1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT 9 Special Session 10 Friday, September 1, 2006 11 9:00 a.m. 12 Commissioners' Courtroom 13 Kerr County Courthouse 14 Kerrville, Texas 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 PRESENT: PAT TINLEY, Kerr County Judge 23 H. A. "BUSTER" BALDWIN, Commissioner Pct. 1 WILLIAM "BILL" WILLIAMS, Commissioner Pct. 2 24 DAVE NICHOLSON, Commissioner Pct. 4 25 ABSENT: JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Pct. 3 2 1 I N D E X September 1, 2006 2 PAGE 3 1.1 Swearing in Diane Bolin as Tax Assessor/Collector 3 4 1.2 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to approve appointment of deputies in Tax Assessor/Collector's 5 Office 5 6 1.3 Approve moving a 17-5 to 19-7 to fill Chief Deputy Tax Assessor/Collector position effective 9/1/06 5 7 1.4 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action declaring 8 unopposed candidates elected to their office as prescribed by the Texas Election Code 2.052-2.056 7 9 1.5 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to hire 10 Human Resources Director and/or Human Resources Administrative Assistant 8 11 1.6 Workshop to consider and review FY 2006-07 budget, 12 budget priorities and policies; review of department budgets; consideration of matters having budgetary 13 impact and other matters relating to FY 2006-2007 budget 10 14 --- Adjourned 45 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 On Friday, September 1, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., a special 2 meeting of the Kerr County Commissioners Court was held in the 3 Commissioners' Courtroom, Kerr County Courthouse, Kerrville, 4 Texas, and the following proceedings were had in open court: 5 P R O C E E D I N G S 6 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Let me call to order this 7 meeting of the Kerr County Commissioners Court scheduled for 8 this date and time, Friday, September the 1st, 2006, at 9 a.m. 9 The first item that we have on the agenda is a pleasant one, 10 in that I get the honor and privilege of swearing in our new 11 Tax Assessor/Collector. So, if Diane Bolin would come 12 forward, I'll meet you right out here and we'll get this done. 13 This boys knows his duties. 14 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: He's good. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. 16 JUDGE TINLEY: If you'd raise your right hand, 17 please? "I, Diane Bolin, do solemnly swear" 18 MS. BOLIN: I, Diane Bolin, do solemnly swear. 19 JUDGE TINLEY: "That I will faithfully execute the 20 duties." 21 MS. BOLIN: That I will faithfully execute the 22 duties. 23 JUDGE TINLEY: "Of the office of Kerr County Tax 24 Assessor/Collector." 25 MS. BOLIN: Of the office of Kerr County Tax 9-1-06 4 1 Assessor/Collector. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: "Of the state of Texas." 3 MS. BOLIN: Of the state of Texas. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: "And will, to the best of my 5 ability." 6 MS. BOLIN: And will, to the best of my ability. 7 JUDGE TINLEY: "Preserve, protect and defend." 8 MS. BOLIN: Preserve, protect, and defend. 9 JUDGE TINLEY: "The Constitution and laws of the 10 United States." 11 MS. BOLIN: The Constitution and laws of the United 12 States. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: "And of this state." 14 MS. BOLIN: And of this state. 15 JUDGE TINLEY: "So help me God." 16 MS. BOLIN: So help me God. 17 JUDGE TINLEY: Congratulations. 18 MS. BOLIN: Thank you. 19 (Applause.) 20 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Diane, the only problem is 21 these pictures are going to look like you're waving. 22 MS. BOLIN: I have that problem anyhow. 23 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: We have a new Tax Assessor. 24 JUDGE TINLEY: Sign the next one, Diane. Sign right 25 here, if you would, please. This goes to the County Clerk, I 9-1-06 5 1 believe. 2 MS. PIEPER: Yes, sir. 3 JUDGE TINLEY: Do you have the other one already? 4 MS. PIEPER: Right behind you. 5 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay, here it is. Okay, thank you. 6 (Discussion off the record.) 7 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Now we can all swear at you. 8 Is that correct, Commissioner Baldwin? 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What was the question? 10 JUDGE TINLEY: We can swear at you now? 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No, no, no. Mother said not 12 to swear. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Let's move to Item 2, if we 14 might. Consider, discuss, and take appropriate action to 15 approve the appointment of deputies of the Tax 16 Assessor/Collector's' office. These are deputies to serve 17 under our newly sworn-in Tax Assessor/Collector. They are 18 listed on the backup information given to us. 19 MS. BOLIN: Judge, the approval -- 1.3 -- of the 20 moving of the chief deputy position from a 17-5 to a 19-7, 21 that is also included in that approval. 22 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay, so let me call Item 3 also, so 23 that we've got it all rolled into one. Approve moving a 17, 24 -- Grade 17, Step 5 to Grade 19, Step 7 to fill the chief 25 deputy position effective today, September 1, 2006. 9-1-06 6 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The money numbers don't 2 change at all. It's just -- 3 MS. BOLIN: Right. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- just moving the slot 5 around. 6 JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah, there's no budgetary impact, 7 because we're just moving people. 8 MS. BOLIN: Correct. 9 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 10 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Just a position schedule 11 change. 12 MS. BOLIN: Pardon? 13 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Just a position schedule 14 change. 15 MS. BOLIN: Yes. 16 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Move to approve the 17 appointment of deputies of the Tax Assessor/Collector's 18 office, and to move the Chief Deputy position from a 17-5 to a 19 19-7. 20 JUDGE TINLEY: And the transfer. 21 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: And effective 9/1/06. 22 JUDGE TINLEY: And the movement of personnel to that 23 slot also? 24 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Yes. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 9-1-06 7 1 JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded for approval 2 of essentially both agenda items. Any question or discussion? 3 All in favor of the motion, signify by raising your right 4 hand. 5 (The motion carried by unanimous vote.) 6 JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign. 7 (No response.) 8 JUDGE TINLEY: That motion does carry. Thank you, 9 ma'am. 10 MS. BOLIN: Thank you very much. 11 JUDGE TINLEY: Let's move to Item Number 4; consider 12 and discuss and take appropriate action to declare unopposed 13 candidates elected to their office as prescribed by the Texas 14 Election Code, Sections 2.052 through 2.056. Ms. Pieper? 15 MS. PIEPER: Gentlemen, this is just a formality 16 that we can go through, and basically what this is going to do 17 is, because we are unopposed, our name will still go on the 18 ballot, but this will save money in the formatting and the 19 printing and the programming. So, I am requesting that this 20 be approved, and this will be from the District Judge down to 21 the Commissioners levels. 22 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So we're going by the new 23 list that's just now being passed out? 24 MS. PIEPER: Yes. 25 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: I don't know about this 9-1-06 8 1 Commissioner Number 2. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: He's tough. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Want to scratch him out here? 5 I'm with you. 6 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: No, I think we need him 7 another four years. 8 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: It's going to be a tough 9 day. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, I move for approval of 11 the agenda item. 12 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Second. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded for approval 14 of the agenda item as presented. Any question or discussion? 15 All in favor of the motion, signify by raising your right 16 hand. 17 (The motion carried by unanimous vote.) 18 JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign. 19 (No response.) 20 JUDGE TINLEY: That motion does carry. We'll move 21 now to Item Number 5; consider, discuss, and take appropriate 22 action to hire Human Resources Director and/or Human Resources 23 administrative assistant. 24 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I have some 25 information in that regard which I'll be happy to share with 9-1-06 9 1 the Court. Let me get my ducks lined up here, if I might just 2 a second. I have been in contact with the individual who the 3 Court identified as their prime candidate -- number one 4 candidate; that would be Ms. Eva Hyde, and have discussed the 5 position with her, and she has accepted the position, and at a 6 starting salary of $52,500. And so I have some budget 7 amendments I'll -- I'll talk about when we get -- are we doing 8 budget? We do have some budget -- yeah, when we get to 1.6. 9 But I would make a motion that we -- oh, before I get that 10 far, we've also discussed with Ms. Jacqueline Magenheimer, the 11 second position in that office, and so I'm going to offer the 12 Court a motion to appoint Ms. Eva Hyde as the new Director of 13 Human Resources at a starting salary of $52,500, effective 14 October 2, 2006, and to transfer Ms. Jacqueline Magenheimer 15 into the new department as the administrative assistant, with 16 the same pay grade that she currently enjoys in her part-time 17 capacity. That would be a motion. 18 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Second. 19 JUDGE TINLEY: Motion made and seconded as 20 indicated. Any question or discussion on the motion? All in 21 favor of the motion, please signify by raising your right 22 hand. 23 (The motion carried by unanimous vote.) 24 JUDGE TINLEY: All opposed, same sign. 25 (No response.) 9-1-06 10 1 JUDGE TINLEY: That motion does carry. Thank you 2 for your work, Commissioner. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yes, sir. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: Let's now move to Item 6, which is a 5 workshop item, to consider and review Fiscal Year 2006-'07 6 budget, budget priorities and policies, review of department 7 budgets, consideration of matters having budgetary impact and 8 other matters relating to FY '06-'07 budget. Pretty 9 wide-open. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Did we need to go out of 11 Commissioners Court into budget -- I mean into workshop? 12 JUDGE TINLEY: I called it as a workshop item; I 13 think we're probably okay. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We keep the Commissioners 15 Court running? 16 JUDGE TINLEY: For the members of the audience, a 17 budget workshop, or any kind of a workshop, is one in which no 18 formal action can be taken. There can be discussion of any of 19 the issues of the workshop agenda item, but no formal action 20 can be taken, as it could be in a regular Commissioners Court 21 meeting. The other items that we previously considered here 22 this morning were official Commissioners Court agenda items, 23 upon which, obviously, there was official action taken. 24 Workshop items, we -- we've added this to the agenda rather 25 than post a separate agenda, but no official action can be 9-1-06 11 1 taken on any of those budgetary items today that might be 2 discussed. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I have a couple 4 things to bring to our attention in terms of the budget, and 5 I'd like to start with the Human Resources Department. Let me 6 see if I can find that little bugger. It's in your work 7 epacket. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: 29? 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Yes, Page 29. And I'm going 10 to propose a couple amendments to the -- to the line items, 11 and give us a new total. I'm going to propose the official 12 salary be changed from the 60,000 to 52,5, and I'm proposing 13 that the assistant be left at the number that was presented to 14 us, at 26,1. That funds the second position for three days, 15 and there's sufficient leeway in there for a fourth day if 16 necessary. And so, if we leave it that way, we'll see how it 17 plays out and if the department is up and running and 18 organized and sufficient enough for that purpose. It seems to 19 me also that in this budget, we failed to include any money 20 for any funding for a lease copier. Everything looks to be in 21 place, but I would think that department should have a lease 22 copier. Checked with the Auditor's office, and the one that 23 they have used costs about a little less than 150 a month, so 24 I'm going to propose we add a line item, 140-93-461. It's not 25 shown, but -- yeah, 461, a line item for lease copier of 9-1-06 12 1 $1,800. That would change the bottom line of the department 2 to 118,003. 3 JUDGE TINLEY: With the roll-ups, you're going to 4 change a little bit with these salary items. 5 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: They might well -- the top 6 one will change down, and I think the second one's in place, 7 so 118,003 may be a little bit high. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Depending on the roll-ups. 10 Yes, sir? 11 MR. TOMLINSON: I didn't hear what you said about 12 the amount for the lease copier. 13 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: 1,800. That's $150 a month, 14 and I understand the one that's in your annex over there is a 15 little bit less than that per month, so it gives us a little 16 leeway there. Okay? 17 JUDGE TINLEY: All right, sir. 18 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I have one other, Judge, 19 while we're in discussion on budget. This one was discussed 20 the other day. 21 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 22 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: And I didn't weigh too much 23 in on it. It was a topic that the Court talked a little bit 24 about, but I didn't weigh-in too much on it. That has to do 25 with the County Treasurer's salary. Commissioner Letz had 9-1-06 13 1 proposed a -- a salary -- you have a proposal, but 2 Commissioner Letz had proposed an alternative amount by 3 reducing that salary to the level of commissioner, somewhere 4 near the bottom of the barrel. And I didn't weigh-in on it, 5 but I wanted to do some research, and I did, with the 6 assistance of the Auditor. I went back in time and I took a 7 look at the county budgets going back to the years '94-'95 and 8 the previous years, and what I find is that the Treasurer's 9 office, subsequent to taking on the responsibilities for human 10 resources, was brought to parity with other elected officials. 11 There was not parity prior to that. 12 And I can only piece together the fact that the 13 human resources transfer took place, and no money was given at 14 that time. And subsequent to that, probably the next budget 15 year, there was some parity given, and the Treasurer's salary 16 went to parity with everybody else at 27,5, which resulted 17 that year, in 1993-'94, in a $2,000 increase in salary for 18 obviously having taken on the human resources function. So, 19 it would be my thought that an adequate salary in this case, 20 since there's no longer any supervision involved in that 21 department, would be a salary commensurate with a 22 commissioner's salary, which I believe is 43,257, for the 23 ensuing budget year. And while we're not making motions, that 24 would be my proposal to the Court. And it is a similar 25 proposal to one that Commissioner Letz outlined the other day. 9-1-06 14 1 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Anything else, sir? 2 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No, sir. 3 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, I have -- I have a 5 couple of comments. I -- I see three different options to 6 settle the Treasurer's salary. One is what Number 2 just 7 provided us, and Commissioner 3 had mentioned a couple weeks 8 ago, was to lower the salary to even with the Commissioners 9 Court. That's a -- to me, that's a good compromise. Number 10 two option would be to lower it to what your recommendation 11 was; I think it was 28,000 or something like -- I can't 12 remember, somewhere in that ballpark. Lower it to that, and 13 let her file a grievance to the Grievance Committee, and let 14 that jury of her peers make the decision whether that's a good 15 route to go or not. There's some things I like about that as 16 well. 17 Number three is, it seems to me that the central 18 problem in this whole thing is that it appears that the County 19 Treasurer doesn't come to the courthouse and spend her time 20 during the days and does her job. That's what I hear more 21 than anything. Now, I've -- I go down there occasionally to 22 talk business, and I -- there are times when she's not in. 23 Most of the time, she is. Her clerk contacts her if she's 24 not, and I have a visit with her, so I don't -- I don't have a 25 huge problem with that. But I understand that a lot of folks 9-1-06 15 1 out in the public and the courthouse family really have a 2 problem with that, and that is the -- is the central issue. 3 Now, a couple of months ago, I went down there, and 4 in a private way, and had a visit with the Treasurer and 5 expressed that concern to her, that a lot of people see that 6 she doesn't come to the courthouse as much as she should. And 7 that is -- because of that, that has caused the problems that 8 we see and hear, the filing -- missing the filing deadlines, 9 the I.R.S. issues, the insurance issues and all those things 10 that we've gone through in the last years that has cost the 11 taxpayers some money. I just believe that if she came to work 12 on a regular basis and applied herself to the duties before 13 her, that at least 50 percent of those kind of problems would 14 go away. And I -- personally, I don't think that we would be 15 having these conversations today if that happened. 16 So, I said all that to say this. A way -- a way to 17 fix that is not focus on her annual salary, but focus on the 18 hours -- hourly salary. If she comes -- decides to come to 19 the courthouse and work three hours a day, she gets paid three 20 hours a day. If she chooses not to come to the courthouse, 21 she doesn't get paid. So, that's another option. Not real 22 fond of that, but it is an option, so I just wanted to lay 23 those out. I think there's -- there's other ways of looking 24 at it than dropping it down as far as your recommendation. 25 And I understand where you're coming from, and your reasons 9-1-06 16 1 are very valid and solid. But we're -- most of the time, 2 we're in a compromise job. I don't like that word, 3 "compromise," dealing with taxpayers' moneys, but there are 4 times that it happens and you have to do that, and I think -- 5 I think there's a good, happy medium there with lowering it to 6 the Commissioners Court salary. But I really like the idea of 7 a jury of peers making the decision on this thing. That's all 8 I have to say. I'm not going to -- when it comes time for me 9 to vote, I will vote up or down on whatever's on the table. 10 JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you, Commissioner. Appreciate 11 that. Anybody else have anything to offer on that issue? 12 Commissioner, I -- when I explained my rationale the other day 13 briefly, my explanation related to duties and responsibilities 14 of office. As we all know, in the employment environment, 15 when we're going to take on a new employee, we look at 16 qualifications of the prospective employee and -- and what the 17 duties and responsibilities of the job or office are. If 18 we're dealing with an existing employee, as it were, we've got 19 another measure that we need to consider, I think, and that is 20 not only the duties and responsibilities, but rather the 21 performance of that particular employee. I -- I didn't voice 22 any concern about that the other day. I was giving my 23 rationale on the duties and responsibilities. 24 Certainly, there are some performance issues that 25 we've had. I think they're serious issues. Unfortunately, I 9-1-06 17 1 see more coming, and I think that's unfortunate, because I 2 think the taxpayers look to you and I as the ultimate persons 3 being responsible for their tax dollars that are spent in this 4 county government, and I think we need to continuously keep 5 that in mind, as I know we try to do. But suffice it to say, 6 as you've indicated, maybe -- maybe the performance issues 7 are -- are solely related to absenteeism. I -- I tend to 8 think that's not totally correct, because what I have seen is 9 the same problem repeatedly, and generally if it's merely an 10 absentee issue, the second -- it won't happen a second time, 11 but that's what I'm seeing. 12 So, suffice it to say, at this juncture, there are a 13 lot of performance issues that I think we need to be cognizant 14 of, and we need to take into account in determining what's 15 appropriate for this situation. It very well may be that -- 16 that a, quote, jury of peers is the best way to go; lay out 17 all the information and -- and have that jury make a call. 18 That may be the best solution. That gives us a representative 19 feedback, which hopefully would be representative of the 20 taxpayers and voters that we serve. But right now, that's an 21 open issue, and we'll consider -- we'll continue to discuss it 22 and -- and decide which way we're going to go. 23 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, the grievance issue, 24 Judge, would be -- would be only if the Treasurer filed a 25 grievance. 9-1-06 18 1 JUDGE TINLEY: That's correct. That's correct. 2 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: No other purpose for -- or 3 reason for a grievance committee to convene. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: Yes. That's the elected official's 5 choice to trigger the grievance committee issue, and that can 6 be done if it's -- even if we were to give a salary increase, 7 an elected official can still invoke the grievance process, 8 saying I don't believe that's enough. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's true. 10 JUDGE TINLEY: So it doesn't make any difference. 11 There's no threshold amount or percentage or anything like 12 that. It can even go up, and there would be a grievance 13 procedure. But we'll see when we get there, I guess. 14 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, I think so. I have 15 reason to believe that there will not be a grievance based on 16 the proposal I made. 17 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: I am going to comment on 18 the grievance procedure. I've had a lot of experience with 19 them, and there are some benefits. If -- if it goes to 20 arbitration, the decision's upheld, it tends to violate the 21 decision. If the decision is not upheld, there's some -- some 22 consequences that are not always desirable. It tends to, in 23 my opinion, disrupt relationships and cause some -- some -- 24 can cause some difficulties in the organization. So, my 25 thinking on it is that it is better to avoid arbitration than 9-1-06 19 1 to have it. It'll be what it'll be. 2 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I agree with Commissioner 4. 3 He and I have been down that road many times in our career. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Anything else on that issue? 5 Any other budget issues from any other members of the Court? 6 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I don't have anything else, 7 Judge. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: J.P. 4? 9 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes, sir. 10 JUDGE TINLEY: You had some questions, concerns, 11 comments about budget issues? 12 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes, sir. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: Let's hear what they are. 14 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Thank you. I think -- I looked at 15 my budget yesterday. I believe that the Judge recommended to 16 cut the telephone budget, and also cut the conference budget 17 line item. Also, I believe in years past, we've discussed 18 taking utilities for that building out of my budget and 19 putting it into the Maintenance budget. It's still there. 20 Been there for six-something years now. We've talked about 21 it. It would be nice to get it out, but also, I would 22 recommend that we -- I think we cut -- I don't have mine with 23 me; I returned over here from the jail. Did you recommend a 24 cut in the postage budget? 25 JUDGE TINLEY: Yes, sir, I did. 9-1-06 20 1 JUDGE RAGSDALE: How much was that? 2 JUDGE TINLEY: It appears -- let me make sure I'm on 3 the right line here. You had requested 1,320. I recommended 4 750, based upon a projected year-end expenditure of this year 5 of 468. That's how I got to where I got. 6 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I've just spent several hundreds 7 more on postage this month. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: That -- that's not something that's 9 level over the year, then, that -- that you can project out? 10 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I believe so, plus postage is 11 supposed to go up 3 cents next year. 12 JUDGE TINLEY: Let me -- let me address the issue of 13 the conferences. I've gone back after our discussion and 14 reviewed that. 15 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes, sir. 16 JUDGE TINLEY: And my statement to you was -- when I 17 didn't have it in front of me, was that I had tried to put 18 three of the J.P.'s that -- that were holdovers with the same 19 budget, and I thought that's what I had done, and in truth and 20 in fact, I had not. When I cut yours, I dropped you below 21 what they were, so I was in error there, and yours needs to be 22 restored. 23 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I don't know that the -- my only 24 concern in the telephone budget is, I -- what I try to do is 25 -- is make it to where I can come out as close to zero as I 9-1-06 21 1 can at the end of the year without making any amendments. I'm 2 willing to -- to try on the telephone, although I'm not sure 3 that I would make it. But I know you guys don't mind making 4 budget amendments, so if you want to leave it that way, that's 5 fine. I just -- 6 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Who said that? 7 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Huh? 8 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Who said that? 9 JUDGE RAGSDALE: What? 10 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That we don't mind making 11 budget amendments. 12 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Well, you always do it with a 13 smile. (Laughter.) 14 JUDGE TINLEY: I've repeatedly told department heads 15 and elected officials that if there's a valid reason for them 16 to need more money, we'll give it to them, if that's what they 17 need to do their job. And we should; that's our function. 18 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Well, and truthfully, I -- the 19 reason I sub -- submitted that figure was because I thought 20 that I would come in within 100 or so dollars of zero, so I 21 wouldn't have to make any budget amendments. But if -- if you 22 believe somehow that -- that that's not the case, we'll see 23 what happens. You may be right. You've been right before. 24 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: When was that? 25 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I remember it was three or four 9-1-06 22 1 years ago. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: I want to check with Ms. Banik and 3 make sure we've got that on the record very clearly. 4 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I didn't say you were right often; 5 I said that you were right in the past. 6 JUDGE TINLEY: Before, I understand that. That's a 7 good first step, Judge. I appreciate that. 8 JUDGE RAGSDALE: But, anyway, that's the only 9 concerns that I have. 10 JUDGE TINLEY: What do you envision -- you indicated 11 that just very recently, you -- you bought several hundred 12 dollars -- obviously, that's going to carry you into this year 13 some? 14 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes. Some, yes. 15 JUDGE TINLEY: And -- 16 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Normally, Judge, my intention is to 17 buy postage twice a year. 18 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 19 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I mean, I don't want to have to -- 20 to send in a request for two rolls of stamps at a time. 21 JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm. 22 JUDGE RAGSDALE: I just usually -- I get -- about 23 twice a year is what I try to do. And, you know, if you want 24 to go ahead and cut that off this time and see how it works, 25 it's okay. I don't mind. 9-1-06 23 1 JUDGE TINLEY: If you need it, we'll see that you 2 get it. 3 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Okay. Later on -- well, just go 4 ahead and just leave postage the way it is. 5 JUDGE TINLEY: I do want to increase your 6 conferences back up to 1,000, because that's appropriate to 7 do. 8 JUDGE RAGSDALE: And I understand what you used for 9 a basis, but just to let you know, I mean, my clerk was not 10 able to go; she had this car wreck, you know, a month ago. 11 She's been out. She'll still be out. She didn't get to go or 12 could not go to the conference she was supposed to. I 13 couldn't go to the conference I was supposed to. I was 14 supposed to go in Austin to one; she was supposed to go to 15 Corpus to one, and neither of us got to go to the conferences 16 because of her being out. So, it just looks like we -- we're 17 not doing what we normally do, but it just was the 18 circumstances this year. Also, just to put a -- a bee in your 19 bonnet about something I really would like to work for next 20 year, just so you'll know now, is we spend, I would say, at 21 least 16 hours a week on just entering data into our 22 computers. Ticket, you know, information. And I think that I 23 would like for the Court to -- to allow John Trolinger to look 24 into the automatic ticket writers as much as -- as much as we 25 could possibly afford, like, over a three- or four-year period 9-1-06 24 1 of time. Because if every department is spending 8 to 16 2 hours a time entering this data that can be automatically 3 entered in perfectly, with no error, then we would, in 4 essence, gain an employee. And we would also have a -- a more 5 rapid recovery time of the -- if you want to say accounts 6 receivable, because it's in the computer. It's in the system 7 more quickly. It's without error. We can start sending out 8 notices more rapidly, and the more rapidly you send out 9 notices, the more quickly you recover what's coming to you. 10 Also -- 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bill, before you get off 12 that, is that a scanning device? 13 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is that what it is? 15 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Basically, an officer would scan a 16 ticket -- I mean scan a driver's license in. All that data is 17 perfect; it's legible. And then they use down -- what do they 18 call it? -- drop-downs and do the rest of it, and then it 19 prints a copy of the ticket for the violator, and they go on. 20 And when they get back to the office -- John's already setting 21 up a system at the D.P.S. office. They'd hook that machine 22 into the computer, and it -- boom, it would be in everybody's 23 court absolutely perfectly, instantly. 24 JUDGE TINLEY: What's the state of the technology on 25 that? Have all the bugs been worked out of that? Does it 9-1-06 25 1 seem to be working well where it is being utilized, or has 2 been for any length of time? 3 MR. TROLINGER: No, Judge. I think it's a 4 next-year -- let's let another county get it installed and 5 developed first, the technology. But it is a really -- you 6 know, it's one of the leading-edge things that we'd like to 7 do. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: What is the -- 9 MR. TROLINGER: Like he said, we're getting 10 everything in place with D.P.S. 11 JUDGE TINLEY: Does it require additional hardware 12 or software readers or whatever at the J.P. office? 13 MR. TROLINGER: Negative. It does not. 14 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. So, the only hardware 15 equipment is what the officer on the street is using? 16 MR. TROLINGER: Correct. 17 JUDGE TINLEY: What's the current cost of one of 18 those? 19 MR. TROLINGER: I do not have a number. 20 JUDGE RAGSDALE: That's why I was hoping that y'all 21 would allow him to explore that. 22 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 23 JUDGE RAGSDALE: And just -- just so that we can 24 work into this, 'cause it's going to be -- it's going to be a 25 thing that we'll have to work into over a two- or three-year 9-1-06 26 1 period of time, I think. Because there are a lot of officers 2 out there, and, you know, the equipment is fairly expensive. 3 Not -- probably no more than $2,000 apiece, but I would think 4 probably more in the neighborhood of $1,000 apiece. But the 5 other thing is, is that we spend a tremendous amount of time 6 in our office answering the phone, answering the same 7 questions over and over and over again. "What's your mailing 8 address? How do I take a driver's safety course?" I would 9 like for you to allow us to present, sometime next year, a -- 10 the possibility of a phone-answering device, perhaps for all 11 four -- one number for all four J.P.'s. That would answer the 12 -- the mundane -- you know, cause, seriously, you try to get 13 work done, a single-person office or one-clerk office, and -- 14 and every few minutes you're stopped by someone, "How do I 15 take a driver's safety course?" Read the piece of paper you 16 got with the ticket. "What's your mailing address?" It's on 17 the white piece of paper you got with the ticket. You know, 18 these things -- same thing, but they stop you from doing your 19 work. The problem is, the systems cost a fair amount of 20 money. So, anyway, since it's budget, I wanted to tell you 21 about it, 'cause we're not -- we can't go forward this year, 22 but please keep it in the back of your mind for next year. 23 JUDGE TINLEY: Would -- would the telephone 24 responding device not be something which could be included in 25 -- under the J.P. Technology dedicated fund? 9-1-06 27 1 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Could. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 3 JUDGE RAGSDALE: But, then, so would the 4 ticket-writing devices. 5 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Judge Ragsdale? 6 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes, sir? 7 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: The improvements that were 8 made to your office space a year or so ago, has that proven to 9 be satisfactory? Are you okay now? 10 JUDGE RAGSDALE: You mean the roof they put on? 11 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Yeah. 12 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Yes, sir. 13 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: You're not walking around 14 in water any more? 15 JUDGE RAGSDALE: No, sir. We haven't had any rain, 16 either. I think we're having a dust problem right now. 17 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: You're so far west, I 18 thought maybe you'd have some rain. 19 JUDGE RAGSDALE: No, we did. It's so dry now, what 20 it is, we say we're having to prime to spit. But, no, sir, 21 it's -- I think it has rained a couple times, and we're not 22 having any of those problems. 23 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: That's good. 24 JUDGE RAGSDALE: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Judge. 25 JUDGE TINLEY: Thank you. 9-1-06 28 1 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge? 2 JUDGE TINLEY: Yes, sir. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I thought of a couple things 4 I need to talk about. When's our last crack at the budget? 5 JUDGE TINLEY: Our last crack at the budget's going 6 to be, in my way of thinking, when we adopt it, which will be 7 after the 15th of next month. 8 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: We have a court session 9 before the 15th? 10 JUDGE TINLEY: Yes, we do. 11 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: So, if there are any other 12 minor tweaks, we could take care of it at the next session? 13 Would that be -- 14 JUDGE TINLEY: Sure. 15 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: -- a possibility? 16 JUDGE TINLEY: A week from Monday, we have a regular 17 court session. We can tag a workshop on the tail end of that. 18 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I'd like to suggest we do 19 that. I have one other item I want to bring to the Court's 20 attention, but I think it's something we need to consider. It 21 needs to be considered; hasn't been considered, but I don't 22 have a plan. I just want to put the topic on the table. 23 Ready? 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Wallet. 25 JUDGE TINLEY: Take a deep seat and hang on. 9-1-06 29 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Y'all hide your purses. 2 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I want to talk about a plan 3 -- a policy whereby we provide longevity increases for elected 4 officials, people who have served the county for an extended 5 period of time. And I don't have the -- I don't have the 6 policy laid out in my head, but I want to put it on the table 7 and put it right out there. I think we need to think about 8 it. We have people who have worked for this county for long 9 periods of time, and they have never actually been rewarded 10 for their longevity, so I want to put together a policy and 11 talk to the Court about it another time. Secondly, we have 12 advertised -- or we've done the advertising for the 13 Maintenance Department Manager. That has -- that, too, has 14 potential for some budgetary impact, and I'm hopeful that -- I 15 don't know -- I know there's a number in there, but we don't 16 know that that's the right number, 'cause we haven't found the 17 right person yet. So, that needs to be dealt with, hopefully 18 before we close out the budget. 19 And, lastly, while it has no dollar impact, we have 20 talked around the edges of where to locate the H.R. 21 department. You have some thoughts on it. Others of us have 22 some thoughts on it. I think we need to nail that down. I've 23 had the discussions with the gentleman who occupies the prime 24 real estate facing Sidney Baker street, and while he is loathe 25 to give it up, he will give it up if the Court tells him to 9-1-06 30 1 give it up. And I think that's a good location for an H.R. 2 department. The potential for where he could be relocated, 3 there are two potentials. The County Clerk has offered some 4 space, and that could be a temporary situation until we make 5 ready some space which the District Clerk has offered 6 upstairs. And, so, I think the Court needs to weigh-in on 7 that. 8 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: There's two -- two 9 unresolved big-ticket issues in the budget that need to be 10 disposed of. One is the cost of the of EMS, and the other one 11 is the cost of adult -- or Juvenile Probation Chief. So, in 12 our next meeting, we need to, I think, put those two things to 13 bed. 14 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: EMS and what? 15 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Juvenile Probation Chief. 16 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: EMS, I have had a couple 18 conversations with the City Manager, and we have -- where we 19 are right now in it is that he is going to await the letter 20 from the County Judge -- I know. And once he receives that 21 letter, then we're going to get back on it so he can look at 22 the details inside the letter of what we're actually asking 23 them to do, and go from there. That's where we are. Can't -- 24 can't move much faster than that. 25 JUDGE TINLEY: I think, for the coming year on EMS, 9-1-06 31 1 we're just about in sync with them. The only problem I'm 2 having is trying to reconcile the difference between -- the 3 EMS contract itself is $231,000 and change. The total -- the 4 total city package on health services, according to what they 5 furnished to us, is 260,000. I've added onto the 231 and 6 change some of the -- some of the things that they've 7 indicated to me are the add-ons, and I'm coming up about -- I 8 believe it's $16,000 short; coming up with about 244. I think 9 it is our share of the rental on the EMS facility, and very 10 frankly, I'm not sure where that's located in our budget. If 11 you ask me to go find it right now, I don't think I can find 12 it. But I'm -- I'm looking at the Auditor as I speak, to 13 alert him to this so that -- but -- but with that exception, 14 as far as I know, for this coming year, we are in sync. 15 Insofar as a new strategy, as Commissioner Nicholson 16 has recommended, to -- to try and move that thing to the 17 extent possible to a user-pay, and this continual response, 18 "Well, there's a lot of Medicare, high percentage of Medicare, 19 Medicare's only going to pay what Medicare's going to pay"; I 20 understand that, but does that mean we shouldn't make the 21 effort to try and have that service billed out at least at the 22 cost of service? Not knowingly bill it out at something less 23 than actual cost. That -- you know, that -- that appears to 24 be a direct path to socialized medicine, as it were, at least 25 in that particular function. And I don't think that's an 9-1-06 32 1 appropriate response, to say, "No, we're not going to raise 2 the rates because people won't pay them. We'll have more bad 3 debts." Well, maybe you will, but you're not going to know. 4 And to ask me, as a taxpayer who may not use that service, or 5 you as a taxpayer that may not use that service, to pay tax 6 dollars for a service that those that use the service are not 7 even paying the actual cost of what's provided to them, I 8 think is very disingenuous. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I agree with you. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I agree. 11 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: See, this -- we're not in 12 sync with Kerrville on paying 233,000, or whatever it is, next 13 year. The direction we're going is user-pay, and we have -- 14 have recommended that the Kendall County rates be replicated 15 by Kerrville EMS. And the Kendall County rates, for example, 16 would increase the basic rate by more than double what it is 17 now; it would increase it by $456. ALS-1 by $407 increase, 18 ALS-2 by $267 increase. I don't have complete enough 19 information to do an accurate analysis of what it would take 20 to get to break-even on it. I'll tell you, my best guess is 21 that we'd have to increase our loaded run revenue by $150 per 22 run. Loaded run revenue. Not prices, revenue. That would 23 exclude bad debt and collectibles. My best guess is what it 24 would take to do that would be to adopt the Kendall County 25 rates, and we -- our pricing would go up by approximately $425 9-1-06 33 1 on the average per loaded run. Pricing would go up 2 approximately 425. Additional revenue would be approximately 3 150. So, if we want to try it to get to user-pay, it's -- 4 it's not hard to do. Let's adopt the Kendall County rates. 5 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I agree with that, and I -- 6 there's been some discussion -- I don't know if I read it or 7 heard it; I'm not sure which, or maybe both -- that a new rate 8 schedule should just be imposed on the folks who live outside 9 the city limits. I think that's grossly unfair, and does not 10 serve the purpose. It lays onto those people a rate that 11 probably should be charged, but we're still subsidizing a 12 system for those who live within the city of Kerrville, and I 13 think that's grossly unfair. I think any new rate structure 14 needs to be in place for everyone who -- who uses that 15 service, and I agree that nine taxpayers out of ten should not 16 bear the brunt of the shortfall. And that's exactly where we 17 are today. One taxpayer out of ten using the service, and the 18 other nine picking up the shortfall. So, I really believe 19 that -- or am hopeful that the City will respond to 20 Commissioner Baldwin's entreaties here and sit down and let's 21 talk about that. Do you see an opportunity or -- 22 Commissioner, for us to get together and jointly try to 23 reconcile this issue? 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I think -- I think our 25 primary -- our primary request is exactly what's been said at 9-1-06 34 1 this table, to increase the rates county-wide to at least 2 reduce the deficit. We need to get that request -- a formal 3 request in their hands. At that point, I see a possibility of 4 two things happening. One is that they say, "Sure, let's do 5 it." Or they say, "No, we won't do it system-wide, but we'll 6 do it from the city limits out and let you folks handle that." 7 So, you know, I'm just -- and when it comes to -- when it 8 comes to -- you know, if they say anything less than, "Yes, 9 we'll do it system-wide -- county-wide, we'll increase the 10 rates county-wide," then I think we need to sit down and have 11 another visit, like big boys do, and give us the opportunity 12 to convince them that it's the right thing to do. 13 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I agree. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: But he has to have -- his 15 request is, please get -- get your request to me in a formal 16 letter type thing. So, if that's what he wants, that's what 17 he needs to get. 18 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: We can do that, can't we, 19 Judge? 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's what we agreed to do, 21 anyway. 22 JUDGE TINLEY: I -- I worked on a draft of it 23 yesterday evening, as a matter of fact, and I hope to finalize 24 that today. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: He laid up in San Antonio all 9-1-06 35 1 day taking care of county business. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I see. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Commissioners, anything else 5 we got -- 6 MS. PIEPER: Judge, I have -- 7 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: How about the -- 8 MS. PIEPER: I'm sorry. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, I got that on my list, 10 too. County Clerk has to talk to us about -- 11 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 12 MS. PIEPER: I have two issues I'd like to ask 13 about, and one of them is the memo -- that e-mail that I had 14 sent out to y'all on my records management. 15 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That's a major increase in 16 your budget. 17 MS. PIEPER: It is, sir, but I -- but I do have the 18 money. 19 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I know. I think it's a good 20 solution. 21 MS. PIEPER: So -- 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Remind me. Is that -- is 23 that a one-time cost, or is this an annual? I can't remember. 24 MS. PIEPER: This is going to be a one-time cost. 25 I'm building up into a -- another vendor for my records 9-1-06 36 1 management. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Why is this so late coming? 3 Is it new technology just hitting the streets, or -- 4 MS. PIEPER: No. Because I've just -- I've been 5 working on too much elections, and I just haven't had time to 6 do it. 7 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: You also went another 8 direction. You were looking at buying cabinets; now you're 9 looking at -- 10 MS. PIEPER: Correct. And then, as I got more into 11 it, then, yes, I do want to zero out my plat cabinet line 12 item, because I want to get into the -- being able to scan 13 those and printing them out as well. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And you've run all this by 15 I.T.? 16 MS. PIEPER: I have, and -- and he is in favor of 17 it. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're in favor of it? 19 MS. PIEPER: And I've ran it by his backup, and he's 20 in favor of it. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's scary; they all agree. 22 We need to really check this thing out. 23 MR. ALFORD: What are you leaning forward for? 24 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: 'Cause I ain't getting near 25 that. 9-1-06 37 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll make -- I'll vote -- 2 make the decision when it's laid before me. That's all I can 3 tell you. 4 MS. PIEPER: So, at this point, can I consider that 5 your census would be yes on this, sir? 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll not answer that. 7 MS. PIEPER: Okay. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: These guys might like to, but 9 I need to take a look at it, and when it's laid before me to 10 vote up and down, I will do so. 11 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Judge, I see our good friend 12 Mr. Benham just arrived, and Mr. Lipscomb sitting in the back, 13 and I know they both can find better entertainment someplace 14 else. I know they're here because they're waiting to hear 15 whether we're going the fund the library in full. 16 JUDGE TINLEY: Unfortunately, we can't tell them 17 that today. 18 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Okay. 19 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: I'm going to predict we're 20 going to fund the library. That's just a prediction. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Probably a pretty good 22 prediction, I would think. But when the issue's laid before 23 us to vote up and down, that's when we'll make the decision. 24 JUDGE TINLEY: Now, I may have some -- some 25 disagreement with the statement that they could find better 9-1-06 38 1 entertainment elsewhere. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, me too. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Might cost them, however. 4 This is free. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We're thinking about putting 6 a popcorn machine in the budget at times like this, so we can 7 -- we can serve popcorn and sody-pops. 8 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: That and parking meters. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Parking meters. 10 MS. PIEPER: Well, gentlemen, my other issue is my 11 two deputies. I don't know that it was in my budget. 12 JUDGE TINLEY: No, it's not. 13 MS. PIEPER: Am I going to get deputies? 14 JUDGE TINLEY: I have not proposed that you get two 15 deputies, no. Now, the law says that these -- the Court can 16 make any changes that they deem are warranted under the law or 17 in the interest of the taxpayers before adopting final budget. 18 MS. PIEPER: Okay. It just worries me, because 19 nobody else has said anything about it, and I need them. I 20 mean, you've heard -- you've heard the County Attorney speak 21 on it, as well as Judge Brown. And, I mean -- 22 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, what we've heard is an 23 impact -- you have a Tuesday impact. That's what we've heard. 24 MS. PIEPER: Well, but there's everything that goes 25 on before -- before the Tuesday court and after the Tuesday 9-1-06 39 1 court, and that's just in one court. I still have the civil 2 and juvenile as well that those girls have to do. 3 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, I have a thought of 4 how you can get a part of a person. 5 MS. PIEPER: I'm not turning down any help. 6 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I have a thought on how you 7 can get a part of a person. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: A good person. 9 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: A good person. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. 11 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Two people in the 12 Collections Department, and one of those persons can work for 13 you part-time, and can work part-time for the other -- 14 Collections. That would give you part of a person. 15 MS. PIEPER: That would help. But on Tuesdays, when 16 I need a part of a person, that -- 17 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Tuesday -- that person could 18 work for you on Tuesday. 19 MS. PIEPER: But that person will be doing 20 collections on Tuesday. 21 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Well, whatever. Monday, to 22 get you ready for Tuesday, whatever. 23 MS. PIEPER: Well, that will help. 24 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: That'll get you a part of a 25 person. Can't get you a whole person. 9-1-06 40 1 MS. PIEPER: Okay, thank you. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: Anything else, gentlemen? 3 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: What are you reading, 4 Mr. Benham? 5 MR. BENHAM: One of Roger Kahn's books on baseball. 6 Great writer. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Where'd you get that? 8 MR. BENHAM: At the Friends of the Library book 9 sale. (Laughter.) 10 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: You had to ask, didn't you? 11 MR. BENHAM: One of over 30,000 volumes. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: For sale today? 13 MR. BENHAM: No. 14 JUDGE TINLEY: You missed it. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I've already missed it, 16 haven't I? 17 JUDGE TINLEY: The Auditor had first raised his hand 18 to interject something here. I'm not sure what he wants. 19 MR. TOMLINSON: I just wanted the Court to know that 20 the last budget summary that I did that was in your box this 21 morning -- 22 JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah. 23 MR. TOMLINSON: -- includes all the changes that 24 were discussed at the last workshop. 25 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. 9-1-06 41 1 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: I'm sorry, it what? 2 MR. TOMLINSON: Includes all the changes that the 3 Court discussed at the last workshop. 4 COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS: Prior to this morning? 5 MR. TOMLINSON: Yes. 6 JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm. 7 MR. TOMLINSON: It includes the new retirement rate 8 and the parks increase, and the $25,000 for -- 9 JUDGE TINLEY: For an arena. 10 MR. TOMLINSON: -- for an arena. Any changes in the 11 personnel schedule. So, I -- I believe we're up to date 12 through last -- the last meeting. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Is that it for your input? 14 Ms. Nemec, did you have something? 15 MS. NEMEC: Yes, sir. I guess I need to make a 16 decision whether to go through the grievance process or not, 17 and I really didn't get what the consensus was on the 18 recommended amount, which will tell me whether I need to move 19 forward or not. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Looks like the majority of 21 the Court is saying lower your salary to equal to 22 Commissioners Court. That's what I'm -- that's what I heard 23 here. 24 MS. NEMEC: If that's the case, I would not be going 25 to grievance. I -- I agree with that, so that's what I need 9-1-06 42 1 to know. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Again, I can't tell you until 3 I'm going to vote. 4 JUDGE TINLEY: Until the vote is taken, I'm not sure 5 we'll know. 6 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Commissioner Letz proposed 7 it. You've heard my opinion; you've heard other opinions, so 8 I think you can probably draw some conclusions with that -- 9 from that. 10 MS. NEMEC: Okay, thank you. 11 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: As the Judge said, we won't 12 know till -- 13 MS. NEMEC: Right. 14 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: -- till the final vote. 15 MS. NEMEC: I appreciate that. Also, I have been 16 asked for a copy of my duties, and I was told that I had not 17 provided them to this Court. Back in May, the County Attorney 18 asked me for those, and he forwarded them to the Judge. Did 19 you not get those? 20 JUDGE TINLEY: I got a copy of about 40 pages out of 21 a TAC handbook, that -- 22 MS. NEMEC: Right, and my constitutional duties are 23 in that packet. Thank you. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: At what point -- Clerk? 25 There you are. 9-1-06 43 1 MS. PIEPER: Yes, sir. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're the one dressed in 3 red. At what point do we decide how much we're going to 4 charge for the budget -- a copy of the budget? 5 MS. PIEPER: As soon as I know when y'all are going 6 to approve the budget, at that point I will try to make sure 7 that there is an agenda item on the agenda for that reason. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 9 JUDGE TINLEY: Actually, what I had already dictated 10 a note to Ms. Mitchell about was to put that on Monday-week's 11 budget. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh. 13 JUDGE TINLEY: And have it nailed down in advance, 14 'cause I've already had a member of the -- 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, I've had a couple. 16 JUDGE TINLEY: -- media ask me. Of course, right 17 now we're only dealing with proposed budget that's been filed. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: At some point, we'll have a 19 real budget, though, that people want to purchase. 20 JUDGE TINLEY: Yeah, mm-hmm. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And what do we charge, $25 22 for the whole packet? Or are we -- a dollar a page? 23 MS. PIEPER: No, you normally set a standard price 24 of somewhere around $25. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 9-1-06 44 1 MS. THOMPSON: It was 20 this last year. 2 JUDGE TINLEY: It has been for the last few years, I 3 think, set at 20. 4 MS. PIEPER: Because right now the proposed budget 5 is, like, 52 pages long. So, by law, I'm required to charge a 6 dollar a page. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. 8 JUDGE TINLEY: What if someone were to file an Open 9 Records request to you, Ms. Pieper? 10 MS. PIEPER: If an Open Records request is filed on 11 me, it is still a dollar a page. The only thing that would 12 mean is I would have 10 days in which to produce it. 13 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Mr. Attorney, you need to 14 look into that. 15 JUDGE TINLEY: Mm-hmm. 16 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: We're not allowed to charge 17 a dollar a page. I think it's -- 18 MS. PIEPER: It's set out in the Local Government 19 Code. 20 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: I think it's either 12 or 21 13 cents. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I want to go with 13, then. 23 Either 12 or 13. 24 JUDGE TINLEY: Okay. Anything else, gentlemen? 25 COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON: Let's go home. 9-1-06 45 1 JUDGE TINLEY: We'll stand adjourned. Thank you. 2 (Commissioners Court adjourned at 10:02 a.m.) 3 - - - - - - - - - - 4 5 6 STATE OF TEXAS | 7 COUNTY OF KERR | 8 The above and foregoing is a true and complete 9 transcription of my stenotype notes taken in my capacity 10 as County Clerk of the Commissioners Court of Kerr 11 County, Texas, at the time and place heretofore set 12 forth. 13 DATED at Kerrville, Texas, this 5th day of 14 September, 2006. 15 16 JANNETT PIEPER, Kerr County Clerk 17 BY: _________________________________ Kathy Banik, Deputy County Clerk 18 Certified Shorthand Reporter 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 9-1-06