Oct 13, 2026 Commissioner's Court Regular Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE. I'M GOING TO CALL OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, 2026 AT 9 A.M. I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER LAUREN LICHTY TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION, AND THEN I WILL LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES. PLEASE STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE. THANK YOU. JUDGE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, GIVING YOU THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE BLESSED US WITH. IF WE EVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, THEN WE TRULY LOST SIGHT OF YOUR BLESSING. BECAUSE WE'RE ALL BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTY, THIS WONDERFUL STATE. LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND THOSE WHO SERVE TO GO OUT AND RISK THEIR LIVES, AND EXPEND THEIR ENERGY EVERY DAY TO PROTECT US AND MAKE THIS COUNTY RUN THE WAY IT SHOULD. I ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM, THAT YOU POUR OUT YOUR BLESSINGS AND THEY REAP A HARVEST FOR THE SEEDS THAT THEY'RE PLANTING. AND FINALLY, LORD GOD, I WOULD ASK TODAY THAT WE REMEMBER WE ALL HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE. IT SAYS IN YOUR WORD HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY. HE GOES ON TO SAY IN ANOTHER PLACE THAT A HOUSE DIVIDED WILL FALL. AND AS WE'RE FORWARDING TO THESE ELECTIONS IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS, I PRAY THAT WE SHUT OUT ALL THE NOISE. AND WE REMEMBER WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. WE'RE ALL WORKING TO MAKE THIS A GREATER NATION, A GREATER STATE, A GREATER COUNTY, AND THAT THE DIVISION THAT'S AMONGST US WOULD BE SETTLED AND IT WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKING AMERICA GREAT. WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. LET'S PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. NOW THE TEXAS FLAG. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. GOD BLESS YOU, GOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT

[2) PUBLIC FORUM:]

FIRST ON THE LIST IS MISS SAMANTHA ■MINER. COME FORWARD. HOPEFULLY THAT MICROPHONE'S TURNED ON. TESTING. IS IT ON? PERFECT. PERFECT. THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA MINER. I AM A WIFE, A MOM, A DAUGHTER, A SISTER AND A FRIEND. BUT THREE YEARS AGO I ADDED ANOTHER TITLE TO THAT LIST. BREAST CANCER PATIENT. I AM 1 IN 8 AND IN ROCKWALL COUNTY WE HAVE ON AVERAGE 30 TO 40 NEW CASES OF BREAST CANCER EVERY MONTH. WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, MY WORLD CHANGED OVERNIGHT. LIKE SO MANY WOMEN FACING BREAST CANCER, I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF NAVIGATING APPOINTMENTS, TREATMENTS, SURGERIES, AND EMOTIONS I NEVER EXPECTED TO FACE. ONE THING THAT'S MADE AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE IN MY JOURNEY IS MY SUPPORT SYSTEM. MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND MY COMMUNITY HAVE SURROUNDED ME WITH LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND STRENGTH WHEN I HAVE NEEDED IT THE MOST. I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY PERSON THAT HAS AND CONTINUES TO WALK WITH ME ON MY JOURNEY. BUT THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE, I LEARNED SOMETHING. NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT SAME SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART. SO THAT IS WHY I CREATED THE PINK PROJECT.

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, HOW CAN I HELP? AND FOR A LONG TIME I DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER.

WHILE EVERY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLAN IS PERSONAL AND UNIQUE, THERE'S ONE THING THAT MOST OF US HAVE IN COMMON, AND THAT IS SURGERY. AND NOT JUST ONE, BUT USUALLY MULTIPLE SURGERIES AFTER SURGERY, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS GETTING DRESSED BECOMES A REAL CHALLENGE. WE CAN'T LIFT OUR ARMS COMFORTABLY, SO BUTTON UP OR ZIP UP CLOTHING IS A NECESSITY. AND THAT IS WHERE THE PINK PROJECT COMES IN. MY GOAL IS TO DONATE A PAIR OF PINK BUTTON UP PAJAMAS TO EVERY BREAST CANCER PATIENT, STARTING RIGHT HERE AT OUR LOCAL BREAST

[00:05:03]

I HOPE YOU WILL ALL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. ONE WOMAN, ONE ACT OF KINDNESS, AND ONE PAIR OF PINK PAJAMAS AT A TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SAMANTHA. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE LIST IS MARK TIPPETT. MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR EACH OF YOUR SERVICE. MARK KIPPER, 31 FIRESIDE DRIVE, MCLENDON, CHISHOLM. TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. YOU HAVE MY SYMPATHY. AND SUPPORT BECAUSE MY WIFE FALLS INTO THE SAME CATEGORY. LET'S. WHAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS ITEM 4K, THE STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL NUMBER FOUR, COMMISSIONER LICHTY IS BRINGING FORWARD, I THINK WITH SOME REALLY. THREE JUST THREE QUICK POINTS. WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS ITEM, AND I HOPE THE COURT IS MOVES FORWARD ON IT. FIRST IS THE VALUE. OUR CORE VALUES HERE IN ROCKWALL. ROCKWALL COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR OUR METHOD OF COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER GOES ACROSS THE BOARD SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. WORKING WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT CORE VALUE AND MOVE THAT FORWARD, STRENGTHEN THAT CORE VALUE. BECAUSE BEING THE 30 THE SMALLEST COUNTY IN TEXAS, WE'RE ALSO THE 32ND MOST POPULOUS COUNTY IN TEXAS. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM OUT HERE. AND ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER WILL WE ACHIEVE THE NECESSARY OUTCOMES WE WE MUST ACHIEVE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THE SECOND POINT IS NO ENTITY CAN DO IT ALONE. COUNTY, CITY, STATE, TEXDOT NO MATTER WHO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, NO INDIVIDUAL ENTITY CAN DO INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING ALONE.

WE SEE THAT IN ROADS. SO IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND AT THE PACE OF EXPANSION IN THE COUNTY, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUE TO FALL BEHIND. I MEAN, BY SOME ESTIMATES, FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS BEHIND IN ROADS, YOU KNOW, I'M, I I'M COGNIZANT THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THAT MOVING FORWARD. BUT IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING THE CONSORTIUM NOW, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE PROGRESS. SO AGAIN, ON THAT POINT, AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S TO BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN BECAUSE AGAIN, BY HAVING ALL THOSE STAKEHOLDERS TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND NEW SOLUTIONS, NEW IDEAS, BRING NEW NEW PERSPECTIVES. I'M GOING TO USE AN EXAMPLE AS A FIRE MODEL THAT WE HAVE NOW IN THE COUNTY IS BROKEN. IT IS IRREVOCABLY BROKEN AND NO LONGER VIABLE. THE COSTS OF FIREFIGHTING TODAY ARE ASTRONOMICAL. THE TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATED WITH FIREFIGHTING TODAY, THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH FIREFIGHTING TODAY CONTINUE TO MULTIPLY, AND SIMPLY USING SOME LITTLE STIPEND TO THE INDIVIDUAL CITIES IS NOT FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THOSE CITIES WHO CARRY THE DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN FOR THE COST OF FIRE PROTECTION IS AN APPLIED ACROSS THE COUNTY, THROUGH THE FIRE DISTRICTS. SO I USE THAT AS THE EXAMPLE OF WHERE TODAY'S PRACTICES WON'T WORK TOMORROW.

SO I COMPLETELY SUPPORT COMMISSIONER LIKE THESE EFFORTS TO FIND NEW WAYS UNDER STRATEGIC PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GILBERT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT REGARDING ANY COUNTY MATTERS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE, WE'RE

[3.A) PUBLIC HEARING to discuss the proposed Installation of Speed Humps in the Alexander Ranch Subdivision located between State Highway 276 and N Munson Road in Precinct #4, Rockwall County, Texas, and all related issues:]

[00:10:05]

[4.A) Discuss/Act on a resolution and order approving an agreement with Holland & Knight LLP for state legislative consulting and advocacy (lobbying) services before the 90th Texas Legislature, for an annual fee of $150,000 plus reimbursable expenses, to be paid from the General Fund professional services account; granting an exemption from competitive bidding for professional services under Texas Local Government Code Section 262.024(a)(4); authorizing the County Judge to execute the agreement; and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

LOBBYING SERVICES BEFORE THE 90TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE FOR AN ANNUAL FEE OF $150,000, PLUS REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES TO BE PAID FROM THE GENERAL FUND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT, GRANTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES UNDER TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 262.024 PARENTHETICALS A AND FOR AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER STACEY.

YES. SO I JUST WANT TO START BY GIVING SOME FRAMEWORK OF WHY THIS IS EVEN HERE IN 2009, 2011, AND 2013, I SPENT OVER 150 DAYS IN AUSTIN BECAUSE I WAS WORKING ON HEALTH CARE. IF YOU REMEMBER, IN 2008, THERE WAS A HUGE HEALTH CARE BILL THAT WE NOW REFER TO AS OBAMACARE, WHICH WAS CALLED THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. I GOT INVOLVED WITH WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL TASK FORCE TO GO DOWN THERE AND HELP THE MEDICAID EXPANSION AND THE DIFFERENT STUFF THAT HAPPENED.

AND I WAS THERE A LOT. AND IF YOU DO ALSO RECALL IN 2014, THERE WAS A HUGE CHANGE IN AUSTIN, AND WE GOT A NEW GOVERNOR AND EVERYTHING CHANGED. AND, AND, AND THAT HAPPENED. SO I WAS WORKING WITH RICK PERRY. AND EVEN FROM AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK THROUGH THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS SESSION AS, AS A COUNTY, I THINK IS PARAMOUNT TO THE PEOPLE OF ROCKWALL. AND THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY NUANCED. I DON'T MAKE ANY APOLOGIES TO FOR TRYING TO LOOK AT HIRING A LAW FIRM. I KNOW THAT IT IS AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE THAT THE WATERS ARE TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. THERE IS NO AVENUE OF GETTING SPECIALIZED BILLS ACROSS THE FINISH LINES THAT ARE CHEAP. AND IN ORDER TO GET A FEW OF THEM EVEN WRITTEN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE ATTORNEYS TO GET THEM WRITTEN, EVEN FOR OUR OWN LEGISLATURES TO TAKE THEM AND FILE THEM. OUR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE AGREED TO HELP US WITH ALL THESE ISSUES, BUT NAVIGATING GOVERNMENT IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ISSUE THAN FILING A BILL. WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BY DOING THIS IS GETTING ZONING AUTHORIZATION ON THE OUTER LOOP. THE PATH OF THE OUTER LOOP IS CRITICAL TO ROCKWALL COUNTY. IF WE DON'T GET ZONING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT AREA OF THE COUNTY. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THE OUTER LOOP THAT IS BEING DONE BY THE RTC AND TXDOT. SO THE BEST DEFENSE WE CAN PUT IS TO TRY TO GET ZONING AUTHORITY. ZONING AUTHORITY IS HARD. IT IS VERY NUANCED, AND IT HAS TO GO FROM LEADERSHIP DOWN, LOOKING AT GETTING LIMITED PLATTING AUTHORITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS. THIS IS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN COUNTIES. SO PARTICIPATING IN THAT DISCUSSION AND GETTING HEAVILY INVOLVED WHEN THE WATER IS LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE CREEK AND NOT UP THE CREEK, I THINK IS A GOOD TIME TO JUMP IN.

GETTING FM FUNDING FOR FAST GROWING COUNTIES. I'VE TALKED TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WANTS TO LOOK INTO DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT GETTING THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW AND HOW TO DO THAT IS VERY COMPLICATED. COMMISSIONER GALLEN AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND THEY HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN HELPING US WITH FM ROADS. AND WHEN I SAY ZERO, THEY BASICALLY HUNG UP THE PHONE AND SAID, YOU DON'T NEED TO CALL US AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR OURS IS. SO WE MIGHT GET HELP

[00:15:01]

OKAY. SO IN YOUR MIND, AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR CONVERSATION. IT IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ONE OF THESE, WOULD SPENDING 150,000 ON A LOBBYIST BE A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE? I AGREE, YES, THAT THAT IS MY POSITION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO JUDGE SUCCESS ON NOT LET'S ASSUME WE DON'T HIRE THE LOBBYIST, THE PEOPLE BEHIND THIS DAIS, THEN ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TO GO FORWARD AND CONQUER. IS THAT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO JUDGE SUCCESS ON THE 90TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION? 100% IS CAN WE GET ANY SHOOT FOR ALL? CAN WE GET ANY OF THEM DONE? CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. I THIS IS A TOUGH SUBJECT. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THERE'S RPT, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIES THAT SAY, HEY, DON'T DO TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING.

AND I JUST WANT EVERYONE LISTENING TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF THAT ARGUMENT. AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED DOWN SOME OF YOUR POINTS, COMMISSIONER STACEY, IS THAT REMEMBER THAT WHEN THEY FIRST PROPOSED A BAN ON TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING AND THIS STARTED TWO SESSIONS AGO, REALLY GOT GOING LAST SESSION, IT WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD HAVE EVEN PREVENTED US IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM FROM GOING DOWN AND BEING REIMBURSED THROUGH CITIZEN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GO AND FIGHT FOR WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE SAYING THEY WANT. AND THAT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE BY THE LEGISLATURE AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW NO LONGER IN POWER AT RPT, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS, BECAUSE THAT FAILED, THAT NOTHING PAST THAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BAN TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING SIMPLY BECAUSE COMMON SENSE PEOPLE FIGURED OUT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO CREATE A BUBBLE IN AUSTIN THAT PREVENTED US FROM GOING DOWN. BUT INSULATED LOBBYISTS WHO ARE ALREADY THERE ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL INTERESTS TO BE THERE, THEY WERE GOING TO THE PLAYING FIELD, WAS GOING TO BE SO COMPLETELY UNLEVEL IN AUSTIN, IF THAT HAD PASSED THAT IT TOOK. I WENT DOWN AND LOBBIED AGAINST THAT. I WAS ON RECORD WITH IT DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THIS COURT, SAYING THAT IT WAS A BAD BILL, THAT WE SHOULD NOT PURSUE IT BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO PREVENT US FROM REPRESENTING OUR CITIZENS, AND IT WAS GOING TO CENTRALIZE MORE POWER TO AUSTIN, WHICH WE ARE ALL AGAINST UP HERE ON THIS COURT. AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT ARE AGAINST IT AS WELL. SO JUST A LITTLE HISTORY. WHEN PEOPLE SAY, HEY, THIS IS AGAINST A REPUBLICAN PRIORITY, YOU KNOW, SOME PRIORITIES NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IN ITS CURRENT FORM IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GET PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE. AS FAR AS USING SOMEBODY LIKE A LOBBYIST, WHICH I KNOW SEEMS TO BE A BAD WORD THESE DAYS TO GET

[00:20:02]

AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FM ROADS AND A PATH TO FUNDING THOSE. AND I DON'T WANT TO YOU KNOW, THE ONLY OTHER PATH WE HAVE IS TO IMPOSE MORE TAXES ON OUR CITIZENS. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE OPTION THAT ANY OF US WANT TO GO DOWN. WE WANT TO BUILD ROADS BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR ROADS, BUT WE NEED A WAY FOR THE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN AND BENEFIT OFF OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT BE JUST CREATING PROBLEMS. WE WANT THEM TO COME BUILD. WE WANT ROCKWALL COUNTY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE WANT THEM TO PAY FOR THE PORTION THAT THEY IMPACT. AND WE HAVE VERY LIMITED PATHWAYS FOR DOING THAT NOW. AND WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS GAME AND FIGHT FOR WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT, AND HAVE THESE DEVELOPERS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN SOME KIND OF FORMULAIC MODEL THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN AGREE WITH. BUT AGAIN, LISTEN, AND I'M I'M FINE BEING IN AUSTIN ALL THE TIME DURING THE NEXT SESSION AND BUT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN FIGHTING. BUT I ONLY HAVE SO MANY CONNECTIONS. I HAVE NOT YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT WORKED AT THE CAPITOL, ALTHOUGH I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE LAST SESSION TRYING TO PLAY DEFENSE THE WHOLE TIME. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON OFFENSE A LITTLE BIT. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF US CAN GO DOWN TO AUSTIN AS MUCH AS WE WANT. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL WE HAVE? OR DO WE NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL THAT HAS RELATIONSHIPS AND CAN MAKE A BROADER IMPACT THAN WE CAN? AND I'M NOT SAYING I KNOW THE ANSWER. I JUST KNOW THE PLAYING FIELD THAT WE'RE ON AND HOW UNLEVEL IT IS TODAY. AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AND THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENT SOLUTION THAN THIS. AND I'M OKAY LISTENING TO EVERYBODY ELSE'S OPINION, BUT BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, HOLLAND AND KNIGHT IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AT ANY POINT, IF WE WANTED TO BRING THEM UP, THAT WOULD BE FINE. OR IF WE JUST WANT TO ASK THEM QUESTIONS OR IF NO ONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF THEM. SO I'M JUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THAT

[00:25:05]

THANK YOU. JUDGE. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM AGAINST THIS AND I, I WANT TO READ A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT IT'S REALLY YOU'VE POINTED OUT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PLATFORM, THEY MAINTAIN A STRICT AND LONG STANDING POSITION BANNING TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. I DO AGREE WITH A NUMBER OF THE COMMENTS THAT BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE MADE IN REGARDS TO WHAT ACTIVITIES AND WHAT POSITIVES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE. BUT I THINK THAT EACH OF US AND OUR CITIZENS ARE THE ONES THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO HEAR FROM. AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A HARD ONE TO NAVIGATE THAT BECAUSE COMMISSIONER GALLINA, I, I TOO, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN IN AUSTIN IN THE LAST SESSION. AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. BUT I DO BELIEVE, AND I AM GOING TO READ TO, TO COMMENTS FROM BOTH OUR STATE SENATOR AND OUR OUR OUR STATE REP WHO ARE BOTH AGAINST THIS MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND THEN AND I CAN TELL YOU A FEW MORE THINGS THAT I HAVE. BUT SO THIS ONE IS COMING FROM KATRINA PIERSON, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, REGARDING. ITEM FOR A ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, OCTOBER 1326. SHE SAYS, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COURT TO VOTE NO ON.

ITEM FOR A ROCKWALL COUNTY RESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE REPRESENTATION IN AUSTIN, AND MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HEAR THE COURT'S CONCERNS AT NO COST TO LOCAL TAXPAYERS, SPENDING $150,000 A YEAR FROM THE GENERAL FUND ON A LOBBYING FIRM. ASK RESIDENTS TO PAY TWICE USING THEIR OWN TAX DOLLARS TO LOBBY THE REPRESENTATIVES THEY ELECTED.

THIS ALSO CONFLICTS WITH PLANK 239 OF THE 2026 REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS PLATFORM. SHE SAYS. MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO THE COURT AT ANY TIME. KATRINA PIERSON, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, HD33. AND THEN FROM SENATOR BOB HALL, HIS COMMENT IS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERNS. I AM AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRINCIPLE EXPRESSED BY PLANK. 239 IT IS USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO LOBBY AGAINST THINGS THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO DO FOR THE TAXPAYER. ALSO, NO LOBBYIST IS AS EFFECTIVE AS A DIRECT CONVERSATION ON AN ISSUE BETWEEN THE LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE LEGISLATURE, LIKE THE TEXAS EXCHANGE, LIKE THIS TEXT EXCHANGE SHE'S GIVING ME. I AM ALWAYS OPEN TO LISTENING DIRECTLY TO A LOCAL OFFICIAL, BUT SELDOM PAY ANY ATTENTION TO A TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYIST. AND ONE OTHER COMMENT I RECEIVED FROM A FROM A CITIZEN JUST SAYS THAT THE THE ITEM WOULD COMMIT $150,000 A YEAR EXPENSES FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR OUTSIDE LOBBYING APPROVED WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT REOCCURRING EXPENSE FOR WORK THAT THE COUNTY CAN LARGELY DO ITSELF THROUGH ITS DELEGATION AND THROUGH COMMISSIONERS TESTIFYING AND WORKING BILLS DIRECTLY. AND IT ALSO RUNS AGAINST PLANK 239 OF THE 2026 REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS. WHO IS THAT LAST ONE? THAT ONE IS FROM JUSTIN HOLLAND.

JUSTIN HOLLAND, OUR FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY. SO MY AND SO A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT ARE THAT I READ, I CONCUR WITH AND I AGREE WITH IN ADDITION, THAT THIS WAS NOT A BUDGETED ITEM. AND IT WAS ALSO IT'S NOT SOMETHING IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THIS AT THIS AT THIS EXPENSE, WE WOULD WANT, I THINK IT SHOULD GO OUT FOR AN RFQ. WE DO THAT FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE $100,000 RANGE. SO. BUT MY MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IT IS. I JUST FEEL THAT IT IS GOING AGAINST WHAT THE THE, THE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM IS. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY ANY SUCCESS WITH THIS COMPANY. WE DID NOT TAKE IT OUT. AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO ACCOMPLISH IS NOT A ONE, A ONE, A ONE SESSION FOR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND I AGREE WITH ALL THOSE. I WANT TO BUILD ROADS. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. SO BUT WE'RE TALKING PROBABLY MORE THAN ONE SESSION OF HAVING ANY KIND OF CONSIDERABLE RESULTS. SO IN THAT CASE, I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I HAVE A QUESTION DIRECTLY TO YOU. YOU BROUGHT UP TWO TWO POINTS OF OBJECTION. ONE IS THE TAXPAYER FUNDING LOBBYIST. SO WE ALREADY DO TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING WITH THE COOK WITH WITH THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. SO DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OR JUST NOT EXPANDING THEM TO THIS RELATIONSHIP, JUST NOT EXPANDING THEM TO THIS RELATIONSHIP? BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ONE ASPECT OF THE OF THE FEES WE PAY TO BE A MEMBER OF THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS. AS WE KNOW, SITTING UP HERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER BENEFITS YOU RECEIVE FROM THAT ORGANIZATION OTHER THAN THE THAN THE TWO, THAN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HELP SUPPORT ANY KIND OF. BUT IF WE WERE AGAINST THE TAXPAYER LOBBYING, WE COULD SEND A RESOLUTION AND SAY, DO NOT LOBBY THE LEGISLATURE ON BEHALF OF ROCKWALL COUNTY. WE WILL ACCEPT THE OTHER ASPECTS OF MEMBERSHIP TO THIS GROUP. YOU COULD. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I'M JUST ASKING. YOU COULD. AND

[00:30:04]

YOU CAN JUST SAY PASS. NO, I'LL BE HAPPY TO. AT MY. I GOT ELECTED TO THIS OFFICE AND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK I. FIRST OF ALL, THE LEGISLATIVE GOALS THAT YOU'VE LAID OUT, COMMISSIONER, ARE GREAT, 100% AGREE WITH THEM. THE POINT YOU MADE ABOUT ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS IS GREAT. 100% AGREE WITH IT. A LOT OF FRUSTRATION ON MY PART.

COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH, WITH THE SUPPORT WE'VE GOTTEN IN AUSTIN ON THE POINTS WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. I KNOW, COMMISSIONER, WE'VE ALL MET WITH THE FOLKS, OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR INCLUDING OUR SENATOR AND COMMISSIONER GORDON AND I SPECIFICALLY WENT DOWN AND MET A COUPLE TIMES WITH OUR SENATOR TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES. WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE SUPPORT FROM THOSE FOLKS, AND THEY'VE PROMISED IT, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD AND BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL GIVE IT TO US. BUT. SO I GUESS I'M AGREEING WITH EVERYBODY EXCEPT ON THE CONCLUSION WE'RE COMING TO. AND THE CONCLUSION IS, I THINK. INAPPROPRIATE. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY FOR FOR SEVERAL REASONS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR INQUIRY AS A SECOND AGO, BECAUSE THEY'RE FAIR. IT'S $150,000. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

I THIS IS PART OF A. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LETTING ME SPEAK VERY DIRECTLY TO YOU. YES. THIS IS KIND OF PART OF A PATTERN I'VE SEEN WHERE A SOLUTION IS DUMPED ON US BEFORE DISCUSSION. AND WE'RE BEING ASKED TODAY TO TO SELECT A FIRM. HAD LUNCH WITH ONE OF THE GUYS FROM THE FIRM. SEEMED LIKE A GREAT GUY. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOBBYING. I'M NOT A LOBBYIST AND DON'T EVER WANT TO BE. BUT AGAIN, IS THIS THE BEST FIRM TO ACCOMPLISH THIS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'RE BEING PRESENTED HERE WITH HERE. THIS IS THE PERSON WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH. IT'S GOING TO COST US $150,000 A YEAR. AND TO COMMISSIONER GALLARDO'S POINT, THIS IS NOT A ONE YEAR SOLUTION. THIS WILL GO ON AND ON AND ON. AND IT'S WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE A PATH DOWN A ROAD, AND WE GOT TWO CHOICES IN FRONT OF US. WE GO DOWN THIS PATH OR WE DON'T.

WE CAN ALWAYS SHIFT IN THE FUTURE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT OUR CITIZENS PAID US TO DO THIS.

I DON'T THINK OUR ELECTED US TO DO THIS. I DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR US WANT US TO DO THIS. AND I'M A BIT A BOTHERED MAYBE BY THE FACT THAT THIS IS OCCURRING. THE FIRST MEETING AFTER WE'VE GONE INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF THIS DURING THE BUDGET TIME, NO DISCUSSION OF SPENDING $150,000 ON THIS, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN WHICH, BY THE WAY, AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH IT, KNOWING ALL FOUR OF YOU THE WAY I DO, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE POUNCED ON THAT AND SAID, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $150,000 ON LOBBYING. WE CAN GET OUR TAX RATE DOWN BY DOING THAT. OKAY, SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT EVERYONE DOES TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES. I THINK THESE ARE GREAT OBJECTIVES. I AM 100% BESIDE BEHIND ALL FOUR OF THEM, AND WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS TO HELP ACCOMPLISH THOSE AND TO, TO WALK INTO A MEETING TOMORROW IF THEY WOULD MEET WITH ME WITH BOTH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO'S TEXTED EVERYONE THIS MORNING AND ASKED US NOT TO VOTE ON THIS, AND OUR STATE SENATOR, WHO HAS EXPRESSED HIS OPINION MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME ISSUE AND SAY, GUYS, YOU'VE GOT WE'VE GOT FOUR THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY. LET'S GET THEM DONE. SO MAYBE IN OUR RESOLUTION WE COULD MODIFY IT JUST TO SAY. THE COMMISSIONERS COURTS ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING AS ITS 2028 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. ONE LIMITED COUNTY PLANNING AUTHORITY, TWO STATE FUNDING AND DEVELOPER APPORTIONMENT FUNDING FOR FARM TO MARKET ROADS AND FAST GROWING COUNTIES, AND THREE SPECIAL ZONING AUTHORITY AROUND PROPOSED NEW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS IN THERE, WHICH I WOULD HAPPILY SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR. COMMISSIONER.

[00:35:02]

IT'S AN UNFUNDED OR UNDERFUNDED MANDATE. SO AS I PUT THOSE TWO ON THE SCALE, WHAT WHICH ONE WEIGHS MORE? WHICH ONE IS MORE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITIZENS OF ROCKWALL COUNTY? AND MAN, IT HAS TO BE THAT UNFUNDED AND UNFUNDED MANDATES, THE 150,000 WE CAN CONTROL AND CUT OFF AND STOP. SO JUST KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL CONCEPT OF THAT. AND COMMISSIONER GALANTE, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING JUST KIND OF IN PASSING THAT THAT'S OF VITAL IMPORTANCE. YOU SAID WE CAN'T GET TO SENATOR BETTENCOURT. AND THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM.

OUR. OUR REPS ARE ON OUR SIDE. THEY THEY WILL GO VOTE FOR THEIR DISTRICT, I HAVE NO DOUBT.

BUT AS I'M GETTING MORE INVOLVED AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE YOU OR COMMISSIONER STACEY HAVE, BUT I'M QUICKLY GAINING OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS EXPERIENCE OF HOW THE CAPITAL WORKS. THERE IS MORE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WORK IN THE CAPITAL IN AUSTIN THAN THAN IN FRONT. THAT VOTE IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. HOW THOSE GEARS WORK REQUIRES SOMEBODY.

THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THAT, THAT THAT'S THEIR JOB, NOT JUST HOW OUR ELECTEDS ARE GOING TO VOTE.

WE KNOW THAT. HOW DO YOU GET THIS THROUGH THE SYSTEM? AND WE'VE ALL GONE DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE IT MYSELF DOWN, GIVEN PASSION SPEECHES IN FRONT OF COMMITTEES. AND, YOU KNOW, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON ONLY TO REALIZE THIS IS JUST POLITICAL THEATER IS WHAT THIS

[00:40:01]

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME ON BOARD HERE, ME AND COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH AND COMMISSIONER STACEY, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID IS SWITCH HOW WE WE VIEWED LEGAL. AND WE HAD A REAL ESTATE ISSUE. WE WENT AND GOT A REALLY GOOD REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY. WE HAD SOME MORE COMPLEX ISSUES. WE WENT AND GOT A GOOD GENERAL COUNSEL TEAM. WE HAD ELECTION ISSUES. WE GOT THE BEST ELECTION ATTORNEY IN THE STATE. SO WE HIRE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, JUST MY SIMPLE COUNTRY WAYS A HIRED GUN. WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC FIGHT, HIRE THE HIRED GUN THAT HAS PROVEN THEY CAN WIN THAT FIGHT. IT. IS IT HOLLAND AND KNIGHT? I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I'M SYMPATHETIC TO COMMISSIONER LICHTY. I, I, I DON'T KNOW THE WORLD OF LOBBYING. I DO KNOW IT'S A WORLD THAT UNLESS YOU'RE IN AUSTIN CONTINUALLY AND YOU HAVE BUILT UP RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE, I MEAN, WE WE NEED I AM WORKING EVERY ANGLE I HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF TEN PARKER FOR TWO MINUTES. THAT'S A HIGH RISK MANEUVER. GIVE ME TWO MINUTES. WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY IN TWO MINUTES, PLEASE? CAN CAN WE HAVE SOME FM ROADS? BUT THAT THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT NOW.

CAN HOLLAND AND KNIGHT SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO TAKE YOU TO DINNER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION? MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE GEARS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY OBVIOUS TO US AND HOW THINGS WORK AND HOW A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL HAVE TO FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND WHO OWES WHO AND WHO OWES WHAT. I KNOW I WOULD PUT US IN PROBABLY THE TOP 99 PERCENTILE OF COMMISSIONERS WHO ADVOCATE AND AND DO SO VERY WELL AT THE STATE OF TEXAS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ENOUGH. I DON'T KNOW IF US ALONE WITH OUR ELECTEDS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE. I CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, IT BEGS THE QUESTION, IF IT CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE, WHY HASN'T IT MOVED THE NEEDLE? WHY ARE WE STILL IN NEED OF PLANNING AND FM FUNDING? AND SO I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

I WILL SAY I AM OPEN IF YOU COULD ASK ME, HEY, JUDGE, WOULD YOU WRITE $150,000? CHECK IF WE CAN GIVE YOU ONE OF THOSE THINGS. I WOULD SAY YES. AND THEN NEXT YEAR, WOULD YOU WRITE US $150,000? CHECK IF WE CAN GIVE YOU ONE MORE OF THOSE THINGS. THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE THE SAME. YES. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THIS ACROSS THE LINE, $150,000. OUR CITIZENS, I THINK, WOULD DEMAND THAT WE SPEND IT. NOW. OUR PARTY AND ELECTEDS MAY NOT, BUT OUR CITIZENS PROBABLY WOULD. SO THAT THAT'S MY MY SUMMARY AND OPEN TO ANY OTHER STATEMENTS IF SOMEBODY IS. SO I'D LOVE TO ASK THE GUY FROM HOLLAND KNIGHT WHO'S HERE SINCE YOU VOLUNTEERED HIM. JOHN. YEAH.

GREAT. YEAH. COME ON. YEAH, THEY ARE LIKE, ABSOLUTELY NOT. YEAH. YOU TWO GUYS LOOK LIKE YOU'RE QUITE CAPABLE. SO THANKS FOR COMING. ARE YOU BOTH FROM AUSTIN? YES, SIR. OKAY, SO YOU TELL US, FIRST OF ALL, AS YOUR FIRM BEEN LOBBYING FOR THESE FOUR POINTS IN THE PAST. SO IF COMMISSIONER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE. MY NAME IS MIKE. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH, JUST PULL IT CLOSER. OKAY. MY NAME IS MIKE WARNER. I'M THE I'M A SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT HOLLAND AND KNIGHT BRIAN THORNTON, MY COLLEAGUE. BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, I HAVE 26 YEARS OF THIS TYPE OF WORK EXPERIENCE. I STARTED AT THE. AND PRIOR TO THAT, I SPENT NINE YEARS AS A STAFFER AT THE CAPITOL. YOU DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE, BUT I WORKED BACK IN THE 90S FOR BOTH FOR MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES. BRIAN, WHO JOINED US EARLIER THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY WORKED FOR SENATOR BETTENCOURT AND IS AN EXPERT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE HAVE WORKED ON ISSUES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BOTH THE CITIES AND COUNTIES. NOW, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE NOT AND WE DO NOT RUN OUR BUSINESS IN A WAY THAT WE ALL WE DO IS

[00:45:05]

SO WE CURRENTLY REPRESENT BASTROP COUNTY, AND THEN IF YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS, WE WILL REPRESENT ROCKWALL AND THAT'LL BE IT. SO WE HAVE ZERO INTENTION OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SOME DUE DILIGENCE AND THE ISSUES THAT COMMISSIONER STACEY TALKS ABOUT ARE, ARE ACTUALLY ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BASTROP AND ROCKWALL HAVE SOME SORT OF SIMILAR ALIGNED ISSUES. AND WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID IS ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY, VERY, VERY CLEAR. BETWEEN THE TWO OF US. THIS WILL BE MY 18TH SESSION. WHEN YOU COMBINE MY MY TIME DOING GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WORK AND MY STAFF WORK, WHAT NUMBER SESSIONS IS THIS FOR YOU? THIS NUMBER SIX FOR BRIAN. SO WHILE WE MAKE ZERO GUARANTEES ON GETTING ANY, ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE IT'S TO BE FRANK, IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SUCCESSES OVER THE YEARS IN ACCOMPLISHING GETTING PASSED. MY SPECIALTY IS ACTUALLY PASSING BILLS AND KILLING BILLS.

BRIAN HAS A SPECIALTY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I'LL LET HIM TELL YOU ABOUT THAT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUFF. HIS WORK FOR SENATORS CAMPBELL AND BETTENCOURT WERE SORT OF FOCUSED ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES. HE ALSO WORKED FOR THE SINGULAR CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WORKING ON ELLEN. TROXCLAIR AND HIS SPECIALTY THEN WAS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES. AS YOU. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT NOT JUST THIS LEGISLATURE, BUT PREVIOUS LEGISLATURES DO NOT SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BRIAN ALSO WORKED ON. THAT WORKED FOR SPEAKER BURROWS. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I ASKED HIM TO JOIN TONIGHT. SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. NO, IT REALLY DOESN'T. BUT I'M SORRY. MY QUESTION WAS THIS. HAVE YOU SPECIFICALLY LOBBIED ON THESE FOUR ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT OUT? I'VE LOBBIED ON WELL, WE HAVE LOBBIED ON ZONING ISSUES. WE HAVE NOT LOBBIED ON ZONING FOR FOR COUNTIES, FOR FOR CITIES. OKAY. BECAUSE COUNTIES NORMALLY DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR ISSUES ARE LIMITED PLANNING AUTHORITY FOR COUNTIES, WHICH WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPROVE PLATS RIGHT NOW OR DISAPPROVE THEM ON VERY LIMITED BASIS. RIGHT. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE GREATER BASIS ON WHICH TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE PLATS, RIGHT? SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE WE'RE FACING VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES IN OUR COUNTY RIGHT NOW WITH DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO COME INTO THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AND PUT MUDS IN PLACE AND HAVE UNLIMITED DENSITY REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO REGULATE. SO THAT'S ONE, RIGHT? SECOND, STATE FUNDING AND DEVELOPER APPORTIONMENT FOR FARM TO MARKET ROADS AND FAST GROWING COUNTIES. WE RECENTLY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTIES, I BELIEVE, TO, TO PASS A, A REGULATION THAT SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP, YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE PUT THAT ON A DEVELOPER RECENTLY IN THE COUNTY, AND WE WERE ALL IMMEDIATELY SUED. OKAY. THREE SPECIAL ZONING AROUND PROPOSED HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. LIKE COMMISSIONER STACEY, I AM 150% IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OUTER LOOP THAT RUNS RIGHT ALONG DOWN THE EASTERN PORTION OF OUR COUNTY IN A VERY RURAL AREA, AND WE DON'T WANT APARTMENTS AFTER APARTMENTS, AFTER APARTMENTS. AND WE'VE GOT NET THE RTC NET COG TO AGREE TO SUPPORT US IN THIS LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO GET A STRIP ALONGSIDE THE ROAD WHERE WE COULD ZONE AND HAVE BROAD ZONING AUTHORITY. AND THE FOURTH IS FM FUNDING OR FUNDING STATE FUNDING FOR FM ROADS IN FAST GROWING COUNTIES. ALL OF THESE ARE GREAT SUGGESTIONS, GREAT IDEAS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. HAVE YOU SPECIFICALLY LOBBIED ON THESE TYPE OF ISSUES? AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IT IS BECAUSE I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IS, BECAUSE MY GUESS IS IF WE COULD GO INTO THE THE MAGIC BOX HERE, WHICH JUDGE NEW HAS DESCRIBED AND SAY, WE'LL PUT IN A QUARTER AND WE'LL GET A RESULT, WE WOULD ALL VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT. AND WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT THAT EASY, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT

[00:50:02]

SO I THINK ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, THERE'S BEEN NO ONE THAT'S ASKED FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN COUNTIES THAT WANT WANT TO DO THAT, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A BILL THAT'S BEING DRAFTED RIGHT BY BY, I THINK, IS IT THE CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES ON DATA CENTERS? YEAH, THAT THAT'S DOING THAT. BUT IT'S GONE NOWHERE. AND THE THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DEALS WITH COUNTY ISSUES HAS NOT INDICATED SO FAR THAT THAT'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. WHO'S THAT? DAVID SPILLER WHO? DAVID SPILLER. OKAY. THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES THAT DO HAVE LIMITED ZONING AUTHORITY IN SPECIFIC REGIONS, LIKE TYPICALLY AROUND THE GULF COAST OR A RIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND TO US, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ZONING AUTHORITY OVER RIGHT ALONG THIS. AND I KNOW THAT HOOD COUNTY HAS TAKEN THE POSITION BECAUSE THERE'S A THERE'S A HUGE LAWSUIT THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. THAT SUIT HAS YET TO BE ADJUDICATED. AND I KNEW THAT, AND I AM AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THAT LIKELY WILL BE ADDRESSED IN JANUARY IN AUSTIN. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR REASONS THAT WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE, HAS STAYED OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN ASKED FOR AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY HAS THAT DUTY OR NOT. I THINK WE MAY HEAR SOMETHING AFTER NOVEMBER 4TH, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, FOR SOME REASON. SO WERE YOU RESPONDING TO THE COUNTY AS FAR AS DATA CENTERS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. I'M SORRY IF I WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT THAT. OKAY. AND THEN WITH REGARDS, I'M SORRY TO THE OTHER TWO ISSUES. COULD YOU. I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THE OTHER TWO? OH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO REPEAT ALL FOUR OF THEM AGAIN. NUMBER ONE.

LIMITED COUNTY PLANNING AUTHORITY, RIGHT TO STATE FUNDING AND DEVELOPER APPORTIONMENT FUNDING FOR FARM TO MARKET ROADS AND FAST GROWING COUNTIES. AND THREE SPECIAL ZONING AUTHORITY AROUND PROPOSED NEW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. THE FOURTH ONE, WHICH IS FM FUNDING FOR FAST GROWING COUNTIES, IS KIND OF ADOPTED OR ABSORBED INTO THE SECOND ONE, I THINK. SO SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT I WAS WRONG, IT'S NOT. BUT IT WAS HIS IDEA TO COME UP WITH IT. AND I SUPPORT HIM ON THAT. SO WHEN HE SAYS IT'S NOT, I BELIEVE IT'S NOT.

THERE'S FOUR DISTINCT ISSUES. SO ONE OF OUR OTHER SPECIALTIES IS MONEY. AND WHAT I MEAN BY MONEY IS DRAGGING MONEY, KICKING AND SCREAMING OUT OF SENATE FINANCE AND HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES, RANGING FROM HIGHER ED TO TO WATER PROJECTS TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, LIKE I MENTIONED. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. IT'S HARDER THAN YOU THINK. OH, NO. TRUST ME, I DON'T THINK. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE, AND THREE OF THESE, THREE OF THE FOLKS ON THIS COURT HAVE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN HERE. AND SO THEY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN I DO. BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET ATTENTION. AND NOW WE'VE GOT IN THE MOST RECENT LITERATURE, RECEIVING WHERE THE CERTAIN STATE OFFICIALS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YES, SIR. AND SAYING IT'S NOT THE STATE'S FAULT. IT'S THOSE GUYS DOWN THERE. AND WE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THEM IN CONTROL. WE GOT TO REIN THEM IN. WE GOT TO LASSO THEM AND TIE THEM UP AND THROW THEM IN A CORNER. AND SO IT IS. IT'S VERY TOUGH. I TRUST ME, I GET IT. I, I LOVE JUDGE NEWS IDEA OF THE MAGIC BOX. AND I THINK IF YOU COULD SAY, GIVE US

[00:55:03]

BUT IT DOES TAKE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I THINK I HEARD THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE

[01:00:01]

BUT IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO OUR FEE? IF YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR ATTORNEYS WRITE ANY OF THE LEGISLATION? WE BOTH ARE. WE DON'T PRACTICE LAW, BUT WE'RE BOTH GRADUATES OF LAW SCHOOLS. WE I DECIDED MY FIRST YEAR, MY FIRST WEEK OF LAW SCHOOL, THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE THE PRACTICE OF LAW TO BETTER, SMARTER PEOPLE. BUT THAT WOULD BE ME. BUT WE BOTH HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN DRAFTING LEGISLATION, AND IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE IN THE DEAL, RIGHT? NOT JUST, I MEAN, I IN A IN ANOTHER SETTING, I COULD POINT TO YOU DIFFERENT PIECES OF STATUTE THAT I'VE PERSONALLY WRITTEN. AND SO, SO YOU'RE WRITING IT, BUT IS YOUR ATTORNEYS LOOKING AT IT ALL BEFORE YOU PRESENT IT? OKAY. AND THAT'S AND THAT'S PART OF THE SERVICE THAT'S PART OF THE SERVICE. THERE'S NO EXTRA CHARGES. OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN, AND THEN JUST SO YOU SO WE TELL YOU THE PROCESS AFTER OUR LAWYERS LOOK AT IT INTERNALLY, THEN WE SEND IT TO THE TO LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL FOR THEIR LAWYERS. SO, SO THERE'S ANOTHER SET OF EYES FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT GETS LOOKED AT IT BACK TO THE CONTRACT REAL QUICK. YES, SIR. MAYBE OFF TOPIC QUESTION. IT MENTIONS PLUS REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES. I COULDN'T FIND A LIST OF REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES? PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WOULD BE ANY. TRAVEL. AND THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF WOULD BE TRAVEL HERE AND DINNER. LIKE SOMEONE SUGGESTED, WHEN YOU TAKE THE REPS OUT, WE WE ABSORB THAT. YOU ABSORB THAT. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. SO ESSENTIALLY TRAVEL HERE. IF WE SAID, HEY, WE WANT YOU TO COME GIVE A HAVE SOMEBODY COME TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO THE COURT THAT WOULD PROBABLY. IT'S IT WOULD LITERALLY IN A. IN THE CASE OF ANYTHING GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WISE, WE WOULD PROBABLY LIMIT IT TO THAT. YEAH. BECAUSE YOU, YOU, YOU STAY IN YOUR IN YOUR OFFER. IT INCLUDES ROUTINE ITEMS LIKE POSTAGE AND COPYING AND MESSENGER AND EXPRESS MAIL. WELL, THAT'S ALL EXPECTED. THAT'S, IT'S EMBARRASSING TO SAY THAT'S BORDER PLATE FROM OUR LEGAL SIDE, OUR, OUR, OUR, THE FIRM'S LAWYERS MAKE US PUT PUT THAT IN THERE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I PUT ANYTHING IN THE REGULAR MAIL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MA'AM. WELL, I JUST MAILED SOMETHING YESTERDAY TO TWO OF MY GRANDKIDS IN MICHIGAN. SO THERE YOU GO. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THESE GENTLEMEN? I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR THEM. THANK YOU.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO ROCKWALL. AND AND ONE MORE THING I WANT TO SAY, NOT JUST NOW, BUT THROUGHOUT THE THE PROCESS AND THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT. WE ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL 24 OVER SEVEN. MY GIRLFRIEND HATES THAT, BUT BECAUSE I GET CALLS AT MIDNIGHT.

BUT IT'S TRUE. WE ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL AND FOR PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING, RIGHT? GOT IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN, I JUST I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, AND I DO APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER LICHTY SAYING HE WE CAN WE CAN VERY WELL BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, SHOOT STRAIGHT UP TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE STATE

[01:05:03]

MAYBE WE DO HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE MEETING. MAYBE WE FIGURE THIS OUT. WE ARE GETTING BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL FOR SURE ON ALL OF THIS. BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS. AND IF WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP, MAYBE THAT'S A BETTER TIME TO BRING THIS BACK UP. IN A LOT MORE DETAIL OF IS THIS EVEN AN APPROPRIATE ACTION? I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU VERY WELL MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO, AND IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY COUNTIES HIRE DIRECT LOBBYISTS? I WOULD SAY PROBABLY VERY FEW. OKAY, WELL, I WOULD GUESS THE BIG URBAN COUNTIES. YEAH THEY DO. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT SOME COUNTIES ALSO HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY THAT ROLE, BUT CALLED SOMETHING ELSE.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT YOU CAN HAVE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY CALLED IT, BUT ESSENTIALLY A LOBBYIST ON STAFF THAT LOBBIES BUT IS CALLED SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH JUST AGGRAVATES ME TO NO END. WELL, THEY CALL IT PLAY THE GAME. YEAH, THEY CALL THEM LEGISLATIVE STAFF. TO YOUR POINT WITH THE COOK, OBVIOUSLY IT BEING THE LARGER, YOU KNOW, FOR LARGER COUNTIES, DALLAS HAS THEIR OWN FORT WORTH HAS THEIR OWN. I MEAN, HARRIS COUNTY HAS THEIR OWN. I CAN THEY DO HAVE THOSE, BUT THEY ARE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WORK FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, IF YOU REMEMBER, COMMISSIONER GALLINA, ONE PERSON KILLED THE TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYISTS IN THE SENATE, AND THAT PERSON IS NOW THE AG CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SO ONE PERSON SINGLE HANDEDLY KILLED TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. THEY PUT THAT ON HIS BACK, AND HE WON THE PRIMARY TO BECOME THE AG. I JUST WANT THAT STATED AS WELL. BROAD SUPPORT, BROAD SWEEPING SUPPORT. OKAY.

WELL, I KIND OF INTUIT THAT WE'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A LEGISLATIVE SESSION UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION. I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE TO TABLE IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL JUST LET IT SIT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[4.B) Discuss/Act on updates and progress related to the Sheriff's remodel, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

YEAH. SO THERE'S STILL A HANDFUL OF ITEMS IN THE IN THE FIRST ORDER THAT WE'RE CALLING SECOND DELIVERY. BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A POTENTIAL DAY TWO ORDER OF FURNITURE AS WELL.

FOR ONCE EVERYBODY GETS INTO THE SPACE, THEY NEED TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW IT FUNCTIONS.

AND THERE MAY BE SOME MORE FURNITURE NEEDS. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A COUPLE ITEMS ON THAT LIST ALREADY. LATER THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OUR PUNCH WALK, WHICH

[01:10:01]

JUST A FEW TRADES EVEN ON SITE. I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE ALMOST THERE. AND IT BECOMES ACCEPTING IT, GETTING EVERYONE OFFICIALLY MOVED IN, MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE FURNITURE WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND THEN MOVING FORWARD FROM THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SAL. THANKS.

[4.C) Discuss/Act on Rockwall Amateur Radio Club's request to install LoRa mesh network repeaters on the roof of the New Courthouse and the Historic Courthouse, and all related issues; (Commissioner Gallana - Emergency Management Coordinator)      ]

BUT ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FOR COORDINATOR RAWSON? NO, I'M JUST AMAZED WITH WITH HOW THINGS PROGRESS. WELL, THIS THIS IS A PROGRESSION, BUT THIS IS A STEP BACK INTO HISTORY. I MEAN, THIS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ON FIELD DAY, THEY HOOK UP THE OLD RADIO SYSTEMS AND SEE HOW FAR THEY CAN COMMUNICATE. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, CAN COMMUNICATE SOMETIMES WITH AUSTRALIA JUST USING SOMETHING HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY WITH, WITH A SIMPLE ANTENNA THAT THEY STRUNG, WHICH IS AMAZING. AND AS FAR AS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GOES, YOU KNOW, YOU START PLANNING WHAT IF, WHAT IF THE GRID GOES DOWN? WHAT IF THE CELL PHONE TOWERS ARE DOWN? WHAT IF WE GOT GUYS THAT CAN ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE? I HAVE A FRIEND THAT'S IN THAT CLUB AND HE JUST HE TELLS ME LOTS ABOUT IT. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN COMPREHEND, BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING. IT IS A BUNCH OF RETIRED ENGINEERS. IT IS, AND THEY LOVE IT AND THEY'RE GOOD AT IT. SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR COORDINATOR RAWSON? I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. YES, SIR. IS THERE ANY ROOF PENETRATIONS. SO THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A PENETRATION. BUT ON THE VERTICAL SIDE OF THE ROOF IT WOULDN'T BE ANY SORT OF PENETRATION THAT WE'D HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WATER INTRUSION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. SECOND QUESTION. IT SAYS IN THE MATERIALS THAT THERE'S NO COST FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM. IS THERE A COST AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM? NO, SIR. THERE'S NOT. GREAT. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE INSURANCE ON THEIR EQUIPMENT BEFORE THEY PUT IT INTO OUR BUILDING? IS THAT WE DID THAT LAST TIME? SO THIS ONE, THE COST OF THE ENTIRE DEVICE IS PROBABLY 40 BUCKS. THIS IS A COPPER ANTENNA. IT IS. I MEAN, NOT EVEN A COPPER. I MEAN, I'M JUST I'M JUST YEAH, I'M JUST DOUBLE CHECKING. I'M AN INSURANCE GUY. THEY'RE NOT SETTING THE RADIOS UP THERE AND MOUNTING THEM AND LEAVING THEM. THIS IS IS OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO, SO. WELL, JUST BECAUSE I STUMBLED INTO IT. AND IT'S A FASCINATING WORLD. SO.

ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. IF SOMEBODY IS SO INCLINED, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ROCKWALL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB'S REQUEST TO INSTALL LORA MESH NETWORK REPEATERS ON THE ROOF OF THE NEW COURTHOUSE AND THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GILANI. I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THAT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH. ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE? THAT PASSES

[4.D) Discuss/Act on approving Amendment No. 6 to the Department of State Health Services Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) grant program to revise FY2027 Statement of Work, and all related issues; (Judge New - Emergency Management Coordinator)]

ROSSEN. JUDGE, I BELIEVE THIS ACTUALLY CAME DIRECTLY TO YOU, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE DETAILS THAN ME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS JUST US ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CRI YEAR. THAT'S HOW I READ IT, WHICH REQUIRES US TO REDO OUR GRANT APPLICATION. CORRECT.

WHICH REQUIRES ME TO RE SIGN IT. SO. IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHAT CHANGED THE AMENDMENT WAS MAKING, BUT REALLY NONE. WE GET SLIGHTLY MORE MONEY, WHICH REQUIRES ME TO ACCEPT THE MORE MONEY. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. WE

[01:15:08]

[4.F) Discuss/Act on a resolution rescinding the Court's September 8, 2026 approval (Item 5.R) of the Siemens Industry, Inc. fire alarm testing and inspection agreement, Proposal No. 10693951, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy - Maintenance Director)]

AND I WAS LIKE, WHOA, WHOA. WE DO HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. OKAY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RESCIND THE COURT. SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026. APPROVAL OF ITEM FIVE R FOR THE SIEMENS INDUSTRY INCORPORATED. FIRE ALARM TESTING AND INSPECTION. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACY SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? REGISTER YOUR VOTES NOW, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR G DISCUSS AND

[4.G) Discuss/Act on approving the Professional Services Agreement with Tyler Technologies for the creation of jail reports, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy - Sheriff Garrett)]

YOU ANSWERED WHAT I NEEDED TO ASK. YEAH. SO THIS IS A PROGRAMING THAT WILL BE DONE IN ORDER TO RUN THE REPORT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD GO AHEAD AND LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CREATION OF JAIL REPORTS. WITH THE USE OF COMMISSARY FUNDS, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. I WILL SECOND IT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.

[4.H) Discuss/Act on updates to the County Uniform Policy and set an effective date, and all related issues; (Commissioner Liechty & Commissioner Stacy)]

[4.I) Discuss/Act on awarding FY2027 Contracts for Bids received for the following Road & Bridge Construction Materials:  (1) Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete; (2) Asphalts, Oils & Emulsions; (3) Gas, Oil & Diesel; (4) Corrugated Metal Pipe; (5) Cement Treated Material, and all related issues; (Judge New - County Engineer)]

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. COMMISSIONER LICHTY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO BEAT UP THE THE WORK I DID ON JULY 9TH OF 2024 AND STREAMLINE IT, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CHANGING IT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH WOULD ALLOW ROAD AND BRIDGE AND THE FIRE MARSHAL TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE AND JUST STANDARDIZING WHAT WE'VE DONE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER LICHTY HAS ANYTHING TO ADD, BUT THAT IS JUST REALLY SIMPLY WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. YOU ANSWERED. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD IS, DOES THIS INCLUDE THE FIRE MARSHAL UNDER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES? AND I THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE IT. EXCUSE ME, DOES IT ALSO INCLUDE

[01:20:01]

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE ROCKWALL COUNTY POLICY ON UNIFORMS, AND WE ADD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. WE TAKE OUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND THAT WE KEEP ROAD AND BRIDGE AS THE LISTED AS THE LISTED GROUPS ON SECTION ONE, AND THAT WE GIVE IT AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF TODAY. AND OH MY GOODNESS, THE SECOND I STARTED TALKING, I DIDN'T HAVE THE DATE, WHICH IS OCTOBER 13TH, 2026. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA. ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR I, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BE SKIPPING JUST SO YOU KNOW. OH HANG ON MAN, I AM MOVING ON.

QUICKLY DISCUSS AN ACT ON AWARDING FY 2027 CONTRACTS FOR BIDS RECEIVED FOR THE FOLLOWING ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. NUMBER ONE HOT MIX ASPHALT CONCRETE. NUMBER TWO ASPHALT, OIL AND EMULSIONS. NUMBER THREE GAS, OIL AND DIESEL. NUMBER FOUR CORRUGATED METAL PIPE. NUMBER FIVE CEMENT TREATED MATERIAL AND ALL RELATED ISSUES. MISS ERICA, COUNTY ENGINEER. YES, SIR. SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT GET BIDS SUBMITTED TO US, SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO AWARD THE CONTRACTS THIS TIME. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE BE ALLOWED TO RE ADVERTISE THIS. WHY DO YOU THINK WE DIDN'T GET ANY BIDS? JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY.

WELL, I SHOULD SAY WE DIDN'T GET BIDS IN BY THE DEADLINE. SO WE DID GET ONE AFTER THE FACT.

AND FOR SOME REASON THEY HAD THE WRONG DEADLINE. I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THEY HAD COMMUNICATION WITH SOMEBODY AND JUST GOT THE WRONG DATE. SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HAPPENED.

LISA, I REMEMBER THIS HAPPENING LAST YEAR. WE DIDN'T GET BIDS AND WE HAD TO CALL PEOPLE AND SAY, HEY, WILL YOU SEND US A BID? AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH YEAH, AND THE MARKET'S VOLATILE RIGHT NOW WITH THE PRICE OF DIESEL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S YEAH, PEOPLE ARE GUN SHY. I WOULD BE LEERY OF A CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. YEAH, EXACTLY. WELL, WE WILL DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO FOLKS THIS TIME. YOU WILL. YEAH. OKAY. WELL WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION ON AUTHORIZING YOU, BUT I THINK THE INTENT IS CLEAR. WE NEED TO. CAN WE TAKE ACTION SINCE WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING. SO IT'S ON AWARDING DISCUSS AND ACT ON AWARDING FY 2027 CONTRACTS FOR BIDS RECEIVED IS HOW WE CAN.

OKAY. WELL THEN THEN IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PUT OUT OUR CONTRACTS FOR REBID, I WOULD HAPPILY, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE. ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR REQUEST FOR BIDS, WHICHEVER IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FOLLOWING ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. HOT MIX, ASPHALT, CONCRETE, ASPHALT, OILS AND EMULSIONS. GAS, OIL AND DIESEL.

CORRUGATED METAL PIPE. CEMENT TREATED MATERIAL. AND THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S PUT THAT OUT FOR REBID. MAYBE

[4.J) Discuss/Act on updates of the Rockwall County Master Thoroughfare Plan, and all related issues; (Commissioner Liechty – County Engineer)]

COMMISSIONER LICHTY AND COUNTY ENGINEER BRIDGES. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER? OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. NO, I'M. I'M SAYING THAT IN A HOPEFUL WAY. YES, TODAY. SO I FIGURED Y'ALL MIGHT BE TIRED OF HEARING FROM ME. SO I INVITED BRIAN CROOKS WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS TO GIVE US AN IN-DEPTH UPDATE TODAY, OR A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH UPDATE TODAY FROM OUR CONSULTANT. SO, BRIAN. DID YOU HAVE A THUMB DRIVE OR YOU'RE JUST SPEAKING? I'M JUST GOING TO TALK. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE COUNTY THOROUGHFARE PLAN, WE'VE COMPLETED ALL THE INITIAL RUN OF MODEL INFORMATION. WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARE WITH THE PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE. I'M WORKING WITH ERIKA TO SET UP THE DATES.

PROBABLY WE'RE THINKING MID NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE PSC GETS TO LOOK AT ALL THE INFORMATION AND HELP US MAKE DECISIONS ON, ON WHAT CORRIDORS

[01:25:03]

I'D ADD ONE THING TO IT AND THEN OPEN IT FOR QUESTIONS. IN THE ORIGINAL BID, WE HAD A SET NUMBER OF PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, SO WE WANTED MORE INPUT FROM THE PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE FOLKS INVOLVED ON IT. SO WE HELD ONE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WASN'T IT, DANA, SIR? YES, SIR. 30TH OKAY, WHATEVER. WE HELD IT RECENTLY. WE HELD IT RECENTLY, GOT A LOT OF GREAT INPUT FROM THE FOLKS ON THE PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE. AND EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T ONE OF THE BUDGETED ONES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BRIAN AND HIS TEAM FOR ATTENDING. JUST TO GATHER THAT INPUT, WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT SUGGESTIONS FROM PEOPLE ON THINGS WE COULD DO AND HOW WE COULD MOVE FORWARD, AND IT WAS KIND OF AN INTERIM STEP TO GET THEIR INPUT BEFORE WE GOT THE NEXT DRAFT OF THIS. SO THAT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR SHOWING UP, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO. ABSOLUTELY.

MY PLEASURE. QUESTIONS. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK SOME MORE DETAIL ON WHAT WERE THOSE INPUTS THAT YOU RECEIVED THAT MAY CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE PLAN, OR IS THERE ANY MORE DETAIL YOU COULD PROVIDE TO THE TO THE COURT? WELL, WE AS YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU REMEMBER, WE TALKED ABOUT WE WE HAD AN INITIAL DRAFT, WHICH WAS THREE CHAPTERS OF THE PLAN. AND WE, DANA AND I AND ERIKA GAVE SOME COMMENTS BACK INITIALLY. AND THOSE CAME BACK. SO A LOT OF IT WAS QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED BY MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE. WE WENT THROUGH THE PLAN AND SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ISSUES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, TO GET THESE SPECIFIC NOTES, I'D HAVE TO GO TO MY OFFICE AND GET THE NOTES FROM THE MEETING. SO I TO GIVE YOU SPECIFIC ITEMS. I CAN'T DO THAT. YES. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK OUR NEXT ONE, WHEN WE HAVE THE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT COMMISSIONER IS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE NOTICE OF WHAT REALLY IS EXPECTED OF THEM, TOO, BECAUSE WE USED IT. I MEAN, I THINK IT TURNED OUT GREAT, BUT IT WASN'T EXACTLY AS WE HAD PLANNED FOR HOW THE MEETING WOULD GO. THEY WEREN'T THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE TO COME WITH THEIR, THEIR COMMENTS ON THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS. SO WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH ALL THAT AS, AS YOU KNOW, YOU WERE THERE. SO REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE REALLY PREAMBLE. WE'RE JUST SETTING LIKE, HERE'S HOW PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING. HERE'S ALL THE INFORMATION, HERE'S THE GROWTH, SO THAT THE REMAINING WORK IS REALLY LOOKING AT ALL THAT INFORMATION AND LOOKING AT THE, AT THE FORECAST GROWTH, HOW IT WILL IMPACT TRAVEL DEMAND AND WHAT KIND OF RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS WILL OCCUR. SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS. AND COMMISSIONER GALLARDO, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT TO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ONE OF THE COMMENTS CAME FROM JIM PARK, WHO WAS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, AND HE HAD SOME VERY GOOD COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE WE KNOW WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, WHERE NORTH TEXAS HAS LINES AT AND MAKING SURE THAT AS WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER, WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH, WITH THAT ORGANIZATION. SO THERE WAS SOME GOOD, THERE WAS SOME GOOD, THERE WAS SOME GOOD FINDINGS THERE. HOW ARE WE COMING WITH OUR APPORTIONMENT FORMULAS? ARE WE STILL. WE'RE WE'RE WE ARE NOT GETTING MUCH PROGRESS ON THAT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ITEM. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS I WANTED TO DO THAT. THIS. BUT WE ARE WAITING FOR LEGAL GUIDANCE.

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO FACILITATE LEGAL GUIDANCE OR. I THINK WE'LL GET A LOT OF LEGAL GUIDANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I CAN READ BETWEEN THOSE VERY BIG LINES. THANK YOU SIR. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

[4.K) Discuss Rockwall County Strategic Plan 2050 Strategic Goal #4, Operating Initiative #1: Refine roles, structure and missions of a Rockwall Infrastructure Consortium to create a county-wide body to integrate city, county, state, and federal transportation, school development, water conservation, and infrastructure efforts, and all related matters; (Commissioner Liechty)]

ROCKWALL COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN 2050 STRATEGIC GOAL NUMBER FOUR OPERATING INITIATIVE. NUMBER ONE REFINE ROLE STRUCTURE AND MISSIONS OF A ROCKWALL INFRASTRUCTURE CONSORTIUM TO CREATE A COUNTY WIDE BODY TO INTEGRATE CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION, SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, WATER CONSERVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE EFFORTS, AND ALL RELATED

[01:30:04]

AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT SUGGESTION TO WORK. WELL, WHAT I HAVE INCLUDED WITHIN THE MATERIALS ARE A SET OF CERTIFICATE FORMATION AND A SET OF BYLAWS FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, WHICH IS SET FORTH UNDER CHAPTER D OF THE TEXAS TRANSFER OF CHAPTER 431 OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE. WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION MAY BE CREATED TO AID AND ACT ON BEHALF OF ONE OR MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH ANY GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE OF THOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND THEN IT RECITES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT WILL BE USED TO GOVERN THOSE DOCUMENTS. SO THAT'S THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THIS IS CREATED. AND THE THE REASON I WENT WITH A SEPARATE CORPORATION RATHER THAN A CONSORTIUM, IS TO GIVE A GREATER VOICE TO EACH OF THE CITIES THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN FORCE SOMEONE TO BE A MEMBER OF.

THEY HAVE TO WANT TO, BUT IF THEY WANT TO, THEN I THINK WE CAN EXPAND IT. AND SO YOU'LL GET KIND OF IN GENERAL, WHAT I'M THINKING HERE, WE WOULD HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH AS I'VE WRITTEN, THIS WOULD BE THE FIVE OF US AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH SPONSORING CITY. SO IF WE HAD SIX CITIES INVOLVED, THERE WOULD BE 11 MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. IF WE HAD SEVEN, OBVIOUSLY IT'D BE 12, WHATEVER. AND I STARTED WITH THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE USED BY THE EMERGENCY SERVICES CORPORATION AND MADE CHANGES THAT I FELT WERE APPROPRIATE. LET ME SAY THESE HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY LEGAL. AND EVEN THOUGH I AM A LAWYER AND I HAVE DRAFTED MANY, MANY NONPROFIT CORPORATION DOCUMENTS, THESE HAVE NOT BEEN LEGALLY REVIEWED. AND THEY NEED TO BE. THIS IS, AGAIN, JUST TO KIND OF GET THIS DISCUSSION GOING. SO WE WOULD HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND THEN FOR EACH OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS WE DECIDE UPON, WE WOULD HAVE A COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. AND I'VE SET UP MECHANISMS FOR HOW YOU CAN APPOINT THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ALL OF THAT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE. I'M NOT WEDDED TO A LOT OF THIS, OTHER THAN THE BASIC STRUCTURE, WHICH I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. I TOOK THIS TO OUR TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON STRATEGIC GOAL NUMBER FOUR, AND WE CAME UP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEES FOR ROADS, WATER, DRAINAGE AND HYDROLOGY, OPEN SPACES, PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THERE COULD BE OTHER AREAS OR THOSE COULD BE SPLIT INTO DIFFERENT THINGS. MARK KLIPPERT WAS HERE THIS MORNING AND HE SPOKE ABOUT THE FIRE. I COULD SEE WHERE WE COULD END UP WITH HAVING FIRE AS FIRE DISTRICT OR FIRE PROTECTION AS A SEPARATE ITEM. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE LUMPED THEM TOGETHER AS PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WE COULD SPECIFY OTHER AREAS. WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, A LIST OF 16 INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. I DON'T THINK EACH OF THEM JUSTIFIES A SEPARATE COMMITTEE. BUT THEN THOSE COMMITTEES WOULD MEET PROBABLY ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BUT THAT WOULD BE UP TO THEM. AND THEY WOULD REPORT TO THE

[01:35:01]

THAT'S KIND OF MY SUMMARY. I'LL TAKE ANY ANSWER, ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR TAKE ANY THOUGHTS YOU MIGHT HAVE. SO NO, NO QUESTION, BUT JUST A COMMENT. I LIKE THE STRUCTURE. I THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE. HAVING ESSENTIALLY THE COMMISSIONERS AND SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY SITTING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECTING THE COMMITTEES SEEMS LIKE A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WAY THAN JUST THROW IT, THROW IT ALL IN AND SIT IN A ROOM AND KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT AND, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE HEARSAY SLASH HISTORY. THE REASON IT WAS FORMED AS A CONSORTIUM AND NOT AN ACTUAL COMMITTEE MEMBER IS THEY DIDN'T WANT THE BURDEN OF KEEPING MINUTES AND RECORDS. THEY WANTED TO JUST SAY, HEY, HERE'S A CONSORTIUM. WE'RE DISCUSSING ROADS. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL THE RECORD KEEPING. SO THIS STRUCTURE WOULD REQUIRE US TO GET MORE SERIOUS ABOUT RECORD KEEPING AND MINUTES. AND YEAH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. BUT AS WE'RE MATURING AS A COUNTY AND GROWING UP, I MEAN, THAT JUST COMES ALONG WITH THE TERRITORY. YEAH. BUT I LIKE THE STRUCTURE. I LIKE THE IDEA. I THINK WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH, WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN, IN KEEPING, KEEPING FOCUS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COUNTY.

YEAH. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND, AND I THINK THAT TO ME, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMITTEES AND THEIR ACTION BECAUSE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD NOW BE MORE OF A OVERALL SUPERVISORY GROUP, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE REALLY ACTIVE COMMITTEES OR THIS WILL FAIL. YES. AND WE WOULD GET THAT ANY, ANY. WELL, LET ME LET ME REPHRASE THAT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR ME TO THINK THAT WE WOULDN'T GET THAT.

ANYTIME I'VE ASKED FOR HELP IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, I'M AMAZED AT THE PEOPLE AND HOW QUALIFIED THEY ARE THAT RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, I WILL HELP. SO, YOU KNOW, HYDROLOGY, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT I KNOW IF I PUT OUT A CALL AND SAY, HEY, I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S WELL VERSED IN HYDROLOGY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE GO, HEY, I'M A RETIRED HYDROLOGIST. OR, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING CIVIL ENGINEERING MY WHOLE LIFE AND, AND VOLUNTEER.

SO I, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. I LIKE THE STRUCTURE. I LIKE WHERE WE'RE HEADED. I'D LIKE TO HEAR IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COURT ON RECORD KEEPING, THOUGH. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE EVER BEEN A SECRETARY OF A, OF A ORGANIZATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR OTHERWISE. I HAVE FOUND OFTENTIMES, AND I'LL USE MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THAT YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT TRY TO TAKE NOTES AND THEY TAKE THE BEST THEY HAVE THEY CAN, BUT OFTENTIMES THEY'RE NOT ALL AS ACCURATE. SO WITH THIS, ARE YOU ARE YOU ENVISIONING THAT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, WE COULD HAVE OUR COUNTY CLERK AVAILABLE. SO AT LEAST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE HERE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A QUORUM QUORUM SUPPORT. SO THERE'S, THERE'S NO REASON TO HAVE A SECRETARY, IN MY OPINION.

WELL, I MEAN, WE COULD HAVE SOMEBODY IF THEY WANT, IF WE NEED IT. BUT I DO THINK THESE NEED TO BE RECORDED BECAUSE SOMETIMES OUR MINDS GET FUZZY ON THINGS THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. AND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON MINUTES AND WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT AND NOT SOMETIMES NOT INTENTIONALLY. IT JUST KIND OF IT. OUR COUNTY CLERK WAS WILLING TO SPEND THE TIME DOING THIS. I THINK SHE'D BE FABULOUS FOR DOING IT. AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE

[01:40:01]

WHAT WHAT DOES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CONSORTIUM WANT THE DRAINAGE AND HYDROLOGY COMMITTEE TO DO, OR SHOULD WE EVEN HAVE ONE? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE TO DO? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? ROADS. IS IT GOING TO BE JUST WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, OR ARE WE LOOKING FOR THE ROADS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION? THESE THESE WOULD BE IDEAS. I THINK THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION SHOULD BE SETTING DOWN AND SAYING, HERE'S WHAT WE WANT YOU GUYS TO DO. AND WHEN WE GET A QUARTERLY REPORT, WE WANT IT TO SEE THAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE AND YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS ME FOR SURE DOESN'T WANT TO SIT IN ANOTHER MEETING THAT DOES NOTHING, RIGHT. MAKING PROGRESS.

OR IF YOU'VE HIT A BARRIER, WHAT'S THE BARRIER? YEAH, HOW CAN WE HELP? OR IF YOU'RE GOING IN A DIRECTION WE DON'T LIKE, WE WANT TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. REDIRECT. YEP. I THINK MAYBE A GOOD PLAN IS TO BRING THIS TO THE CONSORTIUM THIS MONTH, AND THEN THEN GET THEIR INPUT. AND THEN AFTER THAT, BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT FOR SOME FORMAL. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT IF YOU WANT TO GO THAT DIRECTION. YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A. YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD. YEAH. THE ONLY THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IN THE WITH THE CONSORTIUM IS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE MUNICIPALITIES, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONERS, MOST OF THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE AN ALTERNATE. THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE ONE THAT WOULD APPEAR IF IF THE THE NUMBER ONE COULDN'T. SO WE MAY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW ON MY TIME AT THE CITY OF ROCKWALL, THAT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT THE, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY WITH THE CITY OF ROCKWALL, IT WAS THE MAYOR. BUT THEY DID HAVE A HAVE AN ALTERNATE AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH.

COMMISSIONER LUCKY, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DID PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT LOOKS IT LOOKS GREAT. I'VE SAID FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THE CONSORTIUM NEEDS RUN RULES AND MORE DEFINITION AND NEEDS TO BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE. WHICH MINUTES WILL DO. SO I LIKE ALL OF THIS. I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T MUDDY THE WATERS TOO MUCH WITH A BUNCH OF COMMITTEES. I LIKE THE IDEA OF COMMITTEES, BUT WHAT I WOULD NOT BE FOR THE IDEA OF CREATING A BUNCH OF THEM TO DO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BECAUSE THAT JUST KIND OF IT NEVER LEADS TO GREAT OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS, IN MY OPINION. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A BOARD THAT'S TOO BIG AND THAT ESSENTIALLY WILL SERVE THE SAME WAY. IF WE HAVE TOO MANY COMMITTEES, WE'LL HAVE A BOARD THAT'S TOO BIG THAT IS JUST DOESN'T FUNCTION. SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT TIGHT, BUT I BUT I REALLY LOVE WHAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. WELL, AND ON THAT FRONT AGAIN, WHAT WE DID IN OUR TEAM MEETING WAS WE TOOK THE 16 ITEMS THAT WERE IN OUR SECTION 5.1 OF OUR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE SAID, WELL, WHAT WHICH OF THESE ITEMS DO WE THINK WOULD DESERVE A COMMITTEE? YOU KNOW, AND THERE COULD BE SOME THAT DON'T NEED IT, NEED TO BE.

AND SO ANY INPUT LIKE THAT FROM YOU ALL, IF YOU THINK WE'VE GONE TOO OVERBOARD OR WE HAVEN'T PICKED SOMETHING UP, YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE MIGHT TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY. WELL, AND THE BOARD COULD MAKE THE BOARD COULD MAKE THAT DECISION. YEAH, BUT BUT YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN, COMMISSIONER STACEY.

YES. SO ON 6.4 IT'S ON PAGE NINE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BYLAWS. IT SAYS UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED BY THESE BYLAWS, ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF EACH DIRECTOR'S COMMITTEE OR ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OR CHAIR OR COCHAIRMAN BY THE PERSON OR PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT THE MEMBERS THEREOF. I GUESS REALLY, WHEN I LOOK AT APPOINTING A COMMITTEE, I WOULD HOPE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD APPOINT THE

[01:45:02]

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT, OR IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER OBJECTION. MY POINT IS, IS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WANT LAUREN LICHTY TO CHAIR THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND HAVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTE ON THAT. AND WHILE I LIKE HOW THEY CAN SET THEIR OWN RULES AND THEY CAN DO THAT, I THINK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IN LEADERSHIP. I THINK THIS ACCOMPLISHES IT, BUT IT IT KIND OF DOESN'T HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH IT. AND I WOULD LIKE THAT LANGUAGE. IN MY OPINION. I LIKE THAT LANGUAGE TO SAY THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M JUST IT'S JUST A THOUGHT. WE'RE I HAVE NO PROBLEM CHANGING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO SAY THE SAME THING. I THINK IT IS SAYING THE SAME THING. IT'S A POINT AT THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTED BY THE PERSON OR PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT THE MEMBERS, WHICH IS ONLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BUT YEAH, WE CAN JUST STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CHAIRMAN IS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A PROBLEM.

IT'S A GOOD COMMENT. YEAH IT IS. AND THEN ON 7.2 I IS IT NORMAL IN THESE SITUATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH DETERMINATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SUCH INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OR TREASURER OF THE CORPORATION. THAT'S IN TERMS OF MONEY. BUT THAT STILL MEANS THAT THERE HAS TO BE BOARD DIRECTED ACTION. CORRECT. THAT DOESN'T SUPERSEDE. I JUST WOULD HATE THE PRESIDENT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, THE BOARD COULDN'T MEET. SO I'M GOING TO START ISSUING MONEY. OH YEAH. NO, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I MEAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE A ROGUE PRESIDENT. AND THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAINLY INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE ALL SEEN WHERE THAT'S HAPPENED. YES. NEVER ON THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT THOUGH. BUT YEAH, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND YEAH, THAT PARAGRAPH 7.2 IS RELATIVELY, IN MY EXPERIENCE, RELATIVELY STANDARD.

IT JUST SAYS THE WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, IF THE BOARD HASN'T MADE A SPECIFIC DETERMINATION AND SPECIFICALLY DELEGATED AUTHORITY, THEN THE PRESIDENT HAS THAT AUTHORITY.

AND THAT'S, AGAIN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, FAIRLY COMMON. YEAH. AND SO WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE FINANCIAL. OH, ABSOLUTELY. YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY SPECIFIC, I DON'T I DIDN'T ENVISION THIS THING, THIS CORPORATION HAVING MUCH FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T EITHER BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S THERE FOR. BUT, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN IT'S ABUSED, WHEN IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE, OH, THIS IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. IT'S A BIG DEAL. YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS. AND YOU, YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE YOU CAN DO DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO CERTAIN ACTIONS UP TO A LIMIT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT AGAIN, HAPPY TO LOOK AT ANY SUGGESTIONS ON THOSE FRONT. THESE THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT AND I'M WELL, I I'VE BEEN TAKING COMMENTS ON MY DOCUMENTS FOR 45 YEARS. AND SO IT DOESN'T HURT MY FEELINGS. NO NEED TO STOP NOW AND THEN. EXACTLY. MY LAST ONE IS IN THE IS IN THE FORMATION, WHICH IS, I THINK NOW GETTING TO MORE TO THE HEART OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, WHICH IS WHICH IS THE PURPOSE, THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE PURPOSE. SO DID YOU SAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT LISTED IN HERE, DID YOU SAY GOVERNMENT SERVICES WAS THE OTHER THING ADDED BY THE COMMITTEE OR THAT'S THAT'S IN THE BYLAWS WHERE IT SAYS THE COMMITTEES WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. ONE OF THEM WAS GOVERNMENT SERVICES. OKAY. OKAY.

SO I GUESS IN MY OPINION, WATER WOULD BE WATER SUPPLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS BECAUSE I THINK WATER SUPPLY AND, AND THE SERVICE, THE WATER SERVICE IS MORE WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS WATER. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO FIND THAT TO BE MORE. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE WATER SUPPLY OR END USER WATER SUPPLY. I DON'T KNOW THE BEST TERMINOLOGY TO USE THERE. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF CREATING A WATER DRAINAGE AND HYDROLOGY COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT THIS ALLOWS US TO COMBINE HOWEVER WE WE DEEM NECESSARY. I GUESS WHEN, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT WE PASSED ON OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS PAGE 121 I THINK THAT CONSUMER SERVICES SHOULD BE AT LEAST MENTIONED IF WE WANT. I THINK IT ENCAPSULATES ANIMAL SERVICES, ELECTRICITY, BROADBAND, I DON'T KNOW, WE NEED A STANDING COMMITTEE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HAVE THESE SERVICES LISTED, I JUST THINK THEY NEED TO BE REFLECTIVE. BUT I THINK WE CAN ENCAPSULATE THEM IN SOME SORT OF CONSUMER SERVICES OR SOMETHING. AND NOT THAT WE NEED A COMMITTEE ON BROADBAND OR NOT EVEN THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE A STANDING COMMITTEE. IT'S JUST THAT WE WANT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WHAT WE WORKED ON FOR THIS. THAT'S MY ONLY POINT. I THINK A COUPLE OF WORDS WOULD DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO

[01:50:05]

AND SOME OF THESE THINGS, I MEAN, FACE IT, WE HAVE IT'S GOING TO HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY.

BUT THAT'S THE SAME WAY AS WITH ROADS. I MEAN, AND WE DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE VARIOUS CITIES AND PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY TOGETHER AND TRY AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. SO IT'S I EVEN THOUGH THE AUTHORITY MAY BE LIMITED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS SO WE CAN TRY AND FIND SOLUTIONS. SOMETIMES THAT'S THE MOST APPROPRIATE PERSON TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, THE ONE THAT IS NOT IN THAT INDUSTRY AND DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY SPECIFICALLY THAT THAT'S A MORE ALTRUISTIC VIEWPOINT SOMETIMES. YEAH. AND WELL, TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, I AGREE, BUT TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH MENTIONED JIM PARKS. IT WAS AT THE STRATEGIC STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING AND AT NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT OUT. I RAN INTO HIM AT ONE OF THE EVENTS WE ATTENDED, AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, LOOK, KIND OF OUTLINED WHAT WE'RE WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING HERE AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS RESTRUCTURING THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. AND I SAID, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A WATER COMMITTEE LOOK AT THIS AND BRING IN BLACKLAND AND RC H AND THE WATER SUPPLIERS AND THE CITIES? AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE.

HE GOES, YEAH, I THINK IT REALLY WOULD BECAUSE YOU CAN START DISCUSSIONS AND TRY AND GO DIRECTIONS AND YOU CAN DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO APPROACH NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER, WHICH GOVERNS EVERYTHING HERE AND AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TRY AND IMPROVE OUR SITUATION. SO THAT WAS ENCOURAGED. JIM THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE HE'S OBVIOUSLY AN EXCELLENT AN EXPERT IN THE AREA. I LOVED YOUR COMMENT, COMMISSIONER STACEY, BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY WE ARE TRAILBLAZING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I APPLAUD COMMISSIONER LICHTY FOR WHAT HE'S DONE. BUT REALLY, I MEAN, AS YOU AT LEAST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, I DIDN'T LOOK AT OTHER STATES. BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TRY TO SEE BENCHMARK AND LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES OF OTHERS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS NOT EVEN IN THE LARGER COUNTIES, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S QUITE THIS CONCISE THAT I WAS ABLE TO TO FIND. THEY MAY HAVE IT. IT'S JUST IT WASN'T EASILY I SEARCHED, HOW ABOUT THAT? BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. GUYS. THIS IS REALLY GOT A LOT OF GOT A LOT OF MEAT TO IT. BUT IT ALSO HAS SHOWS FORWARD THINKING LEADERS ALSO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO WHAT I WILL DO IS I'LL MAKE A COUPLE TWEAKS BASED UPON SOME OF THESE COMMENTS, AND I'LL PLAN TO CIRCULATE SOMETHING, JUDGE TO YOU, AND THEN YOU CAN GET IT TO THE CONSORTIUM BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS, I THINK, NEXT WEEK. WEDNESDAY, RIGHT? YES. YES, YES. YEP. OKAY. YEP. AND I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A FEW MORE COMMENTS. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GO OVER THEM IN HERE. OKAY, WONDERFUL. ALL RIGHT. SO AT 1053 WE'RE GOING AL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. AT 1108, WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE

[4.L) Discuss/Act on Median openings and left turn lanes in connection with the widening of State Highway 205 (South), and all related matters; (Commissioner Liechty)]

[01:55:02]

WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D EVER HEARD OF IT. AND WE WERE GIVEN A DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 1ST TO HAVE TO RESPOND AND APPROVE THIS, OR THE MEDIANS WOULD NOT BE THERE OTHER THAN GOING INTO SEMI ANGRY MODE. JUST SEMI. I CONTACTED TXDOT AND THE RESPONSE WAS, YEAH, WE REALLY MEAN IT. SO I'VE CONTACTED BOTH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND OUR STATE SENATOR AND GOT THEM INVOLVED. HAD A SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT CON CONFERENCE WITH TXDOT WHERE I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF THEIR FOLKS WHERE THEY SAID THAT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TXDOT POLICY HAS NOW HAS BEEN ENFORCED, WHICH I ALWAYS FIND INTERESTING, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THEIR POLICY. AND WE HAVE GOT A. BUT THAT THEY WANTED TO TRY AND WORK WITH US. OKAY.

THEY WANT TO TRY AND WORK WITH US, AND THEY HAVE SOME IDEAS AND A LOT, A LOT, A LOT. AND WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH MCCLENDON CHISHOLM BECAUSE THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO THEM ALSO.

AND $450,000 IN OUR BUDGET IS A LOT OF MONEY. 1,000,001 IN MCLENNAN. CHISHOLM'S BUDGET IS REALLY A LOT OF MONEY. OKAY. AND SO WE GOT TO TRY AND DO THAT. SO WE'VE GOT A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THEM ON OCTOBER 22ND. SENATOR HALL HAS WILLINGNO WHATEVER HE CAN TO STOP THIS.

THAT REALLY KIND OF AGGRAVATED ME ON THIS WAS WENT BACK TO 2018 WHEN THEY WERE FIRST PLANNING THIS. AND I WAS NOT OBVIOUSLY ON COMMISSIONERS COURT THEN. I WAS JUST A PUBLIC CITIZEN. AND BUT MY CHURCH IS AFFECTED BY THIS SIGNIFICANTLY. SO IF YOU THINK THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, I DON'T KNOW. YOU CAN THINK WHAT YOU WANT, BUT THE CHURCH WAS AFFECTED BY IT. AND SO WE WENT AND MET WITH TXDOT AND COMMISSIONER BAILEY AT THE TIME AND MYSELF AND SEVERAL OTHERS, AND THEY AGREED, YES, YOU NEED A LEFT TURN LANE. AND WE GOT MINUTES OF IT. THEY DREW UP A MAP THAT SHOWED WHERE IT WOULD BE AND ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS, AND NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29TH, WHEN I GOT THIS EMAIL. AND SO ONE OF THOSE OF THE 452,000, ABOUT 250 OF THAT IS TO ENTER INTO A LAKE SHORE CHURCH. AND THE PROBLEM THIS WOULD CAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MEDIAN BREAK, IS WE THERE'S ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP THERE EVERY SUNDAY FOR CHURCH, AND THEY'D HAVE TO GO DOWN TO WHEREVER THE NEXT MEDIAN BREAK IS. NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE IT IS. EVERYBODY HAS TO DO A U-TURN AND COME BACK. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. IT'S SO RIDICULOUS THAT EVEN TXDOT SAW IT WHEN WE MET WITH THEM ON 2000 IN 2018. SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT CHURCH SITE THE BIG ISSUE, BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THIS REALLY IMPACTS PEOPLE. AND COMMISSIONER STACY, WHEN WHEN HE WHEN I FORWARDED THIS TO EVERYBODY OR THEY DID, HE, HE CAME UP WITH A REALLY SALIENT POINT. I THOUGHT HE SAID, WELL, THIS WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF WE WERE DOING DEVELOPMENTS, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, AND THE ROAD WAS GOING IN AND SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO A NEW DEVELOPMENT OVER HERE. AND SO WE GOT TO CUT A MEDIAN AND GET IN. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY FAIR TO SAY THE DEVELOPER. WELL, THEN YOU CUT THE MEDIAN, YOU PAY FOR IT, AND SURE, YOU CAN HAVE IT, BUT THESE ARE ALL EXISTING USERS AND SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON A ROAD.

THERE'S ONE, I THINK, WHERE THERE'S ONLY 3 OR 4 USERS, BUT THOSE 3 OR 4 USERS USE THEM AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING USING 205 FOREVER. AND YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, WELL, YOU'RE A SMALL USER, WE'RE GOING TO STEP ON YOU. THAT'S NOT FAIR. SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE PROGRESS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION. BUT I WANTED THIS TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION SO THAT WE WOULDN'T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITH IT. BECAUSE IF IN FACT, AND THEY DID SAY WHEN I TALKED TO HIM THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID, WELL, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME GRACE ON THE NOVEMBER 1ST, BUT BY FEBRUARY WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY. OKAY. WELL, OKAY, STILL, IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK OUT SOMETHING WHERE THIS GOES

[02:00:03]

YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES I THINK ARE OBVIOUS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS A HUGE ISSUE HERE AFFECTING EXISTING USERS, ALL THAT. SO BUT I WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION BECAUSE IF IN FACT, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BY NOVEMBER 1ST, IT'LL BE ON THE NEXT COURT'S AGENDA, WHATEVER IT IS. SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT AT THIS TIME, NO ACTION I'M ASKING FOR. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND AND I'M 100% AGREE WITH YOU. THIS IS THIS FEELS LIKE A CLAWBACK OF, OF PROJECT MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY TXDOT REALLY IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE HERE. IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT MEDIAN CUTS THAT THEY KNOW ARE EXISTING WOULDN'T BE PART OF A PROJECT THAT THEY APPROVED FUNDING FOR.

THAT DOESN'T THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME WHATSOEVER. AND THEY TALK ABOUT SAFETY ON AND ON AND ON. TXDOT IS ALL ABOUT SAFETY. WELL, THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES. AND IF YOU'RE REQUIRING JUST IN THE EXAMPLE OF LAKESHORE CHURCH, 2500 PEOPLE, AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE TO GO MAKE A U-TURN ALL AROUND THE SAME TIME ON A SUNDAY MORNING WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS TRYING TO GO TO CHURCH OR WEDNESDAY OR ANY OTHER TIME, THERE'S A FUNCTION THAT'S A THAT'S PUTTING PEOPLE IN DANGER FOR NO REASON. AND THIS WAS NEVER PART OF THE FUNDING MODEL THAT WE AGREED TO FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED. AND THEN IT WAS RUSHED. AND TO ME THAT SAYS THIS IS A PRODUCT OF TXDOT BEING UNDERFUNDED BY THE LEGISLATURE AGAIN, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO CLAW BACK SOME PROJECT MONEY. WE'RE PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONES, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. I AGREE WITH YOU, AND I'LL HELP IN ANY WAY I CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. DOES LAKESHORE CHURCH HAVE A TURN LANE ON THE CURRENT TWO LANE 205 AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR. THAT'S JUST WANTED THAT TO BE SAID. SO YEAH, THIS WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY TAKING THAT LEFT TURN LANE AWAY. YES. WHICH RAISES OTHER ISSUES. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME. THIS GIVES US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STATE ELECTEDS TO, TO COME IN AND SOLVE WHAT SHOULD BE AN EASY PROBLEM. AND, AND I GET YOUR POINT OF SAFETY, BUT THERE'S ALSO A DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS HERE FOR MCLENDON, CHISHOLM AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFAIR TO US, BUT MAN, IT'S REALLY UNFAIR TO THEM TO SAY, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THIS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY HERE JUST BECAUSE IT HASN'T DEVELOPED AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COLLECTING THIS MONEY. IT'S LIKE I SAY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STATE ELECTEDS TO SHINE AND COME IN AND HELP US WITH WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE ISSUE. YEAH. AND TO YOUR POINT, JUDGE, ONE OF THE FIVE SPOTS FOR MCLENDON CHISHOLM, ONE OF THE FIVE MEDIAN BREAKS. I, I WAS TALKING WITH THE GUYS FROM TEXAS. I THINK THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN DO THEIR U-TURN. IT'S JUST IT'S LIKE, COME ON. YEAH. AGREED. AGREED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND KEEP, KEEP, KEEP ME IN THE LOOP. HAPPY TO GRAB MY TOOTHPICK AND AND RUN INTO BATTLE. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES

[4.M) Discuss/Act on an order authorizing installation of speed humps and warning signage on Alexander Drive in the Alexander Ranch Estates subdivision in accordance with Section 251 of the Texas Transportation Code, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy - County Engineer)]

[02:05:02]

[02:10:04]

SORRY. I MEAN, SECOND, THIRD IS THE SAME BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD. IT'S SO AGAIN, I WAS I WAS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THERE REALLY ARE NOT A LOT OF COUNTY POLICIES ON THIS. I THINK WE'RE PIONEERS IN THIS RESPECT AGAIN. SO BUT I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME GUIDANCE. AND THAT IS ACTUALLY 1200FT THROUGH THERE. BUT THE CURVE IN THE ROAD ACTS AS KIND OF A NATURAL SPEED HUMP TO SLOW, A NATURAL DETERRENT TO SPEED, NOT A SPEED HUMP. BUT YEAH, AND I, AND I GET IT. AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S AN EXPERIMENT. IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BETTER THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK DOING THAT. I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, TO BE FRUSTRATED AND SPEED AROUND THAT CORNER. AND THEN THEY DON'T SEE WHAT'S RIGHT AROUND THAT CORNER, BUT TRY TO MAKE UP SOME TIME. YES. YOU KNOW, SO BUT YOU'RE LISTEN, YOU'RE THE THIS ISN'T WHAT I DO.

YOU'RE THE EXPERT. SO I'M GOING TO RELY ON, ON YOUR WISDOM. WELL AND THIS IS YOU KNOW, I AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO RELY ON I'M LOOKING AT DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT FOLKS HAVE. AND GENERALLY THEY DON'T PUT THEM ON A CURVE. SO I, I LOOKED AT MAYBE ADDING ONE BEFORE AND ONE AFTER, AND THAT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE IF WE DECIDE THAT IT'S REALLY PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING UP IN BETWEEN THEM, WE MAY HAVE TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL. SO BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE WE START HERE AND SEE, YOU KNOW, SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS OFFERED TO GO BACK OUT LATER AND FIND OUT IF THIS ACTUALLY IS HAVING THE THE DESIRED EFFECT. SO WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY SEE HOW THIS GOES. WE'RE FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT. WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THE MONEY FOR FOR THIS. WELL, IT'S COMING FROM ROAD AND BRIDGE, BUT CAN I CAN IT COME FROM OUR MATERIALS BUDGET? IS THAT ALLOWED. WELL, WE HAVE SOME LINES IN ROAD AND BRIDGE. WE CAN CHARGE IT TO IT, BUT IT WILL BE CHARGED TO ROAD AND BRIDGE. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE ORDER AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS AND WARNING SIGNAGE ON ALEXANDER DRIVE AND ALEXANDER RANCH ESTATE SUBDIVISION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TWO, 51 OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. I WILL SECOND THAT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR N

[4.N) Discuss/Act on an estimate from Pavement Maintenance Pros for $13,280 to install a centerline stripe on North Munson Road between State Highway 276 and Farm-to-Market 548 and required traffic control, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy - County Engineer)]

[02:15:01]

WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE WIDE OPEN ROADS, PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER. WHEN YOU HAVE STRIPING AND MORE NARROW LANES, IT TYPICALLY ENCOURAGES DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND TRY TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THAT LANE. SO AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT WE'RE STARTING WITH WITH ONE COUNTY ROAD TO SEE HOW THIS HOW THIS WORKS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO MILES. THEY'RE GOING TO BE STRIPING THE CENTER LINE OF MUNSON ROAD, NORTH MUNSON ROAD. AND THIS IS NOT THE GOLD STANDARD THAT I'M ASKING YOU FOR HERE. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD QUALITY PAINT WITH A REFLECTIVE BEAD INSTALLED AND THEN SOME PAVEMENT MARKINGS, REFLECTIVE PAVEMENT MARKINGS SO IT WILL MEET T MUTCD REQUIREMENTS. BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS IS NOT THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ROAD STRIPING ON TXDOT ROADWAYS. YOU'RE TYPICALLY SEEING A THERMOPLASTIC STRIPING THAT LASTS LONGER ON PAVEMENT. THIS IS PROJECTED MAYBE ONLY HAVE A LIFE OF ABOUT TWO YEARS, BUT THE THERMOPLASTIC, THE GOLD STANDARD IS IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE. BUT WE WANT TO SEE IF THIS IS EVEN EFFECTIVE IN SLOWING FOLKS DOWN. SO WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS. SO HELP HELP ME OUT. AND THIS IS LIKE COMMISSIONER GALLINA SAID, NOT NOT HIS WHEELHOUSE. NOT MY WHEELHOUSE EITHER. ATTEMPTING TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN.

I DON'T SEE HOW DOING A STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WILL DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. AND AS COMMISSIONER STACEY SAID, THAT LEFT TURN THERE 100% A SAFETY ISSUE. I JUST AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME SORT OF ENGINEERING ANOMALY THAT HAPPENS. HOW DOES PAINTING A STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD GET PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN? SO, I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A DRIVER AND HOW WHEN YOU HAVE WIDE OPEN PAVEMENT, LIKE THINK ABOUT YOUR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WHERE YOU JUST HAVE A NICE WIDE, 28 FOOT WIDE STREET PSYCHOLOGICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A WIDE OPEN ROAD. AND IF THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC, YOUR IMPULSE IS JUST TO DRIVE AS QUICK AS YOU CAN FROM POINT A TO B. SO THEY HAVE FOUND THAT WHENEVER YOU ADD LANE CONFINES, IT MAKES

[02:20:05]

AND HAVE WE LOOKED INTO DOING ANYTHING LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE THIS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH CARRUTH'S LAKES, THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THROUGH THERE, IT'S GOT A SPEED LIMIT SIGN THAT HAS THE SPEED MONITORED ON IT. AND IT REALLY DOES SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING ELSE I'D MAYBE LOOK AT FOR FOR MONTHS IN WHICH I AGREE NEEDS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT IS LIKE A RACE TRACK, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE COST, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S EFFECTIVE FOR THEM. WELL, AND, AND I THINK I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A TOOLBOX THAT WE LOOK AT IN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT LIKE A MAJOR COLLECTOR LIKE THIS THAT HAS A LOT OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC SPEED HUMPS AREN'T APPROPRIATE, BUT THOSE ARE A GOOD TOOL TO KEEP IN THE TOOL BELT TO OR TOOLBOX TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. BUT I LIKE THAT IDEA AS WELL. THOSE ARE A LITTLE A LITTLE ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE. LAST LAST I CHECKED. BUT ABOUT WHAT, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT WAS? ONE OF MY COMMENTS. IT'S PROBABLY BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE I LOOKED AT IT, SO I DON'T WANT TO. OKAY. VERY GOOD. I'LL DO THE SAME. COMMISSIONER GALENA. THEY HAVE IT ON YELLOW JACKET AND I CUT THROUGH THERE A LOT AND I KNOW IT'S COMING UP AND I SLOW DOWN.

A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS. THANKS FOR DOING THIS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. GREAT TEST, AS YOU SAY, JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN IDEA. SOUTH. MUNSON, WE GOT THE SAME PROBLEMS AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SHERIFF GARRETT WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND DO SOME EXTRA PATROLLING OUT THERE. AND THREE MORNINGS, NOT THREE FULL DAYS. THREE MORNINGS WE GOT OVER GAVE OUT OVER 100 SPEEDING TICKETS IN THREE MORNINGS ON SOUTH MUNSON ROAD. SAME PROBLEMS. SO IF IT WORKS HERE ON THIS EXPERIMENT, JUST TELL THE GUYS, KEEP HEADING SOUTH, OKAY? BECAUSE WE'LL NEED IT THERE. BUT THE REALLY THE BIG ISSUE WE NEED HERE IS WE NEED BETTER ROADS. I MEAN, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE BECAUSE YOU SAY AT 28, I BET THIS ROAD DOESN'T HAVE A 28 FOOT SURFACE, DOES IT? NO, IT DOESN'T KNOW. IT'S PROBABLY 20. CORRECT. IT'S A VERY NARROW ROADS. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A COUPLE ON THE LAST BOND ISSUANCE. WE'RE DOING A COUPLE THREE COUNTY ROADS IMPROVEMENTS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY MUNSON ROAD WASN'T IN THE TRIP 21 BOND PACKAGE. BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT WE'RE GETTING THE SAME PROBLEMS SOUTH THAT COMMISSIONER STACY IS HEARING ABOUT NORTH, WHERE IT'S A CUT THROUGH. PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE TRAFFIC. THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND ANY WAY THEY CAN, AND THESE ROADS NEED TO BE WIDER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS. WE'VE GOT A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON STEVENS ROAD DOWN SOUTH OF HEATH, WHICH IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE. AND WE'VE HAD TO BE OVER THERE, AS YOU KNOW, AND REPAIR THINGS THAT ARE BREAKING. AND AGAIN, WE JUST NEED TO REBUILD THE ROADS. SO ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE SOLUTION IS TO GET BETTER ROADS. BUT I'M 100% BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE DOING. GOOD. WELL, AND TO THAT POINT TOO SOON, I SHOULD BE HAVING KIMLEY-HORN UP HERE TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE STREET ASSESSMENT STUDY THAT THAT WAS DONE. SO THEY'RE WRAPPING THAT UP RIGHT NOW. AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT BY PRECINCT, YOU CAN DIG INTO THE QUALITY OF YOUR PARTICULAR ROADS BECAUSE I

[02:25:05]

IS ARE THESE FUNDS COMING OUT OF ROAD AND BRIDGE? YES, SIR. THEY ARE. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTE NOW, PLEASE. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MISS ERICA. THAT TAKES US TO

[4.O) Discuss/Act on approval of the Executive Decision Summary VE Team Recommendations, TxDOT form 2502-LG, and all related matters; (Commissioner Liechty)]

[02:30:04]

ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS BY THE COURT, RIGHT OR WRONG, AND I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK I AM. TO ME, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT FOR HERE, WE'RE GETTING A STUDY THAT WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO AND BEING ASKED TO APPROVE IT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT. IT ALL MAKES SENSE. BUT TO ME, THIS IS A REMINDER THAT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE STUDY ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION, WE NEED CLOSER INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT BECAUSE IT ALL THESE DECISIONS IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS. ALL THESE DECISIONS IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. AND EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROVISIONS WE BUILT INTO THE MOU TO TRY AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PUT INTO PLACE ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SIGN THAT CONTRACT WITH HALF ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE IT THAT WE AS A COURT, MAKE IT A POINT TO STAY MORE INVOLVED IN THE ENGINEERING PROCESS, THE UPDATES AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE THE WAY WE WANT. AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WE HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE WE CAN. SO WITH THAT, UNLESS ANYONE ELSE HAS A. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE DECISION SUMMARY V E TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS TEXDOT FORM 2502-LG AS PRESENTED TO THE COURT. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. I'LL SECOND IT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[4.P) Discuss/Act on adding and moving vending machine locations in County Facilities, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE THERE. THEY MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S TEAM AND MEASURED IT ALL OUT AND SAID, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT IT AND EVERYONE'S GOOD WITH IT. SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF US OKAYING THAT EFFORT. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE PUTTING A VENDING MACHINE IN THE TRAINING ROOM BREAK AREA OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GILLEN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? REGISTER YOUR VOTES,

[4.Q) Discuss/Act on demo work in the old tax assessor space at the Historic Courthouse, and all related issues; (Commissioner Stacy)]

AND FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, WE'LL BE USING OUR MOSTLY OUR STAFF TO DO SOME OF THIS, AS I'M HEARING YOU SAY. AND THEN AS WE START PUTTING IT TOGETHER, THAT BECOMES THE SECONDARY PART OF, OF HOW DO WE FUND THAT? HOW DO WE PAY FOR THAT? BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST CLEARING THE ROOM.

BUT WE WOULDN'T MAKE TAKE AN ACTION ON, ON ACTUALLY DOING IT UNTIL WE GET THE COST OF THAT IS CORRECT. WE CAN'T WE CAN'T JUST SAY YES, YES. I GOT TO YOUR POINT. YES. WE ARE NOT GOING TO START SPENDING MONEY AND MOVING THEM WITHOUT THE COURT KNOWING AND VOTING ON IT.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE DEMO WORK ON THE OLD TAX ASSESSOR OFFICE SPACE. IN THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GILANI.

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

[5) CONSENT AGENDA:]

[02:35:02]

WE WILL PULL OUT FIVE M OKAY. I'LL MAKE I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FIVE A THROUGH FIVE L AND THEN FIVE N THROUGH FIVE T HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GILANI.

I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STACEY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[5.M) County Clerk - Acknowledge the Kofile Quote No. Q-04226 to Preserve Records and perform Special Conservation Treatment for the County Clerk with a financial impact of $59,772.47, and funded from the County Clerk's Records Archive Fund;]

JENNIFER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND ME PICTURES OF ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE JUST AN ABSOLUTE MESS.

BUT THERE'S STILL SEVEN BOOKS, AND WE'RE SPENDING $60,000 TO PRESERVE SEVEN BOOKS. AND UNTIL I VOTE FOR THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. AND BECAUSE THERE ARE TRANSCRIBED RECORDS OF SOME, AT LEAST SOME, IF NOT ALL OF THESE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT, THERE'S NOT A LEAST EXPENSIVE METHOD. AND IF YOU GUYS ALL DECIDE TO OUTVOTE ME, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M JUST NOT THERE YET. I KEEP THINKING OF THIS AS IF THIS WAS MY MONEY. WHAT WOULD I DO? AND I WOULDN'T SPEND IT UNLESS I KNEW I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO.

UNLESS I HAD THE CREDITOR THERE TELLING ME, YOU BETTER PAY OR ELSE DO WE HAVE TO? DOES THE STATE ARCHIVIST. WE HAVE TO PRESERVE. WE HAVE TO PRESERVE DEED RECORDS. ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO THAT. OKAY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR SYSTEM. AND JENNIFER CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE THAN ME. BUT WHAT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TO BE REQUIRED TO PRESERVE DEED RECORDS? AND HOW DO WE PRESERVE THEM? AND IS WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE SUFFICIENT? BECAUSE AS JENNIFER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SHOW ME, WE HAVE BOOKS WHICH ARE TRANSCRIBED DEED RECORDS WHERE THEY'VE.

BACK IN THE 1880S, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BRING IN YOUR DEED AND THEY WOULD WRITE IN HAND, BEAUTIFUL CURSIVE WRITING. THIS IS THE DEED FROM JOE TO BILL AND WHATEVER. OKAY, SO WE HAVE THAT RECORD AT LEAST ON SOME, IF NOT ALL OF THESE. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DIG INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND THE FACT THAT THESE BOOKS SHOWED UP, WE'VE BEEN FUNCTIONING WELL WITHOUT THEM. AND SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST KIND OF UNTIL I IF THIS WAS MY MONEY, I WOULDN'T SPEND IT YET. SO IS THERE ANY TIMELINE, IMPENDING DEADLINES? IS THERE A SHOT CLOCK ONCE YOU'RE DELIVERED A BOOK? THE COUNTY CLERK SAID THERE ISN'T ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE. THERE'S NOT A DEADLINE. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE, THOUGH, CORRECT? WELL, THERE I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD DETERIORATE MUCH MORE. I MEAN, THEY'RE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE. AND AND THERE'S AS JENNIFER SAID, THERE'S SOME OF THEM HAVE MOLD ISSUES. I MEAN, THESE WERE APPARENTLY STORED IN A CHURCH SOMEWHERE. AND THEY WENT THROUGH AND FOUND THEM AND BROUGHT THEM IN. AND SO ANYWAY, JENNIFER, FEEL FREE TO SPEAK TO THIS. MAY I SPEAK TO THE COURT, PLEASE? THESE WERE REMOVED FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WITHOUT PERMISSION, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT'S ILLEGAL. AND THEY WERE FOUND IN A CHURCH AND THEY WERE BROUGHT TO MY OFFICE. AND THIS IS THE SECOND BATCH THAT THE CHURCH HAS RECOVERED THAT WERE ILLEGALLY REMOVED FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, WHICH IS A CRIME IN ITSELF. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT COMMISSIONER LICHTY AND I HAVE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY, WHICH IS WHY IT'S ON COURT AGAIN. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS ACT CAME INTO PLAY IN 1989, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 201003 IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE

[02:40:04]

AND THEREFORE I AGREED THAT I WOULD SERVE AS THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 203001. AND WITH THIS THIS ITEM, THESE SEVEN BOOKS ARE DETERIORATING AND THEY DO HAVE MOLD AND THEY DO NEED MOLD REMEDIATION. AND THESE ARE THE ONLY COPIES THAT I HAVE, WHICH MEANS THAT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. OTHERWISE I COULD GET CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR, A OR A FELONY. IF I DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THESE RECORDS AND MAKE THEM READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND I'M NOT WILLING TO BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE LAW. AND IT SCARES THE HECK OUT OF ME TO EVEN HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION. WELL, CERTAINLY NO ONE WANTS YOU TO BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME, NOR FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS NOT TO DO THEIR DUTY. YES, SIR. BUT WHEN YOU SAY THESE ARE THE ONLY COPIES YOU HAVE, YOU SHOWED ME OTHER BOOKS WHERE WE HAVE TRANSCRIBED RECORDS OF THESE DEEDS. THEY ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE. IN THE OLD DAYS YOU HAD A DEED BOOK AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DEED RECORD. AND SO THE DEED BOOK WAS THE TRANSCRIBED SUMMARY OF THE DEED RECORD AND THE, THE RECORDS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE CO FILE HAS, BECAUSE MY ALLERGIES CAN'T HANDLE THE, THE MOLD AND WHATEVER ELSE IS GOING ON WITH THOSE DOCUMENTS, NOT EVEN BEING IN MY OFFICE. SO OH, I FORGOT WHAT I WAS SAYING. DOES THAT HAPPEN AFTER 50 TO EVERYBODY GETS WORSE AFTER 70. YEAH. BUT YOU KNOW. THAT'S THE ONLY RECORD THAT I HAVE OF THAT SPECIFIC DEED RECORD. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELECTRONICALLY. AND SO WHEN COMMISSIONER LICHTY AND I WERE SPEAKING YESTERDAY. I DISCOVERED THAT, WOW, THIS WOULD BE SO THE LAST SET OF SEVEN, I DON'T HAVE ELECTRONICALLY EITHER. SO I WOULD NEED CO FILE TO. THAT'S A WHOLE SEPARATE THING. SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE WANT TO GO THERE. BUT THESE SEVEN BOOKS, WHAT I WOULD PREFER IS TO HAVE TWO METHODS MINIMUM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE RECORDS. SO IF THE. IF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE APPROVED WITH A NEW QUOTE PROVIDED BY CO FILE, THEN I WOULD WANT THAT QUOTE TO INCLUDE ELECTRONIC DIGITIZED ACCESS. SO IT'S ACCESSIBLE IN THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, AS WELL AS HAVING THE ACTUAL BOOK FOR THE DEED. THE DEED BOOK THAT ALSO CORRESPONDS TO THE DEED RECORD. I HAVE A QUESTION. IF WE CAN GET THE TRANSCRIPTION, DO WE NEED TO SPEND THE $59,000 SAVING THE BOOKS? IF WE CAN GET THE DATA IN A FORMAT THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO. I KNEW YOU HAD ASKED THAT QUESTION. AS I KNEW COMMISSIONER LICHTY HAD ASKED THAT QUESTION. AND SO MY PREFERENCE, MY GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR RECORDS HISTORICALLY. AND SO MY. HEART TELLS ME THAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS TO THE PUBLIC, IF OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM GOES DOWN, I HAVE TO HAVE A BACKUP, WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOKS. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO DEPEND ON ONLY A DIGITIZED RECORD. I NEED THE BOOK. AND THAT IS MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS YOUR ELECTED COUNTY CLERK.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION. YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION MULTIPLE TIMES.

59,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY. I DON'T CARE WHERE IT CAME FROM. IT'S GOING TO GO UP STILL TAXPAYER MONEY. IT'S GOING TO GO UP. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. I WISH SO SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE WANT TO SPEND MORE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH. OUT OF MY RECORDS ARCHIVE FUND, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN MY RECORDS ARCHIVE PLAN. YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S STILL TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IF WE END UP AND I COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IT, I WILL VOTE FOR IT. AND IF YOU GUYS ARE TIRED OF ME DEALING

[02:45:04]

I KNOW WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH CO FILE. WE USE THEM FOR A LOT OF STUFF. BUT IS THERE ANOTHER COMPANY? DO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE. DO WE KNOW IF THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO. AND AGAIN I'M FOR PRESERVING THE BOOKS BECAUSE I WANT TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY. I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND SO I AGREE WITH COUNTY CLERK FOGG ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I'M WILLING TO LOOK AT OTHER VENDORS IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO WELL.

AND I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIND THE SAME SOLUTION. I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIND SAME SOLUTION. AND LOOK, PRESERVING DEED RECORDS IS NOT A WANT TO. IT'S A HAVE TO. YOU GOT TO HAVE THAT STUFF. OKAY, SO I GET THAT. BUT HOW DO WE PRESERVE THEM? WHAT DO WE DO? I KNOW COMMISSIONER STACEY IS CONSTANTLY BERATING ME. HE WANTS TO GO TO A PAPER FREE SYSTEM AND. AND THAT'S HARD FOR ME TO DO. I COLLECT BOOKS, I COLLECT OLD BOOKS. I HAVE SPENT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS RESTORING BOOKS OF MY OWN. I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND I'M A BIG FAN OF HISTORY TOO. AGAIN, I JUST I'M NOT THERE YET ON THIS, SO IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE, THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF. YEP.

[6) PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS/DISPOSITIONS:   Discuss/Act on approving the following property acquisition(s) and disposition(s) of fixed assets(s):]

I'LL SECOND AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS. I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GLENNA. OKAY.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A STUMBLING BLOCK AROUND SB 22 JUST SO I CAN UPDATE THE REST OF THE COURT. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS ALREADY, BUT WE HAVE A NEW CONTROLLER IN OFFICE. THE DECISION TO RELEASE SB 22 FUNDS HAS BEEN DELAYED. OUR APPLICATIONS, BOTH ON THE WHAT I WOULD CALL THE CIVILIAN SIDE AND THE SHERIFF SIDE, WERE SUBMITTED SOMEWHERE AROUND SEPTEMBER 3RD AND FOURTH. AND WE COULD. IT COULD BE UP TO 90 DAYS BEFORE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT FUNDS WERE RECEIVING AND THEY. WHAT I HAD REPRESENTATIVE PIERSON'S OFFICE LOOK INTO THIS FOR US, AND I THANK THEM FOR GETTING US AN ANSWER, WHICH WAS.

OUR APPLICATIONS LOOK FINE. EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY. WE SHOULD BE AWARDED THE MONEY.

THERE IS NOT THE. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RISK OF NOT BEING FUNDED, BUT THEY COULD TAKE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE 90 DAY MARK TO DISBURSE FUNDS OR TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE DISBURSEMENT WILL BE 90 DAYS FROM SEPTEMBER 3RD AND FOURTH. YES, 90 DAYS THEY COULD AND HAVE. AND YEAH, THEY'RE THEY'RE YEAH, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE LONGER BECAUSE THEY'RE REVIEWING THE PROGRAM AS THEY'RE REVIEWING EVERYTHING WITH THE NEW CONTROLLER IN OFFICE TO BE EXPECTED. I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE GETTING THE FUNDS EVENTUALLY. BUT BUT SOME OF THIS IS A LITTLE PREMATURE OR IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN LIEU OF RECEIVING FUNDS. WE I DON'T WANT TO APPROVE THIS WITHOUT SAYING THAT IT'S TIED TO THAT.

SO CAN I AMEND MY MOTION AND SAY THAT ALL OF THE CARS LISTED ABOVE WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON SB 22 MONEY? SO YOU CAN AMEND YOUR MOTION RECEIPT OF, YES, THE RECEIPT OF THE SB 20 OF THE FUNDS, AND THEN IT CAN TRANSFER. YES, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO GO DOWN CARS AND THEN US BEING IN A CRISIS. RIGHT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE YOUR AMENDED MOTION. DO I GET AN AMENDED SECOND? YEAH. AMENDED SECOND. AND THEN ONE MORE DISCUSSION POINT. CAPTAIN BROWN, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? OKAY. WHERE IS CAPTAIN BROWN? THERE HE IS. OKAY. WAS THAT A

[02:50:05]

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A AMENDED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STACEY AND AN AMENDED ACCEPTED SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? REGISTER YOUR

[7) NON-EMERGENCY BUDGET TRANSFER(S):   Request approval of the following non-emergency budget transfer(s):]

[8) APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS, BILLS, CLAIMS, AND PAYROLL(S):]

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GALLINA. YOU'LL REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. PASSES 5 TO 0. I'M ALSO SUBMITTING UNPAID CLAIMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,607,604.48, AND ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY, SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULLOCH. IF YOU REGISTER YOUR VOTES, THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. I HAVE TWO SEPARATE PAYROLL REPORTS. THE PAYROLL REPORT I'M SUBMITTING FOR THE PAY PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2026, IS $1,215,450.76. AND I ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL. SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. REGISTER YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. PASSES 5 TO 0. PAYROLL REPORT NUMBER TWO FOR THE PAY PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,216,523.76.

AND I ASKED FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL. SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LICHTY. PLEASE REGISTER YOUR VOTES. THAT PASSES 5 TO 0. THAT TAKES US TO

[9) EXECUTIVE SESSION:]

DISCUSSION OF D.R. HORTON LITIGATION, MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS, ROCKWALL COUNTY, MUD NUMBER TEN SETTLEMENT DISCUSSION, IRS AUDIT LETTER, REAL PROPERTY LEASES. AND AT 1208, WE ARE IN EXE

[10) RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION:]

[11)  COMMISSIONERS COURT REPORTS:]

PLEASE GO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE. WE HAVE ALMOST 90,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THIS COUNTY, AND OUR TURNOUT, TYPICALLY FOR THESE TYPE OF ELECTIONS, HOVERS SOMEWHERE AROUND 24% OR LESS. SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT NUMBER IMPROVE. GO VOTE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER MCCLURE, I'M GOING TO WISH MY HUSBAND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

JEFF. COMMISSIONER LICHTY I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. COMMISSIONER STACEY YEAH. REAL QUICK, THE RTC IN THE MEETING LAST WEEK APPROVED THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THEY DID IT IN ORDER. NUMBER ONE IS DART. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THE RTC DOING DART

[02:55:04]