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KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT
Special Session
Monday, June 22, 2009
9:00 a.m.
Commissioners' Courtroom
Kerr County Courthouse
Kerrville, Texas
PRESENT: PAT TINLEY, Kerr County Judge
H.A."BUSTER" BALDWIN, Commissioner Pct. 1
WILLIAM "BILL" WILLIAMS, Commissioner Pct. 2
JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Pct. 3
BRUCE OEHLER, Commissioner Pct. 4

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I N D E X
June 22, 2009
--- Visitors' Input
--- Commissioners' Comments
1.1 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on
request from Robert Palmer for use of Flat
Rock Park on a Saturday in August for "Dog
Day of Summer"
1.2 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action
regarding South Texas Blood & Tissue conducting
a blood drive using courthouse parking lot on
July 16 or August 6, 2009
1.3 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on
requesting a joint meeting with City Council
concerning EIC funding
11.7 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on
resolution supporting legislation to change or
repeal Texas Tax Code Section 23.175 to bring
all Texas taxpayers into an equitable position
1.10 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to
authorize construction of building and facilities
on Kerr County property at the law enforcement
facility for office space for Adult Probation
and storage
1.4 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action for a
public hearing for Tracts 8, 9 and 10 of Kerrville
Ranchettes, Precinct 4
1.5 Public Hearing regarding proposed changes to the
"Order Requiring the Registration of Dangerous
Wild Animals"
1.6 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on
request from Hill Country Home Builders to be
added to nonprofit list to receive a reduced
rate on Exhibit Hall and Indoor Arena at HCYEC
1.8 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to
apply for membership in "The Cooperative
Purchasing Network" and authorize County Judge
to sign related documents
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I N D E X (Continued)
June 22, 2009
1.9 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action for
approval of a video teleconference system
proposal and authorize County Judge to sign same
1.11 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on
amendment to lease for the Thad M. Ziegler
Building which is currently being used for
Adult Probation Department
4.1 Pay Bills
4.2 Budget Amendments
4.3 Late Bills
4.4 Approve and Accept Monthly Reports
5.1 Reports from Commissioners/Liaison Committee
Assignments
5.2 Reports from Elected Officials/Department Heads
--- Adjourned
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On Monday, June 22, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., a special
meeting of the Kerr County 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 TINLEY: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Let me call to order this regularly scheduled meeting of the
Kerr County Commissioners Court posted and scheduled for this
time and date, Monday, June 22nd, 2009, at 9 a.m. It is that
time now. Commissioner Williams?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Will you please rise and
join me in a moment of prayer, followed by the pledge of
allegiance to our flag.
(Prayer and pledge of allegiance.)
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you. Please be seated. At
this time, if there's any member of the public or the
audience that wishes to be heard on any matter that is --
excuse me -- not a listed agenda item, feel free to come
forward at this time and tell us what's on your mind. If you
wish to be heard on a listed agenda item, we'd ask that you
fill out a participation form. There should be some located
!, at the back of the room. If, in fact, there are not any
i there, or if you fail to fill one out and -- and desire to be
25 ~ heard on an agenda item, why, when that item comes up, just
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get my attention in some manner, and I'll see that you have
the opportunity to be heard. But right now, anybody that
wishes to be heard on any matter that is not a listed agenda
item, come forward and tell us what's on your mind.
Ms. Pieper?
MS. PIEPER: Gentlemen, Cheryl and I just got back
from our 114th annual County and District Clerk's conference
in South Padre Island. One of the afternoon -- evening
events after our classes was over were several different
contests. One of them was the hula hoop contest.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Was the what?
MS. PIEPER: The hula hoop contest.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Oh.
MS. PIEPER: And I'm proud to announce that Cheryl,
our chief deputy, won grand champion.
(Applause.)
JUDGE TINLEY: Should we call for a demonstration
of that? (Laughter.)
MS. PIEPER: She didn't bring the hula hoop home
with her.
JUDGE TINLEY: I see. Just happen to have one in
the next room.
MS. THOMPSON: Okay.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anybody else wishing to be heard?
Come forward; give us your name and address, please, and tell
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us what's on your mind.
MR. HENNEKE: Good morning, gentlemen. My name is
Fred Henneke; I live at 2595 Bandera Highway. I'm here to
talk about a dangerous situation on Flat Rock Lake. My home
is on the lake. I've lived there now -- this is my fifth
summer, and this is the first occasion that I've had to be
concerned and to bring to your attention a situation with
boaters. I find it very uncomfortable to be swimming off of
the bank off the little dock I have on my property, and have
skiers be closer to me than the length of this courtroom, and
boats closer to me than from that wall to the far wall where
the restroom is. I'm told that the boaters have come to Flat
Rock Lake because, for whatever reason, Ingram Lake is no
longer suitable for them, and it is a dangerous situation.
You cannot have power boats and -- and people in floats,
people in kayaks, and people who are swimming in that close
proximity.
The other issue I'd bring to your attention is the
effect of the wakes of these boats. It is tearing up the
bank along there. My neighbor, Allen Stern, has authorized
me to say that he -- he anticipates losing one large cypress
tree if something's not done because of the erosion under the
I roots. The boats have never been there before in the five
years I've been there. I'm not sure what brings them there.
Again, I'm told it is a situation out in Ingram, but it is
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dangerous. My preference would be for that lake to be a
no-wake zone lake, but if that's not -- not possible, then I
would ask that the part of the lake towards Highway 173,
where the houses are, be a no-wake zone, and allow the boats
to enjoy the other part of the lake that is towards the back
of the Ag Barn and the county park. Somebody's going to get
hurt. And when you have a confrontation between a boat or a
skier and somebody that's down in the water, the person in
the water loses.
', But the people that are really going to lose are
the people who are responsible for that lake. The boats come
close enough that you can have a conversation with them. The
boats come close enough you can tell what kind of beer
they're drinking. The guy who drives the boat prefers
regular Budweiser. Most of his buddies prefer Coors Light.
(Laughter.) It sounds comical, but it's not. It's a
dangerous situation, and one that I need to bring to your
attention, because somebody is going to get hurt. I've had a
guy do a flip and -- and wipe out of it closer than from here
to the back wall. All it takes is somebody to lose control
or somebody not to see somebody who's out in the water
swimming, maybe sitting on a noodle or with some sort of a
flotation device, and you've got a serious accident. So, I'm
here to ask you for your help and your consideration in
resolving this matter before somebody does get hurt very
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badly. Anyone have any questions?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I'll be in touch with you.
MR. HENNEKE: Okay. Thank you all.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, Fred. Good to
MR. HENNEKE: Thanks.
JUDGE TINLEY: Is there anyone else that wishes to
be heard on any matter that is not a listed agenda item?
Seeing no one else seeking to be recognized, we'll go
forward. Commissioner Williams?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Nothing, Judge.
JUDGE TINLEY: Commissioner Letz?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just an e-mail we got; I
presume y'all got it too, about the flows in the river being
85 percent of normal, or down 85 percent. Serious -- pretty
serious situation on the drought side. It's very early in
the year for the river to be that -- flowing that low, and
many of the water rights are being curtailed in the city, or
cut back, including the city of Kerrville, so everyone just
needs to be mindful of water use. I think we're a little bit
fortunate that some good rains fell to the north of us and
the aquifers are still pretty strong, but that will probably
drop, and start dropping pretty quick, I suspect, with our
increased consumption. And then the city of Kerrville
switched to their ASR wells.
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COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: They're going to Stage 2.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah, but as they start -- even
though we've been told that they were -- the aquifer,
especially the Lower Trinity, moves inches a year, it's --
from the people in Comfort, anyway, they know when the city
pumps -- turns on their ASR wells and starts pumping, the
flow in the city of Comfort's wells all drop substantially.
So, that's it. There's a big impact when the City makes this
change. That's it.
JUDGE TINLEY: Commissioner Oehler?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I echo what you're saying.
I've been hearing more and more from the water well people.
The levels in a lot of the Middle Trinity wells are -- are
really dropping, and I know of one that called me the other
day that -- out here on Cypress Creek that, all of a sudden,
their water -- their well started pumping air. Called the
water well person out and they pulled the pump, checked the
level, and it was down 47 feet in less than a month, and they
only have 23 feet of water left in that hole. So, you know,
that's -- that's the beginning of some pretty serious stuff,
sounds to me like, and we need to be careful how we consume
our water. We -- only other thing is that there's been a
little controversy, I think, on who -- on the Ingram --
Ingram Hills that has been brewing for a while over some guy
draining -- draining a lake so he could do some dam repair.
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And Mr. Voelkel went out and made the determination who
actually owns that valve, and we were thinking maybe the
County did, but that's not the case; it belongs to the lot
that's below all those property lines going to the center of
the -- of the road there. They are not deeded, and so it
puts the ownership of that on Property Number 47, and the
County doesn't have any control over it, even though the dam
is part of our roadway. But all we have is an easement; we
do not own that right-of-way, although the county road
encumbers it. Other than that, nothing.
JUDGE TINLEY: Commissioner Baldwin?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Sir, I went to -- Saturday,
I went to a fundraiser party out at the Divide Volunteer Fire
Department, and I want Commissioner Oehler -- if he could
talk about that just a little bit. I was just an invited
guest and went out there, and it was one of the best --
well-prepared and good pieces of meat, too. Bruce, thank
you. (Laughter.) Well-prepared functions that I've been to
in a long time. I was -- I was shocked and surprised by the
crowd. Do you have any idea how many --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: It was a good event. They --
there was, in my estimation, somewhere around 450 people that
showed up for the very first, hopefully annual, event. I
have no idea how much money they raised, but it was a lot of
effort went into that. And I was asked to cook for people
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who did not want to cook their own steak, and that started
about -- well, the steak cooking started about 5:00, and I
think we got home about 11:00, and I don't think that I ever
walked away from a pit long enough to do anything. But,
anyway, it was a good event, and we hope that they'll have it
again next year, and I hope they made some money.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: They're building a fire
~ department?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Yes. They had a guy that
donated a -- the land. They have it fenced, and they have a
~ pad built.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Looks good.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: It looks real good. It's
right next to the highway. Good access. I think they're
planning to move forward. I believe they have gotten a
little grant money, and they're looking for more, but it'll
really be a big addition to the emergency services in that
end of the county, because it's so cut off from everywhere
else. You know, Mountain Home is the closest thing, and
then, of course, Hunt helps. But if you're already there,
you can respond quicker. I think they have about 17
firefighters that have signed up on it within the department.
So -- and they have some good equipment. They really do.
So, we're looking forward to them getting that done, and
Mountain Home, I believe, is going to -- got some funding for
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a fire station, so things are looking up in the west end for
fire protection.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's the only thing --
JUDGE TINLEY: Anything else?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's the only thing I had.
Thanks.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Glad you reminded me, Buster.
JUDGE TINLEY: When you said that was good meat, I
assume Bruce cooked yours, didn't he?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bruce cooked mine; he sure
did.
JUDGE TINLEY: And with him cooking, do you expect
', anything less than the best?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I did not.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
II COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: At all.
JUDGE TINLEY: That's the way it turns out.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's the way it works.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Let's get on with our agenda.
The first item on the agenda is to consider, discuss, and
take appropriate action on a request from Robert Palmer for
use of Flat Rock Park on a Saturday in August for "Dog Day of
Summer." Mr. Palmer?
Gentlemen, I think we can
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request is to have a true Dog Day of Summer to recognize and
sort of honor our four-legged friends for their loyalty and
friendship, and have a day just for dogs and their owners at
Flat Rock Park. Now, what this would entail is, so far I've
-- I've picked the date August the 8th, and that's not in
stone, but it would last from 8:00 to 12:00 in the morning,
before it gets too hot, and there would be several
organizations and businesses concerning the dogs. So far,
Purina has agreed to come. Also, Kerr County Animal Control.
I talked with Janie Roman, and she said they would set up a
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tent and explain their policies and work with adoption.
Also, Freeman-Fritts would come and be there. And that's an
example of the businesses that will be there. I intend to
also ask some others, such as the Humane Society, a
veterinarian, and it would just be a nice break in the summer
to have a -- a morning there to have people come with their
dogs, and Animal Control would be there to handle any
possible problems. So, I thought I would put this request
before you, answer any other questions you might have about
it. They -- people would come and just walk with their dogs
around the oval there, and also take advantages of coupons
and samples that Purina or any other company would have, talk
to vets, have a possibility of adopting some dogs if they so
wish. So, what do y'all think?
JUDGE TINLEY: Ms. Roman? You're in the loop on
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this?
MS. WHITT: Yes, I am.
JUDGE TINLEY: Excuse me, Ms. Whitt.
MS. WHITT: One of the -- like he said, one of the
things that we're wanting to do is set up a tent to educate
the -- put educational material out, such as the registration
program, things of that nature, also adoptions. But I only
have one concern about this day. Normally, people bring
their animals out there and they allow them to run without a
leash. My concern on that particular day is that with so
many animals out there, I'd really prefer that they all be on
-- on leashes that day. I'm just afraid that we might have
some dog bites or something. That would be my only -- my
only concern. So, I would ask that we require that they be
on leashes and they be wearing their collars and tags, that
', they be currently vaccinated.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's a reasonable
request. It seems to me, Mr. Palmer, that just about every
day at Flat Rock Lake Park is a dog day of summer, based
on --
MR. PALMER: That's true.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- based on what reports I
get from Parks Maintenance and reports I get from the
supervisor of the Jail Release program. The request that you
have been operating under is really not working, and so I'm
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not so sure about this one. I think Janie's suggestion, if
the Court agrees with this, is a very valid suggestion, that
all animals be on leash. And we're heading closer and closer
to my bringing it back for that to happen, period, because
things are just not working out out there like they ought to
work out. So, you and I probably need to talk before I come
I back to court.
MR. PALMER: Well, there are several of us -- most
of us with dogs that are off-leash there work very hard to
keep the park clean. The dogs are -- all the dogs that are
~I, off-leash that I know of are socialized. There are no dog
fights. Janie has not had complaints, so I'm just wondering
-- I'm -- you know, this is the first I'm hearing about this
not working out.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, it's the cleaning up
that's not working out, because while you probably do, and
some of your closer friends probably do, many people do not,
and if we're going to make some improvements to that park,
which I'd like for the Court to agree with me to do, and in
the next budget year, modest though they may be, dogs running
loose and people not cleaning up behind them is not the
answer for the general public use, and that's what I'm
concerned about. So, you and I need to talk about an
alternate solution. But --
MR. PALMER: You are aware --
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COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- I'll let the Court weigh
in on your request today.
MR. PALMER: Okay. But you are aware that dogs,
even when they're on-leash, people don't clean up after them?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yeah. Maybe the next step
is not having them at all.
MR. PALMER: Well, the people that are -- have them
off-leash are taking more --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: This is a debate.
MR. PALMER: -- responsibility about that.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: This is a discussion you
and I need to have privately. That's not the agenda item.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What was the date?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: August 8th.
MR. PALMER: August 8th. That's the second
Saturday in August, I think.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There's no boat shows,
waterskiing competitions, chili cook-off or any of that
stuff?
JUDGE TINLEY: Power boat races?
MR. PALMER: I checked with the secretary and she
didn't have anything -- have anything on the calendar.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: When is the river float
deal?
MS. GRINSTEAD: The 22nd.
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh, look at you.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: 22nd of July?
MS. GRINSTEAD: Of August.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: It's offshore, yeah. Dogs
can swim out there, though.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't have any problem with
it. I think Janie's suggestion needs to be followed. They
need to be on leashes if we're going to have some kind of
event, instead of -- it's a way to publicize the park. I
think animals are good in the park, but I do think that they
do need -- people need to clean up. You might also visit --
assuming we go with this, talk to Tara -- Brishone?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Bushnoe.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Bushnoe at U.G.R.A. They may
want to put up a -- some sort of a booth from the standpoint
of keeping the river clean, which they're very concerned
about people not cleaning up after their dogs, and all along
the Guadalupe River. It's causing a lot of the eco problem
in the river, that and the ducks. But --
MR. PALMER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- they might be willing to do
an educational booth. And also --
MS. WHITT: Which I just have one comment about the
duck thing. We are working with the City and U.G.R.A. in --
in capturing these ducks and relocating them.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: This is one of the -- I think I
must have dozed off for a minute. You appointed me to some
committee to work on this stuff.
MS. WHITT: We've already relocated 32 -- I believe
32 ducks that we've --
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, I think it also presents a
good opportunity for our Animal Control people to have
contact with the public, to educate the public, spay/neuter
program, vaccination/registration program, adoption to
continue that downward trend in our euthanasia rate. I think
that's a big plus to us by getting people that are
animal-friendly to be there. I think that's a major, major
component. And if we can get some of the -- some of the
vendors there that offer incentives to provide better health
for animals, better nutrition, so much the better. So much
the better.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I make a motion to, I guess --
are you going to coordinate it?
MR. PALMER: I'm the coordinator.
~I COMMISSIONER LETZ: That Mr. Palmer coordinate the
Dog Day of Summer from 8:00 to 12:00, August 8th, and to work
with Animal Control in establishing that event.
MS. WHITT: I did offer to help if he needed any
help coordinating it, making phone calls and getting anything
he needs.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: Whatever Janie feels is
appropriate. If that's what she feels is appropriate, what
she said, I agree Janie should have control over all this
issue, to me.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That should be part of the
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, it's part of the motion.
MR. PALMER: What is it that she'll have control
over?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just the safety aspects of it.
MR. PALMER: Okay.
JUDGE TINLEY: Dealing with the -- with the dogs
being on leash, being tagged and so forth, I think is what is
concerned.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: And that the intent is for dogs
to be leashed only that day.
MR. PALMER: When I advertise in the newspaper,
I'll put that all dogs on leash.
MS. WHITT: Yeah, because the dog law does require
that they be wearing collars and tags. And I know the last
thing that they had out at the Ag Barn for the -- the cancer
-- what was it, Buster? What was it called?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bark for Life.
MS. WHITT: Bark for Life. One of the first things
that I did notice was so many of the animals out there were
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not wearing collars or tags.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I was.
MS. WHITT: Yes, you were. (Laughter.) Yes, you
i were.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Did you have a dog collar
I on?
MS. WHITT: I think that's very important, that
other people know that their dogs are vaccinated, and that's
the law.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. Okay.
MR. PALMER: One thing I'd ask, that if people do
show up without them, that you give them a warning, and not
take their dog away.
MS. WHITT: Oh, well, we -- I couldn't take their
~ dog away --
MR. PALMER: Okay.
MS. WHITT: -- anyhow. But we would -- we would
educate them and talk to them.
MR. PALMER: Okay.
MS. WHITT: Just let them know what the laws are.
We're not going to...
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: We have a motion and a second as
indicated. Further question or discussion on the motion?
All in favor of the motion, signify by raising your right
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I hand .
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: The motion does carry. Let's --
MR. PALMER: Thank you.
I JUDGE TINLEY: -- go to Item 2, if we might.
Consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding
South Texas Blood and Tissue conducting a blood drive using
the courthouse parking lot on July 16 or August 6th, '09.
Ms. Hyde?
MS. HYDE: They're asking if they can do it again.
They did it last year; we had it out here. The two dates
that they gave me in the letter are July 16 or August 6.
Both are Thursdays, which are typically not as busy in the
courthouse, unless we have a big court case.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Which date do you want?
MS. HYDE: August. I'd prefer August. .But I
wanted to make sure Tim could weigh in on it, 'cause I don't
know if he's got something special going on either.
MR. BOLLIER: August 6th is fine with me.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move the motion to set
August -- or let South Texas Blood and Tissue conduct a blood
drive on August 6th, 2009.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Second.
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JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded as
indicated. Question or discussion on the motion? All in
favor of the motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
'~, (No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: The motion does carry.
MS. HYDE: Thank you, gentlemen.
JUDGE TINLEY: Let's move to Item 3; consider,
discuss, take appropriate action on requesting a joint
meeting with City Council concerning E.I.C. funding.
Commissioner Letz?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I put this on the agenda today
based on conversations I think we've had previously here,
conversations we've had at the Airport Board, and
conversations I've had with City Council in some of my recent
meetings -- or attending their meetings recently, that I
think that it would serve everybody well if -- the public, if
the County and City could sit down and let everyone know what
E.I.C. -- what the City Council is going to allow E.I.C. to
fund. And I say it that way because most recently, there was
an issue that we requested to go to them through the Airport
Board, and City Council refused to agree to do that. They
had a veto over that situation. They certainly have a lot of
control over it, and all funding issues come back through the
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City Council before they're done, so I don't think it
necessarily needs to be pawned off on E.I.C. to make the
call. I think it's the City Council's call. And I do think,
though, that probably it's appropriate for -- possibly for
City Council to include E.I.C. at that workshop, because they
are somewhat independent. And I think also, possibly, that
we can request the Airport Board at that workshop. I think
that it's -- from a budget standpoint going forward at the
airport, it is very important that the County understands
exactly what the City-slash-E.I.C. is going to fund out there
from an economic development standpoint.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I agree with your premise.
We do need to know that going forward, because if that
capital improvement plan out there continues to grow and
we're expected to fund 50 percent of that, as is the City
expected to fund 50 percent of that, I would like to see any
joint meeting we have be with all the players; E.I.C.
Board -- and there are some new members on that E.I.C. Board,
which is a real good opportunity for us to discuss the value
and the merits of the Airport Capital Improvement Plan --
City Council, Airport Board, and Commissioners Court. That's
a sizable room full, but I think that's probably where it
ought to go.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I agree. I think all those
parties should be present. I just -- and this is -- the
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intent of this agenda item is to get it moving forward. It
certainly should be as conclusive a meeting as possible, and
a workshop-type setting. I don't know that we need to have
action items there, but I think it would be very healthy to
have this discussion in the public's view.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Before budget comes up.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Before budget, which means it
needs to be done soon. City Council's aware that I was going
to put this on our agenda, so they're aware of the issue.
JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah. Commissioner, I recall at the
Council meeting where that issue was rather strongly debated
that you indicated that because of the Council's intended
action not to permit the Airport Board to even make
application, that you wanted to have a thorough sit-down with
them and find out exactly where all this is going because of
capital -- capital project issues, and I think we have to do
that.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: And one other person I
didn't -- we haven't mentioned yet is probably we ought to
have Guy Overby present, because he's certainly very involved
with the economic development issue. But I just think it's a
good idea to get this kind of out in the front. Certainly,
City Council has the trump card in this issue. They -- they
control it.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How do you propose to get
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this moving?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Request the County Judge to
write a letter to the mayor and request such a meeting, based
on this agenda item. Move approval of the agenda item.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded as
indicated. Question or discussion?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Just -- I just have a
request. I can't get my brain wrapped around the true
function of E.I.C., by law, what the law says that their
function is. And I know that that's been asked before, and I
~, know there's been some legal opinions. I'd appreciate it if
y'all would at least remind me of what those legal opinions
are before we go into that meeting, because if it's -- you
know, if their function is to help with economic development,
I then I think it needs to be defined, what's "economic
development" and what's not, you know. I mean, I -- I see
this airport issue that we went through a month or so ago, I
see that as economic development. We were developing the
~ airport so people can come in and build their businesses or
create businesses or whatever. That's -- otherwise, why have
an airport? So Jon and his rich little friends can fly in
and out in their airplanes. That's ridiculous.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Wait a minute. How'd I get
thrown in this?
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, I just thought I'd --
I thought I'd elevate you a little bit.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Can't land on Lane Valley
Road any more.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You can't land out there
yet. Yeah. Just define what -- what is the purpose and the
function of the E.I.C.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I agree. And I think maybe the
appropriate thing is to ask the City Attorney to brief the
whole group at the beginning of the meeting.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That would be great.
~ COMMISSIONER LETZ: Because he's the one, in
reality -- we can ask Rex, but Mike Hayes is the one that
tells City Council what their authority is.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. I think --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think that's a -- I think
it's a good idea.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Refresh my memory, where
E.I.C. funding comes from?
JUDGE TINLEY: 4B sales tax.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Sales tax.
JUDGE TINLEY: One-half -- one-half percent sales
I tax.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That's what I thought, but I
wanted to get that on the record.
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COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Of which about 45 to
50 percent comes from people who live outside the city
limits.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Exactly. And other places as
JUDGE TINLEY: Commissioner, I'd say that the
percentage of -- of those residing outside of the corporate
limits of the city of Kerrville that contribute is much, much
higher than 45 to 50 percent.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I think you're right,
Judge. I was just being conservative.
JUDGE TINLEY: Very conservative.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I always kind of use the rule
of thumb, probably 40 percent city, 40 percent county, and
20 percent others. That's probably pretty reasonable.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: This is a cachement for
purchases for all around the area. We're the closest
Walmart.
JUDGE TINLEY: Out of state tourists, sure.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Further question or
discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion,
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signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: Motion does carry. Let's go to Item
7, if we might; consider, discuss, take appropriate action on
resolution supporting legislation to change or repeal Texas
Tax Code Section 23.175 to bring all Texas taxpayers into an
equitable position. I put this on the agenda at the request
of Texas Association of Counties' general counsel, and also
some of my friends in counties that have a fair amount of oil
and gas properties as part of their tax base. Essentially,
this is not going to affect us much at all, but the -- as I'm
sure you know, the methodology for taxing oil and gas
properties was changed recently, causing a significant
reduction in tax revenue from -- from oil and gas properties,
and this particularly hurt a number of our brethren in other
county governments that have any portion of their tax base
that's -- that includes oil and gas properties. Some of
those -- some of those, as much as 70 percent of their tax
base is oil and gas. Some of them, possibly a little higher.
We're not -- we're not that affected here in Kerr County, but
we've got some -- we got some neighbors not too far away;
Junction, Edwards County, some in Real County, going out
west, Sonora. But they're asking our assistance in review of
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this valuation process back to where it was prior to the
change that was made.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, what -- can you
summarize quickly the change?
JUDGE TINLEY: It would go back to the old method
of valuation, which is market value of the -- determine
market value of oil and gas properties. The change that was
made a few years ago had to come off of a formula where they
projected forward the severance tax, and there was a
significant drop in the revenue that -- that was received.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, is the depletion
allowance that used to be and may still be on the books a
factor in this?
JUDGE TINLEY: No. No, has nothing to do with it.
The oil and gas counties merely wanted the value to go by the
market value, just like they value your house, my house, the
ranch. Of course, you've got the ag exemptions and so forth
that are provided for under the Tax Code. But it would go
back to the old --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: This got caught up in the
tail end of the session and did not get enacted.
JUDGE TINLEY: It did.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Move approval of the
resolution as proposed.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second.
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JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded for
approval. Question or discussion?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, my question is, when
-- when is this legislation going to come up for them to deal
with it? Next --
JUDGE TINLEY: Texas Association of Counties and
oil and gas counties are hopeful it can get included in the
call for the special session.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is there going to be a
special session?
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, that's what I hear from
everybody. I have not talked to Governor Perry, however,
which is probably the only one that can tell us the true
answer.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, who --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It seems to me that -- that
it needs to be included in here that if a special session is
called to deal with this thing -- if a special session's not
called, then you're talking two years.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, the Resolved talks
about supporting the legislation in the special session, so
the resolution assumes that the governor will -- or hopes the
governor will call a special session. It's in the Resolved.
JUDGE TINLEY: So, the resolution would have two
effects; one, to urge that it be included in the call, and
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secondly to pass it.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: The -- I went blank on what I
was going to ask you. Must not have been very important.
JUDGE TINLEY: Any other question or comment?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That's what happens when you
get old.
JUDGE TINLEY: All in favor of the motion, signify
by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: The motion does carry. Let's move
down to Item 10; consider, discuss, take appropriate action
to authorize construction of building and facilities on Kerr
County property at the law enforcement facility for office
space for Adult Probation and storage. I put this on the
agenda. It has some relationship to the -- to the next item
on the agenda. Currently, the Adult Probation people are
over at the Thad Ziegler Building, and on the next agenda
item, the issue of renewing that lease will -- will be
considered. Bottom line is, it's costing us about $40,000 a
year plus utilities and related expenses for that. It occurs
to me that if we were to construct a facility, probably
located at the law enforcement facility area back in the
north -- out towards the northwest corner, I guess it would
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probably be the best place to locate it; located from the
storage barn there, it would be off at about 1:00 to
2 o'clock. We could locate the Adult Probation people out
there, overbuild a facility in the metal building, utilize,
at least temporarily during the interim, the excess space
unfinished for storage facilities. We got some area
downstairs in the courthouse that's good build-out space that
we're going to be needing probably fairly soon as -- as we
grow, and our storage there, I think, could very easily be
moved out to the excess space at that facility. I'm looking
down the road, obviously. I think we did some preliminary
estimates. I talked with Commissioner Oehler, who has had
some experience with metal buildings. A base building with
foundation and 10-foot walls is -- we got an estimate of -- I
believe its $14 a square foot. Meaning a 6,000 square foot
building, unfinished, but slab foundation, metal sides, roof,
and insulated --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: And insulated.
JUDGE TINLEY: -- would run you about $84,000.
That's about two year's worth of lease on what we're paying
', over here for -- I suspect it's probably less than half of
that amount of space. There would be some finish out to it.
A lot of that finish out could be accomplished by in-house
maintenance, community service, jail personnel, much as we've
done here at the courthouse, out at the Exhibit Center in the
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horse barn that we've been upgrading out there. There would
be some costs associated for materials. We would have some
HVAC costs to add. We'd have the electrical and plumbing.
The -- the consideration of the new lease on -- on the
Ziegler Building for Adult Probation has been structured
to -- to possibly provide for a short-term basis there.
Also, there's been some suggestion that if we -- if we got
this thing planned up and kicked off quick enough, we might
be able to get it done, or close to done, before this lease
even comes up for renewal, possibly having to exercise a
month or two of holdover in the existing lease, which is
provided for in that lease. So --
~ up?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: When's the new lease come
JUDGE TINLEY: October 1.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Of this year?
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, you're -- what you're
saying is that we need to have this -- you're not saying
that, but your just recent statement said that it would be
nice if we had -- had this thing up and running, or the deal
cut and be a done deal before October 1?
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JUDGE TINLEY: Well --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Actually build --
JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah. Yeah.
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- before October 1?
JUDGE TINLEY: Or after, yeah.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So that means we're dealing
with money that's in today's budget.
JUDGE TINLEY: We have -- the Auditor tells me that
we do have some capital funds that remain available that
might well be used for that purpose.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Or could be used for other
purposes as well.
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: All right.
JUDGE TINLEY: But it -- it is capital money --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I understand.
JUDGE TINLEY: -- that we'd be dealing with.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And you're talking about
216th Adult Probation Department only?
JUDGE TINLEY: That's the only folks that are
located in the -- in the Ziegler Building at the present time
that the County is responsible for paying the cost.
Certainly, it probably would be appropriate to -- to
structure any new space so that all Adult Probation could be
-- could be placed there in the future.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: But we're not having that
conversation at this time? Just -- we're just --
JUDGE TINLEY: I understand that's not under --
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How many square feet do
they occupy in the Ziegler Building now?
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JUDGE TINLEY: I don't -- I couldn't give you that
figure. I'm going to guesstimate it's probably something
under 2,500 square feet.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I thought it was 2,500,
3,000, something like that.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Current?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Current.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So we would be, in effect,
doubling -- we would be providing double the amount of space
that they're occupying now, and we'd be using the remainder
for dry storage? Is that what you had indicated, Judge?
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm, exactly.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Anything else? Anything
I else?
MR. BARYON: May I be heard on the issue?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Hold on, Clay.
JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah, we'll give you an opportunity.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: This is -- I'm not in favor of
rushing, trying to get it done by -- anything done by October
1. We got -- it has to be bid.
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: We have to give notice. We
have two months before we could ever even start doing
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anything, you know, and that's being optimistic. We couldn't
even get somebody -- I mean, trying to get it done that
quick, I think you make mistakes when you rush. I think we
need to look at the total cost. I mean, I understand the
construction cost of a building is 84,000. I would guess
it's going to be another 100,000 to equip it and finish it
out properly if you're going to have it used for office
space, put air conditioning in it and water, you know, all
these other things. That's -- we can do a lot of it
in-house, but still, it's going to -- we're going to have to
hire, I mean, licensed electricians, licensed plumbers. I
don't think -- I don't think we can do that in-house.
JUDGE TINLEY: No.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Using master electricians,
people like that. Last time I had any construction work
done, I about fell over from the master electricians in this
town. So I think, you know, all that is -- you know, we need
to come up with a total number, not just a number of this
type. And Bruce probably has a good idea.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Well, I called; I got today's
price, basically, from the guy that does it.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: But -- so, I mean, that issue
is there. Other issue is, in the backup I see that we have
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plats of the law enforcement property and plats of the Recor
property.
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or the Juvenile Detention
Facility. So, I think we need to look at what property we
own and make sure we put it at the right spot. Obviously,
we -- it depends on the jail population. We go on again, off
again whether we're going to have to expand the jail. At
some point, we need to make sure that anything done with that
property or the other property, we're thinking long-term,
not, you know, just throwing up another building. We did --
we threw up a building pretty quick at the Ag Barn one time,
where the Extension Office is, and it's really not in a good
spot now. But -- you know, so I think we -- we really need
to be careful on the site planning part of it. I don't think
we -- do we own any other property anywhere? I think we're
~ pretty much --
JUDGE TINLEY: If you're talking about here locally
in the Kerrville area, no.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Ag Barn's the only other
spot .
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Ag Barn -- it's not appropriate
for the Ag Barn.
JUDGE TINLEY: Ag Barn, Road and Bridge.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I think what the Judge was
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proposing there, that would be placed in an area that more
than likely would never be built on for expanding the jail,
because everything behind the jail is left alone.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: This is behind the -- with
the storage building that's there now.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think -- I'm thinking,
wouldn't it make -- does that property join Main Street?
JUDGE TINLEY: No.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or adjacent?
JUDGE TINLEY: No.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Remember, we looked at the
adjoining piece.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: We got a small area that's in
the part of the property --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Anyway, I think it's certainly
worth looking into. I think you need to have the -- if
that's a strong consideration, the Sheriff needs to be part
of that discussion. I have no problem at all going to the
next step, but I think trying to get it done by October 1 is
a little bit ambitious.
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, I realize that October 1 would
be very optimistic. That's the reason I mentioned probably
ending up in a holdover provision of the existing lease
for --
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
JUDGE TINLEY: -- a few months. Another
consideration that's -- as Commissioner Oehler mentioned, all
of the area directly behind the jail where it was built for
potential expansion would -- would be left undisturbed, with
that in mind. The other -- the other thing from a time
standpoint that -- that was being considered was, your steel
prices are down considerably right now. When they're going
to turn the other direction, along with availability of
various trades that are pretty hungry right now, don't know
when that's going to be, but that was another -- another
thought --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Sure. Good time to do it.
JUDGE TINLEY: -- that caused this to jump up as
quickly as it did. I realize it comes on pretty short
notice, and -- and kind of like a bucket of cold water in the
face.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I think it's a good idea to
start looking at that, and if nothing else, to get a basic
design and plan drawn that would be buildable. There would
be some estimates -- cost estimates on the finish-out. And I
think we ought to move forward and see where we would stand
and the cost and all of that at this time, as opposed to
maybe sometime later.
25 I COMMISSIONER LETZ: Mm-hmm, I agree.
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COMMISSIONER OEHLER: You could take that money
that we're paying in rent right now and probably,
realistically, in about four years, you could completely pay
for the whole thing.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's the way I see
it, about a four-year payback.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: And that's why I think we
ought to -- you know, we should proceed, but cautiously and
not in a big hurry.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: $14, Judge, is just the
raw --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Just raw.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- raw building cost,
right?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That's slab, building, and
insulating.
JUDGE TINLEY: And insulating.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: No windows, no doors, no
I HVAC .
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No finish-out inside.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: No, no plumbing, none of
that.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That's just basic building.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So, it'd be realistic to
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double that.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Oh, easily.
JUDGE TINLEY: Probably triple.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I'd say triple.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Realistically.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Looking at this photo here
reminds me of something. There's this little leg that goes
down that easement. At one point, Whelan Plumbing was
interested in buying that from the County -- or getting it; I
won't say buying. Change of ownership there. But I'm not
sure -- it's pretty much a useless piece of property from the
County's standpoint, and it does have some value to that
business, so they may help pay for it, even if just...
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: May be worth an inquiry into
I new owners of it.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I think it's a good idea to
look into it and see what the costs really are, but I think
we need to get away from paying -- paying rent.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's good.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: And pay for it. We're still
going to have -- operational costs are going to be the same.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm all in favor of looking
into it, but I got to tell you, there is another option, and
that option is that the great State of Texas take care of
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their own Adult Probation office. There's nothing in stone
anywhere that the County needs to pay rent for anybody, and
that's just another option. But I'm certainly in favor of
looking into this thing, seeing what the costs would be.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: What are the chances the
great State of Texas is going to take care of Adult
Probation?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, we cut them off and
we'll find out. I mean, I --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's one way to find out.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I don't know -- well, y'al1
are acting like that we are -- that we are -- there's some
reason that we're supposed to do this. That's not true.
JUDGE TINLEY: I think there's a statutory
provision, Commissioner, that says that -- that we have an
obligation to provide the space for a -- an Adult Probation
Department.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: But not 198th, huh? Just
216th.
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, it's singular. It's singular
under the statute. That may be the reason that the other one
is -- is not dipping into our pocket also. They got a
certification that we're unable to -- we don't have the space
or the funding to provide them with a home.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm certainly in favor of
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looking into it and seeing -- see what's available out there,
but I don't go along with what the statute says, if it says
that we're required to do that. Not by the hair of my
chinny chin chin.
JUDGE TINLEY: Mr. Barton? Did you have some
MR. BARYON: It may not be necessary at this time,
Judge, if you're just talking about -- I was just going to
speak to the feasibility of using that property, but if y'all
are just going to take it under advisement and discuss that
later with the Sheriff, then you probably don't need to hear
from me today.
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, if there's some concerns about
~, that particular property, probably be better if we knew them
sooner rather than later, wouldn't you think?
MR. BARYON: Well, I've spoken with the Sheriff
about this -- this issue, and on behalf of him, he does want
to enlarge the -- the little vehicle storage facility that we
have up there around the barn right now. We need to enlarge
that, and I think that would take up towards the -- if
you're -- if the northwest corner up here above the barn is
where you're talking about, that's kind of where he was
thinking about taking. And that property's -- there's a
drainage ditch that runs along the back beside there that we
got to take into consideration. And one thing on this -- the
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expansion of the jail, very positive at this point, that we
have been able to keep our population down. I do think we
need to make sure we keep some property for future -- down
the road, if we have to enlarge.
I will tell you right now that our administrative
areas within that building are maxed, and have been for a
number of years, and we've built offices within little places
and made little nooks and crannies as best we can, but there
was very little planning as far as future growth
administratively when that particular building was -- was
built. You know, we lose a lot of property off on the
very -- the area up from East Main due to the water cachement
pond that I believe the City probably required us to have
when it was -- the facility was built, so that property is
pretty well wiped out. I'm just concerned about, you know,
future growth for the jail would go out the back side one
way. The elevation as that jail is cut down will cut
significantly into that back property in order to come out to
a level area. They'll have to really cut a lot of -- of dirt
out of there in order to maintain a constant slab, because
already there's probably a -- probably the back side of the
jail is 10 feet below grade. So, as that jail is extended
out, you've got to cut way back into the land to keep from
having to just -- a sheer dropoff, in order to taper it back.
So, that's going to take a lot of property, as shown in this
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-- in this photograph. I'm not sure how they would access
But that's our main concern, is that we need to
enlarge our -- our vehicle storage area behind the -- or
around the barn up there, and leave us plenty of room for
future expansion. Because we've -- we've even talked, just
amongst ourselves, about if we have to, because of the
cramped administrative space, we have to put a separate
building for a training room outside and take over the
training area inside the building to use for office space. I
mean, it's just going to be a -- a certain point to where the
way that building was constructed, I don't know how we're
going to add on more administrative space without having to
add possibly a separate building back there. That's just our
concerns. I just want to forward those to y'all at this
point, because at some point in the near future, those issues
are going to have to be addressed also.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Clay, could your training
needs be addressed in a facility like that -- incorporated
into a new facility like this, the training area? Thereby
freeing up that space inside the Law Enforcement Center?
MR. BARYON: I'm not going to --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's just -- you know.
MR. BARYON: Commissioner, it possibly could.
That's true, it possibly could. That would give us one room
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in which we could probably make some more administrative
space on the inside of our building. And we've seen -- I'm
not -- certainly not complaining about it, because it's been
a great program having the court held out there at J.P. 2's
office, our jail inmates run through. But we're going to
have to have some additional parking, because the attorneys
and whatnot coming out for court, the public, they're parking
all along this lot, all the way up and down Clearwater Paseo
to try to find a place to park a car. It's not a complaint,
'cause it's keeping our jail population down. We have to
look at the front grass area and make a parking lot out of
it, because, you know, at some point we're going to have --
they're going to open this apartment complex across the
street from us, and we're going to start having more public
up and down those roads, and we'll need to try to make sure
we keep our parking traffic off of Clearwater Paseo, just to
keep a child from running out from behind a parked vehicle.
There's lots of areas of concern for the -- the building
that -- we just need to take everything into consideration.
I've kind of digressed off y'all's point. I apologize for
that.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, I'm just looking at
the -- in your backup, you had the Juvenile Detention
Facility property. We just need to look at that. To me,
that's -- that wedge piece down there looks pretty wooded. I
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don't know -- I have no idea what the terrain is out there
and all that, but that looks like a pretty good-sized piece
of property, plus or minus 5, 6 acres. That may be a good
location to look at too, make sure that this thing -- this
land that's the least likely to be developed for somebody to
JUDGE TINLEY: The -- the issue that arises with
the Juvenile Detention Facility property -- and I considered
that one, and we -- we've got a floodplain issue there. We
got a creek that runs here, and then we got a floodplain
issue that -- that just covers up a good -- good portion of
that property. You know, maybe it's possible up in that --
that little neck, we could do something. Or the -- the only
thing that would be required is sight and sound separation
between the adult and --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: True.
JUDGE TINLEY: -- and juvenile. That's not a big
issue. I think that could be resolved fairly easily. But,
certainly, it bears looking at, and that's the reason I got
that particular layout of that property and the area, so that
we could see how that might work. But the big problem with
that property is going to be the -- be the floodway --
floodplain issue.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: The other -- I'm thinking
long-term, that we have thought or talked quite a bit about
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opening up, somewhere in east Kerr County, a Road and Bridge
yard. If that was done, that property back by the school
property across from the Little League, that corner where
Road and Bridge currently stores stuff right now, that could
be freed up, which is a -- you know, a good piece of
property. I see Len back there; he's probably turning over
right now, getting ready to throw something at me. But
there's a piece of property there that could be used for
something if he had another option to build that's really
more accessible for him. And that's a -- I don't know. What
is that, about 5, 6 acres over there, Len?
MR. ODOM: Where the horses are kept, you mean?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, that property where you
have -- next to that corner, next to Little League.
MR. ODOM: Oh, I'm going to guess 2 acres at least.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Anyway, there's a piece of
property there that the County owns that's used for storage,
but if we did open up another larger facility that was better
for using that, that may be a good option too as a place to
put the construction.
MR. ODOM: Where do we go? Where do we go for
storage?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: You go to your -- your new yard
in east Kerr County, wherever you buy it.
MR. ODOM: It can be done.
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JUDGE TINLEY: With the right planning and the
right amount of money, it can happen, right?
MR. ODOM: Anything. That's what --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Anything's possible.
MR. ODOM: -- the old colonel told me a long time
~ ago .
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's it.
JUDGE TINLEY: Any action we're going to take? Or
~ just --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What's --
JUDGE TINLEY: -- keep pondering and planning?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What's the status of the
lease issue?
JUDGE TINLEY: We'll get to that as a separate
agenda item.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I see. I thought you called
I it.
JUDGE TINLEY: No, I did not call that particular
~ issue.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I apologize.
JUDGE TINLEY: We'll get to it pretty shortly, I
I think.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think the -- I don't know
that we need a motion, but I think we just need further
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information.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Study committee.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's a good idea. Why don't
you make a study of the different options.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Make a study committee,
find out what all the options are and come back. That's a
I motion.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Who's on the committee?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge.
JUDGE TINLEY: And who else?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Sheriff.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Sheriff, that's good.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Probably ought to have --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: And Commissioner Oehler.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I knew you were going to get
~ around to me eventually.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: That's your motion? You made the
motion? You made the second? You got that, Cheryl?
MS. THOMPSON: Yes, sir.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay, we're in business. Question
or discussion on the motion? You're not going to try and
rescue me, Commissioner Baldwin?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No, sir, absolutely not.
25 ~ COMMISSIONER LETZ: Do we need to put someone -- a
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representative from the 216th, since it's for them?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Absolutely not.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I was going to say --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, leave it the way it is.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: They know the raw square
footage; that's all they know.
JUDGE TINLEY: Further question or discussion? All
in favor of the motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: The motion does carry. Let's get to
our timed item now. The first 10 o'clock item is Item 4;
consider, discuss, take appropriate action for a public
hearing on Tracts 8, 9, and 10 of Kerrville Ranchettes
located in Precinct 4. I guess this is seeking a public
hearing? Is that where I am, gentlemen?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: To set a public hearing?
Is that what we're talking about?
JUDGE TINLEY: It would appear -- no, this is the
public hearing.
MR. ODOM: This is for a public hearing.
JUDGE TINLEY: At this time, I will recess the
Commissioners Court meeting and I will convene a public
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hearing for Tracts 8, 9, and 10 of Kerrville Ranchettes
located in Precinct 4.
(The regular Commissioners Court meeting was closed
at 10:03 a.m., and a public hearing was held in
open court, as follows:)
P U B L I C H E A R I N G
JUDGE TINLEY: Is there any member of the public or
the audience that wishes to be heard concerning Tracts 8, 9,
and 10 of Kerrville Ranchettes located in Commissioner
Precinct 4? Seeing no one coming forward, I will close the
public hearing and go to the second 10 a.m. timed item, Item
5.
(The public hearing was concluded at 10:03 a.m.,
and the regular Commissioners Court meeting was
reopened.)
JUDGE TINLEY: At this time, I will convene a
Wild Animals.
(The regular Commissioners Court meeting was closed
at 10:04 a.m., and a public hearing was held in
open court, as follows:)
P U B L I C H E A R I N G
JUDGE TINLEY: Is there any member of the public
that wishes to be heard considering the proposed changes to
the Order Requiring the Registration of Dangerous Wild
Animals? I have a participation form here from Amy Tuma.
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Ms. Tuma, if you'll tell us what's on your mind about this
~ particular item.
MS. TUMA: Hello, gentlemen. We spoke earlier at
the last meeting, and that's why we came here. And I feel
that everything I said is still true. I understand that we
can't -- county can't make it a city issue, but we have to
realize that Kerr County is 1,100 acres, and Kerrville is
only 16 square miles.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Square miles.
MS. TUMA: Yeah, sorry. 1,100 --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Square miles.
MS. TUMA: Thank vou. I'm a little nervous
standing in front of you guys.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That's okay.
MS. TUMA: And I do understand your concerns for
the city, but we are a very big county. Like I said, we are
one of the capitals of the exotic animals, and I just hate to
see us lose that reputation of being one of the best counties
for exotic animals, and our Y.O. and our hunting. And, like
I said, the dangerous animals is -- the list is going to grow
if we set this into motion, so I don't think it's a good
idea. I understand -- like I said, I understand the city's
concern, but we are a very big county with a lot of big
ranches that this would affect tremendously. And the
dangerous animals aren't just for pets and recreation. Like,
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my mountain lion, personally, we use her urine and feces to
capture the cats that are a problem. And when Faulkner Ranch
called us up -- they had a mountain lion that was a wild
mountain lion that was eating all the sheeps and goats, so we
used the product from my cat to catch this problem cat. So,
it kind of goes both ways. You know, it's not just for an
entertainment or recreation purpose. It is actually for work
as well, so I just think the County should consider that.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you. Is there anyone else
that wishes to be heard with regard to the proposed changes
to the Order Requiring Registration of Dangerous Wild
Animals? Yes, sir? Come forward and give us your name and
address and tell us your thoughts on this.
MR. SEALE: I'm Charlie Seale. I'm the Executive
Director of the Exotic Wildlife Association based here in
Kerrville. We're an international association that does
represent the breeders and game ranchers, not only in this
area, but we're an international association. The one thing
that I would ask that the Commissioners Court do -- we have
no problem with some of these animals, but I would -- here's
what I would caution. We're a $1.3 billion industry, and I
believe that this proposed ordinance is a -- it leaves it
wide-open for interpretation on some of these animals to be
considered as dangerous. We make our livelihoods with such
animals as sable antelope and elands and some of these that
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could be considered as dangerous. Bottle-raised bucks, as we
all know, if you've ever raised one, are as dangerous as they
can be in the fall. I would hate to see the interpretation
of this proposed ordinance to not -- to limit what we're --
what we're really after here, so I would just ask that you
use caution on that. Thank you.
JUDGE TINLEY: I thank you. Is there anyone else
that wishes to be heard in connection with the proposed
changes to the Order Requiring Registration of Dangerous Wild
Animals? Give us your name and address and give us your
thoughts.
MR. CONNER: My name is Danny Conner. I live up on
132 Keith. I actually don't have a dog in this particular
fight, but I can see things changing over the years. I have
big snakes, which a lot of people also think are dangerous.
My deal is -- and I worked at the San Antonio Zoo for three
years, snake farm for five years. I've been around a lot of
dangerous animals, and I don't really have a problem with
registration. I don't have a problem with permit systems. I
have a problem with outright prohibiting people from having
the animals they want. In my mind, all you have to do is put
I
it in their hands. You can have this, but we're going to
have a protocol. We're going to have guidelines. You're not
keeping a tiger behind chicken wire. You're not going to
have a bear with a goat wire fence. You don't have to have a
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zoo enclosure; it doesn't have to be that over the top, but
you're going to have to have adequate caging for security of
the animal, for security of the public.
That's what I said years ago when Texas was trying
to dictate where, county by county, they wouldn't have -- and
I always like to make it simple. Put it in their hands. You
can have it, but you're going to have to keep it like this.
You can't -- you can't have Bubba, you know, tear down his
barn and throw up a tiger pen. You got to have something
legitimate, 'cause it is a dangerous animal. I mean, I like
them. Some people may not like what I'm saying, but if it
comes back to affect me, I'm sorry. I keep my animals the
way they're supposed to be kept, and if everybody does that,
there wouldn't be problems. I mean, and that's my feeling on
it. Just put it back in their hands. This is Texas. We
like our independence. Have a protocol, have guidelines, and
let them do it the right way or don't do it at all.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you, sir. Anyone else wishing
to be heard on the proposed changes to the Order Requiring
Registration of a Dangerous Wild Animal? Yes, ma'am, come
forward. Give use your name and address and tell us what's
on your mind.
MS. LEITNER: Well, I'm Anke Leitner; I live on
Beaver Road. I'm, of course, the owner of the tiger that did
escape. As everybody knows, I have the cat for 15 years.
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She got out on a freak accident. Everything was corrected
according to regulations. My personal opinion is on banning
animals like that, you are going to create a bigger problem
than actually registering them, have the control over them.
And, actually, it's like with anything that is being
outlawed; there is going to be an underground going on, and I
think that would be more dangerous having underground animals
without any kind of regulations, restrictions, requirements,
than actually allow people to have these kind of animals and
be able to go there, check out the cages, see if all the
requirements are met. I think that will be more beneficial
than actually outlawing those animals at all. Because, like
I said, with any outlaw, you're going to create so much
underground that it is uncontrollable. That's basically my
input to it.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you, ma'am.
MS. LEITNER: Okay, thank you.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anyone else that wishes to be heard
with regard to public -- proposed changes to the Order
Requiring Registration of Dangerous Wild Animals? Come
forward; give us your name and address and tell us your
thoughts on this matter.
MR. MATONE: My name is Anthony Matone. I'm from
Way to Go Exotics. I've lived out in this area for 19 years.
I've raised all kind of animals. I've never had a problem
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with it. I don't have a problem with people having
guidelines for what to do with the animals or where to keep
them, but I don't think they should judge on whether you
could keep them or not. And I don't know where they came up
with which animals are dangerous and which animals are not
dangerous. There's all kind of things in this world that are
dangerous. There's people that are dangerous. How do we
distinguish what people are dangerous and which people aren't
dangerous? We -- we have no clue, but we have guidelines to
go by on all that. And I -- you know, like I said, I have no
problem with guidelines on animals, but I don't think we
should say, "Well, all these animals are dangerous." All my
animals are tame.
I mean, you got baboons on the list, bobcats,
different animals. I can go in the pens of mine and I can
pet them and play with them, and there's no problem with
them. I mean, some animals that are mistreated, they have a
temperament to their own. And, you know, you can't never
predict one type of animal and say, "This animal's
dangerous." You know, people always call me and they say,
"Well, I heard this -- these type of deer are unruly, and
these, they are hard on fences." Well, that might just be
one animal. You know, that's just like people. You have one
person that you can -- they cause problems wherever they go,
and sometimes they might just act up one time. So, I don't
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know how we came up with the dangerous -- what's dangerous
and what's not dangerous. But I can understand guidelines.
Keeping -- you know, you got to stay protected from anything,
anybody. You got to stay protected from people, stay
protected from animals.
I can see having guidelines, what size cages and
how to keep them and that kind of thing. But I don't see
where we should just totally say, "Okay, you can't have
them." And you've been -- I've been raising animals for 19
years out here in Kerrville, and I've never had a problem.
And I live -- well, I'm in Mountain Home; it's on the very
edge of -- as a matter of fact, I'm right on the boundary
line, you know. I'm 39 miles out of Kerrville here. And,
you know, I bought a piece of land out there; I got 250 acres
and I bought a nice piece of land where I can raise what I
want. And I don't think somebody should sit there and say,
"Well, you can do this and you can't." But I appreciate it.
Thank you.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you, sir. Anyone else that
wishes to be heard with respect to the proposed changes to
the Order Requiring Registration of Dangerous Wild Animals?
MR. EMERSON: Just one brief comment, Judge.
There's been several references to the list of dangerous
animals, and for purposes of clarification, that list comes
from Health and Safety Code Chapter 822.101. It's not a
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random list generated by the Court.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's -- and those are all of
the -- I mean, the animals listed here are what are in that
statute, correct?
MR. EMERSON: Correct.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anyone else that wishes to be heard?
MS. TUMA: I just also want to point out that
besides that list, it also says "hybrids" as well, so any
animal that has been bred to these -- like I mentioned
before, the house cats that are bred to servals would then
become illegal, so you all of a sudden make house cats
dangerous wild animals as well.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you. Ms. Roman? Whitt,
excuse me.
MS. WHITT: I would just like to make a comment,
that everyone here that has spoke has met all of the
requirements. They've gone above and beyond to meet all of
the requirements. They are all currently registered. We
have everything that we need. And I believe since the
incident with the tiger, I believe everyone is very well
aware of what the requirements are, and people are actually
calling in, asking questions. They may not have any
dangerous wild animals, but they are making it a point to
contact Animal Control and ask questions. So --
JUDGE TINLEY: Opened up a lot of communication,
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did it?
MS. WHITT: Absolutely. I think we all learned
from this, and I think it's -- I just believe that everyone
is aware, and they are making an effort to make sure that
everything is up to standards, up to code.
JUDGE TINLEY: Is there any other person that
wishes to be heard regarding the proposed changes to the
Order Requiring the Registration of Dangerous Wild Animals?
MS. TUMA: I just wanted to add --
JUDGE TINLEY: For the third time.
MS. TUMA: Sorry. One more comment. Since all
this happened, Janie has been out to my house at least four
or five times, so the County is on top of it. She'll call
me, or sometimes she'll just show up to make sure that
everything is still the way it's supposed to be, and I feel
that her office has gone above and beyond since the tiger
incident to make sure this doesn't happen again.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anyone else wishing to be heard?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge --
MS. LEITNER: Actually, I would make one more
comment, and that refers to what this gentleman said about
raising animals and creating problems. Even though that she
got out, I think she showed clearly that she was a very calm
animal. There was never any danger to anybody because she
was calm; she was not aggressive against anything. I mean,
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that's just something that I wanted to add. So --
JUDGE TINLEY: We're dealing with proposed changes
to the Order Requiring the Registration of Dangerous Wild
Animals, and that's before the public now. There's been
advertisement for this public hearing. Is there anyone else
that wishes to be heard with regard to the proposed changes
as indicated to the Order Requiring the Registration of
Dangerous Wild Animals?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, I would like to --
I'd like to take off my Commissioner hat and read a letter of
one of my constituents that, for health reasons, could not
attend today, please. "Honorable sirs" -- that's you all.
(Laughter.) "In response to your request for public input
concerning undomesticated dangerous animals imported into
Kerr County, I would like to submit the following
recommendations. Immediate cessation of the import of any
non-domesticated predatory animals, including reptiles, whose
natural instinct for survival makes them dangerous to humans
or domestic animals. Number two, grandfather such animals
presently in the county, provided they are immediately
registered with County Animal Control. A suitable
registration fee should be assessed at the time of
registration. All registered animals' habitats, cages, et
cetera, should be inspected at a minimum of once a year by
County Animal Control to insure such habitats are adequate
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and maintained to insure public safety. The registration fee
and annual fees for inspections should be assessed to offset
any additional costs to County Animal Control for additional
personnel and equipment. It should be clearly spelled out in
detail that it's the responsibility of the owner to notify
County Animal Control of any change in status of the animal
or its habitat. Substantial fines should be established for
failure to comply. In addition, the second violation should
require the immediate removal of the animal from the county
in addition to the fine. Number three, if the Court decides
to allow the future import of these animals, a permit should
be required. Before the permit is issued, registration and
inspection of habitat should be performed by County Animal
Control. Finally, it should be made clear to the owners that
these type of animals, if they should escape, substantial
fines and the total cost of recapture or disposal of the
animal will be the owner's. Thank you for your
consideration. Bennie M. Hyde, Kerrville." Thank you.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anyone else wishing to be heard in
connection with the proposed changes to the order requiring
registration of dangerous wild animals? Seeing no one else
wishing to be heard, I will close the public hearing.
(The public hearing was concluded at 10:19 a.m.,
and the regular Commissioners Court meeting was
reopened.)
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JUDGE TINLEY: And I will resume the Commissioners
Court meeting. We have a timed item for 10:15. Item 6;
consider, discuss, and take appropriate action on a request
from the Hill Country Home Builders to be added to the
nonprofit list to receive a reduced rate on the Exhibit Hall
and indoor arena at the Hill Country Youth Exhibit Center.
Jessica Robinson.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, before you go -- you
might want to just announce that that was a public hearing
and no action is being taken today on that animal issue. I
don't know if they're all aware of that. That's just a --
JUDGE TINLEY: We held a public hearing; that's
what we're required to do as the agenda. No further action
was listed on the agenda. That's why I immediately went to
the next item. Ms. Robinson?
MS. ROBINSON: Hi. Thank you, Judge Tinley and
Commissioners. My name's Jessica Robinson, and I'm here on
behalf of the Hill Country Home Builders Association. And
Jody had asked me to bring some paperwork. I don't know if
-- okay. She'd asked me to bring some proof of our 501(c)(6)
nonprofit standing. Can I pass that out to you now?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Sure.
MS. ROBINSON: Okay.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Just hand it all to him.
MS. ROBINSON: Okay, thank you.
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COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Got to give Cheryl one.
MS. ROBINSON: The first letter is from the
Comptroller of Public Accounts, and you'll see in the first
paragraph that we do qualify for the 501(c)(6) And then the
next document after that is from the I.R.S., and you'll see
-- it's at the top right-hand section, that it does show that
they are recording us as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, I have a comment on this
one, and I'm a member of that association, which they
probably have the fees -- dues. The purpose of their
meeting -- correct me if I'm wrong -- is for local vendors,
people like myself that are in the construction business, to
go there and make money. So, while the organization itself
is nonprofit, the purpose of the -- of using the county
facility is clearly profit. And, you know, I just -- I have
a hard time making this organization a nonprofit
organization.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Let me ask you a question.
When they have their meeting, that's open for -- I need a
plumber at my house, so I go to this meeting and visit with
all the plumbers that are there?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's kind of a home show. You
look at different home ideas, and, I mean, you -- that's
possible. I mean, I presume plumbers are there, but
landscapers are there, builders are there.
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I want to --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Kitchen --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- build a new carport.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. There's different --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So I find them and visit
with them, and they -- and I hire one of them, and they make
money.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So that's what you're --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. It's -- the purpose of
the show is the promotion of construction, home building in
Kerr County and Gillespie County, essentially.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Model home?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Model, renovation, new ideas,
different kinds of -- you know, all kinds of things.
MS. ROBINSON: And just so you know, like you said,
Commissioner, the main purpose is to promote the building
industry and the people that are made up of that, to bring
the buyers and the sellers together. As far as the profit
generation of this -- of this event, it is created to be a
non-dues fundraiser also for the Home Builders Association.
Number one, though, is the promotion of the members. If it's
not doing that, we wouldn't be putting this on. But the
second goal of this association putting this on is to create
some sort -- sort of forum of nonprofit revenues for the
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association so they can continue operating in other
capacities too. So, it -- last year, I think it might have
generated maybe $7,000 in non-dues revenue. It's not a
significant amount. It's primarily for the members.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is the home show the only
purpose for which you would exert your 501(c)(6) status?
MS. ROBINSON: At this point.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: For a reduced rate?
MS. ROBINSON: At this point, for the Kerr County
-- the Youth Exhibit Center, that is true, yes. We do have
another show, but that doesn't encompass that -- that
building.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Any show that you put on,
that benefits those who pay your organization a booth fee; is
that correct?
MS. ROBINSON: Correct. And that pays for putting
on the show, and then also for a revenue generator.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: And so the standard booth
fee that you would collect is going to be the same whether
you're granted the 501(c)(6) status or not; is that correct?
MS. ROBINSON: It depends. The -- the group that's
putting on the show, the committee made up of the members,
once we find out how much it will cost -- that's what Jody
said. "Well, if you're not on the nonprofit list, let's just
see what they say." Once we figure that out in our cost,
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then we can determine if can we charge a free charge, you
know, let people come in free as far as visitors, and then
also we can change the booth fees. But it's a matter of
being able to pay for it, first of all.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's a -- a very active
organization, and probably one of the more active of the
smaller ones around the state that I'm aware of. It's just
that I just don't think this is the intent of us granting
nonprofit or reduced fees at the Ag Barn. Just my feelings
on it.
MS. ROBINSON: And I can understand that, and we
have paid for past facilities like at the Inn of the Hills.
So -- in fact, the reason for me coming here wasn't
necessarily to get it all free. The reason for coming is
Jody said, "Well, let's just go ahead and go through this
process of making sure." One thing I will bring up at this
time is, because we do hire another company to set up the
booths, we won't need the fee for the chairs and tables, so
Jody said, "Well, we can't give it to you for free," and I
agreed with that; that would not work. But if you wanted to
do a lesser fee for this, you're welcome to do that. We
aren't necessarily saying as a 501(c)(6), we want it
absolutely free. It's just matter of us establishing this
new relationship, figure out how much it's going to cost for
our association.
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JUDGE TINLEY: Well, Ms. Robinson, kind of
following up on what Commissioner Letz mentioned, when we --
when we talk about nonprofit, we -- we're looking at money
that flows from the events from nonprofits directly back into
community betterment. A lot of these have scholarships.
They -- they fund organizations that are nonprofit groups,
kids advocacy, shelters, and you can trace that money right
back to -- to the betterment directly of -- of community and
nonprofit pursuits. If I understand your organization
correctly, the, quote, nonprofit aspect is to go back into
the Home Builders' coffers so that your nonprofit
organization, Home Builders has funding to sponsor their
events for promotion of the industry, promotion of vendors
within the industry, and the overall betterment of your
membership. Is that what I'm hearing?
MS. ROBINSON: Judge, just like other nonprofits,
that's exactly what we do. And just like others, we also --
JUDGE TINLEY: I don't see that as, quote, "just
like other nonprofits."
MS. ROBINSON: Well, we --
JUDGE TINLEY: That's my problem, I guess.
MS. ROBINSON: Oh, I see. Well, and we also do
support Habitat for Humanity. We also have created a
scholarship program. We gave out, I guess, three $500
scholarships this last graduating class. So, you know, we do
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also give to the community also. But I will agree that our
nonprofit status is generally for the home building industry,
because we are the Home Builders Association. So, in answer
to that, yes.
JUDGE TINLEY: I would imagine that -- disregarding
the nonprofit status, you mentioned that y'all had had
functions at the Inn of the Hills in the past, and now you're
looking at the facility of the County's. I would imagine
that there's a significant difference in the -- the outlay
for those two facilities.
MS. ROBINSON: Yes, sir.
JUDGE TINLEY: And as you indicated, what you do
is, depending upon what your cost is, you pass that along to
the various vendors that want to have booths at your facility
who are promoting their own personal betterment by virtue of
the products and services that they're offering; is that
correct?
MS. ROBINSON: That is -- and forgive me. When you
said "outlay," I was thinking "layout." Sorry, I got a
little confusion in the word.
JUDGE TINLEY: I'm talking about --
MS. ROBINSON: The cost of the --
JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah.
MS. ROBINSON: -- Inn of the Hills and the Youth
Exhibit Center. When we really looked at the cost, they're
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actually going to cost about the same as what we paid last
year at Inn of the Hills, even though the facilities are
quite different. So --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Is this the show that you,
in previous years, moved to Gillespie County?
MS. ROBINSON: We did, for -- I think Heinz brought
it there for two years, and we decided to bring it back to
Kerrville.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Did Gillespie County offer
you the same consideration?
MS. ROBINSON: I'm not sure. I wasn't here at that
time.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think part of the reason for
going to Gillespie County is that their membership is
Gillespie County and Kerr County, and they rotate back and
forth when they have their meeting.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I don't mind us waiving the
setups and stuff like that, because they're going to do their
own setup.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: So I don't mind us giving
that part of it. You know, if they're not going to use it,
then we shouldn't charge them for it. But I don't -- I don't
agree with -- with doing the whole blown --
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COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Are you saying it's okay to
waive the setup because they don't do setup?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Yeah, 'cause we don't do
them. If they don't use the service, well, they don't pay
for it.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yeah, okay.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: That would be the only thing
I'd be willing to back off on, I believe.
JUDGE TINLEY: The normal -- okay. Then what I'm
hearing from you, Commissioner, is because the normal
recognition of a nonprofit status would be to waive the base
rental of the facility, be it the indoor arena or the exhibit
hall, you would not be in favor of doing that in this case?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I think that's what I --
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's what I heard.
JUDGE TINLEY: Would you want to impose the normal
charge --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: The normal charge, except for
the service that they do not use.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
MS. ROBINSON: And that's fine.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: It was easier for me to say
than understand.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I agree.
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MS. ROBINSON: And based on what she's shown me,
the setup/take-down fee is normally $300, so what I'm hearing
is it would be reduced by $300?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: If you do the work.
MS. ROBINSON: If I do the work? I'll hire some
people to do the work. I'll carry as much as I can.
MR. BOLLIER: Do they understand they need to be in
and out of there -- because in years past with home -- it's
been Home Builders, is we've always had -- instead of getting
their stuff out of there when they're supposed to, it's
always been two or three days later before they get all their
stuff out of there, so I would like for y'all to ask them to
please have their stuff out of there Sunday -- by Sunday
afternoon. 'Cause I have people there Saturday and Sunday,
and that's all I ask, is to get the stuff out.
MS. ROBINSON: What time do you usually need it out
by on Sunday?
MR. BOLLIER: 5 o'clock.
MS. ROBINSON: 5 o'clock. I think our show
actually runs until 5 o'clock on Sunday.
MR. BOLLIER: That's fine.
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MS. ROBINSON: So we'll set up a time that works
MR. BOLLIER: Or even as early as Monday morning is
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MS. ROBINSON: And that would probably help also,
with the companies having to not be too late on Sunday, to
spend time with families. That would be great.
MR. BOLLIER: Yes, ma'am, I understand.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: No later than Monday noon?
MR. BOLLIER: Monday noon.
MS. ROBINSON: And that's usually, I think, what
we've done with Inn of the Hills also.
MR. BOLLIER: The people that always do the little
water thing over there, whatever -- I can't remember exactly
what it was. That little water thing, they -- that would
never get out of there till Wednesday or Thursday. We had to
keep calling them and calling them and calling them, and they
finally come back and get it. One year we even just took it
out ourself and stacked it outside for them.
MS. ROBINSON: Well --
MR. BOLLIER: So that's all I'm asking, is to
please get that stuff out of there.
MS. ROBINSON: And we put that into our contracts
going forward, so I don't think they'll have a problem with
that this year.
MR. BOLLIER: Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, do we need a motion to
waive that -- I make a motion we waive the setup and
take-down fee, which is $300, and that all -- whatever you
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call it, facilities, booths, all be removed by noon on
Monday.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded as
indicated. Question or discussion? All in favor of the
motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: Motion does carry. Thank you.
MS. ROBINSON: Thank you, gentlemen.
JUDGE TINLEY: Why don't -- why don't we go ahead
and take about a 15-minute recess, and we'll come back and
pick up our two timed 10:30 items.
(Recess taken from 10:33 a.m. to 10:53 a.m.)
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay, let's come back to order, if
we might. We'll go to Item 8, a 10:30 item; consider,
discuss, take appropriate action to apply for membership in
the Cooperative Purchasing Network, authorize County Judge to
sign related documents. Mr. Trolinger?
MR. TROLINGER: Yes, sir. It's very
self-explanatory. The agreement allows us to purchase goods
and services from a list of vendors, and in return, we simply
abide by the rules, which means we pay vendors in a timely --
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timely manner.
JUDGE TINLEY: This is just another purchasing
option that we have available to us?
MR. TROLINGER: Yes.
JUDGE TINLEY: We're not bound to purchase anything
from them at any time, but
MR. TROLINGER: Correct.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
MR. TROLINGER: Both the Auditor and the Treasurer
have looked at this and are both interested in the -- in this
agreement.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No annual fees or anything?
MR. TROLINGER: None that I see. This is from
Region 4, and Region 4 has no fees. I understand that
there's another -- another place in Texas we could sign this
agreement that does have an annual fee. This agreement
simply states that we renew the agreement.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Who is Region 4?
MR. TROLINGER: Region 4, it's a -- it's a district
out of --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: T.E.A. It's under T.E.A.,
Texas Education Agency. Those regions are under T.E.A.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. That's what -- I was
wondering who that is.
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COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I'll second.
JUDGE TINLEY: We have a motion and second for
approval. Question or discussion? All in favor of the
motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: You were in the middle there. Was
that a "for"?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. I was looking at
T.E.A. here.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. That motion does carry.
We'll move to our other 10:30 item; consider, discuss, take
appropriate action for approval of a video teleconference
system proposal and authorize County Judge to sign same.
Mr. Trolinger.
MR. TROLINGER: This is an expansion of a very
successful program, video teleconference. Judge Spencer
Brown and the County Attorney's office worked together to
bring about this contractor. We've got two additional units,
and what makes this unique is the proposed services that will
come along with it to allow outside vendors -- attorneys --
to connect to the system and seek interviews with our clients
at the jail. Say it the best I can. In this case, this
provides two additional video teleconference units, and the
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receivers are required to connect with those. Those are
outside the courthouse.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Would it be from and to
County Court of Law?
MR. TROLINGER: Potentially from -- well,
definitely from County Court at Law to the jail. It provides
an additional pair of video teleconference units for that,
but it would also --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The client -- residents.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I heard that.
MR. TROLINGER: It would also provide attorneys --
private attorneys to connect to the jail for a video
teleconference without having to visit a person at the jail.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Connect from where?
JUDGE TINLEY: From their own office, I believe.
MR. TROLINGER: Yes, from their office.
JUDGE TINLEY: That, of course, would be on their
I nickel.
MR. TROLINGER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: How do -- let me ask you
something about that. When -- when attorneys charge us --
Court-appointed attorneys charge us for visiting with their
clients, how do we know that they visited with their clients?
I mean, hell, we don't know that. This is going to make it
even --
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MR. EMERSON: I'm not sure exactly what you're
asking, but --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Sure you do.
MR. EMERSON: -- having been in private practice
and now on the public side, the way the procedure works now,
if you want to go out and visit at the jail, you call the
jail, you arrange to go visit your client. You go out there,
you go through all the procedures -- security procedures, and
then go into the attorney/client visitation room, and then it
all works in reverse when you leave. Under the new proposed
system, the capability they'll have, the jail won't have to
be worried about security, per se. The defense attorney will
call the jail, arrange for a teleconference, schedule time.
The jail will simply take the prisoner, put them in whatever
room they set aside to do this so that they can visit with
their attorney, an attorney/client privilege situation, and
then immediately be able to place them back in the cell. And
you'll completely eliminate the whole process of having the
attorney having to go through all the security, and the extra
personnel time that goes along with that.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're right.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Well, because they're not
having to go through all the security.
MR. EMERSON: Theoretically, it should be less
charge to the County, because they're not going to be
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traveling, not going to be spending time going through the
security situation. Now, there are some issues associated
with teleconferencing and the attorney and the inmate, but
we're going to work on those to make sure that it stays
attorney/client privilege and it's not actually sneaking in
the back door.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, the attorneys work on an
honor system?
JUDGE TINLEY: The judges in which those -- that
appoint those lawyers approve the payment of their fees.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay.
JUDGE TINLEY: Based upon whatever documentation
they require for time spent in representation of those
defendants.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Now --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Wait, just let me ask one
more question.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Go ahead. I got one too.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Clay?
MR. BARYON: Yes, sir?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Speaking of space that y'all
are out of today, you use a particular room with a camera in
it for a video teleconference? Client -- the client to go in
to communicate over here with Spencer -- or with Judge
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Brown's court?
MR. BARYON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You use that exact same room
and same facility for the new thing, for lawyers to talk?
And how is that --
MR. BARYON: They'll set up where the got the law
library.
MR. TROLINGER: Yes.
MR. BARYON: We've got one little room set aside
that's got -- they have access to look up the law library,
the computerized law library. That's also where we have the
equipment for the M.H.M.R. teleconferencing. I guess if we
used it for this purpose also, so that would give us three
different purposes to one small little one-man room that's
going to be used for -- they'll have to share time to do
that, where we do have, you know, the three lawyer visitation
booths. It's actually -- I'm not going to argue with Rex,
but it's not going to be any shorter or less work on us as
far as going to get an inmate and bringing him to that, just
like we put him in the lawyer booth now. We still have that
movement regardless. The only issue we'd have otherwise is
the attorney coming in, and they check in and they go find
the booth they go into. It's not really going to cut our
manpower down very much. We may have to find a -- depends
how much it's utilized -- another location, or see how we can
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work our times, 'cause I'm not sure often that law library
gets used, or we do have the M.H.M.R. teleconferencing. I
did mention to John, we do need to find a better way of
securing the teleconferencing equipment. We had an old piece
of equipment that was in there that belonged to M.H.M.R. that
got damaged recently by an inmate who was locked in there,
and they ripped some wires out of it, so we do need to come
up with some sort of way our equipment does not get damaged.
Because in the room that they're in, at this point, it just
has a wire mesh screen. We really can't see in, what's going
on, from -- from a distance. It's not a glass -- glass
window in that room.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Are you done?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, that's it. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: What comes to my mind is
something that Rex said about making it secure. We need to
be real sure that this is a secure -- no one else can listen
to this. If you're talking about, you know, attorney/client
privilege, that this thing has to be that we can document to
the Court how this has been a secure line. Because if it's
not, the whole case could be thrown out, correct?
MR. EMERSON: If the -- well, not necessarily. But
if the attorney's -- the equipment -- the equipment and the
capability that's available -- and John can correct me if I
get this wrong -- essentially, the attorneys would buy air
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time, for lack of a better word, to come in through Hill
Country Telephone Company or some other provider -- secure
provider. And the way they do that is, they assign a
specific channel that's closed off, and that's the only thing
that's open to them.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay.
MR. EMERSON: It's not like it's open airway
transmission or anything like that.
MR. BARYON: We may have to put a new -- John, we
may have to put a new door on that booth, because all the
attorney booths now have a glass door so you can't hear any
of the conversations coming between the attorney and their
client from the jail side. But this room we're using right
now for the jail law library and the M.H.M.R.
teleconferencing just has some wire mesh on the door, and so
it's not going to be secure for the sound of the
attorney/client conversations to other people who may be in
the adjoining -- it's an adjoining room, a big dayroom or a
multipurpose room that other inmates can be in. They also
have visitation along that same -- in that same room. So, we
may have to find another way of keeping their conversations
private.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: The other question -- I mean,
but there's no requirement that attorneys have to use this,
correct? So --
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MR. TROLINGER: Correct.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, attorneys can use it if
they choose.
MR. EMERSON: I'm sorry?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Attorneys can use this if they
choose. They don't have to use this.
MR. EMERSON: Correct.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Do we think attorneys are going
to use it?
MR. EMERSON: I've interviewed half a dozen, and
all of them said that they would jump on board in a
heartbeat.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Heck, yeah.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I would think so.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Sit in their office and talk
to their clients? I would think so.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Is there some way --
MR. EMERSON: Having been the guy that stood out
there in the pouring rain, in the cold and, you know,
105 degrees in August, if I were still on that side, I'd be
more than happy to jump in under this program.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Talk to them for 30 minutes
and charge us for an hour.
25 I COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, yeah.
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COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Well, there is -- that's my
question. Is there a way that -- that, when these attorneys
log onto that -- tie into that to have the visitation with
their client, that there can be a report from when they
accessed it and when they closed it out?
MR. TROLINGER: Yes, there's a billing report that
comes from Vyopta that'll detail the time -- the connection
time.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: There you go, Buster.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bingo, I'm in.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How much time they use and
so forth?
MR. TROLINGER: Yes. Now, if it's used from the
courthouse for the -- from the attorney to the client, that
-- that is not -- that is not.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That'll just say
courthouse.
MR. TROLINGER: But from outside the courthouse, it
is reported.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: My question to you is --
MR. BARYON: Depends on what inmate you talk to.
Except we can document some on our end.
MR. TROLINGER: Of course, we have -- through
Odyssey, we can -- we can add the visitation, and that will
track it also.
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COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Are there funds available
for this in your budget?
MR. TROLINGER: No, the funds for this are
available in the -- in the capital outlay under the I.T.
portion. This is -- this is the remainder of the capital
outlay from last year, that loan.
MS. HARGIS: It's interest income as well as --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Can't hear you.
MS. HARGIS: It's interest income as well as -- as
other areas we didn't spend money on that are available for
us to spend.
JUDGE TINLEY: Out of the capital outlay portion.
MS. HARGIS: Out of the capital outlay portion.
JUDGE TINLEY: Of the I.T. portion.
MS. HARGIS: And it's still in the I.T. portion.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay, good. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Are there any other dedicated
funds that can be used for this purpose?
MS. HARGIS: In the current budget, no.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, are there fund balances
in the -- you know, in all -- we seem to have an awful lot of
dedicated funds for the type of stuff that comes through all
the -- you know, the records and -- anyway, if there's a fund
balance in some of those, that may be an option.
MS. HARGIS: I would have to defer to Rex on that.
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We got the J.P. Technology fund, but I think that has to be
used for the J.P.'s. We have the records management, but I
think that's for actually archiving records, not purchasing
I.T. equipment. So, those are the only ones that I know of.
MR. TROLINGER: That's the dilemma, locating the
money to get this initially started. Now, I will say Vyopta
has agreed to work with the County Attorney's office to seek
grant funding to expand the system. We want to expand this,
and that's been in the works for a little while. That's
going to -- we're going to move forward with that.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, that's fine. I just
wondered if there was another source.
JUDGE TINLEY: They're going to try and help us
find money to get the whole elephant, aren't they?
MR. TROLINGER: Yes. And what happens is, once we
go beyond the point where we have five or six of these video
teleconference units, we need to have something called a
bridge, something where they can all dial into and we can
manage it from, and that's when it becomes very expensive.
So, that's why we want to seek grant funding for --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So, the expenditure is
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: How much?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's what I'm looking at.
MR. TROLINGER: Yes, sir.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: 19,743.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Move approval of the agenda
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: Plus 200 shipping.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: What?
MR. TROLINGER: Included.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That includes the shipping.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And then how much is in
the -- in that fund?
MS. HARGIS: We still have close to a million
dollars in that fund.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: How much is in the I.T. portion
MS. HARGIS: The I.T. portion? Right now -- I
wouldn't want to quote. I know we have at least 80,000 still
left in there.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: How much?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Eighty.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: How much is this?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Twenty.
JUDGE TINLEY: Twenty. We have a motion and a
second for approval. Further question or discussion? All in
favor of the motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
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JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: The motion does carry. Thank you,
Mr. Trolinger.
MR. TROLINGER: You're welcome, sir.
JUDGE TINLEY: We will go to Item 11, which is to
consider, discuss, take appropriate action on amendment to
lease for the Thad Ziegler Building currently being used for
Adult Probation. Our current lease term on that building
expires September 30th. The owner of the property originally
contacted us about an amendment which would be a three-year
renewal. Working with the County Attorney's office, we -- we
came up with an alternate proposal. I think it was also
discussed in court where we'd renew for one year with an
increase, which is in line with the increase that we had in
the previous, approximately 6 percent, but with two one-year
renewal options at our option, requiring us to give 90 days
prior written notice of the -- of the exercise of each
option. The -- the holdover provision would remain the same.
The late charge would remain the same. The renewal option
would be on -- based upon a negotiated rate, but with a floor
of the then existing rate, and not to exceed 5 percent
increase, which I think is very much in line.
This will give us the ability to -- if we go
forward with a building, to just be with a one-year
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obligation for this particular property, and that's one of
the reasons that it was structured this way. The information
which you have is the current amendment that we're operating
under. The second document is the e-mail from the
representative of the owner of the property. The third is
his proposed amendment, which incorporates the terms that --
that the County Attorney and I have discussed with the
owner's agent.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, how does that --
under this agreement, Paragraph -- Subparagraph 1B -- 2B,
there's a figure of $98,910 in that.
JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How does that comport with
the rate of 2992.50 per month?
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, the new rental is going to be
38, and you divide that by 12, which is a monthly rental of
3167, so there's about a hundred and -- about $250 a month,
plus or minus.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: What's the 98,000? What is
that?
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, that is the aggregate rental
paid during the three-year period.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: During the three-year
period.
JUDGE TINLEY: Under the existing lease we're
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under.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Got you.
JUDGE TINLEY: The aggregate rental under the new
proposal would just be for the one year, and that's 38,000.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay, thank you.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I take it they wouldn't take
a -- do we need to act on this now? My question --
JUDGE TINLEY: We don't need to, no.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, would it be -- if we're
serious about trying to get it going quickly on another
building, would it make sense to -- I mean, obviously, we
have to do it before the end of the term.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: September.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: But to hold off until towards
the end of July in executing this lease, and if we're going
to go forward quickly on another project, to see if we can
pay a premium for a six-month lease, rather than pay --
commit for another year?
JUDGE TINLEY: We could certainly investigate that
as another option during the interim period of time, if
that's what the Court thinks they want us to do.
MR. EMERSON: You can ask. I can tell from you my
conversations with the owner's agent that, technically, they
wanted a decision as of two or three weeks ago, because as
far as they're concerned, if we're not going to immediately
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renew the lease and/or give them a commitment to such, they
want to put the building up for lease and find a new lessor
-- or lessee, excuse me.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Are we under -- do we have an
obligation to do it right now?
JUDGE TINLEY: No.
MR. EMERSON: No.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: By September.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. We have --
MR. EMERSON: But the danger you run, obviously --
and I don't know the real estate market here, but the danger
you run is that if we don't commit, they put the building up
for lease and they sign somebody new to move in October 1st,
we don't build the building, and now we've lost our lease
space.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: And that's not a good
situation. (Laughter.)
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Not too good.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Stated it very well.
JUDGE TINLEY: It's a poker game.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's what it is.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I would think that there's not
that many people renting space in Kerrville, 'cause there's
certainly an awful lot of open space between here and the
interstate when you drive down the road, and I would not
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think that is a prime building. But that -- it is a poker
game. I just hate to commit to a year if we're going to, you
know, look at moving on another building. And I think it is
realistic to have it done by next spring, early next spring.
JUDGE TINLEY: We'll certainly -- we'll certainly
make that inquiry, if that's what the Court wants to do.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What's the inquiry?
JUDGE TINLEY: See if there's a possibility that,
as opposed to a one-year fixed obligation, a six-month.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, let me --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or six-month, and then maybe an
18-month. I mean, an 18 -- I mean, just to give us a little
bit of breathing room out there. Just a thought.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: What is the cancellation time
that we could get out of this if we want? Is it 90 days?
JUDGE TINLEY: There's no cancellation -- to
exercise our option, it's 90 days prior to the end of the --
end of the term.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: When's the -- October?
JUDGE TINLEY: October 1.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, that's July 1.
JUDGE TINLEY: Yes, July 1.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, this is -- I mean, pretty
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I don't know about the
gambling thing. I would -- you know, if we're going to build
a new building, we need to make that decision before we get
off -- start cutting deals with less than a year, in my
opinion. Just my opinion. I mean, we -- six months is fine,
but I don't know if they'd go for that or not. But seems
like --
JUDGE TINLEY: I don't either. We haven't asked.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- we're getting off on the
gambling side, to me.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, if our deadline to
exercise the amendment is July 1, we probably ought to do it.
JUDGE TINLEY: No, that's not our deadline to
exercise this amendment. The 90 days would be if we enter
into a new amendment with the one-year -- with the two
one-year options, next year, if we wanted to renew for an
additional year, it would require us to exercise that option
by July 1. But currently, we're not under -- this one
expires, by its terms, October -- October 1.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Oh, okay.
JUDGE TINLEY: So, we --
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, it's -- I think we're
not -- we're not really at any risk, or any -- I wouldn't say
any risk. I mean, it'll be on the market, but if someone --
maybe we should go a different way. How long is it going to
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take to evaluate the other process?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Not very, I don't think. I
don't believe it will take more than a couple weeks to
evaluate.
JUDGE TINLEY: If the Court -- if it's the Court's
desire to have us look at this other option with this owner,
with a report back on the decision to be made at our next
meeting, why, we'll be happy to pursue that.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's worthwhile to
do -- to at least do that. That could save us $16,000, you
know, close to it. And if they say no, then this -- you
know, I think you can say, well, we'll put it on the agenda,
the recommendation to the County, whoever is doing the
talking, that we approve the lease. And that's -- nothing's
going to happen, in my mind, between now and our first
meeting in July.
JUDGE TINLEY: The most recent communications have
been had with the County Attorney's office, and he has made
it clear to the owner's agent that the final approval of this
thing requires Commissioners Court action.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. It's the first -- to
me, I just -- it's the pose to take.
JUDGE TINLEY: Is that what I'm hearing? Okay.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's fine.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Any further action to be --
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MR. EMERSON: What exactly is it you want me to
communicate?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: See if they'll entertain a
six-month lease.
MR. EMERSON: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Which the answer's probably
going to be no, but that'll buy us two weeks.
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, with some premium on the
monthly rental.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right.
JUDGE TINLEY: For being short-term also, yeah.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: With an option for 18?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah, then go to 18 and then
12, whatever they want, or something like that. Or six --
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: With an option for 18.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Renewal.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Let them worry a little bit.
JUDGE TINLEY: The other option would be to just
stay in possession and be a holdover under the existing
lease. Okay, anything further on that particular item,
gentlemen? Okay. Why don't we go to Section 4, payment of
the bills.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move we pay the bills.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second.
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JUDGE TINLEY: We have a motion and second to pay
the bills. Question or discussion on the motion? I have a
question for Ms. Pieper on the Edoc Technologies, that
software maintenance item. Is that the software by which
people can purchase copies of your records remotely and all
that good stuff?
MS. PIEPER: I believe that's the annual
maintenance fee for the software itself.
MR. TROLINGER: Yes, and that includes the online
-- online site that allows --
MS. PIEPER: Okay.
MR. TROLINGER: -- allows record purchases.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. That's part of the system
whereby I can sit in my office and I can, via credit card,
purchase 25 copies of your various records, and they handle
', the billing and get you the money and the whole nine yards?
MS. PIEPER: Yes, it's all combined into one fee.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. As well as your -- your
scanning system and so forth, okay. And that's annual?
MS. PIEPER: Yes.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Okay. Second question I've
got, top of Page 2, the payment to the new part-time
prosecutor. Are we making some headway on the jail
population with that speed docket, rocket docket twice a
week, whatever they're doing out there?
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MR. BARYON: Very much so, sir. Yes, sir.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. So --
MR. BARYON: I didn't check the jail census this
morning, Judge, but where we were averaging 150 to 160
inmates, last week we got -- I believe it was like 120, so
we've knocked our average down tremendously by having that
prosecutor come in.
JUDGE TINLEY: So, about 20 percent, sounds to me
like.
MR. BARYON: It's been a very worthwhile project.
JUDGE TINLEY: The population is coming down.
Okay, that's all the questions I got. Anybody else? All in
favor of the motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: That motion does carry. Let me make
one more observation, if I might. Anybody happen to look at
what the Indigent Health Care amount was this period?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I did.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Ah.
JUDGE TINLEY: $2,800.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Unbelievable.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Very unbelievable.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And still coming down.
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JUDGE TINLEY: Super. Super. Do we have any
MS. HARGIS: No, but we want to go back to
Windstream. I wanted to -- we have a little report we want
to make on the Windstream bill that we have today. And I
want to --
JUDGE TINLEY: Does this relate to the bills?
~I MS. HARGIS: Mm-hmm. Not a particular bill, but
the Windstream bills in general. So --
JUDGE TINLEY: So, it relates to a lot of these
I bills.
MS. HARGIS: Yes.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Let's talk about it, then.
MS. HARGIS: Okay. First, I want to introduce
Tracy Soldan. You know, Tracy is a new person in my office,
and I want Tracy to go over what we've done and what we've
changed, and then we have -- we want to present some refunds
to you from Windstream.
JUDGE TINLEY: Ah.
MS. SOLDAN: Morning.
JUDGE TINLEY: She's not that new; she's been there
several months.
MS. SOLDAN: I have.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
MS. SOLDAN: We have the long distance bill issue.
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Windstream was not able to tell us who had entered the codes
to make those long distance calls, so at the time, we were
putting that money into nondepartmental; we were charging
that budget. I've been working with them, and they have
gotten it down now to just over a dollar of unidentified long
distance calls, so they've been producing reports for us
showing us exactly who's been making those calls so we can
', charge the appropriate departments now. And then the second
I item is, there were a couple of modem lines in the Tax
Assessor's office that have not been being used for at least
the past six months, and I requested that they be
disconnected. They've been disconnected, and we received a
refund of $143 per line back to that department.
JUDGE TINLEY: Does that also give us the
additional line space that we can allocate to another
department here in the courthouse?
MS. SOLDAN: I don't believe so, because they were
modem lines; they weren't voice lines.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Okay.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's good news.
JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you.
MS. SOLDAN: You're welcome.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Thank you.
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COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is the Tax Assessor -- can I
get on her a little bit? Does the -- I'm not. Is the Tax
Assessor/Collector cool with all this?
MS. SOLDAN: We did ask her about those lines to
make sure. I wasn't here at the time. Apparently,
Windstream came out and tested the lines to see if there was
any activity, and there wasn't, but it was not requested that
those lines be disconnected, so I requested that they be
disconnected and that we get a refund for the past six
months. And they gave us just over four and a half months
worth of refund.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. So, you don't think
that the Tax Assessor/Collector's going to be in here next
month wanting to know what happened to her two lines, huh?
MS. SOLDAN: I certainly hope not.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, me too. We'll have to
remember this conversation. Thank you. That's fantastic
I news.
MS. SOLDAN: You're welcome.
MS. HARGIS: We did also discover one additional
line that was in Judge Billeiter's office, and we were able
to give that line to another office that needed it. So, in
addition, Tracy's also hand-counted every single phone in
this building, so we now know every instrument that we have,
and she has changed the billing system so it's fair to
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everyone. She's done a great job. She's done this on her
own, and I want to commend her for all of this. I really
I appreciate it.
JUDGE TINLEY: So she's now the new telephone
', police, right?
MS. SOLDAN: That's right.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Do we have any budget
amendments?
MS. HARGIS: We do not.
JUDGE TINLEY: Any late bills?
MS. HARGIS: We do not.
JUDGE TINLEY: Monthly reports. I have been
presented monthly reports for Justice of the Peace, Precinct
3; Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, as amended for May 2009;
County Clerk, amended for May 2009; Justice of the Peace,
Precinct 1; Constable, Precinct 4; District Clerk; Constable,
Precinct 3; Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2; Justice of the
Peace, Precinct 2, revised; Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4;
and Kerr County Treasurer for May 2009. Do I hear a report
that these reports be approved as presented? Do I hear a
motion that these reports be approved as presented?
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Third.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay, I make the motion.
JUDGE TINLEY: All right.
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COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second.
JUDGE TINLEY: We have a motion and second to
approve the indicated reports to be approved as presented.
Question or discussion on the motion? All in favor of the
motion, signify by raising your right hand.
(The motion carried by unanimous vote.)
JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign.
(No response.)
JUDGE TINLEY: That motion does carry. Any more
financial matters from the Auditor? Treasurer? Okay.
We'll --
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, let me ask you a
question. Mr. Obama's appointing all these people as -- I
can't remember the term he uses.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Czars.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Czars. So, we have a
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That went out with
high-button shoes in Russia a long time ago.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's what I thought. Of
course, there's probably a salary increase coming, too --
with all this stuff, too.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Show you where it's all
going in a minute.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Reports from Commissioners in
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connection with their liaison or appointments? Commissioner
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: We've been wondering where
all the stimulus money is going, Judge, and you recall the
Court went through a lot of fuss and feathers to get ready to
do our thing and send resolutions off to Washington or
wherever else they ended up in somebody's round file. AACOG
took a look at this for the AACOG region, and you'll see some
items at the top talking about where the base source of
information came from, which is the State Controller's ARRA
summary as of early June. The unknowns -- there are some
unknowns indicating a possibility of funds availability, but
don't know who, what, where, when, and why, and if that's --
some areas that are not included. If you jump to the bottom
line, you'll see that in the AACOG region as we know it
today, $434 million worth of stimulus funds are tracked to
come into the AACOG region, not totally through AACOG. A lot
of it through AACOG, but coming in through various state
agencies and so forth, but indicated to be spent within the
AACOG region.
So, what does that mean to Kerr County? Thus far,
there's only three items, and there could be more -- there
will be more, that are identified for some aspect of Kerr
County. On Page 9, you'll note that the City of Ingram is
listed as a recipient under Housing and Urban Development for
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the potential of a quarter of a million dollar grant. I'm
not sure what that's all about, but nonetheless, they're
~ wanted to have consideration in the Housing and Urban
Development, and submitted some sort of an application for
that purpose.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: I think that's to tie on that
extra -- the sewer onto Cypress Falls.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. Well, --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: If I was guessing.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- I didn't know what it
was, but if that's it, then it's listed as a potential. The
Sheriff's $12,689 is listed under law enforcement/criminal
justice on Page 11, and then if you jump back to the back,
you'll see where TexDOT has identified Kerr County for about
$4.2 million worth of transportation and enhancement type
projects, mobility projects, and Kerr County is listed in
I that. Bottom line is, 434 million as we know it today.
We'll keep doing this and keep going up until somebody breaks
the bank.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Interesting.
JUDGE TINLEY: Anything else?
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's it.
JUDGE TINLEY: Commissioner Letz?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Sometime during the meeting,
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just as kind of an announcement, the City of Kerrville went
to Stage 2, severe water restrictions. And it was reported
I that the river flow is down to 15 cubic feet per second at
the dam, and at 10 cubic feet per second where it goes into
Canyon Lake. So, that kind of comes on top of what I said
earlier about how bad the conditions are getting
drought-wise.
The Hill Country County Coalition idea, we -- kind
of the more organizers of that group met in Blanco last
Friday and figured out if we're going to continue, not
continue, what we're doing. And pretty much the feeling was
that we learned a lot what needs to be done to get something
a little bit more effectively through the Legislature. The
idea is to hit the ground running right now, and target --
trying to set up right now a meeting between all of the
representatives from our region. The biggest problem we felt
that we really had was not getting Harvey on board, bottom
line. Some other representatives weren't as -- as gung-ho as
they could have been, but Harvey was absolutely critical, and
the fact that he and Representative Rose just couldn't get
together I think was both their problems. Needs to be worked
on. Trying to get a commitment from all the Representatives
~, that they will sign onto a bill.
The other problem was the bill itself. There was
-- it got rushed through the legislative process, and there
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was language in there that really wasn't intended to be
there. I think it hurt it, from the standpoint of it talked
about infrastructure, and wasn't as specific as we really
wanted it as to talk about roadways and impact fees, things
of that nature. So, anyway, that's part of it. It's going
forward. I'm going to meet with Granger McDonald; he's
offered to meet over some of the problems Home Builders had
with the bill, trying to come to an agreement with them.
And, likewise, a meeting will take place with Farm Bureau,
Austin Home Builders Association, which covers a lot of these
counties, and try to really have everything -- a new bill
written and ready to go, signed on by Legislature by early --
you know, mid-next spring. And it was just, you know, also
felt, I think, that during this period, to visit with the
Lieutenant Governor's office and find out, you know, will he
support it? And certainly visit with the Speaker a little
bit and try to -- we felt the only way to get it out of --
calendars is where it got really log-jammed this time.
There's no one locally that has -- or none of our local
Representatives have enough stroke, I don't think, to get it
out of calendars, but certainly the Speaker does. And try to
get it offered and say, "Hey, this is something that's
important," and try to get more things lined up and not be,
you know, as limited in vision as what happened with this
thing. So, anyway, that's kind of where all that is going.
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And I think that's it. Oh, no, it's not it. (Laughter.)
JUDGE TINLEY: I knew you had something else.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: City of Kerrville ETJ. I'm
meeting with the City Manager and Councilman Motheral and
Kevin Coleman tomorrow at 12:30, with the idea of coming up
with a -- a map that we would geographically divide as to who
has jurisdiction over it. And I've got -- I'm working on
that map; it's in my office if anyone wants to take a look at
it. Be careful on communication on that until it gets back
before the whole Court. So, basically, my idea, what I'm
going to try to outline is within the ETJ, all existing
subdivisions, all CCN's immediately come under County
authority. That'll -- that solves the -- with the existing
subdivisions, it solves the revision of plat, which has been
a big concern of mine, of people going in, doing minor
changes, and having to upgrade to city standards when that's
done. CCN, City has no authority to provide services there,
just as if it's going to be a private system, if it's a
system where it will be an individual well.
And then after those are outlined and kind of
pulled in, then look at other areas geographically that just
don't make sense for high-density development by the City.
And that -- the biggest area of that, to me, is kind of
that -- oh, I guess the northeast quarter of the ETJ, which
is that area between I-10 and Highway 27 and east-northeast
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of the airport, which is basically ranch land. Pull those
areas out, and then and Kerrville South would come out of the
CCN, and the other areas would -- then we'll start working on
that map and dividing which areas will be the City's
responsibility and which areas will be the County's. And it
appears that this framework has the support of City Council.
JUDGE TINLEY: City Council or City Manager?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Both.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LETZ: But we're not there yet.
JUDGE TINLEY: Well, it seems to make a lot of
sense, that existing areas that we've already seen the
platting, that were cleared for O.S.S.F., where there's a
water system in place, for example, or just where we've
platted and there's private wells, depending on the size, and
that -- that's a good starting point right there. It's a
matter of identifying where's it going to go and how it's
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JUDGE TINLEY: Yes.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: You can't -- you can't
COMMISSIONER LETZ: Mm-hmm. So, anyway, hopefully
going to grow.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: If they're not going to
provide services any time soon, they still have to abide by
state law.
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we get there.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Now, is that it?
COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's it.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Commissioner Oehler?
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: Two things. One, seems like
there's been quite a bit of progress at the Ag Barn lately on
the facility for the animals, the 4-H. They've now enclosed
that. They have rollup doors. It's going to be a secure
area. It's looking good. Other thing is, we authorized,
last meeting, for Animal Control to put some covered area
over some -- some holding pens that -- where they can keep
estrays, and that is being done. I was out the other day,
and Tim was attempting to dig some holes, but ran into a few
boulders out there, I think. But Bobby Johnson's boys are
out there and they're helping with it, so it's coming along.
It'll just take a little while longer, but it's going to get
done for a really small cost. That's it.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, I don't have anything
to report -- anything major. There's all kinds of little
bitty things going on, but we'll talk about it when it turns
into something big.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: One footnote. I forgot to
mention that the weatherization program, which is under
I
AACOG, was given $14 million for the program to be spent over
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the next two years, and that is for the rehabilitation of
homes and weatherization issues, so forth and so on. I've
invited Rose Jackson, who's the head of that program, to come
down here and make a presentation to the Court for the first
meeting in July, and we can begin to identify properties in
Kerr County that we'd like to see on this list. They have
lots of money to spend, and they're looking for homes to do
it. Got some --
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: We need to find some money to
repair the two dams we have somewhere in that.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: If we can make that fit
under house weatherization, Commissioner, I'm with you.
COMMISSIONER OEHLER: It could be house protection.
JUDGE TINLEY: Stuff the voids with insulation?
Okay. Do we -- I ran across something the other day dealing
with alternative energy programs for government buildings,
and that's coming your way, Rex, for you to take a look at in
connection with the inquiries that you've got outstanding
on -- on solar panels and so forth. Have any reports from
elected officials? Department heads?
MS. HYDE: It's real short. This afternoon -- I
think I've tried to talk to everybody, but this afternoon, we
didn't print up new draft versions again, 'cause it's --
we're having to print up about 25 to 30 of them each time, at
100 pages each. Is there any member of the Court that needs
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a copy? And I'll make sure that you have a copy.
JUDGE TINLEY: I think we've all got a draft. The
draft from last fall? Last -- late last fall?
MS. HYDE: The last one. The last one.
JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah.
MS. HYDE: Okay, thank you.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Yes?
MS. WHITT: I just wanted to let y'all know that we
are starting to work on the planning of our -- of our second
adopt-a-thon, like what we had last year. Bruce, we're
probably going to ask you to cook, but we have -- H.E.B. and
Super S are donating all of the stuff for the hot dogs. The
Dr Pepper company is going to donate their Dr Pepper trailer
like they did last year. So, we're -- we're planning that
now, so we just wanted to let y'all know. We'll probably be
doing it -- we've haven't actually set a date yet. We wanted
to do it either the third weekend in September or the first
weekend in October. That seems to be -- to work better for
all of the other organizations that are wanting to
participate. So, I just wanted to let y'all know. I'll let
y'all know more as we -- we get closer.
JUDGE TINLEY: Okay, thank you. Any other
department heads? Anything else? We'll be adjourned. We
have a workshop at 1:30 on the policy book.
(Commissioners Court adjourned at 11:41 a.m.)
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STATE OF TEXAS ~
COUNTY OF KERR ~
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 25th day of June, 2009.
JANNETT PIEPER, Kerr County Clerk
B Y : _____ _ ___ _____ _____
Kathy B ik, Deputy County Clerk
Certified Shorthand Reporter
6-22-09
ORDER NO. 31336
"DOG DAY OF SUMMER" IN AUGUST, 2009 AT FLAT ROCK PARK
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Letz, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve Mr. Palmer coordinating the "Dog Day of Summer" from 8:00 am to 12:00
noon on August 8, 2009 at Flat Rock Park, and to work with Animal Control in
establishing that event, and that Janie Whitt, from Animal Control, will have control over
the safety aspects, with the dogs to be on leash only that day, wearing their collars and
tags.
ORDER NO. 31337
SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE BLOOD DRIVE AT COURTHOUSE
PARKING LOT
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Letz, seconded by Commissioner Williams, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve the South Texas Blood and Tissue conducting a Blood Drive using the
Courthouse parking lot on August 6, 2009.
ORDER NO. 31338
JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING EIC FUNDING
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Letz, seconded by Commissioner Williams, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Request the County Judge to write a letter to the Mayor for the City of Kerrville setting a
Joint Meeting with the City Council, the Airport Board, the Kerrville Economic
Improvement Board and Guy Overby concerning EIC Funding.
ORDER NO. 31339
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO CHANGE OR REPEAL TEXAS
TAX CODE SECTION 23.175
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
V~%illiams, seconded by Commissioner Letz, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve Resolution supporting legislation to change or repeal Texas Tax Code Section
2 3.175 to bring all Texas taxpayers into an equitable position.
ORDER NO. 31340
CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING AND FACILITIES ON KERB COUNTY
PROPERTY AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY FOR ADULT PROBATION
AND STORAGE
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Williams, seconded by Commissioner Letz, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve setting up a Study Committee consisting of the County Judge, the Sheriff, and
Commissioner Oehler to further explore different options for a building and facilities for
Adult Probation and storage, including possible construction of a new building on Kerr
County Property at the Law Enforcement Facility.
ORDER NO. 31341
HILL COUNTRY HOME BUILDERS USE OF HILL COUNTRY YOUTH EXHIBIT
CENTER
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Letz, seconded by Commissioner Oehler, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve waiving the set up and take down fee of $300 for the Texas Hill Country Home
Builders Association, Inc. at the Hill Country Youth Exhibit Center, and that all
facilities/booths are to be removed by noon on Monday.
ORDER NO. 31342
THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Letz, seconded by Commissioner Oehler, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve applying for membership in The Cooperative Purchasing Network, and
authorize the County Judge to sign related documents.
ORDER NO. 31343
VIDEO TELECONFERENCE SYSTEM PROPOSAL
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Williams, seconded by Commissioner Letz, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve a Video Teleconference System Proposal at a cost of $19,543.00 plus $200.00
shipping, and authorize the County Judge to sign same.
ORDER NO. 31344
CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, came to be considered by the Court
various Commissioners Precincts, which said Claims and Accounts are:
Accounts Expense
10-General	$	249,578.23
14-Fire Protection	$	15,000.00
15-Road & Bridge	$	74,009.68
16-2008 Capital Projects	$	388.50
18-County Law Library	$	8,202.62
19-Public Library	$	33,333.33
21-Title IV-E	$	117.50
27-Juv Intensive Prog-State	$	6,566.50
31-Parks	$	150.00
37-Center Point Wastewater	$	7,437.00
50-Indigent Health Care	$	2,834.21
62-1994 Jail Bond	$	375.00
76-Juv Detention Facility	$	8,588.76
83-216`h District Attorney	$	1,709.73
86-216`" CSCD	$	18,658.22
87-Community Service	$	241.73
TOTAL $ 427,191.01
Upon motion made by Commissioner Baldwin, seconded by Commissioner Letz, the
Court unanimously approved by vote of 4-0-0 to pay the claims and accounts.
ORDER NO. 31345
MONTHLY REPORTS
Came to be heard this the 22nd day of June, 2009, with a motion made by Commissioner
Baldwin, seconded by Commissioner Letz, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
4-0-0 to:
Approve the Monthly Reports from:
JP #3
JP #3 Amended for May, 2009
County Clerk -Amended for May, 2009
JP # 1
Constable Pct #4
District Clerk
Constable Pct #3
JP #2
JP #2 Revised
JP #4
Kerr County Treasurer -May, 2009