[0:00] Right, good morning. It's 9 o'clock. I'm going to call this meeting the Wise County Commissioner's Court to order. If you would, please stand for our invocation followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

[0:13] Dear God, thank you so much for the opportunity for us to be here together this morning to do the work of Wise County. We ask that you bless our words and our decisions today. As we do this work, please let us do it in a way that's pleasing to you in accordance with your word and your will, God. We also ask that you continue to bless those who serve in this county in any capacity, place a head of protection around our

[0:34] for responders and and county employees we ask God too for for a break for a

[0:40] parade from the hot weather and for some of your precious rain dear Lord and we

[0:45] ask who that you lift up our great United States of America and this great

[0:47] state of Texas and all these things we ask in your son's name. I'm in.

[0:53] I pledge

[0:54] allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which

[1:00] which is saying, one nation under God in the physical

[1:05] with liberty and justice for all.

[1:08] On our next slide, I'll play a little bit

[1:12] into the text one, say under God one in the physical.

[1:19] Thank you.

[1:20] At this time, we do offer a community forum

[1:22] during which we invite persons with comments

[1:24] or observations related to county issues, projects

[1:27] or policies to briefly address the court.

[1:30] For the limited purpose of determining whether the matter should be referred to staff

[1:34] for study and response and or be placed on a future meeting agenda.

[1:37] Anyone speaking during community forum should first identify themselves by their first

[1:42] and last names for the public record. There is a three minute time limit and large groups interested

[1:46] in the same topic should select a spokesperson. State law prohibits the court from deliberating

[1:51] on any item not listed on the post of the agenda. Do we have any community forum here this morning?

[1:56] All

[2:04] right hearing and seeing none we will keep moving county correspondence commissioners. Do you have any correspondence for the court all

[2:17] right discussion for the purpose of coordination and cooperation for efficiency between precincts. I know y'all are all busy with a paving season in this lovely weather.

[2:29] Do y'all need any help you don't already have lined up this week.

[2:33] Appreciate all the help you are giving me today.

[2:37] All right, that will take us to development plan and submittals commissioners.

[2:41] As you know, this goes through our county review process before it comes to us for consideration

[2:46] of approval.

[2:47] So if there's anything that you are not prepared for, please flag it for us and we can

[2:50] pull it off for separate consideration or tabling.

[2:53] I have two submittals today.

[2:55] I have PAC addition, a final plot.

[2:57] This is lot one, block one.

[3:00] This is in precinct three on county road 4693.

[3:04] 33, they are requesting a drainage study variance and a lot size variance.

[3:08] After the ride of way dedication of variance is needed for the lot size,

[3:12] the property already has an existing home and public water and septic system on it.

[3:16] Is that your understanding commissioner Lambert?

[3:18] Thank you.

[3:20] We also have submitted a preliminary plat for White's Creek Edition and

[3:23] precinct one near the intersection of FM 51 County Road 2830 and County Line Road.

[3:31] Is that correct?

[3:32] Yes.

[3:33] Those are the two I have submitted for me. Is there anything that you need to pull off for separate consideration or anything you expected to see on here?

[3:42] I'll make a motion to set the final plan for the packaging and preliminary plan for why it's precondition.

[3:48] Second.

[3:49] With the variances noted.

[3:50] With the variance noted.

[3:51] Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Lambert and a second by Commissioner Hayes to approve.

[3:55] Those plans have submitted the final plan for the packaging with the variances as noted.

[4:00] and the preliminary plat for White's Creek Edition. Any other discussion on those?

[4:05] All those in favor? Any opposed? That motion carries. Thank you.

[4:15] And that, the clerk, please.

[4:23] All right. We've got the Sabre Shrader Show today with a number

[4:27] of election-related items.

[4:33] We've got a number of items here for consideration related to the

[4:36] The upcoming November election first up is to consider the dates, times, and locations for the early voting period for the November 3rd, 2026 general and special election as recommended and approved by the Wise County Election Board.

[4:56] You should have yellow sheets in front of you with this on this commissioners to look along as Sabra presents this to a Sabra walk us through dates, times, locations for early voting first.

[5:07] Okay, this is the first page of the two-page handout.

[5:11] These are our, what has become our usual early voting locations.

[5:18] I know we've moved Bridgeport around a little bit, but Bridgeport ISD,

[5:23] at the ALC has been kind enough to let us use that.

[5:27] It's a good location in our opinion.

[5:30] It's got lots of parking. It's a big room.

[5:32] So we've used that the last few elections.

[5:34] So and then we have our other three normal ones outboard city hall void community center and then the last county fairgrounds

[5:42] the the dates and hours below are of course set by the state for the midterms

[5:48] We've got lots of voting

[5:51] So first week eight to five and then we've got Saturday Sunday voting and in the whole second week is 12 hour days

[5:58] So everybody should have a good opportunity to

[6:01] to find some word of vote during that two-week period.

[6:06] So those dates and times are set by the state

[6:08] and transmitted us from the Secretary of State.

[6:11] Our decision is on the early voting locations.

[6:15] The proposal from yourself and the County Elections Board

[6:18] is to use these four.

[6:19] The women's building at the Waas County Fairgrounds

[6:21] outboard City Hall Board Community Center

[6:23] in Bridgeport, ISD Alternative Learning Center

[6:26] and Waas County voters could vote at any of those four

[6:29] no matter where they live during early voting.

[6:35] I have a motion by Commissioner Burns and the second by Commissioner Sean to approve those early voting polling locations on those early voting dates and hours as presented in the other discussion on that all those in favor any opposed that motion carries thank you next up similar item election day polling locations and the consolidation or combining of certain voting precincts is allowed under the

[7:02] election code and as approved and recommended by the Wise County Election Board for the

[7:08] November 3rd, 2026, General and Special Election. That's on the second page of this yellow

[7:13] handout. I'll have Sabre walk us through here, but what you'll notice is we've got our

[7:18] voting precincts 1 through 30, but a couple of those use a combined polling location. Sabre,

[7:24] you want to walk us through that? Yes, these are normal. We have not changed these precinct

[7:30] based election day locations in quite some time.

[7:34] So the voters, if you wait until election day,

[7:36] they are familiar with these locations.

[7:38] However, I'm going to encourage early voting again

[7:42] because when we did the redistricting in 25,

[7:47] it did change some people's voting precincts

[7:51] and they may or may not be used to that still.

[7:53] So sometimes you have to drop further.

[7:56] So I'm again, encouraging early voting,

[7:58] but these are our normal election day locations that we are still

[8:04] precinct based. Next year we don't know what the we have some legislation that

[8:09] was passed that did not take effect this year it may take effect next year that

[8:13] may affect this but for right now we are still precinct based and these are our

[8:18] normal locations. The only thing that voters not used to is if they did get their

[8:22] voting percent move because we did.

[8:27] And this is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day

[8:30] November 3rd. Yes. Okay.

[8:34] Move approval. Second. Motion by Commissioner Barnes. Second by

[8:37] Commissioner Sean to approve the election day polling locations and the consolidation or combining

[8:41] of certain voting precincts as allowed under the election code and as approved and recommended by

[8:46] Wise County Election Board. For the November 3rd, 2026 general and special election, is there any other

[8:51] discussion on this item? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Consider

[9:00] Senator appointing elections administrator Sabre Shrader is the joint elections officer

[9:04] for the November 3rd, 2026 general and special election.

[9:08] So I have a motion by commissioner Sean and a second by commissioner Lambert.

[9:15] You all didn't need any discussion or presentation on that one.

[9:18] Any discussion on that item to appoint Sabre Shrader who does a fine job as our joint elections

[9:23] officer.

[9:24] Any other discussion?

[9:26] All those in favor?

[9:27] Ah.

[9:28] That motion carries.

[9:29] Blanca, did you get one of these lists?

[9:31] thank you. All right thank you on that. Consider approving the Wise County Fairgrounds women's

[9:37] building to serve as the main early voting polling place for the November 3rd, 2026. General

[9:42] and special election is required by the Texas election code. You've approved that being one of our

[9:47] early voting locations, but we also have to designate what is our main early voting location.

[9:53] And sabres requesting that be the women's building have that designation.

[9:55] Yes, the reason for that is we do have to have one designated location that is only during early voting you can put what's called a limited ballot if you have moved here, but you're not registered here, but you're registered in another county in Texas.

[10:10] You need a registered here in time.

[10:12] You can go to the women's building only during early voting.

[10:16] We look you up if you're registered in another county.

[10:19] You can vote on any federal and statewide races in this election, just nothing local.

[10:24] So to clarify an hypothetical, if somebody has recently moved to Wise County, they're registered in another county, have not registered here yet, and they show up at the bridge port early voting polling place, they won't be able to cast the limited ballot there, but they could come to our main early voting polling location.

[10:43] our election judges know they will send them to the fairgrounds.

[10:47] Okay, move approval.

[10:49] Second.

[10:51] Motion by Commissioner Sean Second by Commissioner Lambert to approve the Wise County Fairgrounds

[10:55] women's building to serve as the main early voting polling place for the November 3rd, 2026

[10:59] general and special election is required by the Texas election code.

[11:02] Is there any other discussion on that?

[11:05] All those in favor?

[11:06] Any opposed?

[11:08] That motion carries.

[11:09] consider authorizing elections administrator Sabre Schrader to enter into a joint

[11:13] election agreement and contract for election services for the November 3rd, 2026

[11:18] general and special election. First let's do section 31.092 in chapter 271 of

[11:24] the Texas election code with all political subdivisions eligible and

[11:27] desiring to contract for such services. Who do you have?

[11:32] The city of Paradise has notified us that we'll be having an election. You know if

[11:37] If you remember, most of our political civilians have the elections in May, but they are eligible

[11:42] to have them in November if they choose to.

[11:45] So we know City of Paradise, everybody else got to cancel.

[11:48] We are waiting on Paradise ISD.

[11:52] I think the deadline for right in was Friday at 5 and I have not checked with them this morning

[11:57] so that's all we have.

[11:59] Is the ISD 3, aren't they doing a sales tax?

[12:03] Is that not through us?

[12:04] That is, but that is already, that is on, that is on the ballot.

[12:08] We, we do not contract with them separately,

[12:11] like we do our political sub-beings, because they are part of,

[12:15] for lack of, they were, they're a part of the county,

[12:17] they don't contract with the separately to do their elections.

[12:20] We should, because they are their own political subdivision.

[12:23] On the, on the formations, we have it on this one.

[12:27] I'll give, I'll give them a contract.

[12:29] I'll make a note of that.

[12:30] Okay, that's a good point.

[12:31] We haven't really had this come up before with her after the form they've come back and wanted to be on the ballot

[12:37] So we'll get them a contract. Thank you. It's probably better safe than sorry because they are an independent political subdivision

[12:43] We appoint their commissioners board, but then they run solely on there. Okay. Thank you commissioners Sean

[12:50] I'll make sure I get them a contract. So we do have their ballot language and everything already. I just don't I'll get them a contract

[12:58] So do you need us to specify, you don't need us to specify by name, you just need the authority to contract with eligible political subdivisions, okay?

[13:04] So, my second motion by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Sean to authorize elections, Administrator Sabre Shrader to enter into joint election agreements and contracts with all political subdivisions who are eligible and desiring the contract for such services.

[13:19] Any other discussion on that? All those in favor?

[13:22] Aye.

[13:22] That motion carries, thank you.

[13:24] Thank you.

[13:25] Thanks, Sabra.

[13:28] Last court, I laid out the preliminary budget proposal.

[13:32] We're not targeting adoption until hopefully September 14th.

[13:37] Targeting a court in September for that.

[13:39] Do have it on here for discussion as needed.

[13:42] I do want to walk you through just a couple things

[13:44] for your information.

[13:47] One item that I should have had in my presentation last time

[13:50] when I talked about what's new in the budget

[13:52] and item that I missed and oversight on my part

[13:55] is if you noticed well in a little backstory we've always for many years had two

[14:01] separate positions. We've had an appointed local health authority, Dr. John

[14:05] Walker. We've also had the EMS medical director who sets all their medical

[14:10] protocol, the precision that's Dr. Leeton. Those have been two separate positions,

[14:16] each receiving a different type of pay from the county. Randall had come to me

[14:24] Where's Randall?

[14:25] Where's Randall?

[14:26] Randall, right there in the front's looking in the back.

[14:28] Randall, it comes to me and we talk through a scenario

[14:31] and it's what I've proposed in the budget is,

[14:34] we would combine that into a single role.

[14:37] Where Dr. Leaton would be the medical director for EMS

[14:39] as he is now, but also be our appointed local health authority

[14:43] and not have that as two separate roles.

[14:46] And we think that will work better,

[14:48] especially on communication and clarity with EMS

[14:51] on protocols.

[14:51] Well, Dr. Leaton's willing to take that on.

[14:53] So what you see reflected in the budget is the local health authority line is zeroed out that does not mean we will not have a

[15:00] Local Health Authority. You see additional funding added to Dr. Layton's Medical Directoral on in the EMS budget is where that is. So that's, that's a change in there that I, that I did not flag in my proposal. Also, want to flag for you a couple things that need your direction on as a, as a court with the district judge, district judge sets a number of things that the commissioners court does not set.

[15:29] But one of those is court reporter pay.

[15:34] The district judge each year has a public hearing where he sets, for example, the salaries

[15:41] he sets, auditors, salary, court reporter, salary, things like that.

[15:46] There is a requirement in the statute that that hearing be done and have the order to us

[15:53] to reflect in the minutes, which they do, but have that done by September 1st unless the

[15:58] Commissioner's Court grants an extension of time to have that hearing. Judge Smith has his hearing set for September 2nd and the public notice posted for that.

[16:10] So I have, and I was not aware of that before I set this item, I have no action taken on it, so I'm going to be asking you to consider okaying that extension for him to have his hearing on September 2nd when we get to the department head reports in a minute.

[16:24] But along with that, something else that I want to flag and need your input on is as part

[16:30] of that hearing he will be proposing to set the district court reporter's salary for

[16:38] the next year.

[16:39] He is looking at his initial proposal is to bump that district court reporter's pay from

[16:48] 12,500. I have that number. It's correct to 125,000, which is a big jump.

[16:59] Frankly, bigger jump than I'm comfortable with. Yes.

[17:03] According to statute, a district judge can increase the court reporter salary by up to 10% on his own accord by his order.

[17:12] If it's beyond 10 percent, you have to have approval from the commissioners court.

[17:17] This is beyond 10 percent.

[17:19] It's 11 something percent.

[17:25] I want that pulled out so that we can vote on that.

[17:29] I think it's, you know, I've done some comparison and it's not comparable to other counties

[17:37] of our size, including Jack County, which they also oversee when you look at the population

[17:42] it's not comparable.

[17:43] I mean, Tarrant County pays there is $143,000.

[17:47] That's $18,000 more in their over $2 million population.

[17:51] It's not comparable.

[17:52] It seems irresponsible to me.

[17:54] I agree, and I'm not comfortable with going to that level.

[17:57] I know that it can be up to 10% without our approval.

[18:02] But being over the 10%, I'm not good with that.

[18:07] And do not want to budget for that.

[18:09] That similar topic within our full scope of authority is the court reporter pay for

[18:17] the two county court at law court reporters and court courts one and two.

[18:23] Those three court reporters right now all make the same amount of money.

[18:31] I'm not comfortable jumping those other two up to a 10% pay increase just because district

[18:38] court decides they want to do that with a district court reporter. I think we need to do the 3%

[18:44] like we've done for everybody else. I agree with that. I mean I'm sure we have department heads

[18:50] all across this county that have employees that that do a job where they would love to give more

[18:55] than the 3% that we're able to give but you know as stewards of the taxpayer dollars we have to be

[19:00] responsible and I think 3% that we're giving everybody else's what we should be giving to all county

[19:06] employees and and really I mean great that we're able to do that three two in a

[19:12] in a tight year you know and and we we had to work to get there and I mean it's

[19:19] more of a cost of living adjustment. Yeah so especially when you I mean it's

[19:23] because cost of living adjustment you look at the increase if if somebody's got

[19:26] dependence on their insurance plan they're gonna be paying more for this and so

[19:29] it's not like they're suddenly enjoying more money on their pocket which

[19:32] I'm trying to help them keep up as employees.

[19:35] So we'll ask, be asking for more discussion and action

[19:42] on department head reports, I have some direction

[19:44] of what to transmit back from the court

[19:45] when we get to department head reports.

[19:47] We just flagging those.

[19:48] A third item that I wanna flag for you

[19:51] that's not in this budget yet,

[19:53] but we'll need to be in this budget,

[19:55] depending on how you vote on an interlocal agreement,

[19:58] is budget neutral item,

[20:00] but it needs to be reflected in here. The sheriff has a proposed interlocal agreement with the city of Alboord.

[20:07] City of Alboord would like to pay for a deputy to be assigned as a resident deputy in Alboord.

[20:14] It's very much like what we have approved and and budgeted for with City of Paradise and New Fairview

[20:20] who split the cost of a shared deputy, but City of Alboord is wanting to have the whole cost for

[20:26] deputies on there. If you all approve that interlocal, which would kick in with the new fiscal year,

[20:32] I need to be able to reflect that in the budget. It'll show revenue coming in from the city

[20:36] outboard, but also then in the increased expense to cover an additional debt because it doesn't take

[20:42] away from one of his existing deputies to bring on another deputy that the city's paying for.

[20:48] So I need to make you aware of that, that if you approve that interlocal, you'll also see that

[20:52] that change, but it's budget neutral, it's revenue,

[20:55] and the match, the expenditure in the city of Pamphlete.

[20:57] Any questions for the sheriff on that arrangement?

[21:00] It is city, everything.

[21:02] Well, the city of Abba would be paying for the patrol car

[21:05] or, OK, so that comes out of yours.

[21:08] No, Aaron, there's Bill.

[21:09] Why don't you come up and you can walk through with this.

[21:13] What this arrangement would look like,

[21:15] and why you view it as a benefit to not just

[21:18] the city but the county?

[21:19] So, what we do for new fairview and paradise, they pay for salaries in the overhead.

[21:28] They are also taxpayers as well to the county, so providing them a vehicle as well on the county side is, to mean makes sense.

[21:39] We are the responding units to these cities if there is a call anyways, so this just puts a full-time deputy in there.

[21:50] So if they didn't have that and there was a call in that city, we're the ones responding.

[21:54] And we're also allowed to work on the outskirts of the city.

[21:57] That's what I was about to ask you to point out.

[21:59] So they cover salary and benefits.

[22:01] County provides a vehicle.

[22:03] We track the time.

[22:05] So what what happens if there's still a county employee even as close to me?

[22:10] They don't work for the city not so we have complete control their time and when they work

[22:15] But that also allows in an emergency for that deputy to lead to support other deputies up north. That's you

[22:22] You basically assign them their beat his city of Alboard and we change it up

[22:27] But if there's but if there's an emergency they can leave you can just like

[22:31] They can work outside the city limits when we need it and we we tell the cities when they're gone and then we make up that time and soul direction of their operations.

[22:46] Comes from you.

[22:47] Absolutely.

[22:49] From my command staff.

[22:51] And I said it's not they can't get pulled aside by a city councilman.

[22:56] Councilman, say I want you working on this this week, there's still your deputy.

[23:00] You're just assigning.

[23:01] Now, we work in concert with the city, of course, because we're working on heavy up in

[23:06] the north right now with other things going on.

[23:10] But yeah, they were.

[23:12] And the city could raise a concern, raise a request to you and raise it to the captain

[23:16] and we'll take, we'll take action according to what, you know, what's going on.

[23:23] Correct me if I'm wrong. They they don't enforce like cobes. We cannot yes. No we enforce we don't enforce any city ordinance. No city code enforcement. No, they hire a separate entity for that just like a new fairview and paradise.

[23:39] So I flag that for you because if y'all approve that in a local today then when the adopted budget comes, you'll see that change there that there'll be additional revenue and additional expenditure.

[23:48] It's a win-win for the Northern part of the county as well, so it's a big win.

[23:58] So those were my items.

[24:00] I had flagged the local health authority, shift, the district court-related items that I'm

[24:05] going to bring back up under department head reports.

[24:08] And then making you aware of that Sheriff Deputy, ILA and the budget impact there.

[24:14] other budget items that you want to discuss and have us work on shape before we

[24:20] get to adoption in September. We've got several weeks ahead and continue

[24:26] working on things that you flag for us.

[24:36] Judge, are you are you really looking at

[24:40] the costables request that they sent to all of us? I'm not I'm where I'm at.

[24:49] I'm

[24:50] And adding some in is better than adding none in to help them, but it's a tight year.

[24:56] And basically, I added another 20 hours, 10 to their clerk, 10 to the part time.

[25:03] And I've told them if they have a pitch where they think that they could better utilize

[25:08] how that's 20 hours are split, I'm receptive to that, but I'm not bringing back additional

[25:14] funding to add on top of that, it's tight.

[25:18] And there's other things I wanted to fill this year. I'd love to see those

[25:21] boys in cotton dail dumps go full-time with WACES proposal on that and I hope we

[25:26] can make that happen next year. I wanted three positions for EMS as we targeted

[25:30] we got two in there instead and you know that's that's where I'm at and of course

[25:36] it's the pleasure of the court. If y'all if y'all request and want that in there

[25:41] we'll

[25:44] we'll need some direction on on how you want that done but at this time I

[25:49] I have not changed that in my proposal.

[25:51] Thank you.

[26:02] With something crosses your mind,

[26:04] we can hop back to that on this agenda.

[26:06] I'm going to move on then to item 14.

[26:09] Receive for the record,

[26:10] weather for college wise county budget.

[26:13] We receive that.

[26:15] Notice the verb there is to receive not approved.

[26:18] We don't get approval or denial vote on their budget,

[26:21] but we do have to receive it for our record.

[26:24] You'll see in there their expenses and revenues

[26:27] for the Wise County campus,

[26:35] it's a much more pleasant discussion than it used to be, isn't it?

[26:38] Commissioner Brown's much more.

[26:49] And I won't steal their thunder or share anything, I'm not allowed to share out there yet.

[26:57] But you will see some increased program and cost.

[27:04] They are preparing to be able to introduce some new vocational programs out there.

[27:09] So I have that on your radar for what

[27:14] they may add on workforce development.

[27:24] So we've received that.

[27:26] It'll be included in our minutes on that agenda item for a record copy.

[27:32] Anything you want me to relay back to the college or ask for clarification from the college.

[27:51] Moving on, donations of personal property or revenues to the county.

[27:56] I know we do have some today.

[27:58] I'll ask Catherine first.

[27:59] You do not have anything.

[28:01] I think you have a request.

[28:06] Yes, or we have a desk that was donated to the Constable's Office from Steve Rutherford.

[28:14] It's for their coordinator, so to that group office there.

[28:21] We did accept our, we did accept the donation with our thanks.

[28:24] Second.

[28:25] Motion by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Hayes to accept that donation with the counties thanks.

[28:30] Any other discussion on that?

[28:32] All those in favor?

[28:33] Any opposed?

[28:35] That motion carries.

[28:36] Thank you.

[28:37] That's it.

[28:38] I'll just sum my next item to you.

[28:40] Okay.

[28:40] Do you all have any donations that we're not aware of?

[28:44] All right.

[28:44] We'll move on then.

[28:45] While we have Diana at the podium,

[28:48] bid by sale.

[28:49] I know you've got some things today.

[28:50] Go ahead.

[28:51] I do.

[28:51] The first one is a request to donate a dispatch council

[28:55] and some monitors to the Decatur ISD

[28:58] for their new high school law enforcement program

[29:02] that they have there so that came through the sheriff's office they were requesting

[29:05] those items and I just need approval for us to donate those to them are these old

[29:12] ones are okay very

[29:17] old you say very yeah very old as far as I know I I

[29:25] tasked the sheriff's office to to let me know what they had available from the

[29:30] request and that was what I was told so.

[29:33] Okay, this is stuff that we don't use anymore.

[29:36] No, sure.

[29:38] Okay, and Steven is our manager of all things hard where you're good with these leaving

[29:46] the county's position.

[29:51] I'm moving approval on that.

[29:54] Motion by Commissioner Sean's second by Commissioner Lambert to approve.

[29:57] that trans

[30:00] That's fair. As presented, any other discussions on that? All those in favor? Any opposed? That motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. And I believe Kevin has a. I would like to purchase a broom from a cooperative purchasing agreement. It's in place if we can find one. In a reasonable time period. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

[30:27] A motion by Commissioner Burns and a second by Commissioner Lambert to authorize precinct two to purchase a broom from a cooperative

[30:35] contract if available

[30:36] He said just before court commissioner you got the last one in captivity. It's how you phrased that so

[30:42] Any other discussion on that all those in favor?

[30:46] Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you

[30:50] That's all I have on it.

[30:52] All right, the commissioners, any other items that would come up under this bid by sale,

[30:57] scrap, salvage, item.

[31:01] If not, we'll move on to item 17, consent agenda.

[31:05] We can, we'll go through these in order, A through G. We can pull off any of them for separate

[31:08] consideration.

[31:09] We can consider items in block as well.

[31:13] Item A minutes.

[31:14] Yes, we have several today.

[31:16] We have the June 13th regular meeting,

[31:20] along with the public hearing from June 13th.

[31:25] And then we have the public hearing from,

[31:28] I'm sorry, I keep saying June,

[31:30] these are July guys.

[31:31] From July 13th, regular commissioners court meeting,

[31:34] along with the public meeting.

[31:36] And then on 727, we have the public hearing.

[31:40] And we also have the regular meeting from 727, thank you.

[31:46] Thank you, Madam Clerk. I appreciate it.

[31:49] Got those minutes submitted. Next step, Department Head reports. I told you I'd bring this back under Department Head.

[31:57] And would think it would probably behoove the minutes for these to be separate votes pulled out.

[32:03] The first item I'd like to request as a department head is an extension from the commissioners court passed the September 1 deadline for

[32:13] district court to allow them to have their hearing and order issued after that September

[32:18] 2nd.

[32:22] So moved.

[32:23] Second.

[32:24] I have a motion by Commissioner Sean and a second by Commissioner Burns to authorize

[32:29] an extension of the statutory September 1st deadline for district court to have their

[32:34] hearing and issue an order on the pay that they set to allow that to accommodate the posted

[32:39] September 2nd hearing that they're having.

[32:41] Any other discussion on that?

[32:42] That extension, all those in favor, motion carries.

[32:48] I also flagged that I would bring back on that district court reporter.

[32:54] The initial proposal is in excess of 10%, which does require approval by the commissioners court.

[33:03] My personal request, thought is it, is that we should vote that we do not approve an increase.

[33:22] We can't set it within that 10% window, but we can't say that we don't authorize anything beyond 10%.

[33:30] So, Commissioner, is your motion that we don't authorize?

[33:34] They have to, does the district judge have to provide in his order why he is proposing such a large increase?

[33:44] please. I think that's probably part of the hearing I would think. Okay. And I know

[33:52] the written request submitted as part of the budget process was noting comparison to

[34:02] Parker County which to me that's not our benchmark for salaries. We sit there more than

[34:06] twice our size. No. And Johnson County is the same. They're 220,000 plus people so that's

[34:14] It's not comparable.

[34:14] We have not used that as a budget benchmark.

[34:18] Yeah, if that was the case, we would be making a lot more.

[34:22] And we're certainly not at their revenue benchmark.

[34:25] Yeah, no, that's.

[34:29] So motion then.

[34:31] Motion.

[34:32] The correct me following your motion

[34:33] is that we do not approve anything

[34:35] beyond the statutory 10% capability of the district judge.

[34:39] That is correct.

[34:40] OK.

[34:40] And your second.

[34:41] OK.

[34:42] Okay. Any other discussion on that?

[34:46] All those in favor?

[34:48] That motion carries. And I just want to clarify as well, in what I bring you, again in September, the county court reporters in one and two, which is fully within our wheelhouse, I'm going to have their pay at the 3% that we're doing other employees.

[35:08] And I'm not asking you to vote on that today because that's a budget adoption decision,

[35:15] but just if I'm catching any static already, I'd like to know that.

[35:21] All right, thank you.

[35:23] Other verbal department head reports.

[35:31] All right, budget amendments, various line items, thank you, ma'am, capital expenditure,

[35:42] sure claims

[35:48] in payroll, you've got the walk to court, anything additional added

[35:58] utility

[35:59] permits in right away. Thank you. Interlocal agreements and contracts.

[36:08] I'll have one. It's a and a gov ease. We're on you to add that to the amendment and renewal

[36:14] list make a correct a copy for the county clerk's office on that.

[36:18] We

[36:24] have approvals by the 17 with editions noted second we have a motion by

[36:31] Commissioner Burns and a second by Commissioner Sean to approve those

[36:34] items introduced under 17 with editions as noted any other discussion on

[36:39] consent agenda all those in favor any opposed that motion carries thank you

[36:48] sorry

[36:57] I'm signing before I forget all

[37:04] right commissioners do you have any new

[37:06] Would you want venture project agreements that you need to enter into between your precinct

[37:10] and other local wise county governmental entities?

[37:15] I know you've got more than you can say, Grace, over with your own right now.

[37:21] All right then, item 19, discuss hazard mitigation plan and related grant projects, take necessary

[37:26] action.

[37:27] We do have an update from our emergency management coordinator Cody Powell of a grant we

[37:32] had been pursuing that we did get notification on that we have been awarded and needing

[37:39] authorization to accept that grant. Cody, I'll have you walk through the details of

[37:45] what it is and the funding and what you need to approve. But basically, this was a grant

[37:49] we had applied for that long story short will allow us the county to put a restroom facility

[37:57] at the at the head of the trail head of the walking trail at Wise County Park.

[38:02] That's correct. This is a park and a trail improvement grant through Texas Park and Wildlife

[38:08] the total project, 76,000 to 25% match, so our portion of that's going to be 15 to.

[38:16] In kind donation and time is permittable for this.

[38:20] So if we have volunteers, we have anyone donate materials, then we can use in kind donations.

[38:25] And the total scope of the project allows for restrooms, signage,

[38:29] benches, picnic tables, resource surveys, and any engineering that would be included in the installation of any of that.

[38:38] and we have a four-year period of performance on this grant so we have

[38:42] through July of 2030 to get all this work done.

[38:52] It will be my time in this

[38:57] You know, this is, it was kind of park, yes, right?

[39:01] Jimmy counts as well needed, well needed, well needed.

[39:08] And there's not a restroom on that end of the park as well.

[39:14] It's a great hiking trail and it'll be a nice place to have one at the trail head of that.

[39:20] Any other questions?

[39:21] So, you need action from us to accept that grant

[39:24] and sign the necessary paperwork.

[39:25] Authorized staff, is that?

[39:27] Yes, sir.

[39:28] If we're good to take all necessary action

[39:30] with the approval of Thomas, obviously,

[39:32] because there is quite a bit of paperwork

[39:35] that we're gonna have to get signed

[39:36] a lot of federal provisions and different things like that.

[39:40] Move the approval.

[39:42] Second.

[39:43] Motion by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Hayes

[39:46] to accept that takes this Parks and Wildlife Grant Award

[39:49] an authorized staff to take all necessary measures to execute grant acceptance documents

[39:53] and contracts.

[39:54] Any other discussion on that?

[39:57] All those in favor?

[39:58] I have.

[39:59] Motion carries.

[39:59] Thank you.

[40:01] Do you have any questions for Cody on other hazard mitigation?

[40:05] Is the goat project over?

[40:09] Actually, I was just texting with them this morning, so there are still a few of them out

[40:14] there.

[40:14] I don't really know why, but for the most part they were all picked up last night.

[40:18] They forget them. Well, she said they're still nine there call me and I'll explain why so

[40:23] But they they were picked up last night. So after a court I'll go out and do our final walk through and hopefully that program

[40:29] Those are Jimmy counts goats now

[40:35] All right, thank you

[40:38] Good work Cody

[40:39] Commissioners do you have any request to enter on the private property to clean or clear certain named county road out of

[40:46] areas for improved public safety and or public transportation safety purposes as

[40:52] allowed under the Texas Constitution and Transportation Code Chapter 251.

[40:57] I do have one so County Road 2320 we're putting a horn across the road and it's

[41:03] going to get into the property owners and these piece of green to do is it's on

[41:17] County wrote 3381. We're getting ready to do a bridge project down there. And I don't want this to hold it up if we have to get on there to make this happen.

[41:29] So you amend your motion to include that property. So I include Bill Lewis on that. Thank you.

[41:35] Second. A motion by Commissioner Hayes. A second by Commissioner Burns.

[41:38] to authorize access to those properties as stated for the public purpose, as stated any other discussion on those, you have those for your record, Madam Clerk, did you need them again?

[41:52] Yes,

[41:56] we'll call for it.

[41:58] Yeah, it's a call, we'll have to put it across the road.

[42:03] All right, any other discussion on that item? All those in favor?

[42:06] Aye.

[42:08] Any opposed?

[42:08] that motion carries. Last court, we implemented a full burn ban. We still need it.

[42:19] Unfortunately, yeah.

[42:24] Thank you. Any questions for the Fire Marshal on that item?

[42:29] County committee reports, new committees, anything like that.

[42:34] I hope to have something by the next court for the County Road adoption. I just

[42:41] We just got to get with Thomas and make sure we're good from a legal standpoint.

[42:45] Very good, thank you.

[42:47] Our next county holiday is Monday, September 7th, that's Labor Day.

[42:53] Our next regular meeting is Monday, September 14th.

[42:57] I'll flag for you that that morning's going to start at 8.30.

[43:00] We've got three public hearings on that day for the various tax rates, 8.30, 8.40, and 8.50, with the college tax rate.

[43:11] county road and bridge and county general tax rate and the budget public hearing as well.

[43:18] So we'll do three public hearings take as long as we need on any of those three.

[43:22] If we have more participation on one than another, one can run longer than another. It's fine.

[43:26] And when those are finished, we will begin either when those are finished or at 9 o'clock,

[43:31] whichever is later.

[43:34] Make it a quick one.

[43:43] Very good. Any other business for the order of the county?

[43:49] Hearing none, then we'll adjourn at non-43. Thank you all very much.

Aug 24, 2026 Commissioners Court

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