[0:11] here in in internet land. Today is the 10th day of September September 2026. It

[0:17] is 6 pm. Uh we are going to open with our public hearing. Uh today uh item

[0:23] number one is the public hearing to discuss the proposed budget for for

[0:26] fiscal year October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 and hear public

[0:32] comments through local government uh government code 111.007.

[0:37] Item two, citizens to be heard. Do we have anybody signed up to speak this

[0:41] morning? >> No.

[0:41] » This evening >> hearing none. Uh the public meeting to

[0:46] discuss the proposed tax rates. Uh, item one, discuss discuss K County, Texas

[0:51] 2026 proposed, I'm sorry, tax rates. Uh, we're going to

[0:57] A discuss the general fund maintenance and operating tax rate. B, acknowledge

[1:03] there is no general fund interest in syncing tax rate. C, discuss road and

[1:08] bridge special maintenance and operating tax rate. And that is Texas government

[1:11] code 551.043. House Bill 1522 makes me say all of this

[1:17] and I will reference it going forward as House Bill 1522, the taxpayer impact

[1:23] statement notice. House Bill 1522 passed by the Texas

[1:28] Legislature in 2025 amends section 551.043

[1:33] of the Texas Government Code to require that the notice of a meeting required to

[1:38] be posted under section 551.043A 043A

[1:42] of the Texas Open Meetings Act, at which a government body will discuss or adopt

[1:47] a budget for the governmental body must include a taxpayer impact statement

[1:51] showing for the median valued homestead property, a comparison of the property

[1:57] tax bill in dollars pertaining to the property for the current fiscal year to

[2:03] to an estimate of the property tax bill in dollars for the same property for the

[2:09] upcoming fiscal year. Kins County has proposed a budget for the 2026-2027

[2:15] fiscal year. Kins County intends to adopt its budget on September 10th,

[2:21] 2026. 2025

[2:24] uh value of medium median valued homestead property in K County is

[2:29] $53,446.

[2:32] 2025 property tax bill for the current fiscal year uh.241058

[2:39] and that is $128.84.

[2:42] 2026 value of medium median valued homestead property in K County is

[2:48] $111,331.

[2:52] Estimated 2026 property tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year if K County adopts

[2:58] the proposed budget and tax rate 310890

[3:04] per 100 of value for 346.12.

[3:10] Estimated 2026 property tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year if Kins County

[3:16] adopts a balanced budget at the no new revenue tax rate is 310890

[3:24] per 100 of value which is $346.12.

[3:31] The estimates in this impact statement are valid only for the proposed budget

[3:35] and proposed tax rate that the governing body of KS County will discuss at its

[3:41] meeting on September 10th, 2026. The proposed budget and the proposed tax

[3:47] rate may each be amended by the governing body of KS County before their

[3:52] final adoption. uh reading this. Whenever we get to that

[3:57] um that spot again, I'm going to reference that as uh House Bill 1522 for

[4:04] the public here and the public listening so y'all don't have to hear me read all

[4:09] those things again. Okay, we're here for our special meeting now. Again, welcome.

[4:13] We do have a quorum present. Uh we're going to stand for a prayer real real

[4:18] quick. One of my favorites. And uh we'll do a pledge. and citizens. Again, Lord,

[4:22] we pray for the wisdom to apply your teachings to our daily lives. Help us to

[4:27] discern your will in every situation and to make choices that honor you and bless

[4:32] others. Grant us the strength to resist temptation and the courage to stand firm

[4:36] in our convictions. May our lives be a reflection of your wisdom and your

[4:40] grace, Lord. And we ask this in your name. Amen.

[4:43] » Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[4:48] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[4:53] justice for all. >> All right, Jamie. Anybody signed up to

[4:57] speak? >> No.

[4:58] » Item number six, discuss, approve, disapprove, setting base salaries for

[5:02] the elected officials for fiscal year 2026-2027.

[5:07] Uh, starting with myself, the county judge, Wade Hedkkey, $80,000. County

[5:12] clerk, $74,000. The district clerk, $74,000.

[5:17] Justice of the Peace Precinct One, $60,000. Justice of the Peace Precinct

[5:22] 2, $60,000. Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, $60,000.

[5:27] Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, $60,000. County Attorney, $77,000.

[5:33] County Treasurer, $74,000. Tax Assessor Collector $74,000.

[5:40] Constable one, $55,000. Constable precinct 2, $55,000. Constable precinct

[5:46] 3, $55,000. Constable precinct 4, $55,000.

[5:52] Sheriff, $90,000. Commissioner Precinct 1, $74,000.

[5:58] Commissioner Precinct 2, $74,000. Commissioner Precinct 3, $74,000. and

[6:04] commissioner precinct for $74,000. I am referencing again Texas Government Code

[6:10] 551.043, House Bill 1522, our taxpayer impact

[6:16] statement to reflect that on item number six for elected official salaries. The

[6:22] 20 I'm not going to read all that again. That's again this is the uh median

[6:26] median valued homestead properties the tax bill for current fiscal year all the

[6:31] things that I talked about earlier on earlier earlier earlier on house bill uh

[6:36] 1522 item number seven discuss approve

[6:40] disapprove adoption of the fiscal year 2026 that's

[6:43] » judge >> yep

[6:46] » we're gonna discuss >> oh yes we do need to I'm sorry

[6:49] » approve disapprove um y it came to my um attention that the uh juvenile

[6:55] supplement wasn't it was published in the paper to on your salary and my

[6:59] salary which um >> but that does not reflect your base

[7:02] salary for your elected official. It is a supplement.

[7:05] » Okay. So okay I didn't know how that was going to

[7:08] » because it doesn't it doesn't list my juvenile and it does not list my state

[7:11] supplement. This is the elected official.

[7:13] » Those aren't it's not a state Mine's not a state supplement.

[7:16] » You're right. Yours is not. >> Yours is your yours is state supplement.

[7:19] » Mine is state. Yes. >> Okay. Mine is is not. the county would

[7:22] pay for it. So, um I would request that an oral amend motion or amendment be

[7:28] made to include the the additional $5,700.

[7:31] » Okay. >> Uh is that legal without posting in the

[7:37] paper? >> We we spoke about it in open court and

[7:40] it was record should have been recorded in the minutes uh from the last meeting.

[7:44] » It it was and it was posted in the newspaper with the correct amounts in

[7:48] there. >> Okay. Oral amendment.

[7:51] uh need to needs to be made in the motion on item number six.

[7:55] » I'll make the motion to approve item number six as presented with an oral

[7:58] amendment from on H County Attorney 77,000 to do the juvenile supplement an

[8:04] additional 5,700. >> I second it.

[8:07] » Okay. Motion and a second. All those in favor item number six with the oral

[8:12] amendment right hand. Anybody opposed? None.

[8:16] Okay. Now we can move to item number seven. discuss, approve, disapprove the

[8:19] adoption of the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for KS County, Texas, local

[8:25] government code 111.008. Uh myself is the author and uh Tom is

[8:32] also on there for me and I will quote again for the public here in in internet

[8:38] land uh Texas government code 551.043, House Bill 1522, our taxpayer impact

[8:46] statement notice. Commissioner Beatatric.

[8:50] » Thank you, Judge. I had asked the judge if when we could go through this

[8:55] together again, that way we would uh make sure that anything I saw, I wanted

[9:00] to make sure I brought up and we were all on the same page. Anything that is

[9:03] different from what was published on the county website. Uh I went through this

[9:07] page by page and I just wanted to at least read them out and if the court

[9:11] would like to discuss them, great. If not, I just want to be transparent with

[9:14] the public on what has changed from what was published online to what is now

[9:18] before us. In the county clerks department 403, we had init published we

[9:26] showed five deputy clerks at $216,816.34.

[9:32] That has been changed to four hourly clerks at $187,816.34.

[9:40] A part-time deputy clerk was added at $20,000.

[9:46] Then >> thumbs up from back here.

[9:49] » Yep.

[9:58] » For the county clerk's bond, we had budgeted $87.50.

[10:03] That increased to $31063 because the bond actually increased and

[10:08] we had to increase that amount.

[10:13] In the veteran service office, we had budgeted $10,36728

[10:19] for health insurance. >> What number is that?

[10:22] » That is in department 405. I am on page four of 61. It is

[10:28] » 405 >> is 100 4052020 is where I'm at now.

[10:33] » Okay. >> The VSO is not going to utilize the

[10:37] county's health insurance. uh he gets it um through the federal government,

[10:43] but I wonder court if we should still budget that amount in case our VSO were

[10:48] to leave us and someone else were to take it and was not on that

[10:52] wanted to discuss that as a group. How do y'all feel?

[10:59] Leave it out because we know he's not going to use it or add it back in case

[11:04] we ever had to replace that? We we could always uh if if our VSO uh left for some

[11:11] reason um we could we had to draw out of the contingency and and whatever you

[11:18] know salary there would be some salary differential because of the the timeline

[11:24] that our current BSO has been here. Uh I think that we could probably swing it.

[11:29] Uh there's options but for transparency I'd like to I'd like to leave it out.

[11:37] I don't want somebody to come in and say, "Hey, you know, well, I've got this

[11:40] money. It was we budgeted uh wrong knowing that it was wrong." Um, I can

[11:46] just pull from that. You know what I'm saying?

[11:48] » Yes, sir. >> Well, I like our VSO, so he better not

[11:53] think about going anywhere. >> Before you move on, though, um, when you

[11:59] were talking about my part-time clerk, >> Yes, ma'am.

[12:01] » my part-time clerk will be working 29 hours. Is that correct? that seller

[12:07] » 29 hours. >> 29 hours is that

[12:11] » we had 20,000 hours. >> That would only be 20 hours.

[12:20] » So at 29 hours, uh they will u qualify for benefits

[12:28] at the 29 hours. >> So I need So how so I need to have part

[12:34] time. >> 20 hours.

[12:37] » 20 hours.

[12:43] » Can you make you can make that work? >> Make it work.

[12:46] » Yeah. >> So 20,000 number.

[12:49] » So that's why I'm asking. So is that so with the 20 hours is the salary

[12:53] » 20,000? >> The salary will be the 20,000 and they

[12:57] won't qualify. >> Okay.

[12:59] » Yeah, >> we're good.

[13:04] Yes.

[13:10] » Without >> Okay.

[13:16] » So, so if I want my part time to work the 29 hours won't get won't get benefit

[13:22] or he so the $20,000 reflected as a salary is not correct.

[13:26] » That would not be correct. And for the up to 29 hours.

[13:30] » So I had when I had discussed it with about the $29.

[13:36] So what can I do now? >> Can make that that change

[13:42] » if the court see it to >> that would be 29,000 instead of 20,000.

[13:49] » I'm fine with that. >> I am too.

[13:52] » Thank you. >> 25,000

[13:56] 29 >> and the salary would be 29,000.

[13:59] » 29

[14:07] Thank you, Ela.

[14:12] » And just so so folks know, uh here, and if anybody's watching, I'm sure folks

[14:17] are watching. Uh I know some that are. Um these

[14:22] uh changes that Commissioner Beatatric is is going over. Uh,

[14:28] one, I want to thank him so much um for going over line by line uh the budget

[14:35] over the last week. Uh, and these are just some things that he identified that

[14:39] were typos. Um, things that left out. It's it's a lot. Y'all hear me say this

[14:45] whenever Tom and Jose and his office are entering these numbers. I can't imagine

[14:50] how tired your eyes get and numbers get transposed. Uh so I am thankful for the

[14:58] third set of eyes. Michelle and I uh spend tons of time Michelle more time

[15:02] than me um going line by line and I appreciate you commissioner Beatatric

[15:07] for for doing that. So proceed

[15:13] court under the treasures county treasurer we had dues.

[15:19] It's 104974810.

[15:23] In our previous workshop, we thought it was a typo at $1,775.

[15:29] We reduced it to 175 for the proposed budget, but I have been told that that

[15:33] due actually needed to be the 1775. So, it's been changed back to that.

[15:40] » What page you on? >> I that was page 14 of 61.

[15:45] Do do you mind reading acceptation numbers out loud every time just so I

[15:49] better >> Yes ma'am I will do that

[15:55] » I didn't feel it was necessary to read out every time like um it would change

[15:59] FICA and Medicaid unless I thought it was a a major issue

[16:07] on page 16 of 61 we have electrical air conditioning

[16:14] repairs 100 510 4552

[16:19] we had put in the proposed budget 44,000 that's been reduced to 40,000 I think it

[16:24] was a typo previously or something I don't remember

[16:28] » so it needs to be at 40,000 and that's what it is now

[16:41] on page 17 of 61 in emergency medical service. We have in our ES EMS captains

[16:49] 1541080. In our budget that was proposed budget,

[16:53] it was $371,73644.

[16:58] It is now at $383,469.

[17:03] I think that's just to adjust for pay.

[17:17] So there's an error, but it's been corrected now. And that affected

[17:22] Medicaid and the health insurance and retirement for that entire

[17:26] department.

[17:31] On page 18 of 61, I had dues and subscriptions 100404810.

[17:39] We had previously agreed on $19,500. That's been increased to $19,700.

[17:46] Just all of the dues and subscriptions apparently are getting more expensive on

[17:50] us.

[17:57] On page 21 of 61 under office expenses for constable 4,

[18:03] it was 1005543,100. We had $70 in there. That was a typo. It

[18:09] has been corrected to $1,500 to match the rest of the constable's offices.

[18:19] On 22 of 61, we have

[18:24] 156199 for the assistant dispatch

[18:28] administrator. We had put in our proposed budget $50,000. It has been

[18:33] increased to $61,689.71.

[18:38] I believe that the understanding I have was we had a later planning to have a

[18:42] lateral move and the person is going to keep their longevity pay and so we have

[18:46] to budget that higher number of the of the step program. Okay.

[18:52] that online

[18:56] on page 24. Office furniture had no budget

[19:04] under the

[19:07] I think this is the sheriff's office still

[19:10] sheriff's department and $15,300 has been added back added into the

[19:16] budget for office furniture for the sheriff's office. I assume that was a

[19:21] clerical error. We just failed to get that in there.

[19:24] » Yes, ma'am. >> It just didn't make it into our proposed

[19:48] In this morning's court, this isn't on any page number, but we decided we were

[19:52] going to add a $500 for health inspector. What did we

[19:56] call it, Tom? What was the line item going to be called?

[19:59] » Uh, fees.

[20:01] » Inspection fees. That's not in the proposed budget, but it will be added to

[20:05] » it. Will be after court action today. We just need to add this.

[20:10] » Yes.

[20:22] On page 29 under the IT department, we had proposed $50,000 for telephone. That

[20:29] is increased to $52,800.

[20:38] On page 30,

[20:42] our webpage domain was proposed at $10,000.

[20:46] It has increased to $18,950.

[20:52] Our subscription licenses were proposed at $72,000. That has increased to

[20:56] $74,400.

[21:04] Jimmy just told me that subscriptions and everything are getting more

[21:06] expensive. So,

[21:15] » we're adding more phones and so it's costing more for the telephones.

[21:31] On page 34, we had contract election revenues

[21:36] and excuse me, I'm going to go to election day workers. We had budgeted

[21:39] $66,500. That has been reduced to $60,000.

[21:45] Is that accurate? We need to reduce that number or do we need to go back to 665?

[21:58] on page 34

[22:05] » so it needs to go back to the 665 that's 142 638 1022

[22:15] Yes. Yes.

[22:35] When we get to pre-trial diversion funds in on page 35,

[22:40] a lot of our assistant county attorney legal clerk was taken out of there. Uh

[22:46] FICO, Medicaid was missing, life insurance was missing. Has that been

[22:51] resolved and added back now or >> Right. So what that is is county

[22:56] attorney has a two positions at a grant position,

[22:58] » right? >> That Senate bill 22 can only fund X

[23:01] dollars and this the remainder of it which allowable to and like the health

[23:05] insurance we charge the county attorney's office and then whatever the

[23:08] residuals are got charged back to the pre-trial because they're on a step

[23:12] program. So that's what you stepped. >> So when what was published in our

[23:15] proposed under 690 >> right

[23:17] » six >> 606 it was under 606 which was county

[23:20] forfeite fund you can't pay salaries out of forfeite fund

[23:24] » okay but we had fica medicaid at this at 27841 and life insurance at 1180 I'm not

[23:32] seeing it here in section >> I think in the original budget the

[23:36] amounts were incorrect because we didn't realize about the step program.

[23:39] » Okay.

[23:42] Then also 144,645

[23:46] 3352 programs had $0 budgeted in the proposed budget and has been increased

[23:52] to $16,500.

[23:56] » This is a total of all these 16,500. >> That's correct. We we we crunched we it

[24:03] it's a it's a weird breakdown but that 165 is the correct number.

[24:06] » Okay. >> Thank you. Right.

[24:42] Page 37 starts with our special projects and emergency management coordinator. In

[24:48] the proposed budget, it was all listed together. It's been separated out now

[24:54] and

[24:57] is essentially doubled some of our expenses such as office expenses,

[25:02] operational supplies, and fuel.

[25:07] Uh I feel two ways about it. Um there's two vehicles there and in a previous

[25:14] proposed budget, we had proposed $2,000 for fuel for both of them. and

[25:22] combined now it's $5,000 worth of fuel. Um

[25:29] office expenses we had originally budgeted together $2,500 and we're now

[25:35] up to $4,500 in a shared office.

[25:41] » I would please

[25:45] When the worksheet came for those two departments together, there were

[25:51] actually two sets of numbers. I didn't I didn't understand that they were

[25:58] supposed to be combined. So, I took the highest number of the two numbers and

[26:04] that's what we budgeted. So then when we started talking about separating those

[26:09] two and creating its own department, I had to go back to the original numbers

[26:14] from the judge's office and figure out what those were. So that was my mistake.

[26:19] I asked you that that was supposed to be combined.

[26:23] » Yeah, that we should have one set of money.

[26:26] » It was going to be a

[26:29] » I didn't. >> So essentially it was a typo because

[26:35] Yeah, the auditor assistant name

[26:43] instead of combining that was >> okay. So just if anyone's looking

[26:49] through the proposed budget versus what we have in front of us, it was just

[26:54] there's several changes in this department based upon a miscommunication

[26:58] and typo and it has been corrected. Okay.

[27:03] I just want people to know these things if they look at it and say that's not

[27:06] what y'all originally voted on. I want people to understand

[27:10] why it's different. Folks

[27:37] Commissioner mentioned on the 175 >> maybe the contingency we should rename

[27:44] it to >> emergency response or something

[27:48] like >> unless you want to leave it like it is.

[27:52] » I'm I'm fine I'm fine doing that either way. I mean, that's that's monies that

[27:56] you never really want to use because if you're using those monies, it means

[28:00] something something significant has happened. Uh, you know, Shel Shelby

[28:04] always kept uh >> Yes.

[28:07] » 200,000 or $250,000 in there and, you know,

[28:11] » very rarely do we touch it. But, you know, if if you have a if you have a

[28:15] flood or if you have a tornado or if you have a bad fire and you know, you you've

[28:19] got you've got to rally troops, uh, that that's what those monies are for. So

[28:25] that's GO line item. It's 1756355724

[28:33] on page 38. It was in our proposed budget at

[28:38] $66,948.32

[28:42] that has been increased to $240,000. And the and the reasoning behind that is

[28:47] whenever

[28:52] » I think it's the uh humidifier >> humidifier.

[28:55] » Um I think it's just turning off because it's probably full. Tom Tom's doing that

[29:00] because it's it's the end of the year and then it's he's just he's making the

[29:05] book balance for end of year. >> Now we absorb the new department before

[29:08] we have that extra money every year. >> Right.

[29:11] Sir, I would like to when I asked about this, it's currently

[29:18] named contingency. I have concerns. I don't want people to think that money

[29:22] can just be spent if it I didn't have enough in this one, so I'm going to use

[29:26] it out of this contingency. If this fund is for an emergency response, I'd like

[29:31] to rename it from contingency to emergency response. And and then how do

[29:37] we govern that, sir? is that the department

[29:41] can spend it at any time he feels is necessary. Is that something has to go

[29:44] through your office? >> I think I think it needs to come before

[29:47] the court. >> Before the court. Yeah.

[29:49] » Well, >> you know, it it

[29:54] » obviously in an emergency uh you know, you're not you're not going to want to

[29:59] call an emergency meeting. Hey, you know, this road washed out and we've got

[30:03] a you know, we've got rescue. You know, something something like that. you're

[30:08] just you're going to save lives. Um you're not going to call a special

[30:11] meeting. Hey, should we uh should we save this person's life? Should we try

[30:15] to, you know, save their property? Yeah. You we're going to move and and and

[30:21] we're going to make those things happen. But uh yeah, I I don't have a problem,

[30:25] Commissioner, if you want to rename it to to that um

[30:30] or look at it look at it next year doing it that way. Uh, you know, and I I don't

[30:37] care. >> No.

[30:41] » Court, how do y'all feel about renaming this from contingency to emergency

[30:46] response? I would like to do that so it's clear

[30:50] what it's intended uses for.

[30:59] » I'm fine with it. Yes. >> Yeah, I'm fine with that.

[31:04] » Me, too.

[31:20] On page 41 under Rodenbridge, we had

[31:25] our service manager hourly was originally budgeted at

[31:31] $55,125. That's been reduced back down to 52,500

[31:36] because that position is currently vacant and it will have to be refilled

[31:40] at the starting pay. What page >> that is page 44 unless I have a

[31:45] different print out than you. I'm not sure.

[31:47] » It's RHDM bridge that is 200 280 1063 >> page numbers change whenever you go from

[31:56] those two to follow that.

[31:59] » Yes sir. And then in the same department

[32:05] under equipment operator hourly 2006801065

[32:12] we had budgeted or proposed a budget of $12,778.84

[32:19] that's been increased to $18,774.76

[32:24] is because um was it a lateral move I believe. No, it was we just had the

[32:29] wrong number. They were vacant. >> Well, we're increasing it by $6,000.

[32:38] » I I remember an email >> that said.

[32:44] » Okay.

[33:26] I thank the court for listening to my uh request and going through that with me.

[33:31] Those are all those that I found that I wanted to bring up.

[33:33] » Thank you again, Commissioner. >> Thank you, Commissioner.

[33:36] » Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, indeed.

[33:54] Judge. >> Yes, sir.

[33:56] » Uh, we can speak about anything, right? About about the budget.

[33:59] » Budget. Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Okay. Just making sure I

[34:02] know about Just making sure.

[34:05] Gentlemen, um, audience, people that are here,

[34:10] on the last one, we talked about, we talked about moving the

[34:15] the 911, the permitting the special projects to be moved to EMC, the

[34:20] emergency management coordinator. >> Not it's not moving it. It's that that

[34:24] department is is not combining. Yes, it's moving, not combining with

[34:29] » not combining. Okay. But moving it out of like Roden Bridge,

[34:33] » yes, >> I don't have a I don't have a problem

[34:35] with that. Now, it was brought to my attention that there may be a statue

[34:39] that makes it uh to where it has to stay with Roden Bridge. I looked it up with

[34:44] TAC and no, there's no uh statute that delegates it to Roden Bridge. There's no

[34:48] AG opinion. There's no guidance of any kind. It's subject to an interpretation.

[34:52] So, with that with that being said, I did do my due diligence on looking all

[34:58] that up, but there is there is a

[35:05] they say there's a road and bridge administrator, I mean a engineer that

[35:09] the driveway permits, the waterline permitting and all that.

[35:13] It should stay under road and bridge, that's where it should stay. But there's

[35:17] no statute saying that. So, it does not have to stay under there. So, I'm just

[35:21] voicing my opinion on this because there is no statue on that and I made sure

[35:26] that there wasn't one on there before I came up here and I talked about

[35:29] anything. So, my opinion is to go ahead and uh move it out of Road and Bridge uh

[35:35] take care of it. Now, at one time Roaden Bridge did put in u an employee into

[35:41] this and it made it work very well, but we can't pull an employee out of this

[35:45] now because Lupy would be the one and we can't do that because it works well. And

[35:49] I've had meetings with Jim already and uh if Jim one day cuz every all of us

[35:53] retire eventually he gets out Lupy's the next one in line and she's very bright

[35:57] at this. She's still taking schooling licenses and everything. So she has to

[36:01] she has to stay there. So she has to stay at that at that department. I agree

[36:05] with that 100%. But at one time that was um an employee

[36:10] of road of road and bridge department. So what I would what I would like to see

[36:15] done is it moved out of road and bridge the 911 permitting special projects it

[36:21] be moved out of there not combined with EMC but moved out the driveway permits

[36:25] and the waterline permitting to stay with road and bridge but what I would

[36:30] like to see is adding on the employee that they lost when all this was done

[36:36] which would be one at uh the pay would be 40,000 of course that's the starting

[36:42] pay and basically basically a secretarial position to help out at road

[36:45] and bridge and to take care of the driveway permits and waterline

[36:49] permitting and they have a big load there. I go by there quite a bit and

[36:53] they do have a big load there and the lady the young lady that's there taking

[36:56] care of it right now. She does a fabulous job. She's hasn't failed me yet

[37:00] but eventually you know it there is a lot of there's a lot of work there. So

[37:04] only my opinion again this is some re research and homework that I did. I

[37:09] would like to see them not lose that uh employee that they put into over here,

[37:15] but we can't yank loopy out of there anymore. Um to be put in at 40,000 plus

[37:20] all the fringe would be 575 57,5708.

[37:26] Last fiscal year, the total collected by driveway permits and waterline

[37:31] permitting was 174,650. That was the fiscal year of 224 225.

[37:38] this fiscal year 220 225 to 226 year to date they've collected 100 135,000 so I

[37:45] know we can't judge it as well we make this amount of money so we pay for it

[37:49] there we're not supposed to do it that way but just to go ahead and be

[37:52] transparent there is there the the funds are there to put in this employee back

[37:57] with road and bridge and give them uh an employee that can be there at 40

[38:01] starting off at 40,000 to take care of all the driveway uh permits the

[38:06] waterline permitting and to assist the person that we have there in just

[38:10] general work. I did sit and talk with Jim and Jim did say that they were more

[38:15] than happy to assist whatever person it is, male or female

[38:20] uh to get them started up to train them. They would take the time to train them

[38:24] whatever they had to do to change it out. I guess I don't know a lot about

[38:28] computers. I'm not a computer guru but whatever else would be done in that

[38:31] technical side of it they would assist in doing that to change it over to road

[38:34] and bridge and they would assist the person learning all to learn all of this

[38:39] before they were let go this is again this is only my opinion folks and I'm

[38:43] sorry that I didn't speak with you know I think I mentioned it to commissioner 2

[38:48] cuz he came by to visit me a couple of times but I didn't speak to anybody else

[38:51] about it I'm throwing it out there this is what I believe

[38:55] » that's essentially Lupy's job she's going to continue to do that job. Why

[38:58] would you why would you tax the the the public with a a whole another position

[39:04] and then what's Lupy going to do? What's Jim I mean that's that's your job.

[39:08] » I tal I'm sorry judge I talked to Jim about it and I told Jim Jim what is the

[39:14] percentage that that Lupy does on road and bridge or that y'all do for road and

[39:18] bridge in that office? And I said compared to everything that you do in

[39:22] the county he said 10%. I said, "So if that would be if that would be taken out

[39:26] of there, you're losing 10% of the work." I said, "Y'all wouldn't just sit

[39:30] there idle and do anything." He laughed. He said, "No." He goes, "No." He goes,

[39:33] "And we would find something else to do." I said, "So if that's t if the

[39:37] driveway permits and waterline permit is taken out of there," he said, "that

[39:40] would only be 10% taken out of what we do."

[39:42] » So you're going to create a position and do a job that is that's 10% of a current

[39:47] position. It doesn't make any sense. >> No. No. I'm sorry, judge. No, that's why

[39:52] I began when I began saying it, I said that the lady that the person that we

[39:56] have right now that's doing the job in Road and Bridge has a lot of work there.

[39:59] It has never failed me on anything that I've asked and everything. But I've seen

[40:04] there I don't work. I'm only one vote up here. So I've seen that I believe that

[40:08] they may need assistance there. If they don't, if our engineer says that they

[40:12] don't need assistance there, they don't. That was just me as a county

[40:15] commissioner throwing that out there. But no, I would not put somebody to do

[40:19] 10% of their and so no, it's not it's only 10% by Jim's word out of there. And

[40:26] I'm not I don't want to put a make a position of $40,000 to take care of 10%

[40:30] of the work. It's to assist Road and Bridge to take care of whatever needs

[40:34] they have. But if y'all believe that it doesn't need it, I'm only one vote. I'm

[40:38] fine with that. >> You're you're just asking for Roaden

[40:41] Bridge to get another secretary, >> another assistant. Yes. at a $40,000 to

[40:47] help them with the driveway permit. And you're you're right, they don't have to

[40:50] keep it there. It doesn't have to be moved because there's not a statute.

[40:54] That's why I did all that research on there is not a statute. So, it does not

[40:57] have to be moved. This is just something I'm throwing out there.

[41:00] » Yeah. If it's just 10% of Loopy's job, and Jim told me the same thing. It's 10%

[41:04] when it's busy, maybe 30%. Why would you why would you create a whole another

[41:08] position whenever Lupy and Jim can already do it at a very minimal impact

[41:13] of the job that they're doing with everything else? It it doesn't make it

[41:17] doesn't make taxpayer monetary sense. >> Yes, sir. Judge,

[41:22] » it makes sense to me that uh the road and the water transfer stuff

[41:29] should stay with Roen Bridge and the driveways. Not only is they

[41:35] doing the permit work, there's the inspection work that needs to be done.

[41:43] » That gym is our 911 inspection that will continue to do.

[41:48] » Is he able to do it all? >> We've been doing it.

[41:51] » I mean, but there's a lot of work to be done.

[41:54] » He's been doing it for almost eight years.

[41:58] » How does that impact Road and Bridge? I mean, I would like to hear what Wayne

[42:04] has to say about how that's going to impact

[42:07] » guys. Y'all y'all are men, y'all y'all are I I can I can quote you the the I I

[42:13] can pull the code up. It's your decision. It it's your decision. It's

[42:18] that the the position is there. It's not changing anything. Jim and Ly both said,

[42:24] "Hey, we're we we want to continue to do the work."

[42:28] » You're correct. They did say, >> "Yeah, that's they it why tax

[42:34] another employee

[42:38] to to the taxpayers to do a job that's already being done. It It makes zero

[42:45] zero taxpayer dollar sense to me. It makes zero sense to me in all sudge. I'm

[42:51] just trying to find out some information.

[42:57] Can I hear from you and see how it's going to impact you?

[43:02] » Let me just add to my two cents. I asked for a full-time position that I could

[43:07] fully justify and we're going to add a new position full-time for a job that's

[43:13] already being done. That does not make any sense.

[43:16] » Well, no one's adding anything. I'm hearing I'm hearing opinion,

[43:19] » but it's being taken into consideration. >> Yeah, it is because it was it was

[43:22] proposed. I'm just hearing how it's going to affect his department.

[43:27] » Okay. As I said the last time, this was never

[43:30] discussed >> uh with our group with me.

[43:36] » I think just how's it going? >> And the way this the way this is going

[43:40] to affect this is we have direct streamline coordination when we need it

[43:46] to affect the changes we need to in the roadway right away.

[43:52] I mean, we've we've managed the permit, the uh the permitted water lines, the

[43:57] driveways. We interact with Jim all the time, give him the support that he

[44:01] needs. We go out there and give our expertise

[44:04] by making this change, which is absolutely makes no sense in my opinion.

[44:09] Uh uh and there's no reason for it. It's working well. But by making this change

[44:15] now, you're putting a barrier to us going out and doing the inspections of

[44:19] our driveways and managing the rightway. You can shake your head if you want to,

[44:22] judge, but that's the facts and the the the facts of the matter is is that we

[44:29] need to manage that right away and it affects our maintenance. th those

[44:34] decisions that occur uh affect you know that that occur can

[44:40] affect the maintenance of them and can affect them very quickly and that's we

[44:43] need to keep that with us. So to do that what we'll do is we'll actually enhance

[44:47] the the management of that uh but we will need somebody to go ahead and help

[44:52] keep up with the paperwork and uh that that goes along with it.

[44:57] make sure we do the coordination and then we'll have inspectors that are

[45:01] actually going out in the field much more frequently managing those water

[45:05] lines. So yes, we do need the person and I do recommend that we go ahead and keep

[45:10] the the uh the functionality of the driveways and the waterline permitting

[45:15] with road and bridge. >> Question commissioner.

[45:18] » So currently we're trying to just make a new department special projects.

[45:25] That's what commissioner uh Rosales is is suggest is is suggesting a whole new

[45:31] position to do what we're already doing that we already have a position for.

[45:37] » Well, no. Okay. So, what's what special projects now? I mean, isn't it a part of

[45:41] Roden Bridge? >> It is current. It it got moved to Roden

[45:45] Bridge about just before I got here. Um maybe maybe right after I got elected,

[45:52] it got moved, but it's it's it was always a a department on its own and

[45:56] that's what we're just taking it back to. It's not gonna again it doesn't

[45:59] affect anything that that the road and bridge department does. U Jim and and

[46:04] Lupy will still do everything that they do and and you've heard you heard Wayne

[46:09] say that it that it worked great. Um you've heard everybody else say

[46:12] » it works great when it's when it's part of the road and bridge department.

[46:15] » But what I I'm I'm not going to argue with you. Do you have any more questions

[46:19] for uh Mr. Gizler? >> No.

[46:22] » I got one question. And why was it moved to start with?

[46:25] » Because it so much of the work Go have a seat, Wayne. So much of the work uh that

[46:30] that um Ly and uh Jim do uh Jim approached me

[46:36] about it and said, "Look, it it's going to this this is where where we need to

[46:42] be and this is why it makes sense." So much of the permitting that they do as

[46:47] well, uh not just your your driveways, the TCQ stuff. And Justin's not here.

[46:52] Justin can tell you uh a lot of those things that that they do. I I don't sit

[46:57] in that office every day. Um they both said this this is this is

[47:03] where we need to fall. Um there was there was apparently talk I don't know

[47:08] this cuz I I didn't hear it but um there was talk that that Roaden Bridge wasn't

[47:12] even going to keep special project 911 anymore. Um, so it it's the it's a move

[47:18] that uh that uh I know that that uh incoming commissioners are are in favor

[47:24] of. Uh I'm in favor of the department head and the employee are in favor of

[47:29] it. Uh so it it makes sense. >> What's the reason for moving them?

[47:37] uh the the handinhand work that that Jim and Justin, emergency management

[47:42] coordinator, do together.

[47:51] So the the budget code is 175 for both emergency management and special

[47:56] projects. Does that signify a a unified department? Tom, is that what that 175

[48:03] means? separate department 175

[48:10] has >> correct and what's that 17 different

[48:14] department >> okay

[48:22] » I'm sorry I didn't mean to stir up anything I just at the time I you know I

[48:27] just threw it out I just threw my idea out there and I apologize to stir up

[48:32] anything but >> but it is it The judge is correct. They

[48:37] Jim and Lupy, they did say that they would go ahead and keep on doing it.

[48:41] It's not a problem. They did say that everything. This was just something I

[48:44] threw out there that, you know, I just thought, well, since they it was an

[48:48] employer of Roaden Bridge at one time, we move it over there. So, we just give

[48:51] them back that employee that they had. And I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't know that

[48:54] you had asked for anything or you that never hit my table. So, I apologize for

[48:58] that. No, that's okay. No problem.

[49:06] court. I would like to comment on essentially what I understand from

[49:09] Commissioner Rosales, he proposed adding an additional staff member to Roaden

[49:13] Bridge to to help with the job. Uh but we've also we've heard back and forth

[49:17] that we have two people that have been trained up well and know how to do what

[49:21] they need to do and they say that they're willing to continue to work in

[49:24] the way that they're working. I don't feel it's necessary or a good use of

[49:29] funds to add an additional person. uh to do a job that they are already doing and

[49:35] that they are doing well. If by moving them to a standalone department they

[49:40] fail to work with roadm I think it is our duty as a court to

[49:46] manage them properly and if they fail to work with rodenbridge we shall take

[49:51] action on that.

[50:16] Again,

[50:28] like I said, the only reason that I came up with it was because it was their

[50:32] employee at one time. I'm just I just, you know, tried to put it back. Put

[50:36] their employee back. But it's up ultimately it's up to you. There's four

[50:39] other people here. I'm fine with it. whichever way y'all want to do it.

[50:45] And I'm sure I mean our engineer is going to work with it either way.

[51:00] I just feel like permits that have to do with the

[51:04] roden bridge like the bar ditches and the entrances just say with the roen

[51:10] bridge. That's just my opinion.

[51:34] Jennifer, we're kind of It sounds like we're kind of there's a lot of different

[51:37] opinions on this one here. >> You're you're commissioner. You're

[51:41] entitled to have an opinion. You're elected to have an opinion. You're

[51:44] elected to make a decision. >> Of course,

[51:49] there's there's no legal opinion needed here. You're you're

[51:53] » you're working on the budget. >> I know.

[51:57] I'll go ahead and uh make the motion of what I just stated right now to go ahead

[52:02] and leave the department out, move driveway permits, waterline permitting

[52:06] to road and bridge and go ahead and add them uh an extra personnel to pay at

[52:12] 40,000 with fringen all the $57,578 for the one that they let this

[52:20] department have. I'll second it. Okay, we got a motion in a second to to

[52:25] take that action in the budget. Uh all those in favor with your right hand.

[52:30] Obvious. Uh any opposed? Obvious. So there you go. So we're creating a new

[52:39] position. Is that correct? >> Yes. Well, a position they had.

[52:44] » You're you're creating a new position in Road and Bridge department for $40,000

[52:48] plus all the fringe.

[52:56] The majority of the court is Yes, sir.

[53:01] What would be the name of the

[53:05] don't know? >> I I stated as a secretarial position. I

[53:08] don't It's a 40 thou. It's a 40,000.

[53:22] Do we I don't know what I don't know what to call them. I call my girls in my

[53:26] office a secretary. So, I thought it was a secretarial position. Unless there's a

[53:30] fancier name for it, then >> suggestion.

[53:35] » Yes. >> Excuse me.

[53:39] a job description. Well, in the way I said a secretary usually have job

[53:44] descriptions, right? I'm sure there's one already set for a secretary.

[53:47] » There is uh what I would do with this one uh court is I would go ahead and uh

[53:53] leave it heavily administrative assistant and that's probably the way to

[53:56] do it right now, but I will probably go ahead and uh make it so have it give it

[54:02] a more of a permit coordination event and I can come up with a job

[54:06] description. So, I'll be glad to do that. And but it'll be an administrative

[54:10] permit position essentially if if that pleases you. If you want to

[54:16] call it administrative assistant, that's fine, too.

[54:22] I really do apologize that I did not have that f that name for it. I, you

[54:28] know, I do apologize. Just secretarial position. That's what I thought. But

[54:33] yeah.

[54:46] and that's all I have.

[54:51] Well, I got one thing. Um, after our budget workshop

[54:57] and what you say, Sergeant Biggins said that we didn't need to pay the

[55:02] secretary. >> You need to talk to the microphone. Uh,

[55:05] Sergeant Biggan said that we didn't need to pay the DPS secretary

[55:10] for part-time work that she was doing for the county. Well, I did a little

[55:16] research on this and we've been paying part of her salary for since 2016

[55:24] and uh I really didn't know where to go with

[55:28] this. So, I spoke to a retired uh

[55:33] county judge, but first I talked to our county auditor. He was a county auditor

[55:38] in Wilson County at this time, and he is the one that told me that it started in

[55:42] 2016. So, I called uh retired judge Jackson.

[55:48] He remembered the agreement for Kins County to pay their their share of the

[55:52] secretary salary. And he remembered it. It was an

[55:57] agreement uh that um then Sergeant Hanky was working on

[56:06] and he contacted Judge Long and they came up with this agreement.

[56:12] Um so when I spoke to uh Mr. Hanky. He said

[56:18] that there was not enough work in Kins County for a full-time secretary and

[56:23] they could not find a part-time secretary that was qualified.

[56:28] So, an agreement was made between KS and Wilson County for KS County to pay a

[56:33] percentage of their salary.

[56:37] So, Commissioner Rosales and I spoke to Sergeant Biggins yesterday and we talked

[56:41] to him today. He said that he thought that the Korns

[56:46] County portion of the payment was in addition to salary and that wasn't the

[56:52] agreement. The agreement was to pay harder per salary.

[56:57] So after explaining the agreement to him, he agreed that the best thing for

[57:01] it was the best thing for Korns and Wilson County at this time.

[57:06] Wilson County is asking for 30% of her salary. That's $25,5243.

[57:16] Well, uh, Commissioner Rosales and I spoke to Judge Whitman.

[57:22] He said he'd be comfortable with a 25%. So, that'd be $20,960.

[57:28] So, we'd be saving $5,000 there. And uh the reason this all started was it was

[57:34] doing this was to save Kins County money without having to provide a position,

[57:41] office space, office furniture, office supplies.

[57:45] And uh so we been paying part of her salary.

[57:53] » Judge man, Commissioner, are you are you done or

[57:57] you got more? Well, we'll be saving $5,000 and I think

[58:01] it is the uh I guess a neighborly thing to do since

[58:06] she's doing part of our work.

[58:12] Uh 25% of her salary would be $20,960.36.

[58:21] I don't think we should expect Wilson County to pay paying for work that she's

[58:24] doing for KS County. Commissioner Beatatric,

[58:32] Commissioner Lissa, you said that it was an agreement. Is there a written

[58:34] agreement that you're aware of on this one?

[58:36] » No. Commissioner, I'm not comfortable

[58:40] entering into any agreements without it being in writing. I would love to

[58:43] entertain anou with Wilson County if that's what we need to do, but I I don't

[58:48] want any just verbal agreements.

[58:58] It start it started at 10 or $15,000. Sergeant Hinky uh said said that. Yes.

[59:04] Um I I don't know why this is such a big

[59:09] deal. I mean, Sergeant Biggins came to me last year and said, "Hey, we we we

[59:15] don't need to do this." So again, he came this year and he said, "For sure we

[59:20] do not need to do this." Corporal Gentry said, "I don't know why why Sergeant

[59:26] Hinky even did that." In the beginning, I told him it was a bad idea. Sergeant

[59:30] Biggins, whenever y'all called, when you called him again um the other day, he

[59:36] text me. I was in court and he came over and he said, "We don't need to do that.

[59:42] It is not affecting anything that we do." I went I Sergeant Biggin said he

[59:48] went to HR in Wilson County and said, "Will this affect Gina's salary in any

[59:56] way?" Absolutely not. Essentially, you're wanting to give Wilson County

[1:00:01] $20,000 for when whenever the department head, you

[1:00:06] have the sergeant telling you, "We don't need this." Why do you want to give

[1:00:10] Wilson County $20,000 so bad? So essentially you're saying that uh

[1:00:17] Wilson County is paying her to do our work and we shouldn't pay.

[1:00:22] » I'm not saying that. I'm telling you what Sergeant Biggin told me.

[1:00:25] » Well, that's what it amounts to. She's doing work for Corn County. Wilson

[1:00:28] County is paying for it. >> That's not That's not true.

[1:00:31] » Who's paying for it?

[1:00:36] » And he asked he asked me if if I needed him to come.

[1:00:40] He he he's >> well that's

[1:00:47] » right.

[1:00:57] » Okay. Her staff their staff is a secretary in Wilson County, right?

[1:01:06] » But DPS is not paying her salary. Wilson County.

[1:01:29] It it Gina doesn't get that. Gina She doesn't get that money.

[1:01:34] » You're giving You're giving >> She doesn't get the money. If we

[1:01:37] supplement her, if we pay 25% of her salary, she's getting the

[1:01:44] » She doesn't see Wilson County is paying that salary or or the or the or DPS is

[1:01:49] paying that salary. Yes, I'm telling you what what the sergeant, the DPS sergeant

[1:01:54] has told me for the last two years. And he was he was upset. He text me. He

[1:01:58] said, "I'm coming over to talk to you, judge. I was sitting on the bench. I had

[1:02:01] criminal court." And whenever I got done with court, I walked down and he was in

[1:02:05] there and he's like, "I don't understand why this is being pushed. I He It makes

[1:02:11] zero sense to me. I put in the proposed budget to take

[1:02:16] that out based on what DPS the people that work with these people with that

[1:02:22] person with that department said take it out last year take it out this year I

[1:02:28] removed it this year we don't have any agreement in place we're just

[1:02:32] willy-nilly writing a check to Wilson County and that's not okay

[1:02:38] » sorry for getting but that's >> why' we do it for 10 years it was done

[1:02:43] for >> why did we do it for 10 years.

[1:02:45] » There bound to have been a reason. >> Why did we do it for 10 years? Great

[1:02:50] question. >> Just as what judge I mean this is what

[1:02:53] uh Sergeant Hanky said that there wasn't enough work.

[1:02:58] » Is Sergeant Hanky still employed with DPS?

[1:03:01] » Is he the sergeant in K County right now?

[1:03:03] » He's the one that brokered this deal. >> Correct. He brokered the deal. That's a

[1:03:06] that's a good way to put it. Okay, >> that's it's a good way to put it

[1:03:10] » there because he was trying to help Kins County because

[1:03:12] » Is he the current sergeant in K finish? Okay.

[1:03:18] » He said that there was not enough work. We have three troopers in Kins County.

[1:03:25] We have six troopers in Wilson County. There wasn't enough work in Kins County

[1:03:32] at the time to have a full-time secretary. they could not find

[1:03:39] a part-time secretary that was qualified to do the job. So that's when the

[1:03:44] agreement was made between Wilson County and Kins County for Kins County to pay

[1:03:49] part of her salary because three of the DPS are working in K County.

[1:03:55] » Who is the current sergeant for DPS that's over KS Wilson County?

[1:03:59] » Sergeant Biggins. What did I put in the proposed budget that Sergeant Biggins

[1:04:04] asked me to do on behalf of DPS as a sergeant of Wilson KS? What did I put in

[1:04:09] the budget?

[1:04:13] You can say I removed it. I took it out based on what he asked me to do. Period.

[1:04:25] » Gentlemen, may I >> Yes, please. I I want to reiterate,

[1:04:30] y'all were just asking the question, why did we do it? And that is something that

[1:04:34] as a the newest commissioner on this court, I've had to search for that

[1:04:38] answer and several things that we've worked on. And that's uh you know, I've

[1:04:42] had to go searching through commissioner's court minutes from 2008

[1:04:47] and older and in between just to try to find some of those answers. It's been a

[1:04:53] real struggle. I believe it is extremely important for us that we none of us will

[1:04:58] be here forever and for the people who come 20 years after us. They need to be

[1:05:02] able to answer that question. Why did we do it? And so if we are going to support

[1:05:07] this position, we need to have an written agreement with the other county

[1:05:12] clearly expressing why we are doing it and and what everyone is expected to do.

[1:05:19] » Do you remember you were county at I mean county at the time. What do you

[1:05:23] remember, >> buddy?

[1:05:42] » Judge, may I? >> Yes, sir.

[1:05:44] » Thank you. Back in 2016, I was here in 2016. I don't remember. Sorry. I don't

[1:05:50] remember everything about it, but I do remember that when it first began, we

[1:05:53] started with 10,000. 10,000. We thought it was a pretty good deal because we

[1:05:58] were going to be they were going to be taking care of all the paperwork for us

[1:06:00] and all that. And we didn't have to supply like Commissioner 2 said, we

[1:06:03] didn't have to supply housing, office furniture, office supplies and

[1:06:07] everything. So 10,000 seemed pretty good. And then I believe on 2017 we did

[1:06:11] it again to 10,000. And then I was out 18 and 19. I came back in 20 I believe.

[1:06:16] And I think we were still doing it. Now, last year, I guess this year, the fiscal

[1:06:20] year 2025 2026, I think it went up to 27,000. I'm not sure why it went up so

[1:06:26] high, and I don't have a lot of uh details on it, but I commissioner 2 did

[1:06:32] go by my office and he sat down and he did call uh Sergeant Biggins. Sergeant

[1:06:38] Biggins, and he said, "Uh, Sergeant, Commissioner Rosales is present here. Do

[1:06:44] you mind if I put you on speaker phone?" He said, "No, not at all." So he put me

[1:06:47] on speaker phone. I said, "Sergeant, how you doing, sir?" And he said, "Fine,

[1:06:49] commissioner." And you know, we greeted each other and everything. And

[1:06:53] Commissioner 2 proceeded to question him about what what was going on with what

[1:06:58] was going on with uh why the monies weren't asked from Wilson County to be

[1:07:04] put back in there. And his and I could be wrong. I don't want to put words in

[1:07:09] his m in his mouth, but this is what I remember in my office that he did state

[1:07:13] that he thought that that was like um not not a bonus, but an additional fund

[1:07:20] an additional benefit that KS County was giving Wilson County to add to that to

[1:07:25] that position. But no, uh I went ahead and I said, "No, that's not an that's

[1:07:29] not additional funds or anything." He said, "Oh, okay." And uh Commissioner 2

[1:07:34] proceeded to talk to him about that. And then I kind of stepped in and I did

[1:07:38] question him. I told him, "So, how did this how did this come up? How did you

[1:07:43] know how did we not how are we not paying now?" He said, "Well, again," he

[1:07:47] said, "I thought it was for that." And he mentioned he said, "Well, K City, I

[1:07:51] thought we'd pull it basically, not exact words, but this is what he meant.

[1:07:55] I thought we'd pull it out of there and then we'd have someone to help us in K

[1:08:00] in K County." And I said, "So, hire someone in K County?" And he said,

[1:08:05] "Yeah." And I said, "Okay, that I go that would be part-time and we may not

[1:08:08] get someone with the qualifications of a full-timer there." So, and he said, "Oh,

[1:08:13] okay." And we just kept on talking about that and that's about to the extent to

[1:08:18] what I know what's going on on that. And then on that part about uh biggin so he

[1:08:23] was a little bit from what I know and I'm not saying anything because shoot I

[1:08:26] make mistakes all the time but it seemed like it wasn't 100% uh there like um why

[1:08:33] it was why it was stopped. I didn't get a full picture of he 100% knew why he

[1:08:38] had stopped it or he had said to stop it. That's just from what I got from it.

[1:08:42] So commissioner um listen proceeded to he hung up on him. We told him by and

[1:08:49] everything. Then he he called excuse me, Judge uh

[1:08:54] Wilson Judge Whitman Hank and he called Hank and he told Hank uh about this and

[1:09:01] Hank said he said no. He goes, "Well, we don't have a problem. I mean, we can we

[1:09:05] can pay it all. We got it in the budget already to go ahead and pay it off. We

[1:09:08] don't have no problems." And I know Hank from a long time ago. And he said, "We

[1:09:12] don't have a problem um paying it all, Commissioner." And I said, 'Yeah, I

[1:09:16] know, but y'all are doing work for us. And he said, 'Yeah, of course, we're

[1:09:19] doing work for us for y'all. So, and then Commissioner 2 proceeded to ask

[1:09:23] him, 'What is the percentage of work that we're know what what amount of work

[1:09:27] we're doing? And I said, well, judge, I go, I mean, me being in the county for

[1:09:32] so long, me just being a good neighbor, everywhere I I'm at, I don't want to get

[1:09:37] something for free if I mean, we're, you know, do we have to pay for it? you

[1:09:40] know, and then he said, "Well, just to let you know, Commissioner," he goes,

[1:09:43] "We did have a statement from our county attorney." And Jennifer, maybe you want

[1:09:46] to hear this. Oh, I know you're there, but um he Judge Wilson County Judge said

[1:09:52] that their county attorney said, "We can't be doing work for free for another

[1:09:57] county." And I said, "Oh, I didn't know that." I said, "But I go, I'm not

[1:10:01] expecting that." I go, "Judge, I'm not expecting that. Uh I don't mind paying

[1:10:06] if you're doing work for us. I don't mind paying." And I go, "And what?"

[1:10:09] Sergeant Biggins told us that they do have uh nine troopers, six for Wilson,

[1:10:14] three for Kins County. And I did ask him, I told him, I'm not sure how to ask

[1:10:19] you, but are all the hours equal? How many hours do they put in for KS County?

[1:10:22] Blah blah blah. Trying to kind of get a percentage basis on it. And he did say

[1:10:26] they do 50 hours a week, but they're not sworn just to KS County. They're not

[1:10:30] sworn just to Wilson County. These nine troopers DPS can float around to Dallas,

[1:10:35] wherever they're wherever they're going to need them. they could float around.

[1:10:38] So, they're not 100% sure that they're going to be in K County or always doing

[1:10:43] 50 hours in Kins County nor in Wilson County, but Wilson County still excuse

[1:10:49] me, Wilson County still pays for them. And I said, "Okay." I said, "But your

[1:10:54] county attorney did uh make that statement in commissioner's court." He

[1:10:58] said, "Yes, I believe it was a commissioner's court. I don't want to

[1:10:59] put those words in his mouth, but I'm pretty sure that's what it was that he

[1:11:03] made the whoever. I don't know if it's a male or female, but the county attorney

[1:11:06] over there. >> Female.

[1:11:07] » Female. Okay. That she had stated that Wilson County could not be doing free

[1:11:13] work for any other county like that and that would be considered, I guess, free

[1:11:16] work on that. So, I don't know. I know it's a budget hearing and everything,

[1:11:21] but that's kind of something that came from another county attorney. So, what

[1:11:25] what do you have on that? The county can choose to do free work for anyone.

[1:11:30] » I don't know. I don't know.

[1:11:38] Okay.

[1:11:47] » And I don't know, Mary, we were there. You were there. I was there at that

[1:11:51] time. I don't know why there was a noou. Why wasn't there no Why didn't we do

[1:11:56] » there when I got there? >> It was there when you got there.

[1:12:01] » Oh, okay. What year did you get there?

[1:12:07] » Okay. So, it was right on the edge of it when we did it.

[1:12:11] » Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't I didn't

[1:12:17] » I

[1:12:21] » We did. >> It It faded off. Yes, ma'am. I just

[1:12:26] don't remember. And I'm sorry, folks. And I don't remember if we had one.

[1:12:30] There's things that we had back in 2000, 2001 that I still state we had, but we

[1:12:34] can't find them. So things just get lost over the years, 20, 30 years.

[1:12:39] I I just I don't remember, judge, if we had anything written down, but I would

[1:12:44] imagine we would have had something written down, ma'am.

[1:12:48] » Some words. Yes, ma'am. >> But we might have done it back then. We

[1:12:54] There was a lot of things that got done and just, you know, just voting on it in

[1:12:58] commissioner's court.

[1:13:03] But that's the information uh gentlemen. Um folks, that's the information that I

[1:13:08] have. I have the information from when Commissioner 2 went to my office and he

[1:13:13] did call all these folks in front of me. And everything that I quoted to y'all is

[1:13:17] basically not word for word of course, but it is what was told to me by

[1:13:22] Sergeant Biggins and by Judge Wilson County Judge Hank Whitman.

[1:13:30] » Sheriff, you were a trooper in K County for quite a few years whenever this was

[1:13:34] going on. I see you back there and I'm I'm gonna uh let you come up and speak

[1:13:39] because I I I know I can see it in your eye.

[1:13:41] » Great conversation. So um yeah and uh Hanky was my sergeant at one time too. U

[1:13:49] so to coil any any uh fears DPSO is always

[1:13:56] going to be here. It's statemanded that they are mandated to work crashes in

[1:13:59] rural parts of the state. Be it we have a place for them to stay

[1:14:04] or not. They have to come. They have a secretary or not. They have to come.

[1:14:07] That's their job. They'll always come. They won't they won't deny you that

[1:14:11] first off. >> Um, as far as the secretary over in in

[1:14:16] Wilson County, again, don't quote me either, right?

[1:14:19] » Yes, sir. >> It's been a minute for me, too. But it's

[1:14:22] my understanding that he wanted to keep that secretary because she was really

[1:14:25] good. And at the time, Wilson County didn't pay as well as apparently as they

[1:14:28] pay now. >> And that was a way to keep her and like

[1:14:31] he kept her, but now he doesn't work here anymore. And it looks like that was

[1:14:35] taken care of through HR or whatever. And now she's being paid what she's

[1:14:38] worth. And that's great. Uh, if you want my opinion on it, if

[1:14:42] Sergeant Big says he doesn't want something, then you shouldn't shouldn't

[1:14:45] push the issue. Just he knows what he needs over there. I'm not real sure why

[1:14:50] we're arguing about this. I really >> on a $70 million budget where we're

[1:14:54] arguing on $20,000. Why? >> So, we had a secretary here at one time

[1:14:59] that was Lupy Schneider. Uh, there was some other ones, too, but she's now in

[1:15:04] the special projects. Um, but I had moved on to commercial vehicle

[1:15:12] enforcement and my secretary is in Victoria at that

[1:15:16] time, but we serviced nine counties and none of the nine counties contributed to

[1:15:21] Victoria. So, I haven't heard of that before.

[1:15:26] It was a kind of a one-off when I heard that we were doing that for Wilson. And

[1:15:32] that's fine if you're doing it, but that's just kind of a one-off to me.

[1:15:35] I've not heard of such things. >> It doesn't have to get done.

[1:15:37] » No. So, but here's the here's the thing too we have to think about. So, there's

[1:15:42] also talk because again I still talk to DPS. I work with them. Right. There's

[1:15:46] still talk of hey, and this has happened before. Remember when I was you were

[1:15:51] there? Remember when I was in HP? >> Mhm.

[1:15:54] » Right. 2015ish. I covered Wilson County, >> KS County here where I was stationed,

[1:16:00] but also Golad County. I don't remember Goliath County contributing to Wilson

[1:16:05] County. >> You're right.

[1:16:07] » But I worked all three counties. >> You're right.

[1:16:09] » And sometimes by myself and that was sometimes we had a

[1:16:14] secretary and sometimes we didn't have one in that position. Right. My

[1:16:17] paperwork still flowed up to Wilson County. We still got everything done,

[1:16:21] but I was always there for you >> whether we had one or not. So, I'm just

[1:16:27] saying it's kind of a mood point. if he doesn't want it. I mean, there's really

[1:16:32] no sense in arguing about it. I was texting him saying, "Hey, they're still

[1:16:35] discussing your money that's being sent over there." And

[1:16:40] he's like kind of frustrated with it, honestly, on the text. And he's like, "I

[1:16:43] don't know why." >> Really,

[1:16:44] » for real, I have it right here if you want.

[1:16:46] » I trust I trust I trust you 100%. I trust you 100%.

[1:16:49] » So, I was thinking you reverse roles. >> If Corn County was paying

[1:16:57] » Yeah. >> paying the whole globe.

[1:16:59] » Yeah. Well, if we had >> You mean if we had six troopers over

[1:17:02] here? >> Yeah.

[1:17:03] » And a sergeant. >> If we had nine troopers over here,

[1:17:06] » that would be that would be kind of >> Well, you got six there, three here.

[1:17:10] » Okay. Correct. If the role was reversed, >> we're paying the whole bill, paying the

[1:17:16] ticket, >> but you would also get the benefit of

[1:17:18] the sergeant being here and the six troopers plus the other three at your

[1:17:22] disposal anytime you want. Those troopers do make it up there and work up

[1:17:25] there a lot of the times, >> but they're doing work. they'd be doing

[1:17:28] work for Wilson County and I just feel like if they're doing work for us and

[1:17:33] not getting paid for I mean why aren't we paying our parts?

[1:17:35] » So it's not so much sir that they're doing work for us. They're doing work

[1:17:38] for the state of Texas and this is part of their job.

[1:17:42] » State of Texas is not paying them. They're not paying her salary.

[1:17:47] Wilson County is paying yourself. >> That's correct. Yep. And Victoria is in

[1:17:52] the same boat. Yep. And in most of your larger counties are paying for them.

[1:17:57] That's correct. >> And they just help out the smaller

[1:17:59] counties. >> Yeah. So again, so what where I was

[1:18:02] going with it earlier is there's talk in DPS again of redistricting. They do that

[1:18:08] from time to time. They shift wherever the problems are. They shift. They put

[1:18:11] captions in different places. Right. So there's talk of taking corns away from

[1:18:15] Wilson. >> Go to golad. Put in

[1:18:18] » putting golad. They told us that. And so we are going to be

[1:18:21] » not done yet. >> Correct.

[1:18:23] » May not be done. And that's my point, right? So what if they do that and

[1:18:26] you've given them $20,000 and now we don't utilize them anymore. So I'm just

[1:18:31] there's so many variables there. But what what if if they're talking about

[1:18:35] it, they're really seriously thinking about it. So if this becomes now where

[1:18:39] the sergeant's going to sit, a new sergeant, then you're you're you're

[1:18:43] going to get what you're asking for what you were saying they have. So that's

[1:18:48] being looked at.

[1:18:51] Then then you'll need that secretary. >> Sheriff, thank you for your insight. I I

[1:18:55] don't know. >> Thank you, Sheriff.

[1:18:57] » Poor old horse laying there dead and >> judge.

[1:19:01] » Yes, sir. >> Court, everybody in the audience, I do

[1:19:05] ap I do apologize. The judge is stating that Wiggins has told him two last year.

[1:19:13] Big >> biggin, I'm so sorry. Uh, Sergeant

[1:19:15] Biggin has told him the last fiscal year and his fiscal year.

[1:19:21] I I I talked to him and he didn't tell me. The sheriff said he's messaging him

[1:19:26] and I trust sheriff 1,000%. One one million% man. I trust him.

[1:19:32] I wish he would have told me. I if he all he had to do was just tell me and I

[1:19:36] would it would be I would have came up here and with a different with a

[1:19:40] different thing, but that was not told to me. So I you know I hope y'all

[1:19:44] understand my part on to why I came up here. I'm not fighting for it. I'm not

[1:19:48] fighting because I do understand these budgets are big big big big. We started

[1:19:52] I think when I started 1920$20 million budget. It was little back then. Now

[1:19:56] it's a big one. I don't think it was that

[1:19:59] uh we we are working with a big budget and it's only a few dollars. I just

[1:20:03] wanted to be a good neighbor and that's what I wanted to do. I didn't know that

[1:20:06] we didn't have to do it. I wasn't aware, thank you, sheriff, that the bigger

[1:20:09] counties have that and then they did distribute the DPS, the corporate the

[1:20:14] corporals and everything to the other counties as they see fit or however they

[1:20:18] need them. I wasn't aware of that. You know, I do know a little bit about DPS,

[1:20:22] not as much as what you're explaining to me right now. So, a a bigger county in

[1:20:26] the state of Texas, and I'm sorry, judge, I brought him back in here. I

[1:20:28] know you told him, but I just asked him one more question. But the bigger county

[1:20:32] say for an example Dallas Dallas is gonna have so many Dallas is gonna have

[1:20:36] so many DPS and judge is that all right? >> Yes. No, that that's a perfect point.

[1:20:41] » I'm trying to >> No, no, that's a perfect point. So the

[1:20:44] captain and lieutenants are in San Antonio and they have a lot of admin

[1:20:51] staff. Now I think a lot of those might be state funded secretary positions, but

[1:20:56] what I'm trying to say is yes, it depends on the population. They'll move

[1:21:00] the troopers there. And depending on that, that's where they're going to have

[1:21:04] the secretaries. That's in San Antonio. I don't believe that there's any county

[1:21:09] paid secretaries there. It's all in the state, but yet

[1:21:13] they spread out to all the surrounding counties that those captains

[1:21:17] encompass. So,

[1:21:20] » yeah, Wilson County at this time, county, county secretary. That may

[1:21:25] change. we had in Victoria County Secretary, but they also have a state

[1:21:30] paid secretary that got changed. She was county, but she state picked her up. So,

[1:21:36] it's all different. No, you're not required. They're still going to come.

[1:21:38] They're still going to service us. I >> understand.

[1:21:41] » And we do take care of them in in in the meantime, too. When they're not here, we

[1:21:45] do work a lot of the crashes for them. So,

[1:21:48] » and that's what that's what uh Judge Hank Whitman said. He he was okay. He he

[1:21:53] he was smiling. I can't see his smile. I was talking to him. He was he said he

[1:21:56] was fine that they already budgeted for all of it that they were they were fine

[1:21:59] with paying for it. They didn't have a problem with it. The only issue is it

[1:22:03] comes back to where my old school person comes in. I I like to pay for what I

[1:22:07] get. But >> you know that's my old that's my old

[1:22:09] school here. I guess I've been here too. I don't know. That's old school. But if

[1:22:13] he's tell the judge two times and I you know I trust and believe the judge and I

[1:22:18] trust you and everything. And if he's messaging you right now I just wish he

[1:22:21] would have and I think he's a great guy. He speaks real good. Right. You know, I

[1:22:25] kind of know him, too. Um, I just wish he would have told me. It would have

[1:22:28] been easy. Would have been easier. But that's fine. That's fine. I on my part,

[1:22:33] I'll just leave it out. I'll leave it out to you because, uh, the judge that

[1:22:36] we have in Wisconsin is a great judge and he said that it was not a problem.

[1:22:39] Either way, they're going to make it happen. They're not going to stop

[1:22:42] anything. He he was really really nice about it. I did tell them that I would

[1:22:46] do my best to help being a good neighbor. But I mean, if nobody if

[1:22:51] nobody else is paying for it, I don't want to seem like I'm being stingy or

[1:22:54] ugly or not a good neighbor. I feel even bad about doing it this way. But

[1:22:58] » but if this is done like this everywhere,

[1:23:01] » yeah, law enforcement wise, >> and if Sergeant Biggins big has asked

[1:23:05] for this two years in a row, >> what are we doing right now? So, no, law

[1:23:10] enforcement wise, I know we're good neighbors 100%. I'm not proposing to

[1:23:14] just give them money. I'm proposing to pay our share and be a good number.

[1:23:20] » Again, this commissioner court's uh decision to make. So,

[1:23:25] » thank you, Sheriff. >> Yes, sir.

[1:23:26] » Thank you, sir. Very much. Thank you, judge. Commissioner, thank you.

[1:23:30] » I didn't mean to make this any kind of circus or anything like that. I'm just

[1:23:33] trying to get my mind straight before I make my decisions up here. I'm not just

[1:23:36] going to come and make my decisions because one person tells me something.

[1:23:40] I'm not that I'm not that person. And I'm going to look at both sides. I'm

[1:23:42] going to look at three sides, four sides, whatever. So, y'all know me. The

[1:23:45] ones that know me know me. And the ones that don't, you'll learn. You'll get

[1:23:48] used to me. Well, if I'm here any longer. But

[1:23:53] » how long how long have we paid paid this?

[1:23:57] » How many years? >> Since 2016. It was 10 10 14 and then

[1:24:03] like 18. I don't know. It went up like ma'am.

[1:24:08] » It's in 16, right? Almost 10 years now. for

[1:24:12] » that that I believe I don't remember if there was or not. I I would say there's

[1:24:16] not, but I don't know if we did write something at that time. So I I mean my

[1:24:20] opinion is um kind of like commissioner three I mean we need to be a good

[1:24:27] neighbor but also commissioner one we need to have something formal in place

[1:24:30] and I think we need to I'm fine putting the money in the budget but I think we

[1:24:35] need to have anou before that's approved and passed by court

[1:24:39] before we disperse that my opinion

[1:24:49] Well, you're saying to designate a line item for that and then get anou and

[1:24:53] still help them out with that >> if Yes. Yes. And I think I think I think

[1:24:58] at that point >> we'll find out if if it's truly needed

[1:25:03] and if it's not then the money will go back into the budget next year.

[1:25:10] I think I caused enough turmoil today, so I'm going to stay.

[1:25:14] So, I I'm going to stay with just leaving it the way it is. Wilson County

[1:25:18] judge was wonderful when I spoke with him and he said that they will take care

[1:25:22] of it. I will I'm going to apologize to him. I'll call him and I'll apologize to

[1:25:26] him, but I'll look deeper into it and next year for one reason or another, if

[1:25:31] it's any different, I'll you know, I'll jump in and I'll be the first one to

[1:25:34] make the vote on it. right now. I just did not know that he's already came to

[1:25:38] the judge two years in a row and said that. I was talking to him. He could

[1:25:42] have he could have told me. I think he's a great guy, but I wish he would have

[1:25:44] told me.

[1:25:51] So, judge, do we need something on here on discussion or just uh we need

[1:25:57] » I'll make the motion that we do it like uh uh Wes said, put the money in the

[1:26:02] budget, look into it. If we don't need it, it'll go back the next year

[1:26:08] » if we get anou. >> Yeah, if we do that,

[1:26:10] » we have to get I'll second. >> And if it Okay, we got a motion and a

[1:26:15] second. All those in favor? Right hand. Anybody opposed?

[1:26:21] » Be specific with me, please, though. So, you're putting

[1:26:25] » it. Put the money in.

[1:26:30] » But money as in how much?

[1:26:34] » Correct. >> Motion fails.

[1:26:39] Did I see it?

[1:26:45] » I just need to be very specific on the motion. If you're going to make it again

[1:26:50] so I know how to >> Commissioner Liy, can you make the

[1:26:52] motion again for Jamie to record that correctly?

[1:26:57] » I want to make the motion that we put uh let's see, where was that?

[1:27:06] $20,960.36

[1:27:10] in the budget. >> Commissioner Gizler seconded the vote uh

[1:27:14] failed uh due to 243. >> You guys got to be more specific for me,

[1:27:20] right, Jennifer? You're just putting 20,000 where GL code the name of the GL

[1:27:25] code like all of that stuff. >> We'd have to create a geo code, I guess.

[1:27:29] » Okay. Well, let's be specific about that.

[1:27:31] » We're guys, give us a break. >> I'm tired. I'm getting hungry

[1:27:38] here.

[1:27:43] » That motion filled as well. So, let's let's go to the next. Let's do it again,

[1:27:49] but with all the detail. You have geo code

[1:28:01] » 100 575 4221.

[1:28:06] Okay, here we go again.

[1:28:11] I'll make a motion that we put uh $20,960.36

[1:28:18] in line item 105754221

[1:28:23] to supplement uh the salary for the DPS secretary in

[1:28:31] Wilson County. >> Okay. And Commissioner Gizler second.

[1:28:37] Did that hear it? >> Yes.

[1:28:41] » And the vote was Commissioner Lissy and Commissioner Gizler for and Commissioner

[1:28:48] Rosales, Commissioner Beatatric and myself against.

[1:28:55] » Thank you, Jamie.

[1:29:02] It's all I got. It's >> all I got. All I got.

[1:29:08] » I have nothing else. Need a motion to adjurnn?

[1:29:12] » No. Needs the next one.

[1:29:20] » Do we want to take any action on the budget? Did you just want to This is an

[1:29:25] action item. Discuss, approve, disapprove.

[1:29:28] » No action on the on the judge on my part. No accident. No action on the

[1:29:32] budget, judge. >> Okay.

[1:29:33] » Jesus. >> No action for me either.

[1:29:37] » No action. >> All right.

[1:29:40] We just discussion on item number seven. Okay. Hearing that then we will uh stop

[1:29:48] here and we will do our tax rate stuff uh and potentially adopt the budget. Uh,

[1:29:58] so we do we don't we don't I mean we have we still have a proposed budget. I

[1:30:01] guess that y'all got the changes that were discussed today. Uh, and then on

[1:30:06] the 22nd of court, we will see if we can adopt the budget or if we just go back

[1:30:12] to what we got now. Uh, >> judge, may I?

[1:30:14] » Yes, sir. Please. >> All these changes that we've talked

[1:30:16] about tonight, will they be published for the public's viewing?

[1:30:20] » I will happily do that. Uh, I mean, I'll I'll do it as quick as I can.

[1:30:26] We'll get I'll I'll get that tomorrow. Hopefully, you can have the fringe for

[1:30:30] the new position created and the breakdown and u and then that way

[1:30:34] taxpayers can see that uh before we adopt it. Item 12, acknowledge

[1:30:40] commissioner court will meet on September 22nd, 2026 at nine o'clock in

[1:30:44] the morning in the KS County multi-purpose room that is located at

[1:30:48] 210 West Calbert, sweet 150 K City, Texas 78118.

[1:30:54] Item number 13. We need a motion to adjurnn.

[1:30:57] » I'll move we adjourn. >> Jamie can go east. Go. Are you buying?

09-10-2026 Karnes County Commissioners Court Public Meeting

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