1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:07,360 All right, good morning again everybody. Welcome to Hardin County Commissioner's 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:10,960 Court. Today is Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. It is 10:00 a.m. and we're here 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,400 for our regular meeting. All members of the court are present and 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,160 this meeting is called to order. Everyone will please rise for the 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:20,960 invocation and pledge delivered by Commissioner Young. 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,680 » Lord, I want to thank you for today and all of your many blessings. Thank you 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,240 for the much-needed rain. Keep your hand of protection over our 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:31,080 law enforcement and all first responders. Keep us in your will and be 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,760 with us as we conduct the business of the county. In Jesus' name we pray. 10 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:37,000 Amen. >> Amen. 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:42,320 » I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of 12 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:48,040 America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:52,480 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,480 » Thank you, Commissioner. 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:01:01,360 Item number three, consider and possibly approve the August 25th, 2026 regular 16 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:04,239 meeting and the September 1st, 2026 special meeting minutes as presented by 17 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,480 the honorable County Executive and County Clerk. 18 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,680 » So moved. >> Second. 19 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,520 » Motion by Commissioner Young, second by Commissioner Stokes. Any discussion? 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,720 All in favor? >> Aye. 21 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,240 » Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Ms. Beck. 22 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:21,280 » You're welcome. >> Number four, consider and approval of 23 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:25,880 request to cancel all registered claims from August 26th, 2026 and approval of 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,920 today's cash statement, both presented by the honorable Angie Smith, County 25 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,840 Treasurer. Good morning, Ms. Smith. >> Good morning. 26 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,920 I'm asking the court to release me of the liability of $1,866,185.38 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:43,320 and to cancel the vouchers related to this matter. 28 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:46,200 These are the vouchers or the county bills and payroll related expenses that 29 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:50,280 were presented and approved at Commissioner's Court meeting held on 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:55,920 August the 26th. For the cash report summary, general 31 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:59,200 checking account as of September the 3rd had $290,038.68. 32 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:07,120 First Financial Bank General Checking Special Money Market account had 33 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,120 $25,570,259.58. 34 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,800 The Tax Pool General account had $379,127.29 35 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,400 for a grand total of $26,239,425.55. 36 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,640 » That's reported as paid. Motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, 37 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:32,320 seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? 38 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:36,240 All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? 39 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:39,560 Motion passes. Thank you, Ms. Smith. Number five, authorization pay county 40 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,880 bills as presented by Mrs. Candace McKinney, County Auditor. Good morning, 41 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:47,840 Mrs. McKinney. >> Good morning. Pre-approved expenditures 42 00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:47,840 for August 26th was $1,345,750.12. 43 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:55,120 Pre-approved expenditures for September the 2nd through the 3rd were 44 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,120 $665,091.50. 45 00:02:55,920 --> 00:03:01,160 Expenditures for today, September the 8th, are $477,157.50. 46 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,280 For a total expenditure and transfer of $2,487,998.67. 47 00:03:09,519 --> 00:03:14,360 Gross payroll for September 3rd was $623,935.32. 48 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:20,200 The total transfer for that payroll was $766,845.30. 49 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:26,160 » Move to pay bill. >> Second. 50 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,600 » Motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Any 51 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:32,880 discussion? All in favor? Aye. 52 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:38,040 Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Ms. McKinney. 53 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:40,840 Number six is to discuss and possible discussion and possible action to 54 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:44,959 approve and accept for filing in the minutes of the court the district court 55 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:48,320 orders establishing the compensation of the County Auditor, Assistant County 56 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:52,480 Auditors, and the official court reporters of the 88th and the 356th 57 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,960 Judicial District Courts for fiscal year 2027. 58 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:59,840 We have the order that's been signed by Judge Thomas 59 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:03,720 and Judge Stover. And Judge Stover and Ms. McKinney have both informed me that 60 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:07,800 these are the rates included in the proposed budget filed 61 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,880 by me on August the 4th. >> Second. 62 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:13,280 » Have motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Cook. Any 63 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,880 discussion? All in favor? 64 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,359 » Aye. >> Any opposed? 65 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:21,760 Motion passes. Number seven, consider and possibly set 66 00:04:20,239 --> 00:04:25,919 the salaries, expenses, and all other allowances of elected county and 67 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:29,360 precinct officers for fiscal year 2027. And once again, these are the 68 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,800 uh rates that are included in the proposed budget filed August the 4th. 69 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,840 » Second. >> Second. 70 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:37,480 » Motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Any 71 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,040 discussion? All in favor? 72 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:43,560 » Aye. >> Any opposed? 73 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,560 Motion passes. 74 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:51,400 Number eight, consider and possibly ratify the property tax revenue increase 75 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:55,640 reflected in the 2027 fiscal year 2027 Hardin County budget. 76 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,640 And 77 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:04,400 it shows that the 2026-2027 Hardin County budget will raise more 78 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:08,440 revenue from property taxes than the previous year's budget by an amount of 79 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:12,000 $1,088,328, which is a 4.254% 80 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,720 increase from the previous year's budget. 81 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:19,919 The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll 82 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,919 this year is $1,533,744. 83 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,160 » I move that we ratify the statement that I just read. 84 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:29,560 » Seconded by Commissioner Cooper. >> Any discussion? 85 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,880 All in favor? >> Aye. 86 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,800 » Any opposed? Motion passes. 87 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:39,400 Once again, I just want to say most of that comes from the Black King Pipeline. 88 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,520 New revenue into the next uh budget year. 89 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,840 Number nine, consider, discuss, and possibly adopt the fiscal year 2027 90 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,760 Hardin County budget. We had a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. and uh 91 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:56,280 I read over all of this thoroughly. I'm going to brief briefly uh repeat it. 92 00:05:53,720 --> 00:06:02,960 And so, the amount of the uh total budget for 2027 or fiscal year 2027 is 93 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,960 $32,254,118. 94 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:10,560 Of that, $26,403,382 would be from tax revenue. 95 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:14,280 And is there any discussion regarding that? We had no comments at all from 96 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,400 the public during the public hearing, but at this time, if anybody would like 97 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,840 to make a comment, I'll open the floor again. 98 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,080 Hearing no comments, I'll entertain a uh motion. 99 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,919 » Uh move to approve. >> Second. 100 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,480 » A motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Young. Any 101 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:32,160 discussion? This requires a record vote, so 102 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,120 Commissioner Cooper. >> Yes. 103 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,520 » Commissioner Kirkendall. >> Yes. 104 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,919 » Commissioner Young. >> Yes. 105 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,960 » Commissioner Cook. >> Yes. 106 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:45,640 » And I vote yes. That's a Uh the motion passes unanimously to 107 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:49,400 adopt the fiscal year 2027 Hardin County budget. 108 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:53,960 Moving on to number 10, consider and possibly approve an order to adopt the 109 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:58,200 tax rate of 0.481223 per $100 valuation for the 2026 tax 110 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:04,280 year. The debt service rate tax rate is zero 111 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:06,880 per $100 valuation, and that is because the 112 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,400 uh certificate of obligation was paid off during this fiscal year for the 113 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:13,840 annex. And the maintenance and operation tax 114 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:18,800 rate is 0.481223 per $100 valuation. And that breaks down 115 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:24,960 as follows. The general fund is 0.392078, 116 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:29,040 the jury fund 0.015787, and the road and bridge fund 0.073358. 117 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,720 » Move to approve. >> Second. 118 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:36,080 » A motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Any 119 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,880 discussion? Commissioner Cook, your vote. 120 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,800 » Yes. >> Commissioner Young. 121 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,120 » Yes. >> Commissioner Kirkendall. 122 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,480 » Yes. >> Commissioner Cooper. 123 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,000 » Yes. >> And I vote yes. That's a unanimous vote 124 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:50,000 in favor of the of adopting that tax rate to fund the budget. 125 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:57,240 And that is all regarding the budget and the tax rate. Thanks very much to 126 00:07:54,720 --> 00:08:00,240 Candace, Steve Smith, Lisa, everybody who worked hard to make sure that we put 127 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:03,800 a budget together and of course all the elected officials and department heads 128 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,960 that worked together so well each year to make sure that this is an easier 129 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:10,480 process than it has been in the past. Thank you all. 130 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:14,560 Number 11, discussion and possible action concerning adoption of fiscal 131 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:18,160 year 2027 county payroll schedule as requested by Ms. Smith. 132 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,600 We have a payroll schedule here and Ms. Smith, I know there's two items 133 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:25,560 highlighted in yellow. Do you want to talk about those? 134 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:31,360 » Um yes, those two this is basically just showing that the very first payroll of 135 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:36,960 fiscal year 27 that would include the wage increases would be on the October 136 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:41,640 15th payroll. Okay. Uh because of the gap accrual 137 00:08:38,599 --> 00:08:47,760 accounting, we have the payroll period from 9/13 through 9/26 would be accrued 138 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:52,160 back into fiscal year 26. And so therefore in order to have the 26 139 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:56,720 pay periods that we should have, we would have to the the pay would go 140 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:59,440 into effect on October 15th. And this is in line with what we did last year as 141 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,320 well. >> So October the 15th, that's when the 142 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,280 raise is going into effect? >> That is correct. 143 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,960 » Candace, do you agree that's the right statement? 144 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:12,480 » Uh yes, sir. So um what was done last year is we had the conversation of when 145 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:17,839 those would go into effect and the statement was made that uh 146 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:22,680 whatever day is the pay period was that had mostly October dates would be the 147 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:26,400 date cuz we have some limitations on our um 148 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:30,120 in our software as far as uh splitting rates. Um 149 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,720 so that goes in line with what we did last year. 150 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:36,200 » And this is good paid every other Thursday except two dates and that has 151 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,440 to do with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those will be a Wednesday payday. 152 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:40,440 » That's correct. >> Did I cut you off, Candace, or are you 153 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,400 done? >> No, I'm done. 154 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:46,040 » Okay, making sure. We're good then. Have motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, 155 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,880 seconded by Commissioner Young, any discussion? 156 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,920 All in favor. >> Aye. 157 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:54,480 » Any opposed? Motion passes. 158 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:57,320 Number 12, consider approval of request by the Honorable Ernie Cook, County 159 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,120 Commissioner, to enter into an agreement with the Hardin County Youth Soccer 160 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:05,040 Club, whereby the Soccer Club will contribute or reimburse $1,800 to Hardin 161 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:09,160 County for the use of the Hardin County Veterans Park concession stand, soccer 162 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:12,640 fields, normal utilities and supplies. If approved, this agreement will be in 163 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:15,840 effect from October 1st, 2026 through September 30th, 2027. 164 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:20,000 Mr. Cook, >> Yes, sir. 165 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:23,920 Uh no, there's no no new information to add on this. This is something that 166 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:29,480 we've done for the past uh numerous years and and before I came into office. 167 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:33,840 So, I'm ready to approve this. >> Motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by 168 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:35,360 Commissioner Kirkendall, any discussion? All in favor. 169 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,840 » Aye. >> Any opposed? 170 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:42,320 Motion passes. 14, consider request by Chief Juvenile 171 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,839 Probation Officer Monica Kelly to authorize the County Judge to sign the 172 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:51,560 Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program and Memorandum of Understanding 173 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:56,560 for the school year 2026 through 2027. Any changes or is just a renewal? 174 00:10:53,839 --> 00:10:56,560 » No changes. 175 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,760 » So moved. Have motion by Commissioner Cooper, 176 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,680 seconded by Commissioner Young, any discussion? 177 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,720 All in favor. >> Aye. 178 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:11,839 » Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. 179 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:15,040 Let's go back to 13 since I skipped it. Consider approval of request from Mrs. 180 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:18,880 Latasha Jones, Health Department Director, to authorize the County Judge 181 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:23,040 to execute a renewal agreement with LIT Beaumont Nursing Program. Um 182 00:11:21,839 --> 00:11:27,440 Mrs. Holmes couldn't be here this morning, but she told me this is just a 183 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:31,320 renewal and this allows the LIT uh students going through the nursing 184 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:33,400 program to come here and shadow uh the nurses here at the Health Services 185 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,280 Department. >> So, moved 186 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:40,160 » Motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Young. Any discussion? 187 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,400 All in favor? >> Aye. 188 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:46,160 » Any opposed? Motion passes. 189 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:49,720 Now, 15. Consider approval of request by Mrs. Misty Sams, Purchasing Agent, to 190 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:54,920 present results of bids received for overlaying approximately 1,120 ft by 18 191 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:59,080 ft of Beasley Drive, located in Precinct 4, and possibly award to successful 192 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,600 vendor. Good morning, Mrs. Sams. >> Good morning. 193 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:07,560 Bids were opened on August 20th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the Purchasing Department. 194 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:12,320 Stacy Ecker and Pat Boyer were present. We received two bids. CMM Construction 195 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:16,680 at $5 a square yard, and Construction Managers of Southeast 196 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Texas for $7 a square yard. >> Commissioner, uh, Cook. 197 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:25,800 » Yes, sir. Uh, while I hate to 198 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:30,600 pay that that much, I know it's gotten become very expensive the last year or 199 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:33,880 so to have a piece of road overlaid, but I move to approve. 200 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:38,360 » Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by 201 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,920 Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? All in favor? 202 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,560 » Aye. >> Any opposed? 203 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:47,240 Motion passes. Thank you. 16. Consider approval of request by 204 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:51,520 Melinda Harrington, Human Resources Director, to authorize the County Judge 205 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:55,320 to sign the 2026-2027 renewal notice and benefit confirmation 206 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,280 for health, dental, vision, and life insurance rates offered by the Texas 207 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:01,920 Association of Counties Health and Employees Benefits Pool, and the 208 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:05,800 2026-2027 Healthy County County Specific 209 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:08,400 Initiative Program Participation Agreement. 210 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:12,560 Uh, Mrs. Harrington informed me this morning the information that was sent 211 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:16,000 originally that was attached to the, uh, link on the agenda. There's been a 212 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:19,160 slight change in that, and I don't think it changes any rates, but it has a few 213 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,240 changes that I think you're going to talk about here before we, uh, go any 214 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,440 further. >> Yes, the only thing that was, um, TAC 215 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:29,160 had made a mistake on was our renewal options. They give us, uh, three 216 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:33,600 different options per plan each year. And whenever I was um reviewing 217 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:36,840 everything, I noticed that they they weren't correct. And so, I had sent an 218 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:40,640 email out to the um um this doesn't affect the renewal rates 219 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,320 or anything. So, um 220 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,520 I mean >> Belinda discovered a mistake about a 221 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:49,120 week and a half ago, brought it to their attention. It took them some time, but 222 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:52,040 they got it fixed. So, uh we received all the new documentation earlier this 223 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:56,160 morning. That'll that'll be uploaded to the agenda and emailed out to y'all so 224 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:56,160 you have it. 225 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:00,680 » And these are the rates that were approved in court, correct? 226 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:03,040 » Yes, sir. >> So, 227 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:05,600 » Is it included in the budget? >> Motion by Commissioner Young, seconded 228 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,640 by Commissioner Purkendal. Any discussion? 229 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,680 All in favor? >> Aye. 230 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,880 » Any opposed? Motion passes. 231 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:16,280 » Thank you. >> Number 17, consider and possibly 232 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:20,160 authorize the county judge to apply to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 233 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:23,160 for the fiscal year 2017 Rural Ambulance Services Grant Program in support of 234 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:27,080 Hardin County Emergency Services District 5. 235 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:30,839 An amount of $350,000 for the purchase of an ambulance, including necessary 236 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:35,600 accessories and modifications. Uh we had a meeting back in January, if 237 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:40,839 I recall. And uh we had decided at that time to support ESD 2 with the 238 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:44,800 application for this year fiscal year. And then we would uh support ESD 5 for 239 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:49,160 the next fiscal year, which uh is the reason we have ESD 5 as the uh 240 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:53,760 grantee, I guess it is what we'll call them. And I think it's taking what, 18 241 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:56,240 months or more to get an ambulance now. So, we're supporting them this year, but 242 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,560 they won't get the the ambulance probably till the next fiscal year. 243 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,920 » Move to approve. >> Second. 244 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:05,000 » Motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? 245 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,160 All in favor? >> Aye. 246 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:12,839 » Any opposed? Motion passes. Just to uh 247 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:17,360 just to kind of uh tell y'all the one we uh supported ESD 2, got that grant money 248 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,920 in, I think sometime in February, and they won't get the ambulance until 249 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:24,760 probably January 2028. So, that money will just have to sit in the account 250 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:28,880 till comes in and then then we'll pay for it, go through the process of 251 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:33,040 getting an MOU entered to uh make sure that it becomes that's their ambulance. 252 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:37,160 They'll insure it and all that kind of stuff. There is a difference there. If I 253 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:42,120 remember right, it's around $40,000. ESD 2 will pay that difference. 254 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:45,280 Item number 18, discussion on any other non-agenda item without taking action 255 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:48,960 including announcements which may be of interest to the public. Uh one big 256 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,880 announcement is today is Aaron Tupper's birthday, so happy 257 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,880 » Birthday, Aaron. 258 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,760 » 39, is that right? >> Yes, or somewhere in there. 259 00:15:55,520 --> 00:16:00,320 » Somewhere in there. >> 44. 260 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:03,400 » That's not bad, either. Uh 261 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:06,400 next we had a little storm last week and uh that was that board. It was not 262 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:10,440 supposed to have much effects, but it had lots of effects on Hardin County. 263 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:14,920 So, just want to remind everybody that had any damages to their house or their 264 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:19,520 car, uh even fences or anything like that, please enter that information into 265 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:23,360 the TDEM iSTAT. That's uh can be found on the uh Hardin County Emergency 266 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:26,040 Management Facebook page and on mine. Please go in there and enter your 267 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:29,680 information. Uh we do have some volunteer organizations volunteer 268 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:32,800 organizations active in disaster. They are in Hardin County now. 269 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:36,920 And Aaron and I have a meeting with one of them at 11:00. And that information 270 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:40,560 that comes through the state is filtered down to each county and we take that 271 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,480 data and provide it to them and they do reach out to each of those locations. 272 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,080 They go by there and look at the damages. If there's anything they can do 273 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,160 to help, they're doing that. Unfortunately, a power outage which 274 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:54,200 caused lots of people to lose their food, that is not covered by any type of 275 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:57,320 uh volunteer programs, but it may be 276 00:16:55,880 --> 00:17:00,800 covered by your insurance. So, check with your insurance agent to see if 277 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:03,800 they'll cover that. It may or may not. Uh I know back during Rita, everybody's 278 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:07,240 insurance covered it, but nowadays everybody's don't. So, check with your 279 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:11,920 insurance agent and uh talk to them about it. They may cover that. 280 00:17:09,319 --> 00:17:15,640 Uh I did issue a disaster declaration uh probably during the middle of the storm. 281 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:19,240 There's no governor's day uh declaration as of this moment and is is there one 282 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:23,839 coming, or do we know, or are they still working on assessments? 283 00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:26,760 So, uh Chief Rail, of course, uh provided quite a bit of assistance 284 00:17:25,120 --> 00:17:30,200 through TDEM. We also had offers of assistance from Jefferson County, uh 285 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:33,280 Commissioner Erickson. And 286 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:38,720 Representative Holt reached out to me numerous times during and after the uh 287 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:43,600 event. So did uh Representative Ashby and Senator Nichols, and uh 288 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:47,280 Congressman Babin. Senator Cruz's uh assistant was here in 289 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:51,280 the EOC with us. We didn't really have our EOC stood up, but makeshift EOC, we 290 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:55,000 had that going Friday. He stopped by for about an hour and visited with us, made 291 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:58,600 sure we were okay. We sure appreciate all of the uh assistance that we had and 292 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,880 the offers of assistance that we had. >> And Judge uh Commissioner Marks from 293 00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:05,000 Jefferson County reached out to me and offered assistance as well, too. Yes, 294 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,840 sir. Appreciate our neighbors. >> Judge uh 295 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:11,200 Sylvia in Chambers County, all the county judges locally had reached out to 296 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:14,840 me and offered to come do anything that we wanted. Of course, all I told them 297 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:18,040 was we wanted the power back on. Energy stepped up and did a great job. 298 00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:21,320 Uh communication is not like it used to be, 299 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,920 and that is nobody's fault here locally. That stems from uh corporate-level 300 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:29,360 communication. But as far as getting the power back on, I think they did great. 301 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:32,600 So, uh anybody want to add anything to to 302 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:37,280 anything regarding the storm? >> So, we're still picking up trees from 303 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:41,720 the roadways uh that fell across the roads. Uh that's today, and 304 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,200 we're uh grading all the dirt roads and roadways starting today. 305 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,520 » Glad you brought that up, cuz I meant to say the county is not big enough to pick 306 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:51,280 up any debris from uh like we have in the past. If there's a uh presidential 307 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:55,240 declaration and we get FEMA assistance to pick up debris, we initiate a debris 308 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:59,080 contract, which is several million dollars to go pick up debris. You also 309 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,720 have to monitor the debris, dump it at a site, and it's got to be 310 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,560 carried from there and disposed of properly. There's a whole process for 311 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:07,600 debris pick up. And it's millions of dollars to do it, 312 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:12,040 and the county does not have the money to go pick up debris. If we don't get a 313 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:16,080 uh the assistance or federal assistance, we can't pick up debris. So, I know that 314 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:19,600 I got beat up pretty bad for saying we can't pick up debris, but we're not. And 315 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,840 then other cities are in Hardin County either to my knowledge. I've talked to a 316 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:26,280 few of them. And they're not picking up debris inside the cities either. If any 317 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:30,160 of them change that and tell me they are, I'll let you know, but 318 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:32,400 uh we're not picking up debris. So, 319 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:35,600 if you set in the middle of the road or in the county right-of-way, it's not 320 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,000 being picked up. All right. Some of them did say they were going to set set it in 321 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,280 the middle of the road, and if they do, we're going to call the sheriff and 322 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:43,800 handle it that way cuz that is a crime to do that. I don't think anybody will 323 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:47,960 do it, but you never know. 324 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:50,240 Anything else regarding the storm? Aaron, did I miss anything? 325 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:54,040 » No, sir. >> Sheriff, your guys came out and did a 326 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:56,800 lot of work during the uh before, during, and after of the storm, 327 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,680 and we really appreciate all the assistance there. And I'll tell you 328 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:03,640 something you always do when we have a storm is you send uh Captain uh Sanford 329 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,440 to work with us, and that is always a big help as well. He's very 330 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:10,000 knowledgeable and has a lot of experience with uh 331 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:14,120 rising waters and things like that, and we appreciate that very much. 332 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:17,600 » Representative Hope said that she expected that if that uh Governor Abbott 333 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,000 was going to claim a disaster, he would have done it by now. 334 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,720 » Yeah, that's kind of what we see as well. 335 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,240 I did ask you to pick up the debris, and I got a no. 336 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:30,440 I expected that. Didn't hurt to ask. >> It never hurts to ask. 337 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:34,320 » All right, any other announcements which may be of interest to the public or any 338 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,720 discussion items? Sheriff? 339 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:40,120 » Can you Can you go back to number 11? Cuz I'm going to be asked as soon as I 340 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:43,240 get back to my office, when will the employees see the new rate, which 341 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,600 paycheck? >> Angel? 342 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:47,960 » Top 10 of 15. >> The 15th paycheck? Okay. 343 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,000 » Good deal. And that is the same way we did it last 344 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:56,680 year, I think? The year before, right? >> It's We did it this way last year. 345 00:20:55,240 --> 00:21:00,920 » Okay. >> The year before, we it was going into 346 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:06,280 effect the first payroll cycle, but really and truly those days were 347 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:09,160 like you were accruing a new adopted budget rate back into a previous fiscal 348 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,960 year. >> All right. And so it was the numbers 349 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,560 were off. >> It always causes problems with the 350 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:19,320 audit. That we had to enable. 351 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:23,240 Uh one other question that's probably going to be asked is longevity pay. And 352 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:26,640 so the plan on that is to take action on longevity pay at our first meeting in 353 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:32,240 October, which is October the 13th. 354 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:35,040 So October the 13th we'll take action on longevity pay. It's budgeted. 355 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:38,400 Everybody's going to get longevity pay, but they will not get it 356 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:42,280 their first paycheck in October the way we had done in previous years. We're 357 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:45,800 going to pay it in a lump sum, at least that is the plan. 358 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:49,440 And uh on October the 13th we'll take action as to what date that's going to 359 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:53,000 be paid. Engine and I've had some brief discussion about that and talked about 360 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:56,040 paying it sometime in November, but that law come to court and action will be 361 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:59,560 taken then. We can't take action on a budget that we're not we're not in that 362 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:04,200 budget year yet, but we will take action at our first meeting in October. 363 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:09,360 Any other questions about the budget or any other discussion regarding anything 364 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,360 that's not on the agenda? 365 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:14,960 All right, we'll go to that last line item. 366 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:17,640 Move to adjourn. Have motion by Commissioner Cook, 367 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:22,640 seconded by Commissioner Kirkendall to adjourn. All in favor, 368 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,640 we are adjourned.