Name: Sep 22, 2025 Commissioners' Court
Uploaded: 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z
Duration: 1 h 46 min 23 s
Description: We don't have those transfers this year. The initial property tax revenue with the no new revenue rate was estimated to generate $1.8 million less than last year's property taxes.

[0:00] Good

[0:03] morning, everyone. Welcome to Love Accounting. We call the order of Love Accounting Commissioner's Court. We are sitting in regular session today. It is Monday. It is September 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2025. It is 10 o'clock and a quorum is present. This time I would ask you all to please rise. Join Commissioner Kerry Shaw in our invocation followed by our pledges.

[0:33] Thank you for giving us the ability to do what we do.

[0:42] Father gives us the wisdom to make our choices and to encourage to make those choices even when they're hard.

[0:48] Father, we ask you to use the Charlie Kirk Memorial as a way to bring people together to heal this nation.

[0:55] Father, be with our men and women in uniform, no matter what, you know,

[0:59] formally where, bring them home safely,

[1:02] guard them and protect them and take care of their families while they're known.

[1:07] Father, be with the farmers, as well as a pro-charvest season,

[1:10] help them to have a good harvest this year.

[1:14] We thank you, Sanjay Spresson, and I would pray, amen.

[1:20] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

[1:24] And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, it is available with liberty and justice for all.

[1:33] On Earth, the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state of their God, one in a good asable.

[1:50] This time we will open up for public comments.

[1:55] Those wishing to speak were required to register your name prior to this meeting.

[1:59] Speakers may only address items that listed on the current agenda.

[2:03] Speakers limited to two minutes maximum.

[2:05] There are more than three speakers who wish to address the same item.

[2:08] The court reserves the right to limit speakers.

[2:11] The court cannot deliberate or act on any matters not listed on the agenda.

[2:16] We do have one who wishes to address the court Cassie Graham.

[2:20] It's Graham.

[2:27] Good morning Judge Fisher.

[2:29] Before you ask who's doing my job right now,

[2:32] I assure you that I have been up early working, and will work more once I put my kids to bed tonight.

[2:38] Because that's what I have to do every day to serve the citizens of this county.

[2:43] You say to me, working at Love Academy isn't just a job, it's a calling and it's an honor.

[2:48] And I like my colleagues and the wonderful people who work in this building and the other county buildings

[2:53] work here for a purpose. Not because we lack skills or education to get jobs elsewhere,

[2:59] But because every day, we wake up and we come to work and we fight to make this community a better place.

[3:07] Love it has a growing crime rate, has the highest rate of child abuse in the state.

[3:12] And you all know this, you've seen the statistics.

[3:15] The police department has grown, the sheriff's department needs to grow, and the DA's office can partly keep up with the demand of the growing crime.

[3:24] This isn't about coal raises, although every county employee deserves that, this is about cutting budgets in every single department when they are already operating at their lowest possible amount they can.

[3:37] In order to do my job to seek justice for the kids of this county, I work every day with other departments.

[3:45] with court admin with the district clerk with the county clerk with

[3:48] probation with juvenile with the Sheriff's Department with the

[3:51] maintenance department. The list goes on and on and I could stand

[3:54] up here every day and talk all day about the wonderful people who work

[3:58] in this county who I get to serve next to.

[4:01] The people that frankly after your comments during this

[4:05] budget cycle wonder why they even work here. You have created a

[4:11] toxic and hostile work environment. By your comments and your

[4:15] lucky that love it county employees are not walking out.

[4:19] Thank goodness that we have elections coming up because these comments that you have made

[4:23] will not be forgotten and they're not going to be swept under the rug either.

[4:28] What I want you to think about in this budget hearing today while you're deciding this

[4:33] is if not us, then who?

[4:35] When you underfund our departments, beat our morale and run us off, who's going to replace

[4:40] us. Who is going to stand in the gap for the kids in this community when they have to testify

[4:46] in front of their abusers on the third floor? Who's going to sit and look at the autopsy

[4:51] photos of broken babies? Who's going to be yelled at time and time again by family members

[4:58] of the deceased because the criminal justice system isn't fair?

[5:02] This is Graham. Your time is expired. Thank you.

[5:25] close public comment section moved item one on the agenda, which is to discuss, consider,

[5:30] and or take action to approve the minutes, and the regular Commissioner's Court meeting

[5:34] dated September 8th of 2025.

[5:38] The motion by Commissioner Wrackler, second by Commissioner Shaw, to approve the minutes as

[5:45] circulated, is there any changes to be made to the minutes?

[5:49] very none call for the question on favor. I, any opposed. I

[6:03] am too on the agendas to discuss

[6:05] consider and or take action regarding the auditor and financial matters under budget transfers

[6:12] and budget amendments. Ms Williams. I'm not lying on. I'm transfers in the amount of $12,200,

[6:18] $255 in budget amendments in the amount of $5 million, $221,000, $98, and as per approval.

[6:29] Second, I have a motion by Commissioner Shaw, second by Commissioner Rackler, to approve the budget transfers and budget amendments as presented by the auditors and any further discussion.

[6:41] This way, if I do have one question on

[6:47] a transfer to other employee health, there was

[6:55] a $750,000 transfer, and the note on that was additional funds for rising cost of medical

[7:04] claim.

[7:06] Do you have a short exposition other than we've got rising cost of medical claims and

[7:13] We've got new health insurance last year, and we did have the numbers at the time that the budget was adopted last year, so this is just a true.

[7:27] Recorders of a million.

[7:32] Okay.

[7:34] Thank you. Any other questions?

[7:38] Not. I do have a motion. I do have a second. Call for the question. All in favor? Aye. All there was a post? What can carries?

[7:51] I am free as to discuss, consider, and or take action to authorize payments of claims under general accounts.

[7:57] I present payment of claims in the amount of $5,500,800,000 and $19,000 and ask for your vote.

[8:06] I'll know that.

[8:07] Thank you.

[8:08] Motion by Commissioner Shaw, second by Commissioner Corley, to authorize payments of claims under General

[8:15] Accounts, is there any further discussion?

[8:19] You're a non-calf of the question, all in favor?

[8:21] All right.

[8:22] Are there any opposed?

[8:23] Motion carries.

[8:26] Item four five and six are connected. We'll take item four first is to discuss consider and or take action to rescind the fund balance commitment dated September 23rd 2024 and I'll make that motion after a second.

[8:41] By Judge Barrish a second by Commissioner Shaw and the fund balance commitment dated last year September 23rd 2024 and further discussion.

[8:51] Hearing none call for the question all in favour?

[8:54] Aye aye.

[8:54] Any opposed?

[8:56] Motion carries.

[8:57] Item five is to discuss, consider,

[8:59] and undertake action to approve

[9:01] Love Accounting's Fund Balance Policy.

[9:03] And I'll make that motion as for a second.

[9:06] Motion by Judge Parish is second by Commissioner Dolby

[9:09] to approve Love Accounting's Fund Balance Policy

[9:13] is ready for the discussion.

[9:16] Hearing none call for the question all in favour?

[9:21] Item 6 is to discuss consider and or take action.

[9:26] Unbalanced commitment.

[9:28] Effective today, September 22, 2025, and I will make that motion and ask for a second.

[9:35] Second.

[9:37] Motion by Judge Parrish, second by Commissioner Shaw,

[9:41] to approve the Fund Balance commitment.

[9:45] As circulated, effective today, September 22, 2025,

[9:50] is there any further discussion?

[9:54] Hearing none, call for the question all in favour?

[9:56] Aye. Are there any opposed motion carries?

[10:01] Item 7 through 11, or under the consent agenda, is there any item that a commissioner

[10:07] wishes to pull for individual consideration?

[10:10] I'd like to make a motion that we approve item 7 through 11 on consent agenda, and I'm

[10:15] a second.

[10:16] The motion by Commissioner Rackler, second by Commissioner Dalby, to approve consent agenda items 7 through 11.

[10:24] It's a brief discussion.

[10:27] Very none call for the question, all in favor?

[10:29] Are there any opposed motion carries?

[10:34] Item 12, 13 to 14, our billable work time sensitive.

[10:40] We'll have public hearing on that on the budget starting at 10.45.

[10:45] The meantime, let's move to item 15 on our agenda, which is a presentation.

[10:51] Texas A&M AgroLife Extension Service Quarterly Update.

[10:56] I just Robert Scott, who's the C.E.A. of agriculture, we're at law.

[11:03] There he is.

[11:05] Who's also with agriculture and Amber Bosnian, who's the urban youth development C.E.A.

[11:10] Glad you're going to have a beer.

[11:19] Appreciate y'all taking time for us.

[11:22] We do this every quarter.

[11:24] We have agents coming in and just kind of tell y'all what's going on

[11:27] in the extension office across the street.

[11:30] So this time frame we're talking about really June to September that time for me and in my positions for real busy with the youth

[11:40] If you act also that time with kids being out of school, it's real busy just kind of update. So Texas in Texas, you know what we validate all our lifestyle

[11:51] Love it is the number one county for validation in numbers of steers

[11:56] We're also the biggest county in swine validation, so there's a lot of people in where the 4-HF

[12:04] FAU related that exhibit, so a lot of times in there, just the 4-HF just not counting

[12:12] all the 10 different act chapters, just the 4-HF alone, they brought in over, I think

[12:17] it was $1.5 million in winnings from last year from the major stock show.

[12:22] So it's a big project for a lot of it.

[12:27] In keeping guidance, we also validate

[12:29] we'll do those in October.

[12:31] We're probably in the top eight counties in the state

[12:34] because we have so many kids that validate

[12:36] and if you all have been there,

[12:38] count of show, you see how big it is.

[12:40] It's like a mini fair, basically.

[12:42] Hey, grandma, we have more hogs

[12:44] in the forward stop, so it just gives you an idea

[12:47] how big it is.

[12:48] But also beyond that, we did a lot of amps

[12:52] for kids, we did stay round up, took a lot of kids, I think we had, was it 40 kids or 36 kids,

[12:58] so I'm like that, the qualifying out of district to what state and competed, with the

[13:05] sheet I passed out, it's just a brief summary of some of the highlights of that time period,

[13:10] you're doing the state fair, you're validating the state fair.

[13:13] Well, so we validate state fair in June, there's sheet votes and peaks, but for all the major shows

[13:21] without it steers, and because of the age of them,

[13:26] that last through next April, March,

[13:31] when we go to the last option.

[13:33] So we have to revalidate the layouts and goats

[13:36] and pigs for the other majors,

[13:39] because they'll age out by time they get to Dallas.

[13:43] So it's two different sets of validation.

[13:46] Just because to ping on the,

[13:48] which show they're going to go to.

[13:50] But a lot of the kids did real well in scholarships, they went to a college station.

[13:57] That's more in Rhonda's realm, but I remember how many thousands of dollars they won, but we had to remember.

[14:04] I want to say 50 cent a lot, probably.

[14:07] 30, 40, 50, 50, 60 thousand dollars worth of just loving county kids at one scholarships.

[14:15] And a lot of that goes back to what they've done.

[14:17] you know, in the forest program, as they grew up, and now they participated in developing

[14:21] the ship and all that.

[14:24] Also, we had some district events that we try to get those, we kind of lobbied a little

[14:29] bit and try to get our district events held in love.

[14:32] It sees you for us, obviously, but we also use the most participation of anybody in that

[14:37] 23 county areas.

[14:40] So, the kids have been real busy, real successful right now, they're out at the FUNs Fair, which

[14:45] goes on all week.

[14:46] They cattle are checking in the day. Oh, but we saw we checked in dairy and open cattle

[14:52] Yesterday, and then they're showing right now and then the juniors will be

[14:57] Saturday. They'll check in and maybe and so

[15:00] We got a lot of kids there. We have Ronda and some of the others are out at the petting zoo. It's out there.

[15:08] Showing number, I think it was last year, like, 18,000 people got through there.

[15:12] So we have a lot of displays there, just to expose the kids that don't ever get to see any agriculture, get to see different things like that.

[15:23] Also, we had, you know, in the outside of it,

[15:27] had some different programs for me and brand also.

[15:32] There were things like water wells, and we had vindoine,

[15:38] which was exposing people to growing vineyards and how to maintain them.

[15:43] And then if they wanted to jump off in that,

[15:44] would it actually cost to do that?

[15:47] And then all the way into the wine part of it.

[15:49] So I've done a lot of ag programs too.

[15:51] So it's been pretty busy from June to September.

[15:55] You have the ag conference room to the summer, too.

[15:58] Yes, we have the extension agents.

[16:00] State T.C. Group Play, which is our associate.

[16:02] That went really well.

[16:03] And what we're all doing ahead, what if like 180 agents

[16:08] that were registered for, and you came out and gave it

[16:10] well, come appreciate you doing that.

[16:12] But yeah, we like to give a lot of the, you know,

[16:16] conversation, direction to come this way. There was, there was

[16:21] guidance and said, well, that's seven hours up. I said, you know, it's the same distance

[16:24] from here to there. We'd like to hear them from the part of the state come up here

[16:29] and a lot of them, you know, it's also recruiting deal for our district to get

[16:33] agents to come see what we have up here. A lot of good people up here in good

[16:39] living environments. So, anyway, no, it's you have any questions, though?

[16:45] over to Amber? Well I was I was going to say our

[16:48] Lumpet County stock show and our sales planes first stock show when my grandkids were

[16:53] shown it was always considered a many major. Oh yeah, but I get to it's unreal and

[16:58] now the good thing about I mean unless you're in the stock show where you probably

[17:04] really understand this but when we get judges I mean we've got to hire judges a lot

[17:09] of times especially the county show at a state because it's such a big deal

[17:14] that's kind of a stepping stone if they do well.

[17:18] Here, they can easily go on and judge a major.

[17:20] And if they don't do well here,

[17:22] then you probably may have seen them again.

[17:24] You're so, it's a very prestigious deal

[17:26] when they get a phone call from our area to judge,

[17:29] because the quality of last talk is so good

[17:31] that it's part of the world.

[17:33] It just always has been that way.

[17:35] And the financial incentive there,

[17:41] for kids, I know one young lady

[17:43] that went all the way through law school,

[17:44] on scholarships from the HXR.

[17:47] And, you know, we just use, we always talk about stock,

[17:50] but in reality is the livestock,

[17:53] they're just like the vehicle we're using

[17:55] to teach the kids, life lessons.

[17:58] You know, yeah, we all don't do good in that,

[18:00] but when they get out, they're probably not gonna be showing,

[18:02] but everything they've learned,

[18:04] mainly maintaining those animals,

[18:05] public speaking, responsibility that all goes into,

[18:10] hopefully making them better, you know, systems.

[18:12] But we just use the livestock to do that, but just like any other sport, you know, you can use it for it to benefit them.

[18:21] So that's where our goal is.

[18:23] It's got to give you a moment to do a little commercial on your on the South Plains fair.

[18:28] What you have going up there.

[18:29] So the fair started Friday.

[18:34] And then we've already shown the market go show.

[18:36] The dairy show is today.

[18:38] The open beef and junior beef cattle, which is the breeding show is today also

[18:45] Tomorrow, let's see the swine was yesterday

[18:49] The the breeding sheep and goat show will be choose to wincy and come out for that

[18:55] And I think it when you come in the morning they don't charge you to come in so people want to go early

[19:00] They can they can just go through watch it. Yeah, I need lunch. It's a very lots of good lots of good places there

[19:06] And then later on in the week, we have the lamb show, the Camino Friday, and the steers Camino Thursday, and they'll most show on Saturday.

[19:17] And then Saturday's last day for the last part of the fair. Lots of good animals out there to look at, even if you just want to wander through the barn and just look at them.

[19:26] Or if you want to come to the shows and watch them come that morning and get them free and watch them.

[19:31] So, from what I've heard, the attendance has been up out there as compared to past year's,

[19:37] part of that studio of the weather, if you have good weather, they show up normally raised

[19:42] during the fair, at least one day, which I always welcome the rain, but kind of puts a damp

[19:46] on the attendance.

[19:47] So, it's kind of a, you know, testimony too, but that's been good out there if anybody

[19:51] wants to come out and watch it.

[19:55] Thank you.

[19:57] Morning.

[19:57] And so just kind of going on the family community health side of things this summer, we had a multi

[20:05] agent program called Cultivate Cook and Create at the South Plane Scrub Farm. We had about 50 participants there.

[20:14] It was a program. We brought in students from the YWCA and also from Parkway Guelibay Center.

[20:22] And then also the students that are in the leadership program there at the Grave form and so it's a nutrition program healthy living and gardening program that we've done I think this is this is our fourth summer to do it

[20:35] So we did that this summer. We had

[20:37] Also a lot of kids going around up and I helped with that on the urban youth side. I kind of focused on three

[20:50] Texas Community Futures Forum. So one of them was leadership. So I do a leadership program at the

[20:57] Grand Farm. I have 23 kids. We meet once a month. They meet weekly, but I meet with them once a month.

[21:03] And we kind of focus on growth mindset and kind of do things to kind of encourage leadership every day

[21:11] leadership in your life along kids think to be a leader you need to do something huge. And we kind of focus on how you can be a

[21:17] theater, in your everyday life. Anyone can be a leader. So we've worked on that this summer

[21:22] and we're continuing that this fall and I'm also doing it at Ackens Mill School with

[21:27] the group of girls starting in October. Another area focused on that was identified is youth

[21:34] literacy and so do a monthly story time at all of the city libraries and then also we have

[21:41] a program called Fred which stands for families reading together every day and so it's

[21:47] challenge to forward challenge and the challenges are you 20 minutes a night with your

[21:52] child. So we've done that with Aalu Astee in August and we kind of want to encourage if you

[22:00] notice a lot of younger children spend a lot of time on technology and app heads,

[22:06] et cetera, which are great. But it's just to kind of encourage like taking 20 minutes a day

[22:10] and sitting down and reading books together just to promote literacy and also just to promote

[22:15] emotional connection within your family and taking that time out. So we had, I have

[22:20] for a thousand books donated, so every student I'll look at a couple of the

[22:25] for free and then also I think they had a thousand and a thousand.

[22:30] I've heard something minutes reading on that program and then they also read over a thousand books. So we kind of keep track of it, make a challenge out of it. And then my third thing that I've kind of been working on this year is just ag awareness. And so last year we brought back ag in the bag and we did it in partnership with Texas Tech College of Agriculture. And we had 14 percenters come and we had about 400 kids come and they rotated through stations and just because Lubbock

[22:59] is an urban county or becoming more urban, especially compared to like

[23:05] Floyd County or Hell County or a lot of our other counties in the state,

[23:08] it's just a way to kind of get kids to see how the agriculture business,

[23:13] how it affects their daily life. So they learn all about the college of agriculture

[23:17] careers they could go into, but also just where their milk comes from, where their beef

[23:21] comes from, where their clothes come from, and we're doing that again October 29th.

[23:26] come with a look to have y'all at the writing here to some of this year so we're going to have

[23:32] two sessions this year so hopefully grow it but that will our size and I also go to different schools

[23:39] and do an ad in the bag there where I kind of do a path to play program for them um it's kind of

[23:46] good participation in that I go to three different school districts within the county and I kind of

[23:56] you know that there's corn in your medicine and in your clothes and you know kind of just a path to place.

[24:03] So this is kind of in the three areas that would be in the connoisseur.

[24:07] Thank you, thank you.

[24:10] You know, well, I think in the last four September, I do this ever September as you do.

[24:18] It's always been kind of sad, but this one, hey, our crops are looking very good, cotton crop.

[24:25] And that's our main force.

[24:30] I think the area is going to get cost of $4 million.

[24:34] That's what they're projecting.

[24:36] That might put a little,

[24:38] sort of,

[24:41] strain on our current infrastructure, right now.

[24:44] So many gans of consolidate.

[24:45] Maybe a late gin and season.

[24:48] That's right.

[24:50] We could get the price up.

[24:51] Classifications slow down, too.

[24:53] Mm-hmm. They just guess.

[24:58] He's better cotton than they claimed it was, I promise.

[25:01] Oh, you got to say the current research on all that, you're correct.

[25:05] Anyway, the Sorghum Crop.

[25:08] The late Sorghum Crop, I'm a little worried about, but if it frees this in December,

[25:15] like it did last year, we're going to be just fine.

[25:17] But if we get a freeze, hot of wind, not so good.

[25:22] but to already plant a corn, are you planting grains over them?

[25:27] I'm talking wreck your geals.

[25:29] We just need the process.

[25:31] I saw Grandland corn this year early.

[25:35] Yes.

[25:35] It looks like you're getting corn.

[25:37] I thought of my applied research projects.

[25:39] I saw that raining mid-May in three,

[25:42] the first week of June.

[25:44] I have nothing left.

[25:45] I mean, it all got held now.

[25:47] We had the cotton variety trial.

[25:51] over there on 1729 close to 50th Street. They got held out. We had the

[25:57] rose facing plant population trial. They got held out. We had the

[26:04] long staple versus up and cotton trial. It didn't make it either so. But we

[26:09] did do last month. We conducted a

[26:16] And the nematote surveyed, and our new plant pathologist, Dr. Rond, and she's started that

[26:23] I was going to do vegetables and she needed eight fields.

[26:28] And I went, oh, okay.

[26:29] And I actually found eight fields.

[26:31] We did five fields of tomatoes.

[26:34] And then you're Jordan over there in the area.

[26:37] I got pumpkins.

[26:40] Kind of a watermelon.

[26:43] So, the results of that, see what the ocean, all your cantaloupe split with all the rain.

[26:52] I've had the cantaloupe split in my crazy. Did you drill so?

[26:57] Arcelator. Oh, this was under drip, but it did that area where the water's running out.

[27:06] And so, maybe the rain actually helped me.

[27:11] There are three new past, we need to be looking at, I'll have a heart of the screen one,

[27:18] fly, it's getting real close to the border, we should have our plants up and run in by April,

[27:27] but when you talk to the people in the know they're saying more like June, so we have that coming our way,

[27:33] We have, there's a new cotton pass that hit Texas this year via India through Florida,

[27:41] but it's another leaf hopper species, it's cotton jacid, and it just defolixed cotton crop

[27:48] immediately.

[27:50] In the every year, 43% loss in India, so we have that, the father's north, it's been found

[28:00] is Brad's Riverbottom, but it came in on Hardie Habiscus that you buy at all of these

[28:09] box stores, that's where it came from, and we got the word four weeks ago, and we're

[28:17] not seven, a whole lot of Hardie Habiscus, and they're not bringing them in and love it

[28:21] right now. I'm pretty sure that we got it. Then we have the, we have a brand new name

[28:28] to tell the species, which is why she had me look at all of the vegetables, and that's the

[28:34] guava nematodes. It's found in my backyard and growing guava, growing guava, always

[28:43] on tomatoes that I got at Home Depot.

[28:48] So we'll marry those, prevent that in your tomatoes,

[28:51] like they have other nematodes. This is a, this is a lot bigger one. So you know, like a,

[28:58] Rook, not name of television, your tomatoes, you can see that they're 80, maybe.

[29:03] These are the size of grapes.

[29:05] You just don't ask when I went, what the heck?

[29:08] I got her involved, and that's why we looked at all the tomatoes, and they get omelettes.

[29:15] Other than that, you'll have any questions?

[29:18] The screwworm, does that affect people as well?

[29:20] Sure does.

[29:22] If you're warm-blooded, you're going to get it.

[29:24] What does that look like?

[29:26] Um, so the fly, you know that green, well, you'll drop the dumpster and you got the green, blue,

[29:33] arugess it flies, that's it, except there's like one species that feeds on living flesh, and that's the one.

[29:40] You know, we eradicated the darn thing out of Texas and what, 7778.

[29:45] And then I guess, out of sight out of mind, we, I always thought that plant in my head was up and run to this day.

[29:52] Now, we built one in Mexico, and then we built one in Panama, and that's where we tried it.

[30:09] We started to notice when they all hit floor to it. So the plan that you're talking about produces sterile, square warm flies.

[30:19] That's one of, I know that I just want to people understand that's what the plan is.

[30:23] But yeah, it's gamma radiation.

[30:25] You write, you rare them up to the people stage.

[30:28] You have egg orbit, people, and then you adult.

[30:32] So radiating them into the people stage.

[30:36] They drop.

[30:37] This, our naep plant that we're building in the U.S. again.

[30:41] It's going to be 4 million flies a day.

[30:45] That will take care of it. Plus, you know, looking back in the 70s, 60s are our five pesticides

[30:56] for animals, at least, is the right bedroom what we used to have. So it's more of the human aspect

[31:06] this while we're jumping off,

[31:11] so we'll apply a parasite work against them like it does, your

[31:14] common play. You know, if the trick of a flies in a barn like situation, dairy

[31:25] like situation, they weren't great, but out, out on the range, not not so much.

[31:31] That means to my house around when I had livestock, that way down on my life, and it works

[31:36] at our borne, and then we'll talk about it.

[31:38] What did you get out in the past, your top environment, not so much?

[31:46] Thank you.

[31:47] We just want to say thank you, I'm for supporting us, and any time we do so on our news.

[31:52] I appreciate it.

[31:53] Thank you.

[31:54] Thank you.

[31:55] Thank you.

[32:00] I'm 16 as to discuss, consider, enter, take action to ward ITB-250703, as fault materials

[32:07] for the bridge department.

[32:09] Morning, Climberman with Purchasing.

[32:11] Yeah, this is the FY26 annual bid for as-foam materials for red

[32:15] One bridge, we had two responsive bidders, and we asked multi-word to both Ergonne as Faults

[32:21] and P2 emotions.

[32:23] I'm going to say.

[32:26] A motion by Commissioner Shaw, second by Commissioner Rackler, to award ITB 250703 as Fault

[32:35] Materials to Ergonne as Fault Emulsions and to P2 Emulsions is ready for the discussion.

[32:43] Is Ergonne a new company?

[32:44] Do they live it in every year, as long as I've been?

[32:47] Yes.

[32:51] Do you think further?

[32:53] If not, I'll call for the question on all in favor.

[32:55] Any opposed?

[32:56] Motion carries.

[32:57] Thank you, Ms. Warman.

[33:00] I have 17 is to discuss, consider, undertake action,

[33:03] to authorize county judge, assignment and agreement,

[33:05] with five star correctional services,

[33:08] for food services for Love Accounting Detention Center,

[33:10] as awarded in RFP250601,

[33:14] back on August 11th of 2025.

[33:17] Chief. Good morning. And Corbin for the Sheriff's Office.

[33:22] This is a renewal with our current food service

[33:25] vended. They won the bid. Ask for your approval.

[33:32] Motion by Commissioner Rackler, second by Commissioner Dolby,

[33:38] to authorize the county judge to sign the agreement with five sort of

[33:47] problems from five star of the doing great. Great service. The contract is tied to the CPI as we have in the past.

[33:54] So the increase is a be easy to forecast. Thank you.

[34:00] All right. If there's nothing further, I'll call for the question all in favor.

[34:03] Aye. On the U.D. Opposed.

[34:05] Muffin Carey.

[34:08] I'd am 18 to discuss consider and or take action to help the rest of county judge.

[34:12] Decide a contract for residential services with right-of-passage ink for long-term placement of juveniles at the Canyon State Academy and Desert Lily Academy.

[34:23] Good morning.

[34:25] Right-of-passage is operating a very good facility out there.

[34:29] The Canyon State is a male facility that we're going to continue a contract with.

[34:34] If you all approved this, we have a kid out there that's doing excellent.

[34:37] We're also going to decide to put in the desert lily academy portion of it, which is a female

[34:42] program that we desperately need.

[34:45] So, ask for your approval from the group.

[34:49] That goes back to Commissioner Dolby, a second back to Commissioner Rackler.

[34:54] To authorize the county judge to sign the contract with right-of-passage ink for long-term

[34:59] placement of juveniles.

[35:00] Is there any further discussion?

[35:04] You're not called for the question all in favor?

[35:06] Aye.

[35:07] Are there any opposed?

[35:08] It's looking curious.

[35:10] Thank you.

[35:13] I am 19 to discuss, consider, undertake action to authorize County Judge, a sign

[35:16] of business association, pardon you, a business associate agreement, and a sales agreement

[35:22] within a dendom with Canica Minota.

[35:27] Um, um,

[35:29] commissioned.

[35:29] This is a, uh,

[35:31] This is for our ability, then to, um,

[35:34] Continue our services in, uh,

[35:38] Ourимсяin's and

[35:39] Estáer account for, uh,

[35:43] The.

[35:43] Manil to machine,

[35:44] No, it part me.

[35:44] This is the X-ray machine part me.

[35:46] This is the X-ray machine

[35:47] From the low dot systems at the, you.

[35:50] The New Is Office,

[35:51] The New Is Office.

[35:52] Moo approved,

[35:54] Right,

[35:59] Mr. Dolby, second-by commissioner, Shaw, to authorize the county judge to sign the business

[36:07] associated agreement and the sales agreement, Connecticut, is there any further discussion?

[36:13] Hearing none, call for the question, all in favor?

[36:16] All those opposed?

[36:18] Motion carries.

[36:21] Item 20 is to discuss, consider, and or take action to approve the fees and plans for the district

[36:26] Courts, Courts, Courts, Records, and Preservation on Account, O'Nuns, O'Nuns, O'Nuns, and Records

[36:32] Management and Archive Plan on Account, for the fiscal year 26.

[36:37] This is the same fee schedule as approved in fiscal year 2025.

[36:45] I'm on the second.

[36:47] Motion by Commissioner Shaw, second by Commissioner Rackler, to approve the fees and plans for the

[36:53] heard clerk's court records preservation.

[36:57] Is there any further discussion?

[36:59] You're none call for the question, all in favor?

[37:01] Aye.

[37:02] Are there any opposed?

[37:04] What are the hearings?

[37:06] Item 21 to discuss, consider, and or take action

[37:10] to approve the 2026 Love Accounting Holiday Calendar,

[37:15] pursuant to the Love Accounting Employee Handbook Section 8.04.

[37:19] Ms. Yves, you have been circulated the,

[37:22] So the 2026 holiday schedule is there.

[37:30] These are the same holidays, as we've had in the past, just now transferred to the 2026 counters in your discussion.

[37:40] I do want to say that I am looking at for an amendment for this year's holiday as a little show appreciation to our employees,

[37:50] of doing the 26th of December as a holiday to give our employees a five day Christmas holiday.

[37:55] I'll have it on the agenda for the next court.

[38:02] I'm looking for a motion.

[38:08] Motion by Commissioner Shaw.

[38:11] Second by Commissioner Corley to approve the calendar year 2026,

[38:15] Love Accounting, Holiday Calendar.

[38:17] Any further discussions?

[38:20] You're now in call for the question all in favour?

[38:22] Aye.

[38:23] I'll do our idea posed motion carries.

[38:25] On of 22 is a report on the status of county road projects, department staffing, training

[38:31] at safety, unpaid the pay road maintenance, science parks, and fleet.

[38:37] We try to move on with roads, starting with department staffing and training, we have an

[38:42] open equipment operator too, and development take position.

[38:45] For unpaid roads, we have 35 local workers for pay road, the 37 parks has 38 open

[38:52] Mark orders. No way. Science has 38 open work code of excuse me. And then Park says 12.

[39:01] There's routine cost of fleet maintenance and approximately 120 to open work orders.

[39:09] It was just for Mr. Melvin. I would like to say the apron on 5700 off of 400.

[39:15] The state couldn't get to it. As when I fixed it and I appreciate that.

[39:20] It was a bit of a little bit more happened to it with me.

[39:27] Thank you.

[39:29] I was so that five minutes away from opening up for our public hearing.

[39:34] So, the Public County Commissioner's Court will stand and recess for five minutes until 1045.

[39:42] Let's reconvene the Public County Commissioner's Court.

[39:45] Thank you all for your patience.

[39:48] Item 12, on our agenda, is the public hearing regarding the fiscal year 2026.

[39:55] six, love a county budget. Is there anyone here that wishes to speak on for, or against, if this

[40:02] will year 2026, love a county budget?

[40:08] Please come forward.

[40:12] You'll reintroduce yourself, please.

[40:13] Cassie Graham,

[40:16] where I left off is who are you going to find to do our jobs, to stand on the

[40:23] scene for hours when a police officer and a firefighter killed in the line of duty, who's

[40:28] to answer the phone calls in the middle of the night when someone's life has been taken due to

[40:32] senseless violence in this community. What moms are going to find they're going to rock their

[40:38] kids to bed every night, tell them that they're not monsters and come into a courtroom and face them

[40:45] every single day. Who's going to continue to stand up for what is right when officers have to sit

[40:50] outside our houses, walk us into the courtroom, because our lives and the lives of our families

[40:55] friend.

[40:59] I invite each of you to come with me for a day. Come to my office, sit with me

[41:03] while I talk to these families. Sit with me while I talk to these kids. Go to court with me.

[41:10] Look the evil in the eye. See what we are actually fighting in this community. See what good

[41:16] the Sheriff's Department and the DA's office is doing. And then after that, if you can look me in

[41:21] the eye and tell me that cutting a budget by 10% is the right thing for our community then do it.

[41:27] But I asked it until that point you come with me.

[41:31] Thank you.

[41:41] Is there anyone else that would wish to speak on for or against the fiscal year 2026

[41:47] Love Accounting Budget?

[41:51] We come forward.

[41:52] I will close our public hearing and move to item 13 on the agenda, which is a presentation

[41:59] of the 2026 proposed budget by Kathy Williams, our Love Accounting Auditor.

[42:05] Ms. Williams.

[42:09] Is your microphone on?

[42:13] Is it?

[42:15] Just want to make sure, because you're going to have to speak up.

[42:18] Just a little bit.

[42:25] Okay.

[42:25] Here's our strategic plan structure.

[42:28] It emphasizes efficient government, public safety, employee excellence, and service excellence.

[42:36] Our total budget for FY26 is $322,558,982.

[42:48] Last year's total budget was $345 million.

[42:53] The general fund proposed a budget is $162 million.

[42:59] Last year it was $165 million.

[43:05] These are our revenues,

[43:10] the biggest changes in the revenues would be, of course, the tax collection and down at the bottom, the draw from reserves in the transfers.

[43:24] Sorry, I'm talking about general flood budget. I got that on my brain.

[43:29] Anyway, this just shows the difference in our revenues for the total budget.

[43:35] The highlights of the total budget, there's 85 funds in the lower county budget, the

[43:40] biggest being the general fund, and then 84 special funds that we also balance.

[43:47] There, we realized a $15 million budget reduction in the total budget, and the changes

[43:57] over last year's budget, by at least a million dollars for the following funds.

[44:01] The general fund is, it's to three million dollars less than last year, when up close to

[44:10] two million permanent improvements was cut, 1.8 million.

[44:16] The ARPA funds is down 6.4 million that fund will use its fund balance to finish out the ARPA

[44:25] projects, tack grand is down to a million in the capital project is up close to 1.4 million

[44:36] in the health insurance fund change, 4.5 million of our last year.

[44:44] The general fund, of course, is our biggest fund.

[44:48] You have the biggest changes in the taxes, and then the drop reserves and the transfer

[44:55] down at the bottom, you can say that last year we did a draw for...

[45:00] Results, 7.2 million this year were doing 6.8 to finish out the balance of the budget.

[45:08] And we also transferred from another fund balance, 5.5 million to do our capital last year.

[45:14] We don't have those transfers this year. The initial property tax revenue with the no new revenue rate was estimated to generate $1.8 million less than last year's property taxes.

[45:27] That's because the no-new revenue rate also includes our INS payments and those increased

[45:36] this year.

[45:39] With adopting the no-new revenue rate and funding the INS payments with the debt service

[45:44] balance, which is what we decided to do, that gave us a loss and estimated property taxes

[45:52] of $105,000.

[45:56] Those taxes is expected to be stagnant and only increased close to $200,000.

[46:04] Motor vehicle registrations are estimated to increase by $4 million.

[46:09] This is one time revenue and it's due to an increase in the title-core title-girl and

[46:15] Tesla registrations.

[46:17] Our phone commissions are expected to decrease by $800,000 due to a new law that went

[46:25] in effect in 2022, and we're just now realizing that law is tax rate.

[46:33] As I said before, the no new revenue rate tries to bring in the same amount of taxes

[46:38] As last year, the VAR lets you have the maintenance and operations then it adds on your

[46:48] service debt payments and it also allows you to have any revenue that you left on the

[46:58] table from last year.

[47:01] I showed this slide before.

[47:03] This does shows how we start out with the no new revenue rate.

[47:07] It gives you the M&O and the I&S has included in that, but the VAR, again, allows for certain expenses that the county has to be added onto the no new revenue rate.

[47:22] in a long way.

[47:26] You can get your expenses somewhat paid back by the general justice state-funded mannedates

[47:37] in my intelligent defense.

[47:39] The sales tax is added in there, and 3.5.

[47:44] Increase your debt gets added in here, and then the unused revenues that you see.

[47:51] Again, that is increasing for the tax payer.

[47:57] Again, this is just our tax rates that were adopted and those that were valuable.

[48:04] Here is the tax rate in the appraisal effects on the average home.

[48:11] Last year, the citizens paid $7,734 annually in property taxes.

[48:21] There's no new revenue,

[48:29] it was a decrease of $2 and 63 cents annually, a loss to

[48:35] love at county revenue of 1.7, 1.8 million dollars.

[48:43] And what love at county did was pay our debt service payment out of the debt service fund

[48:49] that allow us with the same no new revenue right to only realize $105,000 loss in our property tax of this year.

[49:01] The current rate would have given us $460,000 at an increase of $13.13 in 63 cents to the tax payer.

[49:13] voter approval rate would have increased what the citizens pay by $108 dollars would have

[49:22] generated $12 million for the county. This is just a little example of what it looks

[49:29] like for our current budget expenses. Of course we balanced with the service no new revenue

[49:37] rate, the no new revenue rate without that us making that fun balance. We would have been

[49:43] 1.7 in the whole current rate, again, would have given us 565, 1,000 in 12,000 if we

[49:55] would have went with the VAR.

[49:59] Highlights of this budget, we did begin with the deficit of $14 million, 7 of that was the

[50:08] from reserves, five was the fund balance from workers' complex year, and then the two,

[50:16] if we would have just used the no-new revenue rate without paying our debt service

[50:21] this year with fund balance.

[50:26] Original request this year were 29 million in just operating expense over last year's budget,

[50:37] departments before we even started when they just turned in their budgets to make in May.

[50:47] General fund departments had already reduced their budget by 3.4 million dollars.

[50:54] When you add in the general fund for the special revenues, there are requests for 14.3 million dollars

[51:03] to the general revenue fund, it was a decrease from $4 million last year.

[51:12] From bridge, got $6.2 million, juvenile justice got $7.6 million.

[51:19] And grants and other funds got a little over $500,000.

[51:26] The general fund budget includes elected officials mandated salary increases for state

[51:32] and court-it-law judges and justices, I think, elected officials 2% COLA, 7 elected officials

[51:42] decline their increases in their budgets are reflective of that.

[51:48] 12 new positions, 10 for the tax office, the approved and August, but realized in this year's

[51:56] budget or 26 budget, 2 for the detention center.

[52:02] health insurance cost had increases with the new company as I said last year it started in January

[52:11] 2025 and that insurance increase was not passed on to the employees and their contribution has not

[52:20] increased since 2017.

[52:25] We did salary item adjustments, I went through every

[52:30] Valerie, line item, and made them as close to actual as possible without having to make us do too many budget amendments next year.

[52:43] Retention pay for full-time employees for longevity is still in the budget, and the HSA contribution of $1,700 per employee that's on the health insurance is still in the budget.

[52:56] in those that particular expenses paid with work compounds.

[53:04] The general fund budget also includes reductions.

[53:11] Additional 10% of the operating budget was required for all departments in the general

[53:17] fund for a total of $2.4 million.

[53:22] Public safety reductions was 1.4 for the sheriff's office for all his

[53:28] funds in the general fund, another $280,000 in public safety department of which 150,000

[53:40] in critical needs funding for the volunteer fire department was unfunded.

[53:45] a medical examiner's budget was reduced by $199.

[53:53] That's where the biggest dollaring reductions.

[54:00] Capital expenses were reduced.

[54:02] From $4.2 million, it's requested down to $2 million.

[54:06] And you can see information technology in the Sheriff's Office

[54:10] have the highest reduction that over $700,000 with maintenance being reduced $363,000 in their capital.

[54:23] The exclusions in the general fund were new positions requested, 38 positions requested, only 12 funded,

[54:32] team, read-class, requested, zero offended,

[54:39] and then call us for the county employees.

[54:41] It's not included in this budget nor merit funds for performance proposals.

[54:48] Special funds.

[54:53] Red and Bridge, their budget $11, I mean, sorry last year, it was $11 million this year.

[55:04] it's $13 million. They received $6.2 million in funds from the general fund. This is the

[55:11] same amount they've been receiving since 2019 since we reduced it from ARPA fund.

[55:22] It's

[55:22] debating a slide increase in revenues and utilizing their fund balance rounded out their budget.

[55:30] They did receive funds from the park precincts to add rap roads to their budget this year.

[55:43] Capital equipment up 2 million, we rode projects in 1.4 million, rode maintenance in 2.1 million,

[55:51] and their 25 rode maintenance program was 243.

[55:57] We think parks, their tax revenues back, total little over $600,000, and permanent improvement.

[56:08] Their request was $15 million.

[56:11] Their proposed budget is $3.3 million.

[56:15] Last year, it was $5.2.

[56:18] They unfunded $1.9 million from the contribution from the general fund and projects not funded

[56:28] for $12.5 million.

[56:34] Facilities maintenance director has requested every year for the last six years, between $8

[56:39] and $15 million to fund her program, and she even did an assessment on county facilities

[56:50] that is still needing to be addressed.

[56:55] The no new revenue tax rate that the county has chosen

[56:59] to go with, as I said last year, at some peak global ratings, it's saying that you need to

[57:09] have the revenue growth, supporting revenue growth and financial stability to maintain

[57:17] our bond rating. I won't throw through all this as I read it last year, but we

[57:28] are in danger

[57:29] of losing our bond rating if we continue to go down this road.

[57:38] You can see that report on

[57:40] our Love It County website. And as I said last year, Love It County's major revenue source has

[57:46] reduced due to the local political environment. Our physical health must be maintained by further

[57:53] limiting, spending until such time that a sustainable revenue source can be achieved. This includes

[58:00] expenses due to compensation, debt service, and major capital projects and equipment, as well as revisiting

[58:08] those expenses built on the VAR tax rate for growing county.

[58:15] Again, we've taken six point to six point eight million dollars from

[58:20] draw from reserves that still has to be our highest priority to address.

[58:26] This is the same slide from last year that states that and where I said that

[58:34] but county needed to address that $7.2 million first before any expenses are added.

[58:42] And next year for 27 it'll be 6.8.

[58:48] Then you can see all this on our live accounting website.

[58:52] After court.

[58:58] Thank you Ms. Williams.

[58:59] Can I say something?

[59:01] Is there any three questions to show?

[59:07] Okay, so what I've heard this year that I've been in here is the budget that's

[59:11] budget cuts. In 2021, the county's overall budget was 244,972,768. As you saw today, five years later,

[59:27] we're $80 million more than 2021. I'm always told that growing county has got to increase. During

[59:37] those times, we had a 1.2 population growth in 2021, we had a 1.3 and 1.2 or 1.3 and

[59:48] 1.24, 1.5 and 1.24.

[59:55] Our budgets have increased in 2021, 8.

[1:00:00] 2.10.43% and 2023.34% and it's 2024.8%.

[1:00:10] This can't continue. The people of Lubbock County cannot afford to continue at that rate. That's

[1:00:18] why I chose the non-ereveny rate this year because it has to stop someplace. And when you get

[1:00:27] to the real numbers and know there hasn't been a cut this year. Yes, we've had it back

[1:00:32] to 322. But in the past four years before this there was not a cut. It's grown tremendously

[1:00:41] every year. I just want everybody to understand that.

[1:00:51] Any other questions or comments?

[1:00:55] Yes, go ahead. I've just been for a proof. Well, we're not

[1:00:58] there. This was just a presentation.

[1:01:04] Any other questions or comments on the presentation?

[1:01:09] This is William Sanky. Thank you for your hard work.

[1:01:13] Yes, thank you so much.

[1:01:18] I don't 14 is to discuss, consider, or take action to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget for

[1:01:26] love accounting as presented by the auditor.

[1:01:28] Would you move for approval?

[1:01:30] Let's present it.

[1:01:33] Motion by Commissioner Corley, I have a second by Commissioner Shaw to adopt the fiscal year 26 budget for

[1:01:40] love accounting as presented.

[1:01:41] is there any further discussions?

[1:01:47] I do have an amendment to offer.

[1:02:14] Offer amendment, we'll call this amendment number one.

[1:02:20] This is to move $169,104 from $0.902, which is the transfer from the General Fund to

[1:02:29] 11.04, 730, which is for LSO personnel.

[1:02:36] This amendment will transfer $169,169,169,104 dollars to create two additional positions

[1:02:50] to the sheriff's office in the detention center.

[1:02:53] If you noticed in the patient there were two that were approved, which is wonderful.

[1:03:01] However, two does not get us to a place where we need to be in the detention center.

[1:03:06] In order for this to have a meaningful impact to the overtime budget of the detention center,

[1:03:13] we need four deputies, one in each of the shifts.

[1:03:17] So having two kind of splits and we're still into a very difficult position in doing that.

[1:03:27] So my motion is to amend Love Accounting Fiscal Year 26 budget to move 169,104 from 902,000 to 104,730 in all

[1:03:46] Commissioner Dalby. It's a really further discussion on the amendment.

[1:03:50] Yeah, I'd like to bring up that we had discussed bringing forward

[1:03:56] deputies in for this. And we had came to the conclusion that we had some

[1:04:03] mental health deputies that were not filled. And I thought we were going to

[1:04:08] try to use two of the mental health deputies to fill on what these other two

[1:04:13] that would produce forward.

[1:04:16] That's up to the share.

[1:04:17] Okay.

[1:04:18] Then that option.

[1:04:20] Share if has that option.

[1:04:24] Well, Lisa and thank you, Commissioner.

[1:04:27] First of all, we do need the mental health

[1:04:29] deputies.

[1:04:30] So I don't want to take Rob from Peter to pay

[1:04:34] Paul as far as deputies goes.

[1:04:36] What this will do is this will

[1:04:38] fulfill the mandate of this

[1:04:41] And that's to lower the over time that we're seeing in the detention center, not on the deputies, not on the

[1:04:48] Ellie side, law enforcement side, but on the detention center side.

[1:04:53] So by adding two additional deputies with this 169,000, what we're getting is one deputy

[1:05:01] per shift, one deputy per shift, in order so that over time that we will see those over time numbers go down.

[1:05:10] In fact, we told Sheriff, we told Chief, those are the numbers we want to see go down is paying time and a half when we could just be paying straight time.

[1:05:21] So I'm hopeful that what this will do was to lower that over time to get effectively what this

[1:05:29] commissioner's court has asked the sheriff to do, and that is to look directly at these

[1:05:34] over time costs for detention now.

[1:05:36] He did come to us over the summer in our personnel committee and asked for 16 deputies.

[1:05:43] All right.

[1:05:44] So this is really a much smaller, what we're doing is, is giving them much less than what

[1:05:50] they've asked for what they need, but in doing this, this puts us on the path of, at least

[1:05:57] getting into that overtime problem that we're seeing, and still needing those detention

[1:06:03] officers for hospital transport.

[1:06:06] If he has positions that have never been failed since they were created, though, he can

[1:06:11] move those positions to make them, but you know, you remember, I don't know if you remember

[1:06:20] last year, but when we were talking about these positions last year, the argument was, we don't

[1:06:26] need to fill them because we already have too many open positions already in the detention center.

[1:06:32] That was the reason for not filling them back then, or at least the excuse for not filling

[1:06:36] them.

[1:06:37] Well, that excuse is gone.

[1:06:40] I mean, we do have our detention center, and there's openings here and there, but we're

[1:06:45] in pretty good shape at the detention center.

[1:06:47] This is for detention center officers.

[1:06:49] It's not for LE officers.

[1:06:52] It won't be really clear about that.

[1:06:54] We're not taking deputies out of the street to go to do this.

[1:07:00] This is for detention only.

[1:07:03] That's why I put this at 04730,

[1:07:08] which is for the detention center, not for LE.

[1:07:12] Well, my problem with this is during our last meeting

[1:07:16] with the sheriff and with with chiefs. I ask if we just gave you the 16 positions

[1:07:23] tonight would it cut your overtime would it would it would it would it

[1:07:30] Your overtime, no, it wouldn't. I said so, how much would it cut it? We give you a million dollars worth of employees. And I was told it would cut it $700,000.

[1:07:40] And the $2 million budget. So, you know, we give them a million dollars worth of employees to actually cost us $300,000. And I just didn't make sense to me.

[1:07:54] I understand the burnout problem, I understand the inventory over time, but there are

[1:08:01] me and out there at the prison that volunteer for overtime because I can't make it off

[1:08:06] the salary they're making.

[1:08:10] So if you and enough itself, we can certainly, you'd like to address that, I'd be glad to hear

[1:08:16] that.

[1:08:17] Well, the people up in County, can't afford more.

[1:08:20] So, for me, that's, you know, the problem I see is it would cost us more than it would

[1:08:28] save.

[1:08:29] Well, I would say to the argument of the people who love accounting, kind of forward that,

[1:08:33] we went to the people who love accounting three years ago and asked them to do that and they

[1:08:37] overwhelmingly agreed to.

[1:08:39] Okay, but we've got a commissioner on this court that went against the man that said,

[1:08:44] had to have a 3.5% tax increase every year. That man lost 80 to 20 because of saying he had

[1:08:53] to have a 3.5% tax. You keep bringing up this past tax vote on a bond as proof that they want it.

[1:09:05] But we've got a 20.24 incident that said they don't want it.

[1:09:09] Mr. Shaw.

[1:09:11] I want you to not tell anybody.

[1:09:13] Look, Mr. Schord approved a 3% color race problem.

[1:09:16] On the 2020, the commissioner's court approved a 3% color for all employees.

[1:09:22] 21, 22, 23,

[1:09:28] 24, 5%, was a 5% of, thank you.

[1:09:31] Okay.

[1:09:31] For correct anything.

[1:09:32] So we have made efforts to try to increase the, uh, the penny it love again.

[1:09:39] That level of paying increase each year is not a calling for the Secretary.

[1:09:48] If we can make a dent in what we pay in over time, I'm willing to give it a shot.

[1:09:57] And if this doesn't work, we can revisit this next year and by that point, I'm sure there

[1:10:05] will be two to four members at the correctional facility that will have left for some reason.

[1:10:16] I don't know what the reason will be. It can be rolling. If it doesn't work, it's enough

[1:10:23] here in E-Crow. If it doesn't, but if we can make a decision, we'll cut into the overtime

[1:10:31] and we're paying and we'll save X amount of dollars a willing to try it.

[1:10:36] Well, here's what I'm having been, I have not been given any data that says it won't work.

[1:10:42] I've been shown how it will work. I haven't been shown how it won't work.

[1:10:46] I don't link any of this to know. I don't link the shareholders.

[1:10:49] It's been a little working up.

[1:10:50] It's very difficult to just pre the negative.

[1:10:53] That's tax payer funded croak if you're wrong.

[1:10:57] The public view on it is they'll say you're defunding the police just like we cut

[1:11:04] $1.4 million out of how the county housing and all I've heard about since we did

[1:11:09] that is y'all are defunding the sheriff's office, you're defunding the police, we're not

[1:11:13] we cut $1.4 million out of something that was budgeted at 3.5 million that used $700,000.

[1:11:21] the 1.4 was there. And it won't open. And if we, if we higher employees to us in the next year,

[1:11:28] we come in and say, I'm sorry, you are needed at Love Accounting, but your job is not needed.

[1:11:36] Then we'd be funded of them. And it's just like when every all we're saying, we're going to lay

[1:11:41] all these people off and we're not, we're not laying anybody off.

[1:11:49] And so the public, the public

[1:11:51] look of if next year we cut back the two positions.

[1:11:56] That was on the table.

[1:11:58] Five percent.

[1:11:59] But lay off.

[1:12:00] It wasn't going to happen.

[1:12:00] That's why we went to 10 percent.

[1:12:02] What didn't happen?

[1:12:04] So there was nobody saying that anybody was getting laid off.

[1:12:08] That's all I heard about.

[1:12:10] So

[1:12:14] I mean, that's how we got to go down a rabbit hole.

[1:12:17] All I'm saying is if there's an avenue to reduce the amount of overtime that we are

[1:12:24] the county is paying I'm willing to go down that road and look at it and if it doesn't work

[1:12:29] we can come back in 12 months and we can look at it again.

[1:12:33] Yeah did you want to pull 169,000 dollars and I'm not asking for a general fund which is going to

[1:12:39] actually being part of our deficit. We're going to have to pull it out of the

[1:12:43] not the balance. No, no we're pulling this out of transfer. Transfer from where?

[1:12:49] That's that.

[1:12:51] This is transfer, this is transfer again.

[1:12:54] Transfer from the general fund to 902 OO.

[1:13:00] What is the money guy come from?

[1:13:02] It's not general fund if we're fund in this off of fund balance.

[1:13:05] Well, instead of, instead of transferring 6.23 million,

[1:13:11] we're going to only transfer 6.1 million.

[1:13:13] And we're going to give that 169 million, 109,000, excuse me.

[1:13:19] So I'm not talking about a $3 million, 4 million dollar fully funded.

[1:13:24] I'm going to talk about 100 overtime, or is it going to come out a general fund,

[1:13:28] which is a part of our deficit?

[1:13:31] That's true.

[1:13:32] I'm not, I'm not messing with the tax rate here.

[1:13:36] That ship sailed.

[1:13:38] Now we can only move money within within this budget.

[1:13:43] Within this tax rate, it doesn't increase the tax rate, it doesn't decrease the tax rate.

[1:13:49] It keeps the tax rate the same, it keeps the dollar amounts of safe, we're just moving

[1:13:53] from one line item to another, but it does increase the deficit by about $169,000 and a half

[1:14:01] to come.

[1:14:02] Well, out of reserves, and I will say pulling $6.8 million does the same thing.

[1:14:09] last year when y'all wouldn't make the cuts when we forced to know new revenue is what started

[1:14:15] that if y'all would have made the cuts and let us be involved in the cuts I was told you

[1:14:20] didn't show up you're not making any cuts okay y'all figured out y'all funded 13 million dollars

[1:14:27] okay you're always allowed in my office I did not tell you that and I'm the one doing the budget

[1:14:32] you know he's still that last year last year not this year too I never told you you could not come

[1:14:38] participate in the budget.

[1:14:40] No one saying you did.

[1:14:43] It wasn't you that said it.

[1:14:46] We're not.

[1:14:47] We're still discussing.

[1:14:48] Thank you very much.

[1:14:50] So, 169,104 dollars.

[1:14:54] Two, as Commissioner Dolby goes, two possibly, hopefully.

[1:15:00] I will tell you the transfers that we're looking at, that the need for the deputies for transfers is increasing. We do know that.

[1:15:09] So can we just go $169,000? I'm not asking for $2 million. I'm not asking for $4 million. I'm only asking for $169,000 to hopefully get at this overtime problem that we have.

[1:15:26] And as Commissioner Shaw pointed up to, it is a burnout problem as well.

[1:15:31] We have deputies that are needing to work, and we're taking time away from their family.

[1:15:37] Yes, we're compensating them time and a half to do that.

[1:15:40] And some of them want to. And I'm okay with the sum who want to.

[1:15:45] But there are some that are almost halfing to do that.

[1:15:48] And we're causing a lot more turnover at the detention center than we should.

[1:15:51] Let's give them a little help.

[1:15:54] $169,000 worth of help.

[1:15:56] If all we're asking for.

[1:15:59] How many open positions are there at the detention center today?

[1:16:03] I don't know.

[1:16:04] I didn't get that number this morning.

[1:16:06] How many of they are?

[1:16:07] But it's a pretty fluid number.

[1:16:10] It increases and decreases almost on a regular basis

[1:16:14] because of what we were talking about the burnout problem.

[1:16:17] Being an elected official,

[1:16:18] he does have the ability to take an open position

[1:16:21] and maneuver it as the detection center to do whatever duties not necessarily or someone

[1:16:29] it says or any other dumb provided except you're talking about a detention center and so those

[1:16:35] positions are based on all the number of bits that we have and those are mandated by stay

[1:16:40] long so we can't do what you were talking about and move people around like he can't say

[1:16:46] Okay, I'll take these open positions that I haven't

[1:16:49] detention to move them over to law enforcement.

[1:16:52] He can't do that.

[1:16:53] Because he has to maintain the number of positions

[1:16:58] at the detention center based on state law, based on the mandate

[1:17:04] from Austin.

[1:17:05] You have to maintain a certain number of positions.

[1:17:07] That's why I would like that you can do as you will.

[1:17:09] That's correct.

[1:17:16] Okay, so that's what I'm saying.

[1:17:17] amendment is, if the consensus of the court is to pass for some amendment, we need to discuss

[1:17:25] the funding further. We cannot do a transfer from the general fund. We can do a transfer

[1:17:31] within the general fund, but you have to tell me what line item is specifically going

[1:17:37] to be cut to add these positions.

[1:17:40] I'll say we vote on it first and then we'll worry about it.

[1:17:44] I think the funds from somewhere else in the sheriff's office accounts, or-

[1:17:51] Well, I put that 902, oh, which is the road and bridge fund.

[1:17:56] That's, yeah.

[1:18:01] Okay.

[1:18:03] Just answering your questions.

[1:18:07] I thought I was, those numbers were where we were, where we were moving it

[1:18:15] from to where we were moving it to.

[1:18:21] Any other discussion?

[1:18:25] Hearing none, I will call for the question.

[1:18:27] All in favor, raise your hand by saying aye.

[1:18:31] You guys are all opposed

[1:18:34] to a min fails two to three,

[1:18:41] so much for law enforcement.

[1:18:43] And

[1:18:49] I've got another amendment.

[1:19:05] I'll offer what is called a min-met number two.

[1:19:12] The explanation for this amendment is as follows.

[1:19:14] The pre-saint parks and the pre-saint clubhouses are the only entity in this county that

[1:19:25] saw a tax increase.

[1:19:29] Last year, the tax rate for these parks were zero and they were part of the general fund.

[1:19:35] This year, the decision by the couple members of the court was to add a tax rate.

[1:19:43] to add a tax rate to the parks and to the clubhouse. While at the same time, asking

[1:19:54] the department directors to cut 10%. The only thing that was increased this year was parks

[1:20:02] and clubhouses. This amendment would put those that tax rate back to zero. Back where it

[1:20:11] in this current fiscal year and then we'll add the tax rate of 0.002 to back to the general

[1:20:18] fund and so that these the parks and clubhouses were not taking away the money to the

[1:20:24] parks and clubhouses. We're just leveling out the tax rate for them so they don't have

[1:20:30] their own tax rate that continues to bring more and more money to these parks while asking

[1:20:38] other departments, including our sheriff's department, our road and bridge department, our

[1:20:44] firefighters to decrease while at the same time asking the people of Love Academy to increase

[1:20:52] their tax rate for the parks and the clubhouses. I mentioned during budget time that, and I've had

[1:21:01] commissioners telling me all we need to do is cut the fluff out of this budget, just cut the

[1:21:05] Well, there's no more fluff in this budget except for parks and clubhouses.

[1:21:12] So if the intent of this court is to cut fluff, then they will accept my amendment.

[1:21:17] I offer amendment number two, which is move to amend the Love Accounting Fiscal Year 2026 budget

[1:21:23] as follows.

[1:21:25] We'll set the tax rate for precinct one park at 0.0.

[1:21:29] The Slayton Roosevelt Park is 0.0. The I-Loon New Deal Park is 0.0 and shallow water parks at 0.0 and then add a tax rate to the general fund of 0.0 to 0.0 to 0.0 and ask for a second.

[1:21:49] Second. Motion by Judge Parrish, second by Commissioner Dalby. Is there any other further discussion?

[1:21:58] So, commissioners, I thought it was grossly unfair for you to add to your budgets for

[1:22:09] parks and for clubhouses, while requesting the DA's office, our courts, our sheriffs

[1:22:15] department, our facilities to cut their budgets while you asked and brought forth an increase

[1:22:22] in your budget.

[1:22:23] knowing that you increase the tax rate.

[1:22:26] So if you increase...

[1:22:30] We're here to decrease the tax rate, and yet here you are increasing the tax rate for your own

[1:22:35] parks for your own clubhouse. That's what this does. This fulfills your mandate to cut taxes.

[1:22:43] If you're all for cut in taxes, you should not have one problem with this amendment whatsoever.

[1:22:51] So out of my park funds, I share a rodent bridge employee, and I have a part-time employee, and I keep

[1:23:00] the upkeep of the baseball field clubhouse at shallow water.

[1:23:06] I also, in the last few years, have been funding some

[1:23:09] of road and bridge special projects, because they had either

[1:23:13] been over looked or just didn't have the funding to do it.

[1:23:17] The previous commissioner before Commissioner Dawley had bought a

[1:23:20] snowplow for road and bridge.

[1:23:23] We've used that, that's the only money that we actually have

[1:23:26] control of and it was that's true. I think we're a control of a lot of money in this county as our department as the commissioner.

[1:23:39] And so I'm providing a location for the tractor museum, the voting center. I place for love County residents to have a

[1:23:52] a

[1:23:56] efficient

[1:23:57] place to host a party or a cost effective place to host a I mean you can go right in my club house for 150 bucks

[1:24:04] And we just hosted a funeral that people didn't have a place to have it at last week and until last year when y'all pulled the funding

[1:24:14] I pull funding

[1:24:15] We'll move it through. I'll remove the tax rate. That is pulling the funding

[1:24:22] There's no funding when you take the revenue off of it.

[1:24:28] Well, again, let me explain. This does not remove your funding. It only removes the tax rate.

[1:24:35] The funding is still there. If you notice this amendment does not touch the funding, the things that you want to fund.

[1:24:43] That you talked about. The funding is the revenue in the source of revenue for that and the source of revenue will be the general fund

[1:24:51] Just as our district attorney is funded out of the general fund. Just as our sheriff's department is funded out of the general fund

[1:24:57] If you just run me go over on our budget

[1:25:00] Don't go over on your budget

[1:25:02] Where are who's going to make up for that?

[1:25:05] I'll put that wheel across the board

[1:25:07] Yeah

[1:25:09] You have

[1:25:11] All the budget ever here.

[1:25:13] Let's vote.

[1:25:15] Hold on.

[1:25:16] So, do other questions are coming?

[1:25:19] You all know how I feel about club houses and parks.

[1:25:24] And again, we talked about this.

[1:25:29] This doesn't take the revenue out.

[1:25:33] If we can do our part.

[1:25:36] And add 0.002 back to the general fund to help support this county.

[1:25:46] Anyway, I'm for that.

[1:25:51] We have to practice what we preach.

[1:25:54] We ask everybody else to cut.

[1:25:59] I think it's our duty to do the same.

[1:26:02] So that's why I'll support the amendment.

[1:26:06] when we had spoke to Miss Williams about this in budget when we had talked about potentially pulling

[1:26:14] the tax rate that funds these parks. She had asked well when you have a deficit because you don't

[1:26:21] fund your expenses are greater than your income if you lose your tax rate how are you going to fund?

[1:26:28] Yes we better exercise strategic planning and are you going to lay your full-time employee off?

[1:26:37] Let me mention another thing about this and the difference between funding this out of a tax rate

[1:26:47] and funding it out of the general fund.

[1:26:50] When you fund things out of the general fund, you're able to do transfers within there.

[1:26:56] We have been basically not following good sound fiscal conservative policy by funding other things out of a special fund.

[1:27:06] This, having its own tax rate creates this as a special fund, so when you say we're transferring over here to roads, really that's not sound fiscal conservative budgeting.

[1:27:19] There's that's a bit of a slide at our doctor's office, which has done a fine job and gets it a award every year.

[1:27:24] I, that's what I'm saying is we are not doing sound fiscal conservative budgeting.

[1:27:28] Whenever, whenever you want to pull money away from a special fund to fund something else in the general fund.

[1:27:36] You just tried to pull round and break the funding to pay for the sheriff's office.

[1:27:42] That was an out of special funds.

[1:27:44] That was out of general funds.

[1:27:47] General fund to general fund.

[1:27:49] We're talking about here, you're talking about wanting to take special funds and use this almost as your own

[1:27:58] Personal I can do with whatever this fund. I want to if I want to give rodent bridge some money

[1:28:04] I'll give it to them if I want to give

[1:28:07] Facilities some money I'll give it to them. That's what you're using this for and the taxpayers of love accounting

[1:28:13] Are not asking you to do that. They're asking you to lower taxes and instead

[1:28:17] You're voting to increase the taxes

[1:28:20] Right here

[1:28:22] Right, what do you lower?

[1:28:24] As far as William is rod and bread, just special fun.

[1:28:27] You're a special fun type of man.

[1:28:29] It is a special fun.

[1:28:32] But, you can't move from a special fun to any other fun.

[1:28:40] That's what you tried to do.

[1:28:42] No.

[1:28:43] This first one was to move that money before transfer.

[1:28:48] It comes out of the general fun.

[1:28:51] Let me explain it.

[1:28:53] Let's just talk about what other hold on.

[1:28:56] They already enjoy watching this with the circus, just right until this day.

[1:29:00] Well, it is because you are increasing taxes.

[1:29:07] This amendment will actually decrease the taxes and put you in line with what you've asked every other department to do and that is cut cut cut.

[1:29:18] You've asked every department to do that. Cut cut cut cut.

[1:29:20] The only thing that you did not cut was your own budget. We did cut our commissioner's court budget.

[1:29:26] I'm talking about 10 percent.

[1:29:28] They were not.

[1:29:29] I mean, they were. Our parks were cut 10 percent.

[1:29:32] No, your parks were not cut. Your commissioners court department in the general fund was cut 10 percent.

[1:29:39] But not these.

[1:29:41] But then you no sir. These parks were not cut.

[1:29:47] It's William's maybe I'm misunderstood to you, but I believe you told me Commissioner Shaw to reduce our part budget by $15,000.

[1:29:56] Yes.

[1:29:56] That's because your revenue in your expenses didn't benefit.

[1:30:00] 1% cut from everybody, let everybody else did. Those 2% cuts were just to the general fund, or those funds that

[1:30:09] ask for transfers from the general fund. Your parks do not get a transfer from the general fund. They get revenue from property tags, and then your rentals.

[1:30:23] public club house. And when those two don't agree with the expenses that you put down,

[1:30:30] I tell you you have to cut. But what she's saying when we clarify this again, she was

[1:30:37] asked every department was asked to cut 10% which they did. What did not happen was parks.

[1:30:46] Okay, let's just let that work and ask something for the answer publicly then, if our tax rate of the 0.002

[1:30:57] lighted four ways, and we have a budget where we attempt to not go over just like every other department and

[1:31:12] this tax rate and we put it back in general fund and then we use general fund to fund the

[1:31:18] parks tell me what the difference is to the taxpayer if the money is going to be the

[1:31:25] same if it's in ours versus if it's in general fund what's the what's the difference okay

[1:31:30] and that's a great question because just like the first amendment that I pointed out there

[1:31:35] is there is no difference to the taxpayer we're just moving money within the current budget

[1:31:41] Except you tried to pull it from road and bridge, which is already been cut

[1:31:45] The last few years because they were used to use an arpophons and

[1:31:49] So you say the test point zero zero two would be a tax cut

[1:31:54] No, I said it would be a transfer it's apples to apples. It's cutting

[1:31:58] Fun you said it we're cutting from part you said we have to the general to give to the general fun

[1:32:04] But we have increased. Yeah, we haven't had a tax increase on the people

[1:32:09] We have news where if we had an interview,

[1:32:12] we'll still call it use the funds.

[1:32:14] Let me go with your logic here.

[1:32:17] You'll let me go with your logic.

[1:32:19] So you took the general fund tax rate

[1:32:22] and you lowered it even more

[1:32:25] so that you could fund your part of the tax rate.

[1:32:29] So if we gave this back,

[1:32:31] you'd tell me the number of revenue rate would go down

[1:32:34] to zero to zero to zero to zero.

[1:32:35] No, exactly.

[1:32:36] No, but what we're doing?

[1:32:39] What we're doing is transferring them money and I'm not I'm not remember this does not affect your budget for your park

[1:32:49] Idle you and New Deal will have the exact same money as as what's going to be in this budget the only thing we're doing is

[1:32:58] Taking that tax rate and giving it back to the county the money will still be there

[1:33:04] But you also don't run into that issue where you've got this as a special fund

[1:33:09] funding other things within the county. And that's what's happened in the past.

[1:33:13] So, and that's what we need to start from reserves from your fund balances of your parks.

[1:33:20] You would have to balance your revenues and your expenses and you would not get to draw from

[1:33:28] reserve. You would have to cut your expenses.

[1:33:34] And really, that puts you in line with what you're

[1:33:37] every other department in this county to do. That's what this amendment does. It puts you in

[1:33:43] line with what you're asking every other department to do. You ready to vote? All right. Is there

[1:33:50] any other, is there any other questions or comments? Hearing none, I'll call for the question. All in

[1:33:55] favor, signify by raising your right hand. All those opposed?

[1:34:02] Amendment fails. Two to three.

[1:34:13] And

[1:34:13] motion and I do have a second on the adoption of the fiscal year 2026 budget for

[1:34:19] Lubbock County. Is there any further questions or comments? I do have a comment on

[1:34:26] the vote.

[1:34:28] I will be voting no on this budget and simply because this budget

[1:34:34] hurts Lubbock County. It hurts employees. It hurts law enforcement. It

[1:34:40] arts, firefighters, it hurts facilities, it hurts road and bridge, it hurts every aspect

[1:34:47] of this county.

[1:34:48] This budget does.

[1:34:50] I think we have said all along, our job is to provide the needs for the people of Lubbock County.

[1:34:56] This budget does not provide for the needs of Lubbock County.

[1:34:59] In fact, this budget hurts the people of Lubbock County.

[1:35:03] This budget cuts $250,000 from the fire departments.

[1:35:10] That's what this budget does.

[1:35:12] This budget cuts $1.4 million off of the sheriff's department.

[1:35:17] This budget hurts.

[1:35:19] This budget cuts road and bridge.

[1:35:21] It hurts.

[1:35:23] This budget does not need the needs of the public county.

[1:35:28] This budget also has been balanced on the savings account.

[1:35:35] That is not sustainable, 7.2 million last year, 6.8 million this year.

[1:35:42] How long do you think it is sustainable to balance a budget off of a savings account?

[1:35:50] It's not.

[1:35:51] It is not sustainable and it's not sound fiscal-conservative budgeting.

[1:35:56] this is the budgeting they do in Washington. This is how liberals budget. They go out

[1:36:03] and it doesn't matter. We'll just pull it out of savings. We'll pull it out of

[1:36:06] that. You cannot do that and expect to have a good sound, physically conservative budget

[1:36:14] in this county. A budget that, and thank you, Mr. Corley, for pointing out, has been

[1:36:20] In an award-winning budget, the controller has said you do have a sound fiscal conservative

[1:36:27] budget.

[1:36:28] That goes away with this vote today,

[1:36:33] G-A-S-B, which really governs how we account for our

[1:36:38] government accounting, has said you have one of the best sound, fiscally conservative

[1:36:44] budgets in North America.

[1:36:46] That goes away today.

[1:36:48] Standard and pours tells us you have a AA plus bond rating because of your good sound

[1:36:54] physical conservative budgeting that goes away today.

[1:36:58] This is a very sad day for Love Accounting.

[1:37:01] This budget does not help the people of Love Accounting.

[1:37:05] This budget hurts the people of Love Accounting.

[1:37:08] This budget hurts the workers, the employees, the people who show up every day to do their job.

[1:37:16] I mean people in jail, keeping our streets safe,

[1:37:20] keeping our homes protected from fire.

[1:37:24] This hurts, love a county today.

[1:37:32] We've offered ways all throughout the summer to get us out of this whole, and constantly running up against an issue of, well, we've got a cut taxes, we've got a cut taxes, and yes, taxes were cut. The no new revenue rate was adopted, saving taxpayers, $2.63 a year.

[1:37:55] So,

[1:37:59] I don't know what to tell you.

[1:38:00] I don't know what to tell all of you who are listening,

[1:38:03] and I don't know what to tell you in employees other than,

[1:38:05] would you please keep working?

[1:38:07] Would you keep please fighting with me as we struggle through making sure

[1:38:12] that this budget doesn't hurt any more than it is?

[1:38:16] Would you stay with us?

[1:38:19] I know many of you have already got your resumes now.

[1:38:22] Say, how can I work in a county that doesn't support us?

[1:38:25] Please, please, fight with me as we continue to move forward to try to get out of this whole

[1:38:35] that this vote today is going to dig us even deeper and deeper into.

[1:38:40] Please stay with us.

[1:38:42] I do appreciate you.

[1:38:44] I really do, and I appreciate the work that you do on behalf of the people of Love Accounting.

[1:38:49] Please keep doing.

[1:38:53] Is there any other questions or comments?

[1:38:57] If not, I'll call for the question, all in favor of adopting the fiscal year 2015 expudged

[1:39:03] as presented by the Auditor's Office, please signify by raising your hand.

[1:39:10] All those opposed,

[1:39:13] motion to adopt prevails three to two, to perish, and commissioner

[1:39:18] doll be voting against.

[1:39:26] And now is authorized by the Texas Government Code.

[1:39:29] Thank you, Mr. President.

[1:39:31] I'd like to, uh, oh yes.

[1:39:34] Yes.

[1:39:34] Yes, we do.

[1:39:35] Natalie, can you come forward please?

[1:39:40] This is Natalie Harville's last commissioner's court with us.

[1:39:53] Harville has seen this for the last seven and a half years about eight years, eight years.

[1:40:01] She has directed our facilities and done an incredible job.

[1:40:05] If you all know where we have been in the last eight years, where we were eight years ago,

[1:40:09] versus where we are today, the light years difference.

[1:40:12] So, Ms. Harvel, thank you.

[1:40:14] That's a testimony to you,

[1:40:17] the testimony to the staff that you have built.

[1:40:21] You're leaving us in the middle

[1:40:22] of a couple of pretty big projects, too, by the way,

[1:40:24] and I'll continue to point that out as well.

[1:40:28] You've left this county in much better shape

[1:40:31] than it was when you found it,

[1:40:33] and that is all that we could ever ask for anybody.

[1:40:36] So, Natalie Harvel, I say thank you on behalf of the judge,

[1:40:40] on behalf of the Commissioner's Court,

[1:40:42] on behalf of the employees of this County. Thank you for your incredible service to this county

[1:40:47] and make God bless you and Lewis and your retirement. May you travel the world,

[1:40:53] see mountains in Colorado and enjoy your grand babies. Thank you.

[1:41:00] Thank you. Thank you.

[1:41:01] Thank you. Thank you.

[1:41:05] When I came in eight years ago, I had no idea what to expect

[1:41:11] because I've worked in a private practice consulting for more than 20 years.

[1:41:22] The other day, somebody asked me, like, well, you're not old enough to retire.

[1:41:25] I was a state home mom for 13 years.

[1:41:30] Before I went back to school to get my degree and became a structural engineer.

[1:41:34] No, I had about 20 years of consulting and then eight years with accounting.

[1:41:41] I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

[1:41:47] I have worked hard.

[1:41:50] I've been in the amazing job, too.

[1:41:52] At getting the facilities maintenance department, where it is now.

[1:41:58] When I started where basically on a paper-based workforce system,

[1:42:04] I went in the computer and it came out of the computer, but you could really get no information

[1:42:08] out of it.

[1:42:09] Other than it was a glorified typing machine, we were able to track assets, we were able to

[1:42:18] give the cost of what a repair is, or what the repairs are for the year in plumbing.

[1:42:26] We could do that, or what the maintenance on fifth floor of the courthouse is.

[1:42:31] We can do that now. We have worked so hard at doing those things. We have an excellent

[1:42:36] staff and our staff is the one who shines. I have Nick has been a great addition for this

[1:42:44] county and for me. He has made it possible for us to get to where we are. I've had ideas

[1:42:51] and because facility maintenance is not my background. I didn't necessarily know how to implement

[1:42:58] those ideas. He certainly did that for me, for the county. We have great supervisors and we keep

[1:43:07] training our people, whether it's the new people who are coming in that don't, we've literally

[1:43:12] hired people who don't know the difference between a philips and a blade screwdriver. They don't

[1:43:17] have that experience because at some point it was so hard to find people who, to feel spaces,

[1:43:24] But we go to them on and we use my staff to train them.

[1:43:30] They're great employees.

[1:43:31] They enjoy what they do.

[1:43:33] They enjoy working for the county.

[1:43:36] I hope it will continue that way.

[1:43:39] But my staff is wonderful.

[1:43:42] And they're the reason why I'm successful.

[1:43:45] I really think.

[1:43:48] Believe that God put me into this position too.

[1:43:53] To help the county, but to be there for my staff, no, I've had, like most people, you have

[1:44:02] experiences that you would love to have again, and there's experiences that you would never

[1:44:09] want anybody else to have to go through, but you know what, I've got to give this all of

[1:44:13] those, or allow us to have all of those, and therefore that we have that opportunity to

[1:44:22] has to experience on and the benefit of those experiences to others.

[1:44:27] And I think that's why I was put here in that position.

[1:44:30] So I thank you for that opportunity.

[1:44:33] I'd like to tell you that level county is a better place because of you.

[1:44:39] Thank you, gentlemen.

[1:44:41] I'd like to.

[1:44:49] And now I was authorized by the Texas Government Code Commission's Court of

[1:44:51] Love Accounting Texas.

[1:44:53] We'll now adjourn into executive session to discuss any matters, including, but not

[1:44:59] This is the end of this video.

[1:45:00] To the Texas Government Code 5 to 1.071, one consultation with the attorney about pending or contemplated litigation or settlement offers, Texas Government Code 5 to 1.071, two consultation with the attorney, when the attorney's obligations under Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, of the state bar of Texas, conflicts with Chapter 5 to 1 of the Texas Government Code.

[1:45:22] Texas Gamma Co-5 to 1.072 deliberations about real property, Texas Gamma Co-5 to 1.073 deliberations

[1:45:31] about give some donations. Texas Gamma Co-5 to 1.074 personnel matters. Personal matters

[1:45:39] will include interviews of candidates for the Director of Facilities Maintenance Position.

[1:45:46] Texas Gamma Co-5 to 1.0745, Personnel Matters Effective Accounting Advisory Body, Texas Gamma

[1:45:52] co-5 to 1.076 deliberations regarding security devices or security audits, and Texas government

[1:45:59] co-5 to 1.087 deliberations regarding economic development negotiations.

[1:46:04] It is 11.51, a lot of county commissioner's court is now an executive session.

[1:46:12] All right, let's reconvene along with kind of commissioner's court and regular session

[1:46:14] is the end of the business for the commissioner's court.

[1:46:17] Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

[1:46:19] So many.

[1:46:20] It is three o'clock and we are now adjourned.

[1:46:22] Thank you.

[1:46:23] Thank you.

Sep 22, 2025 Commissioners' Court

Agenda

Transcript