[a. Resolution honoring Nell Welborn for her service to Rockwall County and particularly the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance – Commissioner Liechty]

AND WE HAVE THREE OF THEM TODAY. VERY EXCITING DAY FOR US.

I'M GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO COMMISSIONER LAUREN LICHTY, WHO'S GOING TO READ A RESOLUTION HONORING NELL WELLBORN FOR HER SERVICE TO ROCKWALL COUNTY AND PARTICULARLY THE ROCKWALL COUNTY OPEN SPACE ALLIANCE.

COMMISSIONER LICHTY THANK YOU, JUDGE. IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TO DO THIS.

WHEREAS NELL WELLBORN HAS LIVED IN ROCKWALL COUNTY SINCE 1982 AND DURING HER TIME IN OUR COUNTY, HAS CONTRIBUTED POSITIVELY TO OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS.

WHEREAS NELL. NELL HAS SACRIFICED HER TIME AND EFFORT FOR DECADES TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BEGINNING IN 1983 AS A MEMBER OF THE INITIAL CITY OF ROCKWELL HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION.

WITH SERVANTS ON SUBSEQUENT CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONS IN 198788, 1992, 93, 20 1415 AND 2020 425. SERVICE ON THE ROCKWELL PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PERIODICALLY FROM 1984 TO 2002, AND INCORPORATOR AND EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER OF THE ROCKWELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND AS A MEMBER OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN COMMITTEE AND BOND STEERING COMMITTEE. WHEREAS, NELL WAS THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO THE ROCKWELL CITY COUNCIL IN 1985, AND FROM THEN THROUGH 2023 HAS SERVED ON THE ROCKWELL CITY COUNCIL.

A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 12 YEARS AT VARIOUS TIMES.

WHEREAS NEL HAS TIRELESSLY SOUGHT TO PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ROCKWALL COUNTY AND PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF ROCKWALL COUNTY OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN, WHICH MASTER PLAN CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTY? AND WHEREAS NEL WORKED WITH OTHERS TO FORM THE ROCKWALL COUNTY OPEN SPACE ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A TEXAS NONPROFIT CORPORATION FORMED IN 2016 WITH A MISSION TO, QUOTE, SAVE OPEN SPACES IN ROCKWALL COUNTY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

CLOSE QUOTE. AND NEL HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE OPEN SPACE ALLIANCE FROM ITS FOUNDING UNTIL THE PRESENT, INCLUDING SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION FROM ITS FOUNDING UNTIL 2023.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE UNDERSIGNED BEING THE ROCKWALL COUNTY JUDGE AND ALL COMMISSIONERS SERVING ON THE ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY EXTEND TO NELL WELBORN RECOGNITION FOR HER MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO ROCKWALL COUNTY, AND THANK HER FOR HER EFFORTS TO PRESERVE OUR COUNTY AS THE NATURAL TREASURE THAT IT IS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I'LL ADD, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE FACE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LOOK AT NELL WELLBORN.

SHE IS TRULY A PUBLIC SERVANT. OKAY. ALSO WITH US

[b. Proclamation recognizing April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month – Judge New]

TODAY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH.

SO I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE BELIEVE CHILDREN THRIVE IN SAFE, STABLE, NURTURING FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

WHILE IT'S CRITICAL TO BUILD A SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE IN CRISIS, INTENTIONALLY SUPPORTING FAMILIES BEFORE THEY ARE IN CRISIS IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENTING THE

[00:05:06]

ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT OF TEXAS CHILDREN. THROUGH ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, WE CAN BUILD STRONG, HEALTHY FAMILIES AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN CAN THRIVE.

AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE MONTH OF APRIL IS DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL WORK BEING DONE ACROSS THE GREAT STATE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES BEFORE A CRISIS OCCURS.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION OCCURS EVERY DAY THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK AND TIRELESS ADVOCACY UNDERTAKEN BY TEXAS FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, HOUSES OF FAITH, ADVOCACY GROUPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY.

ROCKWALL COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

THE RAINBOW ROOM, LONE STAR, CASA AND EMPOWER.

AND. WHEREAS, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CANNOT BE TASKED TO ONE COMMUNITY AGENCY OR SYSTEM BEHIND MANY FAMILIES, THAT SUCCEEDED AS A STRONG COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDED A WAY FOR THE FAMILY TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, STABLE AND THRIVE. I ENCOURAGE ALL TEXANS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANY ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES WORKING HARD TO CREATE POSITIVE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR GREAT STATE AND NATION.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS AND ENSURE TOMORROW'S LEADERS HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 2026 AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH IN ROCKWALL COUNTY AND IN DOING SO, URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN A NATIONAL EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

SO, PATRICIA MEJIA, I THINK THERE YOU ARE. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH. I'M VERTICALLY CHALLENGED.

THERE WE GO. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY JUDGE NJOO.

WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU TAKE IN RECOGNIZING APRIL'S CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE SO BLESSED TO LIVE IN AN AMAZING COMMUNITY LIKE ROCKWALL COUNTY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT CHILD ABUSE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.

THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OPENED FOR FULL SERVICES IN APRIL OF 2018, AND IN THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN EVERY TYPE OF ABUSE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LAST YEAR, WE SERVED 736 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

OF THAT NUMBER, THAT WAS 500 KIDS. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT 1 IN 10 KIDS WILL BE A VICTIM OF CHILD ABUSE BEFORE THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY.

A RECENT STUDY EVEN INDICATES THAT IN TEXAS, 1 IN 7 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ADMITTED TO BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED BEFORE THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY.

AND THAT'S WHY IN APRIL, WE GO BLUE. THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER PLACES A HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON ITS GO BLUE FOR KIDS INITIATIVE FOR THAT VERY REASON.

IF THERE'S JUST ONE MORE CHILD WHO NEEDS US THAT WE CAN REACH.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE TO DO. WE'RE THERE TO PROVIDE A COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE TO AN OUTCRY OF ABUSE.

AND IN DOING SO, WE HELP REDUCE BARRIERS TO DISCLOSURE.

WE HELP MINIMIZE REVICTIMIZATION, AND WE STRENGTHEN THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS.

AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STAND IN THAT SPACE AND COME ALONGSIDE CHILDREN'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO NEED US, SO THAT EVERY CHILD GETS THE HOPE THAT THEY DESERVE AND THE HEALING THAT THEY NEED.

THANK YOU, PATRICIA, AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. KHOSLA AND RAINBOW ROOM IF THEY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, MA'AM.

LONE STAR CASA AND RAINBOW ROOM. NOT SURE IF THEY WANT TO COME UP.

YEP. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? RAINBOW ROOM.

WE WE WE CONTINUE OUR STREAK OF PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT WITH LITTLE TO.

NO. I WAS ACTUALLY PREPARED TODAY. JERRY DID GIVE ME A LITTLE HEADS UP ABOUT THIS TODAY.

SO TEN MINUTES. SO I FEEL LIKE I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED.

I'M ANGEL BUTLER AND I REPRESENT THE RAINBOW ROOM TODAY, AND RAINBOW ROOM FILLS THE NEED WHEN CHILDREN ARE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THEY'RE TAKEN WITHOUT ANY PROVISIONS. AND THE STATE ACTUALLY HAS NO REQUIREMENT TO FILL THAT PROVISION.

AND THE FOSTER FAMILIES OFTEN ALSO GET NO NOTICE.

KIND OF LIKE WHEN I SPEAK SOMETIMES AND HAVE TO STRUGGLE AND SCRAMBLE IN ORDER TO GATHER THE NEEDS OF THESE CHILDREN.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE RAINBOW ROOM COMES IN, IS THE SOCIAL WORKERS REACH OUT TO THE RAINBOW ROOM.

COME IN. AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING. WE TRY TO HAVE EVERYTHING THAT A CHILD WOULD NEED.

BAGS, CLOTHING, PILLOWS, BLANKETS, TOYS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO KIND OF HELP MAKE THAT TRANSITION AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THESE CHILDREN.

I HAVE TO COMPLETELY AGREE WITH PATRICIA'S SENTIMENTS.

[00:10:02]

WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COMMUNITY WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE. ANYTIME WE HAVE A NEED, WE PUT THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND IT IS JUST FILLED VERY QUICKLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY HESITATION.

SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL AS WELL TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANGELA.

IS THERE ANYBODY FROM LONE STAR CASA? WELCOME.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LINDSAY BROZEN. I AM REPRESENTING LONE STAR CASA THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US. LONE STAR CASA SERVES ROCKWALL AND KAUFMAN COUNTY.

WE ARE COURT APPOINTED BY THE JUDGES TO SERVE AS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME DUE TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENS IN ALL COUNTIES. AND WE USUALLY REMAIN WITH THE CHILDREN FOR 12 MONTHS OR MORE.

WE HAVE SOME CASES THAT HAVE EXTENDED INTO TWO TO 3 TO 5 YEARS.

AND THEY HAVE ONE DEDICATED ADVOCATE WHO STAYS WITH THEM THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CASE.

THEY ARE DEDICATED TO THEM, TO FIGHTING FOR THEM, FOR ADVOCATING FOR THEIR SAFETY, FOR THEIR NEEDS, THE THINGS THAT FOR THEIR WISHES, WHAT DO THEY WANT THE OUTCOME TO BE FOR THEIR LIFE? AND SO LAST YEAR WE SERVED 272 CHILDREN, AND WE HAVE SERVED THEM THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CASE.

AND WE SERVE 100% OF THE CASES THAT WE ARE APPOINTED ON.

WE DO NOT TURN ONE CHILD DOWN BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN ADVOCATE.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THAT YOU ALL GIVE TO LONE STAR CASA, AND TO THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE TODAY THAT SUPPORT THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IF YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE KNOW OF ANYBODY WHO WOULD LOVE TO VOLUNTEER AND MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT LONESTAR.ORG AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[c. Proclamation recognizing Anna Jane Weible for her Classical Conversations Memory Masters Program – Commissioner Macalik]

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ANA JANE WIBLE FOR HER CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS MEMORY MASTER'S PROGRAM.

COMMISSIONER MICHELI. THANK YOU, JUDGE. I AM REALLY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION WITH EACH OF YOU TODAY.

I HAVE KNOWN ANA JANE AND HER FAMILY AND HER HER GRANDPARENTS AND HER PARENTS FOR A LONG TIME.

IN FACT, I WAS LOOKING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, ANNA, JANE AND I FOUND PICTURES OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD, AND YOU WOULD BE TAGGING ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS OR YOUR GRANDPARENTS TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS I WAS AT.

AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE GROWN UP AND YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING THAT SO FEW PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

SO IF YOU WILL, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS MEMORY MASTER'S PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, ANNA JANE WIBLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN OPTIONAL HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM KNOWN AS CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS MEMORY MASTERS.

AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MEMORIZE AN ASTONISHING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION.

AND WHEREAS AMONG THESE FACTS WERE GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY FROM ANCIENT THROUGH MODERN TIMES, INCLUDING 100 GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL LOCATIONS, PRIMARILY IN EUROPE, NUMEROUS FACTS AND SCIENCE SUCH AS THE PLANETS, PHYSICS, LAWS OF MOTION, AND LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS.

US HISTORY FACTS, INCLUDING THE LIST OF PRESIDENTS, COUNTLESS ENGLISH GRAMMAR FACTS, MULTIPLICATION TABLES TO 15, AS WELL AS CONVERSIONS, GEOMETRIC FORMULAS AND COMMON SQUARES.

BASIC LATIN VERB ENDINGS. AND WHEREAS THESE FACTS HAVE BEEN CITED WITH NO PROMPTING OR HINTS.

NOW. THEREFORE, THE ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CONGRATULATE ANNA JANE WIVELL ON HER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM AND APPLAUD THE EFFORT OF BOTH HER PARENT AND THE CHILD TO ACHIEVE THIS HONOR. SO WE PROCLAIM AND SIGN THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL THE 26TH BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF ROCKWALL COUNTY.

AND I DID WANT TO JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT ANNA WAS THE ONLY STUDENT IN HER CLASS THAT WAS ABLE TO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THIS YEAR.

SO CONGRATULATIONS. ANNA JANE, I SAID I WOULDN'T EMBARRASS YOU, BUT IF YOU WILL JUST COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

YEAH, YEAH. COME UP AND TELL US YOUR NAME AND TELL US HOW LONG IT TOOK YOU TO MEMORIZE ALL THE PRESIDENTS.

I'M ANNA JANE, AND I'VE KNOWN THEM SINCE I WAS FOUR.

OH, WOW. WOW WOW. BUT TELL US WHAT ELSE ROCKWALL COUNTY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANNA JANE WIBLE.

[00:15:08]

WELL, I DON'T KNOW. WELL, LISTEN, I KNOW YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS ARE PROUD OF YOU.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY ROCKWALL COUNTY IS PROUD OF YOU.

SO WELL DONE, YOUNG LADY. THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT

[1. PUBLIC FORUM: (This is the public’s opportunity to address the Commissioners Court about County matters. During this meeting, the Commissioners Court will not discuss, consider or take action on any item not included on this meeting’s agenda. We respectfully ask that anyone stepping forward to speak during the Public Forum to please limit remarks to three minutes or less.)]

BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM ONE. PUBLIC FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT ABOUT ANY COUNTY MATTERS.

ONE PERSON HAS SIGNED UP, MR. MAYOR BRIAN MCNEIL.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM SPEAKING.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE NJOO AND COMMISSIONERS, IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS THIS WILL BE MY LAST TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU AS THE MAYOR OF MCLENDON CHISHOLM, AS I DIDN'T SEEK REELECTION.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO ME AS ADVISORS MENTORS AND FRIENDS.

THAT EXTENDS TO JENNIFER FOGG AS WELL. THE COUNTY SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN AWESOME TO WORK WITH.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE TO TAKE AND LADIES HAVE TO TAKE A LOT ON THE CHIN.

I HAVEN'T HAD TO TAKE SO MUCH THOUGH, SO IT'S BEEN NICE.

BUT IT MEANS A LOT WHEN PEOPLE STEP UP AND VOLUNTEER TO DO THINGS AND KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROBABLY BERATED PUT DOWN FAMILIES DRUG INTO THINGS. AND IT'S JUST CRAZY TO ME THAT WHEN PEOPLE SIGN UP TO DO SOMETHING TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING GOOD THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN A LESSON FROM SOME OF THE ATTACKS THAT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY HAVE GONE THROUGH.

SOME OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH AND, AND START TO JUST REMEMBER IT'S OKAY TO BE A GOOD HUMAN BEING.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE GOOD HUMAN DECENCY AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.

IT COSTS NOTHING TO DO THAT. IT'S DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T BE CRITICIZED.

THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRITICISM WORKING THROUGH DISAGREEMENTS.

BECAUSE TO ME, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL.

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE.

AND ONE OF MY OTHER GOOD FRIENDS AND MENTORS WAS THE FORMER MAYOR OF ROCKWALL, TRACE JOHANNESSON, AND HE USED TO ALWAYS SAY, YOU CAN BE ON PATH A, YOU CAN BE ON PATH B, YOU CAN BE ON PATH C, BUT I BET IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN AWESOME PATH D.

I KNOW THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT Y'ALL FACE IS OBVIOUSLY D.R.

HORTON. IT'S NO SECRET THERE AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU GUYS.

NO ONE CAN STEAL THE THUNDER THAT Y'ALL BRING TO THAT TABLE, BECAUSE Y'ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT Y'ALL ARE THE STORM.

Y'ALL ARE THE ONES THAT STEP UP AND PROTECT US.

AND WHEN I JOINED IN THAT FIGHT, I BELIEVED IN IT BECAUSE IT IMPACTED THE CITY OF MCLENDON CHISHOLM THE MOST.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO COME TO Y'ALL FOR GUIDANCE, I'VE HAD TO COME TO Y'ALL FOR ADVICE IN THAT FIGHT.

AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE WERE COLLABORATING TO TEAM UP TOGETHER.

IT WAS BECAUSE THAT'S THE THAT'S THE HIERARCHY OF HOW THINGS WORK.

I'M AT THE CITY LEVEL. YOU'RE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. SO THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE I START.

THEN I GO TO A STATE REP OR A STATE SENATOR. AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE PEOPLE MANIPULATE STORIES ALL THE TIME.

AND IT'S JUST A SHAME THAT THAT HAPPENS. BUT BOTTOM LINE, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU GUYS, I LOVE YOU. YOU ARE AMAZING PEOPLE. AND THE SERVICE YOU GIVE TO THIS COUNTY, IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED BY ME FOR SURE.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU. I APPLAUD YOU AND I'LL BE REMOVING THE MAYOR HAT IN 28 DAYS.

I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF SEEING THAT. AND Y'ALL BE WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY REGARDING ANY COUNTY MATTERS? COME ON UP TO MICROPHONE. TELL US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CALEB TOSH OF 544 ENGLAND STREET IN FATE.

YEAH. CARRY ON. KEEP IT TO ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNTY WHAT THE COUNTY'S POSITION IS ON THE PROSPECTIVE LOOP AROUND THE GREATER DALLAS AREA.

IT'S BEEN MARKED ON THE THOROUGHFARE. PLAN FOR SOME TIME TO PASS BETWEEN FATE AND ROYSE CITY.

I'D ASKED, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNTY, WHEN THE COUNTY THINKS THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BREAK GROUND ON THAT AND WHEN THAT WILL FINISH.

I KNOW IT'S HIGHLY SPECULATIVE, BUT WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING TO MOVE IT FORWARD?

[00:20:06]

BRING IT BACK? WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT THE COUNTY FACES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CALEB, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY REGARDING ANY COUNTY MATTERS? OKAY. SEEING NO ONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO.

[2. Discuss/Act on a request from America’s Guardians and the Children’s Advocacy Center for Rockwall County to host the “11th Annual Bikes for Tykes” on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm to use the Liberty Hall/parking lot area of the main Courthouse, and to waive fees, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON A REQUEST FROM AMERICA'S GUARDIANS AND THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY TO HOST THE 11TH ANNUAL BIKES FOR TYKES ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2026 FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. TO USE LIBERTY HALL PARKING LOT AREA OF THE MAIN COURTHOUSE AND TO WAIVE FEES AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER. ALANA YEAH, SO THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.

WE HAD THIS EXACT SAME ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ONE YEAR AGO.

AND IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, YOU'LL FIND THEIR INSURANCE CERTIFICATE AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ASKED FOR LAST TIME.

MATT. DOUG, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I WILL NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT INTO A MICROPHONE.

I KNEW THAT WAS COMING. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL MEEK, AKA MAD DOG PRESIDENT OF AMERICA'S GUARDIANS.

TEXAS 28 A. AND IT'S AN HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN.

THIS WILL BE OUR 11TH YEAR TO HOLD THIS. THIS TEDDY BEAR RIDE.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS BRING AWARENESS TO THE PLIGHT OF CHILD ABUSE NOT ONLY IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IT'S A PROBLEM. THIS IS MY 44TH YEAR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO I'VE SEEN THE SEEDY SIDE OF THE CHILD ABUSE SITUATIONS, AND I KNOW WHAT THE ADVOCACY CENTER DOES AND HOW THEY BENEFIT THE CHILDREN.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REQUESTING AGAIN, THE THE FACILITY TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE CHILD ABUSE SITUATION HERE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY.

IT'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF STRANGE THAT ROCKWALL IS THE SMALLEST COUNTY IN TEXAS.

IT'S A SHAME THAT WE NEED THIS, BUT WE DO. AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO AGAIN, TO BRING THIS TO THE 11TH YEAR DOING THIS. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. SIR. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION.

IS THAT OKAY? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE AMERICAN GUARDIANS AND THE CIVIL ADVOCACY CENTER FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY TO HOST THE THE 11TH ANNUAL BIKES FOR TYKES ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 20TH OF 2026, FROM 8 A.M.

TO 5 P.M.. AND AS WELL AS THE USE OF LIBERTY HALL, OUR PARKING LOT AREA OF THE MAIN COURTHOUSE AND WAIVE ALL FEES AND ALL RELATED ISSUES, HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MACLIN, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES.

IT PASSES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU GUYS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE THING THAT THE IN THE TEN YEARS THAT WE'VE DONE THIS A SMALL GROUP OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR AMERICAS GUARDIANS HAVE RAISED OVER ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE TEN YEARS FOR THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.

WOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, SO PATRICIA MEJIA THIS EVENT DRAWS A CROWD THAT WE WOULD NOT TYPICALLY BE ABLE TO REACH ON OUR OWN. YOU KNOW, CHILD ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A CRITICAL ISSUE AND IT IS CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED.

AND SO EVENTS LIKE THIS REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN WHO NEED US GET ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS. SO ONE MORE THING.

ONE LAST THING. THIS IS Y'ALL WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATIONS ALL THE TIME.

AMERICA'S GUARDIANS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO YOU IF IT'S OKAY TO APPROACH. YOUR HONOR, PLEASE, PLEASE. THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE I TRUST AS MUCH TO TO APPROACH.

YEAH. THANK YOU SIR. WOW. THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE, A PRESENTATION ON NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ON AGING PROGRAM

[3. Presentation on the North Central Texas Council of Governments on Aging program services for Rockwall County residents, and all related issues; (Judge New) ]

SERVICES FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY RESIDENTS AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

MISS DONNA GREEN. LOOKING FOR MY. OH, HERE WE GO.

FOR MY. WE RAISE YOUR HAND. SEBASTIAN WILL COME.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.

MY PURPOSE IN SHARING THIS INFORMATION IS REALLY TWOFOLD.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR THE SUPPORT THAT IT'S PROVIDED TO OUR AGING PROGRAMS OVER THE LAST 20 PLUS YEARS.

[00:25:09]

AND SECOND TO SHARE. I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.

OR I CAN USE MY OUTSIDE VOICE. I HAVE A COWORKER AND HER DAUGHTER SAYS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY MOM DOES, BUT SHE YELLS AT OLD PEOPLE ALL DAY LONG. IT'S A LITTLE MORE NUANCED THAN THAT.

ALRIGHTY. SO I'M WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WITH THE AGING PROGRAM, AND WE ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

ALL DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE PLANNING SERVICES.

AND WE DO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PLANNING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS.

SO IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR ABOUT THE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

AND, AND THIS IS LIKE A BOOKEND TO THAT PRESENTATION.

SO I'M GOING TO SHARE VERY BRIEFLY INFORMATION ABOUT TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR AGING PROGRAM, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING, AND THE SECOND IS OUR AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER.

SO LET ME START WITH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WHICH IS THE LARGER OF THE TWO PROGRAMS. AND WE RECEIVE FUNDING. MOST OF OUR FUNDING IS FEDERAL IN NATURE THROUGH US HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING.

WE ALSO RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THROUGH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.

WE ARE SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF LOCAL GRANTS AND THE MATCHING FUNDS THAT ROCKWALL AND THE OTHER COUNTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA PROVIDE ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US. MOST OF OUR FEDERAL FUNDS DO HAVE MATCHING REQUIREMENTS, AND THESE MATCHING FUNDS ALLOW US TO DRAW DOWN ALL OF THE AVAILABLE FEDERAL FUNDS AND SUPPORT BOTH THE PASS THROUGH SERVICES THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING, AS WELL AS OUR DIRECT SERVICES. SO FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE REQUESTED $8,157 FROM THE COUNTY.

AND AND AGAIN, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW THOSE HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT.

SO BEFORE I MOVE INTO THE SERVICES, JUST A FEW WORDS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION, WHICH IS THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965. WE SERVE PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OVER.

THOSE WHO CARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AGE 60 AND OVER.

THOSE ARE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OF AGE. LIVE WITH AND CARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES, THOSE WHO ARE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY OF MINOR GRANDCHILDREN, AS WELL AS PEOPLE OF ANY AGE WHO CARE FOR A PERSON OF ANY AGE WHO HAS DEMENTIA. ELIGIBILITY FOR OUR PROGRAMS IS ON THE BASIS OF AGE RATHER THAN INCOME, BUT OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION DOES REQUIRE THAT WE GIVE PRIORITY TO OLDER PERSONS, CAREGIVERS WITH GREATEST ECONOMIC NEED.

AND SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE ONGOING SERVICES, ABOUT 40% LIVE IN POVERTY COMPARED TO AN ELDER POVERTY RATE FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN 8%. IN ADDITION, ABOUT 40% OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE ONGOING SERVICES LIVE ALONE AND ARE DEALING WITH SOCIAL ISOLATION AS WELL AS PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. SO THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITY POPULATIONS.

ALL OF THE SERVICES WE ADMINISTER ARE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY.

HOWEVER, WE AND OUR PROVIDERS DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ANY CONTRIBUTIONS JUST EXPAND THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED. SO LET ME START BY TALKING ABOUT THE DIRECT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

THEY INCLUDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL. SO IF A CONSTITUENT IS CASTING ABOUT FOR A RIDE TO THE DOCTOR OR IN-HOME SERVICES OR RESPITE CARE ARE RESOURCE SPECIALISTS CAN CONNECT THEM WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SERVICES.

WE HAVE A BENEFITS COUNSELING TEAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ALL THINGS MEDICARE, MAKE CHOICES REGARDING TRADITIONAL MEDICARE VERSUS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. THEY CAN SCREEN PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS. LOW INCOME SUBSIDIES HELP WITH THAT PAPERWORK.

THEY ALSO EXPLAIN MEDICAID PROGRAMS PROGRAMS THROUGH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TEMPORARY HELP IN THE HOME TO OUR CLIENTS, WHO ARE, IN MOST CASES, RETURNING HOME FROM HOSPITAL REHAB.

AND THAT PROGRAM CAN DO THINGS LIKE BUILD WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, WIDEN BATHROOM DOORWAYS, PAY FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE, PAY FOR TEMPORARY IN-HOME SERVICES.

AND KIND OF THE COMMON THREAD WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS IS PROVIDING INFORMATION, THE INFORMATION,

[00:30:01]

ADVOCACY AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO AGE WITH DIGNITY AND MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE.

WE ALSO ADMINISTER THE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM THAT ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN BOTH NURSING AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THOSE WHO ARE DEALING WITH DEPRESSION.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS MEDICAID RESIDENTS OF NURSING FACILITIES RETURN TO COMMUNITY LIVING.

WHICH IS A REALLY EXCITING PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.

BUT THE COST OF COMMUNITY BASED MEDICAID SERVICES IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST OF FACILITY BASED SERVICES.

AND SO THIS IS AN EXCITING PROGRAM THAT HELPS CONTROL MEDICAID DOLLARS WHILE ALSO PROMOTING PARTICIPANT CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE ALSO ADMINISTER THE VETERAN DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS VETERANS WHO QUALIFY MEDICALLY FOR NURSING HOME CARE TO RECEIVE SERVICES IN THEIR HOMES FROM PROVIDERS OF THEIR CHOICE, INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS, CHILDREN, SPOUSES.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS TO EXPAND OUR SUPPORTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS, A PASSION PROJECT OF MINE I. I HAVE BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER WHO WERE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA, AND THIS IS A CONDITION THAT IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF AGING, BUT AFFECTS ABOUT 1 IN 10 PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OVER.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE AGED 85 AND OVER, IT AFFECTS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 50%.

SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THREE DEMENTIA RESOURCE SPECIALISTS WHO CAN HELP US.

AGAIN, BOTH PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONDITION.

PROBLEM SOLVE. SO WITH MY DAD, YOU KNOW, HE RAN INTO SAFETY ISSUES.

HE HAD DELUSIONS THAT THERE WERE STRANGERS IN HIS HOUSE, AND HE HAD LOADED GUNS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING UNDER HIS PILLOW, POINTED AT HIS WIFE'S HEAD.

AND THEY CAN HELP FAMILIES KIND OF TROUBLESHOOT IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH SUNDOWNING OR WANDERING OR AGITATION.

THEY ALSO DO A LOT OF GROUP EDUCATION AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN TERMS OF OUR PASS THROUGH SERVICES.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE DIRECT SERVICES THAT WE OFFER, YOU'RE PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE GREAT WORK DONE BY MEALS ON WHEELS SENIOR SERVICES OF ROCKWALL COUNTY, WHICH IS A SUBRECIPIENT OF OURS, AND WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR HOME DELIVERED MEALS, CONGREGATE MEALS, AND THEN ALSO AN AGREEMENT WITH STAR TRANSIT FOR DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSPORTATION.

DURING THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, WE PASSED THROUGH $265,041 FOR THOSE TWO NUTRITION SERVICES.

AND THOSE FUNDS SUPPORTED 178 COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE CONGREGATE MEALS, 138 HOME DELIVERED MEAL PARTICIPANTS.

STAR TRANSIT FUNDING VERY LIMITED, A LITTLE LESS THAN $15,000, BUT THAT SUPPORTED 12 ROCKWALL COUNTY CLIENTS IN TERMS OF GETTING TO DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS. SO HERE'S THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING.

I'VE ALSO SHARED AN IMPACT STATEMENT AND A FLIER, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO AGAIN, JUST KEEP US IN MIND AS A RESOURCE, AS YOUR AS YOU'RE HELPING YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THE SECOND PROGRAM, I'M ONLY GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO ON THIS IS OUR AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER, VERY SMALL PROGRAM, DOES SIMILAR THINGS, PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES.

SO INSTEAD OF SERVING JUST OLDER ADULTS ONLY, IT PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO CARE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OPTIONS COUNSELING PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING NURSING FACILITIES, REHABILITATION FACILITY, NURSING FACILITIES, CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES.

AND WE HAVE A SMALL LIFESPAN RESPITE PROGRAM THAT ISSUES VOUCHERS TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR OTHER RESPITE PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN NEEDS. AND HERE'S THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OUR AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER.

BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED US AND JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO REFER ANYONE WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM AGING OR CAREGIVING INFORMATION TO OUR PROGRAM.

SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

COMMISSIONERS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DONNY? I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU.

I'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF YOUR PROGRAMS, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COUNTY AND WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[00:35:03]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DONNIE. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. THIS WILL TAKE US TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR. DISCUSS AND ACT ON ACCEPTING ROCKWALL COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 2025 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT,

[4. Discuss/Act on accepting Rockwall County’s Fiscal Year 2025 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report as presented by Pattillo, Brown & Hill L.L.P. CPAs, and all related issues; (Judge New - County Auditor)]

AS PRESENTED BY PATTILLO, BROWN AND HILL LLP.

HE'S A OUR AUDITOR, OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, AND WE'VE PLACED THE HARD COPIES ON THE DESK IN FRONT OF YOU ON YOUR DESKS. I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JOHN. TAKE IT AWAY, MR. MANNING. OKAY, LISA. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY. WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THREE DOCUMENTS. I'M GOING TO BE STARTING WITH WHAT WE CALL THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, OR THE THICKER OF THE BOUND DOCUMENTS. IF YOU'LL GO THERE AND TURN TO PAGE ONE, I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EVERY PAGE, BUT WE NEED TO START THERE.

THIS IS THE REASON THAT WE WERE CONTRACTED BY ROCKWALL COUNTY WAS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY.

AND WHAT WE'RE OFFERING HERE ON PAGE ONE IS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT.

AND WHAT IT STATES IS THAT THE NUMBERS BEHIND THIS REPORT, AS WELL AS DISCLOSURES, ARE ACCURATE AS OF 930 2025.

THIS IS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, MEANING WE DID NOT HAVE TO MODIFY OUR OPINION FOR GAAP DEPARTURES OR INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCIES THAT THE COUNTY HAD.

SO ALTHOUGH WE WORK PREDOMINANTLY WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO GATHER THIS INFORMATION, WE DO INTERNAL CONTROL REVIEWS AND TALK TO A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS.

AND THIS IS REALLY A DEPARTMENT WIDE ENDEAVOR WITHOUT ALL OF THEM ENFORCING THE CONTROLS AND THE POLICIES THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN PLACE.

THE NUMBERS AND THE REPORTS WOULD NOT LOOK THIS GOOD.

SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HELP THERE. IF YOU'LL GO TO PAGE FOUR I KNOW YOU GUYS GET A LOT OF INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKETS EACH MONTH AND OR EACH MEETING AND DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH A 200 PAGE DOCUMENT.

BUT THIS IS REALLY A PLACE WHERE I WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME.

IT'S A MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. IT'S WRITTEN BY THE COUNTY.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT KIND OF TAKES ALL THE NUMBERS AND BREAKS THEM DOWN INTO NARRATIVE FORM.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU OPEN UP TO PAGE 98, THERE'S A BUDGET TO ACTUALLY LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? A LOT OF THAT IN HERE IS EXPLAINED AND PUT INTO A BETTER DETAIL IN THIS REPORT WITHOUT GETTING YOU DOWN TOO GRANULAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE SIX AND SEVEN, IT'S REALLY THE ONLY PLACE ANY MORE THAT HAS COMPARATIVE INFORMATION OR DATA WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR AND SEE, HEY, HOW DID WE DO? WHAT'S GOING ON? AND SEE HOW DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SHOWED UP THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR.

IT ALSO HAS SOME REALLY GOOD GRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON PAGES EIGHT AND THEN ON PAGE TEN, IT ALSO BREAKS DOWN SOME OF YOUR BIGGER AUDIT AREAS, SUCH AS LONG TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL ASSETS, AND GIVES THE USERS MORE INFORMATION ON THOSE ITEMS AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND THEY START THE ONES THAT I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING FOR A LITTLE BIT ARE ON PAGE 15 AND 16. AND THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS FOUR FUNDS THAT MEET THE MAJOR FUND CRITERIA, MEANING WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM SEPARATELY.

THEY'RE YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOUR ROAD IMPROVEMENT BOND PROGRAM, DEBT SERVICE, AND THEN THE ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE STILL GOING ON.

THOSE FOUR ARE PRESENTED BY THEMSELVES. THEN ALL OF THE OTHER SMALLER COMPONENTS OF THE COUNTY'S RECORDS ARE PUT INTO THIS OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AREA.

SO THE GOOD THING HERE IS WHEN WE DO THESE AUDITS, WE LOOK AT RISK AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR BALANCE SHEET, IT'S ABOUT $107 MILLION. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT 85 MILLION OF THAT, THAT'S IN CASH AND INVESTMENTS.

WE GET DIRECT CONFIRMATION FROM THOSE PEOPLE THAT HOLD THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST RELY ON THE COUNTY AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE THIS MUCH IN TEXAS. WILL WE ACTUALLY GET LETTERS FROM TEXAS SAYING THESE FUNNY MONEY, SORRY FUNDS ARE HERE AND THAT THEY DO BELONG TO ROCKWALL.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LARGE PORTION OF THAT BALANCE SHEET THERE.

WITH NOT A LOT OF RISK. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT YOUR TAXES RECEIVABLE, THAT'S ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S JUST A LIST OF UNPAID TAXES. WE LOOK AT WHAT YOU LEVIED THIS YEAR, WHAT WAS UNPAID LAST YEAR AND WHAT WAS PAID THIS YEAR, AND ROLL THAT NUMBER FORWARD AND HAVE VERY GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT THAT NUMBERS GOOD AS WELL.

SO REALLY WITH THAT AND THE DUE TO OTHER FUNDS, WHICH IS JUST MONIES THAT ARE BETWEEN FUNDS THAT HAVE BORROWED MONEY FROM EACH OTHER YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT OF RISK ON THE BALANCE SHEET AT ALL.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO PAGE 15 OR ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 15, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF YOUR FUND BALANCE.

AND AS WE KNOW, FUND BALANCE IS IF YOU GOT RID OF ALL YOUR ASSETS AND PAID ALL YOUR LIABILITIES, WHAT'S LEFT. AND FORTUNATELY HERE, ALL THOSE FUNDS DOWN THERE HAVE POSITIVE POSITIONS IN THAT AREA.

IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 18 AND 19, REMEMBER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT WE JUST LOOKED AT A MINUTE AGO WAS AS OF ONE DAY,

[00:40:07]

SEPTEMBER 30TH. THIS IS A SUMMATION OF YOUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.

SO THIS IS A 12 MONTH TOTAL HERE. AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOU ARE ABLE TO ADD ABOUT 963,000 TO FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR, BRINGING THAT TOTAL UP TO ABOUT ALMOST $31 MILLION, WHICH IS YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOMETIMES Y'ALL DO GO OUT FOR DEBT.

YOU DO GIVE GET GRANTS. AND A LOT OF PLACES LIKE TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME FINANCIAL STABILITY.

YOU DO HAVE RESERVES HERE. GFOA RECOMMENDS AT A MINIMUM, LIKE THE SMALLEST AMOUNT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS.

AND YOU GUYS ARE ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD, WHICH IS GREAT.

THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BOND FUND CONTINUE THAT MONEY.

THOSE MONIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE DRAWN DOWN AS THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT.

DEBT SERVICE HAS A LITTLE UNDER $3 MILLION IN THERE.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THOSE FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO DWINDLE AS YOU GUYS FINISH UP SPENDING THAT MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE COUNTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO OR A FEW YEARS AGO IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SO REALLY, WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH HERE, WE'RE FIRST, WE'RE MAKING SURE THINGS ARE CORRECT.

WE ALSO ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT IF WE SEE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, LIKE IF YOUR FUND BALANCE IS CONTINUING TO GO DOWN OR WE CONSISTENTLY SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE OVER BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO PREPARE.

THAT'S OVER ON PAGE 47. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WE HAVE PLACES WHERE WE CAN SEE WHERE THEY BUDGET FOR WHAT THEY WANT AND NOT NECESSARILY WORRY ABOUT HOW TO GET THOSE THINGS. AND WE SEE HERE THAT THERE'S CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TAKEN TO BUDGETS.

YOU COLLECTED MORE REVENUE THAN YOU BUDGETED AND YOU SPENT WELL UNDER WHAT YOU BUDGETED.

SO YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PART OF THE AUDIT SEEM TO BE WORKING VERY WELL.

THE OTHER PART THAT YOU GUYS HAD THIS YEAR IS WE HAVE ANOTHER BOUND DOCUMENT HERE THAT YOUR SINGLE AUDIT, Y'ALL SPENT OVER $1 MILLION OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND THE MAJOR FUND FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS WHERE OBVIOUSLY YOUR ARPA OR YOUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE TEXAS STATE AND SOIL WATER CONSERVATION BOARD GRANT WHERE Y'ALL SPENT OVER $1 MILLION THERE AS WELL.

SO WE, WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IS TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THOSE PROGRAMS AND RANDOMLY SELECT EXPENDITURES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING SPENT PROPERLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU'RE FILING REPORTS ON TIME.

AND WE DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCIES OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES TO REPORT TO COURT.

SO ALL IN ALL, A VERY GOOD AUDIT. WE APPRECIATE THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

HER AND HER ASSISTANT GIVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAW THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE REQUEST TO GET THIS DOCUMENT TO YOU YOU, YOU'D SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS. ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POINT OUT THE COUNTY VOLUNTARILY DOES WHAT WE CALL AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

THAT PREDOMINANTLY IS ALL THOSE STATISTICAL TABLES IN THE BACK, THE EXPANDED NOTES.

I THINK THEY ADD A LOT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT ROCKWALL AND SEE THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY BY LOOKING AT THE TEN YEAR TREND INFORMATION IN THERE.

AND THE COUNTY DID RECEIVE THE AWARD LAST YEAR ON THEIR 25.

I MEAN, ON THEIR 24 FINANCIALS, THERE WAS 2 OR 3 COMMENTS THAT WERE MINOR CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE SURE WERE DONE THIS YEAR.

SO WE FEEL THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT AWARD AGAIN THIS YEAR.

AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT WE RECEIVE WHILE WE'RE OUT HERE DOING THE AUDIT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH, ALL OF YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MANNING? I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, LISA, AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE BUDGET IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TASK.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE AUDIT, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THAT ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER MONEY, AND THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE REALLY POINTED OUT.

SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT.

AND AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT WE, WE GOT, WE GOT OUR GOLD STARS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ELENA CRENSHAW, MY FIRST ASSISTANT.

SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND THIS. JOHN CAN AGREE WITH ME ON THAT.

SHE IS THE THE BACKBONE OF THIS AUDIT OR EVERY ANNUAL AUDIT.

SO THANK YOU. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB. GOOD. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YEAH. AND JUST SO EVERYONE'S AWARE, THE BUDGET THAT WE WILL ADOPT COME OCTOBER 1ST HAD OUR FIRST MEETING YESTERDAY. SO IT JUST DOESN'T END. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT BUDGET.

[00:45:01]

DO WE NEED TO ACCEPT THIS. DO WE NEED TO. YEAH.

YES. SO I'LL I'LL YEAH. I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT. THE ROCKWALL COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2025 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACY. I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALANTE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU. EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY ALANA. THIS WILL TAKE US TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

[5. Consider and take necessary action to adopt a resolution supporting approval of a bid for the sale of a struck-off property and authorize the County Judge to sign all of the related documentation for Suit No. 3-22-0003, under Texas Property Tax Code Section 34.05, and all related issues; (Judge New)]

CONSIDER AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING APPROVAL OF A BID FOR THE SALE OF A STRUCK OFF PROPERTY, AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN ALL OF THE RELATED DOCUMENTATION FOR SUIT NUMBER 3-22-0003 UNDER TEXAS PROPERTY CODE, SECTION 34.05 AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. MR. SWAGIT WITH LINEBARGER.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. SO WE'VE SUBMITTED THE PACKET WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.

THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT IS A RESALE PROPERTY.

SO JUST AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WHEN WE HAVE A DELINQUENT PROPERTY ON A DELINQUENT TAX ON A PROPERTY, WE FILE A LAWSUIT AND PROCEED TO FORECLOSURE FOR THE COLLECTION OF THAT TAX FOR THE TAXING UNITS.

USUALLY THAT CULMINATES WITH A JUDGMENT AND AN ORDER OF SALE BY THE SHERIFF OF THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PAY THE TAXES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST. OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE NO BIDS ARE RECEIVED AT THE SHERIFF'S SALE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, IS WE HAVE A JUDGMENT FROM 2023 ON THIS PARCEL.

IT'S ALMOST AN ACRE IN ROYSE CITY AREA, NOT INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

IT'S ACCESS IS QUESTIONABLE. WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE ORIGINAL JUDGMENT WAS SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF $16,000.

WE HAVE RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FROM THE TAXING UNITS AS A RESALE.

SO ONCE THE SHERIFF IS UNABLE TO SELL IT AT INITIAL SALE, IT'S AVAILABLE.

IF SOMEONE COMES UP AND IS WILLING TO PAY THE TAXES AND ALL THE AMOUNTS OWED, THEN THE ENTITIES CAN CONSIDER IT AND SELL THE PROPERTY.

SO THE PRIVATE PARTY HAS OFFERED MADE AN OFFER HERE THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL JUDGMENT.

SO ALL THE TAXING UNITS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR ORIGINAL TAXES THAT WERE DUE, AS WELL AS ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LITIGATION.

SO WE HAVE AN OFFER THE AMOUNT THAT THE TOTAL OFFER IS, IS $16,786.

THAT WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT $2,300 TO THE COUNTY.

SO I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A FAIR OFFER. IT DOES REFLECT THE AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY WAS ORIGINALLY DUE.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVED IT LAST NIGHT AT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TO ELABORATE QUESTIONS FOR MR. JOHN. NOPE. THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE.

THE BID FOR THE SALE OF THE STRUCK OFF PROPERTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,786.15.

AUTHORIZE THE JUDGE TO EXECUTE A DEED AND TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE SALE.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. PASSES 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU, WADE GENT. ALL RIGHT. THIS BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM SIX.

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

DISCUSS AN ACT ON THE SHERIFF'S REMODEL PROJECT AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER STACY. THIS ONE WE'RE GOING TO TURN OVER TO NICO FOR HIM TO GIVE US A REPORT.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE NEW. LET ME JUST PULL UP THIS REPORT REAL QUICK FOR YOU.

THE ROCKWALL SHERIFF OFFICE RENOVATION REMAINS ON BUDGET.

WE ARE ROUGHLY $2.6 MILLION SPENT IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

THAT GETS US THROUGH WORK THROUGH MARCH, END OF MARCH.

TODAY WE'LL VOTE ON PCO 16, 17, 18 AND 21. WE'VE HAD MANY OBSTACLES ON THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FACING. WE ARE ALMOST DONE IDENTIFYING COSTS TO EACH ONE OF THOSE CHANGES.

SO VERY SOON IN THE NEXT COURT IN APRIL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT ON EXACTLY WHAT THOSE ARE WITH AN OFFICIAL CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONTRACTOR. NOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS TEMPORARILY

[00:50:08]

RELOCATED OFF SITE, OUR CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE IS NOW INDEPENDENT OF THE FURNITURE PROCUREMENT.

SO, THE IMPLICATIONS OF GETTING FURNITURE IS NO LONGER A CONCERN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION DELIVERY.

AND WE CAN NOW ACCURATELY REPORT ON THE SCHEDULE, WHICH HAS BEEN DELAYED BY PERMITTING EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT AS WELL AS SOME STRUCTURAL COORDINATION ISSUES OF WHICH WE BELIEVE TO BE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AMONG THE PROJECT TEAM.

THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE A NEW TARGET DATE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION SEPTEMBER 2ND.

AND WE'LL ISSUE AN AMENDMENT AND A CHANGE ORDER ON THE NEXT COURT TO CAPTURE THAT CHANGE.

AS FAR AS UPDATE ON THE PROJECT PROCUREMENT WISE, ALL ELECTRICAL GEARS LIGHTING FIXTURES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THE FURNITURE PROPOSAL HAS ALSO BEEN RECEIVED.

WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE KINKS ON THAT. AND THAT WILL BE ON THE NEXT COURT AS WELL.

OR AT LEAST THAT IS THE INTENT. STOREFRONTS AND PASS THROUGH WINDOWS.

WE STILL GOT ABOUT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THOSE COME IN.

BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF THE NOTABLE LONG LEAD ITEMS QUALITY CONTROL WISE.

I MENTIONED THE OBSTACLES WE'VE BEEN FACING RECENTLY ON THE PROJECT.

TWO OF THE MOST NOTABLE ONES AC UNIT CASSETTE TAPES OR CASSETTE UNITS THAT ARE IN WORK AREA.

A WE RECEIVED C SIX, WHICH IS A DESIGN CHANGE LAST WEEK.

THERE IS A SMALL REVISION COMING WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE NEXT WEEK THAT WILL COMPLETELY IDENTIFY PATH FORWARD THAT, THAT ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUE WAS THE GENERATOR PROGRAMING, WHICH WILL BE WILL HAVE A RESPONSE THROUGH C7, WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE AT THE END OF THIS WEEK.

CONSTRUCTION WISE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SETTING AC UNITS ON THE ON THE ROOF AC STARTUP, INSTALLING LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL TRIM OUT BY TRIM OUT. THAT MEANS LIKE THE THE OUTLET FACE COVERS AND SWITCH COVERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE FINISHING AND FINALIZING POWER AND DATA RUNS BACK TO THE PANELS THEMSELVES INSTALLING DOORS AND PAINTING.

AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'LL BE WORKING ON INSTALLING CEILING TILES REFRIGERANT LINES FOR THOSE AC CASSETTES THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AND THEN STOREFRONTS, FLOORING AND BASE AND DEMOLITION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR UPDATE. ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

WHO IS THE JOB SITE SUPERINTENDENT? WHO'S JONAS.

JONAS. LOVETT. OKAY. DO YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT ON SITE DAILY, ARE YOU? I AM WEEKLY. NOT EVERY DAY. OKAY. IS JONAS ON SITE DAILY? YES, SIR. OKAY. CAN YOU GET ME AN AUDIT OF HOW LONG HE'S ON? IS THERE A SIGN IN SHEET? I MEAN, DO WE SIGN IN OR IS THERE SOME MECHANISM? SUBCONTRACTORS SIGN IN, BUT NOT. I DON'T KNOW THAT HE DOES PER SE, BUT I CAN I CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO AND THE REASON I ASK, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S SOME, SOME ISSUES THAT COULD BE REMEDIED WITH SOME ON SITE MANAGEMENT THAT, THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS HAVING TO STEP IN AND SAY, THAT'S NOT RIGHT OR THIS ISN'T RIGHT, WHICH HISTORICALLY SHOULD BE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB TO DIRECT THE SUBCONTRACTOR.

SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW, I WANT A GOOD IDEA OF HOW LONG HE'S ON SITE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SPENDING THREE DECADES OR SO IN CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS.

I KNOW WHEN WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD, SUPERINTENDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH 3 OR 4 JOBS.

AND WHEN TIMES ARE BAD, SUPERINTENDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH 3 OR 4 JOBS.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING OUR TIME BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE SOME THINGS ARE KIND OF SLIDING THROUGH THE CRACKS THERE.

SO IF YOU WOULD GET ME THAT AUDIT, NICO, I'D I'D APPRECIATE IT.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. YEAH. THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR NICO? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. THAT WILL TAKE US TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.

[7. Discuss/Act on approving Prime Contract Change Order Nos. 016, 017, 018, and 021 to the agreement with SCI Construction for the Rockwall County Sheriff Office Renovation project, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON APPROVING PRIME CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 16, 17, 18 AND 21 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH CI CONSTRUCTION FOR THE

[00:55:04]

ROCKWALL COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE RENOVATION PROJECT AND ALL RELATED ISSUES, COMMISSIONER STACEY.

YEAH, I HAVE A KIND OF A SHORT PRESENTATION TO WALK THROUGH.

WHAT ALL THESE CHANGE ORDERS ARE. SO GIVE ME ONE SECOND. JUST FOR CLARITY, I DID NOTICE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM IT SAYS PRIME CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER. THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE THE NEXT COURT WILL BE THE PRIME CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER.

THIS IS JUST THESE ARE POTENTIAL PROPOSED CHANGE ORDERS WITH THE SUBCONTRACTOR.

YEAH. SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO WALK THROUGH WHAT WE'VE DONE.

SO THE FIRST POTENTIAL CHANGE ORDER IS TO REDO THE ENTRYWAY.

WHEN WE GOT TO LOOKING AT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, YOU WOULD WALK INTO A REALLY NICE ENTRYWAY AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A BUNCH OF MASONRY THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AN OUTSIDE OF A BUILDING. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS WE'RE TEARING THE MASONRY DOWN AND PUTTING DRYWALL UP.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE A COHESIVE ENTRANCE. THIS IS, A A STEEL BEAM FOR THE A C UNITS.

KIND OF A NECESSARY THING THAT WE WE'RE HAVING TO DO.

18 IS UPDATING THE EXTERIOR SIGN. SO THERE WAS NO EXTERIOR SIGNAGE UPDATE IN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE.

BUT KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT THAT ENTRANCE WOULD LOOK LIKE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PICKED OUT A NEW SIGN TO GO ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

AND THEN 21 ADDS A BUNCH OF FINISHED OUT DRYWALL IN THE OLD JAIL AREA WHEN WE WERE, WHEN WE WERE.

THIS IS SO IT'S HARD TO PREDICT UNTIL WE KIND OF STARTED SEEING THE WORK, BUT THIS ALLOWS IT SO THAT WHEN YOU WALK BACK THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS ON PURPOSE. AND WE'RE JUST EVENING OUT SOME WALLS.

WE'RE COVERING UP SOME OLD PASS THROUGH WINDOWS.

I MEAN, THIS IS AN OLD CONCRETE JAIL. SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A COHESIVE SPACE.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED YOU ALL TO KIND OF OUTLINE WHAT THIS IS.

AND THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE I THINK THE NEXT COURT, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE 2 OR 3.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY COMPLICATED AND VERY LARGE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW THIS IS LOOKING AND WHY WE MADE THE CHANGES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE DID.

AND SO THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING. AND SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OBSTACLES THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GO INTO AN OLD CONCRETE JAIL AND TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE OFFICE SPACE. SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES DILIGENTLY.

AND AS NICO SAID, WE ARE STILL PERFORMING UNDER BUDGET.

THE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN CHANGED WHICH IS JUST PART OF US RUNNING INTO SOME SERIOUS, SERIOUS OBSTACLES AS WE LOOK AT REDOING THIS.

SOME OF THE MAIN ONES BEING, YOU KNOW, THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE IT ROOM YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS BUILDING WAS FUNCTIONAL, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PLACES THAT WE DID IT, SO CONSOLIDATING IT ALL TO ONE ROOM MAKES MORE SENSE FOR THE LONG TERM, BUT IT'S VERY COSTLY IN THE SHORT TERM. SO THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE RUN INTO SOME, SOME SERIOUS JUST REDESIGN. THAT'S WHAT C IS.

IT'S A REDRAWING. IT'S AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING.

SO WE ARE WAITING ON PRICING FOR C SIX AND THEN WAITING ON PRICING FOR C SEVEN.

AND THEN THAT PUTS US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE KIND OF ON THE DOWNHILL.

WE'RE NOT THROUGH THE JOURNEY, BUT WE'RE, BUT WE'RE, BUT WE'RE ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF, OF THIS REMODEL PROJECT.

SO. ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE. ARE WE LOOKING FOR A MOTION? YES. CAN WE DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE THE THE TOTALS FOR THESE CHANGE ORDERS.

I MEAN I KNOW WE'VE GOT IT IN OUR PACKET. NO I DON'T THINK WE DO.

OKAY. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE CHANGE ORDER 16, 17, 18 AND 21 FOR THE SHERIFF REMODEL PROJECT. GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GALENA.

SECOND, THAT MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY.

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

WE ARE PASSES 5 TO 0. WE'RE IN DANGER OF THE ENTIRE COURT LOSING OUR VOICES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IF THAT HAPPENS, BUT.

OH, WELL. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM EIGHT.

DISCUSS AND ACT ON UPDATES AND PROGRESS RELATED TO THE COURTHOUSE COURTROOM ADDITIONS, THIRD FLOOR PROJECT,

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

SO I'LL COME UP HERE AND SAVE MY VOICE BECAUSE I THINK I'M GOING TO NEED IT LATER. THANKS.

FORTUNATELY, NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SAY. WE'VE RECEIVED OUR KIND OF FINAL SLEW OF PCOS, AND THAT'S ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, SO I WON'T DISCUSS THAT HERE. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED OUR KIND OF FINAL SET OF PAY APPS AS WELL.

THOSE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND SHOULD BE ON FOR THE NEXT COURT.

AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PART OF THE CONTRACT.

THERE'S STILL SOME LINGERING FURNITURE ITEMS. KIND OF A DAY TWO ORDER, WHICH WAS PART OF A PCO.

[01:00:05]

AND THEN OUR FINAL CONSTRUCTION AUDIT THAT WE WERE STILL WORKING THROUGH AS WELL. ALL RIGHT.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE AUDIT? I MEAN, YOU SAID IT WAS EASIER THAN THE ONE WE HAD TO DO ON THE ON THE ANNEX.

SO WE'RE ALMOST I MEAN, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE POINTS ARE OR ARE WE GETTING SOME CLARITY? I DON'T NEED DETAILS. BUT ARE WE ARE WE? SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE WAITING ON HELEN WILKINSON TO GET US ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRACT TO GIVE TO THE AUDITOR.

I HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS MYSELF TO GET TO HER AS WELL, BUT THAT LIST FOR US WAS RECEIVED LAST WEEK.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THAT LIST TOGETHER.

PERFECT. YEAH. LONG STORY, BIG PICTURE. IT SHOULDN'T BE AS COMPLEX AS THE ANNEX WAS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR SAL? I DON'T THINK THIS REQUIRES ANY ACTION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NINE.

[9. Discuss/Act on approving Proposed Change Orders No. 013 through 017 to the agreement with Hill & Wilkinson Construction Group for the 3rd Floor Courtroom Additions project, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON APPROVING PROPOSED CHANGE ORDERS NUMBER 13 THROUGH 17 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH HILL AND WILKINSON CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THE THIRD FLOOR COURTROOM ADDITIONS, PROJECT AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER.

SAL, DO YOU WANT TO RUN THROUGH EACH ONE? I CAN RUN THROUGH EACH OF THESE. THESE PCOS ARE QUICK, AND WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF HAD A PRELIMINARY MEETING WITH THE AUDITOR AND KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT FOR OUR FINAL NUMBERS ON THIS ONE. SO PCO 13 THIS IS FOR SECURITY HARDWARE. THIS IS MAINLY FOR KIND OF A DELAYED EGRESS ISSUE HAPPENING IN A COUPLE ITEMS OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THE COURTROOMS. IT'S HOW THE FOURTH FLOOR FUNCTIONS. IT WAS IT'S NOT INTUITIVE, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS NOT DONE FOR THE THIRD FLOOR ORIGINALLY IN THE DRAWING.

SO THIS HAD TO BE AN ADD JUST TO GET THOSE HARDWARE PIECES TO MAKE IT FUNCTION AS THE SAME WAY THAT THE FOURTH FLOOR DOES.

PCO 14 OR THESE ARE PA CENTRIC KEYS. SO THESE ARE KEYS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEEDS FOR THE DETENTION AREA.

THIS AGAIN, THIS JUST WAS NOT PRICED IN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE IS ALL SO THIS WAS JUST THE NUMBER TO GET THOSE KEYS FOR THEM.

PCO 15 THESE ARE ADDITIONAL AV COMPONENTS. SO AV WAS KIND OF AN ADD ADDED SCOPE.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY RUNNING THOSE PAY APPS SEPARATELY FROM THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT SCOPE. SO THESE ARE JUST ITEMS THAT WE NEEDED FOR LIKE MONITOR SPLITTERS AND TO EXCHANGE MONITORS SIZES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIT IN THE MILL WORK AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AT THE JUDGE'S BENCH.

PCO 16. THIS IS OUR DAY TWO FURNITURE ORDER. THIS INCLUDES A BENCH THAT IS OUT IN THE ROTUNDA AREA.

I THINK AGAIN, WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM WHAT HAPPENED ON THE OTHER THE FOURTH FLOOR AND THE OTHER ONES BECAUSE THE BENCHES DID NOT, THEY WERE APPROPRIATELY PURCHASED THE SAME WAY THAT WE DID ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, WHICH ORIGINALLY WAS ONE BENCH SHORT.

AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY'VE GONE IN AND ADDED THAT BENCH ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR. SO A BENCH OUT THERE AND THEN A FEW CHAIRS THAT WILL GO IN THE DETENTION AREA FOR THE THE LAWYER SIDE OF KIND OF THE SPEAK THROUGH AND THEN THE FINAL PCO, WHICH IS OUR DEDUCTIVE PCOS. THESE ARE SAVINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY AN AMOUNT OF $70,182.

SO IN SUMMARY, WE ARE GETTING BACK $70,182. YES.

CORRECT. YEAH. ALL OF THESE CHANGE ORDERS ON THE ON THE POS THEMSELVES, SHOW OWNERS CONTINGENCY IS WHERE THE MONEY IS.

YEAH. AND THAT OWNERS CONTINGENCY WAS CREATED FROM A DEDUCT THAT WE DID EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT.

AND WE'VE KIND OF KEPT THAT CONTINGENCY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT. A COUPLE CREDITS AND ADDITIONS HERE OR THERE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT CONTINGENCY KIND OF LASTED THE THE AMOUNT AND GAVE SOME SAVINGS.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR SAL? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE PROPOSED CHANGE ORDERS 13 THROUGH 17.

IN THE AGREEMENT WITH HILL AND WILKINSON CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THE THIRD FLOOR COURTROOM ADDITIONS PROJECT.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. I'LL SECOND IT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES. THAT PASSES FIVE.

THANKS. THANK YOU. SAL. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM TEN.

[10. Discuss/Act on updates of the Strategic Plan 2050 Implementation Management Plan, and all related issues; (Commissioner Macalik)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON UPDATES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN 2050 IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER. MOLATE. THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO PUNT THIS TO CAMI BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND TRAININGS GOING ON.

SO JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE OF KIND OF WHAT OUR PROCESS AND PROGRAM IS.

YES. WE JIM BARTOW, COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH AND I RECENTLY CONCLUDED OUR TRAINING WITHIN VISIO.

AND I FORWARDED THOSE TRAINING VIDEOS TO THE USERS OF VISIO THAT TYPICALLY EACH OF YOU RELY ON TO UPDATE YOUR PLATFORM.

MY PLAN, THE PLAN IS STILL TO GO LIVE THIS MONTH AND EITHER THIS AFTERNOON OR TOMORROW, I WILL SEND EACH GOAL OWNER AN IMAGE OF WHAT YOUR OR MAYBE A LINK TO WHAT YOUR GOAL IS REFLECTED AS ON THE DASHBOARD.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER MORE OF YOUR UPDATES IF YOU SEE SOMETHING MISSING,

[01:05:03]

BUT SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT GOES LIVE.

AND THEN YOU CAN RESPOND WITH UPDATES OR WORK WITH YOUR TEAM TO, TO ENTER THOSE UPDATES YOURSELF.

KIMMY DOES IT. AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO SHOW SOME VISUALS FOR THE CITIZENS AS WELL AND OURSELVES.

YES. IT'LL SHOW A PERCENTAGE OF PROGRESS FOR EACH GOAL AND TASK AND WHETHER OR NOT EACH GOAL IS ON TRACK.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME ANALYTICS WITH SOME FLASHY PIE CHARTS AND.

BAR CHARTS. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CAMI.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAMI. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 11 DISCUSSION REGARDING LIBRARY AND RESULTS OF RECENT SURVEY REGARDING

[11. Discussion regarding Library and results of recent survey regarding Library, and all related issues; (Commissioner Liechty)]

LIBRARY AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER LICHTY.

THANK YOU. THE LIBRARY RECENTLY DID A SURVEY, AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH SOME OF THE RESULTS.

SURPRISED BY SOME OF THE RESULTS, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE WOULD HAVE THAT PRESENTATION MADE TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

SO MISS HEATHER BIGLER, THE PRESIDENT OF OUR LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.

YES, SIR. MAY I HAND THESE OUT TO YOU? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. SO GOOD MORNING. I THINK IT'S STILL MORNING.

MY NAME IS HEATHER BIGLER ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.

I'M HERE TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF OUR RECENT COMMUNITY SURVEY FOR THE ROCKWALL COUNTY LIBRARY.

WE DID THIS AS PART OF PREPARING FOR OUR NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN.

INSTEAD OF STARTING INTERNALLY, WE DECIDED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY AND START THERE.

WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY'RE USING THE LIBRARY AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW.

WE HAD 439 TOTAL RESPONDENTS AND THOUSANDS OF ACTUAL RESPONSES, WHICH WE WERE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO US, AND I WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GRATEFUL FOR, WAS SO MANY OF OUR RESPONDENTS TOOK THE TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE RESPONSES. SO THEY WERE ALL WE HAD MULTIPLE CHOICE.

EVERY SINGLE QUESTION WAS OPTIONAL, AND WE HAD OVER TWO THIRDS OF OUR RESPONDENTS CHOOSE TO WRITE ACTUAL RESPONSES.

THAT TELLS US THAT THE RESPONDENTS DIDN'T JUST CLICK THROUGH THE SURVEY TO GET IT DONE.

THEY ACTUALLY GENUINELY CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LIBRARY.

THEY SPENT ENOUGH TIME TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

AND YEAH, IT WAS JUST, IT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE.

THE SURVEY COVERED THINGS LIKE USAGE PROGRAMS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES, OVERALL JUST EXPERIENCE OF THE LIBRARY.

STARTING WITH USAGE, ABOUT 75% OF OUR RESPONDENTS SAID THEY VISIT THE LIBRARY AT LEAST MONTHLY.

NEARLY A THIRD OF THOSE ARE COMING IN EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

SO THAT SAYS THAT THE LIBRARY IS VERY WELL INGRAINED INTO THE ROUTINE OF ROCKWALL COUNTY CITIZENS.

WHERE THINGS REALLY START TO STAND OUT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE WRITTEN RESPONSES IS ONE THEME THAT COMES UP AGAIN, AGAIN AND AGAIN.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR MORE, MORE PROGRAMS, MORE MATERIALS, MORE SPACE, MORE ACCESS, MORE, MORE, MORE. IT SHOWS UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY CONSISTENT PROGRAMS ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.

THERE'S A STRONG INTEREST IN EXPANDING PROGRAMING, ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES.

BUT REALLY ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS, ADULTS, TEENS, YOU NAME IT.

IT'S CLEAR THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, THE LIBRARY ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE BOOKS, IT'S THE PLACE WHERE THEY COME TO PARTICIPATE AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.

WE SAW THE SAME THING WITH MATERIALS. PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR MORE SELECTION, SHORTER WAIT TIMES, AND BETTER AVAILABILITY. SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY MISSING.

IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE USING WHAT'S THERE AND THEY REALLY WANT MORE OF IT.

SPACE CAME UP QUITE A BIT AS WELL. WE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT SEATING, CROWDING PROGRAMS FILLING UP.

AND THAT, THAT DEFINITELY LINES UP WITH THE DATA ON THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS AS WELL.

ABOUT 66% OF OUR RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING THE CURRENT LIBRARY FACILITY, THE CURRENT SPACE, OR EVEN ADDING A DIFFERENT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR, YOU KNOW, MORE THINGS, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE DISSATISFIED WITH THE LIBRARY.

THEY LOVE THE LIBRARY. THEY THESE, THESE WANTS ARE BUILT ON CONSISTENT, POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'RE GETTING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S JUST ROCKWALL COUNTY IS GROWING. LET'S SEE HERE.

[01:10:05]

SO WE HAD SOME REALLY INTERESTING COMMENTS AND I CAN SEND YOU THE ENTIRE SPREADSHEET OF EVERY COMMENT THAT WAS GIVEN.

BUT IT'S REALLY CUTE TO GO THROUGH AND READ SOME OF THEM.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON SAID THE LIBRARY WAS A REFUGE FOR HER AND HER DAUGHTER.

ANOTHER PERSON SAID THAT IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES LEFT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO WITHOUT NEEDING TO SPEND MONEY. AND THAT'S DEFINITELY TRUE THESE DAYS.

SO WHEN YOU STEP BACK AND REALLY LOOK AT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, THE LIBRARY IS DEFINITELY BEING USED.

IT IS VERY CLEARLY LOVED AND THE DEMAND IS ABSOLUTELY CONTINUING TO GROW.

AND IT'S NOT ISOLATED IN JUST ONE AREA. IT IS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD.

EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THE LIBRARY OFFERS IS BEING USED PRETTY MUCH TO ITS CAPACITY AT THIS POINT.

WE HAD A SENSE THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE CASE JUST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE COME ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY ITSELF, WHICH IS WHY WE INCLUDED A QUESTION IN OUR SURVEY ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY AS DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW.

AND ABOUT 70% OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULD OF THOSE, 85% SAID THAT THEY WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO SUPPORT A BOND IN ORDER TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE LIBRARY. SO THAT'S NOT JUST DEMAND.

THAT'S NOT JUST USING THE SERVICES. I MEAN, THIS IS THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SPEND THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO MAKE THE LIBRARY EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SINCE I WAS ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE HOW THE RESPONSES THAT WE HAD TO OUR OWN SURVEY DIRECTLY CORRESPOND TO THE SAME RESPONSES WE HAD TO THE PLANNING SURVEYS.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN TALKS A LOT ABOUT MANAGING GROWTH AND MAKING SURE SERVICES KEEP UP.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE LIBRARY IS THIS IS A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE OF WHERE THAT'S ALREADY STARTING TO SHOW UP.

SO THE GOAL TODAY WAS REALLY JUST TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY DO, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION THAT WE HAD.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, WE WERE THINKING WE'D GET A COUPLE HUNDRED RESPONSES BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT A VERY WELL PUBLISHED AND, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT THERE SURVEY. YOU KNOW, LIBRARY BOARD HAS NO BUDGET AT ALL.

SO WE ALL DID THIS OURSELVES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WENT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WE KNOW HIT UP A COUPLE OF THE LIKE THE FOUNDERS DAY AND FARMERS MARKET AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES THAT WE GOT, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO ACTUALLY WRITE OUT RESPONSES AND GIVE US SOME MORE INSIGHT.

SO I THINK THAT GIVES US A REALLY STRONG STARTING POINT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR HEATHER? HEATHER.

I HAVE ONE IN REGARDS TO THE 439 RESPONDENTS THAT THAT DID RESPOND.

DID WE DID YOU WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ASKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR NAME OR THEIR ADDRESSES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OR WAS IT ALL ANONYMOUS? NO, IT WAS ALL ANONYMOUS.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY BARRIERS TO PEOPLE WANTING TO ACTUALLY SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LIBRARY, BUT WE DID TRACK CERTAIN DATA THAT ALLOWED US TO KNOW THAT WE HAD ACTUAL INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS GREAT. THE LIBRARY IS A GEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I'M GLAD THE SURVEY SAYS WHAT I THINK WE ALL KNEW THAT IT'S VERY BUSY, THAT IT IS CROWDED, THAT IT NEEDS MORE SPACE, AND THAT OUR LONG TERM PLAN IS TO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY FIND A SOLUTION FOR THAT. AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE WAS POSITIVITY AROUND THAT IN THE SURVEY.

AND I INCLUDED A A DATA POINT ON YOUR HANDOUTS THAT I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HERE, BUT ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS FOR US AS THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD WAS SEEING THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SO INCREDIBLY THRILLED WITH THE LIBRARY STAFF.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU TAKE OUT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESPONSES THAT WERE GOOD OR EXCELLENT FOR HOW THE LIBRARY STAFF IS AT THE LIBRARY, THEY HAD A 95% RATING ON PEOPLE THAT MARKED THEM EITHER GOOD OR EXCELLENT IN, IN THEIR SERVICES.

SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY TO, YOU KNOW, COMMEND THAT STAFF.

ALL RIGHT. WELL DONE. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT HEATHER.

ABSOLUTELY. APPRECIATE IT MARCY AND ALL YOU GUYS DO.

AND THE COMMENTS FROM THE COURT. THIS IS AS I THINK BOBBY WAS, SAID, THIS IS A GEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT REALLY IS. AND ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING THE LIAISON TO THE LIBRARY IS TO SEE WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY DO, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO EVEN MAKE IT BETTER.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, HEATHER, FOR SERVING ON PRECINCT, FOR BEING THE THE HEAD OF THE LIBRARY BOARD ALWAYS MAKES ME PROUD.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A TEN MINUTE BREAK. IT IS 1015.

[01:15:08]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING THE BREAK.

IT IS 1025. I'M GOING TO CALL US BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION.

[12. Discuss/Act on accepting the gift of a conference room table and chairs from Liechty, McGinnis, Berryman & Bowen, LLP, to Rockwall County for use in the Historic Courthouse, and all related issues; (Commissioner Liechty)]

WE ARE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12. DISCUSS AND ACT ON ACCEPTING THE GIFT OF A CONFERENCE ROOM TABLE AND CHAIRS FROM LICHTY, MCGUINNESS, BERRYMAN AND BOHN LLP TO ROCKWALL COUNTY FOR USE IN THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER LICHTY THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING WE DID A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE WE APPROVED IT, BUT APPARENTLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO THE DA'S OFFICE, OUR TABLE IS GOING DOWN HERE.

WE HAVE TO REDO THIS AGAIN. ALSO WE ARE LOOKING AT GETTING A, AN ESTIMATE TO PUT GLASS ON THE TOP OF IT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A COMPANY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE YET, SO I DON'T KNOW.

DO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS OR DO WE JUST, JUST PART OF NORMAL MAINTENANCE? AND I THINK IF, IF YOU APPROVE THE ADDITION OF A GLASS PIECE AS PART OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE, THEN THEN YOU CAN JUST TURN THE BILL IN AND, AND I CAN PAY THE EXPENSE. SO GIVEN UP TO AMOUNT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GLASS TOP FOR JUST A SECOND.

I KNOW IT HAD A GLASS TOP WHEN IT WAS AT YOUR OFFICE AND A GORGEOUS TABLE AND CHAIRS, BY THE WAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE VERY WELCOME. SOMETIMES I GO IN THERE AND JUST SIT DOWN JUST JUST TO ENJOY IT.

I KNOW THE GLASS WAS IN TWO PIECES. WE BROKE ONE OF THEM IN TRANSPORT.

DO WE NEED GLASS? I MEAN, TYPICALLY THE GLASS IS TO KEEP THE TABLETOP FROM BEING SCRATCHED.

THERE'S ALREADY A COUPLE SCRATCHES ON IT. DO WE EVEN NEED A GLASS? YEAH. THE SCRATCHES THAT ARE ON IT WERE MADE AS PART OF THE MOVE.

THIS. AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN CLEAN THOSE UP, BECAUSE IT WAS ZERO SCRATCHES WHEN IT CAME.

GOT IT. AND IT GOT TWO SCRATCHES IN THE MOVE, WHICH IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

WE'VE OUR FIRM, OUR LAW FIRM HAD THAT TABLE FOR I THINK ALMOST OVER 20 YEARS.

WOW. AND WE ALWAYS HAD GLASS ON IT. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO DO IT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO DO IT, I THINK YOU SHOULD. IT PRESERVES THE TABLE. I APOLOGIZE FOR SCRATCHES, JUDGE.

WELL, NO, I WASN'T CASTING ANY BLAME. I WAS, I WAS JUST SITTING THERE.

AND DO YOU HAVE MONEY IN PRECINCT THREE'S BUDGET TO COVER THE GLASS? I HAVE TOLD OUR AUDITOR THAT I WILL TAKE IT FROM MY CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION BUDGET, BECAUSE I DON'T EXPECT TO USE ALL THAT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'LL TAKE THAT MONEY FROM. I TAKE IT FROM MY BUDGET.

WILL THERE BE ANY MOVING EXPENSES? I HOPE NOT.

LET'S. LET'S ASSUME NOT. LET'S ASSUME NOT. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DO WANT THE GLASS. I THINK THE GLASS IS IMPORTANT. I HAVE IT EVEN ON SOME OF MY MY FURNITURE BECAUSE PEOPLE, THEY DON'T MEAN TO, BUT THEY'LL COME DOWN AND THEY'LL SIT DOWN WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SWEATS AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A STAIN.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT AN INDENTION OR NOT AN INDENTION, BUT A SCAB.

ALL RIGHT. I AM NOT MARRIED TO THE STANCE THAT WE DON'T NEED GLASS, SO I AM I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO ASK IF.

IF COMMISSIONER LICHTY COULD MAKE THE MOTION TO INCLUDE THE GLASS.

IF THERE WAS AN UP TO AMOUNT, I JUST WASN'T SURE BEFORE I WENT TO THAT.

I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS WHOLE TOPIC. FAIR ENOUGH. THAT'S WHAT I WAS. I WON'T DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW. DO YOU HAVE A GLASS? GLASS. OKAY.

SO LISA, WOULD YOU PREFER US JUST TO HANDLE THE GLASS AT THE NEXT COURT, OR WOULD YOU.

WOULD YOU PREFER US TO JUST SAY THAT WE WOULD? OKAY.

THE GLASS IN PRECINCT THREE'S BUDGET? WE CAN BRING IT BACK AS A REQUISITION TO YOU ON THE NEXT COURT WHEN YOU GET A DOLLAR AMOUNT. BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO SAY UP TO THAT, THAT SERVES THE PURPOSE FOR ME.

AND YOU COULD GO UP TO. AND IF IT GOES OVER, WE CAN ALWAYS BRING THAT BACK, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. WITH ALL OF THOSE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, BUT I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT BALLPARK IT WOULD BE IN.

DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT? OKAY. I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A SHOT. BOBBY'S NOT AFRAID. I'M NOT AFRAID.

I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A GIFT OF A CONFERENCE ROOM TABLE AND CHAIRS FROM LAUREN LICHTY, MCGUINNESS, BERRYMAN AND BOWEN L P TO ROCKWALL COUNTY FOR USE IN THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE.

AND ADD THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE A GLASS TOP FOR THE TABLE NOT TO EXCEED $2,500.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA. I'LL. SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. IT PASSES 4 TO 0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LICHTY, FOR THE FANTASTIC GIFT.

IT IS APPRECIATED. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 13.

[13. Discuss/Act on approving the Request for Proposal document for Employee Benefits Brokerage Services and authorize the Auditor to advertise by public notice, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

[01:20:02]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON APPROVING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENT FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BROKERAGE SERVICES AND AUTHORIZE THE AUDITOR TO ADVERTISE BY PUBLIC NOTICE AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER STACY YEAH, THIS IS JUST SIMPLY GOING TO AN RFP FOR OUR INSURANCE BROKERAGE SERVICES.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT, AND I AM IN FAVOR OF MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COURT THAT I BELIEVE ON THE COVER SHEET, IT DOES HAVE AN RFQ, BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR AN RFP.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EDIT IS NOTED.

THIS IS AN RFP. IT'S A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL.

WE HAVE A SCHEDULE. WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE OF COMMISSIONER, LIECHTI, MYSELF PEAK AND HR THAT WILL BE EVALUATING THIS.

THE GOAL IS TO BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT ON JUNE 23RD FOR THE AWARD.

THIS CONTRACT GOES FROM JANUARY TO JANUARY. SO WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DOING AN AWARD, WHETHER WE STAY WITH OUR CURRENT AGENT OR MOVE TO ANOTHER AGENCY, THEN WE WOULD BE KIND OF SETTING UP FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT, HOW THAT WOULD LOOK, WHAT TRANSITIONS WOULD WOULD GO ON.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO THIS. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT'S A SERVICE BUSINESS.

IN THE SERVICE BUSINESS, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GO OUT EVERY FEW YEARS AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE SERVICE AND GETTING THE LEVEL THAT YOU WANT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STACY, ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENT FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BROKER SERVICES, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REFERENCED AS AN RFP ON THE COVER SHEET.

I'LL SECOND THAT. GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE.

IT PASSES 5 TO 0. TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM 14.

[14. Discuss/Act on County ROW Crossing Agreement for Mt. Zion water line relocations on Anna Cade Rd, Red Valley Run, and Old Millwood Rd near the intersections with FM 552, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana – County Engineer)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY. CROSSING AGREEMENT FOR MOUNT ZION WATER LINE RELOCATIONS ON ANAKIE ROAD, RED VALLEY RUN AND OLD MILLWOOD ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH FM 552 AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER GALLINA. ERICA IS ALREADY UP HERE READY TO EXPLAIN THIS TO US.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS FOR WATER LINE RELOCATION FOR THE MOUNT ZION WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION.

THEY ARE HAVING TO RELOCATE THE WATER LINES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF FM.

552 IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE WIDENING OF FM.

552 WHICH IS A VERY GOOD THING. SO THIS WILL COVER CROSSINGS AT THREE LOCATIONS AND A RED VALLEY RUN AND OLD MILLWOOD ROAD. IT'S EIGHT INCH WATER LINE AND 16 INCH ENCASEMENT.

AND WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR ERICA.

NOPE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A RIGHT OF WAY CROSSING AGREEMENT FOR MOUNT ZION WATER LINE RELOCATIONS ON ROAD WHERE VALLEY RUN AND OLD MILLWOOD ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH FM 552.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA. I'LL SECOND IT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MACCULLOCH. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. IT PASSES 5 TO 0.

THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM 15. DISCUSS AND ACT ON COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY CROSSING AGREEMENT WITH FARMERS.

[15. Discuss/Act on County ROW Crossing Agreement with Farmers Electric Cooperative & PCI Utilities for installation of underground electrical service along North Munson Rd, approximately 600 feet northeast of the intersection with State Highway 276, and all related issues; (Commissioner StacyCounty Engineer)]

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND PCI UTILITIES FOR INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL SERVICE ALONG NORTH MUNSON ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 600FT NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION WITH STATE HIGHWAY 276 AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER STACY AND ERICA WILL TAKE THIS ONE AS WELL.

SORRY, IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M REPEATING MYSELF, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS AN AGREEMENT WITH FARMERS ELECTRIC AND PCI UTILITIES THAT WILL BE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK TO INSTALL UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL SERVICE ON NORTH MUNSON ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROAD NEAR THE STATE HIGHWAY 276 INTERSECTION. AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE FOR YOU.

QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY ENGINEER? NOPE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY CROSSING AGREEMENT WITH FARMERS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND PCI UTILITIES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL SERVICES ALONG NORTH MUNSON ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 600FT NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 276.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. I'LL. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. IT PASSES 5 TO 0.

[16. Discuss/Act on Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Southern Portion of Rockwall County and revisions proposed by the Regional Transportation Council, and all related matters; (Commissioner Liechty)]

THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM 16. DISCUSS AND ACT ON A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF ROCKWALL COUNTY AND REVISIONS PROPOSED BY THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL AND ALL RELATED MATTERS.

COMMISSIONER LICHTY. THANK YOU JUDGE. OKAY. AS I'M SURE EVERYONE REMEMBERS, ON MARCH 10TH, WE APPROVED A FORM OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE OUTER LOOP SOUTHERN PORTION THAT WAS SENT TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

THEY RESPONDED ON APRIL 2ND WITH SOME CHANGES, AND I NOTICED.

I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE MARKED COPY OF THIS, BUT WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH MY PACKET,

[01:25:05]

I NOTICED WHAT WAS IN MY PACKET WAS NOT THE MARKED COPY, JUST THEIR CLEAN COPY.

AND SO I PUT AT YOUR DESK. I THINK YOU'VE ALL SEEN THIS BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU, BUT I PUT IT AT YOUR DESK. A COPY OF THE MARKED CHANGES VERSION.

SO THAT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL WORKING OFF THE SAME THING.

SO THESE, THESE COMMENTS WERE SENT SOME OF THE PRIMARY CHANGES THAT WERE MADE.

AND THIS ONE, BY THE WAY, IS THE FIRST ONE IS NOT SHOWN BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY MADE BEFORE IT WAS SENT OVER AT THEIR REQUEST.

THE NOTICE WHAT USED TO SAY IN THE THE PREAMBLE PARAGRAPH, NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WAS CHANGED TO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY WILL BE THE PARTY THAT WILL BE ENTERING INTO THIS IF IT'S APPROVED.

THE SO THAT THAT WAS ONE CHANGE. THE ANOTHER CHANGE OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE COMES IN SECTION THREE A, WHERE WE HAD SAID THAT THE COG OR.

NOW THE RTC WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION.

AND THEY TOLD US THAT ACTUALLY THAT WILL BE TEXDOT THAT WILL BE DOING IT.

SO THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT TO PROVIDE THE TEXDOT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

THE IN SECTION FOUR B, THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT I DISAGREED WITH.

THIS WAS SECTION FOUR B WHERE IT SAID, THIS IS FOR SECTION FOUR IS THE DESIGN DESIGN OBJECTIVES, HOW THIS WILL BE LAID OUT AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE HAPPEN AS PART OF THIS.

ONE OF THE ONES, WHICH IS TO ME ANYWAY, VERY IMPORTANT IS FOUR B, WHICH IS TO CONSTRUCT TRAFFIC LANES ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE BELOW EXISTING SERVICE GRADE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE NOISE AND INTERFERENCE WITH VIEWS, HORIZONS, AND VISTAS.

THEY HAD INSERTED REASONABLE COST AND ENGINEERING JUDGMENT APPLIES.

I DID NOT LIKE REASONABLE COST. I'VE ASKED THAT THAT BE REMOVED.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WILL BE REMOVED AT THE LAST.

AT THE MEETING LAST THURSDAY, THERE WAS A RTC MEETING ON THURSDAY WHERE THEY WENT THROUGH THIS.

AND THEY SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE REMOVED. SO WE WILL TAKE THAT OUT.

SO THE ENTIRE THING REASONABLE COST AND ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, JUST COST AND REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT WILL, WILL THEY WANT TO KEEP IN. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THE PREAMBLE IS PARAGRAPH FOR ALL OF THIS IS TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY PRACTICABLE, BECAUSE THAT'S IN FACT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

AND SO THAT REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, I THINK TO ME IS SOMEWHAT SURPLUS.

BUT THEY WANTED IT IN. THE OTHER CHANGE OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE THAT THEY MADE WAS ON PARAGRAPH FOUR. THEY FORESEE THEY SAY WHERE WE HAD JUST SAID THAT WE WANTED TO MINIMIZE INSTALLATION OF OTHER NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES AND LISTED A BUNCH OF THINGS, INCLUDING SOUND WALLS.

THEY MODIFIED IT SLIGHTLY AND MADE IT AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT THAT WHERE SOUND WALLS ARE WARRANTED THEY WILL FUND CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE SOUND WALLS BEFORE THE ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION. AND THE EXPLANATION THAT I RECEIVED FOR THAT WAS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY DID ON 635 WHEN THEY DID THE EXPANSION THERE. AND IT WORKED OUT WELL. SO THEY WOULD DO THAT IN THE SAME SITUATION HERE.

SO THIS WAS, THIS IS THE RESPONSE WE GOT. I, I IN MY OPINION, I'M OKAY WITH THE CHANGES.

THERE IS ONE THOUGH THAT I WANT TO CHANGE THAT IT MAY SOUND VERY NITPICKING, BUT IT'S IN PARAGRAPH TWO TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THAT PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS PROVISIONS THAT REFLECT AND INCORPORATE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THIS MEMORANDUM. AND THEY TOOK IT SAYS IT USED TO SAY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THEY TOOK OUT WITHOUT LIMITATION HERE AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES. I DON'T WANT TO REMOVE IT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A BROADER STATEMENT THAT INCLUDES OTHER THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK UP IN THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSES, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THIS.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE CHANGE THAT IF IT WERE ME, I WOULD WANT TO RESTORE THAT WITHOUT LIMITATION.

OTHER THAN THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ON THIS.

[01:30:03]

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THIS? I DON'T KNOW, YOU ALL MAY HAVE COMMENTS. YOU MAY NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A DECISION ON THIS.

IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE RTC ON APRIL 10TH.

THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN ON IT. THE SO WE'VE GOT OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TO LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE A DECISION. THEN WE WILL SEND BACK WHATEVER WE, WHATEVER WE ARE WILLING TO APPROVE AND THE OBLIGATION.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT AGAIN THAT I MADE IT WHEN WE CONSIDERED THIS IN MARCH 10TH THAT IF WE DO THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING AS JUDGE NEW RAISED AT THAT MEETING.

WE ARE SAYING WE WILL GET THIS DONE. SO WITH THAT, I.

THAT'S ALL I GOT TO PRESENT. I'LL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT WITH OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR WHATEVER, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS. IT'S KIND OF UNFAIR. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT, BUT YOU WENT RIGHT TO THE FIRST TIME THEY REMOVED THE WORD WITHOUT LIMITATION.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S LIKE THEY DID A WORD SEARCH. AND EVERYWHERE THAT THAT PHRASE APPEARED, THEY THEY REMOVED IT. WHY WOULD THEY REMOVE THE WITHOUT LIMITATION? SINCE I DRAFTED IT, I THOUGHT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE.

BUT THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEEDED IT.

AND I WENT THROUGH THESE AND THIS IS I KNOW I'M NOT THE, THE COUNTY'S LAWYER.

SO THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. WHEN I WENT THROUGH ALL THESE, WHERE THEY TOOK IT OUT AND TO ME, IT SEEMED THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERED WAS THAT ONE IN PARAGRAPH TWO, THERE'S A PRINCIPLE IN THE LAW THAT.

AND THIS IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF COURT CASES, AS ARNOLD CAN EXPLAIN.

BUT THERE'S A PRINCIPLE THAT IT SAYS THE. IF THE THE GENERAL SUBSUMES THE SPECIFIC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

DO YOU KNOW THE LATIN TERM FOR IT? OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, WE LEARNED IT IN LAW SCHOOL.

BUT THAT WAS 45 YEARS AGO. AND SO WHEN YOU USE IT, WHEN YOU USE TERMS LIKE THIS, WHEN YOU SAY INCLUDING WHAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT, WELL, ALL IT INCLUDES IS THE DESIGN OBJECTIVES.

AND SO HERE IT'S LIKE THE PROVISIONS THAT REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MEMORANDUM.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER IN THIS WHEN WE GET INTO THIS CONTRACT.

AND SO TO ME, THAT WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERED.

THE OTHERS I DIDN'T THINK REALLY HURT US, BUT THAT WAS MY OPINION.

SO WHY DID THEY TAKE IT OUT? I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE. BUT IN MOST CASES, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS WORTH FIGHTING ABOUT.

OTHER THAN THAT, ONE PLACE WHERE I DO THINK IT'S WORTH FIGHTING ABOUT.

YEAH, I THINK I WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOUR STANCE.

IT'S NOT WORTH FIGHTING ABOUT. I GET SUSPICIOUS WHENEVER IT'S TAKEN OUT AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCEPT, EVEN LACKING LAW SCHOOL AND LATIN.

I THINK THE OVERARCHING IDEA SETS THE PRECEDENT FOR THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT THAT THAT ONCE YOU'VE FRAMED IT, THEN YOU HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THAT FRAME. SO I WOULD, I DON'T KNOW, I WOULD QUESTION I BECOME SUSPICIOUS WHEN THEY START TAKING OUT, WITHOUT LIMITATION TO ALL THE MITIGATION TOOLS THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO USE.

I THINK THAT WORD HAS MEANING AND WELL, IT DOES.

AND AND THAT'S THAT'S WHY IN THIS PLACE I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO RESTORE IT BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INCLUDING THE MITIGATION TOOLS AND THE PRINCIPLES WE'VE SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH ONE.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT SOME THINGS, LOOK AT LIKE LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S JUST GO THROUGH THESE, THE FIRST FIRST PAGE, THE FIRST RECITAL PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS RTC HAS ADOPTED ITS MOBILITY 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES AND WITHOUT LIMITATION, THEY TOOK OUT PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MULTILANE ROADWAY.

WELL, I DON'T CARE THEIR. BECAUSE THE ONLY THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A MULTI-LANE ROADWAY.

BUT IN FACT, IT DOES INCLUDE A LOT MORE THAN THIS.

SO YOU GO TO PARAGRAPH THREE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE TWO.

THE RTC WILL WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO PLAN, DEVELOP AND CONSTRUCT THE OUTER LOOP IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN THIS MEMORANDUM.

PERIOD. SO THAT'S A STATEMENT, MY LANGUAGE THAT THEY TOOK OUT WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING.

[01:35:02]

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THAT'S A FULL STOP PERIOD IN THE NEXT SENTENCE STARTS, THE RTC AGREES SPECIFICALLY.

SO SPECIFICALLY IS USUALLY DOES NOT LIMIT THE GENERAL SPECIFICALLY AS FOLLOWS.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW I WENT THROUGH IT. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IF I, IF IT WOULD TAKE INCLUDE RESTORING ALL THE WITHOUT LIMITATIONS TO GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS, I WOULD GLADLY DO IT. JUDGE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET THERE, BUT I AM OPEN TO HAVING THE DISCUSSION.

YEAH. AND I JUST EVEN WITHOUT MY SUPPORT, I KNOW THE COURT HAS SUPPORT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING A DOCUMENT.

ABSOLUTELY. THAT REPRESENTS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE CITIZENS.

AND I JUST KIND OF SEE A THOUSAND LITTLE PAPER CUTS HERE OF DIMINISHING THAT.

I MEAN, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE OVER BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, THE REASONABLE COST IN ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, MAN.

I THINK THE WORD COST IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO.

I TOTALLY AGREE IN THIS AGREEMENT. IT'S AND I, I'VE SAID PRETTY CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, MY FEAR HAS BEEN, HEY, YOU HAVE ALL THESE TOOLS. WELL, YES, WE HAVE THE TOOLS, BUT ULTIMATELY THOSE TOOLS ARE EITHER GOING TO BE UTILIZED OR NOT UTILIZED BASED ON THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE. AT SOME POINT, A CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO SAY, THAT'S NOT HOW I BID THE PROJECT.

THAT'S NOT HOW THE PROJECT WENT OUT FOR BID. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, OR THE STATE WILL SAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. WE HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD THE ROAD.

WE ATTEMPTED MITIGATION. IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE ATTEMPTED SUB GRADE. IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE. AND I THINK YOUR POINTS KIND OF GAVE US A BETTER STANCE OF SAYING, HEY, WE WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE GET TO HAVE A SAY FOR OUR PEOPLE. HOW, HOW IT'S DONE AND HOW WE USE OUR TOOLS.

AND I SEE JUST A, A DIMINISHING OF THOSE. I DO KNOW SOUND WALLS YOU KNOW, WHERE SOUND WALLS ARE WARRANTED UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST THROW THE WORD SOUND WALLS OUT.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED. THE REASON I LIVE IN HEATH, TEXAS, IS BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH WENT RIGHT BY THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE IN ROWLETT.

AND, YOU KNOW, STILL HAVE A BUNCH OF FRIENDS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND ONE OF THE ENGINEERS TOLD ME AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THE MEETINGS MUCH LIKE WE'RE DOING OVER HERE NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, CAN WE DO THIS? CAN WE MAKE THE SOUND WALL THIS AND CAN WE PUT VEGETATION AND PROBABLY THE MOST HONEST THING THAT AN ENGINEER HAS SAID FROM TXDOT IS, I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL DO THE LEAST AMOUNT REQUIRED IF FEDERAL GUIDELINES SAY THE WALLS THREE FEET.

WE BUILD IT THREE FEET. IF IT SAYS SIX FEET, WE BUILD IT SIX FEET.

IT WILL NOT BE SIX FEET IN ONE INCH. IT WILL BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE THING WE CAN DO.

AND IT'S UP TO THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES. AND I WILL TELL YOU THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE THIS DECIBELS. AND WE PROJECT IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS, IT'LL BE THIS DECIBELS COMPLETELY MISSED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ROWLETT COMPLETE.

I MEAN, NOT EVEN CLOSE. I MEAN, IT, IT MADE AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD BACKYARD UNUSABLE JUST BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC GOING ACROSS AND THE ELEVATED RAMPS. AND SO I HAVE A LITTLE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE TOLD YOU CAN USE THESE MITIGATION TOOLS. ULTIMATELY YOU CAN'T. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU ON SOUND WALLS.

AND I'VE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT SOUND WALL STUDIES.

AND IN BOTH CASES THERE'S TWO TESTS. IT HAS TO BE THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LITTLE PLACES WHERE THEY PUT GAUGES AND GAUGE NOISE MARKERS, WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED. AND THEN THERE'S A COST TEST.

YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TO, IT HAS TO IMPACT THE, THE, THE NOISE IN A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF THOSE SPOTS.

AND THEN IT HAS TO BE WITHIN A CERTAIN COST LIMIT.

AND BOTH TESTS, I'VE SEEN IT HIT ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT NOT BOTH.

SO I AGREE WITH YOU. AND I DON'T LIKE IT. AND WHAT I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD WHETHER, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT WAS, WELL THEN CAN WE JUST BUILD OUR OWN SOUND WALLS? AND WHAT I'M TOLD IS ON A FEDERAL PROJECT, THIS NEPA PROJECT LIKE THIS, WE CAN'T.

AND THE REASON I'VE BEEN TOLD WE CAN'T IS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY CALL.

SOME SORT OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE. IS THAT IT? ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THEM ON FEDERAL PROJECTS THAN

[01:40:01]

LESS WEALTHY COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO. THAT ALL BEING SAID, SOUNDS LIKE SOCIALISM.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE SOCIALISM. IT SOUNDS STUPID TO.

AND. AND IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY. PAT FALLON, IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS, IF YOU COULD CHANGE THAT RULE, I'D SURE APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I WOULD SPEND THE MONEY FOR SOUND WALLS.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE CHANGE THEY'VE MADE I DON'T KNOW THAT IT REALLY HURTS US.

I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY IT CHANGES THE LANGUAGE THAT MUCH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE, YOU COULD INTERPRET IT DIFFERENTLY.

BUT ANYWAY, BECAUSE THAT, THAT, SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY THOUGHT ON THAT.

I SHOULD LIKE TO, YOU DID MENTION ABOUT THE, THE WALLS, THE SOUND WALLS THERE ON LBJ AND I MEAN, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUT AND GONE AND STAND AND STOOD IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD, BUT THOSE APPEAR TO BE, WELL, MORE THAN SIX FEET ON. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW BIG THEY ARE.

YEAH, I JUST PULLED THE SIX FOOT NUMBER OUT, OUT OF THE AIR AND THE THREE FOOT NUMBER I JUST THE RELEVANCE WAS THEY WON'T DO ANY MORE THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY HAVE TO DO. EVEN KNOWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT GETS GETS IT WRONG AS FAR AS THEIR PROJECTIONS.

AND IF IF WE CAN DO MORE, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING MORE.

SO IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SAY THAT I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF IT WERE ME AND LET'S SAY LET'S TAKE THE FOLKS FROM HIGH POINT LAKE ESTATES WHO ARE HERE THIS MORNING. IF SOUND WALLS WOULD HELP THEM AND FOR SOME REASON THE STUDY SAID NO, I PERSONALLY WOULD THINK, LET'S SPEND OUR BOTTOM BOND MONEY AND BUILD SOUND WALLS VEGETATION BERMS, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE BENEFICIAL TO TRY AND DRIVE NOISE AWAY.

SO BUT, BUT AGAIN, UNLESS I'VE BEEN GIVEN BAD ADVICE OR BAD INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW, WE CAN'T JUST THROW THAT MONEY AT IT.

IF WE CAN, I'M WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY. SO, SO I DO I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

BEFORE I BEGIN, BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO SAY I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS A GOOD THING.

SO I'M GOING TO BEAT THIS UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT COMMISSIONER LICHTY IS ACTING AS A BAD ACTOR OR TRYING TO GET US INTO A BAD DEAL. I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY, AND WE'RE GOING TO JUMP IN AND TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ANY MISGIVINGS AS I AS I GO THROUGH MY THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND IRREGARDLESS OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I'M VERY GLAD THAT MR. POLSTER IS HERE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR HIM AS WE KIND OF GET INTO THIS.

I HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RTC.

AND I WANT TO WALK THE COURT THROUGH THAT. I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS.

THIS IS IRREGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN THE MOU, WHICH I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

BY THE WAY, WE'VE GOT THESE ON, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT JUST NO, NO, NO, WE DON'T NEED TO PUT THEM ON THE SCREEN.

I'M JUST GOING TO WALK YOU ALL THROUGH A COUPLE OF SLIDES. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PRESENTATION. OKAY.

SO WHAT WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AND I, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS, THIS IS INSIGNIFICANT THROUGH THE PROCESS. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THE FACT THAT WHEN WHEN THEY GOT UP AT THE RTC, THEY SAID THAT THE PROJECT WAS SPLIT BECAUSE OF ISSUES ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP.

THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE PROJECT WAS SPLIT BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS SPLIT.

ROCKWALL COUNTY DECIDED TO DO PHASE ONE IN APRIL OF 2021.

AGAIN, POLLSTERS HERE, HE CAN HE CAN REDO THE THING.

BUT MY POINT IS, IS THAT IF I WAS ON THE RTC, IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME AS AS AN OUTSIDE PERSON AS SAYING, WELL, IF ROCKWALL COUNTY CAN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT OR THEY DON'T DO THE MOU, OR IF ANY OF THESE COMMISSIONERS ARE AGAINST IT, THEY'RE AGAINST THEIR DEAL WITH THE RTC.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S MATERIALLY FALSE. IT WAS SPLIT BECAUSE IT WAS SPLIT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE THAT I GAVE YOU GUYS, THIS IS ANYONE CAN REFERENCE IT.

IT'S FROM THE APRIL 2021 RTC MEETING. IT'S COVID 19 INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, ROUND FOUR FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS NUMBER 96 SAYS PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCKWALL COUNTY, IN WHICH THE COUNTY WILL FUND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL.

FOR A PORTION OF THE REGIONAL OUTER LOOP FROM 1138 TO 276.

THAT'S PHASE ONE WITH LOCAL DOLLARS. IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE PROJECT, AND THE RTC WOULD FUND A PROJECT IN RETURN THAT WILL BE DETERMINED AT A LATER TIME.

THAT IS THE AGREEMENT, THE MYSTICAL AGREEMENT THAT HAS EXISTED THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR IN WRITING.

WHAT IS IT? UNTIL SHE REFERENCED IT AT THE RTC? I COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT BECAUSE SHE REFERENCED THIS AGREEMENT, IT WAS EASY TO FIND THAT WE AGREED AS A COUNTY TO DO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LOOP IN EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER PROJECT. IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER 97, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH KAUFMAN COUNTY FOR THE EXACT SAME THING.

[01:45:08]

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS FROM THE RTC'S PRESENTATION.

THEY SAY THE RTC HAS COMPLETED THE PARTNERSHIP WITH KAUFMAN COUNTY AND THEY CITE A PROJECT.

MY ISSUE IS IF WE AGREED TO DO PHASE ONE FOR A PROJECT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AGREED TO DO THEIRS FOR A PROJECT THAN WHERE IS OUR PROJECT? IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, IT IS AN EMAIL FROM JOHN POLSTER WHO SAYS, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT, WHICH IS GREAT. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RTC HAS BEEN AMAZING.

WE DECIDED, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND LOCAL DOLLARS, WE'RE GOING TO DO PHASE ONE AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS MONEY BACK IN.

THE RTC IS DOING A PROJECT. I DO NOT THINK IT'S ACCIDENTAL THAT THESE PROJECT OMISSION FROM THE REPORT WASN'T PRESENTED, BECAUSE IT'S PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT WE'RE BEING A PARIAH TO THE RTC.

BY NOT DOING THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP. WE NEVER AGREED TO DO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP.

WE ARE NOW AGREEING TO DO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP.

IN MY OPINION, THAT IS WHAT IS IN WRITING, AND I THINK THAT IS NOT A MINOR POINT OF CONTENTION.

I INCLUDED THE EMAIL IN FULL. SO IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO SOME EMAILS THAT THAT LAUREN HAD MADE WITH HIM.

I ALSO INCLUDED THE TEX DOT FUNDING CATEGORIES.

SO YOU COULD SEE THAT IN FACT, CAT TWO MONEY IS CONTROLLED BY NETCFG, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN $267.9 MILLION OF CAT TWO FUNDING FOR 205 MIDDLE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WHAT THE RTC DOING IS BAD OR GOOD.

I THINK IT'S GOOD. I THINK THE FACT THAT WE DID THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LOOP, AND WE GOT CAT TWO MONEY IN RETURN FOR A HUGE PROJECT FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY IS A GREAT THING. MY QUESTION IS, IS WHY DID THEY OMIT ANY OF THAT PARTNERSHIP? AND WHY WAS IT PRESENTED THAT THE ENTIRE LOOP WAS AGREED TO IN APRIL OF 2021 BY ROCKWALL COUNTY IN ORDER TO GET A PROJECT TO BE DONE LATER? AND WHY WAS IT PRESENTED AS HISTORICAL FACT THAT IN 2022, THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP THAT THAT CREATED THE, THE DISAPPOINTMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS A SINGLE PROJECT.

WE GOT SOME INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. LAUREN AND I DID ON FRIDAY, I WENT TO LAUREN'S OFFICE AND SAID THAT THIS, THIS POINT REALLY, REALLY BOTHERS ME ON HOW IT WAS PRESENTED.

AND WE THINK IT WAS A FUNDING ISSUE. THE ROCKWALL COUNTY DIDN'T WANT TO COME UP WITH $15 MILLION.

THEY WANTED TO DO ABOUT 8 OR 9 MILLION FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE LOOP, WITH THE INTENTION OF FINISHING THE LOOP.

NO ONE SAYS WE WEREN'T GOING TO FINISH THE LOOP. AND I'M NOT.

I'M NOT ENTERING INTO WHAT JUDGE KNEW HAS GONE ON ABOUT THE THE, YOU KNOW, THE STRATEGY TO HIDE THE MONEY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THERE IS A CLEAR DEAL THAT WAS MADE IN WRITING AND APPROVED IN APRIL OF 2021, AND IT'S BEING PURPOSELY SLANTED, AS IF THE DEAL WAS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS.

AND MY POINT IS, BEFORE I ENTER INTO A SECOND DEAL WITH THE RTC, I WOULD JUST LIKE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHAT POLSTER HAS PUT IN THIS EMAIL TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

EVEN JUST SIMPLE EMAIL FROM MICHAEL MORRIS THAT SAYS, YES, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE RTC WAS TO DO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LOOP IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE PROJECTS, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE CHANGING THE DEAL TO, TO, TO TRY TO GET MORE POLITICAL PRESSURE ON US TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY 205, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP.

AND I THAT JUST REALLY KIND OF GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE OF CONCERN.

I JUST HAVE A BEFORE WE MOVE ON, IF I CAN TALK.

SO THE TWO PROJECTS THAT JOHN LISTED POLSTER LISTED SAYS 549 FROM 276 TO 205.

AND THERE'S A CAP FOR FUNDING DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THERE.

AND THEN. 205 MIDDLE. IS THAT MONEY STILL THERE? THAT MONEY IS STILL THERE. 205 MIDDLE STILL THERE.

I THIS ISN'T PART OF THE. 205 MIDDLE MONEY THAT GOT MOVED OFF BY SEASON.

CAN YOU COME UP? JOHN. JOHN. BECAUSE BECAUSE I MEAN, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME MONEY IN THERE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF MY PROJECT.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT MEETING NEXT WEEK. YEAH.

PUSH PUSH THE TALK BUTTON. THERE YOU GO. THIS THING ON JOHN POLSTER INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.

AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING COMMISSIONER STACY JUST SAID.

AND WHAT SEASON DID WAS RIGHT BEFORE MO LEFT, THE INTERIM JOB WAS TO DO THE TWO JOHN KING CONNECTIONS IN THE BRIDGE OVER THE RAILROAD.

YEAH, THAT'S THE 60 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS, MO SAID.

LOOK, THE PAVEMENT'S BAD. WE WOULD HAVE TO TEAR UP THE PAVEMENT ON 205 IF WE STAYED ON EXISTING 205.

SO HE WENT AND ADDED ANOTHER 50, 60 MILLION BUCKS TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE PAVEMENT.

WHEN THEY DO THE REST OF THE PROJECTS. WHEN SEASON GOT IN, SHE NEVER WANTED 205 TO MOVE TO JOHN KING, SO WHEN SHE BECAME BOSS, SHE WENT BACK TO THE INTERIM JOB WHERE WE'RE DOING THE TWO CONNECTIONS IN THE RAILROAD.

SO THE 67 MILLION IS STILL IN THE TEN YEAR UTP.

IT'S STILL SLATED FOR THAT PROJECT. AND WHAT'S HOLDING UP 205 ISN'T THE RIGHT OF WAY.

IT'S THE RAILROAD AGREEMENT. YEP. AND SO I JUST LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANT SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE DID WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

[01:50:05]

AND I THINK YOU REMEMBER THAT MEETING WE HAD. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO I WAS IN THE MEETING, BUT YOU I KNOW YOU WERE THERE. YES. AND YOU GOT MICHAEL TO SAY YES.

YES WE DID. YEAH. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M NOT SURE.

BECAUSE IF YOU SEE, WHEN I GOT THE NOTICE FROM MISS GOTTI, IT WAS LIKE THE WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT.

AND SO I THINK EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF RUSHED.

NO, I AGREE SUBMITTED THAT BECAUSE I LITERALLY ASKED HER YESTERDAY FOR THE INFORMATION YOU GOT.

SO YOU GOT IT BEFORE I DID BECAUSE I, I WHEN THE COURT APPROVED IN 20, I GOT THE DATE RIGHT HERE.

IT'S 2021 I THINK IS WHEN. YEAH. WHEN THEY DID THE ACTUAL CONTRACT IN THE MINUTES.

I THINK COMMISSIONER GILBERT ASKED, WHAT ARE WE GETTING? AND THE ANSWER WAS Y'ALL HAD DECIDED 205 AND I SAID 205.

AND THEN DENNIS SAYS, CORRECT, IT'S 205. SO EVEN WHEN WE INITIALLY APPROVED THE CONTRACT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROJECT, THAT WAS THE PROJECT Y'ALL IDENTIFIED. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, WE GOT 549 READY AND THEY AND THEY FUNDED IT WITH CAT FOUR.

SO MY POINT IS IN THE IN THE PRESENTATION, AND THIS IS JUST A POINT OF THAT SHE PRESENTED.

TYPICALLY, THIS IS THE JOB OF THE RTC TO DO THESE STUDIES.

YEAH. AND SHE SAID IT. SO I'M JUST, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE WATCHED IT, BUT SHE SAID THIS IS TYPICALLY THE JOB.

SO THEN THAT MEANS THAT ROCKWALL COUNTY IS NOW TAKING ON THE JOB OF THE RTC.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT. I DO AGREE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER LICHTY IS TRYING TO DO AND WHAT JOHN HAS BEEN TRYING TO TELL ME FOR THREE YEARS.

AND THAT IS IF WE IGNORE THIS, THAT THEY HAVE FULL CONTROL AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET A BETTER OUTCOME IS IF WE TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

I'M AGREEING. I AGREE TO THAT. IN PRINCIPLE, I JUST BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR LOCAL DOLLARS, THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY IT'S PART OF A PAST DEAL.

AND I'M TRYING TO SAY, NO, THIS IS A BRAND NEW SITUATION.

AND I THINK THAT IS NOT A MINOR POINT OF POLITICAL POSTURING.

I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY GET MR. MORRIS TO REITERATE THAT IN WRITING, IF YOU'D LIKE.

I WOULD, BECAUSE I WAS THERE WHEN HE SAID, YOU'VE FULFILLED YOUR OBLIGATION.

LET ME JUMP IN ON THAT POINT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. NO, NO, YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY YOU WERE THERE AS WELL WHEN YOU SAID THAT I WAS THERE. AND IN FACT, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT QUESTION AND HE SPECIFICALLY GAVE THAT ANSWER.

AND THAT HAS KIND OF BEEN THE BACKGROUND TO EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE.

IN MY OPINION, THAT EVERYTHING I'VE DONE SINCE THEN ON THIS OUTER LOOP, WHICH IS THEY WE'VE DONE OUR PART PERIOD OF WHATEVER THE DEAL WAS, THEY HAVE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION WITH OR WITHOUT US.

CORRECT? OKAY. AND WE'VE ALL HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE IMPACT IF WE'RE INVOLVED OR IF WE'RE NOT INVOLVED, BUT THAT THE THE FOUNDATION FOR MOVING FORWARD WAS HIS STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE SAID WE'D DO BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT WE DO.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT. SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH JOHN ON THAT.

NOW HOW WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT. I ONE OF THE ONE WHEN JOHN CAME TO MY OFFICE LAST FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID TO HIM WAS, WELL, WHAT WE COULD PROBABLY DO IF WE WANT IS PUT A RECITAL IN THIS AGREEMENT WHERE WE SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AGREEMENT WE DID WAS THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT FOR FEASIBILITY ON THE NORTHERN PORTION. WE COULD PUT IN SOME LANGUAGE THAT SAYS WE'VE DONE OUR PART ESSENTIALLY.

I WOULD QUOTE WHAT MR. COMMISSIONER STACY JUST QUOTED IN THAT WHERE IT SAID THAT IT DID THE LIMITS.

YEAH, FROM 1138 TO 276, IF THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT, OR IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT WITH AN EMAIL FROM MR. MORRIS SAYING IT, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

NO, NO, NO. BUT BUT I'M SAYING I IT SOUNDS MINUTE UNLESS YOU'RE AN ROTC POLICYMAKER WHO'S ASKING WHY IS ROCKWELL GONE ROGUE? WE HAVEN'T GONE ROGUE. WE'VE HONORED OUR PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE ROTC DO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP, OR ARE WE GOING TO DO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

I DIDN'T LIKE AND AND AGAIN, I'M I'M REALLY IT MADE ME MAD, BUT I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY IT WAS 100% INTENTIONAL, BUT THERE WAS AN OMISSION AND THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT SAID BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP, IT WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PROJECTS. AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

AND I JUST WANT THE I WANT THAT POINT TO BE CLEARED UP WITH THE ROTC, THAT ANYTHING WE DO ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP IS A CONTINUATION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. COMMISSIONER AND I DID NOT SEE ANY OF THE PRESENTATION MATERIAL UNTIL WE SAT DOWN AND WATCHED IT AND HE STARTED TAKING PICTURES AND I SAID,

[01:55:05]

LISTEN, I'LL JUST HAVE HIM SEND IT TO US WHEN WE'RE DONE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO AGAIN, I'M NOT TO YOUR CAN I, CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING IN? IF, IF YOUR POINT IS, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT, AS YOU SAID TO RTC POLICYMAKERS, THAT'S THE 40 SOME PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THAT BIG HORSESHOE TABLE.

4545 AND IF WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT OR MAKE THAT POINT AND HAVE THEM ACKNOWLEDGE IT, I THINK A BETTER WAY TO MAKE IT IS TO PUT IT IN THIS DOCUMENT, RATHER THAN JUST GET AN EMAIL FROM MICHAEL MORRIS.

NO, NO, I AGREE, BUT I ALSO THINK SOME SORT OF EMAIL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD GO ALONG WITH THE MOU STATING THAT THAT IS IN FACT TRUE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THE RTC WAS AROUND 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO.

AND, AND THEIR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE NOW SAYS WE BROKE IT UP BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOOP.

AND THAT JUST REALLY KIND OF BOTHERS ME GOING INTO IT.

BUT BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T CLEAN UP. IT DOESN'T KILL THE MOU IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM.

WE CAN PUT A RECITAL, WE CAN'T. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

SO TWO ISSUES REALLY. ONE, ONE IS THE MOU THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY EMBED IT.

THE OTHER IS THE 45 PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THAT TABLE WHO DO HAVE SOME DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY ON WHAT ARTC DOES IN THE FUTURE, NOW HAS AN INACCURATE IDEA OF HOW GOOD OF A PARTNER ROCKWALL COUNTY IS.

AND TO ME, EVEN BEYOND THIS MOU, THAT'S THE BIGGER, THE BIGGER PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE, ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK NOW I NEED TO GO GET ON THE AGENDA AND AND HAVE A CONVERSATION FACE TO FACE WITH THE 45 MEMBERS AND JUST RECITE WHAT COMMISSIONER STACY HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT HERE, JUST TO SHOW THEM WE WE ARE A GOOD PARTNER.

WE DID FULFILL OUR OBLIGATION AND NOT ALLOW THE REVISIONIST HISTORY BECAUSE THESE GUYS DON'T KNOW ROCKWALL COUNTY FROM ADAM, AND THEY KNOW JUST WHAT THEY'RE TOLD. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO NOTE, AND THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE BE ACCURATE OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IS AS I'M WATCHING THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE HAD QUESTIONS OF THE MOU AND ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GUYS FROM. I WOULD SUSPECT DALLAS IMMEDIATELY JUMPS INTO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO START PUTTING UP AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MODES OF TRANSPORTATION INTO INTO AGREEMENTS, FRISCO, FRISCO, WHICH IS JUST ABSURD TO ME. BUT WHEN WHEN THE ENTITY THINKS THAT WE'RE NOT BEING A GOOD ACTOR, THEN IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO START INSERTING THINGS THAT ARE IRRELEVANT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO JUST REMIND YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF ASSURANCE ON THIS IS THE MOU IS WHAT I'VE TOLD COMMISSIONER.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TAKE THE MOU AND YOU'VE GOT HALF HERE AND YOU'RE.

SO HE'S THE EXPERT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TAKE THE THE INTENT OF THE MOU, ALL THE THINGS AND COMMISSIONER LOOK TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DOCUMENT AND CONFIRM IT WHEN HE WANT, WHEN HE SEES IT. BUT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS CALLED THE PURPOSE AND NEED.

AND THE WAY YOU HOLD THE AGENCIES TO THESE REQUESTS IN AN UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT IS TO PHYSICALLY PUT THEM INTO THE BODY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT IN THE PURPOSE OF NEED SCENARIO, AND THEN THE DOCUMENT HAS TO PROVE THOSE ISSUES.

AND SO ALL THE SOUND WALLS, THE MITIGATION, THOSE WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH.

AND, AND THE REASON WE WANTED COSTS TAKEN OUT IS BECAUSE TYPICALLY IN THE YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IS ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE TECHNICALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.

BUT YOU CAN'T GET ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE ON A PROJECT THAT'S NOT LOCALLY PREFERRED.

SO THE COSTS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE ON A LOCALLY ALTERNATIVE.

BUT LIKE ON THE SOUND WALLS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GONE A LONG WAY.

BACK IN THE DAY WHEN 635 WAS DONE JUST UP TO ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.

AND I CAN BE CORRECTED ON THE DATE. BUT THE VALUE THAT THEY EQUATED TO WHETHER IT WAS SOUND WALL WAS WARRANTED OR NOT, OR FEASIBLE BECAUSE THE COST WAS $25,000 PER RECEPTOR.

SO IF THERE'S TEN RECEPTORS, THE SOUND WALL CAN'T COST MORE THAN $250,000.

THEY'VE NOW RAISED THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO $55,000.

SO MORE SOUND WALLS ARE BECOMING FEASIBLE. IF THEY REDUCE THE THE NOISE BY THAT FIVE DECIBELS.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD IN SOUND WALLS THAT WEREN'T HERE YEARS AGO.

AND OKAY, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON SOUND WALLS, BUT I WILL POINT OUT WHAT MR. POLSTER SAID. IF YOU LOOK AT PARAGRAPH TWO TOWARD THE END OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS THE PHASE TWO ENGINEERING.

THE PHASE TWO ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WILL INCLUDE A PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT AND OTHER APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS THAT REFLECT AND INCORPORATE

[02:00:02]

RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THIS MEMORANDUM, INCLUDING.

AND THIS IS WHERE I SAID I WANT TO PUT BACK, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE DESIGN OBJECTIVE SET FORTH HEREIN.

SO WHAT AGAIN, WHAT I'VE KIND OF KEPT DRAWING THE, THE RTC BACK TO AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS I WANT TO SEE IT IN WRITING. AND JOHN HAS TALKED ABOUT A PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND SO WE PUT RIGHT IN HERE THAT THERE WILL BE A PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT THAT REFLECTS THESE PROVISIONS BUILT INTO THAT ENGINEERING AGREEMENT.

DO WE NEED TO WRITE THAT WE WILL BE THE AUTHOR OF THE PURPOSE AND NEED.

YOU WILL BE THE AUTHOR IF YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU. IF.

IF YOU KEEP THE FIRM THAT'S SELECTED NOW, THEY'LL START DRAFTING THE PURPOSE AND NEED.

AND WE'LL HAVE WE'LL HAVE INPUT ON IT, AND THEN WE'LL SUBMIT IT TO THE TECHS AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES TO IT BECAUSE AND WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN THEM THE TYPES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE'VE SHOWED THEM A LOT OF THEM TO YOU. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO IN THE MATTER, OF COURSE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY ON THIS AND COMMISSIONER WENT UP TO RTC AND SAID, I'M A LAWYER, SO I GOT TO SEE IT IN WRITING. SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS PUTTING DOWN BECAUSE I THINK COMMISSIONER WEBB IN COLLIN COUNTY ASKED THE QUESTION, ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT FOR ROCKWALL THAN YOU WOULD DO FOR ANYBODY ELSE? AND GOING, NO, WE'RE JUST PUTTING IT ALL IN WRITING THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

YEAH. AND THEN WHEN IS THE AGENDA DUE FOR THE NEXT RTC MEETING? THE SECOND THURSDAY. SO IT'S THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE SECOND THURSDAY.

SO MY POINT IS, IS THAT WE COULD CLEAN SOME OF THIS UP AND THEN AND THEY WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FIRST.

SO EITHER BRENDA OR WHATEVER IF ERICA HAS THE MISFORTUNE OF GETTING APPOINTED WE'LL SEE IT AT THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE, AND SO THEY'LL HAVE TO HAVE IT. EVEN SO, THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETS THE FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

SO IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE WHAT THEY PRESENTED TO THE RTC IN DRAFT FORM WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

SO WE'LL GET TO SEE IT AGAIN. BUT WHEN THEY WHEN THEY.

AND IT WAS THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT. THEY DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY RIGHT NOW AT THE RTC.

SO THEY JUST LOOKED UP WHAT THAT TERM MEANT AND A LOT.

AND THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT. AND THEY SAID, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE IT SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIMIT IT TO THIS STUFF. AND SO THEY JUST SAID, CAN WE JUST SAY WE WON'T LIMIT TO THIS STUFF? AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW. AS ONE OF MY LAW PARTNERS ONCE SAID, I ALWAYS DO BETTER WHEN THE OTHER SIDE'S NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.

IT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT. ALL I'M SAYING IS I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PUTTING THAT BACK IN. YEAH.

SO I, I OBVIOUSLY AND I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS WILL DISAGREE NEEDS WORK.

I MEAN, WE CAN CLEAN IT UP. WE CAN I AM. I AM FOR LEAVING WITHOUT ME.

YEAH. THANK YOU. JOHN. YOU MAY BE DISMISSED, SIR.

I AM ALL FOR PUTTING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BACK IN THERE THROUGHOUT.

LIKE I SAY, I JUST IT BRINGS ME PAUSE WHEN THEY IMMEDIATELY START START MARKING OUT WHAT I THINK IS LEVERAGE FOR US.

SO I HAVE MORE COMMENTS. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION.

CARRY ON. SO THE THE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT IS, IS A WORD THAT I JUST DON'T BASICALLY, IN MY OPINION, YOU COULD READ FOUR B AS SAYING YOU CAN HAVE AN OPINION, BUT MY OPINION OVERRIDES YOUR OPINION. ENGINEERING JUDGMENT CANNOT BE DEFINED. I ACTUALLY READ AN ACADEMIC PAPER WRITTEN IN JUNE OF 2025 FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION.

AND IT SAID THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DEFINE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD WANT TO AGREE TO A DOCUMENT WITH VERBIAGE THAT ISN'T DEFINED.

THE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT AND CIVIL ENGINEERING IS THE APPLICATION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE DECISIONS WHEN STANDARD CODES, REGULATIONS OR FORMULAS ARE INAPPLICABLE, INCOMPLETE OR AMBIGUOUS. THAT WAS DEFINED BY A, ANOTHER CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM OF JUST WHAT DOES THIS WORD MEAN? I READ FOR B TO SAY CONSTRUCTING TRAFFIC LANES, BOTH PRIMARY AND FRONTAGE ROADS.

LANES ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE BELOW EXISTING SURFACE GRADE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE NOISE AND INTERFERENCE WITH VIEWS, VISAS AND HORIZONS. UNLESS I DON'T WANT TO AS LITERALLY WHAT THAT SENTENCE NOW SAYS, BECAUSE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT IS FALSE 100% ON THE ENGINEER. WELL APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.

[02:05:04]

I, I GUESS I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE USING REASONABLE AS APPROPRIATE.

BUT WOULD YOU FEEL BETTER BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ADDED AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION.

WOULD YOU FEEL BETTER IF WE SAID REASONABLE INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING JUDGMENT? SO IT'S NOT SOME JUDGMENT ON THEIR SIDE THAT SOME ENGINEER THAT SAYS SOMETHING OR, OR ERICA, THAT SAYS SOMETHING. IT'S AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DEFINITELY A CONTRACT LAWYER.

BY TRADE, WITHOUT A DOUBT. THE ANSWER IS A SOFT YES, THAT IS KIND OF WHERE I'M GOING IS WHOSE JUDGMENT IS IT? THE. IS IT THE FIRM WE'RE CONTRACTING THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE ENGINEERING DECISION, OR IS IT THE RTC OR THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION OF THE RTC THAT GETS TO DECIDE WHAT THAT JUDGMENT IS? YEAH. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO ARBITRATION OR DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

AND I THINK INCLUDING THEM WOULD JUST DRAG IT OUT EVEN LONGER.

WE TRY TRIED TO KEEP THIS SIMPLE AND CONCISE AND YET MAKE ALL THE POINTS WE WANTED TO MAKE.

BUT I THINK IF WE WERE TO SAY SOMETHING HERE, LIKE INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING, JUDGMENT, REASONABLE INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING, IT WOULD AT LEAST DRAW ATTENTION TO THE POINT THAT IF THERE IS A DISPUTE DOWN THE ROAD, THEN WE DON'T SAY RTC YOUR ENGINEER RULES AND WE. SIMILARLY, WE DON'T SAY ERICA BRIDGES RULES.

WHY WOULDN'T WE SAY COUNTY ENGINEER? BECAUSE IF I WAS IN, WHY WOULD I AGREE TO THAT? AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ROAD IS WHY THEY WOULD AGREE TO THAT.

SURE. AND WE COULD WE COULD SAY A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT I THINK TO SAY, IF THERE'S A DISPUTE, TO BRING IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE FOR IS KIND OF A NORMAL WAY OF RESOLVING DISPUTES.

AND THEY WERE AND THEY SPENT SOME TIME ON THAT STATEMENT SAYING THAT COST IS ALREADY INTO THE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT.

SO IT'S BASICALLY THEY'RE FINE WITH GETTING RID OF THE COST BECAUSE COST IS ASSUMED IN REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THAT WE'RE AGREEING TO LET THEM VALUE ENGINEER THE ROAD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL OF, TO TRY TO SELECT THE ROUTE. I MEAN, THAT THAT WOULD BE THE REASON WE WANT TO DO THIS, IS TO TAKE THIS BY THE HORNS, IN MY OPINION. AND BUT YES. CAN I JUST POINT OUT WHEN YOU ALL SAW THE PRESENTATION THAT LAUREN MADE, WE MADE THAT SAME PRESENTATION TO THE ROTC STAFF AND THE TEXDOT FOLKS.

THE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALL THE THINGS THAT MATT WENT AND DID AWAY FROM THIS.

SO WHAT WHAT YOU DO ORIGINALLY IS HE DID A STANDARD, DESIRABLE DESIGN THAT PUT THE ROAD WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT, AND THAT PUT IT VERY CLOSE TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS WE ARE REDUCING THE DESIGN STANDARDS, WE'RE PUSHING THE ROADWAY.

WE'RE WE'RE DEPRESSING IT. WE'RE TAKING A BRIDGE AND REMOVING THE BRIDGE.

SO ALL THOSE THINGS ARE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT THAT YOUR ENGINEERING FIRM IS ALREADY DOING THAT.

TEXDOT AND COG HAVE ALREADY SEEN AND DEEMED THOSE REASONABLE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT.

SO WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT GOING TO HUNT COUNTY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE INSIDE THE REALM OF POSSIBLE.

NO I AGREE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEVIATING. THE REASON YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE ARBITRATION WHATEVER IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE SITTING DOWN AT A TABLE WITH ALL THE PARTIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN THERE UNTIL WE GET TO THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ONE TO FROM SAYING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID TO TEXDOT.

SO WE'VE GOT AN OPINION FROM THEM THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BECAUSE WE STARTED DOING THAT ON THE FEASIBILITY ARE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD DO TOO, IF THEY WERE DOING THE PROJECT. SO I DON'T THINK I MEAN, YOU CAN ADJUST THAT HOWEVER YOU WANT, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY AGREEING TO THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PROPOSED TO THEM. WE WANT TO DO AWAY FROM THE STANDARD DESIGN.

RIGHT ABOVE THAT, A SENTENCE I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO GET A DEFINITION.

AS LONG AS MOBILITY BENEFITS ARE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.

AND AS YOU SAID, WHEN, WHEN YOU MADE YOUR PRESENTATION OR YOUR COMMENTS TO THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL A LOT BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE IT IN WRITING, I DO AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED MEANS.

IF THAT'S A 5% OR 10% OR 50%, WHAT WHAT DO THEY CONSIDER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED? I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, I DON'T EITHER. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE KIND OF CATCH ALLS THAT I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO HAVE HAVE A NUMBER. SO I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER STACY, THAT THAT WAS ALL I

[02:10:06]

HAD. OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO ON ON THE DOCUMENT.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME.

TURN YOUR HOW DO YOU FEEL, LAUREN, AS FAR AS MAKING SOME OF THESE THESE CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS? OH, I THINK I'VE EXPRESSED HOW I FEEL. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A NUMBER FOR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.

SO I, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DEFINE THAT. I WOULD ASK, I WOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO, AND I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO ASK HALF TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT THEY CAN DO THAT FOR US. I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW.

AS AN ENGINEER, I'D ASK ERICA IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER, THAT I, THAT I'M SHOWING MY 45 YEAR HISTORY, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I'M JUST KIND OF USED TO SEEING IN CONTRACTS.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT YOU TRY TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, YOU SOLVE THEM DOWN THE ROAD.

TO. SO ON THAT ONE POINT, I LIKE THE IDEA OF PUTTING INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING JUDGMENT IN THERE.

ACTUALLY, I KIND OF, I KIND OF LIKE THAT THEY'VE AGREED TO TAKE OUT COST.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT JOHN, YOU TOLD ME WAS THAT IN AN ENGINEERING PROGRAM LIKE THIS COST CANNOT BE THE FINAL DETERMINANT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. SO YEAH, I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO SAY ANYTHING.

I WAS JUST DRAWING ATTENTION TO IT. SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN AND TRY AND PRESENT ANOTHER DRAFT TO YOU ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO THEIR TIMING. I CAN'T IMAGINE IT AFFECTS IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN APRIL.

APRIL 28TH. RIGHT. AND IF YOU ALL WANT ME TO, I'LL BE HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU AT THAT POINT.

BUT I WOULD SAY THIS, WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG TO EVERYBODY IS AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION.

AND IF THE DECISION IS TO PROCEED WITH THIS, THEN WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH IT.

AND IF THE DECISION IS NOT TO PROCEED WITH IT, WELL, THEN WE'RE NOT PROCEEDING WITH IT.

BUT I'M TRYING TO BRING A SOLUTION HERE AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR YOUR STATEMENT THERE.

COMMISSIONER. STACY. AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A INCREDIBLE HOT BUTTON ISSUE.

I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS FROM HIGH POINT LAKE ESTATES THAT HAVE COME DOWN, THAT THIS IMPACTS THEM SEVERELY.

AND WE ALL KNOW WE'RE HAVING A MEETING OUT THERE THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THEM WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW US WHERE IT RUNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST SO WE GET A BETTER ON THE GROUND VISUAL OF IT.

SO I DON'T MIND AT ALL BRINGING IT BACK. JOHN.

I WILL ASK FOR YOUR OPINION. NOW. YOU DON'T, DO YOU THINK THAT WAITING TO, TO VOTE ON THIS UNTIL NEXT, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THEM? NO, SIR. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IT TO THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE IN THE FORM THAT IT WENT TO RTC LAST THURSDAY.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT YOU'VE GOT TILL NEXT MONTH.

EASY. YEAH. OKAY. SO I'M, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COURT WANTS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT AND BRING IT BACK AND TRY AND INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE CHANGES.

AND, AND IN FACT TRY AND GET IT TO YOU IN TIME FOR YOU TO REVIEW IT.

WELL, BEFORE THE MEETING, I, I. I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO PUT EVERY WITHOUT LIMITATION IN, BUT I'LL THROW THEM WHERE THEY MATTER, IN MY OPINION, PUT SOME EXTRA ONES IN THERE AND SPRINKLE THEM IN.

YEAH. YOU GOT TO FRAME THE OVERTON WINDOW HERE.

PUT MORE IN THERE AND THEN LET THEM TAKE THEM OUT.

AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER LICHTY FOR ENTERTAINING ME AT 430 ON A FRIDAY WHEN I WAS REALLY, REALLY AMPED UP. SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THAT MEETING AND YOU SAID YOU ARE REALLY WORKED UP.

AND I SAID, YES, I AM. SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO AGENDA ITEM 16, NO ACTION TAKEN.

[17. Discuss/Act on adopting the Resolution of Support for County Road Funding, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 17. DISCUSS AND ACT ON ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR COUNTY ROAD FUNDING AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER STACY YES. SO THIS IS A STATEWIDE EFFORT FROM A COUNTY JUDGE IN CASS COUNTY JUDGE RANSOM I HAVE PRINTED OUT OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE BUDGET AND I'VE HIGHLIGHTED WHAT MONIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ROCKWALL COUNTY GETS FROM THE LATERAL ROAD FUND. YOU WILL BE VERY, VERY UNIMPRESSED WITH THE $15,000 THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE.

BUT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY BENEFACTORS OF THE LATERAL ROAD FUND.

AND THIS IS MORE JOINING THE SOLIDARITY OF OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO GET MORE FUNDING FROM THE STATE FROM THE VEHICLE FROM THE GAS TAX AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES SO THAT THEY CAN FUND THEIR COUNTY ROADS.

[02:15:05]

WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY COUNTY ROADS AS OTHER COUNTIES, SO WE DON'T GET VERY MUCH.

AND SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF US JOINING THIS EFFORT.

I BELIEVE THAT TAC HAS AT LEAST APPROVED THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS.

IT WAS IN THE LAST COUNTIES MAGAZINE, JUST THE COUNTY PROGRESS MAGAZINE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM CASS COUNTY JUDGE TRAVIS RANSOM.

I'M JUST ASKING US TO APPROVE THIS AND KIND OF JOIN THEM IN THIS FIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF DIRECT EFFECT.

EVEN IF THEY DOUBLED THE MONEY, WE WOULD BE GETTING 30,000, WHICH DOESN'T SOLVE OUR COUNTY ROAD PROBLEMS, BUT IT WOULD HELP OTHER COUNTIES. AND SO THIS WOULD KIND OF BE US JOINING THAT EFFORT.

YEAH. AND IT'S A WORTHY EFFORT. JUDGE RANSOM KIND OF LEADS THE CHARGE.

WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH AND EAST COUNTY JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION.

SO OVER THE PAST THREE SESSIONS WE'VE PICKED AND JUDGE RANSOM HAS KIND OF LED THE CHARGE.

WE'VE PICKED SOME THINGS THAT ARE ACHIEVABLE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEM IS THE TAXES THAT COUNTIES HAVE TO PAY WHEN WE STAY AT HOTELS, WHICH YOU KNOW, FEDERAL IS EXEMPT. THE STATE IS THE COUNTY SHOULD BE EXEMPT AS WELL.

SO WE'VE PURSUED THAT WE'VE PURSUED PRIOR TO THAT, THE MOTOR FUEL TAX, WHICH IS JUST WE PAY THE TAX, WE GIVE IT, THEN THE STATE GIVES IT BACK. SO IT'S LIKE, LET'S JUST NOT PAY IT.

SO IT'S ALL GOOD COMMON SENSE, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF THAT THAT THAT MAKES SENSE.

THIS ONE HAS A LITTLE MORE TEETH OF THERE'S, THERE'S FUNDING MECHANISM THERE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO FUND COUNTY ROADS.

AND IT'S, IT IS NOT NEAR SUFFICIENT. SO THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTIES, AT LEAST THE EAST AND NORTH COUNTIES, ARE GOING TO TAKE THE CHARGE. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING. I THINK. APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO US.

I WOULD SAY THIS. SO I THINK IF I READ THIS RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE THAN DOUBLE.

WELL, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE GETTING 15,000, RIGHT? SO SO I'M JUST THIS IS GOING TO GO UP A LOT MORE THAN DOUBLE.

THAT WOULD BE THE HOPE. YES. IF THIS WERE PASSED.

CORRECT. YEAH. BUT BUT IT'S JUST THIS IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION FOR US FOR OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDING, EVEN THOUGH EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND WE WILL DEFINITELY PUT IT TO USE IF WE WERE TO GET THE MONEY.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR COUNTY ROAD FUNDING.

ALL RIGHT. GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOLATE. I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA, IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE.

IT PASSES 5 TO 0. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 18.

[18. Discuss/Act on a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to perform a Street Assessment Study on all County maintained roads within the unincorporated areas, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy – County Engineer)]

DISCUSS AND ACT ON A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

TO PERFORM A STREET ASSESSMENT STUDY ON ALL COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

COMMISSIONER, STACY AND MISS ERICA. I'LL LET HER TAKE IT AWAY ON THAT LAST ITEM JUST ON BEHALF OF ROAD AND BRIDGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM TO BRING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THIS IS FOR A STREET ASSESSMENT STUDY. AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD STEP FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE IN ORDER TO BE MORE PROACTIVE WITH MAINTAINING OUR ROADWAYS, INSTEAD OF REACTIVE AND JUST GOING OUT AND PATCHING AS AS NEEDED.

THIS STREET ASSESSMENT STUDY IS GOING TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR, THE CONDITION OF OUR ROADWAYS AND ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO PRIORITIZE WHICH ONES NEED TO BE DONE MOST MOST QUICKLY WHICH ONES CAN WAIT, MAYBE ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS AND JUST REALLY GIVE US A ROADMAP FOR, FOR HOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD INSTEAD OF JUST BEING REACTIVE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE. SO AS PART OF THIS, WE WILL BE GETTING A PCI PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX FOR ALL OF OUR PAVED ROADS THAT WE MAINTAIN. SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, FOR ANYBODY LISTENING, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE TEX-DOT ROADWAYS.

SO YOUR FMS, YOUR STATE HIGHWAYS THOSE ARE STILL TECH STOCK CONTROLLED, BUT THESE WILL THIS WILL BE FOR COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADWAYS, WHICH WE STILL DO HAVE QUITE A FEW THAT THAT IMPACTS.

SO THEY'LL BE COLLECTING THE PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX, LOOKING AT COST ESTIMATES OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO UPGRADE THESE ROADS AND TO GET THEM TO A GOOD PAVEMENT LIFE AND PUTTING THAT INTO A CLOUD BASED PLATFORM FOR US TO, TO PLAY AROUND WITH.

AND GIVEN THE BUDGET MONEY THAT WE HAVE, LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STRETCH OUR DOLLAR THE FARTHEST.

AS PART OF THIS, THEY WOULD ALSO BE CREATING A TEN YEAR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR US THAT WE WILL WORK WITH WORK WITH THEM AS WELL TO, TO KIND OF AGAIN, PRIORITIZE AND, AND, AND MANIPULATE THAT AND PROJECT OUT WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

[02:20:09]

ANOTHER REALLY GOOD PIECE OF THIS IS THAT THEY WILL BE COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR OUR GIS SYSTEM.

AS FAR AS CULVERT LOCATIONS AND GUARDRAILS AND SIGNAGE CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE ITEMS COLLECTED IN OUR, IN OUR GIS SOFTWARE. AND, AND JUST HAVING THAT, HAVING OUR FULL EXTENT OF OUR INVENTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SO WITH THAT, I WILL JUST OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY ENGINEER? I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS IS COMING FROM FUND 51, WHICH IS WHERE WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.

WE BUDGETED IT FOR 200 000. THIS IS COMING IN AT 225.

CURRENTLY THE CONTINGENCY IS ABOUT $180,000 IN THAT FUND.

SO AT SOME. SO THIS IS A NOT TO EXCEED. SO IT COULD GO TO 225 OR IT COULD BE UNDER 225.

AND SO I JUST WANT THE COURT TO BE AWARE THAT WE COULD BE DRAINING SOME OF THE CONTINGENCY IN FUND 51 IF WE WERE TO PROCEED WITH THIS CONTRACT, BECAUSE WE DID BUDGET 200,000 IN FUND 51 FOR THIS ASSESSMENT.

SO IT WAS IT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR THIS ASSESSMENT.

YES. 100% THAT BUDGET. OKAY. YEAH. IT'S A LINE ITEM 051 600 486.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND SO SORRY. I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH.

GO AHEAD. ERICA. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY SO IF YOU NOTICE ON THE ON PAGE THREE OF THE CONTRACT TASK NUMBER ONE, THE STREET ASSESSMENT PORTION $130,000 FOR THE STREET ASSESSMENT.

THAT IS THE HARD COST THAT WE ARE AGREEING TO ALL THE OTHER ITEMS. TASK TWO AND THREE. THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NEEDED.

SO, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM SPEAKING WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND FROM THE WAY IT READS, WE WILL AGREE TO THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS IF WE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ON. SO IT COULD GO UP TO 225,000, NOT TO EXCEED 225, BUT 130,000 IS WHAT FOR SURE WE'RE ASKING FOR. YEAH, I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING TO CUT OUT. REALLY.

SIGN INVENTORY. GUARDRAIL INVENTORY. CULVERT IDENTIFICATION.

MARKING. I DON'T WELL, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS.

SO THAT THAT ITEM MIGHT SAVE US 15,000 RIGHT THERE.

AS FAR AS THE GEOTECH ALLOWANCE, THE 45,000, I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW MANY BAD AREAS WE FIND WHEN THEY GO THROUGH AND PERFORM THE PCI INDEX. THAT WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED, BUT IT'S STILL UP TO US TO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH AND CORE THE ROAD IN THOSE LOCATIONS.

OTHER QUESTIONS. AND BEFORE YOU GO, I JUST WANT TO THANK CRAIG STODDARD FOR HIS WORK.

I KNOW HE HAS ABOUT 100 CONTRACTS FOR ENGINEERING.

AND WE JUST KIND OF ASKED HIM TO PUT THIS AT THE TOP OF THE STACK, AND HE WAS WILLING TO AGREE AND WORK DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS DONE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE EFFORTS. YEAH. THANK YOU.

CRAIG. I 100% AGREE WITH THIS CAN'T BE DONE FAST ENOUGH.

I HAVE ONE PROBLEM, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A NITPICK, BUT I JUST GOT A REAL PROBLEM WITH IT.

I DON'T WANT TO PAY THEM A 15% OVERAGE ON EXPENSES.

SO IF YOU TELL THEM TO TAKE THAT OUT ON PAGE FOUR AND AGAIN ON PAGE SECTION, ONE OF THEIR STANDARD PROVISIONS SAYS THERE'S NO REASON THEY HAVE TO CHARGE US 15% ON THEIR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, AND THEY'LL TAKE THAT OUT.

WITHOUT LIMITATION. SO THE STRATEGIC PART OF THIS IS THEY SAID, WITHOUT LIMITATION ON THAT, I WOULD BE IN A IN A RAGE. THE STRATEGIC PART OF THIS IS AFTER THIS IS COMPLETED, AT WHATEVER DOLLAR AMOUNT IT ENDS UP BEING.

WE HAVE, AS YOU SAID, A NUMBER OF COUNTY ROADS.

AND RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET IS TYPICALLY AROUND 200,000 FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE.

IS THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN, WHAT WE PUT IN THERE? I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF ME SO. NO, NO.

THE TOTAL REVENUE TO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FUND 51.

NO NO NO, I, I HANDED THAT OUT WITH THE LATERAL FUND ON THERE.

WE BUDGETED 200,200 RIGHT. YEAH. NO, THE, THE ROAD AND BRIDGE IS 2.7 MILLION IN REVENUE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT WILL SUPPORT STRATEGIC IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

YEP. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES REDUCING THE BEAR WITH ME REDUCING THE

[02:25:04]

EXPENSES FROM 1.5 TIMES COST TO COST FOR A STREET ASSESSMENT STUDY ON ALL COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. I'LL SECOND.

GOT MY MOTION. GOT A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACY.

SORRY, DID YOU SAY 1.15 TIMES THE COST? NO, I SAID REDUCE FROM 1.5 TO THE COST.

1.15, 1.15, 1.15 COST. OKAY. CLERICAL ERROR. AND I WILL MODIFY MY MOTION TO BE CONGRUENT.

GOT IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT THAT THAT THE FIRM, KINLEY KIMLEY-HORN IS A PRE-QUALIFIED ENGINEERING FIRM THAT THE COUNTY HAS SELECTED PREVIOUSLY FOR PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY CHOOSES TO DO.

WONDERFUL. DULY NOTED. ALL RIGHT, NOW, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.

IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. IT PASSES 5 TO 0.

THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A COUNTY ENGINEER. THINGS JUST SUCH AS THIS.

OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM 19. DISCUSS AND ACT ON DEFINING WHAT A CITIZEN IS AS AN OFFICIAL COUNTY POSITION FOR INDIGENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND

[19. Discuss/Act on defining what a citizen is as an official county position for Indigent Healthcare services, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana)]

SO WHAT WE'RE AFTER HERE AT INDIGENT HEALTH CARE IS JUST TO DEFINE WHO OUR SERVICES, WHO'S APPROVED TO COME AND RECEIVE OUR SERVICES. AND JUST, JUST FOR THE, THE COURT TO KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE.

COLLIN COUNTY ALREADY DOES. KAUFMAN COUNTY DOES MOST OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES DO.

OUR LANGUAGE IS VERY VAGUE ON WHAT WE AND WHO CAN COME AND RECEIVE INDIGENT SERVICES FROM THE COUNTY.

AND AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE. WE NEED TO DEFINE WHAT THAT IS.

THERE ARE, IN MY OPINION, OUR SERVICES ARE FOR LEGAL RESIDENTS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND ARE NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF NGOS AROUND THAT CAN HANDLE THAT CARE, BUT OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULD NOT, IN MY OPINION. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT, IS JUST TO CLARIFY OUR LANGUAGE, MUCH LIKE OTHER COUNTIES SURROUNDING US HAVE CLARIFIED THEIR LANGUAGES TO SAY THAT WE DEFINE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE TO BE AVAILABLE TO LEGAL CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS. I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY? NO, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. I WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS.

I'M ACTUALLY FINE WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WAY? I'M 100% ON BOARD. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

OKAY. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. SO SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, ROCKWALL COUNTY, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEAUTIES AND BENEFITS OF LIVING IN ROCKWALL COUNTY.

THERE'S. YEAH. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT FOR INDIGENT HEALTH CARE WE DEFINE THAT LEGAL CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS ARE THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR PROGRAM.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GILANI. I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? YOU NEED AN EFFECTIVE DATE, SIR. WOULD THAT MATTER TO OUR DIRECTOR, OR DO WE NEED AN EFFECTIVE DATE? JUST DO THE EXTENSION. JUST TO WHATEVER EXTENT YOU'RE GOING TO REVISE OR REFORM YOUR POLICIES THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

I WILL AMEND THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

AND MY AMENDED MOTION AND MY SECOND AND MY SECOND IS ALSO AN AMENDED SECOND, MA'AM.

COME, COME. COME ON UP. COME, SPEAK. COME ON UP, CHERYL.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CASES YOU HAVE PENDING? I FIGURED I DO. I DIDN'T KNOW IF MAYBE WE COULD GRANDFATHER IN THE ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE PROGRAM AND HOW YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE IT DOES RUN EVERY SIX MONTHS THEY HAVE TO RENEW.

SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THAT MIGHT BE COMING UP IN A FEW MONTHS.

HOW DO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT? DO WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE THEIR CARE? WE WOULD HAVE TO PICK A DATE TO CUT THAT OFF AT SOME POINT.

AND I DON'T I, IF WE CONTINUE THEIR CARE, WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO PICK AN END DATE.

AND THAT'S I'M, I AGREE WITH THAT. WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSION PERIOD.

SO I'M OPEN FOR DISCUSSION ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'RE HAVING A LARGE AMOUNT OF SICK INDIGENT RIGHT NOW.

AND Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THAT WHETHER I CAN DETERMINE WHO IT'S GOING TO BE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, I CAN'T.

SO WE MAY HAVE AN UNDOCUMENTED THAT'S VERY, VERY SICK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CARE FOR FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF

[02:30:04]

TIME. SO RELATIVE CHANGES. SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT THOUGHTS IN COMMISSIONER GALENA'S HEAD, BUT RELATIVE TO WHAT I BELIEVE HIS INTENTIONS ARE, WHICH IS TO STOP PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE, NOT FROM ROCKWALL COUNTY, QUALIFY FOR INDIGENT, BUT LIVE IN DALLAS COUNTY, COLLIN COUNTY, WHATEVER COUNTY TO COME OVER AND UTILIZE OUR SERVICES BECAUSE WE OFFER BETTER SERVICE.

HOW MANY OF THOSE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE INDIGENT THAT YOU SERVE, DO WE SEE? I WOULD SAY MAYBE 15 TO 20%, MAYBE. SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT.

YEAH, I THINK SO. AND IT'S SIGNIFICANT. WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN OUR MEETING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE TIMES IT'S AN ELDERLY MOTHER THAT'S COME OVER FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.

SO SHE'S GOING TO BE VERY ILL AND GOING TO NEED A LOT OF CARE.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT BECAUSE THE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND US HAVE SET POLICIES THAT ARE MORE SPECIFIC AND CLEAR WE ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE AND WILL AND, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE AS THE WORD GETS OUT THAT OUR POLICY IS NOT CLEAR AND WE NEED TO BUTTON IT UP LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

IN ADDITION, I'LL TELL YOU THAT, THAT WE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE POLICY STATES THAT WE HAVE TO JUST TAKE PEOPLE'S WORD FOR WHAT THEY TELL US.

IF WE, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO VERIFY THAT THEY'RE A, FOR EXAMPLE, A RESIDENT OF OUR COUNTY OR NOT, OR A CITIZEN OR NOT. SO WE'LL BE THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS.

WE HAVE TO BUTTON UP. AND THERE'S A SERVICE CALLED LEXISNEXIS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUTTON THAT UP WITH ALONG WITH THIS POLICY THAT WE'LL BRING BACK TO THE COURT ONCE WE HAVE THE DETAILS OF IT. I HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM FRIDAY.

GREAT. WONDERFUL. SO SPECIFICALLY, THE QUESTION THAT CHERYL HAD WAS, WHAT ABOUT EXISTING? AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M NOT INTERESTED IN AMENDING MY MOTION.

I THINK THAT I LIKE THE MOTION AS IT STANDS. I, I WOULD RATHER YEAH, WE DON'T NOW WE CAN IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPECIFICALLY PAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO FALL OFF, WE DON'T GET SOMEONE INVOLVED THAT CAN HELP THEM, BUT I DON'T WANT THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPENT ANYMORE ON, ON WHAT'S NOT IN OUR POLICY.

I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION, BECAUSE WHAT JUDGE NJOO SAID IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING.

DON'T PEOPLE WHO GET OUR SERVICES HAVE TO BE ROCKWALL COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THAT'S THE GRAY AREA OF THE STATE. LEAVES FOR EACH COUNTY WHAT YOU CONSIDER A RESIDENT.

SO THERE ARE COUNTIES THAT SAY IF THEY AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A HOME IN THE COUNTY THAT THEY ARE RESIDENT.

THERE ARE OTHERS THAT GO BASED ON, WE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF MEDICAID AND TANF AND SNAP, WHICH YOU HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN OR PERMANENT RESIDENT.

SO THE THE STATE LEAVES THAT GRAY AREA FOR EACH COUNTY TO KIND OF DETERMINE WHO WE WANT TO BE, BECAUSE THE ONLY GUIDELINES TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THE PROGRAM IS JUST BASED ON RESIDENT, A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY, HAVING A HOME IN THE COUNTY, YOUR RESOURCES INCOME AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE. BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR CITIZENSHIP.

OKAY, BUT MAYBE I'M MISUNDERSTANDING IT, BECAUSE CITIZENSHIP AND LEGAL RESIDENCY IN THE COUNTRY IS ONE THING.

BUT WHAT YOU MENTIONED IS, JUDGE, IS THAT FOLKS ARE COMING FROM OTHER COUNTIES AROUND HERE TO ROCKWELL FOR SERVICES.

AND YOU SAID YOUR ESTIMATE, I KNOW IT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE IS 15 TO 20%.

HERE'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN. AND THAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

HERE'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY COME TO YOU WITH NO PROOF OF ANYTHING TO SHOW UP FOR, WHICH IS HAPPENING. AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING BACK ANOTHER ITEM LATER TO THE COURT TO TRY TO GET MORE PROOF OF WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON WITH THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME FOR A CLAIM. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS, IS THAT THEY CAN REALLY RESIDE IN THIS.

LET'S JUST HAVE AN EXAMPLE IN HUNT COUNTY, BUT THEY HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY AND SUDDENLY THEY LIVE WITH THEM.

NOW THERE'S NO PROOF THAT THEY LIVE WITH THEM.

BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO VAGUE IN OUR POLICY, ALL THEY HAVE TO ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SAY THEY DO.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION AS TRUTH RIGHT NOW, AND THEN WE PAY FOR THEM AND UP TO $30,000 PER INDIVIDUAL.

BUT ARE WE DOING THAT? OR IF SOMEONE COMES IN FROM DALLAS COUNTY AND WE KNOW IT.

[02:35:06]

ARE WE PROVIDING THEM SERVICES? WE DON'T KNOW.

SO WHAT IT'S CALLED IS THE STATE PUTS IN THERE.

IT'S CALLED THE PRUDENT PERSON PRINCIPLE. SO IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO, THEY GIVE YOU A, YOU KNOW, A REASON WHY I'M NOT ABLE TO PROVE THAT I'M IN THIS COUNTY PERMANENT.

LET'S SAY THAT THEY MOVED HERE TO LIVE WITH AN AUNT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN AUNT IN DALLAS COUNTY. SHE NEEDS MY HELP.

I'M GOING TO MOVE IN AND STAY WITH HER. WELL, WE SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INTENT TO STAY IN THE COUNTY TO RECEIVE OUR SERVICES.

WELL, I'M GOING TO STAY IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY AUNT. WELL, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU? YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF GET INTO THIS WHERE WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE THEIR WORD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE KIND OF LIKE VOTERS. VOTERS CAN SAY, WELL, I INTEND TO BE HERE RESIDENT AND YOU TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT.

I JUST WANT TO. IT SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST WE'RE REQUIRING THAT WE'RE NOT SERVING PEOPLE FROM DALLAS AND KAUFMAN AND COLLIN AND ALL THESE OTHER COUNTIES KNOWINGLY.

RIGHT? NO, NO. OKAY. AND WE DO MAKE THEM PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS FOR RESIDENCY.

THEY HAVE TO BRING MAIL THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED AT THAT ADDRESS.

WE TRY TO GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE CHANGED.

IF IT'S NOT UPDATED, WE TRY TO DO THAT, BUT THAT CAN BE A LONG PROCESS AS WELL.

SO I THINK WHAT I HEARD IS COMMISSIONER STACEY NOT WILLING TO AMEND HIS SECOND, YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO AMEND THE MOTION SO IT WOULD THE AMENDED MOTION. AND SECOND. SO THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY.

SO ANYBODY THAT THAT'S ON IT WOULD NEED. THAT IS NOT DEFINED AS A CITIZEN OF ROCKWALL COUNTY OR A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF ROCKWALL COUNTY WOULD NEED TO BE NOTIFIED THAT THAT THE SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

OKAY, SO BUT LET'S WAIT AND TAKE A VOTE ON IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

SO WE HAVE THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GALANTI.

WE HAVE THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACY. IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE.

THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LET'S SEE NOW. WE'RE ON AGENDA ITEM 20. DISCUSS AND ACT ON APPROVING INDIGENT HEALTH CARE TO USE SURGERY CENTERS IN LIEU OF HOSPITALS WHEN THERE IS A COST SAVINGS AND ALL

[20. Discuss/Act on approving Indigent Healthcare to use Surgery Centers in lieu of hospitals when there is a cost savings, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana)]

I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT. SHE CALLED AROUND TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND ASKED WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEIR PROCEDURES ARE LIKE.

IS OUR COST IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS INCREASING.

IT'S INCREASED EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE THAT WE LOOKED AT.

AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO, IF WE DON'T ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO IT AND CHANGE A FEW THINGS.

THIS IS ONE. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SURGERY CENTERS RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH.

AND SO WHEN A PROCEDURE, MINOR PROCEDURE THAT COULD BE DONE IN ONE OF THOSE NEEDS TO BE DONE, OR PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES GOING TO PARKLAND OR TO A HOSPITAL.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT'S INCREDIBLY MORE EXPENSIVE.

EVEN THE TRANSPORT IS JUST CORRECT. DOES PARKLAND TAKE THEM IF THEY'RE A ROCK WALL RESIDENT.

OH YEAH. PARKLAND TAKES EVERYONE. OKAY. WELL GO AHEAD.

BUT BUT WE PAY FOR IT. BUT WE PAY UP TO $30,000.

GO AHEAD. COME ON. I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU TO STAY UP HERE.

YEAH. SO HAVING A SURGERY CENTER PERFORM SURGERIES.

THAT'S PART OF AN OPTIONAL SERVICE UNDER INDIGENT HEALTH CARE.

THERE'S BASIC SERVICES THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE AND UNDER BASIC IS HOSPITAL.

TO ADD A SURGERY CENTER IS CONSIDERED AN OPTION.

AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST APPROVE IT. AND THEN I SEND IT OFF TO THE STATE SO THAT THEY KNOW.

THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT WE RIGHT NOW PAY THAT'S AN OPTIONAL SERVICES DIABETIC SUPPLIES.

SO THAT'S JUST SIMPLY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE.

AND IT, IT WOULD MAKE A, I THINK, A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE PAY BECAUSE LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE THE OUTPATIENT PERCENTAGE MEDICAID RATE THAT WE PAY FOR PRESBY ROCKWELL'S 14%.

WHEN I LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, THE INMATES, BECAUSE WE CAN PAY FOR THEM TO GO TO THE SURGERY CENTER, IT'S LESS THAN 1% BECAUSE YOU JUST PAY. LET'S SAY THEY BILL FIVE CODES.

YOU PAY THE HIGHEST CODE AT THE MEDICAID RATE, WHEREAS OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE RATE OF THE OVERALL CHARGES.

SO IT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU CHERYL.

WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE INDIGENT HEALTHCARE TO USE SURGERY CENTERS IN LIEU OF HOSPITALS WHEN THERE'S COST SAVINGS.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. I'LL SECOND IT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MACKLIN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[02:40:04]

IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.

THAT AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR DIGGING INTO THAT.

THIS TAKES US TO AGENDA. AND CHERYL, THANK YOU.

[21. Discuss/Act on approving a discretionary exemption permitted by Local Government Code 262.024 (a)(7)(A) for the replacement/purchase of L3Harris mobile radios for the Sheriff's Office, and all related issues; (Judge New – County Sheriff)]

AGENDA ITEM 21 DISCUSS AND ACT ON APPROVING A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PERMITTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 262.024 PARENTHETICALS A SEVEN AND CAPITAL A FOR THE REPLACEMENT PURCHASE OF L3 HARRIS MOBILE RADIOS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL RELATED ISSUES.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ABOUT TO SPEND IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

SOME SB 22 MONEY BUYING RADIOS. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE WE COULD PUT THIS OUT FOR BID.

AND THE ONLY BID WOULD COME BACK FROM L3 HARRIS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE RADIO PROVIDER.

SO SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF TYPICAL GOVERNMENT TWO STEP, WE PAY WHAT THEY SAY AND THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT.

THEY DON'T CHARGE US WHAT THEY, THEY DON'T CHARGE US AN AMOUNT THAT THEY DON'T CHARGE TO EVERYONE.

SO THE AMOUNT IS KNOWN. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROPER PLACE FOR THIS DISCUSSION, AND I'D BE WILLING TO MOVE IT TO ITEM 24 IF YOU AGREE. THIS IS A MAJOR DEVIATION FROM OUR SB 22 FUNDING.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG.

IT'S JUST THAT IN THE PAST WE HAVE BEEN SUPPLEMENTING SALARIES WITH SB 22.

NOW WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY ON CAPITAL EXPENSES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND $500,000 REPLACEMENT IN IT.

NOW, YOU HAVE STATED AS THE COUNTY JUDGE, THAT THIS IS 100% YOUR GOAL.

THIS BODY HAS NEVER VOTED THAT. THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL WOULD BE.

I JUST WANT US TO REALIZE WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, LIKE I SAID, I'M AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST WANTING TO REALLY BRING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT THIS IS THIS IS A MAJOR DEVIATION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND THIS 500,000. THIS IN HERE DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T NEED THESE CARS. WE DON'T NEED THESE RADIOS. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA.

THIS WE ARE DEVIATING COURSE FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH SB 22.

YES AND NO. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY COURSE. I KNOW IT HAS.

I APPLAUD INITIALLY GET THE GUYS SALARIES RIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG CHUNK.

SPEND IT, GET EVERYBODY RIGHT, GET THEM ON A PATH AND THEN TAKE SB 22, WHICH JUST ABOUT ENDED ME THE BOOKKEEPING FOR THE SALARIES AND PUT IT ON EQUIPMENT, WHICH SHOULD BE A LOT EASIER.

AND I HOPE IT IS. BUT EVEN IF IT'S NOT ILANA'S DOING IT NOW, SO I'M MUCH LESS WORRIED ABOUT IT.

BUT. AND I WANT TO MAKE ELENA'S LIFE EASIER TOO.

MY, MY, MY POINT IS, IS THAT THIS $500,000 ISN'T NECESSARILY IN THE BUDGET, BUT THE PAYROLL IS.

SO THE ONE THING WITH SB 22, YOU CANNOT SUPPLANT OTHER THINGS YOU WOULD NORMALLY PAY.

YOU CAN'T SUPPLANT AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO USE SB 22 TO PAY YOU.

ALL RIGHT. BEAR WITH ME. SO WE CANNOT SUPPLANT SOMETHING WE WOULD NORMALLY DO OR REQUIRED TO DO WITH SB 22 FUNDS.

SO WE CAN BUY NEW EQUIPMENT. WE CAN BUY EXTRA EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S VERY SPECIFIC WHEN IT GETS TO PAYROLL.

NOW, WE GOT EVERYBODY RIGHT SIZED. AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, LISA IS.

SAY WE. WE CAN'T PAY YOU THAT BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE IS SB 22 FUNDS TO GIVE YOU.

BUT MY POINT IS, IS WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING THE PAYROLL WITH.

WITH SB 22, WE. WE HAVE THE ABILITY. IF WE GOT TO THE BUDGET TO SAY, NO, SHERIFF, WE'RE NOT BUYING YOU RADIOS, WE'RE NOT BUYING YOU THESE CARS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE BUDGET CRUNCH.

I'M SAYING WE'RE SPENDING IN IN EFFECT, WE'RE SPENDING $500,000 OF THE NEXT BUDGET IN DOING THIS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING. I JUST WANT IT TO BE SAID.

YEP. YOU ARE CORRECT. YEAH. THE IN YOUR F Y FY 26 BUDGET, THE THE SALARIES THAT YOU DID THE FIRST YEAR OF SB 22, WHICH WAS 20 FY 24. AND THEN IN FY 25, YOU ALSO DID SALARIES, BUT THEN YOUR FY 26, THOSE SALARIES WERE ABSORBED BY THE GENERAL FUND. AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S BUDGETED FOR THE SHERIFF, THE SHERIFF SIDE OF SB 22.

THE DA SIDE OF SB 22 IS STILL SALARIES, BUT THE SHERIFF SIDE IS PURELY $500,000 OF CAPITAL.

YEAH, OKAY. BUT COMMISSIONER STACEY IS RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR STEP.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR RAISES. AND IT'S THERE'S GOING TO BE $500,000 THAT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM.

BUT WE, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BUY RADIOS AND CARS.

SO NO, NO, AND I AGREE. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW IF NUMBER 24 IS A BETTER PLACE TO, TO, TO STOP DOWN BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION.

[02:45:04]

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY IF THIS DISCUSSION IS APPLICABLE TO, TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, I JUST. RIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW THE RIGHT SPOT TO, TO JUMP IN.

I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE, THE DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION FOR THE RECORD IS THAT THE COURT WILL CLAIM THAT THIS IS A SOLE SOURCE.

AND TO DO THAT. THE COUNTY AUDITOR WRITES YOU A MEMO THAT SAYS.

AND THE MEMO IS ATTACHED THAT SAYS, THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT YOU COULD BUY THESE ITEMS. AND LIKE JUDGE NEW HAD SAID, IT'S CLEAR WE CAN'T GO OUT AND GET THE RADIOS THAT MATCH OUR SYSTEM FROM ANYONE ELSE.

BUT THEN FROM WHO WE BOUGHT THE SYSTEM FROM. CORRECT? WE ARE, AND THE PRICING SIDE OF IT, WE ARE GOING ALONG WITH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH HENDERSON COUNTY THAT HAS GUARANTEED THIS PRICE BACK FROM 2019, AND IT'S GOOD THROUGH DECEMBER 2026.

SO THE PRICING IS, IS, IS RELATED TO A CO-OP AND THE SOLE SOURCE IS RELATED TO WHO WE'RE BUYING IT FROM.

SO IT'S KIND OF WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF USING TWO METHODS TO GET THE JOB DONE, BUT IT'S ALL WITHIN WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO.

YEAH. AND SO AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I JUST, WE TYPICALLY DON'T STOP DOWN ON PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, BUT WE PROBABLY WILL. KIND OF. WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PERMITTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 262.0 24A7A FOR THE REPLACEMENT PURCHASE OF L3 HARRIS MOBILE RADIOS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACY. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALANTE.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.

OKAY. AGENDA ITEM 22. DISCUSS AN ACT ON APPROVING THE ORDER.

[22. Discuss/Act on approving the Order Adopting Facility Use Rules and Procedures for County Buildings in Rockwall County, Texas, approving the Facility Rules and Regulations document, approving the Facilities Use Agreement form, and approving the Facility Use Application form, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana – Commissioner Stacy)]

ADOPTING FACILITY USE RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, TEXAS.

APPROVING THE FACILITY RULES AND REGULATIONS DOCUMENT APPROVING THE FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT FORM AND APPROVING THE FACILITY USE APPLICATION FORM AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONERS. GHAILANI AND STACY. YEAH, WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS.

WE SHOULD HAVE. SO WE DIDN'T DISCUSS HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE COURT OBVIOUSLY ASKED US SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO GET BACK TO WORK ON THIS.

COMMISSIONER GALLEN AND I HAVE MET WITH THE LIBRARY.

WE'VE MET WITH THE SECURITY STAFF, WE'VE MET WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, AND WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET THIS AGREEMENT TO A POINT WHERE WE FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

I WENT AHEAD AND INCLUDED THE TOTALITY OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE THE ORDER, THE FORMS AND ALL THE USAGE AND ALL THE PROCEDURES.

I JUST WANT THE COURT TO KNOW THAT AT SOME POINT WE JUST HAVE TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

SO IF THERE IS DISCUSSION, IF THERE'S THINGS WE NEED TO CLEAN UP, I'M NOT I'M TOTALLY GOOD WITH TAKING THE INPUT AND COMING BACK.

SO I JUST WANT THAT SAID UP FRONT. BUT BUT I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THE GOAL THAT THAT COMMISSIONER GALLEN AND I FELL INTO, LIKE WHEN WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THIS IS TO DO IT MORE OF A FEE FOR SERVICE.

SO IF YOU JUST NEED THE ROOM, YOU CAN USE THE ROOM IF YOU NEED IT.

EQUIPMENT. WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR THAT. IF YOU NEED US TO HELP YOU SET UP, THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEE FOR THAT.

SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE TRYING TO GET IT SO THAT IF A NOT FOR PROFIT JUST NEEDED TO USE THE ROOM FOR A MEETING SPACE, IT'LL BE $140 FOR TWO HOURS. THERE WOULD BE NO NECESSARY REASON FOR THIS COURT TO NEED TO WAIVE THOSE FEES FOR THAT.