Jun 10, 2025 Commissioners Court Regular Meeting

[00:00:03]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

IT'S NINE O'CLOCK.

IT IS JUNE 10TH, 2025.

WE ARE AT THE ROCKWELL COUNTY HISTORIC COURTHOUSE.

I'M GONNA CALL THE REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING TO ORDER.

I'M GONNA ASK

[A) INVOCATION]

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE STAND AND BOW WITH ME.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM INTO THIS COURT SO THAT WE MAY DO YOUR WILL IN THIS GREAT COUNTY IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.

FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU BE WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY DO THE IMPORTANT TASKS TO TRY TO KEEP US SAFE.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE ABILITY TO ATTEND TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS COUNTY, AND I PRAY THAT WE FOREVER SEEK YOU FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, MS. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

FOR ALL THE HONOR, THE TEXAS FLAG, P PCE AT TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

GOD BLESS, TEXAS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK

[RECOGNITION/PRESENTATION]

THIS BRINGS US TO RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS.

AND FIRST ON THE LIST IS RECOGNITION OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROCKWALL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSIONER LICHTY.

WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THIS COUNTY TO HAVE THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT LIBRARY, FIRST OF ALL, AND THANK TO ALL THOSE PREVIOUSLY WHO BUILT THAT FOR US.

UM, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT GROUP LIKE THIS, WHO SPENDS SO MUCH TIME DOING NOTHING BUT PROMOTING THE LIBRARY AND ITS PURPOSES.

SO WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE, JUDGE, THAT I'D LIKE TO READ.

WHEREAS FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY CONSISTENTLY OFFER ADVOCACY AND FUNDING TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL LIBRARY PROGRAMMING, FUNDING FOR EXTRA LIBRARY EQUIPMENT, SUPPORT FOR SUMMER READING PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

PRIMARY SUPPORT FOR ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM, INCLUDING PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR GED STUDENTS SKILLS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN BASIC LITERARY LITERACY AND MATH INSTRUCTION, AND READING AND WRITING, AND ENGLISH PREPARATION FOR EARNING UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP, WHEREAS THE FRIEND'S GIFT OF THEIR TIME, FUNDING AND COMMITMENT TO THE LIBRARY SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL IN HOW VOLUNTEERISM LEADS TO POSITIVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO ENGAGE IN THE JOY OF LIFELONG LEARNING AND CONNECT WITH THE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS OF OTHERS FROM AGES PAST TO THE PRESENT.

WHEREAS IN THEIR MOST FISCAL YEAR, THE FRIENDS HAVE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED $64,050 IN PRACTICAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING $25,890 TO ASSIST IN INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL STUDY ROOMS, $9,660 FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TEEN AREA, $1,000 FOR GED STUDY EXPENSES, $14,000 FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS, AND $13,500 FOR ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM.

NOW, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE, Y'ALL.

THANKS.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY COMMENDS THE FRIENDS OF THE ROCKWALL PUBLIC LI ROCKWALL COUNTY LIBRARY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE ROCKWALL COUNTY LIBRARY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKE ROCKWELL COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY, AND URGES EVERYONE TO CONSIDER JOINING THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DO TO SUPPORT OUR COUNTY LIBRARY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ON OUR RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATION IS RECOGNITION PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND I WILL HANDLE THIS ONE.

WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.

UH, WHEREAS THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF ROCKWALL COUNTY, TEXAS ARE TOMORROW'S LEADERS, AND WHEREAS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE NEED PROFESSIONAL YOUTH SERVICES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

AND WHEREAS THERE ARE TWO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, TEXAS, AN ELEMENTARY SITE, AND A TEEN CLUB THAT SERVE MORE THAN 300 YOUNG

[00:05:01]

AND WHEREAS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS INSTILL YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SELF-CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE THEY CAN SUCCEED AT ANYTHING THEY PUT THEIR MIND TO AND STAND AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS IN THE AREA OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP.

AND WHEREAS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN ROCKWALL COUNTY HELP ENSURE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO SPEND TIME, AND WE'LL PROVIDE THEM WITH QUALITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN NORTHEAST TEXAS WILL CELEBRATE NATIONAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WEEK WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,000 CLUBS AND OVER 2 MILLION MORE CHILDREN AND TEENS NATIONWIDE.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.

I, FRANK, NEW COUNTY JUDGE OF ROCKWELL COUNTY DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIMED JUNE 23 THROUGH 27, 20 25 AS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WEEK.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT BRINGS US NEXT UNDER RECOGNITION PRESENTATIONS OF PROCLAMATION, WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, COMMISSIONER M**K STAND.

I'M JUST GONNA STAND IF I CAN, AND I'M GONNA ASK ALL THE LADIES THAT ARE VETERANS IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WOULD STAND AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU 'CAUSE I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING THE WOMEN VETERANS, AND WE ARE FOR THE 2025 WEDDING.

I'M GONNA DO A PROCLAMATION FOR THE WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, WHEREAS JUNE 12TH, 2025 MARKS THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GROUNDBREAKING WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, ENABLING WOMEN TO SERVE AS PERMANENT REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

AND WHEREAS WOMEN VETERANS ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH NEARLY 20% OF THE VETERAN POPULATION BY 2045.

AND WHEREAS WE SALUTE AND REMEMBER THE WOMEN WHO FEARLESSLY SERVED OUR NATION THROUGH THEIR SELFLESS SACRIFICE, THEIR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE TO OUR NATION.

AND WHEREAS THE STATE OF TEXAS IS HOME TO MORE THAN 210,000 WOMEN VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY, OFTEN IN EXTREME DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, INCLUDING BEING TAKEN AS POWS FROM WORLD WAR II THROUGH OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

AND WHEREAS EACH WOMAN VETERAN IS EXTRAORDINARY IN HER OWN WAY, PROVING THAT WOMEN WORKING INSIDE THE HOME OR OUTSIDE IN ACADEMIA, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, LABOR, GOVERNANCE, AND MORE MAINTAIN CRITICAL ROLES IN EVERY SPHERE OF SOCIETY.

AND WHEREAS THE ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT BESTOWS THE HONOR ON ALL WOMEN VETERANS LIVING AND WORKING IN ROCKWALL COUNTY FOR THEIR FAITHFUL SERVICE TO OUR NATION BY DEFENDING OUR FREEDOM AND THEIR LIBERTY.

AND WHEREAS ROCKWALL COUNTY, TEXAS IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND RECOGNIZING THE BRAVERY OF ALL WOMEN VETERANS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE ROCKWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 12TH, 2025 AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, AND ENCOURAGE ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY TO JOIN US IN HONORING WOMEN'S VETERANS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

LORNA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? FIRST OF ALL, IT'S JUST, UH, WONDERFULLY REMARKABLE THAT THE, UH, ROCKWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS BESTOWED SUCH A WONDERFUL RECOGNITION ON, UH, FEMALE VETERANS AT THIS TIME.

AND IT'S ALWAYS, EVER SINCE I'VE LIVED IN ROCKWELL COUNTY, VETERANS HAVE BEEN A CHERISHED AND REVERED, UH, GROUP, AND WE ALL VETERANS REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I STAND HERE AS A HUMBLE REPRESENTATIVE OF FEMALE VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

I KNOW WHEN I CAME IN, IN 1978, I WAS FOLLOWING WOMEN THAT WERE PRIMARILY NUR FOR THE AIR FORCE, PRIMARILY NURSES IN VIETNAM OR INTEL OFFICERS IN VIETNAM.

AND I, UH, MY FIRST TWO SUPERVISORS IN THE MILITARY WERE, UH, FEMALE, UH, INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.

I TR STRIVE TO BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE WOMEN THAT FOLLOWED ME IN MY 20 YEAR CAREER.

AND I AM ALSO VERY HUMBLED BY WHAT WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED SINCE I LEFT THE MILITARY.

SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND WE ALL LOVE OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

[00:10:04]

THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE PUBLIC FORUM.

NO ONE'S SIGNED UP, BUT THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ABOUT ANY COUNTY MATTERS.

SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT, COME FORWARD.

NOW THERE'S A LITTLE MOTION, BUT EVERYBODY'S LEAVING, SO, OKAY.

SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[2. Discussion of 89th Legislative Session, Update/Overview County-related bills, action on resolution in support of or opposition to any pending actions or bills, and all related issues; (Commissioners Court) ]

LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER GOANA.

ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE A QUICK, UH, UPDATE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR SESSION HAS, UH, ENDED, AND FOR NOW, THERE'S NOT BEEN A CALLED SPECIAL SESSION, ALTHOUGH THERE, THERE MAY STILL BE.

UM, THIS UPDATE I'M GONNA READ IS, IS FROM SENATOR HALL, AND I JUST WANT TO GET THIS READ INTO THE RECORD OF SOME THINGS THAT THEY'RE PROUD THEY ACCOMPLISHED.

UH, DURING THE SESSION, UH, SENATOR HALL WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH SB 75, WHICH IS, UH, A BILL THAT CREATES THE TEXAS SECURITY, TEXAS GRID SECURITY COMMISSION.

UM, SENATOR HALL'S BEEN WORKING FOR OVER A DECADE, UM, EVEN WHEN NO ONE WAS LISTENING TO TRY TO, UM, SECURE OUR GRID AND TO UPGRADE OUR GRID TO MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT.

UM, AND HE'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF THAT.

HE, UM, HAS FILED 21 DIFFERENT ELECTION INTEGRITY BILLS.

UH, ONE OF THOSE SENATE BILL 27 53 MADE IT THROUGH.

UM, THIS BILL IS GOING TO ELIMINATE, ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATE THE, UH, GAP BETWEEN THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD AND THE REGULAR VOTING DAY.

SO IT'LL JUST BE ONE SOLID, UH, VOTING PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT A BREAK.

THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS TO THAT THAT WE'RE STILL KIND OF GOING THROUGH TO DETERMINE HOW THAT BILL'S GONNA IMPACT, UH, COUNTIES.

UM, SO WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT LATER.

UM, WE ALSO, HE WAS ALSO ABLE TO, UM, PASS SB 30 70, UM, WHICH ESSENTIALLY DISSOLVED THE LOTTERY COMMISSION AND ROLLED IT UP UNDER A DIFFERENT, UM, UH, LEGISLATIVE ARM.

AND THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE, UM, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SOME BAD PLAYERS, MOST OF 'EM FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, UM, WERE USING COURIERS TO PURCHASE A HUGE AMOUNT OF LOTTERY TICKETS AND, UM, THROUGH ILLEGAL VENDORS THAT WERE JUST SETTING UP SHOPS.

AND THE WHOLE SHOP, THE WHOLE CONVENIENCE STORE WAS REALLY JUST, UM, LOTTERY MACHINES.

AND IT WASN'T EVEN THE, LIKE, YOU COULD BUY LOTTERY TICKETS FOR SCRATCH OFF.

IT WAS JUST SO THEY COULD PRINT AS MANY LOTTERY TICKET NUMBERS AS POSSIBLE.

AND, UM, SO FOR AN ACT FOR AN ACTING GROUP, UM, DID THIS AND WON A $95 MILLION LOTTERY.

YOU KNOW, THEY SPENT ABOUT 20 MILLION ON TICKETS, ONE $95 MILLION.

THERE IS A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL THAT WORKS FOR THE LOTTERY COMMISSION THAT WAS FOUND TO HAVE WON EIGHT DIFFERENT LOTTERIES FROM $50,000 AROUND THE $50,000 RANGE, DOING A SIMILAR TACTIC.

UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME ABUSE.

UM, THE LOTTERY SYSTEM WAS NOT DOING WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO, WHICH WAS, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS, UH, BROUGHT TO TEXAS, IT WAS TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS GONNA FUND THE SCHOOLS ENTIRELY.

IT WAS, UH, DON'T BE FOOLED BY THAT.

IF, UH, ANY OTHER KIND OF GAMBLING COMES BACK, IT'S JUST FROM MY, UH, BULLY PULPIT.

BUT, UM, IT WASN'T DOING THAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA SEE IT THIS NEW WAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA MANAGE THE LOTTERY IS DUE TO SUNSET IN TWO YEARS.

SO IT IS ONLY A TRIAL BASIS TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THE LOTTERY GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AGAIN, IF THEY DO NOT, IT COULD COMPLETELY GO AWAY IN THE NEXT SESSION.

THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT, UH, SENATOR HALL WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY.

UH, REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON, UH, LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL PROMINENT, UH, MEASURES, UH, THAT PASSED SB 17, UH, PROHIBITS, UH, WHICH SHE HELPED ON THE HOUSE SIDE NOW PROHIBITS LAND PURCHASES IN TEXAS BY ENTITIES TIED TO HOSTILE NATIONS.

SO, IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE MEDIA, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, CHINESE BUYING, UH, FOREIGN NATIONALS, BUYING LAND IN TEXAS, BUYING UP FARMLAND.

UH, THIS BILL GOES A LONG WAY TO PREVENT THAT.

AND THEN SHE TALKED ABOUT HB TWO, UM, WHICH IS THE NEW FUNDING BILL FOR SCHOOLS.

UM, $8.5 BILLION FOR SCHOOL FINANCE AND, UM, SIGNIFICANT PORTION FOR TEACHER PAY RAISES.

UM, SB TWO, UH, SETS UP A $1 BILLION EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM THAT IS TEXAS'S FIRST JUMP INTO, UH, SCHOOL CHOICE.

SO WE'RE ALL WAITING ANXIOUSLY TO SEE HOW THAT MIGHT GO.

UM, AND THEN SB EIGHT DIRECTS COUNTY SHERIFFS TO FORMAL FORMALIZE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ICE.

UM,

[00:15:01]

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT BILL FOR US STATEWIDE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO UPDATE.

UM, WHAT I'M HEARING ON SPECIAL SESSION IS A, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UH, BAIL REFORM, UM, DID NOT PASS.

AND THE GOVERNOR, IT WAS ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, PRIORITIES TO, UM, HAVE BAIL REFORM.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE VIOLENT OFFENDERS ON THE STREETS, AND SOME OF OUR MORE, UM, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY MORE LIBERAL, UH, MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES THAT, UH, LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE MAY HEAR.

UM, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

AND THEN A, UH, POTENTIAL TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING QUESTION AS WELL.

SO THIS, UH, MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, WHAT HAPPENED TO BAIL REFORM? I THOUGHT THAT HAD A GOOD HEAD OF STEAM AND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ALREADY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

YEAH.

BAIL REFORM LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DONE.

A POINT OF ORDER HAPPENED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT GOT KILLED.

UH, JUST, AND, AND NOBODY REALLY SAW THAT COMING.

IT WAS, UH, STEAM ROLLING.

OKAY.

AND DIED, YEAH.

ON A POINT OF ORDER.

YEAH, IT WAS GOING SO WELL.

I FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER M**K.

I, I THINK, UM, COMMISSIONER GOANA, UM, PRETTY MUCH, UM, SPOKE ON MOST OF THE ITEMS. I THINK THAT ELECTIONS, THERE ARE SOME THAT, THERE WAS SOME ELECTION BILLS THAT ARE, ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME FISCAL, UM, A BIT IMPACTS, NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO COUNTIES SUCH AS ROCKWALL AND OTHERS, AND, AND ESPECIALLY THE LARGER COUNTIES AS WELL.

SO, UM, THAT'S A CONCERN, AND WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT AND SEEING HOW THAT, THAT GOES.

UM, BUT THE BUDGET WAS PASSED, UM, AND THEY HAD PROBABLY THE MOST BILLS THEY'VE EVER HAD, UM, THAT THEY TRIED TO, THAT, THAT THEY BROUGHT.

AND, BUT OF COURSE, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF THEM THAT PASSED WAS LESS THAN, UM, LESS THAN RIGHT AT 10%.

SO IT'S KIND OF IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

UM, PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING, THEY, THEY CAME ACROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S, UM, PRIORITIES WERE FOR THAT AND, AND, UM, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE, THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN WATCHING.

UM, IN REGARDS TO COUNTIES, THE, AS I, I THINK THE TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN, WHEN I, UM, GAVE, GAVE AN UPDATE, WE WERE LOOKING GOOD AS COUNTIES, UM, AS FAR AS NOT, NOT HAVING AS MUCH OF OUR, OF OUR ABILITIES AND OUR, OUR CONTROL TAKING AWAY FROM US.

SOME OF THOSE BILLS DID DIE.

THERE WAS A NUMBER OF BILLS OUT THERE, UM, BUT THE MORE OF THEM DIED THAN PASSED.

SO I THINK IN THAT CASE, WE, WE, WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

HOW ABOUT IF I SAY IT THAT WAY? SO THAT'S ABOUT ALL I'M GONNA SAY.

I, I LIKE IT.

SOMETIMES KILLING A BAD BILL IS JUST AS GOOD AS PASSING A GOOD BILL.

UM, COMMISSIONER LICHTY, ANYTHING? THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS ARE SAFE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE'S OUTTA SESSION .

THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

COMMISSIONER STACEY, YOU WANT TO TRY TO FOLLOW THAT ? UM, I'M GONNA TRY.

UM, SO, UH, , LAUREN, YOU JUST TAKE ME OUTTA MY GAME.

I'M GLAD I WROTE SOME OF MY COMMENTS DOWN, OR ELSE I WOULD'VE JUST HAD TO JUST PASS AT THAT POINT.

UM, THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE IN WASHINGTON TO GET A SPECIAL SESSION ON REDISTRICTING.

THERE IS A BELIEF THAT WE COULD PICK UP FIVE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IF WE DID THAT.

SO BE, BE LOOKING AT THAT.

I, I, I WANT TO KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK.

THERE'S GONNA BE MAJOR SHAKEUPS IN THE STATE SENATE COMING.

UM, UH, MAYS MIDDLETON IS ALREADY SAID HE IS GONNA RUN FOR AG.

THERE'S A MAJOR RUMOR THAT BRIAN HUGHES WILL AS WELL.

AND WE KNOW THAT HUFFMAN WILL, SO THAT'S THREE STATE SENATORS.

UM, TWO OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN TO RUN, BUT HUFFMAN DOES NOT HAVE TO RESIGN TO RUN.

UM, I HAVE IT ON REALLY GOOD AUTHORITY THAT KELLY HANCOCK IS ABOUT TO BE NAMED THE COMPTROLLER, WHICH WOULD BE TAKING SOMEONE, UM, OUT OF THE SENATE AS WELL.

UM, I HAVE IT ON EXTREMELY GOOD AUTHORITY THAT PAUL BETTEN COURT WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION.

UM, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU.

SERIOUSLY, I WAS TOLD I COULD SAY THAT PUBLICLY.

OKAY.

THAT'S, YEAH, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T, JIM.

I REFER TO MY PRIOR COMMENT.

YEAH.

NOW I KNOW THIS GIVES US SOME HOPE, BUT THE CHANCES OF THEIR REPLACEMENTS HAVING VERY SIMILAR PHY, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, LEANINGS, UH, POLITICALLY ARE GONNA BE, UH, VERY HIGH.

UM, WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE EFFECTS OF CHAIRMAN CREED'S ANTICS AS THE, UH, HOUSE CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION.

EVERYTHING HE DID DIED, NOTHING.

HE DID WORKED.

UM, HE GUTTED SENATE BILLS.

UM, WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GONNA RUN FOR REELECTION, BUT, UH, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT SURE FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK THE NEXT SESSION.

UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S GONNA BE REMEMBERED AS A WATER SESSION BECAUSE OF THEIR, UM,

[00:20:01]

BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A VIRTUAL, A VIRTUE SIGNALING SESSION BECAUSE THEY JUST BANNED EVERYTHING.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME FINDING PEOPLE MESSAGING AND TALKING TO OUR OWN REPS ABOUT THESE LAND USE BILLS AND ATTACK ON LOCAL DECISION MAKING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR REPS THAT ARE NECESSARILY ORIGINATING THIS, IT IS IN THE WATER IN AUSTIN, AND WE HAVE TO REDIRECT THESE CONVERSATIONS.

UM, I'VE ALSO, UH, SPOKEN WITH THE AUTHORS OF SB EIGHT 40 AND SB 15, AND THEY DO SAY THAT THEY WILL BE INCREASING THE BRACKETS SO THAT NO MORE THAN THOSE EIGHT CITIES WILL EVER BE INCLUDED IN THOSE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATORS TO DO THAT.

SO AGAIN, THEY'RE STILL CHARGING, THEY'RE STILL TARGETING LARGE CITIES WITH A LOT OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

GOT IT.

O OVER THE WEEKEND, SENATOR HUGHES ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO SEEK REELECTION AND NOT, NOW, THAT MAY JUST BE A HEAD FAKE, BUT, UM, WE, WE WILL SEE, UH, AND I WILL SAY AS FAR AS MY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, I'M ON THE FRONT END OF, UM, VISITING WITH THE POLICY MAKERS AND, AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE MEETINGS SET ALREADY WITH THE POLICY PLAYERS IN AUSTIN.

SO GONNA SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE IN THE OFF SESSION.

SO, UH, I WILL KEEP YOU GUYS INFORMED OF HOW, HOW THAT'S GOING.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL

[3. Discuss/Act on updates and progress related to the Courthouse Courtroom additions 3rd floor project, and all related issues; (Commissioner GaIlana) ]

COMMISSIONER ALANA.

SO WE WILL NOT HAVE SAL HERE TODAY AT A CONFLICT.

THERE'S NOT, UH, A WHOLE LOT TO UPDATE OTHER THAN, UM, WE SPENT, UM, A GOOD PORTION OF, UH, LAST WEEK WORKING OUT, UH, OUR ISSUES WITH BLOOM, WHICH, UM, IS KIND OF OUR AUDIO AND, UM, CABLING AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, UM, BUILD TO A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO DECONSTRUCT THINGS TO PUT THEIR THINGS TOGETHER.

SO WE GOT THE TWO, TWO OF, UH, THEM TOGETHER, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN GOING FORWARD.

THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF, UM, A COUPLE OF CHANGE ORDERS COMING TO THE COURT, UM, FOR THAT.

UM, BUT WE'RE NOT READY FOR THAT QUITE YET.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[4. Discuss/Act on updates and progress related to the American Rescue Plan monies and the planned County Annex project, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy) ]

COMMISSIONER STACY AND NICO IS WORKING HIS WAY UP HERE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MY NAME IS NICO PARKS WITH BROADUS AND ASSOCIATES.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP HERE AND PROVIDE THIS UPDATE FOR THE ROCKWALL COUNTY ANNEX PROJECT.

IF YOU COULD JUST ALLOW ME A SECOND, I'LL GET THIS UPDATE PULLED UP FOR YOU ALL.

STARTING WITH SAFETY, THERE ARE NO NEW INCIDENTS, NO INCIDENTS AT ALL TO REPORT ON.

UM, THUS FAR, THE SAFETY PLAN CONTINUES TO BE ENFORCED ON SITE BY HELEN WILKINSON.

WE ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMING ON SCHEDULE WITH CONSTRUCTION.

WE ARE BEHIND A FEW WEEKS ON THE FURNITURE PROCUREMENT.

HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO TRY AND IMPROVE THOSE DATES AND MITIGATE THEIR IMPACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

WE PERFORMING UNDER BUDGET, UH, THUS FAR.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE BACK THE COUNTY OVER $1 MILLION IN PROJECT SAVINGS, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME MORE BACK AT THE FINISH LINE.

MOVING ON TO CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY.

THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON, MOST NOTABLY, THE LANDSCAPE BED PREP, PAINTING OF CEILINGS INSIDE THE BUILDING, FORMING AND REINFORCING AND POURING THE SIDEWALKS AND THE PAVER SUBSTRATE.

THEY'VE ALSO STARTED THE TRANSACTION WINDOWS AT THE TAX OFFICE, AS WELL AS INSTALLATION OF THE DOORS AND HARDWARE.

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE WILL CONTINUE WRAPPING UP THOSE, UH, THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE NOT FULLY COMPLETED THAT I JUST MENTIONED, AS WELL AS, UH, WE'LL START WORKING ON THE AUDIO VISUAL, UH, WINDOW SHADES, WALL ACCESSORIES, AND THE PAVERS AND RETAINING WALL.

IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT, I HAD MENTIONED THE FURNITURE, UM, BUT ALSO THE WATER METER WAS SET.

SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO START THE FUNCTIONAL TESTING ON THE PLUMBING FIXTURES.

UH, NO NEW UPDATES ON QUALITY CONTROL.

[00:25:01]

THIS SHOWS THE ELECTION OFFICE AREA.

THE FLOORING'S ALL FINISHED, SO THEY HAVE PROTECTION DOWN.

THE CEILINGS WERE PAINTED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, SO THEY HAD PLASTIC DRAPED EVERYWHERE.

UH, THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF PROTECTING EVERYTHING THAT'S IN PLACE.

HERE.

YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE FORM WORK FOR THE CONCRETE THAT IS GETTING POURED, UH, WHICH IS A SUBSTRATE FOR THE PAVERS.

AND THERE'S A BRAND NEW PRETTY TREE PLANTED .

SO EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL.

THAT WRAPS UP MY UPDATE.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? I, I DO.

I HAVE A QUESTION WITH THE, WITH THE FURNITURE PROCUREMENT AND IT KIND OF BEING DELAYED, YOU SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

YES.

IS THAT PUSHING BACK THE, THE MOVE-IN DATES AS WELL FOR THE, UM, THE NEW MI IT IT'S PUSHING OUR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION, YES.

AND THAT WILL BE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON ONE OF THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE PCOS.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON

[5. Discuss/Act on Proposed Change Orders No. 44 thru 50 to the agreement with Hill & Wilkinson Construction Group for the Rockwall County Annex project, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy) ]

COMMISSIONER STACY.

YEAH, SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, UH, I'M GONNA KIND OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT ALL THESE ARE AND THEN WE'LL DO THE Q AND A.

SO, UM, 44 IS AN ARCHITECTURAL CHANGE TO PUT METAL CAPS ON THE STRUCTURAL STEEL, WHICH IS $3,300 COMING OUT OF THE CONTRACTOR CONTINGENCY.

AND COULD NICO, COULD YOU GO BACK UP TO THE NUMBERS YOU HAVE 'CAUSE YEAH, SURE.

THOSE NUMBERS HE HAS INCLUDES US APPROVING ALL THESE PCOS, JUST SO YOU KNOW MM-HMM .

UM, THEN WE HAVE, UH, PCO 45, WHICH IS 100% ACCOUNTING.

IT'S JUST CLEANING UP THE BOOKS AND, AND MOVING MONEY AROUND.

IT'S, IT'S NO, NO DIRECT EFFECT.

UM, THEN WE HAVE PCO 46, UM, WHICH IS, UM, UH, 45, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, OF THE FFF AND E ALLOWANCE.

THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVED, BUT WE NOTICED THAT WE HADN'T PAID OUT.

UM, THE FF AND E STILL, UH, HAD, UH, $250,000 GET CREDITED BACK, BUT WE JUST KIND OF CAUGHT THAT.

WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY PUT THIS IN A CHANGE ORDER.

SO THIS WAS APPROVED A LONG TIME AGO.

WE'RE JUST KIND OF CATCHING UP AS WE'RE CLEANING UP THE BOOK.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT THIS PCO IS.

SO THE MONEY WAS ALREADY KIND OF PUT INTO IT.

WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY, THE ALLOWANCE STILL GAVE US BACK $250,000 CREDIT, SO WE WERE STILL UNDER BUDGET ON THAT LINE ITEM.

THEN ON PCO 47, UM, WE HAD TO ADD SOME INSULATION.

THIS WAS JUST TO CLEAN UP AND GET A CONTRACTOR, UH, BASICALLY DONE.

UM, AND IT WAS $7,700 OUT OF THE CONTRACTOR CONTINGENCY.

UM, NUMBER 48 IS WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

UM, THIS IS A $28,651 AND 23 CENTS.

THIS IS CREATING AN ALLOWANCE TO MOVE THIS SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE.

UM, THIS MONEY DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SPENT, BUT IT'S CREATING AN ALLOWANCE TO KEEP THE JOB SITE OPERATIONAL, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LAG IN, UH, FURNITURE.

THEN, UM, ON 49, UM, THIS IS A $2,693.

THIS IS OWNER'S CONTINGENCY.

THIS IS CREATING, UM, MORE IT INFRASTRUCTURE REDUNDANCY.

UM, SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO.

SO THIS CAME OUT OF OUR CONTINGENCY.

AND THEN NUMBER 50 IS PAYING THE CITY OF ROCKWALL FOR THEIR IMPACT FEES TO TURN THE WATER METER ON, WHICH IS, UM, I I, I FELT THAT IT, IT WAS, UH, NUMBER ONE, WE, WE PAID IT BEFORE AND ALSO WE, UH, HAVE BEEN PREACHING ABOUT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS AND, AND PAYING OUR IMPACT FEES AND DOING THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SO IT WOULD, SO WE PUT THIS IN OUR OWNER'S CONTINGENCY IN A $72,968 AND 92 CENTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT ALL OF THESE ARE.

SO A LOT OF IT IS CLEANING SOME STUFF UP, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY, NICO AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL SOME FRAMEWORK WITH, UH, EACH ONE OF THESE.

BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR IS EXPENSIVE.

, , SOMETIMES YES, IT IS , BUT THAT IS WHAT WE SAID, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, WITH THIS BUILD OUT.

UM, NOT ONLY BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, BUT MENDING SOME FENCES OF NOT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR PREVIOUSLY.

SO, UH, I, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR NICO OR COMMISSIONER STACY? I HAVE TWO.

OKAY, SO 48, THERE'S NO MONEY, IT'S JUST TIME.

IS THAT CORRECT? UM, THE, THERE IS A THOUGHT PROCESS, SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP KEEPING THE JOB SITE OPEN COST MONEY, PAYING SALARIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO, SO THE TIME IS MONEY CONCEPT, BUT THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A THOUGHT PROCESS THAT ALL THIS MONEY IS GONNA BE GONE.

[00:30:01]

RIGHT.

BUT I GUESS THAT WOULD COME BACK LATER IF WE WERE GONNA ADD MONEY.

CORRECT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, 48 ITSELF IS JUST TIME.

IT'S JUST TIME.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

AND THEN ON 50, UM, DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT WE'RE PAYING THIS, I GUESS, AND I DON'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, JUDGE, AND FRANKLY THAT'S HISTORY.

BUT I, I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED THAT WE'RE DOING A CHANGE ORDER.

WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW THIS UPFRONT? WAS THIS SOMETHING WE WERE ARGUING WITH THE CITY ABOUT OR WE WEREN'T ARGUING WITH THE CITY? UH, BASICALLY YOU CAN JUST SAY THAT, UM, WE JUST DIDN'T PLAN ON PAYING THE IMPACT FEES.

IT WAS JUST AN OVERSIGHT AS WE STARTED GOING THROUGH THE PROJECT.

YEAH.

THERE WAS, UH, A CHANGE IN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PROJECT EARLY IN DESIGN.

UH, IT CHANGED FROM THE CITY DOING THE PLAN REVIEW TO THE COUNTY AND BUREAU OF VERITAS DOING THE PLANNING REVIEW, PLANNING REVIEW.

AND SO THEREFORE, I THINK THE CONTRACTOR JUST DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HAVING TO PAY THOSE CITY COSTS.

UM, OKAY.

BUT NOW WE'RE FINDING, BUT HISTORICALLY WE HAVE PAID THEM, WE WE'D LOOKED.

OKAY.

BUT THAT'S THE REASON IT WAS GENERAL OVERSIGHT.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CONTINGENCIES, , I GUESS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

.

ALRIGHT.

SO, UH, DO YOU ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NOT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO COURT, I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE, UH, PROPOSED CHANGE ORDERS NUMBER 44 THROUGH 50 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH HILL AND WILKINSON CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THE ROCKWELL COUNTY ANNEX PROJECT.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GOANA.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE.

SOMEBODY IS YET TO VOTE.

I DON'T HAVE THE SHOULD BE.

THANKS, JOHN.

NO PROBLEM.

IT PASSES FIVE TO ZERO.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT TAKES US TO

[6. Discuss/Act on the Sheriff's remodel project, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy) ]

COMMISSIONER STACY.

YEAH, AND I'LL LET, UM, NICO EDITORIALIZE A LITTLE BIT.

UH, WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO HAVING A GMP DOCUMENT BEFORE THIS COURT.

UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING IT IN A PHASED APPROACH.

UM, THANK YOU NICO FOR, FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THAT.

UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE OUR NUMBERS ARE CORRECT.

UM, BUT WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT AT THE NEXT COURT WE WILL BE, UH, GETTING THIS PROJECT STARTED.

UM, THE IDEA BEING THAT WE WOULD AUTHORIZE PHASE ONE, WHICH TAKES US THROUGH NOVEMBER.

IS THAT I THINK SO.

I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO I THINK I THINK THROUGH DECEMBER OR YEAH, DECEMBER.

YEAH.

BUT FOR, FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME, WHICH ALLOWS US A BUDGET TIME TO COME BACK AND, AND FUND PHASE, UH, TWO AND THREE.

SO WE'RE GONNA TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, ISOLATED.

I'M GONNA HAVE SOME SLIDES AND SOME POWERPOINTS AND, AND I'M GONNA HAVE THE AUDITOR ON BOARD AND NICO HERE.

SO I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA END UP GETTING THIS THING STARTED.

UM, AND, UH, I'M PRETTY EXCITED 'CAUSE WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AND NICO'S WORKED EXTREMELY HARD, UM, TO GET IT TO THIS POINT.

OKAY.

SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AND I LIKE THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF PUTTING IT IN PHASES, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE AUTHORIZE PHASE ONE THAT GETS US THROUGH AND, AND DO NOTHING ELSE? YEAH.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE OKAY.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE BAD .

OKAY.

OKAY.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SO I, I DON'T THINK THIS REQUIRES ANY ACTION RIGHT NOW.

SO WE

[7. Discuss/Act on approving the service call rate increase in regards to the current lnterlocal Agreement with the City of Wylie for Fire Protection and EMS Services within the corporate limits of the County, effective January 1st, 2026, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana) ]

COMMISSIONER ALANA.

SO WE REMEMBER WE PULLED THIS, I THINK FROM THE LAST COURT SO I COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A A FEW PEOPLE, WHICH I DID.

AND THERE'S REALLY NO BETTER SOLUTION RIGHT NOW FOR US.

, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, ROCKWALL COUNTY EMS, UH, FOR THEM TO SERVICE THIS AREA IS, UM, UM, DIFFICULT.

UM, IT WOULD BE MORE COSTLY FOR US FOR THEM TO STATION SOMEBODY OUT THERE ALL THE TIME FOR THE CALL VOLUME THEY HAVE.

AND REALLY, WE'RE KIND OF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE WITH, UH, WHAT OUR AGREEMENT SAYS WITH THE CITY OF WILEY.

SO WE, UM, WHILE THE, UH, CALL RATE REALLY ISN'T INCREASING TOO MUCH, IT'S THE PREDICTED VOLUME, UH, ON THE AGREEMENT THAT'S REALLY LOOKS LIKE IT'S, UH, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GOING TO INCREASE.

IT'S GOING DOWN LIKE 10 BUCKS PER CALL, BUT THEY'RE EXPECTING AN INCREASE, BUT THEY'RE EXPECTING AN INCREASED VOLUME AND THAT THEY SAY THAT JUST MIRRORS WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THE, UH, REST OF THE CITY.

SO YEAH, THEY, THEY, THEY WERE PRETTY OPEN WITH HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR CALCULATIONS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

[00:35:01]

SO AS WE START LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THAT'S WHERE THIS IS.

WE CURRENTLY BUDGET 35,000.

YEAH.

IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T GO ABOVE 35,000.

UM, AND THEY'RE PROJECTING IT TO BE IN LIKE THE 60,000 RANGE.

YEAH.

BUT WE DO HAVE CONTINGENCY IN FUND 51 JUST IN CASE.

SO I JUST WANT THE COMMISSIONERS TO KIND OF HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF MIND AS WE START GOING INTO THE BUDGET, THINKING ABOUT THIS AS WE GET INTO THESE, UH, ILAS AND THE DIFFERENT EMERGENCY AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE AND FIRE DISTRICT STUFF THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TAX.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IF SOMEONE IS SO INCLINED.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT, UH, WE APPROVE A SERVICE, UH, CALL RATE INCREASE IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT INTERLOCAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, CITY OF WILEY FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND EMS SERVICES WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE COUNTY.

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GOANA.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER M**K, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW? IT PASSES FIVE TO ZERO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GOANA.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND COME BACK TO IT AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO

[9. Discuss/Act on update of application for the US Department of Transportation SS4A Planning Grant, and all related issues; (Commissioner Liechty) ]

COMMISSIONER LICHTY.

THANKS JUDGE.

UM, Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A GRANT WE APPROVED APPLYING FOR AT OUR LAST SESSION.

UM, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS, MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GRANT WRITER, CONTOUR THE APPLICANT, UH, AND WE'VE GOT GLEN THURGOOD HERE WHO'S WITH CONTOUR, WHO'S GONNA JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN UP TO DATE.

BUT I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE'RE ON A, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID THIS ON A VERY TIGHT TIMEFRAME, AND I ASKED GLEN TO COME HERE AND LET US KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT BECAUSE, UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUDITOR, UH, AND OUR OTHER PEOPLE, AND WE'RE GONNA NEED TO GET SOME THINGS DONE QUICKLY AND MAY BE CALLING ON SOME OF US TO HELP DO THAT.

SO, GLENN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ALL I MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION, ALRIGHT, I, IF I UNPLUG THIS, IT'S GONNA BE A BAD THING TO PUT THE, NOT GONNA MESS ME UP.

KNOW.

YEAH.

SO AS YOU, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME IN, IN THE, IN THE MEETING, KINDA HAD A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO WE'VE DONE THAT.

UM, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMISSIONER LICHTY HERE, UH, LAST, LAST WEEK I GUESS IT WAS.

AND WE WILL JUST RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE JUST FOR, FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

AND I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THIS, BUT AS HE MENTIONED, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ON A TIGHT TIMEFRAME, OKAY? AND, AND THE DETERMINATION WAS TO PURSUE A PLANNING GRANT WITH SOME DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITIES.

SO IT ALLOWS YOU TO DO THE PLAN AND THEN POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENT SOME THINGS, UH, SOME TEST STRATEGIES TO SOLVE SAFETY AROUND THE, THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S THE, THE PATH GOING FORWARD.

WE'RE PREPARING THE GRANT WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITIES WE TALKED ABOUT ARE KIND OF QUICK BUILD TYPE STUFF, TEMPORARY SPEED HUMPS OR, OR COMMON, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME TRAFFIC CIRCLES TO SEE IF THAT KIND OF WORKS.

SOME PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

UH, THAT, THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT, IN THAT DEMONSTRATION TYPE OF, OF ACTIVITY THAT GOES, GOES KIND OF IN PARALLEL WITH THE PLANNING PROCESS.

OKAY? UM, THE THING I WOULD WE WANNA TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE TIMELINE AND THE NEEDS.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE SENT SOME, SOME DOCUMENTATION TO MR. LTI YESTERDAY THAT'S GONNA GO OUT TO THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

WE'RE ASKING THE CITIES TO WEIGH IN WITH BASICALLY TWO THINGS.

UM, THEIR EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT, HOPEFULLY FOR, FOR THIS ACTIVITY.

AND THEN FEEDBACK ON THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THEIR CITIES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOUR, WHEN WE SAY WHAT ARE YOUR SAFETY NEEDS ON YOUR ROADWAY SYSTEM, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, MR. MAYOR OR COMMISSIONER OR COUNCILMAN OR, OR CITY ENGINEER OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

AND GIVE US JUST A QUICK 10 MINUTE, YOU KNOW, TAKE 10 MINUTES AND JUST SEND BACK AN EMAIL TO, TO DO THAT.

I WOULD PROBABLY EXTEND THAT TO, TO EACH OF YOU ALL AS COMMISSIONERS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? WHAT'S THE CONCERNS IN EACH PRECINCT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS, OR WHETHER IT'S, WE'VE GOT SOME HAZARDOUS INTERSECTIONS.

AND JUST SEND THAT FEEDBACK TO, TO COMMISSIONER LIPTON.

HE'LL SEND THAT TO SEND IT TO US AS WELL.

AND WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE GRAND APPLICATION.

NOW, WE'VE ASKED TO RECEIVE THAT BY THE END OF THE WEEK ON THE 12TH, OR I GUESS THAT'S THURSDAY.

UH, SO WE CAN INCORPORATE IT.

YOU ALL WILL SEE A DRAFT OF THE GRANT APPLICATION THE END OF THIS WEEK, OR FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.

THAT'LL GIVE US ABOUT A WEEK TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH COMMENTS.

THIS WILL GO IN ON THE 25TH, UH, THE DAY BEFORE THE, THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.

UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER COORDINATION ITEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

WE'RE REACHING OUT TO SENATOR OR TO, UH, CONGRESSMAN FALLON'S OFFICE FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM HIM.

WE'RE ALSO, UH, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO ASK EACH OF THE CITIES IF

[00:40:01]

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

ONE OF THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS IS THAT WE'VE REPORT THAT, THAT WE'VE COORDINATED WITH THE CITIES IN, IN THE COUNTY.

UM, THERE'S SOME STANDARD FORMS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED BY AND SIGNED BY SOME COUNTY OFFICIALS.

SO WE'VE WORKED WITH, WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AS WELL TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GONNA BE THAT SIGNATURE AUTHORITY TO GET THAT INFORMATION FROM, FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PIECES THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING SUPPORT ON.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS WHO WAS THE RECIPIENT? WE THINK THAT'S THE ROCKWELL COUNTY AUDITOR IS THE RECIPIENT WHO WILL BE THE APPLICANT, UH, FOR, FOR THE GRANT.

UM, THERE'S A, A FEDERAL PORTAL VALID EVAL IS WHAT IT'S CALLED.

UH, SOMEONE AT THE COUNTY HAS AN ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

WE CAN'T ACCESS IT AS CONSULTANTS.

IT HAS TO BE A, A, A, A COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON.

AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TALK WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE ABOUT ACCESSING THAT PORTAL SO WE MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE LOGIN AND WE CAN UPLOAD.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE PROBLEMS ON THE DAY OF AND, AND THAT KIND OF A THING.

UM, THESE WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE SENT THESE QUESTIONS TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE NATURE OF THE ROADWAY SAFETY ISSUES? WHAT ARE THE PARTICULAR AREAS OF CONCERN ON YOUR PARKS AND TRAIL SYSTEM? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COUNTY SAFETY FOCUSED PROJECTS AND EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY RECENTLY? SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES AND FROM YOU ALL JUST, AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT TENDED TO BE A HEAVY LIFT.

JUST REALLY QUICKLY SEND US YOUR TOP OF MIND THOUGHTS AND, AND WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE APPLICATION WITH SOME OF THAT LOCAL FLAVOR, IF YOU WILL.

AND GLEN, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, AND I'M, ISN'T THE APPLICATION LIMITED IN HOW LONG IT CAN BE? IT IS, IT'S LIKE TWO PAGES.

YOU SAID IT'S, THE NARRATIVE IS TWO PAGES.

SO YEAH.

SO THERE'S, YEAH, THERE'S NOT A TON OF TON OF STUFF.

SO THROW A LOT OF BULLET POINTS, A LOT OF BULLET POINTS.

BULLET POINTS ARE GREAT.

WE LIKE THAT.

SO BULLET POINTS ARE GREAT.

UM, AND THEN JUST I'LL, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE TIMELINE.

SO THE 13TH, WE EXPECT TO HAVE A DRAFT TO YOU ALL TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE SOME INPUT.

WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR COMMENTS BACK BY THE 17TH FROM YOU ALL.

UH, THAT'LL GIVE US A COUPLE DAYS TO MAKE SOME EDITS AND REVISE WHATEVER.

AND, AND INCORPORATE, UH, THE 23RD.

WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A FINAL DOCUMENT TO LOOK AT AND REVIEW.

AND THEN WE'LL UPLOAD IT ON THE 25TH TO, WELL, WELL, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL HELP US UPLOAD THAT ON THE 25TH AND, AND 25TH.

25TH.

YEP.

AND THAT, AND THAT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE DEADLINE, JUST SO WE KNOW WE CAN GET IT, IF ANYTHING FUNKY GOES, GOES ON THAT WE'VE, WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET IT IN.

UH, THANKS.

THAT'S REALLY IT.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU NOTED IN YOUR PACKET, YOU, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRACT, WHICH HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND THEY'VE SIGNED OFF ON IT.