[0:04] Good morning everyone. It's 9 o'clock October 24th, 2026 and our regular

[0:08] commission court meeting is now in session. First item on the agenda is

[0:12] roll call by county clerk Mary Jane Vaden. Mary Jane, good morning.

[0:16] » Good morning judge commissioners. >> Morning.

[0:19] » Judge Rasma >> present.

[0:20] » Commissioner Moya >> present.

[0:21] » Commissioner Morales >> present.

[0:23] » Commissioner Solis >> present.

[0:25] » Commissioner GarcA >> present.

[0:26] » We have a quorum. Judge. >> Thank you Mary Jane. Will everyone

[0:28] please rise for the pledge of allegiance?

[0:33] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:38] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:44] justice for all.

[0:49] » Item number four, communications commissioners

[0:53] comment on this morning. >> I think I'm

[0:59] have any announcements other than uh Congressman Greta will be here on Friday

[1:03] um 9:00 to do the groundbreaking for the league sheriff's office uh expansion. So

[1:09] I look forward to see him. He's also uh going to join be joined by USDA

[1:14] director, state director. So look maybe all of us can be will be there on on

[1:20] Friday at 9.

[1:26] We'll move on to any more communication. We'll move on to public comment. Uh this

[1:30] section provides the public the opportunity to address the commissioner

[1:34] court on any item on the agenda. Any members of the public? Yes.

[1:38] » I want to come for that. >> Okay.

[1:42] » For number 19. >> 19.

[1:45] » Morning Pat. >> Good morning.

[1:47] » Morning. Healthcare director. Good to see you.

[2:03] Thank you.

[2:09] » Okay. So, good morning. >> Good morning,

[2:12] » judge and commissioners in the court for the record

[2:16] county healthcare director. Um I did write something down because I

[2:21] usually come in around this time and it's always been like more complaints or

[2:26] issues that we have um regarding number 19 and it's um I want you to focus and

[2:33] see it in another way because it's hasn't gotten us anywhere. Okay. So I'm

[2:39] going to I'm going to go ahead and read it.

[2:42] As a Sapata County Healthcare Director I'm going on the fourth year with a

[2:46] program and throughout this years we have the community through different

[2:49] organizations and programs that have supported the indigen healthcare.

[2:53] Although we are affiliated with the medical center here at the Sapata family

[2:59] clinic which is the name but it is a health center. I'm always looking

[3:03] forward to looking for other organizations that can help our

[3:06] community for what the medical clinic can offer and it's not only for the

[3:12] indent clients, it's also the whole community because we're basing it. Today

[3:17] at the family medical clinic, we are limited with services like lab work only

[3:23] three days out of the week. Two hours of those three days, that's all we have. No

[3:28] shots administered at all when needed. No sutures when needed, limited or not

[3:35] on medication samples. The patients sometimes they don't have

[3:40] uh benefits or anything. So they don't have money to buy the medication.

[3:44] Redirecting patients to Laro for the lack of services that we just mentioned

[3:49] or any other lack of services. uh the refusal of services to certain patients

[3:55] from the FMPs banning patients with mailed letters and they and and those

[4:00] patients can come forward if you need them. They are mailed letters signed by

[4:05] the doctor or the director of that medical center which is then they will

[4:12] no longer be seen for whatever is whatever they put in that letter. the

[4:17] lack of new equipment. We are working on an ex with an X-ray machine which

[4:21] belongs to the county and it is an old machine more than 20 years. The downfall

[4:26] of our facilities the maintenance inside and outside the building has

[4:30] deteriorated and you know because you you can actually see it in addition to

[4:35] numerous numerous complaints from the community and since I'm the one that's

[4:39] sitting there all day even though you probably have called it ah we can't get

[4:44] to Miss Mons. Well, guess what? on there trying to figure out how we can fix this

[4:50] lack of services that we have from 2008 through 2026 which has been 18 years and

[4:57] this is I base myself on what I could get that is public to the to anybody

[5:03] you're more than willing to come ask where I got it we have contributed out

[5:08] of our 8% taxes to Larto medical center for their services with a total of 13

[5:14] million $686,558.

[5:20] And I leave it like that. You should It should go through your minds. What

[5:25] What's going on with all that money? Right. I know that we're we're a small

[5:29] town. We're But we're a community with great hopes for better healthcare.

[5:35] Thanks to Congressman Henry and everyone behind the 1 million grant, we can now

[5:40] look towards a better healthcare facility. I ask the court to consider a

[5:45] plan for change. A change in providers that is willing to give our community in

[5:50] two or five years from now the growth that not only the services but also

[5:56] better equipment, technology. We need to we're behind all of that

[6:03] equipment that can include machines that can save lives here and between an hour

[6:09] to look where what hospital is going to take care of his patients. We don't have

[6:13] that. This would give us a better diagnosis of

[6:18] what a patient is going through and eliminating the use of an ambulance when

[6:22] not needed and somebody else needs it. That is and we are sending people with

[6:28] has stomach aches in an ambulance because we cannot take care of it here

[6:32] in okay in the process of the commitment the complaints with the people that have

[6:38] helped us along the way we have concluded that Sapata actually needs a

[6:42] better service a health service better plan a plan where we can expand in

[6:48] futures providers that are willing to come to the community and serve Sapata

[6:53] those doctors need to come to Sapata there are people in Sapata that don't

[6:58] have the means to go anywhere else. Okay. And I'm not only telling about

[7:02] indigent healthcare, it's everybody in the community.

[7:08] In in the in addition and as a reminder again,

[7:12] I will tell you that the Sapata County Healthcare Program and the services

[7:16] provided by Sapata Health Center, which is the family center for this community

[7:21] come out of the 8% taxes of all the people that survive. So, let's give them

[7:26] a better plan. something that really can help us in our own community, your

[7:32] families, us, anybody going through SAP. God willing, we will have an awesome

[7:40] facility in 2027 because we have a grant and everything goes well, we will have a

[7:46] great facility. So let let's do something

[7:49] where all the court myself and everybody that helps out can say I was part of

[7:54] that. Let's not be like that. Okay, please. And in in the page that I

[8:00] provided, you can see the amount of monies we have provided to contribute it

[8:04] with their tax money and how much we have actually been charged because it's

[8:10] monies that are relo relocated to their facility where they charge us then for

[8:16] the services. But guess what we've been charged from? We've been giving them

[8:20] 100%. When was this accepted? 100% when LMC

[8:28] probably has a 7% Medicaid rate. All indigent programs,

[8:35] all of everybody us around, they pay 7%. We're paying 100%.

[8:43] We don't get paid for rent. We rent our facility for $1 a year. How do you

[8:50] expect the county to fix anything that's broken there? Because

[8:55] The first thing the LMC says, "Well, that belongs to the county. How do you

[8:58] want us to fix it when you pay me $1 ransom when you could be paying me?"

[9:02] Because they do get facilities in Loreno. They pay a,000 to $2,000 a month

[9:08] for them to get those facilities. Why are we so generous?

[9:13] I think we need to stop and we need to get out of this comfort zone that we're

[9:17] at and try to get a better plan. And there is people out there waiting for MC

[9:23] to step up and for you guys to recognize that it is the time for a change and

[9:29] you'll see what will come in. But if we don't give that opportunity, we'll never

[9:33] have it and we're going to keep on having the same problems over and over

[9:37] again. >> So, thank you.

[9:41] » Thank you so much. I appreciate the transformation that the indigent program

[9:45] has has seen under your leadership and and yes uh your points are well taken

[9:50] and we'll certainly uh visit that item which is uh a yearly transfer of the 8%

[9:57] uh to the 1115 waiver where in turn uh the medical provider in ter LMC receives

[10:03] an additional uh uh funds from the state of Texas through federal monies

[10:08] » and maybe our error has been that we don't have a

[10:12] » and of course that's in we are very limited as to how many uh there's two re

[10:18] major regional hospitals in our area who can handle our imagent patients

[10:22] especially in care patients and then that has always been the concern of the

[10:27] court where do we turn to yes but we'll take that on

[10:31] » but sometimes it's good to bring it up because if we are having problems here

[10:35] at the clinic well maybe they'll say you know what let's bring it up a notch

[10:40] » okay thank It's only a reminder. That's all it is.

[10:44] Whatever. >> I believe it just arrived.

[10:47] » Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[10:52] » Are there any other public comments this morning? Yes, sir.

[10:58] » Please step forward. >> I don't We're not on the agenda.

[11:02] » That's all right. That's okay.

[11:12] Good morning. >> Yeah, just state your name for for the

[11:15] record and good morning. Thank you for joining.

[11:16] » Good morning. This is

[11:22] » Good morning, judges and commissioners. Morning.

[11:25] » Um, today we come before you guys just to respectfully ask for permission to

[11:28] use the >> the plasa here right next to the to the

[11:33] sheriff's office for the month of September for childhood.

[11:38] » Oh, absolutely. >> So, um, yes.

[11:40] » Our goal pretty much is just to help the town goal by displaying gold decorations

[11:44] throughout the plaza as a symbol of hope, strength, and support for the

[11:47] children and families that have been affected by childhood cancer in our

[11:50] community. This effort would bring our community

[11:52] together in a meaningful way and help raise awareness in an important cause

[11:56] that touches many lives in our community. As many of you guys know, um

[12:00] my family has personally suffered through it.

[12:03] » Family has suffered through it and a lot of members of our community have

[12:06] suffered through childhood cancer. Not only just childhood cancer, just any

[12:10] type of cancer. >> Yes.

[12:12] Um, not only do we want to ask for permission for to use the plaza for the

[12:16] month of September, but to see if it would be available for us to hold a um a

[12:22] remembrance, a candle at remembrance on September 5th, the evening of September

[12:25] 5th. Yeah. Towards the night, um we want to ask um the father from our lady to

[12:31] come and say a prayer. We want to this big candles for uh those that have

[12:36] passed and um have a remembrance for those that have survived as well. Um, we

[12:42] want to get with our with the sheriff's office to see if there's anybody they

[12:47] can help us out with traffic control and stuff like that. That would be more on

[12:50] our end. We'd go out there and ask if they're willing to help us with that,

[12:53] which I'm sure they are. But

[13:00] I mean, it's a beautiful thing that you're doing. So, I think it's a

[13:03] wonderful. >> It's a public public. So, thank you for

[13:08] for advising us and informing the public of of what you're doing. But yes, it's a

[13:12] public plaza. I'm certainly you can see that.

[13:14] » So, if we have a chance, can we also decorate the front um next to the table?

[13:20] » Yeah, that's what I was about to ask if you can include a zag.

[13:24] » I know. We have this picture in our head.

[13:30] » Thank you so much.

[13:34] Any

[13:38] other public comments this morning, judge? Good morning, judge.

[13:42] » Good morning. >> Good morning.

[13:47] » Good morning, judge and commissioners. For the record, uh JP,

[13:52] uh judge and commissioners, I'm here with this wonderful group.

[13:58] » They're representing well the border wall, the birth sanctuary. So, I advised

[14:04] them to come over because they wanted to come and speak to the commissioner's

[14:08] court and have a few words, but I did advise them that maybe for the next

[14:12] meeting to put it on the agenda to where we can have a sheriff's office, somebody

[14:17] representing the sheriff's office, uh maybe Kiwi as well, so they can

[14:22] understand the boundaries, you so kind of so they can have like some kind of

[14:26] communication so we can avoid arrests because I know

[14:31] poor Elsa But I've always been there for her. But

[14:35] anyways, just just so we can avoid conflicts, maybe they're going to put it

[14:39] on the next agenda where there somebody representing sheriff's office, like I

[14:42] said, it may be somebody representing can be here so they can be an

[14:46] understanding. So that being said, uh, Commissioner Mades, maybe we can put it

[14:50] under you on the agenda and we'll talk about it. So that's it for me. I'm I'm

[14:55] here just just to let you know and I'll let you talk. Yes. Thank you.

[15:00] Morning, Miss Elsa.

[15:05] » Good morning. Um, I like to say I'm happy to be here, but

[15:11] under the circumstances, um, I just have to say as a former state investigator

[15:18] for 25 years, I worked as a state investigator. I have worked cases with

[15:24] local law enforcement, sheriff's, police departments in our region, Department of

[15:30] Public Safety, state troopers. I even had a case I worked with the Texas

[15:33] Rangers. And I have to say, to be arrested on false charges, not once, but

[15:40] twice, is absolutely humiliating. And besides being ridiculous and absurd,

[15:48] I'm absolutely humiliated. Um, I do not understand why the Sabbath

[15:53] County Sheriff's Office appears to be taking orders from CDP and arresting the

[16:00] residents while they're allowing the the real criminals to run a muck. Um,

[16:07] the first time this happened back in June,

[16:12] I felt like I I should give the sheriff's department the benefit of the

[16:17] doubt. Maybe they are truly ignorant of the laws and they are unaware of the

[16:23] history and this ruling that Sonicasio obtained uh excluding the land and the

[16:30] town from federal taking. Um I I I'm giving them the benefit of

[16:36] the doubt the first time and while Maxine and I were there at the bird

[16:42] sanctuary trying to prevent further destruction within this exclusion area,

[16:46] Mr. Brisco was at the courthouse and he tracked down the records that proved

[16:52] what we were doing and what we had been saying. Uh, and it proved that we were

[16:56] not trespassing. It was not federal property. And you know, back in June, we

[17:01] presented this to everybody, the county, the the the the federal government, the

[17:05] Army Corps, attorneys met, emails, meetings, and we thought it had been

[17:11] settled um that we had demonstrated this is not federal property. and they had

[17:16] been staying out at least at the bird sanctuary. Um they did continue to

[17:21] trespass through private property. Um you know Mr. Luis, a veteran,

[17:28] 90-year-old veteran, Mr. Lolita. Um and they're and Mr. Brisco, they're also

[17:33] trespassing on people's property. Um, and we're trying to get the sheriff's

[17:39] department to support the residents, the people that they are supposed to be

[17:44] protecting and serving instead of the real criminals. Arrest the real

[17:48] criminals, you know, um the these land owners, these veterans, even the widow

[17:55] of a former county commissioner, her property was also damaged and these

[18:01] criminals trespassing through her property. Um, And and and this second

[18:07] arrest is is absolutely inexcusable because the sheriff's department,

[18:13] the federal government, the county government, everybody has been provided

[18:17] with this documentation about the Sunday Nasio exclusion. And the second arrest,

[18:25] it there were there there were no there was no hostility. I was on adjacent

[18:32] property just kind of keeping an eye on things and I saw two surveyors walk into

[18:37] the bird sanctuary and I'm like, "Well, they're not just driving through.

[18:42] They're on foot. Why are they going in there?" And I didn't see any signs about

[18:46] the bird sanctuary being closed. And I went in there and there were other

[18:51] people there un associated to me just fishing. And I politely asked the

[18:58] surveyors, "What are you all doing in here?" One of them responded, "We're

[19:02] just," but they told us to come take measurements. And I'm trying to explain

[19:06] to them about the exclusion and that this isn't federal property. You need to

[19:10] make sure before you come in to some place and you're going to do work, you

[19:15] need to, you know, verify with your supervisor because all this was provided

[19:18] to them. There must be some kind of misunderstanding.

[19:22] And you know, he he left and the second guy there, you know, he picked up his

[19:26] stuff and and left it. I was not threatening. I wasn't interfering. I

[19:30] wasn't trying to block them. I was just trying to inform them. And I I have all

[19:34] this on video. I have evidence to back up what I'm saying. But but it was all

[19:39] very cordial. And after they left, I left. And next thing I know, here comes

[19:45] the sheriff's deputy. And I'm watching. He went down below shaking hands with

[19:50] Border Patrol contractors. They were talking, but then he got in his truck

[19:53] and he left. He passed by me. And I'm thinking, well, he didn't arrest him.

[19:59] Hopefully, he gave him a warning. Next thing I know, the deputy Hernandez

[20:05] is wandering around in the lot behind me asking, "How do I get to you? He he

[20:10] can't seem to find me." I'm like, "You just have to come around here and you

[20:15] know, just a little bit further down." giving him directions on how to find me

[20:18] because I was so confident I had done nothing wrong. And um first thing out of

[20:23] his mouth was turn around. I I was blindsided. And I tried to explain,

[20:29] well, I'm on private property here. And he's insisting that I was trespassing on

[20:35] federal property. And I tried to explain, I was just in the bird

[20:39] sanctuary. There were other people there. Why are you arresting me and not

[20:43] anyone else? even showing him this declaration of

[20:48] taking in the map of the exclusion area in San Nasu. Not interested, not

[20:53] interested in seeing this. And I didn't even have the opportunity. I didn't get

[20:59] to the get far enough along to explain to him also, we have the word. The

[21:05] county attorney gave me his word. We would not be arrested in the bird

[21:09] sanctuary or the exclusion zone. And again, I was arrested under false

[21:15] pretenses. And I just we need to have the sheriff's department on our side

[21:22] supporting the people that live here, the people protecting our property. Stop

[21:28] arresting us and arrest the real criminals. Um, you know, we have

[21:33] trespassing signs that have been erected now, uh, uh, put up now. No trespassing.

[21:39] trying to inform the the contractors and everybody this is private property and

[21:45] but we need the support of our local government and our sheriff's department

[21:50] and um I do want to say we have seen the Spencer Construction the the company

[21:57] that got the buoy contract almost $300 million for 56 miles of buoys and their

[22:02] boat has been in the river they're doing their scouting so that's coming up next

[22:07] um and and I do We are still um awaiting to find out information about the

[22:13] hydraology study. So I hope that's still being pursued. But but we do need the

[22:17] the sheriff's department on our side to enforce the laws and stop protecting the

[22:23] criminals and and stop arresting the people they are supposed to be

[22:27] protecting. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[22:34] » Morning doctor. >> Yeah. Thank you. I am Eric. retired

[22:38] position citizen in Sanasio. I'm going to speak briefly. The first thing I want

[22:44] to say is that when I'm sitting with Elsa and the people that are occupying

[22:51] the bird sanctuary legally uh in the 100 degree heat, I feel like I'm following

[22:57] Elsa into the pit of hell. It's just very very hot out there.

[23:02] » So, first I'm supporting Elsa by being here. The second thing that I wanted to

[23:06] say is that um taking position the things that are happening are putting

[23:12] people who are making these decisions on the wrong side of history and and this I

[23:18] got on Saturday morning is an Elmanana front page

[23:31] front page. So this is international. And the next morning after our Laredo

[23:37] press conference on what's the lawsuits in San Agnosio, I was called by some a

[23:43] friend in Houston and had just heard about it on PBS in Houston. So this

[23:47] story is not just here in the county. This is a larger story and as we move

[23:53] into the midterms, there's going to be increasing attention on this. So to be

[23:59] on the right side of this and to prepare how you're going to deal with what's

[24:03] happening there. Now I'm speaking as a physician

[24:08] who practiced at UTMB for many years. Galveastston had a plan when the

[24:14] hurricane was coming. And what I've just handed out to you is a photo of Chip's

[24:20] sign that was put on his property. And the and the little red flag was the

[24:25] height of high water in 2010. It would be over the wall if the wall was there.

[24:32] And in the recent rains that came, the water came over the riverbank up to

[24:37] where they're going to place it. Now the the land is cracked, but it would be

[24:42] defin it was already would have been feet wet under the recent rains.

[24:48] So public health my second we're plugging a

[24:54] major artery coronary artery by what we're putting

[24:59] plaque along one side of this river and we're building a barrier that is going

[25:04] to lead to catastrophe and the second thing I have is the flood zone that's

[25:11] the exclusion is there but the red is the flood zone the federal government is

[25:17] building in what's known as the flood plane. So, I'm going to ask the county

[25:22] and maybe Olga can help it get onto this next agenda and ask, does the county

[25:28] have a plan for a catastrophic flood? Who in San Ignasio, if the water comes

[25:35] up, is going to need to be to know they need their documents so they can get out

[25:41] of the way of what's coming. So, a flood plan. And [clears throat] the second

[25:45] thing is we almost lost our water in San Agnosio in the recent heavy rains

[25:52] because the flotation device in the river floated up onto land with the

[25:57] water and when the water went down the float stayed on the land which has an

[26:03] artery which goes to the big tower and there were like 30 people they came down

[26:08] they had to move the float out. So the second public health thing is what is

[26:13] your plan to get water when it begins to be compromised by the potential of

[26:21] what's coming? >> Okay. Thank you all very much.

[26:27] » Okay. >> Hello. Good morning.

[26:31] » Morning. >> My name is and I

[26:35] here to speak about positivities and innovation.

[26:40] My name is Alejandra Portinas and I come from the family of Juina Redsville and

[26:45] Matamoros who stood up for the people and believed in protecting their

[26:48] communities. Today I want to carry this spirit forward not for politics, power

[26:53] or personal gain but for the people, the land and the living things that make

[26:58] Sanio special. I believe Sanio has the potential to flourish through

[27:03] innovation, empowerment, posit positivity

[27:07] and love for our environment.

[27:12] We can restore our parks, improve our basketball court at the church,

[27:19] strengthen and protect our bird sanctuary, create spaces for families

[27:24] and children, and work toward bringing essential services such as fire station

[27:32] to better and protect our community. These not just buildings or projects,

[27:38] they are investments in our future. Together, we

[27:44] can restore what has been neglected, protect what is precious, create create

[27:49] new possibilities, and give our children something to be proud of. S Sano

[27:54] deserves to grow without losing its soul. Let let us protect our land, our

[28:00] birds, our families, and our community. Let us build a future based on love,

[28:05] unity, opportunity, and service to the people. Thank you.

[28:13] » Um, I'll be brief. Uh, good morning. >> Um, thank you guys for listening to us

[28:19] and I just want to say that I've been out to the Sagasio Bird Sanctuary for

[28:23] » your name for the record. Just >> My name is Ed from Texas.

[28:27] » Okay. >> Uh, but I've been introduced to the bird

[28:30] sanctuary and as you guys may know like Big Ben, they're already a national

[28:34] park. So, the beauty is already going everywhere and people are defending that

[28:38] beauty because it has worldwide attention. This bird sanctuary is

[28:42] freaking awesome. That's it freak. But, um, it is amazing. It is so cool. And

[28:48] just recently, we were out there kayaking, some of us out here. Uh, and

[28:52] two things here. One is that they're trespassing on a 90-year-old veteran's

[28:56] property, right? Uh, that's one thing. And he gave us permission to tell people

[29:02] not to trespass. and at that point she got arrested. Right? So that's one

[29:06] issue. The second thing is now that they're trespassing um and they're going

[29:11] to get started on this wall is being built on both sides of the bird

[29:15] sanctuary. Uh what makes us think they're not going to just

[29:20] bulldoz it if they already have like these little markers already doing

[29:22] assessments. Um I'm here to also just say that uh I really believe it's a time

[29:28] for people to protect the land. Uh what we have, you know, always been here and

[29:33] I've learned a lot about the history of Sapata and Sanas. Uh so I just came out

[29:38] here to support and hope hope that you guys can do something about that.

[29:42] » Thank you.

[29:47] » Good morning, >> Judge. Good to see you

[29:50] » commissioners. My name is Frank Brisco. I am an architectural conservator at the

[29:54] resident of Signasio. Uh I'm going to be speaking on behalf of myself and Nana

[30:00] Ruiz, my neighbors. um primarily about private property that that they own that

[30:06] I own but also wanted to talk about the larger uh context of the the ver the uh

[30:13] selling exclusion. This is a selling exclusion is really a

[30:17] remarkable kind of it has a a great history. It was is the result of a

[30:22] petition. Let me start over again. This says on on June 3rd, the contractors

[30:27] working with the Department of Homeland Security began crowing a 150 foot wide

[30:31] strip along the river bank below Sunny Nasio in preparation for the border

[30:35] barrier through a petition campaign led by county leaders including people from

[30:39] Zapata. This was not just the Sunnasio thing, which is also really impressive

[30:44] to me that uh we had we had people from Zapata. We had many veterans involved in

[30:49] this petition drive and uh and area leaders including Rudio Martinez

[30:56] came together and guided this petition through the federal court system and

[31:02] ultimately prevailed uh with they had 200 some 200 signatures and uh and the

[31:09] federal government we struck a deal basically and and the deal involved

[31:13] we're still finding out details of it but the deal was sunny. The sunnasio

[31:18] exclusion was created and spared from the condemnation of all of the parcels

[31:23] around. U the the flip side was we foreclosed

[31:30] our as I understand it we foreclosed our right to sue the federal government for

[31:35] flood damages. Well, it's worked out pretty well for us and uh you know there

[31:39] have been flood there have been flood damages as Eric showed that 2010 flood

[31:44] was right up to the blood that would that would be above the 307 traverse.

[31:49] 307 Traverse was chosen as the as the area that was that was purchased in

[31:56] December by the federal government in 1955 with a judgment of the declaration

[32:02] of taking number 52 which [clears throat] is right across the hall

[32:06] here. And we we have we have distributed among a number of people including the

[32:12] sheriff, IBWC, uh border patrol

[32:17] virtually. We feel like we've got it out there and we would like to see it

[32:22] enforced because uh the county owns property right here. This is the the

[32:28] bird sanctuary uh which was which was uh donated to the county in I think 2007.

[32:35] Whoever Reese was instrumental in that uh it was donated by a fellow named

[32:40] Richard Spite SiT. And one of the reservations is that

[32:46] is used for anything other than a wildlife refuge, it's going to revert to

[32:50] the Far Allen Island Foundation in California. And I don't know how they're

[32:55] going to determine whether, you know, a a barrier through

[32:59] it that takes upund virtually half of the property is going to be uh still

[33:05] allowed to continue as a wildlife refuge or if that's going to trigger their

[33:10] reverting to them. But they they are aware they're

[33:14] following this very carefully. Um

[33:20] we we we've also produced besides the u besides the documents related to the

[33:27] exclusion we've distributed two letters from the IBWC

[33:32] uh two people inside and to the commission indicating that they have

[33:39] that the federal government has no jurisdiction whatsoever between the

[33:43] within the site master exclusion. uh one one of these letters is just very

[33:50] briefly this is uh directed to Anel Gar who's the county commissioner of

[33:54] precinct 2 and this is 90s because of the fact that the government

[33:59] did not take the properties within the town center I'll show you the town's

[34:04] people own to the wat's edge and he goes on to say Lincoln Grant Washington we

[34:11] aqua awa are all public access without the

[34:16] intervention of the >> county and water commission.

[34:20] » Sure. >> Yeah.

[34:22] » Okay. >> Okay. Let me let me just uh uh

[34:26] wrap up with that. So, we've had numerous uh contacts with the sheriff's

[34:30] department. We we have not been able to get them to

[34:35] see our side or show us any documents from the other side. However, the most

[34:40] the most uh uh productive contact we've had so far

[34:45] has been with uh Captain Captain I suggested we set up a liazison which

[34:51] which we would really like to be we'd like to see instituted. Uh it would have

[34:58] all of the stakeholders uh who could share communication on a much more um

[35:06] immediate way than is happening now. Uh, I I I'm not sure what the whether there

[35:13] is a win-win in this, but I'm [snorts] certain that there's a lose-lose if we

[35:16] don't change the course of what we're working on.

[35:18] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. And yes, we're not

[35:25] going back and forth today. It's not on the agenda, counselor, but uh I do want

[35:29] to and of course the counselor is representing uh Sapata County many

[35:35] communications negotiations. >> That's correct. Judge, I can apprise the

[35:39] court as to where we're at, judge, in reference to the

[35:45] I've discussed this matter with uh uh Captain Deo and uh notified him that the

[35:53] there is that exclusion area that has been uh that was adopted back in uh when

[36:00] the initial taking occurred, judge, which was back in in the 50s, judge. So

[36:04] because that exclusion exists, uh we have to be very mindful of the

[36:11] fact that if someone were to be arrested, uh for their under the grounds

[36:17] of it being a trespass, well, it can't be a trespass if it's on public lands.

[36:23] Okay. Correct. >> So uh that's where we've been in contact

[36:27] uh with them. Now the issue becomes one of um the line between a peaceful

[36:34] protest and uh say one that's disrupting the peace judge. So those are more

[36:41] factual elements dependent on what exactly happens uh in that situation.

[36:47] But having said that, I am meeting with the IBWC

[36:52] on Thursday, judge, where they are going to uh bring forth their maps, and if we

[36:59] receive anything that would contradict that which we have, judge, uh then

[37:04] obviously we'll make the residents aware of what it is uh that is uh that is

[37:09] brought forth. But uh based off everything I've researched, judge, uh

[37:14] there doesn't appear to be anything beyond uh uh uh that exclusion zone that

[37:19] was adopted. So uh the federal government cannot take any of those

[37:24] lands without initiating an eminent domain proceeding. So, um I believe

[37:30] we're in a solid footing to at least require them to start those proceedings

[37:36] against against the county uh for those specific lands judge. So um while they

[37:43] may have worked up to those specific area uh uh that exclusion area they will

[37:49] have to be stopped because as the court is aware we notified them that they did

[37:53] not have permission from Sapata County or the governing body of the county

[37:58] which is about theata county commissioners court. So they cannot

[38:01] enter onto those premises and any of uh of them entering onto those premises for

[38:08] the purposes of construction of that border wall um

[38:14] will be you know uh addressed you know so now because it's public lands they do

[38:21] have a right to get onto the land. Okay. Well, we're talking we're talking about

[38:25] different

[38:28] apparently talking about the bird sanctuary which is owned by the county

[38:32] but bookending that parcel >> is one acre on the extension of the

[38:39] which actually traded to the county for the county provided the deed that he has

[38:44] that shows his property goes to the river. There's no the 307 uh traverse

[38:50] has no bearing whatsoever within the sunny area. We're talking about private

[38:56] property on the north side and on the south side

[39:03] » any that are considered part of the the the

[39:09] lands that have been uh that are not were not automatically granted to the

[39:14] United States based off of that eminent domain taking that were excluded from

[39:19] there. Okay. Then the we cannot arrest individuals that are protesting there so

[39:26] long as the individuals that are protesting there are there at the

[39:29] permission of the private property owner. Does that make sense?

[39:32] » It makes sense. >> So so that is where we what what my

[39:36] instruction was to the sheriff's department on those specific matters.

[39:40] Now it didn't exist before but now that I've discussed the matter with them I

[39:44] think we're kind of on the same page in reference to

[39:47] » did not exist. uh the uh their ability to make arrest because

[39:52] they weren't under the they didn't they didn't know that that was part of the

[39:57] exclusionary thing. So I relayed that to them, provided them maps and and all

[40:02] that uh uh information that hopefully clarifies the issue. So

[40:06] » these contractors are continuing to trespass through both of their

[40:11] properties and the sheriff's department is not addressing it.

[40:14] » Okay. Well, see the problem with that is that if they're not going to be

[40:19] arresting the protesters, they can't because it is a disputed issue.

[40:24] » I'm sorry. What is the dispute? >> Are you saying that we don't own that

[40:28] property or that >> sir? I'm just saying that it's a

[40:31] disputed issue between you and the government, sir. Okay. Now, I know you

[40:35] believe you own it, sir. And I would tend to agree with you, but from a uh

[40:40] law enforcement standpoint, sir, unless it's a clear-cut issue, it's difficult

[40:45] for me to authorize the sheriff's department to go make arrest

[40:50] specifically uh in reference to that issue because you have a and you have a

[40:55] lawsuit uh >> you have two lawsuits, right, for

[40:58] nation, which is different different from trespassing, but they're working

[41:01] their way through the federal court system.

[41:03] » Correct. So once that is clarified, well then if it's if it's a deed by a court

[41:08] because the issue is in disputes, that's why the law enforcement I I know I I

[41:13] know what you're saying and believe me, I I I sympathize with you because I I I

[41:18] have uh very clear opinions as to my uh feelings on this border wall. Okay. But

[41:24] having said that, I do have to protect the interests of the stuff about the

[41:28] county and >> I understand. So, so that's kind of

[41:31] where where we're at with with that. So, but you know, based on what we have, it

[41:36] would be it would potentially be a trust.

[41:39] » Can we have this on the agenda for meeting counsel? And I appreciate the

[41:43] info. Uh, >> judge, I just have to say this is an

[41:45] urgent issue because >> I understand there's

[41:50] still trying actively to get heavy machinery into the bird sanctuary.

[41:55] » Well, I I'll Mr. I guess you can uh reach out to them and

[41:59] say that our >> we we

[42:02] » because it's public lands judge they do have the right to enter. Now, they're

[42:06] doing something that's damaging our property. Well, that's a different

[42:09] story. And then we can absolutely have police uh uh come in and prevent them

[42:14] from doing it, which I don't know. >> Trees in the bird sanctuary, sir. They

[42:18] have knocked down trees in the bird sanctuary. They have damaged county

[42:23] property in addition to private property.

[42:26] » Okay. Well, if that's the case, then law enforcement absolutely.

[42:30] » Initially, before the awareness of the exclusion zone came about, they did not

[42:37] » they did not our hope is just that they're aware of it now and we can take

[42:41] action to at least warn them. >> We just we've got a long agenda, sir. We

[42:47] need to move on and we can't take any action today. But I appreciate your

[42:50] concerns. They're all concerns that we all share. Absolutely. I appreciate

[42:54] » just to let you know we are in constant communication with a core of engineers.

[42:59] Okay. Who's uh uh who's I guess supervising the actual I I don't know

[43:06] they're there on a day-to-day basis as far as s supervising the the

[43:10] contractor's work, but uh I'm in discussion with them and they've assured

[43:14] me that there's been no uh invasion in into the the private documentation. I'm

[43:20] glad you you're you're you know letting us know investigator. I I know

[43:25] » we've got one more speaker. Uh this >> you've got two sheets there. Two pages.

[43:31] You can breathe fast.

[43:41] » Morning sir. Call me a poet. Some call me the dude. But I've always been Jesse

[43:46] Gera. Anything you might have heard about me is true. Only the names of your

[43:50] chain to protect the guilty, >> not blowing in the wind. In the name of

[43:55] the father, in the name of the son, in the name of the great spirit whose work

[44:00] we all marvel at, in the name of humanity, in the name of that big beast,

[44:06] manifest destiny. I am speaking as an indigenous man. All this land belonged

[44:11] to my ancestors, to your ancestors, to our ancestors. So what kind of engine

[44:17] are you? The great cho port Rahul Sen Selenas was asked in El Paso before he

[44:23] crossed over. Mexican, he said. Oh, in a disappointed tone, "I thought you was a

[44:30] real engine," said the white man. The repercussions of your actions or

[44:35] inactions today will reverberate for years as a ripple or as a tsunami and

[44:42] years into the future. Just as your brave ancestors, civic leaders, and

[44:46] veterans of the 50s of San Agnesio who had the courage to confront Big Brother

[44:53] and save Sanio from being flooded. Meanwhile, the real fascist lawbreaker

[44:59] issues marching orders from the throne of his 23 karat goldplated monuments.

[45:05] His fake arch his non- congressionally approved billiondoll ballroom in

[45:10] Washington DC. While the Rosa Parks of Sonic Nasio are being harassed,

[45:16] threatened, and arrested. We will not sit at the back of the bus. While the

[45:20] real perpetrators are trespassing and yellow jaw bulldozers and botinous amad

[45:27] water golem water tankers guzzling thousands of gallons of precious Rio

[45:32] Grande water. We ask that the sheriff aim his focus and arrest the yellow men

[45:39] trespassor and not indulge in John Wayne genre gestapo type ICE raids on

[45:45] indigenous people on stolen land. Stop the land landowner trespassor. Stop the

[45:52] environmental holocaust. Are we regressing to separate water fountains,

[45:57] to separate bathrooms, black and brown and white? The writing is on the wall.

[46:01] The ten commandments at the closed schoolhouse. Where is our conscience,

[46:07] our common sense for the common good, for our brotherhood, for humanity, for

[46:11] our sacred lands and rivers? We are stewards of this great land. Just

[46:16] because Big Brother says to do something doesn't mean it's right. Look at all the

[46:20] indigenous people massacred it took to create this country. All the stolen

[46:25] land, all the tears, all the blood. Imagine waiting your whole life to be an

[46:30] ice cube. And then you melt. Your whole life, your very existence melts before

[46:36] your eyes, before your feet in the name of the great spirit. You are water. You

[46:41] are life. The answer is not blowing in the wind. San Ignasio strong. Sapata

[46:48] strong weather. >> Amen.

[46:55] » Gracias.

[46:59] [applause] Thank you all for your information. We'll see you soon.

[47:04] » Commissioners, before we move on, I know we've got some school independent school

[47:09] district employees here. Uh we'll go to >> 25 resolutions and proclamations. Uh we

[47:16] have item number 25 is the proclamation on attendance matters. Yes, Miss

[47:21] Guerrero. Good morning. >> Good morning.

[47:23] » Morning. >> Thank you.

[47:27] » Good morning, commissioners, distinguished elected

[47:32] officials in county and state community members. For the record, my name is

[47:38] Nancy Guo. I'm the federal programs compliance manager at Tapa County ISD

[47:43] and I am pleased to present the attendance awareness proclamation for

[47:47] September 2026. Our school district proposes to

[47:51] officially designate this month as countywide attendance awareness month to

[47:57] highlight the importance of daily student attendance.

[48:01] By uniting our school district, elected officials and local communities, we can

[48:06] ensure every student is about the county attend school date. Together, we must

[48:12] emphasize to parents and guardians how essential regular attendance is to their

[48:18] children's education. It is essential for everyone to

[48:23] recognize that our district maintains clear attendance policies designed to

[48:28] support every student's educational success. Last year, last school year, we

[48:35] collaborated with justice of the peace preudge

[48:39] to inform about the consequences of regular absentism.

[48:44] We highlighted state law which requires students to attend class at least 90% of

[48:50] the time offered to earn course credit. Although these measures are structured

[48:55] to curb chronic abstences, achieving lasting results requires communitywide

[49:00] support. Monitoring participation and tracking

[49:04] attendance are vital to determining if students are connecting with your

[49:09] lessons or if intervention is required to address attendance barriers. We aim

[49:14] to boost attendance this school year through the joint effort between the

[49:19] justice of the peace judges office and our attendance recovery officers.

[49:25] Operating daily. These dedicated officers reach out to parents, transport

[49:30] students, and re-engage those who are absent. We extend our sincere gratitude

[49:35] to all partners supporting our attend attendance initiatives and remain

[49:39] committed to drive continuous progress in the years ahead.

[49:44] Therefore, the proclamation states, "Whereas good attendance is essential to

[49:49] student achievement and graduation, we are committed to dedicating our

[49:53] resources and attendance to reducing chronic absentes and rates. With a focus

[49:59] starting as early as pre kindergarten and kindergarten, whereas chronic

[50:04] absence missing 10% or more of school, alert schools, community partners, and

[50:10] families that one or more Positive conditions for learning are not in

[50:15] place. Whereas students are more likely to

[50:18] attend school when positive conditions for learning, physical and emotional

[50:23] health and safety, a sense of belonging, connection and support, academic

[50:28] challenge and engagement in adult and peers with social emotional competency

[50:33] are in place. Whereas the imp impact of absence of punitive approaches to school

[50:40] discipline contribute to the achievement gap that separate students for lost

[50:45] learning time in the classroom. Whereas showing up for school is an

[50:50] opportunity for students to build routines that can create a sense of

[50:54] safety and belonging, increase engagement, and develop trusting

[50:58] relationships with peers, teachers, and school staff that increase engagement

[51:03] and motivate them to participate in learning.

[51:07] Whereas reducing absenteeism requires taking a comprehensive approach that

[51:13] begins with prevention and early intervention and adopting trauma inform

[51:18] approaches rather than responsive responding with community action.

[51:23] Whereas improving attendance and reducing absentism takes schools, family

[51:28] and community partners working together to identify and address factors

[51:33] contributing to students missing school. particularly a lack of digital access,

[51:39] mental and physical health services, and access to basic economic supports,

[51:45] including food and housing. Whereas partnering with students and

[51:50] families to monitor attendance as well as understand and address barriers to to

[51:56] attendance requires building and sustaining caring relationships and

[52:00] regular communication in the home language spoken by the families. Whereas

[52:05] research found even before pandemic that families had high aspirations for their

[52:11] children yet faced significant barriers in getting their children to school or

[52:16] lack the knowledge that showing up nearly every day to school was crucial

[52:21] to academic achievement. Whereas taking attendance daily in a

[52:26] consistent manner and for different times of types of learning opportunities

[52:32] in person or homebound is essential to identifying when students begin to miss

[52:37] too much school. Whereas taking positive problem solving

[52:41] approach to reducing absenteeism requires expanding data to include

[52:46] reviewing chronic absence and attendance data for inperson and homebound

[52:52] availability of working contact information for families connectivity

[52:57] devices and internet and positive relationships.

[53:01] Whereas promoting attendance requires noticing as soon as possible when

[53:06] students are starting to miss too much school in order to engage students and

[53:11] families, identify and offer needed support and early intervention

[53:16] resources. Whereas ensuring an equal opportunity to

[53:20] learn requires using data to detect high levels of absenteeism and missed

[53:26] opportunities to learn by school, grade, and student population.

[53:31] Now therefore be a result that the Sabbath County Commissioner's Court

[53:36] stands with the nation in recognizing September as attendance awareness month.

[53:42] We hereby commit to focusing on reducing absenteeism and addressing the factors

[53:48] that cause students to miss school, whether offered in person or homebound,

[53:53] in order to ensure all children an equitable opportunity to learn, grow,

[54:00] and thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. We recognize

[54:05] that we must work together to engage students and families and send the

[54:10] message that learning can be can and must continue whether students

[54:14] participate in person homebound or through approaches. Specifically, we

[54:20] will make clear that improving students attendance including taking daily

[54:24] attendance in a consistent manner and monitoring absenteeism continues to be a

[54:30] top priority. Encourage family engagement and civic action to help

[54:36] families get their children to school every day. Analyze our data to identify

[54:42] which students are most affected by our chronic absence as well as to unpack

[54:49] common attendance challenges that need to be addressed. Additionally, subject

[54:54] to everyone's approval, we warmly invite our community members, elected

[54:58] officials, school board members, superintendent, teachers, and students

[55:03] to join us for the signing of our joint proclamation. The signing will take

[55:08] place at 6:15 p.m. on September 4th during our first home Hawk football game

[55:14] at Spock Stadium. >> We look forward to seeing you all there.

[55:19] Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you for so

[55:22] eloquently reading that >> I apologize

[55:28] but I really appreciate you all joining in our efforts to spread

[55:33] » appreciate the invite. Yes, >> we couldn't agree more. You know the

[55:36] attendance does matter. >> It does matter.

[55:38] » There's a motion to approve the proclamation as presented.

[55:41] » Motion by Commissioner Si to approve the proclamation as presented. Seconded by

[55:44] Commissioner Morales. Any discussion commissioners? All those in favor say I.

[55:48] I. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you and once again hope to see you all.

[55:53] » Thank you for joining us.

[55:56] I'll picture

[56:09] » you let

[56:20] it walk.

[56:44] Okay.

[56:48] Sorry.

[57:00] Thank you. >> Take care.

[57:04] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[57:24] Okay.

[57:47] All right, >> invoices.

[57:51] » Richard, moving on. Item number six, total of invoices in your packets. We

[57:56] had invoices from August 7, 2026 to August the 20th, 2026 for a total of

[58:03] I1,54,9381.

[58:11] Uh part of it uh the general fund was 666,000 expenses a little over 200,000

[58:17] was the loan for uh >> loan and also

[58:20] » the election machines. >> Yeah. And then the the the part of the

[58:24] like insurance motion as expenses. Okay. Got a motion

[58:31] » and we will be including uh three additional

[58:34] » yes >> invoices for a total of 18,000

[58:37] additional 18,45 >> those coming out of our circular

[58:43] obligation. >> Okay.

[58:45] » Oh yeah. >> I was going to explain a little bit more

[58:46] on that once we got to the CO uh agenda item.

[58:50] » Okay. So we don't include them in >> No, no, you don't have to because it'll

[58:54] be in the in the other one. >> Okay. Motion by commission. Seconded by

[58:58] secondary. Any discussion? All those in favor say

[59:01] I. Motion carries. Uh item number seven is approval of checks issued. And in

[59:08] your package we had checks from also from August the 7th through August the

[59:12] 20th for a total of 1,54,938.81.

[59:18] Motion to approve presented.

[59:22] » I'll second that with the corrections if if any have to be made. No, we don't

[59:25] have to make it because I'll put in on the agenda item bring it up. So,

[59:28] » all right, sounds good. I'll second it. >> Got a motion second. All those in favor

[59:31] say I. >> Motion carries. Item number eight, tax

[59:34] special collection department report. I know Daniel, you were at a conference at

[59:38] our regular scheduled meeting. So, I appreciate you coming in.

[59:42] » Yes. And I don't want to blame anybody, but

[59:44] » but >> the documents were on my desk. I just

[59:48] didn't see them. I was supposed to. We don't have the report.

[59:51] » I we don't have them with me, but >> I'll go ahead and read them.

[59:54] » They're just go ahead and read them out. >> I think that they were in the packet.

[59:57] » They were. >> They were.

[59:59] » All right. Uh collections for the month of July general fund, we collected

[1:00:04] $67,43

[1:00:08] and 1 cent interest. Uh we did have refunds of $684.83.

[1:00:15] I wish I could speak with the gentleman. Um but interest in thinking. Uh we

[1:00:21] collected $29,344.86

[1:00:25] with $78.37 in refunds. Farm to market $24.92

[1:00:34] in refunds. Special road and bridge we collected $8,99423

[1:00:40] with $11.37.

[1:00:45] Total collections for the month was $117,854.37

[1:00:52] and that was for taxes only. Then we go down to fees and other collections tax

[1:00:58] certificates we had $4 hotel motel tax $4,56369

[1:01:05] copies and faxes $2.25 interest earnings $6.50

[1:01:12] with a net collection of 122 43081.

[1:01:19] Um

[1:01:23] dispersements uh to the treasur $110,34463

[1:01:32] del attorneys $12,8618.

[1:01:39] Hotel motel tax we have year to date a total of $64,5183

[1:01:49] and this is of course through July we still have collections hopefully up for

[1:01:57] August September >> another yeah we might get to 70

[1:02:01] » I don't know that we'll have 100,000 but >> no no that was so we adjusted that in

[1:02:06] the proposed budget yes Okay. Yes. >> We didn't have expenditures of 100,000.

[1:02:12] » It's healthy. >> Yeah.

[1:02:14] » Um our collection rate was 80. Total

[1:02:19] collection rate for the month of July was 88.72%

[1:02:23] compared to last year's 88.90. So we're slightly below, but pretty much there.

[1:02:30] » So um >> get to 92.

[1:02:35] » We're going to get to 92. That's another thing to consider on on

[1:02:40] our budgets before budgets. We hope for 92 optimistic about hopeful about

[1:02:45] getting to 92%. Um

[1:02:49] » I don't I mean people are coming in. I'm really surprised that

[1:02:53] » what do you what percentage you estimate that we're

[1:02:55] » 90 89? >> Yeah. Maybe maybe about 89.

[1:03:03] » That's another reason why they have some Yeah, we don't uh we're not we're not as

[1:03:10] high as the anticipated collection amount of 92% but it's

[1:03:17] » we've gotten there a few years but lately it's

[1:03:19] » it's not it hasn't >> okay thank you

[1:03:27] » report presentation item number nine is a presentation from community limited on

[1:03:32] sapata county broadband access status of prior to state federal ederal funded

[1:03:36] projects and any direction for additional research from commissioners

[1:03:40] Mr. Mark Pearson. >> Mark, good to see you again.

[1:03:43] » Yes.

[1:03:47] » Yes. You were here maybe a month ago, Mark, when was here a little longer

[1:03:52] » in uh yeah, in early June and then uh Okay.

[1:03:54] » And then briefly in July also. And uh >> Thank you.

[1:04:02] » Good morning, sir.

[1:04:07] Strawberry.

[1:04:22] » Okay, sure.

[1:04:30] » Good morning. Y'all have a full agenda, so nod at me. talk a little faster.

[1:04:34] » Okay. All right. >> Important things here. So, I'm uh Mark

[1:04:38] Pearson. I'm with a nonprofit group, Communities Unlimited. Um it's been

[1:04:42] around 50 years. Uh works in seven southern states based Fedville,

[1:04:46] Arkansas. Um but I live I live in Austin. I've worked for them most of the

[1:04:51] time since 2004 except for a couple years with the Texas Water. And Zapata

[1:04:56] County had some has some experience in the past with Communities Unlimited.

[1:05:00] about half of our group provides some assistance around water utilities and

[1:05:03] water infrastructure. So, [clears throat]

[1:05:05] » so I have a couple of good friends, retired workers, Gonzalez, some others

[1:05:10] that have been provid >> I'm on a smaller um team around

[1:05:16] broadband and we are not an internet service provider and will never be an

[1:05:20] internet service provider, but just from that perspective across kind of the

[1:05:24] southern southern states that we work in um

[1:05:29] some of our smaller communities and more rural communities as that expansion

[1:05:33] happens How do we make sure that those least

[1:05:35] served places, least served communities are at the table as we're doing that

[1:05:39] broadband deployment? And so, um, I've, uh, spent most of my career around that

[1:05:44] wire infrastructure work. And in about three years, I've been trying to learn

[1:05:47] broadband as fast as I can on our smaller team. And I tell folks, I think

[1:05:51] I'm about up to first grade level now because I switched all the letters and

[1:05:54] numbers. >> Yes, of course.

[1:05:56] » Trying to learn as fast as I can. >> And so, I think there's a little bit of

[1:06:00] a a privilege that I've got because my has been paid for really to be a

[1:06:05] resource to folks in communities like yourselves and other places. Um that

[1:06:09] I've gotten to do some deep dive into that. Um our broadband program director

[1:06:14] Katherine Grants did a lot of work with uh connected nation doing some broadband

[1:06:18] planning around the state and other places. We

[1:06:22] have a small team of broadband technical assistance providers. But specifically

[1:06:26] uh the reason that I'm here um wanting to connect with all of you and met with

[1:06:30] Jell earlier is that this year Methodist Healthcare Ministries that's a

[1:06:36] philanthropy group in South Texas had asked us to pay attention to kind of

[1:06:39] 12count area >> I appreciate that. Yeah.

[1:06:42] » Yeah. And um and I think Yeah. And I so I think I would speak highly of them and

[1:06:48] just their attention kind of that same mission that we're looking at. And so

[1:06:52] because of that, um, we're kind of a resource. Like there's no cost to the

[1:06:57] county and I've done a little bit of research, but y'all that live close to

[1:07:02] the community and close to the ground and drive the county roads know what

[1:07:05] really is happening here. And so I would kind of welcome input from you. Uh, if

[1:07:10] we can, I'm going to take maybe five 10 minutes and try to kind of run quickly

[1:07:14] through some of the for you. >> Okay. and then um and just kind of give

[1:07:19] just a few information points, some kind of high points. And then I would also um

[1:07:25] welcome I'm going to email out later uh there's about five or six different

[1:07:30] websites basically that um that are kind of where some of this information

[1:07:35] sources from and that is available some ways in a lot more detail than it used

[1:07:40] to be. You can put in your h house address. You can put in a constituent's

[1:07:44] address and zoom down to it and see what service is per reported at that location

[1:07:49] level. So, there's a couple FCC maps and there are a couple maps from the state

[1:07:53] Texas broad development office and something like that. Beyond that, um I I

[1:07:59] would be very open and I know to do kind of workshop items, you'll have need to

[1:08:04] have public notice, but if there are any other commissioners wanted to have a 30

[1:08:08] minute Zoom meeting at some point or or to your judgment longer, but if you want

[1:08:13] me to keep 30 minutes to dive into your uh your precincts and if you have

[1:08:17] specific questions about what's where or some information to follow up on. Um,

[1:08:22] and so I think um I think part of it like I know that I

[1:08:26] come from far away and I will never know the things that you guys know. So one we

[1:08:30] need to keep the federal data, the state data honest and then keep it relevant

[1:08:34] too because in my opinion this is kind of like an active work site and so let's

[1:08:38] make sure it's doing smart work and we're

[1:08:42] with that. I'm going to try to move a little quicker into those handouts

[1:08:46] there. And so just really for reference for

[1:08:52] y'all that um and show these as we go. That first bro bro bro bro bro bro bro

[1:08:55] bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro brochure is just about the

[1:08:57] communities unlimited broadband program and if you're not familiar with this

[1:09:00] I'll also put the link for our our group in there um we have some group that does

[1:09:06] US treasury CDFI lending if they're small businesses and entrepreneurs

[1:09:09] especially rural places we want to restrict to those encourage those some

[1:09:13] of the other areas we work um the the next page that is just kind of black and

[1:09:18] white text for you is what is reported at the latest The

[1:09:24] internet service providers are all required to report to the FCC every six

[1:09:28] months where they have service and what speed levels and what technology types

[1:09:34] and and so that updates the um the reporting the data we were using um

[1:09:41] uh was June 30th 2025. They've got a about a five month lag before they get

[1:09:48] all that processed and make it public. And so miday they released the December

[1:09:54] 31st reported data and uh some of that is only as good as the ISPs the telecom

[1:10:00] providers give them and I've seen other rural areas where maybe a small provider

[1:10:04] I don't know if they're busy or forgot or just didn't report one time. So

[1:10:08] there's a little bit of keeping it honest. There's also in the beginning of

[1:10:11] this I think there were some of them were kind of rounding up on what they

[1:10:14] were serving. It kind of was kind of hopeful. Uh so here it shows in Zapata

[1:10:19] County um just under 7,000 broadband serviceable locations. So those would

[1:10:24] include like homes and business locations.

[1:10:27] And then uh down below it shows Spectrum is kind of your largest provider with

[1:10:32] the cable internet service and that's what serves town here. And then

[1:10:39] and then below uh the other ones I'm going to draw a note to is there's a

[1:10:44] licensed fixed wireless is what's coming over kind of the towers with the radio

[1:10:48] signals and increasingly that's like your your cell phone providers are doing

[1:10:52] that Verizon T-Mobile. Uh the other ones of note here the Texoma fiber and the

[1:10:57] bordertoorder communications that have some fiber deployment. Um, we'll talk

[1:11:02] about some of the funding in a minute, but that's a group that um that was

[1:11:06] originally out of Kurville. It's bought by Oklahoma. It's now Hillary

[1:11:09] Communications and I think they're under construction on some of that project.

[1:11:13] » Um, do any of y'all have service from Border Communications or Hillary?

[1:11:19] » I I have border border, but I don't have fiber,

[1:11:21] » but not fiber. Is it that fixed wireless signal?

[1:11:25] » I believe the whole town has just fixed wired. I don't think

[1:11:27] » I think the I think the fiber is in actually the sunny NASA area.

[1:11:33] » That's where the fiber optic was laid with that grant that they received maybe

[1:11:38] four or five years ago. >> When I was here last, I was pulling over

[1:11:41] looking at their markers on the side of the road and I saw that at Sanasio

[1:11:44] there. Have they had any other construction in the county or active?

[1:11:49] » I haven't seen other construction. We were hoping they'd get up some or

[1:11:53] outline areas that that don't have access, but they didn't make it to

[1:11:58] Las. No, they didn't make it to look >> or even there towards our landfield and

[1:12:04] stuff. >> Okay, we I've I've got several calls

[1:12:07] into them >> and until you find the people on the

[1:12:10] management side of the telecom company, sometimes they're hard to get.

[1:12:13] » They were difficult to uh contact, >> but I I confident we'll keep trying

[1:12:19] until we talk to someone with them. And uh and then I think the other questions

[1:12:25] here. >> So I'm seeing that like Spectrum I guess

[1:12:29] provides the majority almost 6,000 fiber over a thousand. What's the

[1:12:36] difference in quality or speed? >> So that's that's a good point. So

[1:12:42] broadbands like as a definition what we're talking about is just highspeed

[1:12:46] internet and that definition they changed about two years ago from 25

[1:12:52] megabits per second down and 3 up to 100 megabits per second down and 20 up and

[1:12:58] cable service should be able to do that. >> Okay.

[1:13:01] » Um but some ways the fiber is kind of your bestinass service right now. So

[1:13:06] that's the Cadillac. Yeah. >> So what I understand from fiber is

[1:13:10] you'll get true numbers. If you have a contract for 300 megabytes, you're

[1:13:16] getting 300 no matter the interference between a thousand customers logging

[1:13:20] into one line which will tend to drop your megabytes per second and fiber you.

[1:13:28] » Yeah. So what's it and why haven't fiber been

[1:13:33] expanded more in our area because we have cable is that

[1:13:37] » that's that's a good short Yeah, that's a good short answer to some of that is

[1:13:40] that >> there there have been various attempts

[1:13:43] over time to use the federal money primarily to get service to all.

[1:13:48] » We've had several companies come and pitch their fiber

[1:13:52] » pitch their own service >> service to to for Sapata County to get

[1:13:56] hooked up with with fiber. Yeah. Yeah. >> And I And I think there's one thing with

[1:14:01] the the county specifically getting their service like you got to do your

[1:14:05] procurement and do due diligence on that. The more fiber companies that will

[1:14:09] come to one place, the more options you've got and that helps with pricing.

[1:14:12] I live in the middle of North Austin for the last 20 something years where

[1:14:17] probably people moved in and didn't move out for kids. And so I had cable

[1:14:21] internet for 15 of those years. It was good mostly. And it kind of depends like

[1:14:25] anything else that the maintenance is being managed

[1:14:28] » and uh and so there was there was about six months sometime in there where I

[1:14:33] don't know if they were getting some water into some boxes some problems

[1:14:36] happening but you you got to call them and keep them honest and do your speed

[1:14:40] test and get it fixed and I think with with some communities what we see in

[1:14:44] other places now in Spectrum specifically but with um with some

[1:14:48] communities that aren't their largest communities they're off prioritizing

[1:14:52] their capital management projects and so on our street like Spectrum has replaced

[1:14:57] Fiber AT&T that was the telephone lines replaced it with Fibernet

[1:15:01] » and are receiving federal funding for that or that

[1:15:05] » No. >> So that that was my my question. I know

[1:15:08] they're the the fiber currently is like in the outskirts of of town, but it's

[1:15:13] not here in town. You can get it to local businesses and maybe even

[1:15:17] residents, but it'll be a cost to them. >> Yeah. To build to build out from that.

[1:15:23] And I think >> I think part of that is um the places

[1:15:27] that there are two things. One with the federal funding we don't we don't want

[1:15:32] to use the federal grant dollars to build over building a fourth fiber run

[1:15:36] in front of my house in Austin. It's not a good use. The private market is

[1:15:39] getting that done. observation on some of this funding the last three years

[1:15:43] paying attention the uh the bead funding through NI was supposed to be the

[1:15:48] internet to all to finish things like we did rural telephone and rural electric

[1:15:53] » and uh and part of what that induced was a lot of these private providers to like

[1:15:58] kind of get up and move into some areas they hadn't been before. So I think

[1:16:02] that's a that's a story that doesn't get as told as much as that public funding

[1:16:05] and do some private funding to the table also and to try to get out there with

[1:16:09] the public funding that's invested. I think we need to kind of keep an eye on

[1:16:13] that know where it is have relationships with those those ISPs and is there

[1:16:16] anything we can do to like smooth the way to help them get there and then I

[1:16:20] think when they do get there the other part of that I've been mostly focused on

[1:16:24] the access part. part of our team. The other guy from the nonprofit that met

[1:16:28] with us um in June is focused more on the digital skills side and I know that

[1:16:33] was that was one of the items in the proclamation a minute ago is

[1:16:37] connectivity and digital skills correct >> and it's important for the healthare

[1:16:40] it's important for education it's important for business once you got that

[1:16:44] fiber to that location or good internet any remote work job somebody can do

[1:16:49] anywhere they can do it from that location

[1:16:51] » I know there's currently a grant right that uh South Texas development board

[1:16:55] council is trying to to acquire for for broadband expansion.

[1:16:59] » Yeah. Our area cog council government is is actively pursuing those federally

[1:17:05] funded uh grants that that would be he may be eligible for. But we haven't seen

[1:17:11] any anything funded yet for us. >> So I think that's what with what I'm

[1:17:16] kind of going here like I've got some numbers and data I could could plow

[1:17:19] through. So, I know they they do have a current uh I guess like a

[1:17:24] [clears throat] community uh group where they discuss all of broadband. So, you

[1:17:29] might want to get a hold of uh with Juan Ju Rodriguez with with a cog with the

[1:17:35] South Texas Board Council of Laredo and maybe you can join their group and in in

[1:17:40] efforts to you know give all your information that you've currently

[1:17:44] collected and it'll make it a hard uh you know stable. I actually met with him

[1:17:49] and the folks went to him the day after I met with you in June.

[1:17:53] » Okay. >> And then um when they had the came to

[1:17:56] the STDC meeting that was here in July, I was late getting to that meeting.

[1:18:01] » I was like he looks familiar. I think I've seen you there.

[1:18:04] » We spoke with on the way out of there. But I've also spoken with with Melissa

[1:18:07] Gonzalez with lower lower valley development that's going to partner with

[1:18:12] them and and that scope of work is that through some of the stateing

[1:18:18] There is a request through TARP, the Association of Regional Councils that

[1:18:22] STDC and Laura for three years of funding to support broadband planning

[1:18:28] and in my my opinion like the planning would have been better like four or five

[1:18:32] years ago, but because they said yes, we want to make that relevant and and a

[1:18:36] good use of it. So what that does is fund essentially a position at HCO. In

[1:18:40] this case, Lower Valley is partnering with STDC for this next three years and

[1:18:45] they're going to do a lot of good community listing and I think I think

[1:18:50] around that like this information that we've done that focus a little bit more

[1:18:53] on access but also you want the partners at the table as if there are any grant

[1:18:58] funds whether it's for veterans or for schools for the devices and legal skills

[1:19:03] learning I think um I think the Zapata County that I think Roxy explained the

[1:19:08] story when I was first here about how they decided to replace the the

[1:19:12] courthouse real quick and like let's tear it down and do quick so I feel like

[1:19:16] there's a lot of like learning like let's make things happen and so I feel

[1:19:19] like this is like the homework stage and that group is the one where if you've

[1:19:23] got a good committee to be part of that homework that's one of the suggestions I

[1:19:26] would make that I don't want to depend on me to help do some forming that there

[1:19:30] was a somewhat informal Zapata county broadband committee coalition task force

[1:19:35] I got to be part of a bast county task force the last three years that had some

[1:19:39] county participation one county commissioner their development

[1:19:42] coordinator as needed they would pull in their IT person procurement person, but

[1:19:47] it wasn't their funds really. And then they had some really robust nonprofits

[1:19:51] that here I think would be like the library supports the county, but

[1:19:54] somebody from the schools, the boys and girls

[1:19:58] » and also the community. I believe we had we also have a local uh contractors that

[1:20:02] have actually worked on fiber projects. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. that knowledge

[1:20:08] would be good and having that kind of informal community if it's not a county

[1:20:12] function specifically sometimes having like a county participation there's a

[1:20:16] commissioner it gets people's attention that's what gets a high speed to the

[1:20:19] meeting but if you have people that have some freedom to just ask questions like

[1:20:23] what's the timeline and ask good questions be ready there's a little bit

[1:20:28] comparisons Mark on the county by county we're we're

[1:20:33] okay I I believe

[1:20:38] » I think Jimhawk County was a little bit more rural than we are and looks like

[1:20:42] their fiber they've got almost entirely fiber. How did that happen?

[1:20:45] » I I my my take is that I think so much of the county lives in Heville

[1:20:50] » and a provider got there. So I would say most of that 85% is in Heville and the

[1:20:55] outline is more federal funding. >> Yeah. So that was good. They did well.

[1:21:00] Yeah. >> Yeah. And I think it's I think it's the

[1:21:02] fact that y'all had had spectrum which can be good but you need to keep them

[1:21:06] honest here. And then I think also >> I think fiber is all over the place

[1:21:10] right now. I mean I see them all over the radio hooking up.

[1:21:13] » That's right. Yeah, that's right. And those and there's a lot of private

[1:21:15] investment companies.

[1:21:20] » And then I think as you're having conversations with those ISPs like the

[1:21:23] Hillary Communications Communications, that informal group has has the ability

[1:21:28] to ask questions like what So what rates are you charging? And so the the going

[1:21:33] thing for fiber was like one gig down, one gig up, symmetric. And then like six

[1:21:38] months ago, they started advertising my house 5 gig down, five gig up,

[1:21:42] » and then 8 gig down and 8 gig up. >> No matter how much my 16-year-old games,

[1:21:46] he doesn't need 8 gigs down, eight up. >> But if you have a senior, like one

[1:21:49] person in a house and a good fiber connection, like that that lowest plan

[1:21:54] might be 100 down, 100 up, and that would probably like stream the TV and be

[1:21:59] able to computer and things you need. So here just rapidly green is what's

[1:22:04] served. That's 100 down 20 amp. It doesn't really matter what technology

[1:22:08] could be copper cable wire fix wireless as long as it's 100 down 20 up. We're

[1:22:14] kind of aiming for better. Uh this is the comparison to the region.

[1:22:18] » Yes, >> judge is right. The counties north were

[1:22:20] a little bit behind y'all. That's why I started with them and worked our way

[1:22:23] here. But we still want to do good work in the county. This is the funded

[1:22:27] projects in Zapata County. Okay. >> So that borderto border communications

[1:22:30] shows that they were going to build out to,240 locations in the county. My

[1:22:34] understanding is with fiber is what that is.

[1:22:37] » And I don't

[1:22:42] » Yeah. And I think like $5 million grant and like a good bit alone. So they've

[1:22:46] got their own skin on that project with customers. But that can't all be inside

[1:22:52] of the 1240 location. >> Yeah.

[1:22:55] » And the last two kind of maps here this That's kind of the footprint of where

[1:22:59] that USDA reconnect project is that um that Hillary Communications World

[1:23:04] Reporter has. And that's the kind of part that if there if y'all had time 30

[1:23:08] minutes or something, this is relevant to your precinct to zoom in what we

[1:23:13] know. Is that there already or is it not there? We could ask what's coming. The

[1:23:17] last one is what was meant to finish the job and with that NIB funding through

[1:23:22] the broadband development office. They didn't want to duplicate any federal

[1:23:25] funding, >> right?

[1:23:26] » And we don't want them to do that with tax dollars either. But they did a

[1:23:29] competitive process for the state the awards because those were mostly rural

[1:23:34] kind of individual locations around that reconnect award where to SpaceX for

[1:23:39] Starlink service and the the question that I've got on that like kind of

[1:23:44] alongside you would be so what what actually is the bargain? framed as a

[1:23:48] capacity grant to SpaceX to reserve capacity for those locations. They're

[1:23:53] different than other internet providers. If you subscribe to Spectrum or to one

[1:23:57] of the others, they're going to come to the house and they're going to hook up a

[1:24:00] router. They're going to make sure it works and show you how to connect it. To

[1:24:03] this point with SpaceX and Starlink, which is a great technology for the

[1:24:06] remote location, remote ranch open sky. It's really pretty cool. But to to this

[1:24:12] point, they have been they kept their cost. There's almost no customer

[1:24:15] service. you get to the website, order it, they'll ship it to you. When we get

[1:24:18] it, you figure out how to hook [snorts] it up. And so if we had some individual

[1:24:21] seniors or someone that had a little less ability to do that themselves one,

[1:24:25] there's a question, is there any support for getting that connected? My second

[1:24:28] question was all of the applicants that funding were supposed to have a low cost

[1:24:33] requirement in their application and I haven't seen that yet and I did a public

[1:24:37] information request a month ago, more than 10 business days, but uh we're

[1:24:43] trying to work on I would just like to that agreement that's a contract between

[1:24:47] the state what they're going to provide because in my opinion the community

[1:24:50] level if you have constituents that that's the work for those houses those

[1:24:55] and and it's now it's about 150 houses all in the county but like let's know

[1:24:59] what the deal is so they can ask for the deal

[1:25:01] » appreciate that Mark I think you provided us with a lot of information I

[1:25:05] know >> uh it was rapid fire but but I think

[1:25:10] you've got all the commissioners uh contact info I think if you visit with

[1:25:15] with each one more, you know, they're more familiar with their precincts, what

[1:25:19] their needs may be that that anything that you can help us with.

[1:25:23] » Well, your your company was also affiliated with uh the transformation in

[1:25:26] Kingsville, right? Or were you not part of that when they transformed everything

[1:25:30] to fiber? >> Uh not

[1:25:32] » I know we discussed it in our STDC meeting. maybe the company that was uh

[1:25:37] that you were trying to uh correlate with there in that meeting

[1:25:41] » that that might have been the other the other nonprofit group that had some

[1:25:44] support from Methus might have had some work there

[1:25:48] » and then to the south there's a really strong RGB coalition correct had work

[1:25:52] with far down there fiber and supporting Brownsville and some of those other

[1:25:55] projects based and I think that was the space that was kind of saying how how do

[1:26:01] we encourage some of that here we just go a little deeper

[1:26:04] » so thank you for the time. Thank you, Mark.

[1:26:06] » Yes, we'll keep in touch. See when any of that funding really becomes available

[1:26:11] to I know we've applied for it, but >> competitive

[1:26:16] » and I think and I think to the last comments on that funding there's to me

[1:26:19] like the eye on the ball with the funding right now and and not

[1:26:23] everything's due to funding. I think I think with good volunteers with the

[1:26:26] right ideas sometimes that's more important than funding. Um because of

[1:26:31] some of the change in administrations and directions, there was alongside the

[1:26:36] B funding what was framed as digital equity act funding that was pulled back

[1:26:42] but there was um some settlement some

[1:26:47] » so some of that funding didn't materialize.

[1:26:49] » The word is that it actually as of last week two weeks ago it might be back on

[1:26:54] the table. They might have guidelines on that funding by December.

[1:26:57] » Okay. So I think for us like it's if that happens this is a good homework

[1:27:02] phase with that work with SDC out if there are specific apps that are ready

[1:27:07] to go then when that comes down the grant writers or whoever could ask for

[1:27:11] that. So that's one is the digital equity. Sometimes it's digital

[1:27:15] opportunity funding. Some of that may also open up to come back through the

[1:27:19] state again. The Texas Broadband Development Office is our agency that's

[1:27:23] only four or five years old. We didn't have one before this funding started. Uh

[1:27:27] it's housed under the controllers office and it's kind of hit the news some in

[1:27:32] the last month. Um it had the be funding the change in controller. They put it on

[1:27:37] hold for a minute. They're kind of auditing those programs. Hopefully they

[1:27:40] get that done quickly. So we can keep with it. There's not a

[1:27:44] » wealth of information. Mark we can be here on the whole morning.

[1:27:47] » Let me give you two sentences and quick last two sentences of money. The that

[1:27:52] that beef money for Texas was $3.3 billion. We only asked for a billion of

[1:27:57] it when they took those bids because so much was served already in that that

[1:28:02] private meown. There's$2 billion left over that they considered non-deployment

[1:28:07] funding. And so part of the question is is that going to be a savings just to

[1:28:11] the federal government or it was eligible for these other uses. Do we

[1:28:14] need a cleanup round when did we miss any locations or can that be used?

[1:28:20] » What's that? >> Sapa being one of there's a need. Yes.

[1:28:23] » Yeah. I think being ready at the table. So that's be it unemployment coming

[1:28:28] through the state. Also, all of us voted on a broadband infrastructure fund on a

[1:28:33] statewide ballot several years ago that authorized 1.5 billion for a Texas

[1:28:37] broadband infrastructure fund. There's about 700 million of that. It's not

[1:28:41] allocated yet. And because of the attention of that broadband development

[1:28:44] office, I think the legislature is probably going to give more guidance on

[1:28:47] what uses of that can be. That's the source of funding for the $8.7 million

[1:28:52] that's funding that TRDP for the planning grant. So, that's that's tax

[1:28:56] dollars we need as well, but that's on the table. So my thought is those two

[1:29:00] general plots of money, how do you make the best use of those first before like

[1:29:05] those Texas dollars and then how do you make the best use of those Texas

[1:29:08] dollars? Last pleasant comment, the broadband roundts that have monthly like

[1:29:13] for the last three years I've been on there where they're giving information

[1:29:16] briefing. There's usually 50 60 people in there and we got 254 counties and I

[1:29:20] made the comment on there like several times like that tells me it's on

[1:29:23] » most of the state is not in that room and so I think if yall find a volunter

[1:29:27] if someone who's done the construction of fiber or if it's one of the schools

[1:29:31] like let's get that representative or that information

[1:29:34] just to be ready for. >> Okay. Sorry for

[1:29:38] » keep in touch Mark. Thank you >> commissioners. Uh moving on the action

[1:29:43] item will deliberate consider action item number 10 is to approve the

[1:29:46] correction of two regular commissioners court meetings scheduled for September

[1:29:50] the 8th and September the 21st to September the 14th and September 28th.

[1:29:55] Last year, commissioners, when we approved the calendar, uh we there was a

[1:29:59] mistake on it's the second and fourth Mondays of each uh month for a regular

[1:30:04] commissioner's court meeting. And certainly this year, September 8th is

[1:30:08] not the first second Monday. >> Motion to approve the correction on both

[1:30:11] commissioners court meetings. >> Motion by Commissioner Solis to approve

[1:30:15] the two regular commission court meetings to September 14th and September

[1:30:20] 28th. Seconded by Commissioner Morades. Any discussion? All those in favor say

[1:30:24] I. I. >> Motion carries. Item number 11.

[1:30:27] » Clarification. I I Roxy told me about this issue. I'm sorry, Miss M

[1:30:32] Mississippi Miss Mississippi Miss

[1:30:32] Mississippi miss Mississippi miss Mississippi miss Mississippi miss

[1:30:34] um and though we are required by by uh statute

[1:30:39] » to have the meeting on September 14th because the error was for also the 21st.

[1:30:44] I suggested just make it a commissioner's court action item to

[1:30:48] adjust both meetings and that way. Yeah, it was just a taco. It was a mistake.

[1:30:53] So, okay. >> Item number 11 is to return $36,63.72

[1:31:00] in unspent funds from the rural law enforcement grant salary assistant

[1:31:04] program from fiscal year 24. Yes, commissioner. This is from the sheriff

[1:31:07] department. The first year of the SP22, uh the $350,000 was allocated. Uh we

[1:31:14] didn't spend $36,63.72

[1:31:18] of it. So, we need to return that back to the state.

[1:31:23] It was just uh since it was the initial I'm not sure what what the church

[1:31:28] appointment that time and 24 did but uh after the audit that was conducted they

[1:31:33] notified us that we hadn't spent the entire 350,000

[1:31:38] » motion to approve the return of 36,603 with 72 cents

[1:31:42] » motion to approve by commissioner to return the unspent fund seconded by

[1:31:47] commissioner Moya. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

[1:31:51] » Motion carries. Item number 12 is to approve payment for pending invoice of

[1:31:55] $1,818.75 to Bob Barker for inmate hygiene

[1:32:00] supplies for the county jail. >> Morning, Captain.

[1:32:05] » Morning, judge. >> Is this what you're talking about the

[1:32:09] increase? >> Yes. The we're having to buy a lot of

[1:32:13] stuff for the gel for hygiene supplies. >> Sure. that we're already out of funds

[1:32:18] and it's just >> do you want to Well, we can go one by

[1:32:22] one. Let's go to the the payment of,18.75

[1:32:29] cents to Bob Barker. Now, will this cover the remaining of the year or need

[1:32:34] to need? >> This should cover the remaining of the

[1:32:36] year. That's why I order uh sanitary napkins,

[1:32:39] uh shampoos, and toothpaste. That's basically

[1:32:42] » everything for the next month. Yeah. >> Yeah. We should be good till past

[1:32:45] October with that. >> And does this cover the requirements set

[1:32:49] forth by the state of jail standards? >> Yes.

[1:32:52] » So, it's a necessary exper

[1:32:59] $1,818.75 invoice to Bob Barker. All those in

[1:33:03] favor say I. I. >> Motion carries. Item number 13 is to

[1:33:07] approve the hiring of a C cook for the regional jail department 560 slot 31.

[1:33:14] » It's to fill one of the vacant slots. We had one of our our cooks leave at the

[1:33:20] regional jail. So we are down to one cook there.

[1:33:23] » That's a big meal every day. >> Yeah. 140 to 160 plates a day. So three

[1:33:29] times a day. >> And you have you have somebody already?

[1:33:31] We have a cook and then we get one from the female right now sometimes to go

[1:33:35] help when they do need it. >> Okay.

[1:33:37] » But the advantage that we have at the at the regional is that we do have trustees

[1:33:41] uh when we do have them in place. They do help out with the workload. But as

[1:33:45] far as taking the days off or getting days off, it's what's right.

[1:33:49] » Do you have them on chipboard? >> Yes.

[1:33:52] » Motion to approve the hiring of a cook for the regional job.

[1:33:54] » Motion by Commissioner Solis. Is there a second?

[1:33:57] » I'll second it. >> Second by Commissioner Gata. Any

[1:34:00] discussion? All those in favor say I. Motion carries. 14 to approve payment of

[1:34:05] for pending invoice for $4192 to Bob Barker Company for inmate hygiene

[1:34:11] supplies and clothing. Same thing here. >> That's for the reason.

[1:34:14] » Yes. Motion. Motion by Commissioner Saliz.

[1:34:17] » Second. >> Second by Commissioner Gasa. Any

[1:34:19] discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries 15 to approve payment

[1:34:25] for pending invoice for $650 to joke AC and electric for electrical and low

[1:34:31] voltage installation for the jail regional jail.

[1:34:35] » Yes, they had to install some electrical receptors, Ethernet data cables for

[1:34:40] computer installed. >> Okay,

[1:34:43] second. >> Motion by Commissioner Ga to approve

[1:34:45] payment. Seconded by Commissioner Solis. All those in favor say I.

[1:34:49] » I. Motion carries. 16 to approve payment for pend pending invoice of $29941

[1:34:57] to hold cap for generator repairs. This is yeah the generator

[1:35:02] » reading into it. They literally did nothing and charges $29.

[1:35:07] » It says that they inspected it, cleaned it, and that was it. That's the They put

[1:35:11] it under repairs, but it's actually the maintenance

[1:35:13] » the maintenance on. >> Yeah, it's a year maintenance or

[1:35:16] » they put it under repairs, but it's actual maintenance that was in that was

[1:35:20] needed for the for the >> the hours.

[1:35:23] » Is it under warranty? This one? >> No, that's the original generator.

[1:35:28] » They charged a bunch on just coming. >> Yeah. The thing is that like anything

[1:35:31] that's hold caterpillar if you've ever dealt with like 18 weeks ago.

[1:35:36] » Uh anything hold caterpillar. when I started working at the facility when I

[1:35:39] saw the generator I was like bunch of repairs that's hope is

[1:35:44] » but it's working good >> right now that's important yes

[1:35:46] » and the maintenance is going to be every >> they do it depending on the hours like

[1:35:51] there's certain years it'll be once a year and there's some pump that has to

[1:35:54] be twice a year depending on what whether it's fluids or whether it's just

[1:35:58] an inspection sometimes the fluids have to be changed on the hours the generator

[1:36:02] does start up every Saturday on its own it has an automatic function test Uh, so

[1:36:07] all of that and then there's times where you do have issues where the generator

[1:36:13] either has a false start and we do have to call them.

[1:36:15] » So we're talking about the hours. Are you going to call them when we reach

[1:36:18] those hours or do they >> We do it once a year. One year we'll do

[1:36:22] it once a year and then on the other year it's twice which is one inspection

[1:36:27] and one fluid change. So >> to approve

[1:36:32] approve the payment to hold cat by commissioner seconded by commissioner.

[1:36:37] Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

[1:36:40] » Motion carries. >> Thank you.

[1:36:42] » Thank you captain. Thank you. >> Item number 17 is to approve renewal of

[1:36:47] malware vice antivirus software for one additional year.

[1:36:52] Good morning Mr. Garcin. >> Morning sir.

[1:36:55] » Morning commissioners. >> Good morning.

[1:36:57] » Uh yes. Yes. Uh for the renewable malware bites Jerry, we have two

[1:37:02] options. The one that we have right now is not with email.

[1:37:08] » Yeah, I think it's >> I'm not sure we have it in here.

[1:37:19] » We have option two.

[1:37:24] Option two and option one. Option one is without the email scanning and option

[1:37:28] two we have the email scanning. >> What does that mean?

[1:37:32] » Right now now they offer for the email scanning which is scanning the emails

[1:37:36] that are coming in right to see if there's no malware or fishing or things

[1:37:40] like that. >> Okay.

[1:37:42] » So that's an protection but that's like four like $4,000 more.

[1:37:48] » And so is it absolutely you recommend? I I would I would address is that

[1:37:54] installed in all all computers? >> Uh yes, it is right now. All the

[1:37:58] computers that we have right they have no bikes with exception of the emails.

[1:38:03] » I see. Okay. >> No, it's a good thing. I was wondering

[1:38:07] if it's already. >> Yes.

[1:38:11] » Do do we So we don't budget for this on a yearly basis or what is

[1:38:15] » what is it renewal? like either we can go three years, one year depending but

[1:38:19] we did it like one year last time or last year. So

[1:38:22] » So we need to include this in your uh in your budget because we do budget

[1:38:28] » that was like for >> that's the other for the equipment.

[1:38:33] » I have like $5,000 for the equipment.

[1:38:39] » Yeah. >> You haven't brought this to our

[1:38:42] attention of having the budget for this. So, where were you paying it on a yearly

[1:38:46] basis? Where do we pay this? >> How much is it for? I don't have a

[1:38:50] » There's two options. Option one is is that the one we currently have, Mr.

[1:38:55] » Uh, yes. >> And option two, I believe that's your

[1:38:59] recommendation increase 12,000.

[1:39:03] » 13,10. >> Yeah, there's nothing in there.

[1:39:07] Um, >> we might have um money under computer

[1:39:13] computer hardware and software. >> Oh, okay.

[1:39:15] » I think there you usually budget like 25,000 and I think there's still uh

[1:39:20] » Okay. I'm just need to make sure.

[1:39:28] Yeah, the computer hardware is 15,000 per year.

[1:39:33] And we have

[1:39:37] So it'll cover it maybe 15 for the year. >> I I don't think we've used it that much

[1:39:42] this year. So >> Okay. So this will be for the this

[1:39:45] coming >> Yes. Uh starting at the end of the

[1:39:48] month. >> So it'll fall under this current budget

[1:39:52] and he has enough to cover for that. >> Well, I don't know. Uh it would be under

[1:39:56] computer hardware >> for the new year, right? When when is

[1:39:59] this due? >> Uh this is going to be due. We need it

[1:40:01] to start this coming month. >> Oh, in September.

[1:40:04] » Yeah. That's what I'm saying. So, I don't know if you you want to go check

[1:40:06] in to see if he has that amount in the computer line item so we can pay it off

[1:40:10] and for that line item >> and and we'll be covered for this

[1:40:13] following year. We don't have to include it in our budget.

[1:40:16] » Okay. >> It's an next year because it'll be

[1:40:21] » it's an annual. >> Yeah. Then he'll bring it in. I guess

[1:40:24] » we can do it yearly. One year, two years. I mean, if we go in three years

[1:40:27] is cost uh better pricing. >> I think we're going to have to include

[1:40:31] in the budget for next year. >> We will. We will. It will be this time

[1:40:34] next year. It'll be coming up. So, >> I would include it.

[1:40:38] » And uh on line item number 18, >> I I submitted the wrong uh quote, right?

[1:40:47] Then I brought it back by I didn't change the pricing.

[1:40:50] » If you look at the next papers, which is the Moro equipment, that's the equipment

[1:40:55] for the firewall that would cover county court.

[1:40:59] Uh >> yeah. Well, let's let's we'll get to

[1:41:02] that one. You want to take action [clears throat] on this one,

[1:41:04] commissioner, is to which you >> to cover the emails, too.

[1:41:09] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[1:41:10] » So, your recommendation would be uh SHI >> option two.

[1:41:13] » Yeah. It's a tag for the option two. Yes, sir.

[1:41:16] » 13,000. >> 13,000.

[1:41:17] » I'll make a motion judge to go with the renewal with the recommendation of SHI

[1:41:22] in the amount of 1312.4. >> Motion by the second by Commissioner

[1:41:26] Morales. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. and it'll be paid at the

[1:41:30] end of the month. >> And then 18 is to upgrade firewall

[1:41:34] equipment for the courthouse car department just to the P3 one and four

[1:41:38] and library for 11,000. >> So and that one is for I

[1:41:44] quote and then brought it back and changed it on the paper.

[1:41:48] » So it was you over stated or it's under and there's two options there. One for

[1:41:53] one year 19,000 and 23 for three years. for like $4,000 more we get two more

[1:42:02] years. >> Okay, I'm trying. Okay,

[1:42:07] » so currently how much do we pay for one year?

[1:42:10] » 19. >> 19. But this is because we need to

[1:42:13] replace some of the equipment for the county court and uh J and

[1:42:19] » the equipment that we have is like from 2013 2014. So that equipment.

[1:42:25] » Can we do this in October? >> Yes. I called them and they told me,

[1:42:28] "Oh, you know, we need to do it this month." And they said that we can submit

[1:42:33] payment within 60 days. >> Okay, good. Cuz yeah,

[1:42:37] come to my office saying, "Hey, we need to do this, Judge." But say, "Well, can

[1:42:40] we pay with a new budget?" And they agreed.

[1:42:43] » They say that we can. >> Okay.

[1:42:46] » So then we're going with the 23

[1:42:50] » for 4,000 more years.

[1:42:57] Judge, just to go back to the the previous one in that uh computer

[1:43:01] hardware uh >> malware by anti virus software for the

[1:43:06] year. >> We have 13,555.

[1:43:08] So it cover >> it'll cover.

[1:43:10] » So we'll get it from that line item. >> It'll cover line item number uh

[1:43:15] » 17 >> 17.

[1:43:16] » What line item am I going to be using on the

[1:43:21] » 10 409 33 540?

[1:43:28] Okay. >> Okay. Can I make a motion uh to go with

[1:43:31] the three-year plan in the total amount of 23,83146?

[1:43:36] » Okay. For the firewall equipment >> firewall equipment to be paid uh within

[1:43:39] the 60 days. >> Okay. So, we'll include that in the

[1:43:43] budget. >> Yes.

[1:43:45] » I'll second that. >> Motion by Commissioner Z, seconded by

[1:43:47] Commissioner Raza. Any discussion? All those in favor say I.

[1:43:51] » I. Okay.

[1:43:58] line item number.

[1:44:03] » We're going to use one of your capital outlay.

[1:44:06] » Yeah. In the budget >> from your department.

[1:44:08] » We're going to turn the new budget. >> So, and the new budget will

[1:44:11] » we're going to add the 19. [laughter]

[1:44:18] Okay. So, >> we'll pay it out on your department, but

[1:44:20] we're going to add the money the fun to be paid in.

[1:44:28] » Yes, sir.

[1:44:33] » Thank you. Item number 19 is to approve provision

[1:44:37] of 400,000 in IT intergovernmental transfer for medical center for the DY

[1:44:44] 15 advanced UC view on September 1st 2026.

[1:44:49] » Good morning judge commission. >> Good morning.

[1:44:51] » Morning.

[1:44:56] » It's that time of year where we pay the the for the engine and for

[1:45:02] » Yes. Is this for this coming year?

[1:45:05] » For not, it's for the current year. >> For the current year.

[1:45:10] » Okay. We did have some uh we did have some uh words from our indigent

[1:45:15] director. Um I know we have LMC here. See if we can uh correct those issues. I

[1:45:22] know there's a lot of concerns that are going on at the clinic.

[1:45:26] Could we step up please? >> Y'all want to step up? They weren't here

[1:45:31] with the concern. So I guess you can ask them the question if you want.

[1:45:34] » No. [clears throat] >> You want to ask them the question?

[1:45:37] » Basically, it's the same saying same. And here we go again. Um

[1:45:41] » what's because they weren't here. So >> yeah, they weren't here. But I'm not

[1:45:44] going to read it. I'm just going to go I mean because the concerns that are there

[1:45:48] because if you are going to agree to for them for another year is that uh

[1:45:55] uh we have a lot of complaints from the community. Uh it's only three days. two

[1:46:00] hours three days maybe I don't know suggestions can you change to lab port

[1:46:06] these people come every day to satan pick up labs and gateway and other

[1:46:12] health facilities if we can do that it would be a great help for the community

[1:46:18] » I just yeah and I concur with with your concerns

[1:46:23] sir can can >> I forgot your name

[1:46:26] » yes >> so you We've been partnering with with

[1:46:31] LA Medical Center, of course, our major regional hospital in in our area for 20

[1:46:35] years now and and sending taxpayer funds on a yearly basis, which are matched by

[1:46:41] the 11:15 waiver. So, what are we getting out of it? That that's that's

[1:46:46] the the question we have is why can't you all suture? Why why is no you're not

[1:46:52] able to somebody goes in there with a bleeding cut, y'all can't suture. uh if

[1:46:58] somebody needs a shot I can't get a shot. Uh when we had COVID uh a few

[1:47:03] years ago didn't treat a single patient. So that that's what we're getting at.

[1:47:08] Our antigen healthc care we're having to uh uh pay additional additional funds

[1:47:15] other than what we've already contributed uh the prior year. So, uh,

[1:47:20] your organization has failed to, you know, you get you get it free

[1:47:25] basically free rent. There has been no improvement to that clinic in 20 years.

[1:47:30] U, it just, it seems if we're in a pattern where you take our money and you

[1:47:37] open a clinic for a little while with no services, there's no medicines. I mean,

[1:47:42] it's a year after year. So, I mean, you've heard it. I've been on telling

[1:47:46] you about this. Last year you told us you all were going to bring new

[1:47:50] equipment including possibly a new X-ray machine. Didn't happen. U so it just

[1:47:55] seems we're in a cycle where every year we send the money with good intentions.

[1:48:00] We want we want better healthcare for our community. We're very limited into

[1:48:04] what our community can offer, who we can bring in. But it it gets it gets to the

[1:48:08] point where you know that just it's just kind of uh kind of crazy for us to keep

[1:48:14] doing the same thing over and over and thinking yeah it'll get better next

[1:48:18] year. It hasn't. So I don't know how you could expand on that.

[1:48:23] » We want to judge commissioners medical center.

[1:48:26] » Um so I guess we could definitely look at the lab report but from a lab draw

[1:48:32] perspective. Um I know even at the hospital we have transitioned some of

[1:48:37] the outpatient labs over to lab or we as a hospital organization don't really do

[1:48:42] any draws just for a very limited uh population of patients that are going to

[1:48:48] receive services at the at the hospital. Right. So we can definitely look at that

[1:48:53] one. As far as the X-ray machine, yes, you're right. We did that was raised as

[1:48:57] a concern. We have seen the equipment. We've actually started down the path of

[1:49:01] getting quotes and looking at what it would take what at the same time we

[1:49:05] talked about the construction for the building, right? We we've stood here in

[1:49:10] front of the commissioners before and said, "Hey, well, whenever you're going

[1:49:13] to ready to do remodeling, let us know so we can also go ahead and use the same

[1:49:18] contract that we can do our side at the same time."

[1:49:21] » Yeah. >> Right. So we my understanding is that at

[1:49:23] some point there have been some funds that may have been made available to

[1:49:26] help with some of that at least for the county side. Not

[1:49:30] » well in the years past if there was a willingness from from your group. Yes,

[1:49:35] we would pitch in. But um waiting for us to take the initiative when uh I mean so

[1:49:42] » and I know we've also talked about different space and I'm sorry to be

[1:49:45] talking over >> No, you're not sir. I appreciate you. I

[1:49:48] mean we're just here competition but so Miss Gonzalez provided us with some

[1:49:53] figures on the last 20 years. I think it was our 8% you know we've contributed

[1:50:00] almost $14 million for the operation X. Now that probably been maxed by a

[1:50:06] dollar25. So you're talking maybe 25$26 million in 20 years

[1:50:13] and the place is falling apart. You think there might be some initiative

[1:50:17] from your group say you know what let's let's try to fix some things. Let's at

[1:50:22] least minimal things. >> Uh and and what what what I see is

[1:50:26] instead it's kind of going in the opposite direction. uh less hours. Um

[1:50:33] no uh no recognizing the the state of of the facility. Uh just when I when I walk

[1:50:40] into a place and I see a place that basically the exterior uh just some type

[1:50:46] of care giving to uh the lawn or just anything that thing is looks abandoned.

[1:50:53] Uh and certainly yes. Was that does that fall on the county? Possibly. But but

[1:50:59] [clears throat] you're getting that facility for free, sir. And we're we're

[1:51:01] paying y'all a lot of money and and during that time, Pat did make uh uh

[1:51:07] some uh you know, looked into how what exactly how much went to indigen during

[1:51:12] that same period. So those $26 million uh resulted in about $4 million in

[1:51:18] actual indigen costs that were incurred by a group. Uh so it's I mean it's

[1:51:26] exponential what what we've paid uh during that time and I it just I I don't

[1:51:31] I don't see it working the way it is right now and I I expressed my

[1:51:36] frustration during COVID when the hospital wasn't even able to provide one

[1:51:42] COVID shot to our community. we had to do it on our own. And when that

[1:51:46] happened, I just said, "No, uh this is this is not a direction that we that I

[1:51:51] would like." And and because of our uh isolation, uh the inability to to

[1:51:58] attract major hospitals, we're kind of handcuffed as to what we can do. But I I

[1:52:03] just don't see this uh continuing to to be something that we should continue to

[1:52:07] explore our commissioners. just I mean >> now not now just sorry to interrupt but

[1:52:12] we're talking about the X-ray machine I know she you mentioned it was over 20

[1:52:16] years old um why is the delay to purchase and what you right now you came

[1:52:20] up you said we're looking at quotes a year later we're still looking at quotes

[1:52:24] » commissioner we have equipment even at the main campus that's 20 years old um

[1:52:31] if you the cost of the this equipment it's price

[1:52:36] » um the others with the equipment. We have to we have to look at what we're

[1:52:41] going to install to ensure that the staff that we have working at the clinic

[1:52:45] are able to operate that particular equipment because sometimes there may be

[1:52:49] licensing that they have to have or credentials they have to have in order

[1:52:53] to operate certain pieces of equipment. So, and the other thing would be it

[1:52:58] wouldn't make sense for us to put a piece of equipment in there. If the plan

[1:53:01] is that we're going to remodel, then we'd m rather put the equipment in at

[1:53:06] the same time that we are going to whenever we get to doing any of the

[1:53:09] remodeling inside. So, we make sure that even the supports the equipment that we

[1:53:14] plan on putting in there. >> So, that's really a lot,

[1:53:16] » right? And I'm just understanding, right? Obviously, I don't understand

[1:53:20] that. But you're talking about this machine that's 20 years old. You said

[1:53:24] you're already looking at quotes, but now you're saying that we you guys still

[1:53:27] have 20 uh 20 year old equipment. So pretty much we're not going to get a new

[1:53:31] machine. Correct. >> That's not what I'm saying. I'm I'm just

[1:53:33] putting it in >> I'm just trying to make a

[1:53:35] » I understand and I'm trying to put it in context to say that this is not an

[1:53:39] isolated item for Sapata County. This happens even at our main campus. Okay.

[1:53:45] So that please don't misconrue. >> No, I'm just trying to make sense of it.

[1:53:50] The thing is to say that I'm sorry to interrupt.

[1:53:52] » Give me one second. >> He's talking

[1:53:56] and we we provide services seven days a week, eight 12 hours a day. Saturdays

[1:54:04] we're open up until 5. We're not open every Sunday. We're open every other

[1:54:08] Sunday. I think we we have made a very concerted effort to also have a

[1:54:12] physician come and do clinical here right so you know we are definitely

[1:54:20] trying to do our part to be good partners right um it and at like I told

[1:54:27] you before judge it is absolutely your prerogative to decide whether this is

[1:54:33] something that you want to continue to fund or not that's we're not telling you

[1:54:36] you have to do it >> this is your prerogative.

[1:54:40] Mercy now medical center has been here for

[1:54:45] » decades >> and we haven't gone away and we haven't

[1:54:49] we're not so we have no plans of going away

[1:54:53] » right >> I appreciate that. So it's I appreciate

[1:54:56] that it's it's not a requirement for us to contribute this.

[1:55:00] » That's absolutely your prerogative. We we've never we've never said hey you

[1:55:04] need to do this in order for this to continue to happen. We've been here.

[1:55:07] We're there's no commitment had there had been any commitment from the from

[1:55:12] the county to fund this, right? We haven't said, "Hey, we're putting we're

[1:55:16] closing the doors unless we get this." That's not the case. We're going to

[1:55:19] continue to be here for the community. Okay. So, that's your prerogative. Yes.

[1:55:24] And even commissioner to the point earlier, things don't always move as

[1:55:29] fast as we'd like them to. Um, we do have a lot of things that we're always

[1:55:34] evaluating and we make a very concerted effort to hit as much as we can.

[1:55:38] Unfortunately, something's something always comes up and then we end up even

[1:55:43] having to redirect funds just like you would as a

[1:55:47] » right. So, >> but u items that we can uh look at from

[1:55:53] » that that would be something that uh >> yes that would provide an incentive if

[1:56:00] if we see something that improves there. Maybe next year we might be a little

[1:56:05] more uh uh encouraged to move forward with that. I just to me depositing this

[1:56:11] money has not really helped uh our community out. And to be fair, every

[1:56:16] time, you know, I take my kids there, the staff is, you know, they do their

[1:56:19] job. They're wonderful in what they do, you know. So, I want to point that out

[1:56:22] there. >> I have a question and maybe you can't

[1:56:25] answer right now. So, you're saying that even if we don't pay the IGT, you'll

[1:56:29] still be here as a clinic, but will you still be

[1:56:35] how will the indigent part work? >> It's not going to change.

[1:56:39] » Oh, >> that doesn't change.

[1:56:40] » Okay. We're we're not here uh just because or

[1:56:47] we may or may not get some money. Right. That I I want to make that very clear.

[1:56:54] » Your your your fund the funding from the county is not what determines whether

[1:56:59] we're here or not. >> Right.

[1:57:02] » Well, it certainly determined how many hours of operation you were.

[1:57:06] » Judge, we we expanded our hours. >> No, no. Well, you used to have seven

[1:57:11] days a week, maybe not 12 hours every day. Maybe the scope is not what the the

[1:57:17] county may be looking for, what you may need. We can go back and evaluate and

[1:57:22] see what the skill sets that we have, the the suturing and the shot.

[1:57:26] » If you haven't been able to suture in years, uh so I get those I get friends

[1:57:31] of mine walk in with a cut and they say go to LA. So I mean you can't suture or

[1:57:37] you know you know blessed uh Miss Platner who has been helping out uh

[1:57:42] volunteering at our the clinic that is not the side of the clinic that's not

[1:57:46] being used utilized by LMC. How many patients is she seeing on a weekly

[1:57:51] basis? Uh >> about 30

[1:57:53] » 30 pat >> and is she taking care of our indigent

[1:57:58] also? Actually, she's taking her argent basically. That's why she's taking

[1:58:02] » because our agent are not being their services are not being met, sir. That

[1:58:07] that's >> it's

[1:58:10] just a reviewing of the staff. I really recommend is for you to put cameras in

[1:58:14] there so you can see and maybe your staff.

[1:58:17] » We don't put cameras. >> Okay, that's great. But maybe

[1:58:19] re-evaluate your staff because I last Friday I had two indigent uh clients

[1:58:26] » uh refuse they refused their because they didn't have insurance. When they

[1:58:30] know they're indigent, all they had to do is send them to my site. I give them

[1:58:34] the voucher and then they were charging them.

[1:58:36] » We we never whether somebody has insurance or not.

[1:58:40] » You don't >> whether somebody has insurance or not.

[1:58:42] » It's the staff. >> They're an extension of our hospital.

[1:58:47] The same would be the >> And I appreciate everything you have you

[1:58:50] guys have done to Sapata and all the services that we get, but it's always

[1:58:55] Sapata last, right? We're always the last in your in your mind because you

[1:59:00] even said it right now. I mean, yes, you focus in everything you have right there

[1:59:04] in the You just opened a new clinic in in in Luke 20.

[1:59:10] » Beautiful clinic. >> It's an ER. It's an ER. Exactly.

[1:59:15] » And we cannot get it because it's near enough. you know that we have people

[1:59:20] coming from Heville, Rooney, all the little towns outside to come to your

[1:59:25] your services. Look at all the people that we have,

[1:59:29] right? It's it's it's never enough people. We don't have enough people with

[1:59:34] because we're not given enough services. That's been my concern. I guess what I

[1:59:38] would say to to the court right is if you feel that the services that Brio

[1:59:43] Medical Center provides are not sufficient then let's talk about that

[1:59:47] and let's see what that means

[1:59:51] we want to make sure that we are the right partner for you guys at the end of

[1:59:54] the day that's really what it comes down to

[1:59:56] » you don't know how how hard and I actually begged when co and I still

[2:00:01] couldn't get y'all to help us >> I was not at the hospital at the time

[2:00:05] but I can say that what happened during COVID as far as the vaccines were

[2:00:09] concerned because I was at another healthcare right

[2:00:11] » institution is we were following the mandates of the state the state had

[2:00:15] their guidelines as to who received what I worked in a hospital I was not one of

[2:00:21] the very first ones vaccinated >> I understand it was one of the very last

[2:00:24] » but I just couldn't understand what we there was no help that that was a hard

[2:00:28] one for me to to swallow >> I mean we're thank goodness we're almost

[2:00:34] six years removed from that and never counted again. Maybe there's lessons

[2:00:38] learned from every from that incident for everybody.

[2:00:41] » But I I'm going to go I'm going to go back to this, right? Laredo Medical

[2:00:45] Center continues to be here. Okay? >> Right. Um we always welcome some

[2:00:50] feedback, right? If there's a way that we can improve the service, we'll

[2:00:54] definitely go back and take a look and make sure that we are able to. And if

[2:00:57] we're not able to, we will let you know why.

[2:01:00] » Okay. >> Okay.

[2:01:02] » Quick question on my end. So, you're saying if we do not contribute the

[2:01:06] 400,000 to the IGT, um my question is will the services

[2:01:12] diminish or it'll stay currently as what we're doing right now?

[2:01:16] » Well, the the transfer hasn't happened all year long and the services have not

[2:01:21] diminished. So, I would not expect that the services would the services will not

[2:01:26] diminish. Okay. The services are going to be what they are.

[2:01:28] » Question. >> Thank you.

[2:01:31] » Any other questions? >> That's it. Thank you for your time.

[2:01:33] » Yeah. So, Miss Flat nurse services our side, we pay the concer or how does that

[2:01:37] work? >> No, we use the also just

[2:01:40] » does it spread out to other nurse practitioners in the area or

[2:01:44] » Yeah. Everybody Mario Salenas, Darcia, everybody goes there because the indigen

[2:01:50] the indigent healthcare is not only for our facility is for uh we also support

[2:01:57] um >> gateway

[2:01:58] » gateway because whatever they don't have that's where we come up where we back

[2:02:03] all this all these little clinics because it's you're talking about uh

[2:02:07] sending them to Laredo LC if it if it would continue if it would be what you

[2:02:13] just said right that you're not going to contribute, then we would have to pay

[2:02:17] them instead of they charging us out of the 8%. There's a lot of counties that

[2:02:24] are like that. They keep their funding and then we pay to whoever you're going

[2:02:29] to send them. >> It's the other way around and then you

[2:02:32] know that you're getting your services for what you pay.

[2:02:36] » Thank you.

[2:02:40] » There a motion. I make a motion to approve the $400,000 judge payment.

[2:02:47] » I'll second the motion. >> Got a motion and a second

[2:02:50] » to approve the transfer the 400,000. >> This is from this past year. Correct.

[2:02:56] » This

[2:03:00] for this current year for this upcoming year.

[2:03:02] » Yeah, we don't know it right now. Oh, I thought it

[2:03:04] » No, for this current year because for this current year from December to

[2:03:08] December >> then then I'll retract my my motion. Uh

[2:03:13] let's see what services can come in judge. Let's see what can

[2:03:16] » So no action. >> No action. I would say no action on

[2:03:19] this. Let's see what services let's see what uh agreement we can come to and uh

[2:03:23] see if we can increase our our services to support them.

[2:03:27] » So there's no action. So there will be no transfer. Is that correct? If there

[2:03:31] was a motion and that means we >> Okay, I know. I hear you say.

[2:03:36] » Yeah. Okay. >> So, would no action be sufficient

[2:03:40] » or would we have to move a motion to deny

[2:03:42] » or deny? >> Well, it be to deny judge because it's

[2:03:46] provision of 400,000. >> So, motion to deny.

[2:03:49] » Now, we have a motion that commissioners has a motion to deny. Is there a second?

[2:03:52] » So, nothing will change right if you don't get the 400,000. I don't want the

[2:03:55] services to be interrupted here for community.

[2:03:57] » No, that's what that's what I was asking. I mean because that would

[2:04:01] » well the thing is we're going to we're going to revisit the the services see

[2:04:05] what we can you know services we can use this

[2:04:09] » we got a motion to deny I'll send you a motion to deny is there any other

[2:04:13] discussion >> okay in favor to deny

[2:04:17] » it's not I mean >> well that's what I was asking you don't

[2:04:21] pay the 400 would the services be diminished and he said no

[2:04:24] » I mean >> we got a motion or a second is there a

[2:04:27] vote >> discussion judge

[2:04:31] I'm asking. So that's the only thing that I want you to change and then our

[2:04:35] community doesn't have the service that they deserve.

[2:04:37] » You know, I know you've been here for a long time and I really thank you for

[2:04:40] that. I just wanted >> We have no intentions of changing the

[2:04:44] service. >> Well, you could if you decided to.

[2:04:46] » Well, we could do that in any of our book of business that we do even in

[2:04:49] Laro. Okay. >> Right. So, we have no intentions. The

[2:04:53] county could use this time remaining in the year to evaluate further whether

[2:04:58] they are worthy of the 400,000 >> or not. Next year

[2:05:04] motion a second to deny. All those in favor to deny.

[2:05:08] » I >> I for commissioner.

[2:05:10] » No. >> Okay. Unanimous. Okay. Moving on. 20 to

[2:05:15] approve for this station repairs to be paid from certificates of obligation

[2:05:20] totaling 25,600 >> and this commissioners is uh for several

[2:05:25] contractors for that uh uh lift station in Falcon Mesa. So there's two

[2:05:31] contractors I believe two different contracts.

[2:05:33] » Yeah. I also added uh >> it's a total of $44,85.

[2:05:39] » It's 25600 plus uh I'm adding uh three more

[2:05:44] invoices for uh two for RAM and one for ANA pipeline which totals $44,85.

[2:05:53] » Okay. So I would obtain a motion by commissioner morada to approve the

[2:05:56] payment of $44,000

[2:06:01] » $85 from the certification for uh the legislation repair and documents.

[2:06:08] » Second by commissioner Solis. All those in favor say I.

[2:06:10] » I. >> Item number 21 is to approve the

[2:06:13] transfer of the land devoski from custodian department 516 slot number

[2:06:16] three to water plant 600 slot 20. I spoke with the department head

[2:06:22] » on this one. Uh she texted for 21 and 22' be no action at the moment.

[2:06:26] » No. Okay. Yes. The transfer will not be happening. No action. Okay. Well, she's

[2:06:31] requesting that they don't take place. So, no action on 21 and 22 to approve

[2:06:36] the transfer from department 20 to custo.

[2:06:43] No action on that either. Got line item transfers

[2:06:48] and 3 and 24 line item transfers. Motion by commissioner to app. Fine. Transfer

[2:06:53] second by Commissioner Morales. All those in favor say I.

[2:06:56] » I. Motion to return by Commissioner Mores. Second by Commissioner.

[2:07:02] Thank you.

Zapata County Regular Commissioners Court Meeting - 08/24/2026

Transcript