Friday 9-11.

6670
09:18:10,520 --> 09:18:13,840
Nationwide out is October 6th, so please contact your county

6671
09:18:13,840 --> 09:18:17,180
first responders and law enforcement departments to request a visit.

6672
09:18:18,400 --> 09:18:18,660
Thank you.

6673
09:18:19,140 --> 09:18:20,120
Any other announcements?

6674
09:18:21,180 --> 09:18:26,140
Just real quick, is our last budget judge,

6675
09:18:26,380 --> 09:18:28,460
definitely a memorable one.

6676
09:18:29,080 --> 09:18:32,340
I'm wondering, thank you, especially Ms. Klein,

6677
09:18:33,980 --> 09:18:39,220
for our 12-hour day that we just had, but thank you very much.

6678
09:18:41,080 --> 09:18:43,740
It's a good budget. I think we did a great job.

6679
09:18:44,580 --> 09:18:48,440
I think we worked through it, and I think we did a good job.

6680
09:18:49,340 --> 09:18:55,160
I'm going to do that. I mean, it's been a long day, but we hammered it out.

6681
09:18:55,580 --> 09:18:57,220
That's why people should do.

6682
09:18:58,580 --> 09:18:59,120
Okay.

6683
09:18:59,980 --> 09:19:05,180
Random mixed regulatory scheduled commissioners court will be September 15th.

6684
09:19:05,200 --> 09:19:05,360
Second.

6685
09:19:05,680 --> 09:19:06,020
Correct.

6686
09:19:07,500 --> 09:19:07,940
All right.

6687
09:19:08,280 --> 09:19:11,920
We've already addressed item 9 on our agenda.

6688
09:19:12,080 --> 09:19:13,340
We're moved to item 10.

6689
09:19:13,340 --> 09:19:14,540
Is there a motion to adjourn?

6690
09:19:14,660 --> 09:19:15,480
No, to adjourn.

6691
09:19:15,600 --> 09:19:15,920
Second.

6692
09:19:16,360 --> 09:19:17,920
We have a motion and a second.

6693
09:19:17,920 --> 09:19:19,120
All those in favor say aye.

6694
09:19:19,380 --> 09:19:19,640
Aye.

6695
09:19:19,640 --> 09:19:23,680
I propose that we are adjourned at 10.08 p.m.