[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] All
[0:05] right, welcome everyone to our commissioner's court today. Thank you for being here. At this
[0:10] time we're going to open with our invocation, Commissioner Gray, if you would introduce the
[0:14] individual who's going to do our invocation, if you'd follow up then with the pledges.
[0:18] Yes, sir. I'd like to introduce Pastor Andy Hunt of New Cane Family Worship, a lifelong
[0:23] friend and a great mentor in the community.
[0:29] All right. Let's all stand together.
[0:38] Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessing of this new day and this new moment
[0:43] that we have to conduct business for our county and its citizens.
[0:47] As we gather here this morning, we ask that you guide our leadership in all their decision-making
[0:52] and lead them through the process of the oversight of our great county.
[0:56] Lord, help us to make wise and prudent decisions that best serve those we serve.
[1:00] And may we walk and lead according to your will.
[1:05] As we lead, God teach us to always consider others before we do ourselves.
[1:11] Let us live by your golden rule in Scripture, do unto others as you would have them do unto
[1:16] you.
[1:17] I would like to also pray a special blessing upon all the members of this commissioners
[1:21] court.
[1:22] Bless each of them with godly wisdom to make the right decisions, even when it
[1:27] might be hard to do so.
[1:28] God, allow them to disagree agreeably, giving us unity among our members that might prove
[1:35] to serve for the greater good in our community.
[1:38] Teach us always to be slow to speak and quick to listen.
[1:43] Bless each of them and their families.
[1:45] Bless them abundantly.
[1:47] As your word says, bless them coming in and bless them going out.
[1:51] And Lord, may your wonderful blessing chase them down and overtake them.
[1:55] them. Continue to give them beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. Lord, according
[2:01] to your word, I know you have plans to prosper each of them and give them a hope and a future.
[2:08] Lord, we pray you're protecting hand also upon every one of our first responders in
[2:13] our community and bless them. God, we are so grateful for your mercies. They are from
[2:18] everlasting to everlasting. Guide us, teach us, lead us, speak to us, and help us here
[2:27] today. Oh, and God, I have a PS to this prayer. Please lead these great leaders to fix my potholes,
[2:37] dig my ditches, and lower my taxes all in the same day. We ask this prayer in Jesus'
[2:44] this most precious name, Amen. And can I hear a big Amen? Amen.
[2:53] Thank you, Pastor. We appreciate
[2:54] that so much, so much.
[3:21] Let the record reflect that all are present today. Do I have a motion
[3:29] to approve the commissioner's court agenda. Move. Move a motion. Is there a second? Second. All in
[3:34] favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right. At this time, we give our citizens an opportunity
[3:42] to come and make a comment on an item that would be on our agenda. If there's a general comment
[3:49] you'd like to make, at the end we will have the opportunity for you to do that. But this is a
[3:53] time for items on our agenda. Please understand that we will give you three minutes at the
[3:58] three minutes you will hear the timer and we're going to ask you to stop also if
[4:02] you would name the item on the agenda state your name for the record all right
[4:07] is there anyone who would like to come forward and who would like to share all
[4:12] right if there are no citizen comments then let's move forward proclamations
[4:15] resolution oh okay come forward state your name for the record the item
[4:19] please be bid 23-15 okay good morning I'm Edward country junior with stripes and
[4:30] stops company we're a small company based in Houston that provides services
[4:34] for municipalities and counties alike in our region including Montgomery County
[4:39] we have striped helipads parking lots the toll road and countless roadways in
[4:45] the Montgomery County area our services include not only the striping but
[4:49] but also traffic control and signage.
[4:52] We have serviced Montgomery County for the past five years successfully and have become
[4:57] very well acquainted with the directors and staff in each precinct as they have learned
[5:02] our means and methods as well.
[5:05] We are presenting today due to a slight and unfortunate technicality with the communication
[5:10] between our administrative teams.
[5:13] Apparently stripes and stops did not receive the bid opportunity and time to make it
[5:16] submission to Montgomery County.
[5:19] How this mishap came about, is there relevant at this time?
[5:23] However, the absent submission of the bid for project 23-15 is why I stand before you today.
[5:29] We're requesting from the court an extension so that we may submit our bid to the county for review
[5:35] and continue our professional relationship as well as the streamlined operations with Montgomery County
[5:39] and each individual precinct.
[5:42] We appreciate your time and consideration for this extension for bid 23-15, and look forward
[5:49] to serving the county for many years to come.
[5:51] Thank you for sharing with us.
[5:53] We appreciate it so much.
[5:54] Under 22G.
[5:55] 22G.
[6:01] Yeah.
[6:02] Bye.
[6:03] Thank you.
[6:05] All right.
[6:06] Are there any other citizen comments?
[6:09] If there aren't none, then let's move forward in our agenda, proclamations, resolutions,
[6:13] and presentations.
[6:14] a presentation of Employee of the Month.
[6:26] Good morning, Judge and Commissioner.
[6:29] I am Ken Washington,
[6:30] Recognition Coordinator for the Montgomery County Employee Committee.
[6:33] We come before you today to present a plaque for Employee of the Month
[6:37] for April and a gift certificate
[6:38] from Dragon Bowl C. Noodle and Bloor in downtown Conroe.
[6:43] There were six Employee of the Month nominations submitted for consideration.
[6:47] All the nominations are well-deserved for an award,
[6:49] but there is one employee we would like to recognize this month.
[6:54] Can we have Judge Wayne Mack with JP1 to come forward to present this award?
[7:03] Thank you, and we appreciate the opportunity to do this.
[7:06] We're thankful to the employee committee and all that they do for our county employees.
[7:10] And like every elected official here, we're blessed to work with the very best.
[7:14] We have our names on the doors and buildings and so forth,
[7:18] but it's our people that do the work.
[7:20] And I'm blessed today to have just about every one of our staff here today in recognition of this individual.
[7:28] Only two people in my office actually know who's getting it, so the rest of them are like, why are we here?
[7:34] And so we appreciate what every one of my staff does on a daily basis.
[7:41] Justice courts, as you know, are the highest volume courts in Texas.
[7:44] We see thousands of people and generally nobody coming to our office is happy to be there.
[7:50] Occasionally somebody's getting married. They might be happy to be there, but that's the exception to rule.
[7:56] This person has distinguished career working for the county for almost 10 years and she is very well respected in our office.
[8:05] Not only is she a master of her craft, she's one of the few justice court clerks in the
[8:12] county that has both certificates for civil and for criminal.
[8:15] She always goes above and beyond.
[8:17] She's an inspiration to everybody, and she really enjoys what she does.
[8:23] But in addition to doing her job, when we started our chaplaincy program, she was one
[8:28] of our staff that stepped up in a large way to help us recruit chaplains to be a part
[8:32] of our chaplaincy program which has been very successful over the years and
[8:36] being there for families when they get the worst news of their life. On on call
[8:40] we have three to four chaplains on call 24-7 and then four years ago this
[8:47] month we launched a behavioral health suicide task force and I asked this
[8:54] person to step up and help me be able to navigate that and now we have 12
[8:59] working group work groups over 250 volunteers uh want uh been told often that in our county it's
[9:07] one of the few that is so diverse and has so many people involved and could not do all that work
[9:13] without this individual and um and then also in addition to that she's very involved in the
[9:20] Montgomery County Historical Society and um and and preserving our history of our county
[9:25] and is very involved with Larry Foster, who couldn't be here today.
[9:29] Dr. Brenda LeVar, who with WellPath is very involved with NAMI,
[9:34] and our task force also wrote a letter on behalf of this person.
[9:39] And I'm going to be in so much trouble right now.
[9:41] I can see her face in the reflection of the screen right here,
[9:44] but we're honored to have her husband and her sons here,
[9:47] and she doesn't know this.
[9:49] Her mom's stuck in the back door.
[9:51] Her mom is also here as well.
[9:53] And so I'd like Missy Ringo to come forward,
[9:55] And we honor you Missy.
[10:07] Congratulations Missy. We appreciate you so very much and all that you do.
[10:12] I like
[10:19] the family to come forward please. They tricked me.
[10:28] I'm in here. Come on in. That's my baby.
[10:43] I'd like all my staff to come up here because we're such a great team and everyone here is
[10:49] in support of Missy getting this acknowledgment and we're just so blessed to do this.
[10:54] And again, thank you to the Employee Committee.
[10:56] Commissioner, thank you for supporting Justice Courts and all that we do.
[10:59] We couldn't do it obviously without you.
[11:01] The
[11:11] only one that couldn't be here is our bailiff because he's letting people in
[11:14] our courtroom right now.
[11:25] Thank you commissioners.
[11:26] Great job.
[11:26] Appreciate you all so very much.
[11:27] Congratulations.
[11:35] Thank you all.
[11:36] Appreciate it so much.
[11:37] All right.
[11:37] The next item on our agenda is consider and approve resolution order regarding the acceptance
[11:42] of donated books as you recall in our last commissioners' court.
[11:48] Michelle Nichols came forward and was thanking our librarian, Rea, for putting
[11:54] certain books into the library, mentioned that there was a cost to it.
[11:57] He also recognized as we put these good, nourishing, positive books into the library, our district
[12:05] attorney, Brett Ligon, came forward.
[12:07] He jumped up out of his chair, came up to the front, and he said, I would like to donate
[12:12] to that.
[12:13] Since that time, what we have done is, and we wanted to memorialize this, is we're
[12:18] required to, since we are accepting some resources from Brett Ligon, also from BD.
[12:24] Judge, I didn't want to, it's hard for you to brag, it's hard for you to brag when you're
[12:29] in the position that you're in, but there were several people in the community that came
[12:33] forward and said, hey, I want to help in that effort.
[12:35] We met Brave Books, the books are illustrated wonderfully, they're great stories, they're
[12:41] good readers.
[12:43] BD actually came up first, I know that Commissioner Gray had offered help, Judge,
[12:48] and you actually joined in the effort as well in buying the books and so all the
[12:52] county libraries in the community now have it. And one of the things that BDNI
[12:56] recognized is, you know, it's a cliche, but readers are leaders. And we decided to
[13:01] take a position of inclusivity and putting good materials into the county
[13:06] library versus going through the fight of, okay, what's appropriate, what
[13:09] should be sequestered, or whatever, and try to go to the light instead of
[13:13] fighting in the dark all the time. So BDNI, I want to thank you for standing
[13:17] up immediately, Commissioner Gray for the offer, and Judge, thank you for
[13:21] for joining that effort as well.
[13:22] So gentlemen, thank you.
[13:23] Thank you so much, Brad.
[13:25] Appreciate that.
[13:27] Can we have a motion to approve the resolution?
[13:29] Move.
[13:29] All in favor?
[13:31] Opposed?
[13:32] Judge, I can't help but think that you must think
[13:35] that I don't say enough in court with the Unmuzzle Me
[13:38] Please book in front of me.
[13:41] See you at hand, I need to say more.
[13:44] When Kimberly was putting these out,
[13:45] I said make sure you put this in the appropriate place.
[13:55] But again, thank you, thank you, yes, sir, and thank you, our district attorney, Brett
[14:01] Lugan, for taking the lead on that.
[14:03] All right, let's move forward.
[14:05] National crime victim rights.
[14:07] We need to vote on that.
[14:07] Oh, all in favor?
[14:09] Aye.
[14:09] Opposed?
[14:10] Motion carries.
[14:11] Thank you.
[14:12] All right.
[14:13] Right.
[14:14] Brad, if you'd come up as we talk about National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
[14:18] I can do two good things.
[14:20] First off, it is the National Crime Victims' Rights Week, but unexpectedly, I would like
[14:25] the community to recognize the VAX, the Victim Assistance Coordinators.
[14:29] We have them from the District Attorney's Office here today.
[14:32] Ladies, if you would, please stand up.
[14:39] I've got two new friends at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
[14:42] It's Zach and Bethany.
[14:45] Y'all stand up.
[14:46] They're the VACs for the SO and
[14:51] to my favorite former employees from the
[14:53] county attorney's office Danielle and Mark Danielle is the VAC for the county
[14:57] attorney as well so if they would stand up so
[15:00] These people are making sure that victims are served within our community. It's only a
[15:06] week of formal recognition for us. This is our lifestyle. This is what we do. The Children's
[15:11] Safe Harbor. I know Dr. Constance is here, and probably some of her staff as well. Where
[15:15] is Victoria? Thank you. Okay. Ladies, if you would, Children's Safe Harbor.
[15:25] This morning,
[15:26] Dr. Constance and her crew, several people from precinct three from the DA's office
[15:30] put 2,303 pinwheels down at Precinct 3, and that represents every child at
[15:37] Children's Safe Harbor provided services to this year. It's a tremendous number in
[15:42] the sense that it's the amount of resources that Montgomery County has.
[15:47] On the other hand, it's a scary number, right? I'd like to have zero pinwheels
[15:51] around for the rest of Montgomery County. Unfortunately, it's just not a
[15:55] number that's going to happen. So gentlemen, if you don't mind, I will
[15:58] read the proclamation. There is a call upon communities to amplify the voice of survivors
[16:03] and create environments where survivors have the confidence they will be heard, believed,
[16:08] and supported. Whereas crime victims' rights acts past here in Texas and at the federal
[16:13] level guarantee victims the right to meaningfully participate in the criminal justice process,
[16:18] including the elevating the voices of survivors, make certain they are heard and seen,
[16:22] and creates a path to forging and sustaining community trust. Whereas survivors' lived
[16:27] experience can serve as a catalyst for implementing innovative programs, shifting existing programs
[16:32] in new directions, and changing policies or practices that prevent survivors from accessing
[16:37] services or pursuing justice, and whereas national crime victims' rights weeks provides an
[16:43] opportunity to recommit to listening to crime survivors in every space where decisions
[16:47] are made that could impact them, and I would ask the court for its indulgence
[16:51] to inter-lineate here. It says it's the district attorney's office that's hereby
[16:55] dedicated. I'd like the court to recognize that Montgomery County, the county as a
[17:00] whole, is dedicated helping crime survivors find their justice by
[17:04] enforcing victims' rights, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity
[17:09] and inclusion for all. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate that so much for all of you who are here with us today. We have
[17:17] Motion to approve this national crime victim rights.
[17:21] Second.
[17:22] We have a motion to second.
[17:23] All in favor?
[17:24] Opposed?
[17:25] Motion carries.
[17:27] All right.
[17:28] Proclamation, D.
[17:29] Do it real quick.
[17:30] I would get in trouble by some of my staff
[17:32] if I didn't point out that that was passed by Congressman
[17:34] Ted Poe in 2010.
[17:37] And one of my staff came.
[17:38] She worked for the congressman.
[17:40] So I have been hearing about this.
[17:41] And she is so excited about this coming forward.
[17:43] So thank you, Brett, on that.
[17:45] Yes, sir.
[17:45] Thank you Commissioner. Appreciate it. All right. It's also we have a
[17:51] proclamation for 2023 soil and water stewardship week and April 30th 23 to
[17:58] May 7th 2023. Do we have a motion to approve? Is there a second? Second. All in
[18:04] favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right. The court will consider discuss
[18:10] and in its discretion take action on the following items concerning under
[18:15] Item number 10 is County Judge and the first is Consider and Improve Resolution Order regarding
[18:20] signature authority for approved agenda items. Currently in our consent agenda we have a resolution
[18:28] in order that has me being the one unless there's a signature or be the one who signs
[18:32] all the information. When we go to an open agenda what we do is we always will name
[18:38] a person who's going to sign. This is cleanup allowing me to go ahead and be the
[18:42] one whose signed continue to sign unless there is a signature word that is
[18:47] mentioned. Move. Sir, a motion. We have a second. Thank you. All in favor? Aye.
[18:52] Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. All right. Second, consider and improve
[18:56] adoption of an order with respect to waste management, an ink project
[19:02] and authorize the county judge to execute certificates of proving the
[19:05] order in a public hearing. This is the landfill project over
[19:08] we're increasing for refinancing through the sale of taxable bonds.
[19:13] We have a motion to approve.
[19:13] We have motions or a second?
[19:15] I'll second.
[19:17] All in favor?
[19:19] Opposed?
[19:20] Motion carries.
[19:21] Thank you.
[19:23] All right, let's move on in our discussion here.
[19:26] Consider an approved user agreement between Montgomery County and
[19:29] the big guy LLC authorizing County Judge Mark Keough to execute the agreement.
[19:35] What this is, is there is a local film company that's making a documentary, and they wanted
[19:41] to use our county jail.
[19:42] They asked the sheriff of which he said, yeah, I would love to, but I can't.
[19:46] That would violate our statutes.
[19:48] We can't do that.
[19:49] And so we said, hey, what if we could do it over at the jail that is above, over
[19:54] in the...
[19:55] Courthouse?
[19:56] Over in the courthouse.
[19:57] And this is a film production company.
[20:01] It's a documentary.
[20:02] I'm not even sure it's about jails in Texas y'all know who this is with Dinesh de Sousa
[20:06] We've agreed to do something if we will you guys will approve it sure the big guy. That's him
[20:12] big guy
[20:13] Biden is it no no no no
[20:21] Sheriff why don't you come can you tell us a little bit about this? I know you don't want to be involved in this
[20:25] But I need your help here
[20:27] Because he approached you
[20:33] Well, I think he's the big guy on some of this stuff we're talking about.
[20:37] Well, our big guy is not that guy.
[20:39] It's a local film producer in the Woodlands who's done a lot of documentaries,
[20:43] and he's reached out.
[20:44] It's mostly a quiet project.
[20:47] The county attorney is familiar with the project,
[20:50] so I don't really want to talk too much about it.
[20:52] But it's, like the judge said, he wanted to use the real jail,
[20:56] and that just wasn't going to work.
[20:58] So the district attorney and I and the county attorney we cut it up and came up with an idea where we could use the old jail
[21:03] And it's actually an ideal location
[21:06] For filming it's not used at all. There's really no purpose for it other than historical commission giving tours there
[21:12] So we're able to to use it without any disruption of a facility
[21:16] It's a used contract so they will be paying a daily rate the county attorney has come up with a daily rate for usage
[21:22] Shouldn't interfere with operations at all so
[21:26] That's great when I was
[21:28] When I read this, I had no idea who the big guy was,
[21:31] as Commissioner Riley mentioned, and then exactly what
[21:34] they were looking to do with the county and county's office.
[21:37] We didn't come up with a rate, by the way.
[21:39] We worked with purchasing to figure out a rate
[21:42] just so that if you guys are so inclined,
[21:46] you can approve this use agreement for them
[21:49] to do this filming.
[21:50] And what is the rate?
[21:51] They're going to pay $500.
[21:52] $500.
[21:53] $500 to rent the facility.
[21:55] Per day, it's the old jail.
[21:57] Do they have, do we have some sort of a hold harmless agreement or something signed by them?
[22:02] Yes.
[22:02] So it is a full use agreement just like you would have any other county property use?
[22:08] Good.
[22:10] Yeah.
[22:11] The insurance, W-9, everything's on file, county attorney's office has made sure we're
[22:15] all in the good.
[22:15] Good to go.
[22:16] Sounds good.
[22:16] All right.
[22:17] We have a motion to approve.
[22:19] All in favor?
[22:21] Aye.
[22:21] Opposed?
[22:22] Motion carries.
[22:22] Thank you, gentlemen.
[22:23] Listen, I'd like to go back, if I may, in the agenda back to the county clerk.
[22:27] I skipped over 9a by accident consider approved commissioners court minutes from regular session April 11 2023 to have a motion to approve
[22:35] Sir a second all in favor?
[22:38] Opposed motion carries. Thank you
[22:40] All right budget
[22:43] Good morning judge commissioners. I have several items for discussion this morning
[22:48] First one. I'll go through my regular agenda items 11 a memorialized previous action
[22:53] on Commissioner Court actions taken on changes to the fiscal year 2023 budget for the following
[22:58] departments, Constable Precinct 4, Sheriff's Office, Animal Services, Justice Court Technology,
[23:03] Capital Projects, Commissioners, and DA4 featured.
[23:06] These are just routine items that we do after you guys have voted on an item.
[23:10] We bring back a BMF, a budget modification form for Commissioner's Court approval.
[23:15] Move.
[23:16] Second.
[23:17] Any discussion?
[23:19] All in favor?
[23:20] Aye.
[23:21] Opposed?
[23:21] motion carries. Next item. 11b consider approve and authorize transfers and
[23:26] adjustments for the fiscal year 2023 budget according to budget policy. These
[23:30] are just everyday changes that we we bring to you guys. These normally are
[23:35] going to be departments that have that are moving money within outside of
[23:39] their own departments or it's commissioner or sheriff's office budgets
[23:43] where they're moving between like parks and community centers or parks and
[23:46] commissioner's offices. Most of these are related to commissioner Charlie
[23:50] So, this is according to the 23 budget, but the action that we're going to take later
[23:56] on the budget policy will be for the fiscal year 24.
[23:58] That's correct.
[23:58] Okay.
[23:59] Yep.
[24:00] All right.
[24:00] We have a motion to approve.
[24:02] Second.
[24:03] All in favor?
[24:05] Opposed?
[24:06] Motion carries.
[24:07] Item number three.
[24:09] 11c, consider approve and authorize transfers, adjustments and amendments for special revenue
[24:13] departments and general fund departments for fiscal year 2023.
[24:16] Most of these are going to be revenue recognition meaning that we're recognizing the revenue
[24:20] that the departments have accrued and then authorizing an expenditure budget related
[24:25] to those.
[24:26] We have a motion.
[24:29] Second.
[24:30] All in favor?
[24:31] Aye.
[24:31] Opposed?
[24:32] Motion carries.
[24:34] Item D.
[24:35] And this one's considered approve and authorized transfers, adjustments and amendments for
[24:38] grant departments for fiscal year 2023.
[24:41] These ones are mostly going to be related to ARPA.
[24:43] Move.
[24:44] second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Let's move forward. Okay next one I
[24:53] have I'm gonna go ahead and kick off the FY 2024 budget. I'm gonna have something
[24:57] to pass out real quick.
[25:35] All right we're here at my favorite time of the year the
[25:38] budget time where we get to go through and take you know departments request and
[25:44] put them all together and present you guys an overall great budget that
[25:47] benefits, not only our taxpayers, but pretty much everyone that does business in
[25:51] the county and anyone that pays taxes as well. So for the FY 2024 kickoff, this is
[25:58] the first beat, this is the beginning. We do expect to go full force. We'll have
[26:01] a budget adoption scheduled for August 31st, August 30th, sorry August 30th.
[26:07] I'm going to start with the budget office staff. This is us, the budget
[26:11] team. There's four of us that make up this team. Me as the budget officer,
[26:14] Sarah is my senior analyst, Wendy as my personnel analyst, and Christopher as my operations analyst.
[26:20] We could be reached by our individual email addresses, but if anybody in the county wants
[26:24] to reach out to us, they can also use the budget employees at MCTX.org, and that gets all four
[26:29] of us at the same time.
[26:30] So any budget questions that departments have, they can always reach out to us.
[26:35] So the key responsibilities of the budget office, our mission is to manage resources
[26:39] efficiently, effectively, and equitably.
[26:41] We like to communicate the court's vision to other departments and elected officials.
[26:44] research and compile data from other entities including citizen participation and any requirements by statute.
[26:51] We also assist departments in their financial reporting for their departments.
[26:59] Okay, for the state of the county, this is kind of where I like to give an overall briefing of, you know, where we are at right now in the county.
[27:06] Currently for FY23, we've collected 97.7% of our FY 2023 general fund tax revenues with six months being left of the fiscal year.
[27:14] So we still have a little ways to go, but we're very close to having a full 100% collected.
[27:22] Where are we normally at at this time?
[27:24] Yes, last year we were at 96.8, so we're pretty close to where we were, actually a little bit above where we were last year.
[27:30] Tammy didn't take off last week.
[27:35] For population in Montgomery County, of course, we're seeing huge growth numbers here.
[27:39] The U.S. census estimates from July 1st, 2021 to July 2022 that our population increased
[27:46] 4.3 percent.
[27:47] That's very significant.
[27:49] And since I've been here, that's kind of been the trend.
[27:51] We've continued to see some considerable growth.
[27:56] Of 13.6 percent of our population is over 65 years of age versus the national average
[28:02] of 16.5.
[28:03] I think that's pretty important why we did some of the over 65 things that we've
[28:07] done within the county hitting that population. I think this is a great
[28:10] number personally. This is the labor force. Just from February 2022 to February
[28:15] 2023, we also saw our labor force grow from 300,000 to 309,000. That's workers
[28:21] that are hitting our local economies, which I think, you know, ultimately makes
[28:25] a growing community even better when you have those people that are, you
[28:28] know, giving back to the community as well. Inflation, this is a pretty big
[28:32] number. So we, if you remember last year when I presented these numbers,
[28:36] the inflation numbers were off the charts. They were just so incredibly high. We're still
[28:40] seeing high inflation numbers, but just to kind of give you guys an idea. When I got here in 2018,
[28:46] we had a budget of $246.1 million in the general fund. That budget, the same budget today,
[28:52] without any changes in services, without any changes in population growth,
[28:57] none of that would now be $294 million. That's the buying power of our dollar today versus
[29:01] versus what it was in 2018.
[29:03] So again, the buying power for $100 back then
[29:07] is now worth $119.57 today.
[29:11] So everything is costing more and we really know that.
[29:13] The biggest increase that we see on the inflation side
[29:16] of course doesn't affect the county as much
[29:19] but it does affect our employees is that food.
[29:21] The food CPI increased 11.1%.
[29:25] And most of that being contributed
[29:27] by fruits and vegetables, kind of ironic.
[29:30] Energy decreased 6.7.
[29:32] If you guys remember at this point last year, we had seen fuel prices that were extremely high.
[29:37] Since February 2022, we have seen a decrease in fuel from 4.3%.
[29:46] Overall, all of the energy, especially our electric, has decreased a little bit.
[29:50] So we may see some savings in some of our non-departmental.
[29:54] All other items besides food and energy, we should have increased 5.4%.
[29:58] Again, that's according to...
[30:03] The housing market. I thought this was a good idea, a good indicator where we are. And
[30:07] the median listing price for a house in Montgomery County in March of 2021 was $338,000. If you
[30:14] remember the peak last year in March of 2022, that median house price was $401,000. And then
[30:20] now we're back down to about $359,000, meaning that I believe the economy is starting to
[30:25] level off a little bit on that housing, on the housing side.
[30:27] You might want to send that to MCAT because they're still stuck in 2022.
[30:31] Yes.
[30:32] Yeah, good point.
[30:35] There's something else about that this time last year.
[30:39] I just did this for the state of the county address that the house would sell within 22 days.
[30:44] Yes.
[30:45] Now it is selling in 60 days.
[30:48] And actually, George, when we looked at the, when we looked at the, Fred is one of the indicators we use.
[30:52] We saw that last in fact last year some of it the point to sell actually was even sometimes in the negative because they were
[31:00] Being sold even before they went on the market
[31:02] And so now we're not we're not seeing that as much anymore either houses staying on the market a little bit longer
[31:07] So I just think that this is also something to consider in the future. I think with you know anything
[31:14] Specifically with Rebecca's department a lot of these people that maybe got their mortgages in 2022 when the housing market was pretty high
[31:20] It might be something that we need to have to consider down the road five or six years
[31:23] if there is a marketing crisis, a market crisis where, especially in the housing market.
[31:30] The next type is the budgeting types that we do.
[31:33] Most of our departments, of course, are going to do the department entry based off of
[31:39] their FY 2022 and 2023 budgets.
[31:43] But the Sheriff's Office, the airport, non-departmental, all of our Sally and
[31:47] all of our benefits, those are all zero-budgeted, zero-based budgeted, including our capital
[31:51] If you guys recall, every year, since I've been here, I ask the departments to take two
[31:58] or three or four accounts and zero-base those accounts, meaning start from scratch, build
[32:01] those budgets up.
[32:03] This year we've picked IT software, IT hardware, mobile phone and data, and by mobile phone
[32:07] and data, because that line includes both phones and hotspots, just asking departments
[32:13] to break that up so we know those differences, and then janitorial supplies.
[32:17] So those will be the FY2024 zero-based accounts that we're asking departments to do and we'll
[32:22] show them again how to use that and how to do that in the software.
[32:25] The other accounts, their department, Entryd, and like I said, they're trend analyzed.
[32:33] All right, you guys pretty much know the budget process.
[32:36] You guys are going to vote on the calendar today.
[32:39] We'll do our training the next couple of weeks and we'll have some departmental
[32:45] deadlines.
[32:45] So this just gives a graph and we send this budget PowerPoint also to all of our departments
[32:50] that they know.
[32:51] You have a copy of the slide but it basically tells you in a timeline basis what our process
[32:57] is.
[32:58] All right.
[32:59] The key dates for our budget calendar, again I passed out the budget calendar, it's going
[33:03] to look like this.
[33:04] And I have some extras here if any departments are here that would like a hard copy.
[33:08] Basically the budget packets will be available in the Oracle budgeting software for operational
[33:13] request, capital request, personnel changes and new position requests. We are asking that the PDQs,
[33:19] every position request have a PDQ associated with it. Those PDQs sent directly to Dodie's office,
[33:24] Dodie and Kathy. Not in Oracle. Not in Oracle. Nope. We're going to have those straight sent to
[33:29] HR that way. It's a better efficiency in their office as well. The training classes, we're
[33:34] going to have the first week of May 2023. And then we'll have the live packets available
[33:38] by May 1st 2023 we're working on those just getting with our consultants to
[33:43] finish up some some stuff so we'll have all of this information out there to
[33:47] everybody. Departmental meetings as you guys know I do one-on-one meetings with
[33:50] any department that wants to meet with me to go over their 2023-2024
[33:54] budgets for this year we're doing those meetings May 2nd to May 31st so
[33:58] basically the whole month of May if departments aren't available in that
[34:02] they can let me know we can coordinate something outside of those
[34:04] times as well. The Oracle budget sheets and Excel sheets are due to the
[34:08] budget office June 22nd, 2023.
[34:10] Again, for departments, budgets due to our office
[34:13] June 22nd, 2023, which is a little bit later
[34:16] than we've all ever had.
[34:17] We're seeing some efficiencies in the Oracle software,
[34:20] so we think it's gonna work out pretty good.
[34:23] Amanda, the court after June 22nd,
[34:24] will you bring us a list of every department
[34:26] and elected official that did not turn their packet
[34:29] to you on time?
[34:30] Yes.
[34:31] Make sure that we note that.
[34:34] Departmental preliminary budgets are sent out
[34:36] July 14th, 2023, and July 17th, 2023, we always like to try to get those bigger budgets
[34:40] out first and then the smaller ones out later. The preliminary budgets will be distributed
[34:46] to Commissioners Court July 21st, 2023. That's the Friday of a court packet. So you
[34:50] guys will get that as part of your court packet. And then I will do your first presentation
[34:53] of the preliminary budget on that Commissioners Court meeting on July 25th. Our budget workshop
[34:59] now is not going to be that same week. We've pushed it back a couple of weeks.
[35:03] So August 8th through August 11th we will have our budget workshop starting with of course the IP workshop
[35:08] It is a regular scheduled commissioners court on August 8th. So we'll start probably directly after commissioners court
[35:16] We'll have the proposed budget filed with the county with the commissioners court the county auditor in the county clerk
[35:21] August 21st 2023, and then we will have our public hearing on the budget and tax rate August 30th
[35:27] And then after the public hearings, that's what we normally vote on the adoption of the budget
[35:35] We are asking if there's any citizens that have any inputs. There's a couple of
[35:39] opportunities for those inputs. They can always email me and give me some of their
[35:43] feedback if they have any. In-person meetings on July 25th, August 30th, and
[35:47] of any departments are having Citizens Academy. Again, I'll invite me to those
[35:52] and I'll come and represent the budget office and answer any questions. And of
[35:55] course they can call our budget line and answer, we can answer any questions
[35:58] that way. This is really important to me. I take this really seriously if
[36:01] any citizen wants to meet with me, whether it's for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, whatever,
[36:05] I will meet with any citizen, okay, and that's make sure that you tell your constituents that
[36:09] anybody that wants to meet with me regarding the budget, I'm interested in doing that.
[36:16] Do you guys have any questions specifically on my presentation?
[36:19] You know, in getting that information out to the public, one of the questions that
[36:23] was asked in the last election cycle was, how come nobody knows about the budget?
[36:28] to which I responded well you know we announced it we have it on our website
[36:32] we've got our the hearings where people can come and talk about it but they
[36:37] still don't get it how do what is the process for putting that out there it's
[36:40] in the newspaper it's in a number yeah we put it on the web page we put it on
[36:45] the newspapers we I mean it's filed with the county clerk so I need the
[36:50] budget is open for public inspection of physical copy not just an
[36:55] an electronic copy. Sorry about the mic. But also, we have thought about doing a little
[37:02] snapshot videos. Tammy is part of her, when she sends out tax statements, also sends a
[37:07] budget highlights page out. Again, if you guys want, we can provide any information to help
[37:14] with videos or whatever that you guys might want to put out, press release, anything
[37:17] like that.
[37:18] All right. Thank you.
[37:21] Okay, so the next thing I have is the budget policy, which I did make some
[37:27] Minor significant changes. I don't know. They're they're they're significant in my piece
[37:31] But for the regular departments not not necessarily so did everyone get a copy of the budget policy
[37:36] I put as part of the backup if you don't have one I have a copy here for you guys
[37:40] But just some things that we're gonna just some some basics
[37:43] Does anybody first have any questions regarding the any changes that I made on the policy?
[37:47] What are what are the most significant ones that you've made changes on? Okay?
[37:51] So most significant changes we made were the first one saying that we did designate that
[37:58] fund balance requirement into the policy, stating that the fund balance requirement is 19%.
[38:04] So that is inside the policy itself.
[38:07] Policy is a living document, meaning that it doesn't have an expiration date anymore.
[38:11] Having it continue to go until you guys want to make any changes or want to add anything
[38:16] to it or deletions, whatever it is.
[38:20] We do have that all departments the maximum for them to transfer out of their budgets
[38:25] to another department is $3,000 with the exception of IT and building maintenance of their specific
[38:30] projects related to that.
[38:32] What is their limit?
[38:33] There is no limit for those.
[38:35] I don't think they have that come to court.
[38:36] I don't think any of the departments should be transferring money between themselves without
[38:40] court approval.
[38:41] Period.
[38:42] Well okay, so you have Adobe licenses, that's the number one thing that we do
[38:45] all the time.
[38:46] It's a $93 license that and we're transferring those. I think we're doing on weekly. I mean, maybe you can have some but in general
[38:52] I don't want animal shelter. No picking on them
[38:55] They came to mind because they start with an A you know moving $3,000 to the airport for example
[39:00] We don't have that
[39:01] Then why have a policy that allows? I mean because this policy still limits that right and you also have the limitations of
[39:07] The fact that they can't do that. Where's it currently now?
[39:10] 3,000. There's no change on that. The change was in the Road and Bridge Fund where we moved
[39:15] it up to 10,000.
[39:17] Yes. All right. Okay. Approach sheet.
[39:23] But I mean, Commissioner, like, it's, you're voting on the policy today. We can, we can
[39:26] make any changes.
[39:27] I'm just saying I don't know that the departments should be moving money between themselves.
[39:31] Lucky officials kind of different, but, you know, the departments themselves, that's
[39:34] what the purpose of the court is for. We set their budget. We determine how their
[39:38] money's spent.
[39:39] So we had a situation over right before the new court, a new judge took office that 25%
[39:47] role limited that department and they needed to pay a bill that they had and so they reached
[39:52] out to one of their other, you know, judges and they were able to transfer that money
[39:55] out of their budget to cover that.
[39:57] That's the most recent.
[39:58] It wasn't even close to $3,000.
[40:00] I think it was even maybe $250.
[40:03] But elected officials a little bit different than a department head.
[40:07] I just think the department heads we should limit to court action and elected officials not.
[40:12] We're going to be voting on all changes in Adobe policies and all that.
[40:15] I mean, we've been doing commissioners with all due respect.
[40:17] We've been doing it.
[40:19] The business has been working.
[40:20] It's not abused.
[40:21] We bring them back.
[40:22] Every single change that we do that is moving money from out of the department's budget
[40:25] into another department, we memorialize that effect.
[40:28] And on the other side of that, you can always reverse it, commissioner.
[40:31] So if we posted it and you don't like it, you could always say, hey, actually, I don't
[40:34] like this.
[40:36] You know, we bring them to Commissioner's Court anyways for memorialization, and you
[40:40] can say, you know what, I want to reverse this, and we can do that.
[40:43] How much we raise in the commissioners?
[40:45] To $10,000.
[40:46] From?
[40:47] $3,000.
[40:48] And that's to cover because most of you guys have operations deputies, and that
[40:51] just helps us keep those costs where we don't have, we're not having to come
[40:55] to Commissioner's Court every single time, if we have a change on those.
[40:59] Okay. Proceed. Okay.
[41:04] The next one that I have is that TECO reports are required for any re-hire or
[41:10] new hire law enforcement officer. We do have to have a copy of that TECO report come with a PCR
[41:15] that just helps us effectuate the step plan. Again, we don't really care who you're hiring,
[41:19] where they come from or whatever, but for us it helps us effectuate the step plan. We had
[41:23] some issues with this arise where they didn't where the departments didn't originally send
[41:26] as a TECO report, then we had to make an adjustment later.
[41:30] So we really would like to avoid that,
[41:31] so we're trying to get all the departments.
[41:33] When we've talked to the Sheriff's Office about this,
[41:34] they're okay with providing those as well.
[41:36] So without the TECO, they can't participate
[41:40] in a step plan?
[41:41] That's right.
[41:41] Okay, I got you.
[41:43] Cool.
[41:45] All right.
[41:46] The next change is specifically regarding vacancy savings.
[41:50] As you guys know, most of the law enforcement departments
[41:52] have the ability to use their vacancy savings in 2023.
[41:55] The Sheriff's budget's getting super tight with that,
[41:57] So we're not there's not really as much vacancy savings as we've seen in the past
[42:01] So we're asking the court, you know from from here on out that if a department has something that they're wanting to pave vacancy
[42:06] Say we use vacancy savings out of they come to commissioners court for approval on that that it's just not automatically granted
[42:12] I mean that's just going to you know really help us like trend that a little bit better
[42:16] We have a lot of step increases and with the bilingual pay and all of these other pays that come in
[42:21] Forecasting just takes a little bit more than just saying yeah, we you have this vacancy not money
[42:25] you can use it so it's kind of stopping departments from using that vacancy
[42:29] savings in the future and that's new correct that's new yeah it's updating it
[42:34] yeah the next one is going to be the capital improvement vehicle and
[42:39] equipment replacement fund that's setting those requirements on what
[42:43] projects exist that are in that the kind of the factors that it takes for
[42:50] us to for the vehicle and equipment replacement fund we have so we started
[42:53] of that in last year's budget, maybe the year before.
[42:57] And so this is just kind of setting out,
[42:59] don't, for example, vehicles that are donated,
[43:02] those aren't eligible for replacement.
[43:04] Vehicles that are bought on grants,
[43:05] those aren't just deemed eligible for replacement.
[43:08] So any of those outside of our normal vehicle
[43:09] equipment replacement policy will come to you guys
[43:12] for a needed funding source for you guys to okay,
[43:15] or just for you guys to okay the funding source.
[43:17] What about the idea you and Gilbert were gonna come back
[43:19] with a vehicle policy replacement plan
[43:22] and when you get a new vehicle, you have to turn in an old vehicle.
[43:26] That's in here.
[43:27] Is it all codified now?
[43:29] Yeah, that's all in this policy here.
[43:31] If you get a replacement vehicle, by the time it's what we call, I think it's,
[43:37] for each vehicle that is replaced, the old vehicle equipment should be sent to the purchasing agent
[43:41] for disposition within 45 days of putting the replacement asset into service.
[43:45] And that's really keeping the where, yeah, we're replacing vehicles,
[43:49] but we're getting the originals back so that we can put those into the auction, get a little
[43:54] bit of money to offset those expenditures. So yeah, we are asking for the department,
[43:58] we're requiring departments, once they get a replacement vehicle within 45 days of putting
[44:02] that vehicle into service, they have to bring the other one back to, you know, for asset
[44:08] disposal, normally done through an A-Bates auction. And again, this is just general
[44:13] fund departments. What you guys do in the Road and Bridge funds, I know you sometimes
[44:17] that that equipment isn't a little bit different so but but this is specific for
[44:21] general fund departments you know we're getting we're getting a lot more money
[44:25] trading in vehicles than we are putting them in the auction yeah and we talked
[44:28] we talked about that gobert and I did he's not here today but what we did talk
[44:33] about that is right right now we we're able to do that a little bit easier
[44:38] because of the threshold that Abbott gave us with not having to have things
[44:41] procured with that going out of place we are gonna have to go back into that
[44:45] anything over 25,000, anything's going to have to come back to you guys.
[44:48] And so if there's a trade-in that involves that,
[44:50] you guys would have the opportunity to say, hey, look, we're planning on doing this trade-in.
[44:54] So that is something I talked to Gilbert about.
[44:56] He didn't want me to put that in the policy specifically about trade-in.
[45:00] He was afraid that it might go against the purchasing requirements that he has set.
[45:06] So if we bring, and if we order a new truck or a vehicle and we need an extra vehicle for
[45:15] our, you know, as far as us commissioners, do we still have to, if they were driving a
[45:20] truck, we can't just pass it down or do we turn that one in also?
[45:25] Are you talking about for year to for year?
[45:27] For my, yes.
[45:27] for you're not in the general fund you're the road and bridge fund so you
[45:30] can really do I mean because for me the equipment that you have I'm not an
[45:35] expert in that I'm really trying to and I'm not an expert in cars by any means
[45:39] but cars are a little bit easier to replace because we they're kind of suspect
[45:42] kind of all the same for the constables in the Sheriff's office but for years
[45:46] I wouldn't even try to sometimes we give them to the airport or somebody
[45:50] else you know back and forth yeah I do want to I just want to bring that
[45:55] Because I did talk to Commissioner Gray about this and his staff about this, like that can
[46:00] be a problem though.
[46:01] I just want to make sure that commissioners know.
[46:03] Giving, you know, transferring assets to another department, I agree that most of the departments,
[46:08] they have some vehicle that, you know, probably needs to be replaced.
[46:11] But when you transfer an asset into that and you fill out a form with purchasing,
[46:15] they don't actually let, there's nothing that involves us to let them know that
[46:17] we need to include vehicle maintenance and fuel the next year for that, for that
[46:21] vehicle.
[46:22] Okay.
[46:22] So keep that in mind.
[46:23] these departments could have overages related to their budgets because of fuel
[46:27] and vehicle maintenance related to any vehicles that got transferred without us
[46:31] kind of knowing about it. So if you are going to do that just make sure that we
[46:34] get a copy of those asset forms, those asset transfer forms. And also the
[46:39] funding source for that a lot of times is Road and Bridge and you have to be
[46:43] careful about which departments you're transferring it to to make sure
[46:46] that it's an appropriate use of those funds because you took money out of
[46:53] needs to be somewhat related to the road and bridge function.
[46:58] Well, in my case, we had a tractor that
[47:01] had a arm on it that mows, and we replaced it.
[47:08] But the airport could use it occasionally,
[47:10] and it was still a good tractor.
[47:12] And so we transferred it to them instead of turning it back
[47:19] in, I guess.
[47:20] And the equipment's a little bit different as well.
[47:22] But this this policy is specific to the departments not to the red and red fund correct
[47:28] I've got a question has it always been like that or this is new so with the VIRF
[47:34] Just worries or anything I'm missing if it's a donated or granted vehicle to law enforcement
[47:41] That doesn't fall under replacement right see where that can be a slippery slope
[47:46] So I just don't want to
[47:49] Leave someone shorthanded or overextend the county.
[47:53] Right.
[47:54] So on grant vehicles specifically and seizure vehicles as well, you can chime in on this
[47:59] if you have any information, but on the seizure vehicles, if you later get rid of that seizure
[48:04] vehicle, that money has to go back into the Chapter 59 account, it has to go back
[48:07] into the seizure account.
[48:08] We can't just pull that money into the general fund, so we are watching anything
[48:12] that's seizure donations, grants, because normally those funds have to go back to
[48:18] original funding sources required by normally the language in either in the
[48:23] grant or for this case chapter 59 statute says that. Same thing with donations. A
[48:28] lot of times the donations for a specific purpose and we accept it with
[48:31] those conditions that it be used for the animal shelter for example and one of
[48:36] the ones you picked on earlier. So if we take a donation for something for
[48:39] the animal shelter if it ceases to be used for the animal shelter then we
[48:43] to return that. Yeah. So in my opinion it's just not good policy to fund those
[48:50] vehicles and those equipments out of your vehicle equipment replacement fund
[48:53] because A, you want to check the funding source, C, where it originally came from
[48:56] and then it's really up to the court's direct discretion it adds to do they
[48:59] want to replace that donation vehicle because it's different when someone's
[49:02] donating something to you but then turns around for example Constable
[49:06] 3 or Constable 4 if we replace the three donated vehicles he has right
[49:09] right now that's almost $130,000 on the county budget that we weren't anticipating, right,
[49:16] because we got the vehicles through donation. So it's just a way to look at it. I think we
[49:21] should bring my personally opinion, personal opinion is we bring those back to Commissioner
[49:25] Square. You guys vote on whether or not you want to replace those vehicles.
[49:28] I was a separate item. Just the donated vehicles is what you're talking about.
[49:32] Yeah.
[49:32] There been a problem so far?
[49:34] I think it's going to be a problem.
[49:35] I'd like to hear from and maybe today's not the day but from we've got two
[49:40] consoles in the house and the sheriff maybe hear from them if we bring it back
[49:45] or if we're gonna keep it on today to get some other input yeah yeah I agree
[49:54] with you so the other thing about this policy is the policy is like Amanda said
[49:58] a living document subject to change amendments and you can always have an
[50:02] exception on a situational basis. Generally what we've been doing for years and years and years has
[50:08] worked and we've addressed one-off situations with individual agenda items for your approval.
[50:14] I think that's how you leave it. I mean just bring it back and then let's hear from the people that
[50:19] are directly affected by it. Do you have anything to say? Yeah. Well I think especially on the
[50:23] law enforcement if they get a new Tahoe sometimes you can't get all the equipment in 45 days.
[50:28] Oh, yeah, so I mean we're talking so I think this one reads after placed in
[50:33] service so it would have to be actually with the proper equipment before it's
[50:37] required to be returned it says after it's ready so we know we're not leaving
[50:41] them without a vehicle and just for your information Commissioner Riley like
[50:45] this year we with the vehicles that were allocated out we also
[50:49] authorized them you can go ahead and order equipment so even though the
[50:52] vehicles aren't in yet you know what how many towels you're getting or
[50:55] cars you're getting. Now you can order whatever equipment is associated with that. We do give
[51:01] them a, you know, there is a specific number we use for those replacement for the equipment,
[51:07] but really it's up to the individual constable or the sheriff on how they spec that out.
[51:11] I'm not going to tell them you need, you know, what kind of partitions you need and
[51:14] all that. But we give them a set amount of money and they, for example, they can
[51:19] order. We expect the vehicles right now to be ready in June. And I know at least
[51:24] one department is already ordered equipment for their vehicles.
[51:28] On the issue regarding vacancy savings, one of the things that I know that the sheriff
[51:36] utilizes those dollars for is to pay down count time so we're not accumulating it, I think
[51:41] he still needs to be able to have access and ability to do that.
[51:45] He could still do that.
[51:47] So explain and talk through how that works.
[51:49] Yeah, sure.
[51:49] So right now, the formula that we use is budgeted salary minus contract pay.
[51:56] So if they have, you know, for example, some departments use contract labor minus any payout
[52:03] that they might have related to comp paydowns, vacation payouts, not personal time, vacation
[52:10] or comp time payouts, difference in compensation between a new hire incumbent that they know
[52:16] that they're not going to give that person a raise and any over time associated with
[52:20] the vacancy.
[52:20] So we take the budget salary minus all of those things and that's what we consider vacancy
[52:24] savings.
[52:25] So it will not stop the sheriff or any of the constables or any law.
[52:28] We encourage departments to pay down that comp time.
[52:31] Everybody that knows me and that's met with me know that that's a huge, that's
[52:35] the number one budget item I have, how much comp time do you have on the books?
[52:39] Because I try to bring those numbers down.
[52:41] I don't like liabilities that are going to cost us more in the future.
[52:43] So, yes, any department head or elected official that has a budget available, they could definitely
[52:50] pay down those comp time numbers within the policy that is drafted in front of you guys
[52:55] today.
[52:56] Yep.
[52:57] Perfect.
[52:58] That's good.
[52:58] Thanks.
[52:59] All right.
[53:00] Anything else, Amanda?
[53:01] I think that's the highlights.
[53:04] Move.
[53:04] I have a motion.
[53:05] Is there a second?
[53:06] Second.
[53:06] Any more discussion?
[53:07] Well, proceed.
[53:09] do we need to make a motion to take this ver off line as a separate item is that
[53:14] what we said I thought that's what we said talk about the vehicle yes to
[53:19] vehicles that are donated yes it's not part of this I thought that's what we
[53:25] said and we're talking but we were talking we didn't I didn't know we
[53:28] came to conclusion it was going to be a part of the motion doing that wait
[53:31] before law enforcement come in and give us their opinion on it if we can strike
[53:34] this and move on the rest of the policy I don't know what the do we have to prove
[53:40] this today I see do we have to approve this today I just setting a budget
[53:44] policy helps departments budget better in my opinion the calendar is a question
[53:52] Amy you'd mentioned that we've done it this way and as these items come up we
[53:57] bring it in as a separate item in the court and decide at that time so that's
[54:01] you have a couple of options today you can approve it as it is and you can
[54:05] approve it with removing the vehicle and equipment replacement fund or what
[54:09] you can do is also say approve it with a modification that we bring this vehicle
[54:14] and equipment replacement fund back on the next agenda item and have people
[54:20] here who would like to comment on it let's just share from a console we've
[54:24] got two consoles on the sheriff let's hear does anybody having you'll have
[54:28] opinion on it. Somebody come forward.
[54:32] We can close it out. Let's close it out.
[54:34] There you go.
[54:36] So, um, the main thing that I that I look forward to is, is to be able to, um,
[54:44] you know, one of my cars might have 135,000 miles on it. One of them might
[54:48] have 100,000 miles on it, but that don't mean the one with the most miles
[54:51] is the one that needs to be replaced. There's some that just run better
[54:54] than others and stuff like that. Also with us, we just taken over in the
[54:58] a couple of years with county vehicles. We need replacement vehicles, so I understand
[55:05] all that coming in, but we also need vehicles that are on standby too. In case one goes
[55:09] down, one gets in a wreck or something like that. Currently I only have two vehicles,
[55:13] so if two of my vehicles go out for maintenance or a crash or anything like that, I'm down
[55:18] to no loaner vehicles for these people. So I'd like to be able to, and there are
[55:22] some specified specific vehicles like canine vehicles and stuff like that, that I'd
[55:27] I'd like to be able to keep one for a,
[55:28] one of the ones that come up for replacement this year
[55:31] is gonna be a canine vehicle.
[55:33] Well, we have three canines.
[55:35] They can only use one of those canine vehicles.
[55:37] So if one of their canine vehicles go out,
[55:39] we're down a canine too.
[55:41] So I'd like to try to roll one of those
[55:42] over to a loaner vehicle.
[55:44] Maybe we can set up some,
[55:46] if you have this many deputies,
[55:47] you need this many loaner vehicles.
[55:48] I don't know how that works or anything,
[55:50] but I know that every once in a while,
[55:52] we get to where we have no loaner vehicles.
[55:53] We have two people in a car
[55:54] or instead of more cars out on the streets.
[55:58] Does that need to be a part of our budget policy
[56:01] or can we decide that as we go?
[56:03] I think you guys, we need to discuss that budget workshop
[56:06] because those are, in some of these instances,
[56:10] the vehicles, yeah, it might be good to use it
[56:13] for another six or nine months,
[56:14] but in the end, the auction value of that vehicle,
[56:17] where it stands, when it needs to be replaced,
[56:20] is much better than trying to
[56:23] wait until it completely dies so that's another thought you know that's another
[56:27] part of the process we're getting on Tahoe's anywhere from 10 to 18 thousand
[56:30] dollars on these on these older ones so consider that a new Tahoe's 34 37,000
[56:36] and for an older one that has 10 plus years on it we're getting some money for
[56:41] them so if you keep if you keep you know at some time extending them
[56:45] where they're worth nothing then that's something to consider in the
[56:47] future if we can keep the car that's worth $10,000 it already has
[56:50] lights and sirens and everything inside of it. I agree with that. I think if you
[57:05] bring it back and talk to us about it and we know ahead of time.
[57:10] I respectfully
[57:14] disagree just because they have they have a lot of pulled vehicles already
[57:17] We're growing our pulled vehicle, our pulled vehicle requirements.
[57:20] And as the man he only has two, I'm going to believe him.
[57:22] I mean, I have two.
[57:24] Where are all the pulled vehicles?
[57:27] We can, I can bring you a list of showing, because I looked at it for every constable,
[57:34] how many deputies they have versus how many vehicles there are.
[57:37] It's definitely, the amount of vehicles they have is more than just two, plus two deputies.
[57:42] I can tell you that.
[57:43] Make that part of the bunch of packets and every department give us a list of every vehicle that they have find out what's going on
[57:57] Well doesn't do us any good to give you deputies and not be able to put them on the street
[58:01] And I don't think that's ever happened like let's be clear
[58:04] We we always work very very closely that if there we would never allow a deputy to not have a vehicle commissioner
[58:10] That's like, I don't think that's what they're saying.
[58:13] I promise you, I'm on the same page as you.
[58:15] The fact is that we just started with our county vehicles in 2019.
[58:20] We don't have as many as some of the other.
[58:22] I understand that.
[58:23] And that's all I'm trying to say is that I come back.
[58:25] I wouldn't have a new just to be able to come back and ask, hey,
[58:28] I need to keep this vehicle and it's a canine vehicle.
[58:32] Constable Cash.
[58:33] I agree.
[58:34] And so this is going to be like the other commissioner court policies,
[58:37] whereas this is kind of the general.
[58:39] When you have these one off, you always have the ability to come back to you to make the
[58:44] exception.
[58:45] And I think that's what Amanda's asking for.
[58:47] We need to know the Commissioner's Court's desire on just kind of a general level.
[58:51] And then when you have one who only has two vehicles and feels strongly that they need
[58:56] to keep one, they always have the ability to come back and ask for you.
[59:00] Yeah.
[59:01] And that you have that with this policy, just like you have it with any other policy,
[59:05] just like that we have it with a handbook or anything else the Commissioner Court adopts.
[59:11] Honorable Cash, would you want to say something?
[59:12] I'm in agreement with Chris.
[59:14] You know, we do our own maintenance too.
[59:16] We don't have a maintenance facility and we're at the mercy of maintenance facilities
[59:20] that we have to contract with.
[59:22] Sometimes they keep our vehicles for several days, weeks,
[59:25] the same way with the auto ones in a fleet.
[59:28] I'm 100% in agreement with them.
[59:30] We have to have vehicles, spares.
[59:31] They're not drove every day, but they're there when we need them.
[59:36] It's critical to do our law enforcement, what we're doing for the community to have vehicles
[59:40] on the road.
[59:45] So can we get a subset of a working group?
[59:49] So for example, they're talking mark units.
[59:52] I don't even want to get into how many cool cars we have because we have municipal
[59:56] agencies that ask for surveillance vehicles.
[59:58] Cool, right.
[1:00:00] Now, where do you think those surveillance vehicles come from? They usually come from the
[1:00:03] district attorney's office. And so, because we have cool cars, because our cars are oftentimes
[1:00:08] seized vehicles. And those vehicles have cool plates. And I don't want to speak a whole
[1:00:14] lot more than that. But when a municipality reaches out to me, and they say, hey, can
[1:00:18] we borrow a car for X amount of days, X amount of months, I have those cars. And we say,
[1:00:23] all right, tell me what your operation is going on. Let me see if we can do something
[1:00:26] and with it. Because they have patrol vehicles. So when you're talking about pooled vehicles,
[1:00:32] as far as I'm concerned, your pool looks different than my pool because my pool is cool. And
[1:00:39] there's our marked. So we have some operational things that go on. And of course I have county
[1:00:45] vehicles and I have forfeited vehicles as well, which impact what they can be used
[1:00:49] for. So maybe a subset of a working group for law enforcement vehicles.
[1:00:55] which is where the bulk of it is is what we're talking about here so yeah
[1:00:59] how can we can we do that I mean how do we implement that in this right now or
[1:01:04] do we do it later I think you and Brett should get together and figure it out
[1:01:08] and bring it back to us okay another issue oh and I think I think Commissioner
[1:01:14] Nowak has to be on that committee if I'm gonna be on a committee he's gonna
[1:01:19] to be on a committee too. We're going to let you guys handle that. I'd rather be on a
[1:01:23] committee with these four. Is that possible? Yeah. And Amanda. All right. Okay, here, but
[1:01:30] again concerning what what Commissioner Gray was talking about, Rowdy's situation, Constable
[1:01:38] in precinct four, he has three donated vehicles that they they're absolutely dependent
[1:01:45] on that are not part of this process that's the thing where it's going to
[1:01:49] come up and be an issue and he's going to need to replace those but they're
[1:01:52] donated and they're not we've never expended money from the county for them
[1:01:56] and I think I think Commissioner that's that's what you were referring to in
[1:02:01] terms of keeping those out of the out of this well it was it was part of it
[1:02:05] you know and that's where I was talking about not over-standing and
[1:02:08] getting on a slippery slope and you know someone takes 10 donated vehicles
[1:02:13] all of a sudden they all go back at one time and then the county is on the hook for a place in
[1:02:17] them. There's got to be a meeting. So there's a couple things. One is the
[1:02:23] donated vehicles by outside entities are not eligible. And the second is you guys have to
[1:02:29] accept all donations. And I think that every time we have accept donations we say you
[1:02:35] understand that we'll be responsible for the upkeep or maintenance. And sometimes the
[1:02:39] donating party agrees to do that and sometimes they don't and so whenever you
[1:02:44] accept a donation to the county it comes with the obligation for maintenance
[1:02:48] and upkeep of that vehicle. I think bigger than that is you you make that
[1:02:53] agreement whenever you accept the donation so we need to know what we're
[1:02:56] going to do with it when we accept it but I'll also liken it to the contract
[1:03:00] vehicles so we have a whole bunch of those through multiple law enforcement
[1:03:03] contracts they buy the vehicles on a reimbursement program and those
[1:03:07] Those contracts usually dictate where that money goes.
[1:03:10] If we were to trade it in, or if we were to auction it off, that money is usually earmarked
[1:03:15] to go back into the purchase of a vehicle that may be by the contracting entity that
[1:03:20] buys the rest of it, or it could be the county.
[1:03:22] I don't think there's anything that has stopped us from doing that in the past, but-
[1:03:27] Can we work the issue then of donations and how we process that and do that into
[1:03:31] the policy that you all come up with in relationship to these poor vehicles?
[1:03:35] I think Brett would probably nail that given the opportunity.
[1:03:38] Well, I was thinking the same thing.
[1:03:40] He was shaking his head, yes, I'll do that.
[1:03:42] Once something's donated to the county, it becomes the county property.
[1:03:47] Is that right?
[1:03:47] We've been down that road.
[1:03:49] So yes, when something is donated, provided that it's not donated with restrictions.
[1:03:54] So sometimes, and it isn't generally law enforcement with restrictions.
[1:03:58] Typically when they give things to law enforcement, it is for any and all purposes that law enforcement wants to do it.
[1:04:04] on some of your other county vehicles,
[1:04:06] for example, Animal Shelter,
[1:04:07] they will have donated this for the purpose
[1:04:11] of the Animal Shelter or something like that.
[1:04:14] So it's, Amanda's policy has to be general enough
[1:04:17] to cover all of the departments
[1:04:19] and everybody with vehicles,
[1:04:21] including purchasing and tax office
[1:04:23] and anybody building maintenance.
[1:04:26] It just seems like though,
[1:04:28] I mean, Carly, we've been up here a long time.
[1:04:30] I don't ever remember not providing a vehicle
[1:04:32] for a law enforcement agency that needs one.
[1:04:34] So I don't care if it's donated, we bought it.
[1:04:37] If it fell from the sky, if they say they need a car,
[1:04:39] we're going to take it up under advisement
[1:04:41] and either agree to give them one or not.
[1:04:42] It's ours.
[1:04:43] Yeah.
[1:04:44] I think we're making it way more difficult than it needs to be.
[1:04:46] I think y'all bring back to us what you need.
[1:04:48] We make a decision to move on.
[1:04:50] OK, with that in mind, because I would agree,
[1:04:53] let's move on.
[1:04:53] Ken, are we in a position where we can vote on this policy
[1:04:56] right now and come back since it's a living document?
[1:04:59] You guys come back with the data
[1:05:00] And then we can include it as we do it.
[1:05:02] Can we do that?
[1:05:03] Yep.
[1:05:07] It'll be the open button there.
[1:05:09] Matter of fact, I'd like to entertain a motion.
[1:05:11] Well, we think we'll do it by the way.
[1:05:13] I still don't know whether he's got his answer.
[1:05:15] Yeah, I mean, we can move on it.
[1:05:18] It's a living document.
[1:05:19] I think she did a great job on the policy.
[1:05:21] I just, sorry, I muddled down in the black and white of it.
[1:05:24] And it could be an issue.
[1:05:28] So I second his motion still.
[1:05:30] All right, we have a motion and a second
[1:05:31] to accept the budget policy as it is.
[1:05:33] And they'll bring back whatever they bring back since it's a living document any type
[1:05:37] of amendment that we need to put to it.
[1:05:39] And Brett's in charge of that?
[1:05:40] Brett's in charge of that.
[1:05:41] September 33rd.
[1:05:42] Yeah, Brett's in charge of that.
[1:05:43] All right, we have a motion to second.
[1:05:44] All in favor?
[1:05:45] Aye.
[1:05:46] Opposed?
[1:05:46] Motion carries.
[1:05:47] Thank you.
[1:05:48] Thank you, Commissioner Gray, for us getting to the bottom of this.
[1:05:53] And Amanda, for all your hard work.
[1:05:54] Was there a vote on the budget calendar?
[1:05:56] It's all the same.
[1:05:57] It's all the same?
[1:05:58] Okay, cool.
[1:05:58] Thanks.
[1:05:59] Thank you for your hard work on that policy, Amanda.
[1:06:01] all right let's move forward information technology I move on this for
[1:06:09] commissioner gray I think it's great yeah we're very we have a motion or a
[1:06:12] second second all in favor posed motion carries thank you Bobby lovely thank you
[1:06:18] Bobby treasure let's move forward move on that too all right we have emotion on
[1:06:24] the treasure I have a question if we may but do we have a second I'll second
[1:06:31] Okay. Discussion. Here's a question that I have.
[1:06:34] Yes, sir.
[1:06:34] You know, with the failing of banks...
[1:06:37] Yes, sir.
[1:06:38] ...we have investments.
[1:06:40] Yay, many dollars.
[1:06:42] Yes.
[1:06:43] Investments that do not fall under the federal guideline of $250,000.
[1:06:48] So if we have the money in a bank and it fails, what happens?
[1:06:54] How are we guaranteed our money isn't lost short of putting it in banks all over the place?
[1:06:58] Well, to explain that, so we do have some investments that are insured at the $250,000 FDIC level
[1:07:05] and those accounts are spread out over many, many banks are insured.
[1:07:10] But anything with our depository bank with Wood Forest is covered by a letter of credit
[1:07:15] with the Federal Home Loan Bank.
[1:07:18] And that's actually a whole lot easier than what we used to do and this court approved
[1:07:23] in March of 19 for us to switch to that version of collateral from what we previously did,
[1:07:29] which was pledge collateral, where the bank would buy securities, specific bills of specific
[1:07:37] muni bonds, and all sorts of different collateralization up to the amount that we needed 110 percent
[1:07:45] over our balance.
[1:07:47] We switch to the letter of credit so that we are able to quickly, if would force bank were to ever have any issues,
[1:07:55] go to the federal home loan bank and cash that in to recover our losses.
[1:08:00] And so it's actually a lot faster because you don't have to actually sell the pledge collateral that you would have.
[1:08:06] Do we trust the federal home loan bank?
[1:08:09] Oh boy.
[1:08:12] I mean, and then you have the Securities Investment Protection Corporation sitting on top of that
[1:08:17] they've provided.
[1:08:19] Yeah.
[1:08:19] I mean, what you're saying is we're a vigilante.
[1:08:21] Yes, sir.
[1:08:21] I have no hesitations, reservations.
[1:08:25] We've talked with our investment committee about this and our investment advisors that
[1:08:29] we have.
[1:08:30] We have met with the Treasurer of Wood Forest with regards to this as well as
[1:08:34] all of their CFO and leadership team.
[1:08:37] I have no hesitations with what we're doing.
[1:08:39] All right, thank you.
[1:08:40] Other than putting it in a mattress, Judge, there you go.
[1:08:44] Not my mattress.
[1:08:45] We know how well that works.
[1:08:47] All right, we have a motion and a second.
[1:08:49] Is there any more discussion?
[1:08:50] Nope.
[1:08:50] All in favor?
[1:08:51] Aye.
[1:08:51] Opposed?
[1:08:52] Motion carries.
[1:08:53] Thank you.
[1:08:53] And the donation item?
[1:08:55] Second.
[1:08:55] Item on the agenda?
[1:08:57] Move.
[1:08:57] I'll second.
[1:08:58] All in favor?
[1:08:59] Aye.
[1:09:00] Opposed?
[1:09:01] Motion carries.
[1:09:02] Thank you.
[1:09:02] All right. We have a motion just as the peace precinct three.
[1:09:08] Considering except monthly collections, we have a motion to second all in favor.
[1:09:11] Opposed, motion carries.
[1:09:13] Michael Howard,
[1:09:16] risk management.
[1:09:23] Good morning, Judge.
[1:09:24] Commissioners, consider and approve.
[1:09:27] Changes, additions and releases on the surety bonds.
[1:09:30] Move.
[1:09:31] Second.
[1:09:32] It's ready to discussion.
[1:09:34] All in favor?
[1:09:35] Aye.
[1:09:36] Opposed, motion carries.
[1:09:37] Thank you.
[1:09:38] Jason judge that's in precinct three move I'm sorry it's in precinct three I move
[1:09:46] second all in favor opposed motion carries thank you sure move second we
[1:09:54] have a motion to second on this as well share thank you what we appreciate your
[1:09:58] participation willingness to participate up at the mic all right we
[1:10:03] motion second all in favor opposed motion carries console precinct five second
[1:10:09] Yeah, all in favor pose motion carries
[1:10:15] Conrad North Houston regional Airport
[1:10:18] James
[1:10:25] All right
[1:10:26] This one is considered to prove the first amendment to land lease agreement between Montgomery County and Conserve air ink at the Conrad North
[1:10:32] Eastern Regional Airport. I move on it
[1:10:34] In discussion all in favor. Hi posed motion carries. Thank you
[1:10:41] Tax assessor collector
[1:10:50] Ida May is my monthly collection report for March and we are right on target.
[1:10:58] We've collected 96.21% of our total tax dollars to date.
[1:11:06] I'll move on that.
[1:11:07] Thank you.
[1:11:08] I have a question.
[1:11:09] We just heard 97.7.
[1:11:11] That's budgeted.
[1:11:12] That's what we've budgeted.
[1:11:13] This is total collections.
[1:11:14] We don't budget for 100% of our collections.
[1:11:17] Great answer.
[1:11:18] Yeah.
[1:11:19] We
[1:11:21] have a motion.
[1:11:23] Second.
[1:11:23] All in favor?
[1:11:24] Aye.
[1:11:25] Opposed?
[1:11:26] Motion carries.
[1:11:27] Okay.
[1:11:28] Item B is just memorializing the action that y'all took on March 28 to increase the
[1:11:34] over 65 exemption to 50,000 from 35,000.
[1:11:39] Move.
[1:11:40] Second.
[1:11:41] We have a motion to second.
[1:11:42] All in favor?
[1:11:43] Aye.
[1:11:44] Opposed?
[1:11:44] Motion carries. Thank you, Tammy. Sure thing. I got a telephone call from Paul Bentoncourt.
[1:11:50] They're attempting to raise it to 100,000. All right. Good morning, Judge.
[1:11:56] Justice Commissioners, Item 21, A, B, and C are all testimony required reports. Item A is...
[1:12:06] We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion?
[1:12:11] Rakesh, in each of these reports, the first report is basically an over-and-under report,
[1:12:15] revenue in-and-out expenses.
[1:12:17] The receipts and expenditures.
[1:12:18] And it is according to what we have decided it's plugged in.
[1:12:23] If somebody wants to go over it, they can't go over it even if they wanted to, correct?
[1:12:27] We don't spend any money until we have any budgets for it, so let's talk about it.
[1:12:30] The second report, it's really a balance sheet, and how are we tracking it?
[1:12:36] How do we look for it?
[1:12:37] We look all right. We look good. Any any concerns at all?
[1:12:42] Nothing to report at this one time
[1:12:44] We're under and we're good
[1:12:47] All right, the third report judge and commissioners is the
[1:12:51] This is the 800 page report, right? That's the report
[1:12:54] You know it would require to furnish that monthly and annually as well
[1:12:58] And obviously it includes the the audited act for that we did last month as part of the
[1:13:03] Submission of the report
[1:13:05] It includes all the other two, but basically, and also anything that's important that's
[1:13:10] the more, the unnecessary that we need to present to the Commission's Court, including
[1:13:13] all the previous reports we've done, status updates on the ERP, and all that stuff.
[1:13:17] Okay.
[1:13:19] All right.
[1:13:20] We had a motion on ABCD&E.
[1:13:23] Is there a second?
[1:13:24] ABCD&E.
[1:13:25] ABCD&E.
[1:13:26] ABCD&E.
[1:13:26] Okay, ABCD&E.
[1:13:27] Is there, we have a motion.
[1:13:28] Is there any more discussion?
[1:13:29] All in favor?
[1:13:30] Aye.
[1:13:31] Opposed?
[1:13:32] Motion carries.
[1:13:33] Proceed.
[1:13:33] Okay.
[1:13:34] Item D, consider and approve court interpretive claims for payments.
[1:13:37] All together we had about 12 invoice claims that we processed for about $4,627.83.
[1:13:44] How does that relate to the big picture of where we were and where we are now?
[1:13:48] Two courts ago it was about $16,000 which included about three weeks worth of court run.
[1:13:52] The previous court we had about $8,000, about $4,600, so the numbers look.
[1:13:57] So have the judges turned in all their stuff or I mean there's a reason for it
[1:14:01] going down?
[1:14:02] Wendy again
[1:14:07] so yes well that's all of our vouchers they're coming in to me
[1:14:13] daily we process them through the same day that we receive them that's nothing
[1:14:17] outstanding other than some vouchers that are several years old that we're
[1:14:22] still working to resolve okay so we're catching your judgment the program is
[1:14:27] working interpreters your order come on come on I think he just pays a bill we
[1:14:36] pay the bill as they come through make sure that whatever it's worth which is
[1:14:41] worth something it appears that it is and it's good management thank you we're
[1:14:44] paying the appropriate right to have a motion to accept item 21 at D
[1:14:52] Second. All in favor. Opposed?
[1:14:55] Opposed. Motion carries.
[1:14:57] I think he is the regular payment of a...
[1:15:07] All right, we have a motion. Zero second. Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion
[1:15:16] carries. Thank you, gentlemen. All right, let's move forward.
[1:15:21] Purchasing. Gilbert. Oh, Gilbert
[1:15:24] So Gilbert Gilbert you've changed
[1:15:32] Good morning commissioners and can judge and commissioners
[1:15:35] All right first item 22 a consider and approve the renewal a project 1908 workers compensation third-party administrators with ASNG
[1:15:45] administration for risk management
[1:15:47] All right. We have a motion
[1:15:49] Can we explain that just a little bit? I mean
[1:15:56] Sure. Absolutely.
[1:15:58] Probably Michael Howard can come back and explain it a lot better than I can.
[1:16:01] Just briefly, just quickly.
[1:16:03] It's our TPA account for our property and casualty and our workers' compensation.
[1:16:06] This is the folks AS&G who do all of our claims actual processing.
[1:16:11] It's the Boone Chapman for our risk.
[1:16:13] They are the Boone Chapman on the PC and the workers' compensation.
[1:16:16] So we're renewing.
[1:16:18] We're just renewing.
[1:16:19] This is the fourth.
[1:16:19] Yeah, the fourth of the four renewals.
[1:16:21] We'll go out and post it again.
[1:16:23] Can we have motions or a second?
[1:16:24] Thank you.
[1:16:25] All in favor?
[1:16:26] Opposed?
[1:16:27] Motion carries.
[1:16:28] Thank you.
[1:16:28] Continue on.
[1:16:29] All right, the next two items are item B. We're asking to approve a discretionary exemption
[1:16:34] for Amigos Library Service and for the Houston Area Database Consortium, and then online
[1:16:43] computer legal research is an item that can only be obtained from one source, West
[1:16:48] Publishing, DBA, Thompson Rooters for various departments.
[1:16:52] We have emotional proof.
[1:16:58] Can you explain that too?
[1:16:59] There you go.
[1:17:02] Amigo's library services, that is something that the library uses as a consortium from what I believe they act as a pay-through service for the library, for digital.
[1:17:15] I believe if the library is here, she can help me, but I don't think so.
[1:17:18] And then the computer legal research is what all the courts use for their legal research.
[1:17:24] courts, attorney's offices, district attorney, judges, everything that's west, our online
[1:17:30] research.
[1:17:31] I move.
[1:17:32] Thank you.
[1:17:33] Do we have a motion?
[1:17:34] Is there a second?
[1:17:35] I'll second.
[1:17:36] Motion is second.
[1:17:37] All in favor?
[1:17:38] Aye.
[1:17:38] Opposed?
[1:17:39] Motion carries.
[1:17:41] Okay, next item, C, number one, change order number one to Larry Young Paving for
[1:17:46] Project 19-49, additional rehabilitation of roads to add right-of-way prep and
[1:17:51] backfill for various precincts.
[1:17:54] Move.
[1:17:55] Second.
[1:17:56] All in favor?
[1:17:57] Aye.
[1:17:57] Opposed?
[1:17:58] Motion carries.
[1:17:59] Okay.
[1:18:00] Next item, number two, change order number three, PO number 41430 to LJA Engineering for
[1:18:07] Engineering Service on Call Supplemental Services.
[1:18:09] Move.
[1:18:10] Thank you.
[1:18:11] Second.
[1:18:12] All in favor?
[1:18:13] Aye.
[1:18:13] Opposed?
[1:18:14] Motion carries.
[1:18:15] Proceed.
[1:18:16] Next item D, consider and approve the contracts for Project 2301, application for Clearinghouse Bank and Participating Bank with Wood Forest National Bank for the Treasurer, and Amigee Bank, a division of Zion's Bank Corporation for the Tax Office.
[1:18:30] The award was previously approved to Commissioner's Court on 411.
[1:18:34] Move.
[1:18:35] You have a motion.
[1:18:36] Thank you.
[1:18:36] All in favor?
[1:18:38] Opposed?
[1:18:39] Motion carries.
[1:18:40] E.
[1:18:40] Move.
[1:18:42] We have a motion.
[1:18:43] I'll second.
[1:18:44] All in favor?
[1:18:44] I'm opposed motion carries F
[1:18:49] F can go ahead. I
[1:18:51] Judge I have a question on this. So sure the f the one we're talking about F F
[1:18:59] Which one right at the end of shelter the animal shelter. Yeah, go ahead. So this I
[1:19:05] As you know pretty much everybody up here taking turns running that darn place and y'all are doing a fantastic job
[1:19:11] Thanks for so but that place has had when we were up when my office was over
[1:19:17] there we had a thousand animals in there and you know you find a way to make it
[1:19:21] work I think we all know it's a dilapidated useless facility for an
[1:19:26] animal shelter I just hate to spend $65,000 to get a report that's gonna
[1:19:31] say it's a piece of junk I think we can all agree to that and stipulate
[1:19:35] that we need a shelter some point in the future we need a better plan but I
[1:19:41] I don't know if spending $65,000 to get a report
[1:19:43] that's gonna tell us what we already know is great.
[1:19:46] Well, there's a couple of things
[1:19:49] because that's a great question.
[1:19:52] But first of all, let's go get the numbers right back
[1:19:55] when you were in charge of that deal.
[1:19:57] It was 658 animals.
[1:19:59] No, there were days we had 1,000 animals over there.
[1:20:01] We had 600 dogs and 300 cats.
[1:20:03] In my research as I look back,
[1:20:05] because you brought this up once before,
[1:20:06] otherwise I would have not made an issue out of it.
[1:20:08] So it's okay.
[1:20:09] But we've got a lot of animals that you put there, and the problem was, at that time,
[1:20:15] and the problem is now, is that you still have lousy sanitation.
[1:20:20] The initial report that they paid for, I gave you guys each a copy of this, that PEGAL
[1:20:28] did for us, went through these items with major considerations in animal capacity, program
[1:20:36] capacity, sizing, configuration of housing units, the enrichment of the animals, no useful
[1:20:41] traffic flow, inadequate areas for disease isolation, their significant infrastructure
[1:20:47] deficiency including the dog housing units, too many animals, housing each room, building
[1:20:52] ventilation, it's incorrect, it's not up to code, the continuous trench drains are
[1:20:57] notoriously difficult to operate, they're difficult to clean, they cross contaminate,
[1:21:01] they smell bad, they spread disease, they trap debris, and the list goes on.
[1:21:05] Now, we know that it's been managed with this, and we're managing it now.
[1:21:12] But we came up with, back in April 4th of 2019, if you recall, with PIGAL, who has done
[1:21:20] an analysis for us for project understanding of the tax office, the county courthouse,
[1:21:26] atrium building, quichin building, all-worth building, Sadler building, Montgomery County
[1:21:30] Jail, and we neglected to put in here in the animal shelter.
[1:21:35] Now, here's the deal. If we need to, if we're able to do certain things to be able to make
[1:21:40] it more adequate so that it's safer for our employees, it spreads less disease and germs
[1:21:46] and bacteria and are able to do something in the immediate, I have to have this additional
[1:21:51] study from PEGAL to know what to present during budget. And without that, I really
[1:21:58] don't have it. And so what we're asking for is, and it's a cost of $65,000. Remember,
[1:22:02] The animal shelter paid the first 25 grand.
[1:22:04] What more could PGAO give us right here?
[1:22:08] What more can they do?
[1:22:09] Well, what are you looking to get out of PGAO?
[1:22:12] Here, Paul.
[1:22:13] Paul's here right now.
[1:22:18] Thank you, Judge Commissioners.
[1:22:21] So our initial proposal was in two parts.
[1:22:25] So the report that you have right there
[1:22:28] is the Building Condition Assessment.
[1:22:31] So we brought our engineers and architects and specialists
[1:22:34] in to look at the current operation of the facility and the current situation.
[1:22:42] And this next phase is the needs assessment.
[1:22:46] So this will be more detailed and studying exactly what the shelter needs moving forward
[1:22:54] and we will come up with some floor plans and square footage and a budget for you
[1:23:01] to consider for a new facility but that's right how to fix the problems
[1:23:07] that are already there I mean you're talking about the floor plan for a new
[1:23:11] facility correct that's we are that's what we're doing we're talking about what
[1:23:16] if we in a needs assessment what would it take for us because guys as
[1:23:22] everything I can see is that you have mentioned in your report the county is
[1:23:26] growing exponentially the amount of people that are here the problem is
[1:23:28] not going away and it's getting worse and worse and worse judge was fighting
[1:23:33] very hard to to to keep the steel going with this study set you up judge for me
[1:23:40] with this study set you up to springboard into some kind of CDBG or
[1:23:47] grant funding for a future location if that was the case I mean well if this
[1:23:52] almost like a match or a public-private partnership or something like that to
[1:23:57] to be able to move forward on something.
[1:23:59] But right now, we're just shooting in the dark.
[1:24:01] We don't know whether it would cost us 10 million,
[1:24:03] 30 million, you know.
[1:24:05] Right, and I'll just throw this in.
[1:24:09] I mean, we can study multiple options
[1:24:10] with this second piece.
[1:24:12] We can look at, can we update the current facility
[1:24:17] in some way or add on to the current facility?
[1:24:21] We can look at new or multiple situations.
[1:24:25] as we had discussed is very difficult.
[1:24:28] I mean, the office space, the hallway space.
[1:24:29] Can we ever get the new incinerator to take care of?
[1:24:33] I've been down there several times,
[1:24:35] and I had spoke with them about the property
[1:24:37] that's adjacent right beside it.
[1:24:39] It's almost the same.
[1:24:40] That it could maybe possibly be bought
[1:24:43] and something built there and then revitalized.
[1:24:46] And I don't know if that's possible.
[1:24:47] That's the end that she talked about and tried.
[1:24:49] I mean, it's a great idea.
[1:24:51] My thing is, I know we need a shelter.
[1:24:54] And you've built shelters.
[1:24:55] you've designed shelters, it would be just as efficient for you to come in here and say,
[1:24:59] this is a shelter we built that handles 2,000 animals or whatever, and it would be a lot
[1:25:05] cheaper than 65,000, because it doesn't sound like you're going to bring back solutions
[1:25:10] to the problems with the drainage and the poor ventilation.
[1:25:13] The poor ventilation, building maintenance, we put brand new state-of-the-art equipment
[1:25:19] in there.
[1:25:20] When I went in there a few years ago, I know some of the ones are working.
[1:25:23] we're hearing but it was it was we did some simple things like we put fan belts
[1:25:27] on the fans but the biggest thing was is the odor and we put 16 oxidation we
[1:25:32] spent $20,000 on oxidation machines that are going to be coming up to be
[1:25:36] replaced in the near future and it still doesn't produce according to code
[1:25:40] enough amount of turn of what it's going to take to get that that stuff in
[1:25:45] and out of there plus the the kennels the lack of lighting the I've got
[1:25:51] four people down there right now in an office space that is as big as from that corner to
[1:25:56] this from that that's right there for people all working in desks it's it's it's chaos but
[1:26:03] that being said I can't even go to somebody I can't even seek a grant I can't even go
[1:26:09] to some type of public-private partnership or some of these organizations I don't have
[1:26:14] a clue what it would cost or really what what it would look like so is there a way
[1:26:20] So this 65,000 we're talking about spending is going to be a solution for him to come back
[1:26:26] and say this is what facility we need, not what's going on there.
[1:26:30] We already know what's going on there at that location.
[1:26:34] So this will be a design, you'll tell us a square footage.
[1:26:38] Correct.
[1:26:39] Yep.
[1:26:39] And we do have a consultant, a specialist, animal arts who we do a lot of work with
[1:26:44] on the larger facilities across the country, they're a nationwide expert, so they will
[1:26:52] provide all their expertise along with it and we'll come back with various options
[1:26:59] for you and various sizes looking into the future of what you could need for a facility
[1:27:06] and consider.
[1:27:07] I agree with the judge.
[1:27:08] You've got to have something to show somebody if you're going to go ask for a partnership
[1:27:13] or go out for a grant or apply for grants.
[1:27:16] Yeah, I'll say.
[1:27:17] Beautiful funding source, Amanda.
[1:27:20] Counties and cities are not required to provide animal control services.
[1:27:25] And the fact that we do provide it, we've taken on that debit.
[1:27:30] So it's kind of like a crazy cousin.
[1:27:32] They're still your cousin now.
[1:27:34] Now we got it.
[1:27:36] So the focus would be to build a new one,
[1:27:38] not to look at fixing the old one.
[1:27:40] Because that's my issue with it.
[1:27:41] The old one can't be fixed.
[1:27:43] That place needs to be blown up.
[1:27:44] We need a new shelter at some point and get the animals out first.
[1:27:48] But we don't know which direction we're headed until we get that.
[1:27:51] And we can't even have options until we get that.
[1:27:53] I'm going to move on it.
[1:27:54] If that's the case, then I would move.
[1:27:57] Or second, I'll second.
[1:27:58] All right, do we have a funding source?
[1:28:00] Is there a funding?
[1:28:01] Do we have it in contingency or where?
[1:28:03] The animal shelter we did, the judge and I discussed,
[1:28:06] is they have about $25,000 that they could contribute
[1:28:08] to the project.
[1:28:09] The rest would either need to come from contingency
[1:28:11] you're another funding source. I'm trying to do it without contributing a total of
[1:28:15] 50,000 because we've already contributed 25,000 to the first study as it's and I
[1:28:22] mean is there a way that we is the 65 do we have it in there or is there some way
[1:28:26] we can divide it up to figure out a way to do this. Your contingency budget right
[1:28:30] now is 231,000. Okay we have a motion animal shelter doesn't have any money
[1:28:36] at all that could I think we have $25,000 they can contribute so we
[1:28:39] need about forty five. We need it. Forty.
[1:28:47] Forty thousand. The only reason I'm
[1:28:48] asking for the full amount is because anytime we do a study we don't ever
[1:28:52] ask that department to pay for that study. The only time I remember ever doing
[1:28:54] that was the court. On their court study on this particular one we've already
[1:28:59] put up twenty five thousand. I'm not just green. I'll do the rest. How about
[1:29:07] off four of us throwing 10,000.
[1:29:11] What they want to do, but they don't, I'll do it. Move
[1:29:15] on Commissioner Riley.
[1:29:19] Can we, let's, let's, yeah, we need to be clear about the
[1:29:23] motion. Let's start over. Can we do that? Yes. Again. Do we have a motion? We're
[1:29:28] gonna make a motion. I'll second that motion. The motion needs to have the
[1:29:32] I'm sorry?
[1:29:35] And the motion is going to be $25,000 from Animal Shelter and $40,000 from NOAAX.
[1:29:44] Precinct two.
[1:29:48] Well, I'll split it with you.
[1:29:50] I'll donate $20,000.
[1:29:53] So we have a motion in a second.
[1:29:56] Well, real quick, I agree with y'all.
[1:29:58] and I'll jump in if that's the case.
[1:30:00] The road we're going to go down, but I go back to, this isn't a requirement by the county or the city, so I think it should come out of that fund that Amanda's putting forth if the funds are there in a contingency and set out your own personal road bridge.
[1:30:18] Like you said, we've been doing this for years. It's our baby. We can't get out of it now. It's ours.
[1:30:23] Yeah, can we do a funding source make it contingency up to $65,000?
[1:30:29] Boom. All right, we have a motion. Is there a second?
[1:30:33] All in favor. Okay
[1:30:36] Motion carries. Hey, at least it wasn't my buddy. Thank you
[1:30:40] Gentlemen appreciate it. All right. Let's move on. All right. Next. I don't need you. He does real quick
[1:30:44] I'm up to 757 animals on 1013 of 16. I'm gonna get you the thousand though now
[1:30:49] Okay.
[1:30:51] Keep it rocking.
[1:30:51] You're only there for six weeks, though, man.
[1:30:53] Six months.
[1:30:54] That's all right.
[1:30:54] Go ahead.
[1:30:55] All right.
[1:30:55] Item G, consider and approve the award for project 23-15 for pavement striping for various
[1:31:01] departments to Texas Lone Star pavement.
[1:31:04] Move.
[1:31:04] And y'all did a great job on that.
[1:31:06] It's not your fault if a vendor fails to reply to an e-mail that you sent them,
[1:31:10] regardless of how long that they've been working for us.
[1:31:12] I don't think that should have been addressed like it was.
[1:31:16] And so it doesn't eliminate him from the future.
[1:31:18] show. Thank you. We appreciate that. We appreciate that. All right, we have a motion? I'll second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Last item, approve
[1:31:30] advertising for the Lone Star Parkway at Buffalo Springs Intersection. Thank you. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you everyone.
[1:31:38] Thank you. Environmental health.
[1:31:45] Good morning gentlemen. I'd like to consider and approve the order to release our lien to acknowledge or
[1:31:49] receive a check payment for the lien associated
[1:31:52] to the demolition.
[1:31:54] Move.
[1:31:55] Second.
[1:31:56] All in favor?
[1:31:57] Aye.
[1:31:58] Opposed?
[1:31:59] Motion carries.
[1:32:00] Thank you.
[1:32:02] Good
[1:32:10] morning, Judge Commissioner.
[1:32:12] Morning.
[1:32:13] Morning.
[1:32:15] I move.
[1:32:16] Second.
[1:32:17] All in favor?
[1:32:18] Aye.
[1:32:18] Opposed?
[1:32:19] Is this A, B, C, D, and H?
[1:32:21] Yes, it's A, B. I move on A and B.
[1:32:22] Me too.
[1:32:23] Rebecca, you have a motion to second.
[1:32:24] Thank you.
[1:32:25] There's no any discussion.
[1:32:30] Can I ask a question to Rebecca about what Commissioner Gray said about, is there any money,
[1:32:36] grant money available for this, for our animal shelter?
[1:32:45] Speak into the microphone real loud.
[1:32:48] Jason is it on?
[1:32:49] Sorry, it's on.
[1:32:50] There you go.
[1:32:50] There you go.
[1:32:51] The green light.
[1:32:52] So for CDBG, it cannot be used for that because that goes to low income persons.
[1:32:56] But there are grants for animal shelters out there, yes sir.
[1:33:00] Could you say that a lot of low-income people maybe will turn their dogs in?
[1:33:04] Yes, maybe.
[1:33:08] Mr.
[1:33:09] All right.
[1:33:10] Is there any more discussion?
[1:33:11] Thank you.
[1:33:11] Appreciate it.
[1:33:11] Yes, sir.
[1:33:12] Thank you.
[1:33:12] Thank you very much.
[1:33:14] All right.
[1:33:15] Let's move forward.
[1:33:16] County attorney.
[1:33:18] I approve an order authorizing.
[1:33:20] Notice of the public hearing under local government code 232.009c1 for a partial
[1:33:26] This is going to set the public hearing at 9.30 on June the 13th of 2023.
[1:33:33] Do I need to read the rest?
[1:33:35] I have a motion.
[1:33:36] I'd like a motion.
[1:33:38] Second.
[1:33:38] All in favor?
[1:33:39] Aye.
[1:33:40] Opposed?
[1:33:40] Motion carries.
[1:33:41] Item precinct 2.
[1:33:42] Move.
[1:33:43] Second.
[1:33:44] All in favor?
[1:33:45] Aye.
[1:33:46] Opposed?
[1:33:47] Motion carries.
[1:33:48] Precinct 3.
[1:33:49] Move.
[1:33:50] Second.
[1:33:50] I have a motion a second.
[1:33:52] All in favor?
[1:33:52] Aye.
[1:33:53] Those and these have been turned over to the county attorney's office so they
[1:33:57] can manage this process right forward since right and we yeah yeah and we have
[1:34:03] really what we wanted to do is make this public and searchable so we've given
[1:34:06] them to the county clerk and that's why you're accepting them today okay
[1:34:11] Precinct for precinct four second on D one through eight on the on one through
[1:34:18] eight we've all gentlemen we've all looked at the backup on precinct for
[1:34:21] one through eight. We know what it is. Can we accept a motion to accept all at once?
[1:34:26] Yes. Yeah. Already is there a second? Move. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank
[1:34:34] you. All precincts. E. Approve a resolution order accepting memorialization of registration
[1:34:38] of one trademark for the airport. I move. All in favor? All right. Opposed? Motion carries.
[1:34:45] All right. At this time we're going to recess among Gourmet County Commissioner's
[1:34:48] Court to convene public hearings.
[1:34:50] Consider and approve changing the street name of Dan Circle to Dan Drive located in
[1:34:54] Glenmont Estate Section 2 to be consistent with 9-1-1 addressing MCAT and USPS.
[1:34:59] Is anybody here to speak about that?
[1:35:05] All right, if there's no one to speak, let's reconvene court, take immediate action.
[1:35:08] Do I have a motion to approve 26A1?
[1:35:12] Move.
[1:35:12] Second.
[1:35:13] All in favor?
[1:35:14] Opposed?
[1:35:15] Motion carries.
[1:35:16] Thank you.
[1:35:17] county engineer precinct one these are we have it yes can we do for all in one
[1:35:24] motion can we do yes 27 a b c and d all in one a second all right these are all
[1:35:33] plaid say discussion all in favor post motion carries please consider the
[1:35:41] inappropriate request from park construction to move heavy equipment
[1:35:44] across various county reds. Permit will expire on July 22nd.
[1:35:47] We have a motion. Is there a second?
[1:35:48] I'll second.
[1:35:49] Motion is second. All in favor?
[1:35:51] All right.
[1:35:51] Post?
[1:35:52] Oppose.
[1:35:53] You're opposed?
[1:35:54] Yeah.
[1:35:54] Okay, we have one opposition for approval.
[1:35:57] All right, 28A1.
[1:35:59] Commissioner is precinct one.
[1:36:01] Commissioner Walker.
[1:36:06] Okay, consider discussed to take appropriate action
[1:36:08] regarding opening positions for the anticipated tax office,
[1:36:13] NX and Willis increased full-time equivalency spots in the following positions in their
[1:36:19] correlated position budgets.
[1:36:22] There's four positions were opening up there and this is going to be a huge thing for the
[1:36:31] north part of the county to have a tax office up there.
[1:36:36] The funding options, you know, on the build out and on the lease payments, you know,
[1:36:40] Tammy's got money to do the build out and I'm gonna pay for the
[1:36:47] Employees until budget comes around and then we'll talk to a motion. Is there a second second a discussion
[1:36:55] All in favor
[1:36:57] post motion carries and then the second part of that to is considered take appropriate action on the lease of the property
[1:37:06] I move
[1:37:08] How's that funded?
[1:37:10] I'm paying for that.
[1:37:13] Second.
[1:37:14] I already had a motion.
[1:37:15] Who wants to second?
[1:37:16] You want to second?
[1:37:17] Okay. All in favor?
[1:37:18] All right.
[1:37:19] Opposed?
[1:37:20] Motion carries.
[1:37:20] Thank you.
[1:37:22] Cody.
[1:37:22] Just to confirm, I'm sorry, real quick.
[1:37:24] The build out is going to be paid out of the tax office CIP.
[1:37:29] Just want to note that for the record.
[1:37:30] Yes.
[1:37:31] The money that we're transferring out of Commissioner Walker's budget for the salary and positions
[1:37:36] is 114,482, 114,482, and 3 cents.
[1:37:44] All right, thank you.
[1:37:46] All right, concern except payroll change request forms?
[1:37:49] Jody, can you read those one by one, all 90 of them?
[1:37:54] Start with one.
[1:37:55] No.
[1:37:57] Well, I move.
[1:37:58] We have a motion.
[1:37:59] Is there a second?
[1:38:00] I'll second.
[1:38:01] All in favor?
[1:38:01] Aye.
[1:38:02] Opposed?
[1:38:03] Motion carries.
[1:38:04] Thank you.
[1:38:05] All right, let's go ahead.
[1:38:06] Right now, we're going to go to executive session.
[1:38:08] court recess for executive session pursuant to one or more of the following provisions
[1:38:13] of the Texas government code to wit chapter 551 sub chapter D articles 551.071. Thank you
[1:38:20] and we shall return. We are back from executive session. Let the record reflect that Commissioner
[1:38:27] Noak has had to leave and is not with us, but there is no action to be taken for executive
[1:38:34] session, we have a motion to adjourn. Oh, I forgive me. Forgive me. Thanks for not making
[1:38:43] that motion. Is time our citizens? Yes. Thank you. Oh, it works. Okay. Michelle Knuckles.
[1:38:50] Michelle Knuckles, yes. Gargantz-Mell. I wanted to thank you all, Judge Keough, our commissioners,
[1:38:58] and our generous donors, County Attorney Beatty Griffin, District Attorney Brett
[1:39:03] and Judge Keough for helping achieve this dream of placing brave books in the libraries.
[1:39:10] Thank you, Commissioner Gray, for your support.
[1:39:13] Yes, ma'am.
[1:39:14] And I also would like to thank our library director, Rhea Young, for her being very courteous
[1:39:23] and kind as we work through this, and placing the books as well.
[1:39:29] My friend and I would like to invite each of you to our next story hour on May 25 at 10 a.m.
[1:39:35] at the South Branch Library as our honored guests with your family's children and grandchildren.
[1:39:41] We know that you are all extremely busy and the work that you do is important.
[1:39:48] But if you are able to break away, we would be delighted to have you.
[1:39:52] A local author is going to read, and we will have coloring, a game, and possibly some music.
[1:40:01] Kids love dance parties.
[1:40:04] And we are going to celebrate what the Lord has done.
[1:40:07] Thank you so much.
[1:40:09] Thank you.
[1:40:10] I appreciate that comment so much.
[1:40:12] You said 10, right?
[1:40:13] Yes, 10 a.m.
[1:40:17] All right.
[1:40:19] Are there any other citizens who would like to share with us today or make a comment?
[1:40:22] If there are none, do we have a motion to adjourn?
[1:40:25] I move.
[1:40:26] Second.
[1:40:26] All in favor?
[1:40:27] Opposed?
[1:40:28] Motion carries.
[1:40:29] Thank you all very much.
[1:40:30] Appreciate you all being here today.