~N III N I i W r fi r 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Special Session Monday, February 22, 1999 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Courtroom Kerr County Courthouse 700 Main Street Kerrville, Texas 78028 PRESENT: FREDERICK L. HENNEKE, County Judge H. A. "BUSTER" BALDWIN, Commissioner Pct. 1 WILLIAM "BILL" WILLIAMS, Commissioner Pct. 2 JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Pct. 3 LARRY GRIFFIN, Commissioner Pct. 4 ~~,. 2 /' ,~^^, 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 I N D E X February 22, 1999 Item P-acme Commissioners Comments 9 1.1 Pay Bills 6 1.2 Budget Amendments - 1.3 Late bills - 1.4 Approve and Accept Monthly Reports 10 2.1 Center Point - Colonia Resolution 10 2.2 Seminar for County Engineer 36 2.5 Indigent Health Care report 91 2.3 Final replat - Wood Trails Ranch 56 2.6 Use of Flat Rock Lake Park - BBQ & chili cookoff 57 2.9 Final payment on postage meter - Dt. Clerk 68 2.7 Release of security pledged to Kerr County 71 2.8 Quarterly financial and investment report 72 2.9 2nd amendment to recycling drop-off center lease 75 2.10 Set date for joint meeting - discussion of Senate Bill 1 water planning process 77 2.11 Authorize survey of Flat Rock Lake Park 82 2.12 Fee schedule & operating procedures for use of Hill Country Youth Exhibition Center 85 2.13 Extension Programming update 93 2.19 Testing services by Drash Consulting Engineers 107 2.15 Additional asbestos abatement services 118 2.16 Proposed revisions of district courtrooms and District Clerk's office 122 Adjournment 131 :I NI /. II Ytl Y 3 ~'^~ f''` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 On Monday, February 22, 1999, at 9:00 o'clock a.m., a Special Session of Commissioners Court was held in the Commissioners Courtroom, Kerr County Courthouse, Kerrville, Texas, and the following proceedings were had in open court: P R O C E E D I N G S JUDGE HENNEKE: Good morning. It's 9 o'clock on Monday, February 22nd, and I'll call to order this special session of the Kerr County Commissioners Court. Mr. Letz, I believe you're responsible for the opening? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. Please stand. (Prayer and pledge of allegiance.) JUDGE HENNEKE: We sell tickets this morning? Popcorn's available in the lobby at intermission; don't anyone leave. At this time, any citizen wishing to speak on an item not listed on the regular agenda who has filled out the form may come forward at this time. Is there anyone who wishes to speak on an item which is not on the regular agenda? (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Seeing no one interested to speak, at this time, we'll have Commissioners' comments. Mr. Baldwin? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Sir, I do -- I have none, thank you. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I have none. ua. i ~ 4 /'. r--• /"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 I9 20 21 22 23 24 25 JUDGE HENNEKE: Jon? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't believe I have any, either. JUDGE HENNEKE: Larry? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Just a couple quick things. I just wanted to let the other members of the Court know that our Y2K effort is coming along very well. We now have all of the computers that are owned by the County or attached to the County at least accounted for. And we'll be going -- I will be getting with each specific office in the next several weeks to actually go through and check the compliance on each machine, but a lot of work has already been done, particularly on the mainframe here in the courthouse, and I think we're in good shape. Secondly, the -- I just wanted to say thanks to Glenn Holekamp, who is not here, and the Maintenance folks. But our -- our facility in Ingram is coming along very well, and I think we're going to have a real nice facility there, at very minimal cost. And a large part of that is due to Glenn and his folks; they've done a bang-up job and really have jumped on it. We're hoping that we can have that facility at least in operation -- if not all spruced up and finished, at least in operation by the 1st of March, and we're still shooting for that. JUDGE HENNEKE: Excellent. I'd like to take this opportunity this morning to introduce to the community YI i I i l a G /'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I1 12 ,.-. 13 ~~ 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 r __. 5 formally Mr. Kevin Stanton, who's in the back. Wave at us, Kevin. Kevin is our new Chief Juvenile Probation Officer. He's been on duty just over a week now, comes to us from Matagorda County. He's very highly recommended, very qualified. I had the fortune and misfortune of sitting at the same table with the County Judge from Matagorda County at a required Judge's conference in Lubbock the 1st of February, and he ragged me unmercifully about stealing his Juvenile Probation Officer. Now that Kevin's on board, I can see what a loss it was and how fortunate we are for him to be with us. And, Kevin, welcome. And you'll see a lot of these people, and we're expecting good things out of you. MR. STANTON: Thank you very much. JUDGE HENNEKE: Welcome to the community. MR. STANTON: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: With that, we'll move into the approval agenda. Before we take up the approval agenda, unless there's an objection, the first item of business is Item 2.1. We've had a number of people sign up to speak to that issue. It is the Judge's intent to devote no more than 30 minutes to public comment on that issue, which will be divided the best we can equally between those who are in favor of the agenda item and those who are opposed to the agenda item. If you all want to go in the hall and organize yourselves as to who wants to speak, or we'll simply take 1 4~ 11 : I: 1 W 6 ~"-- 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 them in order; that's up to you all. But, the Court does intend to devote no more than 30 minutes to public comment on that agenda item. So, with that forewarning, we'll move into the approval agenda. 1.1, pay bills. Does anyone have any questions about the bills that are presented for payment this week? COMMISSIONER LETZ: None. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I've just got a couple quick questions. The -- on page 7, there's the Wildlife Damage Management Service. I lust wondered what that is. MR. TOMLINSON: It's the -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I'm not familiar with it. MR. TOMLINSON: -- U.S. -- I think it's the Department of Agriculture's trapping service. They -- they trap -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Okay. That's the report that I saw. Okay, that clears that up. I was going through that. Okay, I just wondered what it was. But, I see how we -- you know, that's how we pay for that report that. we -- that you showed me the other day. All right. JUDGE HENNEKE: Anyone else? I have a couple questions. On page 6, we have Child Service Board expense -- graduation expense under 630. What is that? MR. TOMLINSON: I'll have to look it up. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I can tell you. It's -- the MI II 1 II y 7 ,.-.. /"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Child Service Board that this government provides funds for, it's for kids that have been removed out of homes for one reason or another and placed in other homes. Well, this government provides some monies for books and pencils, erasers and those kind of things to help kids get through that process. This particular one came -- came out of awful conditions; there wasn't very much hope, but this particular person is graduating from high school. JUDGE HENNEKE: Good. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And it's a tremendous story. I wish y'all could hear this particular one. So, that is what that is right there. It's a pretty good expense, but it's a cap and a gown and a -- those things, invitations to all six members of the family for graduation and all that. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. So, these are the funds for -- so she could enjoy the graduation which she otherwise would not be able to? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That is true. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: In my opinion, that's what government's for. JUDGE HENNEKE: Also, I have a question on page 19 about the moving IBM to a new building location -- Software Group, Inc. I wasn't aware that Adult Probation had moved. MR. TOMLINSON: That's -- these are State funds. 8 /'` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 These are -- these are for information purposes only, this list. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. MR. TOMLINSON: It's State funds that the Adult office has discretion over. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Can you tell me which computer that is that you're talking about? MR. TOMLINSON: I think -- I think actually they moved one to the Bandera location. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Oh, okay. So there's got to be -- 1,500 bucks, it's got to be a pretty substantial computer to move. I realize -- MR. TOMLINSON: They have the same system that -- AUDIENCE: Speak up. We can't hear. MR. TOMLINSON: They have the same system district-wide. They have data processing in each County district. /`~ JUDGE HENNEKE: If there are no further questions, I'd entertain a motion to pay the bills. COMMISSIONER LETZ: So moved. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin, that we pay the bills as presented. Any further discussion? ~~ 1 NI M~ I I ii 1. iw 9 ~^ r^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Does that include Indigent Health Care? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. JUDGE HENNEKE: Yes, that includes Indigent Health Care. Does anyone have any questions about Indigent Health? AUDIENCE: I can't hear. JUDGE HENNEKE: If not, all in favor, please raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. Budget amendments, Tommy? MR. TOMLINSON: I don't have any. JUDGE HENNEKE: No budget amendments. Any late bills? MR. TOMLINSON: No. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. Has everyone had a chance to review the monthly reports? If so, I'd entertain a motion to approve and accept the monthly reports. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, on late bills, as I understand, there may be a late bill coming in later from Laurinda Boyd, so we may have to take that up. That's -- she's not here, and there's a bill regarding her travel expenses; she's leaving town again. Tommy let me know that, i YI i I i N 10 .-- 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 just so you're aware. JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll take that up as is it's presented to us. JUDGE HENNEKE: Monthly reports? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I move we accept them. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Williams, that we approve and accept the monthly reports. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. We'll now move into the consideration agenda, beginning with Item 2.1, consider and discuss resolution officially declaring the City of Center Point a colonia, in accordance with definition promulgated by U.S.D.A. Rural Utility Services. Commissioner Williams. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: This is a reintroduction of the resolution that we had put on the agenda four weeks ago and had tabled at the request of some who wished to have additional time to examine the issue -- of people from Center Point who wished to examine the issue further, and so it is being reintroduced today for consideration. I IIl R. I I II ~ 11 /"~, /^, ,~^'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 JUDGE HENNEKE: All right. We've had a number of individuals sign up, most of whom have indicated that they wish to speak for the resolution. Again, we'll devote a maximum of 30 minutes to public comment, and what I'm going to do is simply to call out these names in the order in which they've been presented to me, and ask you to limit your comments to three minutes. We don't have a good timing system yet, but I will mention to you at about two minutes that you have one minute left. The first person who signed up to speak on this item is Amos Smith. Mr. Smith, do you wish to come forward and speak? MR. SMITH: Well, I ain't got much to -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Come up to -- MR. SMITH: -- much that I can say about it. JUDGE HENNEKE: Would you come to the podium, sir? MR. SMITH: I have to go over there? I ain't much of a speaker, but I'd like to say that I've been on this board and -- not on this board, but on the Water Board before, for 15 or 16 years, trying to get this one thing done, and I didn't have any success. And I hope today that fellows at our community will take advantage of this opportunity to go ahead and -- and serve our community. We need prosperity. We need the community to build up, and we got some good people down there and we need to take care of them. And I want to thank each and every one that's come ~. I RI1 ~ I. 16 IIY F 12 /mow /`, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 here today to participate in this meeting. Robert Mosty here, I was on the board with him for a good many years. We worked hard on this same proposition, and we didn't get nowhere. But I hope, today, that we will. And we thank you for listening. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, Mr. Smith. Mr. Gallimore, your request does not indicate a pro or a con. Do you wish do speak against or in favor? MR. GALINDO: Actually, I will support the program, so it's for. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. All right, Mr. Nibblett. C.J. Nibblett? MR. NIBBLETT: I didn't wish to speak, I'm sorry. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Nibblett, for coming in this morning. H. H. Harvey? MR. HARVEY: My name is H. H. Harvey. I live at 106 Skyline, Center Point. First, I would like to thank the Commissioners for the extra time they've given us to review this matter. If it be the Commissioners' desire, let's approve Center Point or certain areas of Center Point as a colonic, but, please, let us do several things before we take the big step. The City of Center Point must obtain proper control over the water and sewer systems. They must have all the necessary permits from the T.N.R.C.C., U.G.R.A., Headwaters, et cetera, which at this time the City has none ,~^`, u~ i ~ 13 /" /'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 22 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 of the necessary permits. B. The City must complete their condemnation process against all parties involved; AquaSource, Wiedenfeld Water, et cetera. To this date, none of this has been accomplished. The grant should be set up so that U.G.R.A., Headwaters, or the water district who set the standards for the County will monitor this operation, and if a failure occurs or a breakdown, one of the organizations could take over the operation and complete it. If designated as a colonia and the grant application fails to materialize, then how do we do away with the designation of a colonia, since it's publicized in the State records, federal records, and on the internet? To my knowledge, once a colonia, always a colonia. Mr. Brown recently gave us a -- a little report on colonias, water and one thing or another, and how this would affect our area. And, as he was giving his speech, he says a colonia -- well, he says, "Only you know about it, and then anybody that you want to tell about it." And, then he said, "Oops, wait a minute." He said, "That map I passed out to you shows the state of Texas; it shows every grant that's been given under the colonia program." And even though those grants are fulfilled, there's still -- and he said, "By the way, I got that off the internet." So, the whole world knows that Center Point is a colonia. The whole world. -r--- ---__ ,~ --- u{i I I Lil 1 i 14 ,rte. ~^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 Four, that the areas in Center Point that qualify as a colonic be designated as such, and not whole town. As Mr. Crabtree of the U.S.D.A. stated, the whole city does not qualify as a colonic. In summation, remember, I and everyone want Center Point to have water and sewer as much as anybody. Really, what are the chances that Center Point will receive approximately 70 percent of all the funds designated for the entire state of Texas? That's what we're talking about in this grant. If I were a banker and a man came to me and borrowed -- to borrow or ask for a gift of $4.4 million to start up a water and sewer company, the first question the banker would ask is, Do you have your operating permits? Do you have authorization to operate in the area? And if the man said no, I would say, Come back later when you have the the permits and you have the authorization. Does the end justify the means? Overall, this reminds me of a farmer who had a chicken-killing dog. So, the farmer took one of the dead chickens that that dog had killed and put it in a sack and tied it around the dogs' neck, and after a few days, the chicken began to smell. And this was done hoping that the dog would never kill chickens again. And after having been around that smell of that dead chicken, the dog probably never chased chickens again. Until the proper groundwork has been accomplished by the City of Center Point, please don't tie a sack around the ~^'~ ;. ~ ~ ,~ 15 /•, /^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 I7 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 necks of the citizens of Center Point, with the word "colonia" in the sack. If the grant is granted or not, the smell of colonia will be with us forever. Those projects on that map were completed seven and eight years ago. They're still on the map, designated as a colonia. JUDGE HENNEKE: Wind it up, Mr. Harvey. MR. HARVEY: I sincerely thank each and every one of the Commissioners for the time that they've given us in this matter, and that's all I've got to say. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Charles Young? ~ MR. CHARLES YOUNG: Thank you, Judge. I won't take but just a minute. Y'all know what my feelings are on this subject. The only odor in Center Point that you'll, smell right now is sewage coming from some areas. I know some people have written letters in the newspapers saying they've driven all over town and haven't smelled that odor. I'd suggest that they roll their windows down, shut the air-conditioners off, and drive very slow. They will smell it. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Doris Young? MS. YOUNG: I'm Doris Young. I'm a citizen of Center Point. I just want to say there's -- we want sewerage. We want water in Center Point. And I'm not the only one that feels that way. I have lived next door to a colonia. I have seen it go from shacks to nice houses as a' i m ; 16 ~"~ r"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 they worked hard and made -- got into business and did different things, and they improved their lots. And this colonia helped get our road -- we lived out in the country -- but our road paved, and it helped get sewerage for that area, and I'm all for it. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. M. L. Young? MR. M. L. YOUNG: I don't want to speak. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay, thank you. Beverly Anderson? MS. ANDERSON: I'm Beverly Anderson, and my husband and I, Ray Anderson, own the Elmwood Mobile Home Park in Center Point. I've been a broker -- Texas real estate broker since 1975. I know what designations of colonia do for an area. I also know what salability of properties do for an area. I lived in E1 Paso, Texas, most of my life, and there are many colonias in E1 Paso, Texas, that have changed from colonias into nice sections of town, but this only happens when you have two things: water and sewerage. You cannot improve any property, for sale or otherwise, without those two items. Whenever you go to sell a piece of property in Center Point right now, most of the properties that are there do not have sufficient ground to be able to put in a -- an authorized septic system at this point. So, if anything happens to the people who are living in these homes that are there at this point, the septic systems are substandard; they ~"` ' I GI <' I It ~ f 17 /`~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 can't sell their homes. Those homes, when they try -- or if -- if, for any reason, the property names change, these properties are condemned; they can't even be lived in. Now, I don't know what a designation of a colonia means to Mr. Harvey, but to me, I'll take colonia any day if it means improvement. And improvement is what the citizens of Center Point need, considering their properties are not salable at this point. Properties, and even businesses -- our business, because of lack of room, cannot further develop. It is a very, very important thing for Center Point to have a central system of sewer and water. It is almost impossible to expect the city to get away from the designation of being a country town and not necessarily the best town in Kerr County, although I was told that -- when we bought here in '91, that Center Point wasn't really where we wanted to go. And let me tell you what, Center Point is exactly where I wanted to be. And, I fully, fully believe that Center Point has an awful big opportunity to grow and make Kerr County proud, but the only way it can do that is with a central sewer and water system. And this grant being postponed at any given time would only make our opportunity of getting this grant less. The sooner we get it in, the better we'll do it, and so I feel that any indication on this Commissioners Court that we should be granted a colonia is in the best interest of Kerr 1 U!Q' 1 I Ii 1 I 18 ~'"~ ,-", 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 County and Center Point. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Robert Mosty. Do you wish to speak, Mr. Mosty? MR. MOSTY: I'm Robert Mosty, Center Point. I don't have time to give everything that I would like to, to try to get this through Center Point one point at a time to get sewer and water and incorporate the city. And, I have information from Comfort sewer and water district, which I won't have time to give now. But, anyway, they -- they're in good shape now. And I have this editorial, which I gave the Commissioner and the Judge and the secretary, and then I have some extra if anybody wants it. But, the fact of doing away with Center Point as a town is absolutely not -- no good at all. That's the only thing, they got to do everything. One thing is to -- if we don't have it designated as a city, the City of Center Point, Kerrville can move right on in and people will be paying Kerrville taxes and not -- that is called -- they call it disincorporation. Now, that's what they want to do. If we don't have that, we have no control over Kerrville moving in and -- in effect, and not giving any service, but just have their certain area. Now, that's important, but the most important thing is the City of Center Point area has no good, clean water they can dig a well from. Now, these wells have all been there I Yl 4' I I I L .p 4 19 ~`^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 many, many years, and most of them just have a -- what they call the bedrock. That's about 40 feet, more or less, depending on the elevation. And the only way they can get water is from a source like, maybe, the Guadalupe River. Now, without this incorporation, they can't get it. Center Point won't have it. They don't -- none of them are going to deal with this. Center Point has to keep that incorporation. It's the only way they can -- in fact, they have a -- there's a sign coming into Center Point; it says, "Disincorporate," and it talks about paying lawyers. Well, now, the -- these present Commissioners have to have lawyers to get that done and keep this AquaSource from trying to get hold of -- and these people want to do away with that. That means there'd be nobody -- nobody to get the people to have this -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Mr. Mosty, I hate to interrupt you, sir, but we're talking about the water and wastewater resolution, not the disincorporation-incorporation issue. And I know they're somewhat tied together, but if you could limit your comments to the water and wastewater resolution, we can move along a little quicker, please, sir. MR. MOSTY: Well, it is tied in directly. JUDGE HENNEKE: I understand that. MR. MOSTY: Without incorporation, they can't get the sewer and water. JUDGE HENNEKE: I understand. ---~- -- 20 ~'` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. MOSTY: Is the point I'm trying to bring. If there's any question on that -- well, anyway, if the city is not incorporated, there's no chance of getting this sewer and water, is what I'm trying to say. Is that out of line? JUDGE HENNEKE: No, that's fine. We appreciate it. Thank you, sir. MR. MOSTY: Okay. And also, that fact -- I never did get to finish telling about that sign in Center Point that tells you -- paying lawyers. Now, the -- the Commissioners have to have lawyers, whether we like it or not, in order to get that done, to help Center Point on the sewer and water. JUDGE HENNEKE: That's true. Mr. Garrett? Al Garrett. MR. GARRETT: Honorable Judge and Commissioners, I thank you for the opportunity to come here today to express my opinion on this question of colonia. Without much to-do, I would say that the whole thing centers on the health of our people, beginning at the school, our public school. The -- without an adequate water supply and without an adequate sewer system, our children will continue playing on top of the septic system, as they're doing now. All of the elderly people, the families with children who live in the town of Center Point, are being serviced by old, played-out septic systems, for the most part. This grant that we're talking 1 pl M' I 1 9 V 21 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 about that could be obtained as a result of being declared a colonic will very adequately take care of that. And, no, I don't know about all the details on the thing, but this is the first opportunity we've had in many, many years. I've been here 21 -- about 21 years, and this the first opportunity we've had to reach out and get something that will be of benefit to all the people there in the city. And, I certainly hope that the Court will go along and declare Center Point as a colonic. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Mary Garrett? MS. GARRETT: No. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, ma'am. Wanda Flynn? MS. FLYNN: I don't wish to speak. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Jo Anne Cagle? MS. CAGLE: Good morning, Commissioners and Judge Henneke. My name is Jo Anne Cagle. I was raised in Center Point, and I have come back to reside there permanently. And Center Point was a booming town at one time, but then it incorporated in 1913, but it was not followed through. The designation of a colonic will help Center Point. There axe collapsed septic systems in Center Point. There are three within smelling distance of my home, and I would be happy to show anyone the collapsed -- six collapsed systems in Center Point. We need this to benefit all of the people of Center Point, the school system, and the businesses. I IIIY i I Li N 6 22 ~. 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 What happened to Center Point, it dried up, and so it has been a colonia for at least 45, 50 years. So, why not designate it as a colonia? A colonia is not a stigma. If we get the grant and we get the water and sewerage, there will be more homes built in Center Point. There has not been a new home built in Center Point since '87. None of the homes can be sold because of the sewage system. We need a central sewage system to help everyone. The only hope for Center Point is a city government with a water system and a wastewater system. We do need this, and we please ask you to consider this and declare us a colonia so that we can get Center Point on line and in progress. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Ezell Lackey? MS. LACKEY: First, I want to thank you good people for standing in prayer to get this thing going. That's wonderful. We need that in our little meetings, too, at Center Point. Thank you very much for that. I'm Ezell Lackey. I've lived in Center Point and around town for 70 years, or almost 70. I've been a real estate broker for 40 years. I know that town and all the surrounding community like I know the back of my hand. I'm very familiar with the town, and I'm familiar with the septic tanks and the real estate problems in our town. It's like others have already said, that you can't sell a house because of the condition of the septic tanks. This M14 I I 1 rY ~ 23 /" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 is true. I won't add anything to theirs to take aware from what they've said, but there's nothing we can do until we are, in my opinion, considered a colonia town. We already are; all we need's the name. If y'all will give us the name, we can go on. We can get our grants that we need to get all this going. And we need to bury our pride and take advantage of this help that -- we should appreciate it enough to take advantage of what we're being offered, the help to fix our town up. I know for a fact that some of those septic tanks were there back in the 1920's, before I moved into Center Point. I know that through real estate. I know one place -- one house that has boards lying across it that are not nailed down. If a child would run across it, the boards could slip one way or the other. You don't have to know where the septic tank is located at that. Sniff a little; you'll find it. It's ridiculous. It's a shame. And while we're in a condition where we can get these grants, we lust pray and beg you people to please see that we are considered a colonia town. And, in a few years that name's going to be gone. Center Point will start growing when we get all this. We can clean up, and we won't be that way any more. And if you don't help us, we'll always be a colonia town. Thank you. And I just pray that you'll help us. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Mr. Gallimore? r"'` n r i i.. ^ 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. GALLIMORE: My name is Charles Gallimore. I'm a citizen of Center Point. I very much appreciate the Court's delay in making its decision on Center Point's colonia status to give us time to learn more about the program. Thank you for this opportunity. I used the time you gave us to contact officials at the U.S.D.A. and U.G.R.A. and bankers, appraisers, and real estate people who have knowledge of the program. I find discrepancies between several statements made by Mr. Littlefield and Mr. Crabtree of the U.S.D.A. For example, Mr. Crabtree has informed me that we -- if we are successful in obtaining funds under this program, it is unlikely that we'd be at the 100 percent level; some form of sharing would likely take place, with citizens expected to relieve a debt incurred through the sale of bonds. This is not necessarily a bad thing. We should bear the cost with any appropriate assistance we can find for our own treatment system. A request for 70 percent of the funds annually allocated to the state does appear to be dust a mite ambitious. However, it is in the presentation to the citizens that I find the most fault. We deserve to hear all aspects of the proposal, both the up and down sides, before final decisions which affect our daily lives and our pocketbooks are made. This is not the responsibility of our Commissioners -- r-- --r- ---- I Rli I II i 25 r 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Court, of course, but of the elected officials of Center Point. Citizens who have been left out of the loop must exercise their rights at the earliest opportunity to elect more responsive officials. While there are unresolved issues for me, I do not object to making formal application for the -- for this program for Center Point, as I have no knowledge of any other likely to produce significant funding for handling our wastewater. Again, I thank you for your time. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, sir. That concludes the public comments. MR. PRICE: Sir, is there any possibility of anyone else getting on the list? I just got here. JUDGE HENNEKE: Come forward. MR. PRICE: My name is Tom Price. I'm pastor of the United Methodist Church in Center Point. I want to thank you for all that you do for all of the county, for Center Point and all of the centers -- all of the communities. I am speaking as a citizen and as the pastor, but I do not have -- -- I am not speaking officially fox my congregation, though I know that most of my congregation is for the water and sewer proposal. The ministers of Center Point are meeting because we are very concerned about the divisiveness that has grown up in this -- this wonderful community and the wonderful people who are on both sides of this issue. And it's tearing our city -- our community apart. I WIW I 1; p 6 26 /'"` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I see this as an opportunity for us to come together. I hear both sides saying that this would be a good thing, to have water and sewer for -- for everyone concerned. There's always going to be disagreements and there's always going to be egos and there's always going to be bruised feelings, but in the long run, if we will look to what's going to happen to our children and our friends and our neighbors, the people who come after us, if we can lay a foundation that we've tried to lay in the past -- we heard Amos Smith and how, 25 years ago, they tried to get this done, and it wasn't done. And we see how the -- the community has slowly deteriorated, physically, financially. We have an opportunity here to turn this around, and it will not only benefit Center Point, but the surrounding area, Kerrville, and the whole county. If we rise -- or if you pull us up, help pull us up, it will benefit everyone. I have some real concerns. I do not know all of the facts. The -- the papers have tended to focus in on the divisions and -- and that's what sells newspapers. But, we need a deep background from people who know all of the facts, and it needs to be presented to the community in a way that is not super-charged with emotion, so that truths, half-truths, and untruths don't totally muddy the situation. Mr. Harvey, I appreciate your story about the chicken. MR. HARVEY: Thank you. - _ ~r_ , I NtP I I. ~.: ':.y 4 27 I"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 la 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. PRICE: But, you know, a skunk still smells like a skunk, even if you call it a rose. MR. HARVEY: That's right. MR. PRICE: We've - we've got some problems that need to be addressed. I had begun my ministry in Montana, the headwaters of the Missouri River. And, that's close to Anaconda Copper. Anaconda Copper is the largest copper conglomerate in the world. The largest open-pit copper company -- open-pit mine is in Anaconda. One of my members went to New York and was at a cocktail party. You didn't know that Methodists went to cocktail parties, did you? Well -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We'll pray for you. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: They do, but they don't drink, right? MR. PRICE: That's right, we don't inhale. We just slosh it in our mouth and spit it out. He came back and told me that he met a high official on the Board of Directors of Anaconda Copper at this -- at this party. And, he was bragging on what an asset Anaconda Copper was to Montana and the community, how much money it brought and work and this and that. And, the man kind of smiled and nodded his head. He said, "We are so blessed to have Anaconda Copper." The man said, "Well, it's good to know that we've been raping you for years and that you don't know it." ,r-'. uu i . 28 ~^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 It's -- what he was saying is that if we let outside interests get control of our most valuable resource, which now is no longer oil, but is water, if it gets to New Jersey or New York, if it even gets to Dallas, if it leaves the control of our people here, we will never get it back. I see this as a way of keeping it here in our community under the control of the people. If we get this money, the City will have the money to pay full value for the wells that they are condemning. And that's the American way, for a business person to get the most reasonable investment back that they have put in. The City right now can't afford it, but if we get this, we can afford to pay the asking price. We can't get in a bidding war with these big companies; they'll beat us every time. They've got more money and more resources than all of our County does, not to say anything about the City of Center Point. My prayer is that we will come together as a community, rather than being split apart by this. I thank you for your time. I have this letter which I condensed for all of you. I will separate them out and give them to you, but that's the essence of what I have said here. Thank you very much, gentlemen -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. MR. PRICE: -- for your time. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, with your permission I 1 III Y~ I. I- II, i~ ~ 4 29 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ~ 13 r 14 ~"` 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I`d like to direct a question to one -- I see two members of the -- oh, the mayor's here, too; Mayor Shults is here. Mr. Hesseltine and Mrs. Townsend are here. I'd like to direct a ~ question to any member of the governing body of Center Point who chooses to respond. Has there been any action over the last 30 days by the governing body of the City of Center Point that changes your request before Commissioners Court? There has not been; Mayor Shults nodded her head. Before offering a motion, Judge, I'd just like to make one comment. This is an opportunity, I think, and opportunities -- we quite often miss opportunities and then later regret them. I would just like to make the record aware and the people here aware that, in addition to whatever number of colonias there may be on the border of the great state of Texas and in other areas of the United States, there are other examples of communities seizing an opportunity in Texas. In Kinney County, for example, the city of Brackettville, which is not on the border, has seized this opportunity. In Edwards County, the city of Rock Springs has seized this opportunity. In Coryell County, the city of Gatesville has seized this opportunity. In Uvalde County, a little closer to home, the city of Utopia has seized this opportunity. Having said that, Judge, I'd like to offer the resolution for adoption. You want to read it or you want me to read it? pl Y 'I 1 1 • M 30 /'` r- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 JUDGE HENNEKE: Go ahead. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: "Whereas, the City of Center Point, Texas, located in Kerr County, existed before October 1, 1989; and whereas, the community of Center Point lacks an adequate potable water supply system and an adequate sewage system; and whereas, the community of Center Point in many areas has substandard housing, roads, and drainage; Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Commissioners Court of Kerr County that, according to the official definition of a colonia, as given by the U.S.D.A. Rural Utility Services, the community of Center Point is hereby officially declared to be a colonia community," as of whatever action is taken this day. I offer that as a motion. JUDGE HENNEKE: Do I have a second? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Griffin, that we adopt the resolution. Is there any further discussion? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have some questions. I guess -- I presume there's no member from the U.S.D.A. here? Mr. Crabtree, is he here? He's probably the only one that can answer these. He's not. My question, I guess, is what are we -- where, geographically, are we making the designation -- it says "the community," and is this the city limits of Center Point? Is this going 10 miles outside? I'm just -- I I III G I I I i 4 31 f^'~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 don't know what we're declaring here. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Commissioner Hesseltine can be more specific. MR. HESSELTINE: Commissioner Letz, that designation is for -- excuse me. That designation is for the city of Center Point in the city limits and its E.T.J. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Is that the reason that the word "community" is used, because -- MR. HESSELTINE: Yes. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: -- it does include the E.T.J. as well as the city? MR. HESSELTINE: There are some areas that we can serve outside the city limits. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Thank you. Commissioner Williams, I think it would be better, in my mind, to say what we're talking about. I mean, just because "the community" doesn't say the geographic boundary, and the E.T.J. is very definable by statute, anyway. That's just a comment I want to toss out. The only -- I have no problem with the designation; I don't think there's really a stigma that goes with the designation of colonia. I think that, from what Jim Brown told me, I believe Harper is also a colonia. So, I mean, there's certainly -- the areas -- I don't think anything negative comes with the term. I'm just concerned about the operation of it, more than the terminology. The r I GI N I I I .,.. p 32 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 la 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 grant -- you know, if we make the designation, I presume the City's going forward a with a grant application? MR. HESSELTINE: Yes. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Who is going to be named to operate the facility or the plant? Who's going -- who's doing all this? I mean, one, I guess, currently, Center Point does not have a public works department or utility department; and, two, there is a -- a movement, I guess, in the community to dissolve the city government. In either -- in both instances, what happens to the grant application, or what are the plans for the community, you know, down the road? MR. HESSELTINE: The grant application, as far as the -- the disincorporation of the city, is what you're referring to? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, there's that, and there's also -- I mean, how does the City plan to implement this grant? They don't have any infrastructure to do it. The grant's not going to pay for that, I wouldn't think. MR. HESSELTINE: The -- JUDGE HENNEKE: The grant pays for everything. MR. HESSELTINE: Everything. COMMISSIONER LETZ: But not administrative offices of a whole department for the -- JUDGE HENNEKE: No, but it pays for the t '` 1. 1 IIIp I. I I, ~„ p 4 33 ~^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 infrastructure. MR. HESSELTINE: And, also, you have to realize that all of the -- the construction of that is done with contractors. Once the construction is -- is terminated and it's completed, then the operation of the plant -- and I am told this -- is maybe two, three, at the utmost, four personnel to operate the plant. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: You could do that under contract, however? MR. HESSELTINE: We can do that under contract. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Getting to the heart of what Commissioner Letz' question is, you could, under contract with some agency or other -- even private enterprise -- MR. HESSELTINE: That's true. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- that knows how to run a sewer plant, you could contract for the work to be done? MR. HESSELTINE: That's true. That's correct. COMMISSIONER LETZ: The -- I guess my concern is -- is this lack of how it's going to happen. I mean, assuming everything is -- the designation comes forward and the -- you know, I think the designation likely will happen today, but then where you go from there is where my concern is, and so this doesn't just, you know, stop. I mean, there needs to be something set up in the City and I guess y'all will have to 16 {'' I. LII ~ n. 34 r. ,~-~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 work this out yourself in Center Point in the City government. But, just because you apply for the grant doesn't mean anything's changed. MR. HESSELTINE: That's true. COMMISSIONER LETZ: There's a tremendous amount that's got to be done to, you know, set up a government -- you have to start taxing at a fairly high rate for the area to help pay for some of these things in the city. MR. HESSELTINE: No. COMMISSIONER LETZ: You say no. Someone's going to have to pay for these things coming down the road. The City of Center Point does not have any work -- the County has done everything down there up until recent times. You know, there's roads, there's all kind of things the City of Center Point's going to have to start taking on. This is another part of that function, from law enforcement to animal control on down the road. So, I don't want to lecture on that, but there's a lot to this, and I'm hearing everyone almost sounding like this is going to solve the problems. Well, this is just the beginning. MR. HESSELTINE: That's true. I agree with you that it's just the beginning, but this is particularly a -- a subject that is related to only sewer. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. MR. HESSELTINE: There are other -- other avenues _.--ter.- r ~rrr- uu i a w 35 r^` ~~'` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 that we can take in the future on all this stuff that you're talking about -- referring to. COMMISSIONER LETZ: And -- well, I'll leave it at that. I wish -- I mean, I would hope that you would consider changing the motion to say the city limits and the E.T.J.; I think that's more explicit. Because if you start calling it community, I mean, that could go all the way to Comfort, which is not incorporated either. It doesn't really define it, I don't think. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I personally don't have a problem identifying it as the City of Center Point and its E.T.J. Is that -- MR. HESSELTINE: That's fine with me. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No problem with you? MR. HESSELTINE: I have no problem with that, because that's what Mr. Crabtree looked at when he was here. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I would -- I would agree to amending the resolution to say "the incorporated limits of the City of Center Point and its E.T.J." COMMISSIONER LETZ: One last comment on this. You know, there's no -- since there's no guarantee of this, I hope the city government continues to look for other grants and other avenues as well, and apply for other grants at the same time. MR. HESSELTINE: We just had a public hearing to 36 /"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 apply for another grant through the Texas Community Development Program. COMMISSIONER LETZ: No more comments, Judge. JUDGE HENNEKE: Anyone else? If not, all in favor of adopting the resolution as amended, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. The Court wants to thank all of you for coming and filling our courtroom today. Next time we'll sell tickets. (Discussion off the record.) JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll now take up agenda item 2.2, consider seminar for County Engineer and transfer of funds to pay for same. Mr. Johnston? Good morning, Mr. Johnston. MR. JOHNSTON: With regard to Item 2, I've learned a lot in the last eight years about subdivisions by working with land developers in the subdivision process and serving on the subdivision committee rewriting the existing Kerr County subdivision rules. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Just a second, Franklin. Excuse me, Mountain Sun, y'all interview outside. JUDGE HENNEKE: Mary Elizabeth, you may not conduct interviews in the courtroom here. MS. DAVIS: I'm sorry? --- ~ Tr 37 r"~ ~'. 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 I6 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 JUDGE HENNEKE: You may not conduct interviews in the courtroom. We're trying to do business up here, okay? Sorry, Franklin. MR. JOHNSTON: However, there is nothing so constant as change. For example, this month, the the City of Kerrville set a new precedent by partnering with H.M.B. Partners on Commanche Trace subdivision. Partnering encourages all stakeholders in a project to work together, share interests and goals, and deliver a quality product using preplanning and open dialogue. This results in a win-win situation. I've run across the item I have on the agenda. It's -- the American Society of Civil Engineers has a seminar on Residential Land Development practices, and I think that I can learn something good from it. However, we don't have the funds for seminars as such in our budget, and I'd like to transfer money from Engineering to the Seminar line item to attend this seminar. JUDGE HENNEKE: Questions, comments? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Franklin, you're requesting to transfer $745 from somewhere to somewhere? MR. JOHNSTON: Right. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And then on page Z here, it looks like -- MR. JOHNSTON: Travel and stuff. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm having a hard time ur i • r 38 .~`~ ~^ ~^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 reading this, but the $745 is just a fee to get you in the door? MR. JOHNSTON: That's the seminar fee, and then there's travel. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And then your notes -- you're asking for $745 plus expenses. I mean, is that $28.95 or is that $1,900, or how much are expenses? MR. JOHNSTON: There's -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We need to get specific about it. MR. JOHNSTON: There are several locations that that seminar is -- we plan on just trying to find the most economical one to attend. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That was going to be my question. Where do you plan to attend it7 MR. JOHNSTON: We haven't made any calls or anything yet. It would hopefully be the one -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: You mean you're not planning to go to Las Vegas? MR. JOHNSTON: No, I don't think we'd make that one. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I want to get a little specific with that line of questions. MR. JOHNSTON: I think there's one in Denver, one in Atlanta. 39 ~^_ /^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Isn't there one in Texas anywhere? r"` MR. JOHNSTON: Not this year. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Denver would probably be the closest. MR. JOHNSTON: Probably. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: When you say "expenses," it's the travel expenses that go with it, air fare? MR. JOHNSTON: Travel, right, yeah. One night. COMMISSIONER LETZ: My comments are that I don't really have any problem with -- you probably should go to some of these seminars. I think it should be budgeted, though, and I think the cost of this one's a little high. I think it needs to be budgeted and planned. We have another item on the agenda which will use up some of that engineering/right-of-way/surveying fund, I hope. And, I think that there are other areas that are more important under this year's budget than your training right now. That's an unbudgeted item. If you put it in the budget for next year, I certainly would encourage that. I think it's a good idea; you need to do it. I think we need to plan for it in advance. MR. JOHNSTON: That's fine. In the next budget. JUDGE HENNEKE: Anyone else? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll go along with -- what . a i ~: m 40 /'` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 is your name? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I forget sometimes. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- my colleague in the eastern end of the county's comments. I think it's wise to budget those things, although I'm definitely in support of you going and getting that kind of training, because we're the ones that have encouraged you to look into that and do ', those things for us. MR. JOHNSTON: It's hard to foresee, you know, that far ahead in the -- they don't push these seminars that far ahead. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, if you ask for $500 or something like that in the budget, which is, I think, a reasonable amount for any department head to budget for something like this, and then if it's a little bit over or a little bit under, it can be modified during the year. But I think it should be at least planned. But I think it's a good idea to go to some of these. MR. JOHNSTON: I'll talk to you about it. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Is there also, in the short-term -- and I support everything said; I think it's a great idea that you go do this. In the short-term, are there any similar things done by the Engineering Extension Service or some of the local -- more local in-Texas kind of -- of organizations? I know there are are a whole bunch of - --~-- -- d9 I I 11 4 41 ~' f,.,_, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 economic development corporations that I've worked with in the old days, and we may want to look at some of those, as well. MR. JOHNSTON: I just haven't run across any of those other areas, but there may might be some. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Maybe we can do some search on that, but -- but get it in next year's budget, and I think we all would probably be in favor of it, or a majority of us. MR. JOHNSTON: Okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: All right. At this time, we're going to, with the indulgence of the Court, go to Item 2.5, information regarding Indigent Health Care. And I will inform everyone that at the conclusion of this presentation, we'll probably take a 10-minute recess. Mr. Baldwin? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yes, sir. I put this on the agenda for a couple of reasons, one being that Indigent Health Care is sometimes a misunderstood animal, and there's always -- seems like there's always questions at this table every month in regard to Indigent Health Care. And I know that maybe since -- I just can't remember, since the last time we had a visit about it, if the Legislature has met or not, so there may be some updates, even for some of us that have looked at it pretty closely through the years. So, I invited Kerr County's representative over at Peterson Hospital to come over. Her name is Raquel Collazo, and I've ... 17 ~ I I i '~ 4 92 /'~ r^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 asked her to come over to make a short presentation and just kind of bring us all up, and some information on Indigent Health Care and how it works. And -- Mrs. Lopez? MS. LOPEZ: Yes. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And Beverly Lopez, the Regional Director. And I think Ms. Lopez is from San Antonio. You've been here before. MS. LOPEZ: I would think it's been a couple of years. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I remember you. So, I've asked those two to come here, and they've been kind enough to come over and give us a presentation. And I thank you very much for doing that. MS. COLLAZO: Let me give y'aIl just a little -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Little more? MS. COLLAZO: A little more for y'all to look at and when it started and so on. My name is Raquel Collazo. I am the Coordinator of the Indigent Health Care program here in Kerr County. Now, this program started because the bigger counties were servicing people from other counties, the smaller counties, and were not being reimbursed for services they were providing. A special legislation -- session of the Legislation met in 1985, and they signed this program, the Indigent Health Care Act. And this indigent Health Caze i program started in 1986, so it's been in existence since I~, u i. 43 t^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1986. The program hasn't changed much over the years. The income guideline was $75, when it started, a month. A person has to be making $75 a month to qualify for indigent health care, and currently it's at $78 a month. The same with resources, and it was $1,000 a month. And -- I'm sorry, $1,000, period, you have to have in bank accounts, property, cars. Anything like that, we count as a resource. Currently, it's at $2,000, unless you have an elderly or disabled relative living with you; then it would be $3,000. What a client has to do to apply for Indigent Health Care, they have to come into the Indigent Health Care office or call the Indigent Health Care office and request an application. We set up an appointment and we provide the application. They come into the office at the scheduled time and we discuss the application. The things we discuss mainly is the residency, where they live; they have to be a Kerr County resident. We discuss their income, where they're employed, who's giving them money, how they are living, how they are meeting their expenses. We discuss resources, any cars, bank accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, land, pieces of property they might have. Those are considered resources. And, like I said, they have to have less than $2,000. When they're in the indigent Health Care office, we also discuss other possibilities, other programs they might lY Li. Y 94 r"'- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 qualify for, such as Medicaid, Social Security Disability, anything else that could pay for their medical services. And if they might qualify for any of those services, like Medicaid or Disability, we send them to those offices before qualifying them for Indigent Health Care. We put the application on hold until they bring me a denial from Medicaid or Social Security. And if they have been denied by Social Security, we continue with the application. They have to turn in all the requested information, like paycheck stubs, bank statements, auto registration, anything like that, within 19 days. If they don't turn in this information within the 14 days, they are denied from the program -- or their application is denied. If they turn in all their information within the 19 days and everything is -- that is required, I make the phone calls. I call the people that help them with their bills; sometimes I call Texas Workforce to see if they are working there. I sometimes I call the courthouse to see if they have a car or a truck registered under their name, and that is how I verify that information. Let me see. I understand you have an application there with you? This is the application that is handed out to the client. And on the front it talks about what some of the responsibilities are, what some of the client responsibility is as far as reporting income and resources, and bringing in the information to us in the Indigent Health Care office. It II I I Ii 1 95 /^. ,~'` r 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 talks about some of the services that are covered and some of the services that are not covered. I'm looking at the front sheet. I don't know if you have the front sheet, the very first one. On the second page, it talks about the things that they will need to bring with them to the appointment. Paycheck stubs, resources, income tax statements, anything like that that they need to bring. They have to have the application filled out with them. The Authorization to Furnish Information, this page is usually what I use to get the information from the courthouse or from Texas Workforce so they -- they can release this information to me. Without this, of course, they won`t give me the information. The last page is what I use to verify the county, that they live here in Kerr County. A neighbor can fill this out, a friend can fill this out. Just as long as that is not a relative or a friend -- or someone that lives with them, they can fill that out. After they've turned everything in to me and I've checked everything out and they do qualify for Indigent Health Care, I send them a paper, a form saying that they have qualified for Indigent Health Care, along with a red card. And the red card gives them their eligibility, their time, usually three, four, five, depending on what they need. It cannot be more than six months, though. It also gives them the pharmacy that they're to use. It's usually 46 /'` ~"`` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Ackman or Eckerd; that's who we have our accounts with. When they have the Indigent Health Care card, when they are eligible for the Indigent Health Care, they have to report any changes of income or address, resources, anything like that to the office within 14 days of the change. If that does not happen, they become ineligible for the program if the change is not reported. The bills -- the bills have to come in through my office. When they go see a doctor, when they go to the hospital, anything like that, those bills come into the Indigent Health Care office. I look to make sure that those bills have been submitted to the Indigent Health Care office within 95 days of the date of service, and that the client is currently on Indigent Health Care. We submit those bills, send them off to Austin. Austin writes the check, they come back to my office, and I check to make sure that everything is correct, and then they come to this office here. When a client wants to reapply for Indigent Health Care when their coverage runs out, they have to come into the office to pick up an application, set up an appointment, and we go through the whole process again of Indigent Health Care. That's pretty much it. JUDGE HENNEKE: Any questions? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I have a question. MS. COLLAZO: Sure. ~ ap I I L.,R i. 47 r~'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Stories abound, are legend, about abuses of the Indigent Health Care system, whether it's Kerr County or wherever. MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: And I guess the one that keeps sticking in my mind has to do with individuals who may own quite a bit of property in the county, and yet show up, for whatever reason, on Indigent Health Care rolls. My question to you, then, is what steps do you take to verify i the accuracy of the information the applicant provides to you? Now, let's deal specifically with the ownership of property. MS. COLLAZO: If it is property other than the homestead, other than what they have -- if they have 100 acres, but that's what their homestead is, that is not counted as a resource because that is the homestead. If they have a piece of property elsewhere, I pretty much go by what they tell me, as far as property. I have found that most of the applicants that come in and apply with Indigent Health Care do give me all of the information on property, resources, cars, anything like that. Like I said, I usually call the courthouse here to find out if they have automobiles. I haven`t done that on property, though. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I guess that's really the thrust of my question. Income-producing property. r-^. I Y I I ~., 48 r-~ I 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: There is no way that you -- or any system that you use to verify or to find out whether the information that you receive truly reflects ownership of that type of property? MS. COLLAZO: As far as -- like I said, I only go by what they give me on the application, or when they come into my office and we discuss if they have other property, pieces of property other than where they live, we do discuss that when they come into the office. But, I don't have a procedure of calling or checking to see if they have land somewhere else. Other than -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is it possible that we could establish some? MS. COLLAZO: I'm sure that would be possible. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Something along that line? MS. COLLAZO: I'm sure it would be possible. I would lust need, I guess, some assistance from the Court, a contact person and so on that I can call here to see if they can assist me with that. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Or the Appraisal District. MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm. Would they give me that kind of information? And -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I think they would. COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's probably posted on the i, - 99 ~•. s^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 internet. MS. COLLAZO: I don't have the internet. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: It's public record, I think. I think it is public record, so you should be able to have that. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I think it's a matter of figuring out the best way to do it. COMMISSIONER LETZ: In most counties now, all the tax is on the internet. Almost all of them. I shouldn't say all; I don't know if Kerr is. But, anyway, I know that it's automatic. My question really is in the same area. Can you state again what the -- I guess, the income cut-off? MS. COLLAZO: $78. COMMISSIONER LETZ: $78? MS. COLLAZO: A month. COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, if you make more than $78, you don't qualify? MS. COLLAZO: That's right. JUDGE HENNEKE: That's for a single adult? MS. COLLAZO: Single adult. If you're working, you get deductions. I think it's about $250 that you can make a month. COMMISSIONER LETZ: About $2507 MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm, if you're working. COMMISSIONER LETZ: And your assets have to be, i a it .r 50 /"'` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 excluding your homestead, less than $2,000? MS. COLLAZO: Exactly.. Unless you have a relative that is living with you that is disabled or elderly. Then it's $3,000 that goes out. COMMISSIONER LETZ: How many people are on the Indigent Health Care or are, you know, approved right now? MS. COLLAZO: Currently, there's 37. COMMISSIONER LETZ: 37? MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is that an average, or does that vary? MS. COLLAZO: No, it's usually an average, from 35 to 40. It's been like that for about a year, I believe. COMMISSIONER LETZ: The -- I guess at the income level, most of them probably don't file income tax, but is that a -- do you ask them if they do file an income tax return? MS. COLLAZO: Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER LETZ: And if they do, do you request a copy? MS. COLLAZO: Yes, and usually for the people that are working. Sometimes I even ask for the people that are not working, or call to see if they have income tax or if they reported it or anything like that. But, usually it's for the people that are working. 51 r-.. ~"` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: If they're working, they almost have to make more than the minimum -- minimum wage, even if you work part-time. MS. COLLAZO: Usually, it's -- the kind of people that work and qualify for the Indigent Health Care program, they -- like, they work part-time or just a couple of days -- a couple of days a week. They don't work all of the -- you know, five days a week making minimum wage, 'cause they wouldn't qualify. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You need to remember, too, that in order to qualify for the Indigent Health Care, you'd already have to have gone through all the Medicaids and the Medicares and the -- MS. COLLAZO: Social Security Disability. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- all the other programs. We're the very bottom of the barrel, and they've gone through everything before they even qualify for us. I have a question, I guess probably for Mrs. Lopez. If we can compare -- can you compare us to one of our neighbor counties? Probably, Kendall would be the -- them being a bedroom community for San Antonio, I think, although still somewhat smaller than us, but should compare somewhat. We paid our Indigent Health Care bill today for $15,000 and I was just wondering, how do we compare with Kendall County or any of 'll ..lh l 16 0 52 '/'` r^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 them that's in your particular region? MS. LOPEZ: Okay. I'm Beverly Lopez with the Texas Department of Health in San Antonio. Kendall County has a significantly lower cost than you do. I'm thinking more of ', Comal County. They run around $30,000 to $90,000 a month in Comal County for Indigent Health Care, and have probably mor e like 60 to 70 clients a month in that county. And, other counties further to the south of you are lower income areas. A lot of the counties in our region spend their full 10 percent every year, sometimes exceed that. So, those, I think, would be the closest things that i could compare. If I could just mention -- Raquel did a real good job of explaining eligibility to you. This County differs a little bit in the way you handle bill-paying. In most locations, there is a County or hospital person who receives the bills, determines the correct amount to pay, and then submits those bills to the County for payment. But this County uses an outside entity to do that determination, so that's one thing that's a little bit different here. And, there is a protection for the County. The maximum liability in any fiscal year is $30,000 a person, and occasionally that does get hit in other counties. i don't know if you've ever hit it here. MS. COLLAZO: Yes, we have. MS. LOPEZ: So -- and that's something that .iI ~ -{ R I. I I I,. 1 53 ,...,, r"'` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 providers are familiar with, at least those that -- that are in the county and have program clients during the year. So -- and one other thing. Raquel gave you -- it's the very last page of this document. It's a summary of a House Bill that was lust introduced about two weeks ago, House Bill 1398. There's been an interim committee that looked at Indigent Health Care across the state. The bill really presents a lot of possible changes to the program. What will happen to them in the session, I'm not sure, but it could lead to eligibility at a lower percent, perhaps 8 percent; counties would become eligible for match money at that point. It also includes lowering the match from 20 percent to 10 percent at that point, and it allows -- and I think this is probably the most significant, and something we've hoped for. It starts to cover preventive services, which, in the long run, should be much more efficient for the County. Right now, there's only a very limited number of services that can be covered, and they're generally treatment as opposed to prevention, so that the program will cover insulin, but it won't cover the syringes a client needs to use that insulin. So, it should be a more cost-efficient method. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. MS. LOPE2: Thanks very much. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Tommy, did you have lil i+t I II. •~ 54 r"`t v^. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 anything? That's all I had. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have one question for Ms. Lopez. MS. LOPEZ: Mm-hmm? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Does the Department of Health have any kind of a statewide way to check or spot-check for fraud, like the other federal departments or agencies do? MS. LOPEZ: No, we really don't do anything. This department has generally no enforcement authority at all. So, if the County decides they're not going to provide services, there's really nothing we can do. There have been lawsuits in individual spots around the state. But, the County certainly can develop a fraud policy. We had someone in De Witt County prosecuted, convicted, and actually sentenced to 7ai1 for fraud in Indigent Health Care. And, I think you'll find, especially when a coordinator's been working in the program for a while, they -- they have a pretty good sense of people and -- I mean, obviously, there can be people who can lie really well, but generally you kind of look at how a person lives and all the information -- and, again, if anyone provides information to Raquel saying, "I saw this person working," well, she's free then at that point to call them in and, you know, check on that information, and can disqualify them immediately if she finds they're over the income standard. '~ 'A Y I I 55 r"4 i'^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is there any reward money? Just -- MS. LOPEZ: No. Sounds good, though. I could -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Bounty money. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bounty. JUDGE HENNEKE: Would any of the Commissioners find it useful to get the names of the individuals receiving Indigent Health Care? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I think they're available if we need them. Yeah, we can; they're available if we want to see them. COMMISSIONER LETZ: We used to get them with the report, and there's -- I don't know. We decided we couldn't -- it was determined that we could no longer receive those names on a regular basis, but we can go view them there. MS. COLLAZO: That was for privacy. There was a problem -- those were given out to an entity, and this is the clients on Indigent Health Care, and their records are confidential information. MS. LOPEZ: Last spring, someone from the press wanted all of those names, and apparently obtained them in some way, and was discussing at least publishing those names, which would have left the County open to problems. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, also, there is, on occasions -- and I can name two -- special little problems ~'` u .ty i ,a 56 ,~`~ ~^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 I7 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 that pop up with Ms. Collazo, and she really needs to have a -- she needs to visit with you and. open up some kind of -- MS. COLLAZO: Exactly. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- communication between y'all two in case these things pop up. They're kind of strange; occasionally she needs some advice. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. MS. COLLAZO: Exactly. Just a backup, usually. JUDGE HENNEKE: Give me a call, I'm here. MS. COLLAZO: Okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: Anyone else have any questions? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, Ms. Collazo. Thank you, Buster, for putting it on the agenda. We will take a 10-minute break and reconvene at 10:34. (Recess taken from 10:24 a.m. to 10:35 a.m.) JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll now call back to order this special session of Commissioners Court and take up our agenda with Item 2.3, consider final replat of Wood Trails Ranch, Tract 56, Precinct 9. MR. JOHNSTON: Wood Trails Ranch Subdivision replat was approved on March 23rd, 1998. The public hearing was April 27th, 1998, and we were waiting from that time till now for a letter from T.N.R.C.C. concerning the water system. r^ x ~ u 57 ~^ ,~-~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And they had upgrades that were required, and they are now made, and plat is ready for approval, final approval. I recommend it be approved. It meets all of our requirements. JUDGE HENNEKE: Commissioner Griffin? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Yeah, this goes back to March of last year. It was the Court's order that they comply with the T.N.R.C.C. stuff and all of that, and it was approved contingent on that. And all those wickets have been dealt with, and I'd recommend the approval. I'll make -- so make the motion. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Griffin, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin, that we approve the replat of Wood Trails Ranch as recorded in Volume 4, Page 98. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please raise your right hand. {The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. Next, we were going to call 2.4, but I see our County Clerk has not returned from her break, so we'll go to 2.6. Discuss -- consider and discuss approval of releasing security pledged to Kerr County. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No, 2.6. u ~ i. ,• , 58 t•.` r~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 JUDGE HENNEKE: Where am I? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Flat Rock Lake Park. JUDGE HENNEKE: All right, my mistake. We'll go to 2.6, approval of Flat Rock Lake Park for annual barbecue and chili cook-off. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, this is Mx. Carl Beuchext of the Chili Appreciation Society International. Is that correct, Carl? MR. BEUCHERT: Yes, sir. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: On behalf of his organization, he is requesting the use of Flat Rock Lake Park for June 25, -6 and -7. I think he's going to ask for another date; I'll let him tell us that. And this would require not only our permission, but the suspension of the overnight camping/parking restrictions which are in play right now. Mr. Beuchert? MR. BEUCHERT: Yes, sir. Appreciate you considering this. Also, I would like to request -- last year, we started -- our society worked for the Kerr County Fair Association, which brought in several thousand dollars for our scholarship program here. There was some concern at our fair last year that a lot of the -- these cookers come in from all over the United States. And, for our first turnout, we had 45 cooks last year, and there was some concern that -- we had them out there on that parking lot, and they saw that /"` a ~ a 59 /" ~^ /'` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 nice park behind the Ag Barn, and they're in $100,000 motor homes and nice travel equipment, and they would like -- they wanted me to find out if they could park over there during the fair, which is October 8th, 9th, and 10th of this year. Also in conjunction with this one that we're putting on in June, they just really would like to be able to do that, 'cause there's a lot of shade. They can still commute back and forth to the fair, but they'll have their equipment and their cooking utensils over on the -- on the Flat Rock side. And -- and we will -- like I told Mr. Williams, we will take care of the -- of the trash or whatever's necessary or the porta-potties or -- but we're not really talking something large, like the big thing at Louise Hayes. We're talking about 50 cooks at the most, which might be a couple of hundred people, you know. So, it's not something that's going to be out of hand, and it will be secured and -- it's just -- the overnight parking was the only concern, that we wanted to be assured that we were in in compliance with the law. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: The public is invited, however, to your cook-off and so forth? MR. BEUCHERT: Yes, sir. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So, you're telling us you are going to provide the necessary -- MR. BEUCHERT: Yes. ~-- I II I I I f ,1 60 r^ /'~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- sanitary facilities? MR. BEUCHERT: Yes. Yes. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. COMMISSIONER LETZ: The -- so, there's two events. You're looking at both the -- MR. BEUCHERT: Two events. COMMISSIONER LETZ: The fair. MR. BEUCHERT: The Kerr County Fair Association and the one for June -- the -- what is it, 26th, 27th, and 28th? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: You asked for 25, 26 and 27. MR. BEUCHERT: Okay. Friday, Saturday. and Sunday. There is going to be a fundraiser that the Highlander Yacht Club is -- we're raising money for the Peace Officer's Association for indigent children to have hunting and fishing. This money that will be raised at this cook-off will go to the -- the kids that -- like, we'll give our money to the Peace Officer's Association, like they have at the Wild Game Dinner; these funds will go to them for the children. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Will the -- the cook-off all take place in the park, or are they just going to camp out at the park and move up to the parking lot for the chili cook-off? MR. BEUCHERT: Most of the the -- I would say most ~. I!I d tI;A 61 i-. /"~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 of the stuff will be happening at the yacht club, and also at the Ag Barn. A lot of the facilities will be parked -- like, their motor homes and stuff will be parked down in the shade and stuff, but there could be some of them that will also cook there. You know, it could be a back-and-forth thing. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'm just trying to get an understanding. I'm not proposing -- I mean, chili cook-off -- I think I've probably been to one of those in my life. Seems like it was in one spot; people -- people came and tasted chili. MR. BEUCHERT: They do. They do, but -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: But if they're in two locations, it seems they all -- it all needs to be centralized in one location where they're doing the actual cooking. MR. BEUCHERT: What happens is -- what happens when the cooks cook, then they bring it up to the Ag Barn where all the judges are. We have, like, 50 judges that have to judge the barbecue and the chili, and there's a central location inside the Ag Barn where all the judging's going on. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That will be the case both in June and October? MR. BEUCHERT: No. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No? MR. BEUCHERT: In June, it will be at the - -~ u i i ,~ 62 r^` ,^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Highlander Yacht Club. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. MR. BEUCHERT: All the judging and all of the facilities will be used at the Highlander Yacht Club. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We're dealing here with a June issue. Can we just stay on that -- MR. BEUCHERT: Okay. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- and deal with that? That's the only item I see on the agenda. MR. BEUCHERT: Okay. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Seems like, to me, that this other day that we go somewhere else and do these other things needs to be another agenda item, in my opinion. Let me ask you a question, though. What -- I've always had a problem with that parkland down there of -- of opening the gate to the public because of the fencing between the County property and some private property down there. A fellow owns -- a friend of mine owns the adjoining property, and he is continually losing his boats and just all kind of things, and I wouldn't -- I would really feel bad if someone from the County property kind of wandered across his fence or the lack of fence there for any reason. And I would -- I would want -- personally, I would like to have some assurance from you that that's not going to happen or -- MR. BEUCHERT: Well, I -- II X11 I I Cf~.a 63 ~~'` ,,"- /"~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Or has anybody at this table seen -- MR. BEUCHERT: What do you do about it now? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- seen that possible -- excuse me? MR. BEUCHERT: What -- what's done about it now, as the park, itself? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Nobody uses it. MR. BEUCHERT: Oh, nobody uses it? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Nobody uses it. MR. BEUCHERT: Oh. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I was hoping, possibly, that we can put you up some kind of fence -- somebody could put up some kind of fence there to protect the neighbors, you know, and cut out the liability to Kerr County. But, I'm just uncomfortable about that, and I wanted to say that to you. And, if anything happened, I -- I don't know what I would do or think. But -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Are we talking about -- I'm just not familiar with this. Are we talking about an area that is -- that borders on the park? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yes. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Is it parkland? I mean, we're talking about somebody being legitimately on the park that would cross into -- _ R. 64 /"" 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yes. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: -- this private property? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Our guests going on the neighbor's private property. JUDGE HENNEKE: Mr. Holekamp, have you got something to contribute here? MR. HOLEKAMP: Possibly. I have a question, I guess, more than anything. This gentleman here, is he talking about the current County park? Is that correct? MR. BEUCHERT: Flat Rock Lake. MR. HOLEKAMP: Right below the Ag Barn. I think, Commissioner Baldwin, you're talking about the other property. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Am I on the wrong piece of property? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't know. Are you at the junkyard or Mr. Youngblood or -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm at the new -- the newest owned property. JUDGE HENNEKE: We're talking about the old property. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Have fun. Thank you, Glenn. MR. BEUCHERT: I didn't know about any other properties. All I knew was Flat Rock. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You don't need to know about i~ ~ ~ 65 /"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 it, okay? MR. BEUCHERT: Okay. I'm sorry. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's fine. You can cross off -- I see where y'all are thinking. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Yeah. I was trying to visualize -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I was, too. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I was a half a mile off. MR. BEUCHERT: Thank you, Mr. Griffin. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I appreciate that. I'm sorry, I apologize. I still think that we need to stay with this June issue only. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's a good idea. I'm just trying to -- I think using that park for something like this -- I don't see a problem granting a waiver to allow, you know, the cooks to stay, you know, in that park. I think it needs to be limited to those cooks; there needs to be some way -- have a pass or however y'all handle that part of it. The other point would be the security issue; that, in addition to cleaning up, I think you need to coordinate with the Sheriff's Department. MR. BEUCHERT: I will. I will. COMMISSIONER LETZ: For any kind of security that may be required. And there's certain -- and, in addition, I don't know who actually -- I guess the Sheriff's the one who __ -, r. ~ ~.. ,~ 66 /'` r'^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 decides on what's needed, the number of -- you know, the security agents and all that. MR. BEUCHERT: I will do that. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Let me just add, too, that as an old chili-head -- I've been cooking for about 20 years now, competetively -- the CASI bunch is probably the most responsible group of people in that endeavor that you'll ever find, and I think that -- MR. BEUCHERT: Thank you. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I think that they'll do a good lob. They always do a good job of cleanup; I know they won't disappoint us this time. And they're very responsible, and it's a great organization. MR. BEUCHERT: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Mr. Richey, did you have something to offer3 MR. RICHEY: Yes. Being an old, retired chili cook, I would like to know what the County's policy is on alcoholic beverages in this park. I've never been to a chili. cook-off that I couldn't get a beer or a bourbon. JUDGE HENNEKE: Depends on whether you're buying. COMMISSIONER LETZ: We do not have a policy regarding alcohol in the parks that I'm aware of. I don't know. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Just clean up your mess. Ili I ili ~ 67 ~" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 MR. BEUCHERT: I would also like to say that, in regards to what Mr. Griffin said, CASI International raised over -- for the first time last year, raised over $1 million for charities last year. So, that -- that was our first milestone. Thank y'all. JUDGE HENNEKE: Any further discussion? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I offer as a motion that permission be granted to the CASI people, Chili Appreciation Society International, for use of Flat Rock Lake Park for its cook-off on June 25, 26, and 27, and that the suspension of overnight camping and parking restrictions be granted, and the Sheriff so notified. JUDGE HENNEKE: Do we have a second? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: It's been moved by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Griffin, that we approve the use of Flat Rock Park by CASI for its annual barbecue and chili cook-off on June 25th, 26th, and 27th, which approval includes suspension of overnight camping and parking restrictions for Flat Rock Lake Park. Any further discussion? If not, alI in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion passes. Thank you, sir. 68 r-~ ,~'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 ~" MR. BEUCHERT: Thank you. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Come back later with the other question. MR. BEUCHERT: Yes, sir. Thank you. JUDGE NENNEKE: We'll now go back to 2.4, consider and discuss amending Capital Outlay line item to include additional $1,430 for final payment of postage machine. Our District Clerk, Linda Decker. MS. DECKER: Good morning. How are y'all? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Hi, Linda. MS. DECKER: Last May -- May the 26th, to be exact, I came to the Court to request the purchase of a postage machine, and I have a copy of the Order here that states that the purchase be approved as submitted in the proposal, and three payments to be paid from the '97-'98 budget. So, what I did when we went through the budget process, I went to -- I included the other two payments that were not approved in that order in my budget request, and I have -- I think I have submitted copies of that to you. Both my budget worksheet and the computer-generated worksheet shows that it was -- the two remaining payments on the postage machine was to be included in Capital Outlay. For some reason -- I'm sure it's a clerical error or whatever -- that was not added to the figures, so that money is not in the line item right now. And, I need to make, I I ~I ^ 69 r^^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 actually, one more payment, because we managed to get -- to squeeze out the fourth payment in the '97-'98 budget, so there's only one payment due. And I need that money to be put into Capital Outlay item, and I think that's $1,430 is what we need for the final payment. I think it was just an error on -- I don't know who prepares -- who puts the figures into the computer at budget time, but -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: You don't? MS. UECKER: No. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Of course, that's a different -- that's a little bit different from what her request is. It's failure of the Court, huh? MS. UECKER: Well, the Court's good. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: She's real nice when she gets up here. I don't know who did it; must have been Tommy. MS. UECKER: I don't know. JUDGE NENNEKE: Linda, where are the funds going to come from? MS. UECKER: I don't know. From the same place they would have come from had they been poked into the computer at the time. JUDGE NENNEKE: Tommy, do you have a suggestion? We can't just create money. MR. TOMLINSON: There's the Commissioners Court Contingency account. That, like, started out with $25,000, ~, 70 /" /'~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 still has money in it. MS. UECKER: I mean, I put it in the budget during the workshop. It was approved, but it dust didn't get put in. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I agree with you. COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's -- if what she's saying is correct, it needs to be found somewhere. It needs to come out of Contingency or declare an emergency and take it out of Reserves. My preference would be Contingency, as long as we can. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Only one payment? MS. UECKER: That's all that's left, and I've verified that with the Auditor's office last week before I came here. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I make a motion that we amend the Capital Outlay line item, 10-450-570, to include the $1,930 in funds to come out of Commissioners Court Contingency. JUDGE HENNEKE: Is there a second? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion by Commissioner Letz, second by Commissioner Baldwin, that the Court allocate an additional $1,430 to Capital Outlay Line Item 10-450-570, such funds to come from Commissioners Court Contingency, such funds to be used for the final payment on the postage r'`` 71 r~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 I3 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 machine. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. MS. UECKER: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. I believe now we're at 2.7, consider and discuss approval of releasing security pledged to Kerr County. Ms. Nemec? MS. NEMEC: Okay. Our bank depository, Security State Bank, has requested that we release this security for $1 million, and that will leave us a little over $9 million pledged to our accounts, which is -- which is a sufficient amount, based on our balances there. So, I'm asking for approval of that. COMMISSIONER LETZ: So moved. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Letz, second by Commissioner Baldwin, that we release $1 million in security pledged by Security State Bank and Trust. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. 7z r" 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. MS. NEMEC: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: You're up for the next one, too, Barbara. 2.8, consider and discuss Quarterly Financial and Investment Report. MS. NEMEC: Judge, if you'd just like me to go page-by-page and explain for the new Court just how -- JUDGE HENNEKE: I think it's useful, if we can do it quickly, sure. MS. NEMEC: Okay. Well, the first page here is just a statement stating that our 3-month -- this is for the month of our quarter ending December '98, and that's just an estimate that we all have to sign. The Auditor's on here and the Judge, being that they are on the Investment Committee with myself, and then the rest of the Court. That we have followed investment strategies that are outlined in our policy. The second page is our Kerr County Bonded Indebtedness, and on there you'll see Fund 58 and 59, and Fund 62. This month, February 15th, 58 and 59 were paid off, so now we only have the 1994 jail bond for $7 million. And then, of course, the 1998 tax anticipation that we received this month will show up on the next report. The first page are the funds that we have on deposit at Security State Bank. We have the beginning balance, and then ,~"~ 73 s"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 the revenues on those -- revenues for Fund 50. If you'll look at the bottom, I have a little footnote down there that the actual revenues for Fund 50 was $60,000, not the $141,000 you see on there. $81,000 was transferred from Fund 10 that we borrowed to pay for some Indigent Health bills, which is going to be paid off this next quarter, or was already paid off. It will be reflected on this next quarter report. And the same for the disbursements; disbursements from Fund 10 were actually $1,992,000, not the $2 million that you see on there. And that will be paid off, also. The next page is our Federated Investment account. And, I really just am using that account right now just to diversify our investments, 'cause we're required to diversify. And, the reason that this account is not very active is that it's not paying as much as our Logic account. So, again, that's just to diversify. The following page shows you, by month, what interest was received for the Federated account, and the 3-month average yield is 4.72. Then the following page is our Logic account, and that's the one that the majority of our funds are in. And, the last page is the investments for that, which is a 3-month average yield of 9.94, so that is paying more than our Federated. We also go further and diversify into government agency discount notes; however, at this time they're not paying as much as Logic is paying, so that's why we don't have any of those i I! !- I i.P a 79 ,,'-, 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 right now. Any questions? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: State law says that you need to diversify our funds? MS. NEMEC: Right. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And, have you made a determination whether -- it's logical to me that Logic is a diversified company, in itself. MS. NEMEC: Yes, 'cause they -- it's a pool, and our funds are invested in several other instruments that -- that are called for in our investment policy. And, the Investment Committee, which is the Judge and the Auditor and myself, are supposed to meet tomorrow to review the investment policy, and that was one of the things that I was going to bring up, if we could put that statement in the policy that if we -- if all our funds are in Logic, that that is diversifying. It just makes sense to me to put them there right now, because they're paying -- you know, I've been monitoring it, you know, from month to month, and they're always, probably, 20 to 25 basis points higher than Federated. JUDGE HENNEKE: Any other questions? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Excellent report. JUDGE HENNEKE: If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the Quarterly Financial and Investment Report. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I so move. /^'` I l I i t 1 75 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Baldwin and seconded by Commissioner Williams that the Court approve the Quarterly Financial and Investment Report as presented by the County Treasurer. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. MS. NEMEC: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, Barbara. Next agenda item, 2.9, consider and discuss approval of Second Amendment to the Recycling Drop-off Center lease agreement between the City of Kerrville and Kerr County, and authorize the County Judge to sign the same. You have in your packet the letter and the proposed amendment. What the amendment does is to basically redefine the ground that is part of the joint operation of the Recycling Center. Anyone have any questions? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I guess when I read through it, I just -- just so I understand what we're doing, we're adding .13 acres that we had excluded from the lease? JUDGE HENNEKE: Yes. COMMISSIONER LETZ: That we had excluded because we 76 r 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 had a building on it, which we're no longer -- is there? JUDGE HENNEKE: That's correct. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, the City's property that's -- the County property that's available to the City is increased now? JUDGE HENNEKE: Yes. COMMISSIONER LETZ: By .13 acres, which is the entire tract. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is that the entire tract? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah, it's that entire lot over there, that little section that we -- I don't have any problem. It's -- it's a good program. So moved. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Letz. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Second by Commissioner Griffin that we approve the Second Amendment to the Recycling Drop-off Center lease agreement. Further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We're rolling, Judge. We're (rolling now. JUDGE HENNEKE: Don`t break the momentum. 2.10, I I L d I i t .i 77 I ~"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 I6 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 consider and discuss setting date for joint meeting of government entities in Kerr County to meet with representatives from Plateau Water Planning Group, Region J. Commissioner Letz? COMMISSIONER LETZ: What we're doing right now in Region J, we're finally about to sign the contract with Water Development Board. We start -- actually, our consultants, L.B.G. Guyton & Associates, begin their work, and the first thing that will be sent out, today or tomorrow, to all of the entities in Region J, being all the cities and counties, are population projections. And, it's something that the -- we have -- they have to be approved by the Region, and we're designating or delegating that to all the counties and the cities, because everything in the future will be based on these projections. And I don't know -- I mean, it's up to -- I know the City of Kerrville has done a great deal of work; Kerr County has not, so I guess we're going to have to wing to it a degree, signing off on the numbers. U.G.R.A. may have some pretty good numbers that we can rely on for this particular county, but this is going -- we're doing this with all the counties. And, from a time standpoint, it would be a lot easier for the Plateau Board and our consultant -- we could have one meeting for Kerr County where we invite Kerr County, City of Kerrville, City of Center Point, City of Ingram, and then i ~ s 78 .~`~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 invite the other -- you know, U.G.R.A., Headwaters, and any other entity that would like to attend to go over these consultants and, at the same time, kind of give a review as to what precisely is going to be done in Kerr County that will affect us regarding the science; new, you know, studies of wells and where we're going on the technical side and where the $632,000 that's been allocated by the State will be spent, what portion of it will come to Kerr County. I just wanted to try to, since I sit on this Court, get our option, first choice for a date, and try to set something up as soon as possible. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: One comment. You are familiar with the H.D.R. study that was commissioned by the City of Kerrville, U.G.R.A., and K.P.U.B., which has growth projections in there for water and wastewater? COMMISSIONER LETZ: My understanding is that the State's numbers that we -- that they say we're going to use do not jibe with those numbers exactly. That's what Jim Brown has told me. And the entities have to pay to challenge these to the State, so it's not just a matter of saying, Oh, we don't like them; fix them. Whoever is saying these aren't right is going to have -- there's, I think, a 17-page document that would go to -- a letter to the Judge and mayor from me explaining the process, but there's a -- there's a cost to -- to challenge them, as well. Somebody will have to 11 I I 111 .~ r. 79 ,~ /"~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 pay for that. I know that certainly will be an integral part of the challenge if, you know, the City so chooses and/or we choose. But, it's a -- it's real important that these numbers be as close as we think they're going to be, because the future funding will be based on this for the next 50 years. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Commissioner Letz, do you have a proposed date? COMMISSIONER LETZ: No, I don't. I just -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Would you like to make one? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Probably an evening meeting is best. JUDGE HENNEKE: Do you want to have it this month or -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: We'd like to have it before the middle of March. So, you know, I don't know. Probably the Judge's schedule is the most hectic. But -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Would it be possible for us to, today, just authorize, perhaps, Commissioner Letz to work out a date and get it on our calendars to do that? COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's fine. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Is that possible? I mean, do we have to establish a date now? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't think it even takes any action by the Court today. This is more just an i ..a 80 i-- /'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 informational item to get up and -- you know, any guidance as to, you know, some options for dates that maybe we can try and work with. I mean, obviously, it's critical that the majority of this Court and majority of City Council be able to attend. JUDGE HENNEKE: City Council meets, what, Tuesday? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Tuesday. But I would think either an afternoon workshop or evening workshop -- probably an evening workshop would be easier for most people to attend. Either the -- next week or the week after, you know, is the timing which I would like to see. COMMISSIONER HALDWIN: It being a full-blown Commissioners Court meeting or workshop, seems like to me that we would need to post it. JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll definitely have to post it. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I understand that, but what about an order of some sort coming out of here to do that, to call a meeting -- Commissioners Court meeting outside the regular schedule? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Am I right or wrong? COMMISSIONER LETZ: You're correct. But I think I can visit with the Judge, and the Judge has the -- JUDGE HENNEKE: We have the ability to call them. We don't have to -- we don't have to, in court, set a date. -- - - --T--- _-nr"r- i,' 81 r''~ ,.-. 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 We can call a special session at any time. I'm fine with that. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Work out a date and let us know. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll work out a date and visit with the Judge and the mayor and others, and see what works out. We probably can do it, maybe, a week from next Monday or -- or maybe even next Monday or the week following. Monday seems to be a -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Monday? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll probably try next Monday, so everyone has more and more time to go over these pro]ections and work with it. JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll have to have that decided, then, by no later than Wednesday afternoon. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. JUDGE HENNEKE: To have it posted Thursday for a Monday meeting. COMMISSIONER LETZ: No problem with that. JUDGE HENNEKE: Same with the other entities. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. JUDGE HENNEKE: I will presume that all the governments will want to post it so they can -- and my presumption is we'll post it as a workshop, which means we can debate and discuss freely among ourselves and other i lt, It ;i I 82 rrr'`. r^ /" 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 parties, but we cannot take any action. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. And I don't think action -- it's more to be just a presentation format, and it will be up to each entity to really work amongst itself to -- in the cities, anyway, to determine if they agree with the projection. Once the cities agree, they need to get the information to us and let us do the -- you know, bless the numbers of the County. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Do you borrow U.G.R.A.'s meeting room? COMMISSIONER LETZ: That would be a good location, I think. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Okay. Next, 2.11, is consider and discuss authorizing County Surveyor to survey Flat Rock Lake Park and prepare plat of same. Commissioner Letz? COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're at a point -- actually, I thought this had probably been done. When I talked with Walter Heard, I asked him if he could put it on DWG-format drawings and send them up here so we could work with them locally. He said they're not on the computer. Hand-drawn drawings. And, to his knowledge, it had never actually been surveyed, other than the whole park as a unit. The components are certainly surveyed; the part we purchased several years ago does have a survey on it, Voelkel ~, 1 1 1 83 /..,, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Engineering, so we can tie together that, and the old portion of the park is under a survey for the whole Ag Barn. But it doesn't delineate, really, where Riverside Drive is and where the river is exactly, so those are the two components we need to have done. I visited with Lee Voelkel. He said that the cost -- I have $1,000 that I put on the backup. I think probably about half that, since we can tie into the survey on the old part, which has already been done, so probably around $500. And I would recommend that this, you know, either come out of our Commissioners Court Contingency or the Surveying line item at Road and Bridge Department, if they have money to -- we didn't send him to school, so they probably have $500 to spend on park surveying. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Sounds reasonable to me. JUDGE HENNEKE: Any further comments or discussion? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We need to know where it's coming from, which one. Can you do that with Road and Bridge money? Move -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: They may not be able to take their funds for that. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How do they propose -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I don't think you can move Road and Bridge monies over the to Parks. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think you're probably right. +al .I I I '•i 89 /~. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 So, I -- in this case, I would make a motion that we allocate an amount not to exceed $1,000 -- hoping it's closer to $500, but not to exceed $1,000 out of Commissioners Court Contingency to cover the survey. And I don't -- well, that's the motion. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I second it, with a question. How in the world did we ever buy a piece of property without it being surveyed? COMMISSIONER LETZ: That pant is surveyed. See, the old part has never been surveyed out of the entire Ag property -- piece of property. And, we can't determine, really, where we're going to put roads and parking lot and everything else until you know, really, where it all is. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin, that the Court take $1,000 from Commissioners Court contingency -- not more than $1,000 to pay for a survey plat of the entire Flat Rock Lake Park. Any other comments or questions? If not, all in favoz, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. Next is 2.12. I saw Laurinda a minute ago, but she seems to have stepped out. Why don't we go to -- well, I'd like to take these last three I! L .~ 85 ~^ r^ ~, 1 2 3 9 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 up more or less together. Glenn, would you step outside and see if Laurinda's out there? MR. HOLEKAMP: She had to make a copy of something; just a second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Let's go ahead and call 2.13, consider and discuss adopting fee schedule and operating use i -- and operating procedures for use of Hill Country Youth ~, I Exhibition Center. 2.12, I'm sorry. COMMISSIONER LETZ: This has been something we've been trying to get formalized, and it was -- Laurinda was asked to do this under her contract, to prepare a fee schedule with operating procedures so everyone is real clear as to how we lease the Hill Country Youth Exhibition Center. And, to be honest, what she provided doesn't answer all my questions. I'm not sure what the headings are. I think it appears to me -- she can probably answer it. (Ms. Boyd entered the courtroom.) COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're already on it. Come on up. The background was that we requested, under your contract, that you prepare a fee schedule and operating procedures, and we received a handout that we were saying -- I think Susie faxed it over to us, and I'm not sure exactly what it is. I see -- MS. BOYD: You were wanting me to break down all of the -- all of the advance profit, nonprofit and profit- i ' ,e 86 /" s^ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 making and all of that. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right, and I see that. But -- you know, and it does that, but what I think we also need is a -- maybe I just wasn't clear -- something written as to, you know, how to get into these various -- some of them are pretty self-explanatory; nonprofit is pretty clear. But, you know, something written as to what these -- the different classifications are. MS. BOYD: Well, I have a computer sitting at the house that won't print for me, so it's there. COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's there? It's in the computer, won't print? MS. BOYD: It's not been a very good morning. I'm sorry. COMMISSIONER LETZ: The other thing, I guess the question is, it shows -- I guess the fourth page was rate changes? MS. BOYD: Right. COMMISSIONER LETZ: But -- and maybe this is the full fee schedule, but it -- I guess -- is that the full fee schedule? MS. BOYD: That's not everything, no. COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think we'd like to also get this incorporated into one -- MS. BOYD: Right. 'i 1 I. Li; II 87 f""` i-- 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- separate document. MS. BOYD: I submitted the -- just the changes that you want. COMMISSIONER LETZ: But we also needed about what currently -- I mean, 'cause I -- MR. HOLEKAMP: That can be incorporated pretty easily, couldn't it? I'm sorry. MS. BOYD: Yes. Yes. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That includes things like chairs and all of those things. Don't we want one document -- MS. BOYD: It has -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- with everything? MS. BOYD: The one that I have has all of that. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And this would be the only additions? MS. BOYD: That was the changes that I was proposing. I can go make a copy of the -- here. I'm sorry, I got in late and I -- I hate computers, 'cause now I am totally unprepared, and I apologize, but I'm just not a computer guru. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Are you going to be here? MS. BOYD: No, I'll be in Houston. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Could you get with Glenn -- and, Glenn, would you be willing to present this portion of ~ i' a 88 .~ /'~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 it? Which I think Glenn is familiar with it. MS. BOYD: That's fine. COMMISSIONER LETZ: To get a single package. If you and Laurinda can possibly work out a package, to get together as to, you know, what they -- with a -- you know, I guess definitions of the categories, which is on the computer that's broken, with the full fee schedule attached and any changes to it. MS. BOYD: Okay. I understood that you wanted to break it out -- that you wanted to break it out, and that's what I wanted to discuss, because it's going to kind of be a little bit -- it's hard for me to go in there and break out and do a bunch of reservation forms for the different deals if I don't know -- like, on profit-making, of course, we're going to have full fees. On nonprofit, Youth -- I mean, I thought that we were going to discuss, like, how you wanted to do the fees. You see what I'm saying? I can go in there and I can break all that out and make different reservation forms for different -- the different events, how I broke it down. Or maybe you don't want them broken all down like that. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, I mean, I think we want what you're saying, but I don't see that we have that. MS. BOYD: No, you don't. JUDGE HENNEKE: Let me put it this way. I know r. ~ a 89 ~"~ r 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 nothing about the fee schedule out there. I want something in front of me that I can sit down and I can comprehend what it's going to cost for any organization that wants to use the -- the facilities. I see in here -- I'm not -- not criticizing; I'm just a little bit confused. You've deleted the fee for private parties. MS. BOYD: Right. JUDGE HENNEKE: Does that mean we're not going to allow private parties, or are they going to go for free? MS. BOYD: No, 'cause we're -- in the -- we were going to delete out the private party fee because, actually, we don't hardly use that. That's been a fee that's been there forever, and I believe we've actually been charging the full fee because of our overtime in the evenings, and, you know, the costs are more. So, we wanted to delete out the -- the private party and just have one straight fee, whether it's a private party or it's a -- you know, an arts and crafts or whatever, it's all one fee. And, because of the costs and labor involved, it's not -- it doesn't really pay. That was a fee left over from back in the days when the stock show had it. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Bill? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I have a question. Laurinda, you have to help me through this. I'm looking at the rate changes, and the Exhibit Hall, for example, goes i .~ 90 ,," ~''`~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 from $150 to $300 a day, and that's a doubling of the fee. I don't see any reason why -- from what you presented to us, why it doubled; but, more importantly, then there is a new fee structure that says Electrical Use Fee and Stage Use. So, if somebody wanted to come in and use the fee -- use the Exhibit Hall and wanted to use the stage, are they going to pay $300 a day or are they going to pay $550? MS. BOYD: The electrical use fee is strictly for cattle shows and stuff. COMMISSIONER WILLILAMS: That's confusing; it doesn't say that. MS. BOYD: I know, and I apologize. I apologize to the Court. I've been gone for two weeks, traveling, and I'm sorry. And I can -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Let -- I think you're getting an idea of what we need. I'm new, I'm not familiar with the facility. I need something that you can put in front of me that will take me soup-to-nuts, as far as what the fees and the policies are concerned. And I -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: One spreadsheet that would matrix -- JUDGE HENNEKE: and when you're ready -- MS. BOYD: Okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: I suggest that we pull this down, -- next month or so -- i ,~ 91 ~^ r'" 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. BOYD: March 15th is when we're through traveling, and I will be back. If I could be on the court date for the next one, 'cause if we're going to -- if it's going to be getting that detailed, I would prefer to be here myself. JUDGE HENNEKE: Sure. MS. BOYD And if we do could do it that way, because it would be much -- much better. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Fine. We just need to make clear, you know, one document that shows what the categories are, what the charges are, so if you -- something that we can hand out to the public and say, "Here's our procedures," and they can figure out where they fit, they can figure out exactly what they're going to get charged, and, you know, footnote things that -- you know, I assume that some people don't know anything, like chairs, where that money goes. You know, which I know, but I'm -- I don't know if the rest of the Court is aware we don't even own the chairs out there; it's owned by the Stock Show Association. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Jonathan, is it possible you and I can get together with Laurinda and help set this thing up? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Sure. JUDGE HENNEKE: Glenn? MR. HOLEKAMP: And I think, Commissioner Griffin -- ~i I i:. i. 1 1 I.I..f ,~ 92 s~ ,r^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 correct me if I'm wrong with my assumption. You're saying a spreadsheet-type deal. And I think this might be helpful, is if whatever document we come up with, with the rules, regulations, pricing structure, that can be also used as the application for the person wanting to rent it, to check the items that they want relative to that facility use, and they will be responsible to pay the fees associated with those boxes. Is that -- JUDGE HENNEKE: That could be -- I heard a volunteer by Commissioner Williams on behalf of himself and Commissioner Letz to bring back to the Court -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: -- when appropriate, what we need to -- to consider and approve, and I'd certainly -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: An attached fee schedule. If you want to have the information form with an attached fee -- the items to pay; for instance, nonprofit, all lights, you know, blah, blab, blah. And lust what it costs for that kind of organization, and then a little thing that describes what those organizations are. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Laurinda, can you convey a couple days you'll be available? MS. BOYD: I leave Thursday morning. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Not this minute, but look at your calendar. ~_- i i i .a 93 ,~", ~-- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. BOYD: In the next two days. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Good. JUDGE HENNEKE: All right. We'll move on, then. 2.13, interpretation by the county agents on extension programming. I think Laurinda wants to sit down. Janie? MS. SQUIRES: Good morning. JUDGE HENNEKE: Good morning. MS. SQUIRES: Eddie's at a grafting -- pecan grafting workshop. I know he'll be walking in any minute to do his presentation. This is something we'll do quarterly, just to bring y'all up-to-date on the programs that we do and kind of informally catch you up on some of the activities. And, in Family and Consumer Sciences, when I thought about it, I thought the best way of doing this was to kind of give you what I'll be doing for the next couple of weeks. And, so, today after lunch I'll be meeting with several agents from the Hill Country counties and with child care providers from different day care centers. Every year we host a Hill Country Child Care Providers Conference in July that about 1,200 different child care workers come to, and so we'll be planning that. And then after that, Eddie and Laurinda and I get together for an office conference where we'll plan and prepare for the Texas Communities Futures Forum. You'll be hearing more about that in the next two months, in March and April. These are forums which will i .. ~ ., 94 /'` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a 9 10 11 12 ,,.-. 13 I4 r.-4 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 involve the citizens of the county, who will determine the direction of our Kerr County Extension programming for the next five years. So, we get citizen input about what they see our needs are for programming that would take us from the year 2000 into the year 2005. So, we need to get some plans together on which citizens to invite and how to conduct these forums. And, then I'll leave for Bryan-College Station Tuesday and Wednesday, where I'll go to the County Judges and Commissioners Conference, and I'll help that group present some programs and assist with tours for County Judges and Commissioners of the State of Texas. And, back here on Thursday, and I'll be working on the Better Living for Texans grant; some of y'all are familiar with that. This is my second year for this federal grant out of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. And this is where I focus on educational programs on nutrition and on health and on money management for limited-resource audiences here in Kerr County. So, by May, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to hire a part-time program assistant so that a lot more of this audience can be reached. And, currently, Judge Denson had approved an in-kind match of part of Susie's and Nora's salaries; those are our office manager and our part-time clerk in the office, and also part of my salary is as an in-kind match from the State. ------ __ ~ __ _ Tai 7- 1 ' 1. L I it d 95 r^- ~"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And their program assistant will be a State employee of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. So, I'll be meeting with Judge Henneke in April, where we'll determine if the budget and the -- another in-kind match is going to be necessary for this third year of the project. On Friday, I'll be working on RC&D. Jonathan, you've talked to them about what we're doing? COMMISSIONER LETZ: No. MS. SQUIRES: You want me to? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Go ahead. MS. SQUIRES: We're real excited about the Kerr County Resource Conservation and Development Committee. Jonathan serves as Chairman, and I'm Secretary/Treasurer. And, we've made a lot of progress on the development of the Kerr County Resource Development Center. Commissioner Letz has obtained an office space in U.G.R.A., in their complex, and we recently hired Sue Dyke to be the office manager, and so she's now working on grants that will be written to fund computer equipment software and salary for her, to pick up where our funds will -- will not be able to cover it into the next year, and the things like internet access. And this Resource Development Center will be a place where all the municipalities, the nonprofit groups and County departments will have a place that they can gain access for grant searches on the internet for possible funders, and then they ' I' I i 11 .1 96 /"~ r^. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 can receive different levels of assistance from the office manager on writing these grants. And then membership in the RC~D Committee will be a requirement of people to have access to this development center. So, we're really pleased with the progress we've made and looking forward to getting this on board. Then also on Friday, another thing I'm involved with that I'll be working on is CSAC, which is the Community Social Agencies Council. Some of y'all are familiar with this also. I'm serving as Secretary of that group. This is a group of over 60 of the different social services agencies and organizations in Kerr County. We meet every other month. It's hosted by an agency, so we rotate around to the different offices and organizations and get to know more about the services and programs that they offer. For instance, in March we'll be at Kerrville ISD at the Headstart Center, and then in September the Extension Office will also host, where we'll be able to let all these other agencies know more about our programs. And, so, some of the highlights, lust for next week, is I am also on the Children's Trust Fund Pride Council, and this is a group that focuses on the prevention of child abuse. And, we'll be planning activities for April, which is Child Abuse Prevention month. And then, Thursday, I'll be in Blanco. I'm serving as District Director for the Texas _-r------n~~-r- -- - I li I I i I' •1 97 ~~'` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Extension Association of Family and Consumer is the professional association of my peers, very busy working on plans for the 9-state c is going to be held here in Kerrville at Inn July. So, you'll be seeing more information also. Sciences, which and we'll be inference, which of the Hills in about that, And then, finally, on Friday of next week kind of ends up a two-week rush, where I'll be meeting with my F.C.E. Association, and this is the seven clubs, and there are 121 members. Y'all are probably more familiar with them. There used to be home demonstration clubs, extension homemaker clubs. These are really active ladies in the communities in Kerr County. And, to illustrate this, if I might, if you'd let me, I'd like to present each of you with a check for $292,968. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Each? Send mine somewhere else. MS. SQUIRES: It's just kind of a token thing. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. MS. SQUIRES: And this represents 200 -- no, 20,298 volunteer hours that they did in 1998. And, if you look at the back, those were just some of the groups that they are very active volunteers in, and I just keep these ladies going and they report in to me of all the community work that they do. And that's really one of the pleasures of my job. So, /`~ 98 ~"~ r" ~.,,, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 those are lust the highlights of the next two weeks. And I do submit monthly reports to y'all with kind of a day-to-day description of what I do. And if you ever have any questions or if you have any questions now, I'll be happy to answer them. JUDGE HENNEKE: Does anyone have any questions or comments? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Just one. Do you ever take time for lunch? MS. SQUIRES: It's hard to find that, yeah. I have a lot of lunch meetings. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I saw your name on the agenda over at A & M for the Commissioners and Judges -- MS. SQUIRES: Right, uh-huh. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- Association. What is it you're doing there? MS. SQUIRES: Well, I'm -- the assignment I was given was to work with the spouses' programs. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh, yeah, that's right? MS. SQUIRES: So I'll do a presentation tomorrow for the spouses, and then we'll be doing the tours on Wednesday with them. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. MS. SQUIRES: So, that's my assignment. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Only other question is, what 99 i"'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 is that on your fingers? MS. SQUIRES: This is a lesson in "always wear gloves when you're working in the garden." COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh. Oh, okay. MS. SQUIRES: Which is a lesson I learned yesterday. So -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Anyone else have any questions or comments? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Are we staying open for Eddie? MS. BOYD: I'll cover. MS. SQUIRES: Laurinda will talk. Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, Janie. MS. BOYD: That's just -- I've not been having a good morning, I'm sorry. On the 4-H and Youth Development, it's a very important part of what we do out there at the Extension Service, and we have over 350 kids that are involved in the programming. And lots of people have the -- the wrong idea that, mainly, the kids out there only do livestock. Well, that's far from the truth. We have -- we have a wonderful livestock program going on. Actually, right now, Eddie and I are very involved with the major shows. We just got through with San Antonio, and I'm very proud to report that we had two steers sell this year, and that was -- it's been a while since we had some steers sell. We had .~'~ 100 r"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 eight county lambs and seven county hogs sell, so we were really proud of that. The kids that really -- you know, that's just icing on the cake when you get to the majors. And we'll be leaving on Thursday; we have over 86 kids that do major shows, which is a very, very high average on the counties. There's not very much -- Gillespie County competes with us on that number. We're very proud of that. The kids always do real well when we travel. We're fixing to start -- another aspect of our program is our judging teams, and the kids learn decision-making skills and do different recordkeeping skills, things like that, and wool judging. Mohair judging, which, of course, we've excelled in the last several years; we've had national champion several times. We'll be starting that in March. And livestock judging and soils and methods demonstrations also, we'll be starting all of that. And those are kids that we pull in that are not necessarily always kids that are involved in a livestock project. On our wool and mohair, in particular, we have a lot of kids that have never even seen livestock, just because they have really good decision-making skills. (Mr. Holland entered the courtroom.) MS. BOYD: And he can pull up his end now. On our ongoing project, also, our project started this month, in February, and they have so many kids out there this year - _ __-r--_- _ rT - ~, 101 ~"~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 shooting on our rifle range that they had to add an extra day just to handle them all, which is wonderful, 'cause we had dipped down a little bit. We kind of go through growth cycles. But, we've got over 50 youth out there, and this is from sub-juniors, 9 years old, through seniors, so we're really excited about that. And our vet science project -- veterinary science project is a project where the kids -- Dr. Cuatro Patterson has the kids come out to the clinic, and they meet for about six project learning areas. And, then they'll take a trip to Texas A & M to the veterinary science open house. And, it's not necessarily targeted toward kids that are interested in, like, being vets, but in kids that are -- just have a basic interest in animals, but they also work real hard on trying to show them other aspects of the veterinary careers that you could have. So, it's been really good, and Cuatro is wonderful with the kids, and we really appreciate him. Jumping off in April, we'll start our officers elections again, and also right now, we're working with a lot of the seniors on getting their scholarship applications ready, several local scholarships and our 9-H scholarship, which will be due soon. And, so, springtime is a really busy time and -- and we've got a lot going. Anybody have any questions? r-- JUDGE HENNEKE: Any questions? Comments? 102 /'~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 MS. BOYD: Thanks. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you, Laurinda. Eddie, welcome. MR. HOLLAND: Thank you. Thank you. Sorry I'm running late; we had a pruning workshop today. Thea, I brought this. I told her we was going to make a display. That's when we changed Commissioners Court. The Kerr County courthouse pecans, we've been showing those for years, and Sun Country -- The Mountain Sun put together -- this lady right here is the one that put it all together. And, anyway, put a really nice -- the whole publication actually dedicated to the Kerr County courthouse and the pecans. And, so, one of the ladies at the office out there made this display board. I thought we might be able to put this on display now that we have it, so they can see some pecans; put it on display. Anyway, I'll present this to Thea or whatever, or we can put it somewhere -- you can leave it on display in the court or whatever. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. We'll find a good place to put that up. MR. HOLLAND: Anyway it was a very nice thing; she did a very good job on that. I'm not sure exactly what Laurinda and Janie told you, but -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You wouldn't believe it. MR. HOLLAND: Well, we'll -- we have had a pruning -- 103 ~"^. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 workshop today. It was rather chilly out there this morning down at the pruning workshop, but it was very well attended and a lot of new faces, new people. I'm sure Laurinda told you that, certainly, the last few months we've been involved up to our -- here with stock shows, and we are very fortunate we have so many good young people that want to be involved in our county and district, and also our major shows. And, I don't know whether she gave you percentages or not, but, for example, in San Antonio the other day, we just had -- the sale wound up at about 1 o'clock in the morning on Sunday morning. Our Kerr County youth did extremely well in all the barns, but exceptionally well in the swine barn. They only sell 8 percent is all that actually makes it into the sale in San Antonio, and we had almost 33 percent of those kids that entered that got to sell, you know, which way, way, way exceeds their 8 percent. And we did extremely well, about the same percentage in the lamb barn. Probably only about 16 percent in the steer deal, but we had -- two of our youngsters were one-out, and -- in other words, they sell four in a class, and we had two of them that missed it by two; they were 6th-place. And another one missed it by one-out, and another one, where they sold seven and they were 8th, and so were that close to doing exceptionally well there. ,~"~ 104 .~"` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Three of our young people on hogs -- they sold 15th place, and we had a 16th. They sold a 14th place, we had a 15th. They sold a 17th place, we had an 18th. We had three one-outs, and I think that's worse than kissing your sister or whatever, because when you've been that close and you get that many -- they sift out 75 percent of them the first day. I mean, they go through, a 5-second look and you're gone. All this money you've invested in the project and all the time, and you're out. They sift 75 percent the first day. If your lucky enough to get back, you get in the ring and you get -- you know they're only placing 14, and they come in there and they hand you that first alternate button, 15th. That's got to be a tremendous heartbreaker to those kids, because we got anywhere from $1,900 to $3,500 is what those kids got for their animals, rather than getting $66. So, one place out, that's pretty much -- but, again, Laurinda's talking about some of these lifestyles and leadership, and that's what, really, 4-H is all about; it teaches them to win and to lose. And, I -- I'd just like to say publicly, on the stock show, and especially here, I really appreciate the County -- you know, how much they have done. I know some of y'all were involved in some leadership, you couldn't be out there at the show, and next year you won't have that conflict and we know you'll be there. But, I tell you, the directors of the Stock 7-- i i.. w 105 r ,^ r"~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Show Association realize -- you know, I don't know if they realize how much the County has contributed to that stock show facility since the County's taken it over, because we used to spend hours and hours and hours and many days getting ready for that facility and readiness, and Laurinda working with the group out there and all of the volunteers that come from the Sheriff's Department and community service. It's lust unreal. The facility was ready to go. The manhours they put into it, the County, you know, backing it is lust very, very much appreciated. And, we had the largest show we've ever had. I mean, we had people parking a mile away complaining that they couldn't get there because, you know, they were so far away. And, again, the County's involved and helping, you know, to park and do those things too. But, lust -- again, lust really appreciate how much the County has pitched in to help with that livestock show and that facility and all the other manhours that you've had, and I'd lust like to thank the Commissioners Court and also -- Glenn's not here, but give a real appreciation to Glenn Holekamp and the Maintenance Department to be there, to make sure the restrooms were clean and all those things were cleaned up around there. And, like I said, lust -- we couldn't have done it without y'all. And we appreciate so much y'all's support that you give to, you know, like I said, that facility out there, and to the __~__ ~ ~ ioa 106 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 Extension Service, and we appreciate it very much. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you. Does anyone have any r-- questions? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have a question. I don't know if Eddie or -- or Laurinda -- I don't know who can answer it. I talked to Dr. Jackson about this same thing. Is there any way that, through 4-H or F.F.A., whatever, that the -- I don't know what you call it. The kids, to get a hunting license, have to take that class now through Parks and Wildlife. MR. HOLLAND: Hunter Education. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Is that -- can that be offered through the schools? It seems that -- I mean, I know that one of the complaints I hear from kids that are involved in a lot of activities, they don't ever have time to get to the one that Parks and Wildlife offers, which is once or twice a year, not very often. If there's a way we can do it through the office and the schools -- MS. BOYD: Actually, I'm already organizing one for the summer. We'll work with Parks and Wildlife, and we're going to do -- it's going to be a little camp-type thing, and we're going to do a special one this summer. I've already been laying the groundwork for that. MR. HOLLAND: Some of those kids that attend these camps have the opportunity to do that. Also, they do have, ---------~_ ~___,_ -- _ _ .r , _ _ 1 IJ' I. I Ii P i~ 107 .~ 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 in high school -- through the wildlife course that Bobby Rolfe teaches up there, they are able to get, you know, the hunter certification-type thing with -- at that. COMMISSIONER LETZ: They can do it through the school? MR. HOLLAND: Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Good. MR. HOLLAND: On that deal. JUDGE HENNEKE: Thank you all. We appreciate your help and your service to the County. COMMISSIOINER LETZ: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: Next, we'll go to 2.14, consider and discuss proposal for testing services by Drash Consulting Engineers during the construction for the purposes of monitoring sub-grade, roofing, and concrete foundation and piers. Mr. Longnecker? MR. LONGNECKER: I'm Keith Longnecker, as you've -- as you know, and I'm here representing you, as the owners of the building. And, I think you have before you copies of the proposal from Drash Consulting as to the testing and the need for their services on the construction of the renovation of the annex building. I have read this, and believe it to be a fairly normal, fairly reasonable and accurate contract. It's services we'll probably need during the construction. The price of $11,600, as this reads, is an estimate, and then 108 F~ fi 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 they break that down into foundation monitoring, soils and earth work testing, concrete testing, and roof testing. I don't know exactly what they will do with the roof testing. The concrete, soils, and foundation is -- is usually fairly normal in a construction project of this nature. And, if roof testing is not done, it's stated that they would not charge for that or any other part of this service. But, it's something that we need in order to make sure that the concrete, especially, is up to specification at this 3,000- or 4,000-pound concrete that they will, in fact, tell us that it did test to that -- that quality. And, that's -- it's really fairly simple, fairly easy to understand. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them. JUDGE HENNEKE: Bill? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is this a -- the cost of their services part of the original total bid price for the construction, or is this an extra, an add-on7 MR. LONGNECKER: This is an add-on. Am I right, Mike? MR. WALKER: It's an additional. MR. LONGNECKER: It's an owner's cost over and above the Stoddard contract. It's going to be needed. COMMISSIONER LETZ: In that area, I'm thinking -- that was the same question I had. Sometime, you know, maybe ~ ~ __ I I li I I I f :~ I 109 ~^-~ r 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 between now and the next meeting or meeting after that, if we can come up with other anticipated expenditures that are outside the contract, such as testing. The reason is, it's hard for us -- like, this is a non-budgeted item and, you know, these are things that it would help, at least in my ', mind, if we could go through and have an idea, know what we're going to do this year or what we'll need this year from an unbudgeted -- MR. LONGNECKER: Yes. Not having any -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Not only be a help; it's an absolute must. We've got to have that information. JUDGE HENNEKE: I -- you know, I'm extraordinarily concerned about this because, obviously -- and this is not aimed at you, Mr. Longnecker, but the Court went through the exercise before I came on, but certainly with my full support, of going out for tax appreciation dollars in an amount necessary, I thought, to do the renovation. We have before us today two contracts in excess of $35,000 which were not included in those numbers, so they're not included in the dollars that we've gone out and borrowed to complete the project. Now, we've got to complete the project, but we cannot continue to come back before this Court with additional cost. Somewhere, somebody's got to know where the bottom line is. We're going to find that real quick. MR. LONGNECKER: That's what I'm trying to get a i ~ i• 110 r~ r 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 I6 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 handle on right now. JUDGE HENNEKE: I'm just venting a little frustration here, because we're faced with the situation where we've got to come up with, today, $35,000-plus that was not anticipated, or at least it was not disclosed back when the $2.3 million was borrowed. MR. LONGNECKER: Mm-hmm. JUDGE HENNEKE: And it wouldn't have been hard to borrow $2.9 million dollars; I don't think that would have made a lot of difference. But it is awfully hard to come up with $35,000. So -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: So if y'all could get -- if you could just come up with what else may be hidden or something that we have not budgeted for so we can at least get an idea. MR. LONGNECKER: I agree. Mike, are we pretty close to having a handle on everything that is needed? MR. WALKER: Yes, as far as I'm concerned. There was just -- to speak of that issue, there was a contingency amount that I think Tommy Tomlinson brought up at the time the previous Court reviewed this, and it -- there was that discussion. I don't know if you remember that, Jonathan, but there was a discussion that you can't just go, you know, with that number; there's nothing to allow for -- for change orders or anything else. And in any renovation, you're going to have to anticipate a certain percentage, if nothing else, 111 /`` ~, 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 to determine that you're going to have a little bit of flex in there. There are additional costs. So I -- it was my understanding, when they were talking about it -- I wasn't in on that discussion too much, but my understanding that they were going to put funds in there to take care of -- of those ancillary contingencies. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Was there not a program management or reserve -- I don't know what they call it in the building business, but there normally -- you have a program reserve -- it's called a program reserve that -- that you don't spend if you don't need it, but when things come upl in a large project, you tap it. Do we know for -- Tommy's not here. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I was going to -- let me reask the question, the original question which started this. That this is not -- this is part of the bid price, but it's -- it is contained within the contingency; is that what you're telling us? MR. WALKER: I would not call it part of the bid price. The bid price is lust what -- between you and Stoddard, but there's a -- as he said, there's -- there is a -- what we call a contingency amount. He had another name for it, but this is an amount that you need to leave in there as a cushion, because there are going to be other expenses. And testing is just sort of a normal owner expense that -- i I li I ~. i 112 ~~ ,•^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 that comes -- that sits on top of any project. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: You have a change request. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's why you put in a contingency. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Routinely, you can have a contingency. JUDGE HENNEKE: Does anybody recall how much the contingency is7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't know. I JUDGE HENNEKE: Did we borrow the contingency? COMMISSIONER LETZ: I believe we did. MR. WALKER: It was my understanding that we did that, Judge, and we also put some money there -- for example, there's -- furnishings is another big issue that needs to come on up. There's no reason for that to be in Stoddard's contract. JUDGE HENNEKE: No. No. MR. WALKER: So, these issues -- yeah, there were a whole bunch of them, 'cause we were concerned they were getting ready to borrow money just on the amount of the bid price, and that was not going to -- COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Project cost. Not bid price, project cost. MR. WALKER: Yes, sir. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Anticipated project costs. 1 I I I I~ Y 113 r- 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. LONGNECKER: Taking these as separate contracts with the testing, asbestos, furnishings, and some those of items, is really money-saving to the County, because it is not then marked up by the general contractor, who will be Stoddard in this job. So, taking these extra contracts, we do have some savings. JUDGE HENNEKE: No one disagrees with the need for the testing; we just have to make sure we know where the funds are. If we have a sufficient contingency that we can take these out of that contingency, we're in good shape. COMMISSIONER LETZ: My recollection is we have one. I don't know how much the amount is; I can't recall that. And -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, at some point we need the Auditor in here. Can we start him this way, maybe? MS. SOVIL: It's after 11:30; he's at lunch. We have $2.3 million, and I don't know what the Stoddard contract was, is what's budgeted. JUDGE HENNEKE: What's the Stoddard contract? Don't we have the representative here? MR. WALKER: No. $2,367,500, I believe. You've got a copy of it. COMMISSIONER LETZ: But there's a large budgeted amount in this year's budget already. There's an amount, so '!' I li~lA I. 119 /~^ r^. /"` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 we already have re -- in reserves, in cash. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: In our budget? COMMISSIONER LETZ: In our budget, that we didn't need. MS. SOVIL: It's not budgeted. We lust budgeted 2.3. MS. NEMEC: And we received 2.6-something. I have my file in my office if you want to know the exact amount, but it was 2.6. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: 10 or 15 percent? COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. It was -- 2.6 seems Like the amount that we went out for tax anticipation. (Commissioner Baldwin left the courtroom.) MR. WALKER: What happened is y'all -- I believe, if I recall correctly, you appropriated $300,000, and a lot of that went to the Phase II construction, went to pay us, and then the very last amount of it ran over the $300,000, as I recall. They had to -- I forgot what Tommy did. Somehow he moved that into next year or something like that. But -- but, essentially, all that $300,000, I believe, was used up II in the previous contract work and paying us and other engineers' services. JUDGE HENNEKE: I think that additional was paid back. COMMISSIONER LETZ: But budgeted, right. We need i ~ i .. 115 /`` r"` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 to -- maybe we can just table this and -- JUDGE HENNEKE: We'll, we've got -- COMMISSIONER LETZ: Keith's the one that knows it. We can approve the contract. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Could we -- could we handle this by authorizing the Judge to -- given that we can find where the money comes from, so that we don't have to revisit it after two weeks? JUDGE HENNEKE: Why don't we do that? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is that a motion? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I'll so move that, if that's possible, if that's legal. I would move that the County Judge be authorized to sign these two contracts -- JUDGE HENNEKE: One at a time. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Okay. This one first, the Drash -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Drash contract. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: -- contract. Given that we can identify and -- and have a proper source of funds. MR. LONGNECKER: If we're going to cover -- excuse me. If we're going to cover the contracts, we have one more. And that will be -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: We'll do that separately. JUDGE HENNEKE: That's a separate agenda item. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Separate agenda item, so ,~"~ i i ;~ 116 /'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 we'll -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Everything's separate. COMMISSIONER WiLLIAMS: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. It's been moved by Commissioner Griffin and seconded by Commissioner Baldwin that we approve the contract of Drash Consulting Engineering, Inc., and authorize County Judge to sign same. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge -- 3UDGE HENNEKE: Or Williams, I'm sorry. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved by Commissioner Griffin and seconded by Commissioner Williams that we approve the contract with Drash Consulting Engineers for testing services in an amount not to exceed $11,600, and that the -- after consultation with the Auditor, the County will identify the source of funds and we'll bring it back at our next meeting. Is that accurately summarized? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I was going to say go ahead and sign the contract if the funds are -- we know that the funds are available so that we cannot hold up the contracts till our next meeting, but that you be authorized to go ahead and sign the contract if the funds are available. JUDGE HENNEKE: Well, what I want to do is -- I don't want to make that determination myself, apart from funds. What I want to do is get the contract authorized, I ~` ~'^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 i i o 117 can sign it. We won't get a bill before the next meeting. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Okay. (Commissioner Baldwin returned to the courtoom.) JUDGE HENNEKE: And at the next meeting, we can then identify the source of funds for this contract. And I'm going to suggest we probably want to do the same thing on the next one. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Okay, fair enough. JUDGE HENNEKE: Okay. It's been moved and seconded. Little bit of comment. Keith, the contract is i with the County? MR. LONGNECKER: Yes. JUDGE HENNEKE: Not with Mr. Walker? Page 2, under Indemnification Limitation, identifies Mr. Walker as the client. We'll need to have that corrected. MR. LONGNECKER: Okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: I would prefer to have the proposal -- or the proposal is to the Commissioners Court, so that's fine, but page 2 will have to be corrected to identify the County as the client. Okay? MR. LONGNECKER: Okay. JUDGE HENNEKE: Moved and seconded. All in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. /"~ I 1, ~ .• 118 ~~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. Let's move on to 2.15, consider and discuss Services by Raba-Kistner for additional asbestos abatement. I've handed out to each of you a contract with -- MR. LONGNECKER: Jupe. 3UDGE HENNEKE: Jupe Company. The amount of the contract presented to us is $24,990, as opposed to the $16,200 which we approved at the last meeting, and I think Mr. Longnecker's here to explain why it's gone up. MR. LONGNECKER: Additional asbestos material has been discovered; it was discovered in the annex building. And that amounts to some black mastic insulation on the insulation of duct work, which will be removed as part of the remodeling, and that must be abated along with other asbestos materials, such as the Transite ceiling and soffit panels. Also, this will include the mastic on insulation on the lateral roof drain lines that are still in the building, and -- and will also include reinsulating those lines, because they stay in place. But, that gets rid of the insulation. There's a breakdown of Jupe's contract here that indicates $8,060 for the additional floor the and mastic, which is also a part of the additional materials discovered. The pipe insulation is only $730; that's both removal and replacing of that pipe insulation. And, that's how it increased from i ~ i .o 119 r 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 $16,200 to the $29,990. This, in my opinion, is a good contract. Usually these types of abatement projects in a building this size run much higher than this. As a former asbestos consultant myself, I would say that this is a good price. I just recently, just this morning, received signed contracts of the Jupe contract that you have that Jupe has signed and is willing to work for that price. I have also consulted with Tom Poddard -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Pollard. MR. LONGNECKER: -- Pollard, the County Attorney. He has given his approval. I have one copy with his signature on it. That happened late Friday afternoon. So -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: That's the original contract you're talking about, for the 16-2? MR. LONGNECKER: No, the -- this present one that you're looking at for the twenty -- I've -- I received this contract last Friday. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I got you. MR. LONGNECKER: And was able to get to Mr. Pollard on Friday afternoon, and he approved it. And -- and then the contractor has signed it. It is waiting for your signature. Now, the start date of removal of the asbestos was to be today. However, since the contractor cannot begin, based on his own insurance that he cannot begin today because he does not have this signed contract, we have asked the Health r^` i ~ i ~ 120 /"`' ~'^ ~"` 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 Department to extend the starting date to the 29th, which is Wednesday, in hopes that we will get this approved and -- by you and be able to start Wednesday to remove all of this asbestos material. This should finalize and complete and you'll not have any asbestos anywhere left in the building, should be an asbestos-clean building. Now, if we start prior to that -- the State likes to issue citations when we don't start on the date we say we're going to. So, we start later and we don't tell them we're going to start later, so it's kind of touchy, in a way, with how our timing on this thing goes. So, I'd like to see it gotten back to the contractor as soon as possible so that they can, indeed, start Wednesday. He can start tomorrow in getting his equipment set up; lust so he doesn't actually start any abatement. JUDGE HENNEKE: We actually don't -- we don't have any choice. If we're going to do the work, we have to do the abatement, so hopefully, we now have a final verdict on this. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: This becomes a replacement contract for the one we approved earlier? MR. LONGNECKER: There is one more item that goes with this. The State likes to collect a fee each time an abatement project goes -- goes in like this, and they have received this bill of $1,775 fees, which was for the original amount, and does not include the -- the new amount of --.-..r.---~--lT`T 1 1 I 1 li 121 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 1? 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 materials to be -- so that is going to change; however, that's not due until the 6th of April. JUDGE HENNEKE: Put that in line to be paid. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Yeah, right. MR. LONGNECKER: So that -- and I hope that this is everything that I have in the way of -- of new financial charges that need to be presented. But, that should take care of it. I don't know how much this new one is going to be because of the additional materials that were added to the abatement contract. JUDGE HENNEKE: The new tax. Does anyone have any questions? Any comments? Do I have a motion to approve the contract with Jupe Company for asbestos abatement in the amount of $24,990 in substitution for the one approved at the previous meeting? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: So moved. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second, with a question. Are we contracting with Raba-Kistner or Jupe? MR. LONGNECKER: You're contracting with Jupe. Raba-Kistner is the consultants. They will be monitoring the process by which the is asbestos is removed. COMMISSIONER LETZ: And the reason I ask that is I'm reading the agenda, how it's posted. I shouldn't bring up some details, I know, but -- JUDGE HENNEKE: Raba-Kistner brought the additional i n ~ ~ 122 r~ ~,..., 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 abatement to the attention of our consultant, which is how we wire into that one. So, it's been moved by Commissioner Griffin, seconded by Commissioner Letz, that we approve the contract in the amount of $24,990 With Jupe Company, Inc., for the purpose of asbestos abatement on the renovation, which contract is in substitution for the contract previously approved by this Court. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. {No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. You're excused. (Commissioner Williams left the courtroom.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Last, but not least, 2.16, consider and discuss proposed revision of District courtrooms and District Clerk's office after review and detailed revisions mandated by various and sundry individuals, including the District Judges. MR. WALKER: Thank you, Judge, Commissioners. In your packet, I believe you got a little floor plan -- reduced floor plan of what has been approved. I have the original here that's signed by the Judges, as you can see, and the District Clerk, saying that this is it; they're not going to change it again. Now, in this plan, it also incorporates a good many of the -- well, put it this way; all of the A.D.A. f^ i l I I 16 .~ 123 ,~"_ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 requirements that we know to-date firmly are there. You are aware that we have appealed to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation concerning one of their requirements to cut our toilets down from five to two up there, and I think the Judge has also issued a support letter with that, and we've -- we feel like we have a pretty good chance of getting that done, so those toilets are still shown the way we anticipate them being. Any -- I won't say all of the changes, but as far as we're able to derive as to what the Texas Historical Commission will approve, mostly relative to the courtroom -- the existing District courtroom, are covered in this plan, as well. So, to the best of our knowledge at this point, this is the latest and, we hope, the final revisions that will be made, including some revisions to Linda Uecker's office, which we were able to sort of compromise with the Texas Historical Commission in the last week or so. I think Commissioner Baldwin was there, and some of that negotiation -- he understands some of the thinking that went in to it. He may have something he wants to add to this. But, really, I think that this is as -- as close to a final plan as we can come up with. And, as I say, the District Court officials have signed off on this one, so I hope it's final. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: I have a quick question, Mike. The letter that you have written to the Historical 124 ~^ /"~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 Commission? MR. WALKER: Yes? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: What response do you expect to that? I mean, from -- what type of response and what -- what's their mood going to be when you hear from them, or when we hear back from them? MR. WALKER: I don't know. I -- Linda's not available? She was -- Linda Uecker was pretty adamant about not wanting to -- to implement a Iot of changes that they wanted to do up there. And, just to refresh your -- what they wanted -- the Texas Historical Commission wanted, was that courtroom to still look like a courtroom with, you know, minor modifications made, so that in the future, if somebody decided that, Hey, we want to make that a courtroom again, the little decorative items like the one you see sitting above the Judge there that are also upstairs, those -- those would still be there and they could -- they could reconstitute that as a courtroom if they wanted to in the future. They were unhappy with -- with the decision to -- to move the court in the first place, as you know. But I think we convinced them, for security reasons, it just had to be done. So, okay. Let's take this courtroom and let's try to keep it as a courtroom -- District Clerk's office, and try to keep it as much like a courtroom as possible. And, what you _ __ -_- -- - __- -----r--- - n-- I II I I 11 ~i 125 ,~'~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 see on that plan in front of you were a lot of compromises, but we -- we were able to keep most of the doors and openings where they were, and still not lose function at -- for Linda's operation. So -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Let me ask a different -- MR. WALKER: Let me try to answer. I don't know the answer to that, exactly. I have -- I've got a call in to them right now to find out what their response is. But I will -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Let me ask, what if their response is totally negative and they say, "This, to us, is unacceptable." What's the next step? MR. WALKER: Well, I -- I'm not totally sure, legally, what the answer to that is. They can -- they say that they have a clause in the Courthouse Preservation law where they can stop progress for six months. Practically speaking, knowing that we won't even address this courtroom for six months, because that's sort of Phase 3b, but it's still part of Stoddard's contract, we may well have six months before the issue ever is faced down. I would hate to speculate as to what the -- the local Historical Commission will do, but I would be seriously doubtful that they would pick up the banner on this. But, the whole concept, as it's explained to me, for the 6-month waiting period is so the Texas Historical Commission can contact local groups and •"~ i i i ;~ 126 i^-~ r 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 perhaps build some support for not having the alterations made. So, I don't -- I guess what -- to answer your question, I think that they could bow their back and say, "No, we don't think you should do that and we're going to make that official" -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And they do that because they don't have any authority at all, to be quite frank. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Yeah. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Somehow, they have convinced everybody that they have six months timeframe to run out and grab a bunch of locals for it, but they just don't have any authority. They don't have any authority. MR. WALKER: In talking with -- to follow up on that, in talking with Judge Ables, he said that he could never find in the law where they had that authority, anyway. But, he said that if we -- if the Court -- Commissioners Court wanted to authorize Ilse Bailey to research it and find out if there is even something on the books there. But, I mean, I've -- I've been told this ever since I was on the Historical Commission, for 15 years or so, that they have the ability to stop a project, whether they do or not. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: One of the things that they wanted to do, and I think it's addressed in this letter here, is to keep -- they wanted to keep the Judge's bench and jury -- jury box and witness stand that -- you know, that little --_____-r---._ ~ 11. 1 I L I..1 i 127 /'."^ /^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 complex, keep that in place. And, that completely -- COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Blows it. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, it blew our District Clerk. She short-circuited right at that point. MR. WALKER: We were right out of the room. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Hut, you know, you stop and think about it, it would be neat -- I kind of agree with them in the sense that it would be neat to be able to incorporate that somehow. But -- but our plans won`t allow that. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: That was put in -- those, as I recall from the letter, were put in when? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm not sure. MR. WALKER: Yeah, the -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Recently. MR. WALKER: The '50's. A lot of that renovation was done in the '70's. But the bench, itself, according to Joe Burkett, was put in in the `50's, so it wasn't even from that era to begin with. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And Mr. Walker brought that up. He said, you know, "This door was put in just recently." And their comment was, "Well, it's historical. That's the way we see it now." That's what they said. MR. WALKER: There's a lot of subjectivity. JUDGE HENNEKE: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? I i I I a 128 f 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that's right. MR. WALKER: Lot of subjectivity there, but -- MR. LONGNECKER: Mike, excuse me. Did you mention that there is another use fox that bench down in -- MR. WALKER: That's what I was going to tell you, that we have since measured J.P. 3 down there, and that whole thing -- it will have to be taken apart, but, I mean, it can be moved more or less intact down there, and Judge Tench is all in favor of that, as long as the Court doesn't see any objection to it. They were never supposed to just take that stuff and haul it to the dump, anyway; it was to be given to the County, regardless. And, so, it -- it's yours to -- we're not changing the scope of the project any. It would just be reinstalling it down there. And then I think the Judge -- J.P. 3 has a whole list of -- laundry list of things he wants to take up with you concerning that issue. But, anyway, that's another subject for another day. JUDGE HENNEKE: Does anyone have any questions about the revised plans? If not -- COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The only revision that I see, really, is the District Clerk's office space here. MR. WALKER: Correct. In the District Clerk's office, yeah. There were some other things you see. COMMISSIONER LETZ: Couple of doors. T-~ ~. '. IL:1 129 ,~^^ i'^ /'` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. WALKER: That doorway in the hall, he made us -- and that's not a big issue. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: "He made us"? MR. WALKER: Excuse me. He encouraged us to do that. And we moved some windows around a little bit. But, I mean, we basically -- we did not lose a whole lot. We picked up a door, so we may have picked up a little bit of money as well on the change order. As you know, there's going to be a change order come to us after this is issued to the contractor; they're going to come back and say, "We need X dollars to do it." And, we sort of took some things out in addition to that, so hopefully it will come out as a wash, but I can't promise that at this time. COMMISSIONER LETZ: What will your fee be to do this, as well? MR. WALKER: You've already approved that as the $4,500 to incorporate all that. COMMISSIONER LETZ: All right. Motion to approve the revised plan. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Second. COMMISSIONER LETZ: As presented today, with signatures on it. COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Second. JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion's been made by Commissioner Letz and seconded by Commissioner Griffin to approve the i .. 130 /^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 2c /\ revised plans as presented today, with signatures attached. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your right hand. (The motion was carried by unanimous vote.) JUDGE HENNEKE: All opposed, same sign. (No response.) JUDGE HENNEKE: Motion carries. MR. WALKER: Thank you. JUDGE HENNEKE: I am not at this time aware of any Executive Session items. (Discussion off the record.) JUDGE HENNEKE: I presume we do not have an Executive Session. Information agenda? Reports from Commissioners, Road and Bridge monthly report, Maintenance monthly report? I'd like a motion to approve the Road and Bridge monthly report and the Maintenance monthly report. MS. SOVIL: Nave we got them? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I don't have one. JUDGE HENNEKE: We didn't get them? Well, if we didn't get them, we won't approve them. How about that? MS. SOVIL: I think it comes to you, personally. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, there's only one other item that I can see there, and that is that when we don't have Executive Session, then the County Judge buys lunch. That's the way -- that's the way we've always done 131 C`~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ,,.. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 it. Isn't it, Thea? COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN: Is that by statute or by policy? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: By statute. The hysterical commission says. JUDGE HENNEKE: I think we ought to rotate that with the Commissioners, and we'll start with -- 1. We are adjourned. (Commissioners Court was adjourned at 12:07 p.m.y /'~ I 'I I I li.ii I 132 ..i" ' 1 2 3 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 rr-~ 13 _, 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 STATE OF TEXAS I COUNTY OF KERR I The above and foregoing is a true and complete transcription of my stenotype notes taken in my capacity as County Clerk of the Commissioners Court of Kerr County, Texas, at the time and place heretofore set forth. DATED at Kerrville, Texas, this 5th day of March, 1999. JANNETT PIEpPE~R,-County Clerk BY : ~ f~/.tiNCIC Kathy B ik, Deputy County Clerk Certified Shorthand Reporter i i i;. ;~ The foregoing minutes were found to be correct and are hereby approved this the 8th day of March, 1999• ~", COMMISSIONER PRECT #1 ~ , B LWL IAS COMMISSIONER PRECT #2