1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT 9 Special Session 10 Monday, March 23, 2015 11 9:00 a.m. 12 Commissioners' Courtroom 13 Kerr County Courthouse 14 Kerrville, Texas 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 PRESENT: H. A. "BUSTER" BALDWIN, Commissioner Pct. 1 23 TOM MOSER, Commissioner Pct. 2 JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Pct. 3 24 BOB REEVES, Commissioner Pct. 4 25 ABSENT: TOM POLLARD, Kerr County Judge 2 1 I N D E X March 23, 2015 2 PAGE 3 --- Commissioners' Comments 7 4 1.1 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to begin hiring process to fill County Court at 5 Law Court Coordinator position 9 6 1.2 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to approve revisions made to County Court at Law 7 Court Coordinator job description as presented 10 8 1.3 Public Hearing regarding revision of plat for Lots 7 and 8 of Saddlewood Estates, Precinct 1 11 9 1.4 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action for 10 final approval regarding revision of plat for Lots 7 and 8 of Saddlewood Estates, Precinct 1 12 11 1.5 Public Hearing regarding revision of plat for 12 Lots 17-A, 9 and 10 of Saddlewood Estates, Pct. 1 13 13 1.12 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to approve contract with Divide Volunteer Fire 14 Department and allow County Judge to sign same 14 15 1.13 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to approve tower lease agreement between Kerr County 16 and West Central Wireless 14 17 1.15 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to approve engagement letter, master agreement with 18 Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company for GASB OPEB Valuation Shared Services and interlocal agreement 19 with North Central Texas Council of Governments for actuarial services in compliance with GASB 43 20 and 45 to establish liability for other post-employment healthcare benefits 17 21 1.6 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action for 22 Court approval to fill an open, fully funded 15.1 road maintenance technician position 19 23 1.7 Public Hearing regarding placing gates at the 24 ends of Gulch Ranch Road pursuant to petition filed by Steve Schulte, attorney of record for 25 the Hightower and McAnelly families, Precinct 4 22 3 1 I N D E X (Continued) March 23, 2015 2 PAGE 3 1.8 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action regarding placing gates at the ends of Gulch 4 Ranch Road pursuant to petition filed by Steve Schulte, attorney of record for the Hightower 5 and McAnelly families 41 6 1.9 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to accept preliminary revision of plat for Lots 1 7 and 2 of Scenic Valley Springs, Phase 2, Pct. 1 51 8 1.10 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on implementation of waterfowl management phase of 9 Bacteria Reduction Plan at Flat Rock Park 52 10 1.11 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to accept preliminary revision of plat for Lots 148 11 and 149 of Vistas Escondidas De Cypress Springs Estates and set a public hearing, Precinct 4 60 12 1.14 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on 13 request from Sean Rotge to use Show Barn at the Hill Country Youth Event Center for a midget 14 wrestling event 63 15 1.16 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action regarding Amendment 4 to contract with TetraTech 16 for engineering services on the Center Point Wastewater system 69 17 1.17 Presentation by Texas Association of Counties 18 risk management benefits review 73 19 1.18 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on request to allow animals (for dog shows) in the 20 Event Hall at Hill Country Youth Event Center 78 21 1.19 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action regarding establishing a public hearing on 22 proposed “RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR COUNTY PARKS IN KERR COUNTY, TEXAS” 85 23 1.20 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to 24 reappoint Steve King and Ed Livermore to the Kerrville-Kerr County Joint Airport Board for 25 a 2-year term, June 1, 2015 to June 1, 2017 86 4 1 I N D E X (Continued) March 23, 2015 2 PAGE 1.21 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on 3 request from Volunteer Services Council for the Kerrville State Hospital to be approved as a 4 nonprofit organization in order to receive a reduced rate for use of H.C.Y.E.C. 90 5 1.22 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on 6 request to use courthouse grounds on May 25, 2015, for Memorial Day events 98 7 1.23 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on 8 request from Recovery Orientations Systems Care to be approved as a nonprofit organization (under 9 blanket of Hill Country Alcohol and Drug Council) in order to receive a reduced rate for use of the 10 Hill Country Youth Event Center 99 11 1.24 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on request from San Antonio Kennel Club to reserve 12 the H.C.Y.E.C. beyond the 3-year term allowed by current policy, and discuss RV hookups at the 13 facility 102 14 1.25 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action on request from Peterson Regional Medical Center 15 Foundation to be approved as a nonprofit organization in order to receive a reduced rate 16 for use of Hill Country Youth Event Center 110 17 1.26 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to remove an office in County Clerk’s office 113 18 1.27 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to 19 approve contract between Texas Health and Human Services Enterprise and Kerr County for Vital 20 Statistics Records; allow County Judge to sign 115 21 1.28 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action to fill one vacant/budgeted position in County 115, 22 Clerk’s office 126 23 4.1 Pay Bills 116 4.2 Budget Amendments 116 24 4.3 Late Bills 117 4.4 Approve and Accept Monthly Reports 117 25 5 1 I N D E X (Continued) March 23, 2015 2 PAGE 3 5.1 Reports from Commissioners/Liaison Committee Assignments 118 4 5.2 Reports from Elected Officials/Department Heads 122 5 1.29 Consider/discuss, take appropriate action regarding GBRA permit application for GBRA’s 6 Mid-Basin project (Executive Session) --- 7 1.30 Consultation with County Attorney regarding pending litigation (Executive Session) --- 8 3.1 Action as may be required on matters discussed 9 in Executive Session 126 10 --- Recessed 128 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 6 1 On Monday, March 23, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., a special 2 meeting of the Kerr County Commissioners Court was held in 3 the Commissioners' Courtroom, Kerr County Courthouse, 4 Kerrville, Texas, and the following proceedings were had in 5 open court: 6 P R O C E E D I N G S 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Good morning, ladies and 8 gentlemen. This is -- we welcome you to the Commissioners 9 Court. It is 9 a.m., Monday, March 23rd, 2015, and we're at 10 the Kerr County Courthouse in the Commissioners Courtroom. 11 And, Commissioner Reeves, it is your turn to do the prayer 12 and the pledge of allegiance. 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: If everybody would please 14 stand, join me in a word of prayer and then our pledge. 15 (Prayer and pledge of allegiance.) 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you very much. You 17 may be seated. At this time, if there's any citizen that 18 wishes to speak on an issue other than agenda items -- you 19 guys get a chair; they're just $12.50. (Laughter.) We got 20 to make some money around here somehow. If you have an item 21 that you want to speak on that's other than anything on the 22 agenda -- if it's on the agenda, we'd ask you to fill out a 23 form so I can just keep up with it. We have several on one 24 particular issue, and we'll hold them until we get to that 25 agenda item. But right now, if you have anything on your 3-23-15 7 1 mind that you want to tell the Commissioners Court about, or 2 the citizens of Kerr County, please come to the microphone 3 and do so. I see no one coming, so we'll go on to the 4 Commissioners Court comments. Commissioner 2? 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Let's see. I want to just 6 highlight some activity that occurred this past week when 7 Commissioner Letz and myself went over to Austin, and some 8 work that Road and Bridge had done in getting the Texas 9 Health Department out to Center Point. We had six people 10 show up this past week and looked at 400 properties, and what 11 they were doing is looking at health-related issues, and 12 that's the foundation -- the basis for this $35 million sewer 13 system that we're going to put in out there. So, just kudos 14 to -- to Ray Garcia and his crew, and Road and Bridge who 15 organized that, and did a -- did a great job. And, likewise, 16 another thing in Center Point, the volleyball court is about 17 finished; 300 yards of sand brought into a 300-yard excavated 18 hole out there. The poles are up, and -- and thanks to 19 Martin Marietta for donating all that sand, about $15 million 20 (sic) worth of sand. So, anyway -- 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 15 million? 22 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, 15 -- excuse me. Yeah, 23 I thought I was in Washington, D.C.; excuse me. (Laughter.) 24 15,000 to do it. Yeah, that would be a big write-off. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That would be a big 3-23-15 8 1 write-off. Is that it? 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That's it, thank you. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Number 3? 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just a little bit of follow-up. 5 Commissioner Moser and I will be, unfortunately, looks like, 6 heading back to Austin to meet with some of the Senate again 7 on the EDAP funding. The funding has been restored in the 8 House budget, but it's not back in the Senate budget yet. 9 And Senator Fraser's staff has suggested that we go back and 10 meet with that committee that is heading up the budget for 11 the Senate, so we will be doing that probably either late 12 this week or early next week. Other than that, just 13 beautiful weather. Wish we would have gotten some more rain, 14 but beautiful. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Number 4? 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Just a few follow-ups from 17 where they started with the examination of the on-site 18 facilities. I've seen the e-mails. Compliments to Road and 19 Bridge, Ray Garcia and his -- both of his departments for 20 helping. I think they went above and beyond. We won't meet 21 before April 11th, but on April 11th at Hunt is our annual 22 fire department fundraiser, 12 o'clock. Good food, good 23 times. Invite everybody out there. And then on a somber 24 note, I think we need to keep the Eastland family in our 25 prayers; very tragic loss out of the camping industry and the 3-23-15 9 1 community of Hunt. Thank you. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: True. True statement. The 3 only comment I want to make is that -- and I'd like for the 4 record to reflect that Judge Pollard is absent from today's 5 meeting. He's in San Antonio at a doctor's meeting, and 6 we're finding out that when you -- he's a V.A. type guy, and 7 when the V.A. calls and says you have an appointment at 8 such-and-such a day, it's nonnegotiable. So, he -- that's 9 where he is right now. No big deal. He's in San Antonio at 10 the doctor's office. So, let's get right into our agenda 11 item, and we'll call Item 1.1; consider, discuss, and take 12 appropriate action to begin hiring process to fill County 13 Court at Law coordinator position. Current coordinator will 14 be retiring at the end of April. This is a budgeted 15 position. Judge Harris? Please take your liberty, ma'am. 16 JUDGE HARRIS: Yes. May it please the Court, my 17 court coordinator, Kathy, is retiring. Her last day will be 18 May the 1st, and I would like permission to hire someone to 19 replace Kathy. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 21 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 22 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 24 second. Any further comments? I've got a question. Are we 25 going to have a party? 3-23-15 10 1 JUDGE HARRIS: Yes, we'll have a party. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's all I need to know. 3 JUDGE HARRIS: Yes, we will, absolutely. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. Any further comments? 5 All in favor, raise your right hand. 6 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's 4-0. Thank you very 8 much. 9 JUDGE HARRIS: Thank you very much. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Are you going to stick 11 around for this next item? 12 JUDGE HARRIS: Yes, I am. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.2; consider, discuss, 14 take appropriate action to approve revisions made to the 15 County Court at Law Coordinator job description as presented. 16 Dawn Lantz. 17 MS. LANTZ: Good morning, Commissioners. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Good morning. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Good morning. 20 MS. LANTZ: Judge Harris looked over the job 21 description, and there was some modifications that were made 22 to the essential duties of the job, and we would just like to 23 bring it before the Court for approval. It still has all the 24 other mandated requirements as when we had the job survey 25 done, so these are just some extra duties that she felt like 3-23-15 11 1 needed to be within that office. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, it's additional job 3 duties? Is that -- 4 JUDGE HARRIS: Updating a little bit, yes, sir. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Move for approval. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. Is there 8 a second? 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion and a second. Any 11 further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 12 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It will be a 4-0 vote. 14 Thank you very much. 15 JUDGE HARRIS: Thank you very much. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Y'all keep me in line about 17 the time issues here. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Will do. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 1.3. We're going to have a 20 public hearing regarding the revision of plat for Lots 7 and 21 8 of Saddlewood Estates, Section 2, Block 5, Volume 7, Pages 22 39 through 42 in Precinct 1. 23 (The regular Commissioners Court meeting was closed at 9:07 a.m., and a public hearing was held in open 24 court, as follows:) 25 P U B L I C H E A R I N G 3-23-15 12 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Mr. Odom and Mr. Hastings 2 are on standby if we have questions in the public hearing. 3 This is an opportunity for you folks that have a -- that have 4 issues with this particular agenda item in Saddlewood, it's 5 time to come forward and -- or hold your peace. I see no one 6 coming. I'm going to close the public hearing. 7 (The public hearing was concluded at 9:07 a.m., and the regular Commissioners Court meeting was 8 reopened.) 9 - - - - - - - - - - 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And we'll go to Item 1.4; 11 consider, discuss, take appropriate action for the Court's 12 final approval regarding the revision of plat for Lots 7 and 13 8 of Saddlewood Estates, Section 2, Block 5, Volume 7, Pages 14 39 through 42 in Precinct 1. Mr. Odom and Mr. Hastings. 15 This is Mr. Hastings -- Charlie Hastings. He's the new Kerr 16 County Engineer. 17 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you, sir. This is a 18 modification of the center lot line between Lots 7 and 8 in 19 Saddlewood. Lot 7 is 5.77 acres. It will become Lot 7-R, if 20 you approve it, 4.88 acres, and Lot 8, 4.61 acres, would 21 become lot 8-R, 5.50 acres. It's in the City's ETJ. The 22 process that is before us is that the County signs the plat 23 first. The surveyor takes it over to the City, gets them to 24 sign it, and then it will be filed. Are there any questions? 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 3-23-15 13 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 3 second. Any further discussion? All in favor, please raise 4 your right hand. 5 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you very 7 much. 8 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's a done deal. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: You didn't even get to vote on 11 that; that was your precinct. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, my precinct. Item -- 13 oops, 9:10? 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: You're good. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is it 9:10? Okay. 16 Item 1.5, public hearing regarding the revision of plat for 17 Lots 17A, 9, and 10 of Saddlewood Estates, Section 2, Block 18 5, Volume 7, Pages 39 through 42, and Plat 13-5905 in 19 Precinct 1. 20 (The regular Commissioners Court meeting was closed at 9:10 a.m., and a public hearing was held in open 21 court, as follows:) 22 P U B L I C H E A R I N G 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: This is a public hearing 24 regarding these -- these blocks over in Saddlewood Estates. 25 Any -- this is the time for anyone that has public comments; 3-23-15 14 1 please come forward. Seeing none, we'll close the public 2 hearing. 3 (The public hearing was concluded at 9:10 a.m., and the regular Commissioners Court meeting was 4 reopened.) 5 - - - - - - - - - - 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And move to item -- we'll 7 come back to 6, I guess. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Need to do Item 1.12. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.12; consider, 10 discuss, take appropriate action to approve contract with the 11 Divide Volunteer Fire Department and allow the County Judge 12 to sign the same. 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: So moved. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. And a 15 second? 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a second. So -- and 18 no further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 19 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you very 21 much. Item 1.13; consider, discuss, take appropriate action 22 to approve the tower lease agreement between Kerr County and 23 West Central Wireless. Sheriff Hierholzer. 24 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: These are just two more of the 25 towers that we need to get the leases signed. They have been 3-23-15 15 1 reviewed by the County Attorney. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Two? 3 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: It's not the one out on the 4 Mountain Home site that we're still looking at the 5 remediation on, but it is one at Comfort and one of those. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Quick question. Is that the 7 one with the structural integrity -- 8 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: We're still waiting on that 9 part of it. 10 COMMISSIONER REEVES: That's the one on 41? 11 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: That's the one out on 41. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Move for approval. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. Is there 14 a second? 15 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Any further discussion? 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: What's the budget impact? 18 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Some of this will have to -- 19 will change in next year's budget, okay? Because we're doing 20 away with some towers, adding other towers, and I've already 21 placed this in my budget for next year. The overall tower 22 leases will be going up. One of these is -- I think it was 23 6,689.44 a year, and the other one was 4,800 a year. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: The -- that structural 25 integrity issue on the one tower, that was supposed to -- 3-23-15 16 1 that was going to take a couple weeks. It's just more 2 involved or what? 3 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: What happened with that -- 4 we're trying to push them as quick as we can -- is the 5 company doing the structural analysis on it had asked for the 6 blueprints of the tower when it was originally built, because 7 they needed to see what the foundation that the legs and 8 guide wires are hooked to were set on. And evidently that 9 company that built that tower has changed hands numerous 10 times, and they cannot find their blueprints, so they are 11 having another company go out there and actually dig test 12 holes next to those foundations to find out what the 13 foundation analysis is. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, thank you. 15 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: So, that slowed it down. 16 Sorry. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, we have a motion and a 18 second. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your 19 you right hand. 20 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a 4-0 vote. Thank you 22 very much. Can we go back yet? 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Not yet. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So we go to 15? 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: 15, yeah. 3-23-15 17 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 1.15; consider, discuss, 2 take appropriate action to approve engagement letter, master 3 agreement with Gabriel Roeder Smith and Company for GASB OPEB 4 Valuation -- y'all just get you a drink and I'll read all 5 this. (Laughter.) -- Valuation Shared Services and interlocal 6 agreement with the North Central Texas Council of Governments 7 for actuarial services in compliance with GASB 43 and 45 to 8 establish the liability for other post-employment health care 9 benefits. The contract period is from February 11, 2013, 10 through September 30th, 2014, to perform the actuarial 11 services for 2014-2015. The cost for the two-year period 12 will be $5,860, which is $135 more than the 2013 contract. 13 Jeannie Hargis? 14 MS. HARGIS: Yes. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The County Auditor for one 16 more month? 17 MS. HARGIS: Three weeks. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh, three weeks. 19 MS. HARGIS: This is our actuarial company that 20 reviews our retirement system, and every two years we renew 21 the master contract and the interlocal agreement. Every year 22 we review the engagement letter. The County Attorney has 23 reviewed these contracts. It's actually still $1,500 less 24 than we originally paid the first -- first two years. It's 25 required. It's something we're required to do. 3-23-15 18 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll entertain a motion. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll move approval. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. And a 4 second? 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second, Number 2. 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I have a question, please. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And there's a question on 9 the other end of the table. 10 COMMISSIONER REEVES: On the agenda item, it says 11 the contract period is for February 11, 2013, through 12 September 30th, 2014. Are we renewing a contract for time in 13 the past? I'm not sure -- 14 MS. HARGIS: Well, they're actually -- they go back 15 to do 2014 at the end of December, and then they'll -- and 16 then they do it at the end of each year. That's what they 17 had on there, but I believe that the contract period is for 18 2014-2015. That's what we read in the contract itself. 19 COMMISSIONER REEVES: So the agenda item is not for 20 February 11, 2013, through -- 21 MS. HARGIS: It's '14 through '15. That's what 22 they had on their letter, so unfortunately, I just typed what 23 they had. 24 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Okay. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a question. Why is 3-23-15 19 1 it North Central Texas Council of Governments and not our 2 own? 3 MS. HARGIS: Because we originally picked up a bid 4 with the interlocal agreement, because this was the first 5 company that was going out there, and it was the best 6 contract price. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 8 MS. HARGIS: And so we would have to bid this 9 otherwise. If we go through the interlocal agreement, then 10 we don't have to bid it. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and second. 12 Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 13 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Now go to 1.6. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Let's go back to 1.6; 17 consider, discuss, take appropriate action for the Court's 18 approval to fill an open 15.1 road maintenance technician 19 position. That is fully funded, Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4. 20 Mr. Odom, Mr. Hastings. 21 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you, sir. We have a crew 22 leader that retired earlier this month. We were able to 23 promote within to fill that vacancy, which leaves an open 24 entry-level position, and at this time, we're asking for the 25 Court's approval to fill a 15.1 road maintenance technician 3-23-15 20 1 position. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. 4 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And a second. Any 6 discussion? 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Who retired? 8 MR. HASTINGS: Steve Kraft retired. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: How long has Steve been an 10 employee of the county? 11 MR. HASTINGS: About two months. It was the end of 12 January, middle of January. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Two months? 14 MS. HARGIS: How many years? 15 MR. HASTINGS: How many years has he been employed? 16 I thought you asked how long has he been retired. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I've known him for 20. 18 MR. HASTINGS: He was with us for over 20 years. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, like most of those 20 guys there. That's an incredible group of guys out there. 21 MR. ODOM: '87, '88. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is there -- excuse me? 23 MR. ODOM: Since about '87 or '88. 24 MR. HASTINGS: Coming up on 30. 25 MR. ODOM: Thirty years. 3-23-15 21 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Unbelievable. So, he's 3 asking to fill -- the leadership position's been filled, and 4 so you want to go back and get the technician position. 5 MR. HASTINGS: That's correct. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: One more question. Who 8 filled -- who got promoted? 9 MR. HASTINGS: Jason. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Jason? 11 MR. HASTINGS: Roberts, yes, sir. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, thanks. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is there a motion -- 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I made a motion. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- to approve the agenda 16 item? 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Didn't I already make one? If 18 not, I make one. 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Already been moved and 20 seconded. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And a second, okay. Any 22 further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 23 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's a 4-0 vote. 25 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. 3-23-15 22 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 1.7; this is a 2 public hearing regarding placing gates at the ends of Gulch 3 Ranch Road pursuant to petition filed by Steve Schulte, 4 attorney of record for the Hightower and McAnelly families in 5 Precinct 4. 6 (The regular Commissioners Court meeting was closed at 9:18 a.m., and a public hearing was held in open 7 court, as follows:) 8 P U B L I C H E A R I N G 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have some participation 10 forms here, but this is just to help me remember that you 11 want to speak. But if there's others that do want to speak 12 and participate, you're welcome to do so at the podium. So, 13 we'll start with these participation forms. Michael D. 14 McAnelly -- do you want to start? 15 MR. SCHULTE: Let me start. I'm going to kind of 16 give a precursor -- 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's the way lawyers are. 18 Okay. 19 MR. SCHULTE: May it please the Court, my name is 20 Steve Schulte. I represent the McAnelly and the Hightower 21 families. They all live in a subdivision called Guadalupe 22 Ranch Estates. This is out near Mo Ranch in Commissioners 23 Reeves' Precinct. We have filed a request for approval of 24 gates on the end of -- it's called Gulch Ranch Road. The 25 Hightowers and McAnellys are all the property owners that are 3-23-15 23 1 adjacent to this road. So, in other words, there isn't 2 another property owner that touches that road. You're going 3 to hear from a couple of the property owners on why they want 4 to put the gates on, but I want to tell you a little bit 5 about what's in our petition. We all know that the 6 Commissioners Court has to classify a county road as either 7 first, second, or third class. Gulch Ranch Road is a county 8 road. It was dedicated in the plat, and it was -- we 9 confirmed with Road and Bridge and with Commissioner Reeves 10 that it's a third-class road. 11 If you'll look at Exhibit A in the petition, I've 12 got a copy of the Transportation Code, Section 251.010, and 13 that is the statutory authority that allows the Commissioners 14 to gate a county road. It says a person, including a 15 neighborhood association, who owns or controls real property 16 on which a third-class road or a neighborhood road 17 established under Section 251.053 is located, for which the 18 right-of-way was obtained without cost to the county, may 19 erect a gate across the road when necessary. The person 20 shall place a permanent hitching post and stile block on each 21 side of the gate within 50 feet of the gate. And it lists 22 all the different requirements for the gate. And then on the 23 second page, it says a person may not erect a gate under this 24 section unless the gate is approved by the commissioners 25 court of the county. So, that's why we're here. We have a 3-23-15 24 1 third plat -- we have a third-class road that was obtained at 2 no cost to the county. The third-class road is on the 3 property owned by the Hightowers and the McAnellys. And 4 we're asking -- we feel that the gates are necessary. We're 5 asking the County to approve those gates. 6 Okay, let me tell you a little bit about the road. 7 Gulch Road was established in the plat. It was obtained 8 without cost to the County. It's a third-class road. It has 9 never been maintained by the County. It has never been 10 maintained by the property owners' association. It's a 11 40-foot platted right-of-way. It's not paved. It does not 12 currently meet Kerr County subdivision requirements for 13 county maintenance. Road and Bridge estimates that it would 14 cost over $150,000 to bring it up to county standards for 15 maintenance. If you'll look at Exhibit B, the petition, this 16 is a plat -- small plat. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Mm-hmm. 18 MR. SCHULTE: And this shows -- if you see the two 19 X's, the road in between there, that's -- it's also known as 20 South Park Road. That's the portion that we want to have 21 gated. That's approximately three-tenths of a mile. The X's 22 show where the locations of the gates are. As I said, the 23 Hightowers and the McAnellys own all of this property around 24 here. There's another road that I've marked here, North Park 25 Road, and the reason I've marked that is it's a paved road. 3-23-15 25 1 And one of the objections you're going to hear to the gates 2 is that South Park is needed for First Responder access, and 3 I'll address that in a minute. But I do want to point out 4 the close proximity of the North Park Road, which is paved 5 and county-maintained. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, it's -- the property is 7 owned on both the -- the north and the south side of that 8 road by the -- 9 MR. SCHULTE: McAnellys and the Hightowers. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. McAnellys and 11 Hightowers, okay. 12 MR. SCHULTE: Exhibit C to your packets is pictures 13 of South Park Road. And by comparison, I've provided 14 Exhibit D, pictures of North Park Road, that kind of shows 15 the superiority of one over the other. Like I said, I think 16 you're going to hear from some homeowners that will argue 17 that South Park Road is needed for First Responders. 18 Exhibit E is a letter from the volunteer fire department that 19 tells you that that's not the case. That is not an essential 20 lane for First Responders, and even if it is needed, they 21 encounter unlocked gates all the time, so the fact that they 22 have to open an unlocked gate is not an issue to First 23 Responders. It's also interesting that the H.O.A. provides 24 gates on their parks in the subdivision, but they lock their 25 gates. This is not going to be a locked gate. And I'm going 3-23-15 26 1 to tell you a little bit about the gate. Transportation Code 2 provides some requirements, and we're going to comply with 3 all the requirements. The gates will be entirely on property 4 owned by the Hightowers and the McAnellys. They will be 5 latched; they're not going to be locked. There's not going 6 to be any "No trespassing" signs. There's going to be a 7 mechanism that allows the gate to be held open while somebody 8 passes through. It's going to comply with the statutory 9 width. And they're going to be purchased, installed, and 10 maintained totally at the Hightowers' and McAnellys' expense. 11 The interesting thing about this road is -- and 12 you're going to hear this from some of the property owners -- 13 is that back in 2001, the County actually suggested that this 14 road be abandoned totally, and that -- and from what I 15 understand, that died on a procedural issue, but then it came 16 up again in 2004, when the Commissioners voted to abandon 17 maintenance of the road. And, in fact, the road has never 18 been maintained by the County, but they wanted to get this 19 off their maintenance records, and the County abandoned the 20 maintenance of it 10 years ago. If y'all don't have -- if 21 you have some questions, I'll be happy to answer them, but 22 otherwise, I'll let the property owners speak. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Steve, we're going to 24 consider -- this is a public hearing, and this is for y'all 25 only, and then we have an agenda item coming up next that we 3-23-15 27 1 can participate in. 2 MR. SCHULTE: Okay. Okay. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Are you Mr. McAnelly? 4 MR. McANELLY: Yes, sir. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Good to see you again, sir. 6 MR. McANELLY: Thank you. I brought copies of my 7 statement that I will leave. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. You're going to 9 say all of this? 10 MR. McANELLY: No, sir. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. (Laughter.) We 12 better send out for pizza. 13 MR. McANELLY: I'll try to prevent that. I'm Mike 14 McAnelly. I'm the owner of 22 acres, including Lots 121, 15 122, 123, and 124 in Guadalupe Ranch Estates. We've owned 16 that property since 1980, when my dad and I purchased it 17 under the Texas Veterans Land Program. The next part of that 18 paragraph is repeating what Steve already told you, so I'm 19 not going to repeat that. I'll start up where it says the 20 gate is necessary. Part of our plan for long-term present 21 and future improvement of our property is for future ag open 22 space and residential use of the property, and that includes 23 gates and fencing. The purpose is several items; to 24 discourage traffic that is causing dumping, poaching, 25 four-wheelers, and trespass on our property from the 3-23-15 28 1 easement, and for future containment of livestock, and to 2 enable potential future applications for open space 3 appraisal, when we get to a point that we can qualify for 4 that. 5 Steve noted the 2001 letter from Franklin Johnston, 6 who was the former County Engineer, that in 2001, proposed to 7 us that -- the abandonment, vacation, and ceasing maintenance 8 on South Park Road. Also attached is a letter from Doug 9 Leitsch -- Douglas Leitsch, Jr., who is another Guadalupe 10 Ranch Estates property owner, and he's unable to be here 11 today. He submitted the -- his letter to Judge Pollard and 12 to Commissioner Reeves, I believe, stating that he was the 13 president of the property owners' association when the 14 original action took place, and that at the public hearing 15 held by the Commissioners Court, no one spoke in opposition 16 to the abandonment, vacation, cessation of maintenance of 17 that road. We request approval of the Commissioners Court 18 for us to install the gates in accordance with the 19 requirements of the Transportation Code. And with that, I'll 20 answer any questions or let the Hightowers speak. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Let's go to the Hightowers. 22 Thank you very much. 23 MR. McANELLY: Yes, sir. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We'll be back with you in 25 just a moment. 3-23-15 29 1 MR. HIGHTOWER: I'm Mike Hightower. I have some 2 things here to pass out to you. I'll give you these to 3 confirm our seriousness. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thank you. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, sir. 6 MR. HIGHTOWER: About four years ago -- or four or 7 five years ago, we sort of saw the writing on the wall, and 8 realized that property values in our area were going to start 9 going up. Since that time, they've gone up 300 percent, from 10 2,800 an acre to 8,000 an acre. We felt that it was time to 11 develop an ag program for that property. My brother spent 12 large sums of money to bring in an expert on vineyards to 13 look at putting in a grape operation, and then he immediately 14 started clearing land for that purpose. We were of the 15 understanding -- and this has to do with the letter from 16 Mr. Johnston, Franklin Johnston -- that that easement, Gulch 17 Ranch, was going to be abandoned, and the County was going to 18 work at getting that accomplished. That's the first letter 19 here in the packet I gave you. Because of that, we've 20 designed our program to fence off that road completely, since 21 it was no longer going to be functioning as an easement. 22 Since then, back in October we found out that perhaps we were 23 not correct in that assumption, and decided that we're going 24 to have to make another arrangement. 25 There's two options to deal with Gulch Ranch Road. 3-23-15 30 1 Well, first of all, part of our ag program was going to 2 include Mr. McAnelly's property as well, which would give us 3 a total of 80 acres -- or near 80 acres, 70-something, to 4 include Mr. McAnelly's. We had two options. One was to gate 5 both ends of the lane to keep our -- well, second thing, 6 also, I'm in the Longhorn cattle breeding business, that 7 business card there. We've been in it for 31 years. It -- 8 in addition to the vineyard, grape operation, we were going 9 to also blend in, in some manner, some Longhorn raising as 10 well. We get a lot of interest in this area for Longhorn 11 cattle. It's popular out here, so we thought it would be a 12 good thing to include that out there as well, and both of 13 those items would qualify for ag exemption. But anyway, on 14 our options for fencing the property, we either could put 15 gates across the end of Gulch Ranch Road, or we can fence 16 down both sides of Gulch Ranch Road. 17 The problem with the second option of fencing down 18 both sides, we're talking about over $15,000 to fence those 19 lanes -- that lane. And then the second thing, Mr. McAnelly 20 has no water on his property. Our property, we have a spring 21 that can be turned into a watering trough. We have a creek 22 that is a live spring-fed creek; it actually has a lake on 23 it, and we have a water well on it. So, if we fence down 24 both sides of that lane, it would cut Mr. McAnelly off from 25 the water, requiring him to put in about $18,000 at least for 3-23-15 31 1 a water well. So, both $15,000 for the fencing and the 2 $18,000 for the water well is a tremendous hardship on us as 3 property owners, and would basically prevent us from being 4 able to pursue an agriculture program to include 5 Mr. McAnelly's land. So, that's the reason that we're here 6 today requesting the gate. We want to conform with all the 7 state transportation laws having to do with the gates, and we 8 would include leaving the gates unlocked, contradictory to 9 the homeowners' association, which sees fit to lock all their 10 gates. We have made the lane available to the locals, the 11 other property owners. 12 In a letter from the property owner president to 13 Mr. Reeves, he indicated that the road -- and this is going 14 to be probably Number 5 here, fifth one down. He says that 15 the local members of the H.O.A. would like to use that lane 16 for driving, walking, and riding horses. Well, the lane is 17 in such bad condition, it isn't drivable. And speaking with 18 a number of property owners and board members, they feel that 19 it would be fiscally irresponsible to spend money to upgrade 20 a road that goes nowhere, basically, and has a paved road 21 adjacent to it that serves the purpose, so that takes out the 22 driving part of that. So, we see that the use by the 23 neighbors would be walking and riding horses. And, again, we 24 feel that it would be inappropriate for us to have to spend 25 $33,000 to accommodate an amusement or an entertainment 3-23-15 32 1 purpose, so we're requesting that you approve the gates so 2 that we can go ahead and get going with our ag process. The 3 gates would also include fencing as well. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, sir. Thank you 5 very much. Anybody else? Mr. Hightower? 6 MR. HIGHTOWER: Yes, sir? 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Mike Hightower? That was 8 you? 9 MR. HIGHTOWER: Right. Yes, sir. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Robert Taylor? Mr. Taylor, 11 would you give your name and address, please? 12 MR. TAYLOR: Robert Taylor, 109 Axis Run, Hunt, 13 Texas. I represent the property owners association. I 14 talked with Commissioner Reeves on this issue last year to 15 get from the County Attorney that the road is a public road 16 and open. There's no compelling need at this time for a 17 gate. There's no livestock there. Let's see the fences 18 first, then put in a gate. We should have unfettered access 19 to that road, just like any other road in the county. Thank 20 you. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you very much. Joseph 22 Sleyko, Jr.? 23 MR. SLEYKO: Yes, Your Honor, Commissioners. 24 Thanks for your time. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Give us your name. 3-23-15 33 1 MR. SLEYKO: My name is Joseph M. Sleyko, Jr. My 2 address -- well, I have 263 Cherry Springs Road. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's good enough. 4 MR. SLEYKO: P.O. Box 431. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 6 MR. SLEYKO: Go ahead? This is a -- actually, this 7 is the fifth time I've been in front of the Commissioners 8 Court concerning this. Four previous attempts to open and 9 reopen this road over 13 years. This has been going on since 10 2001. This is a long-term thing. When I was president of 11 the H.O.A. at Guadalupe Ranch, I just got personally involved 12 in this. We -- speaking about the property owners' 13 association, we've never lost in Kerr County Commissioners 14 Court on this. They've always sided with us to keep it open 15 and not abandon, and our road and rights to this road have 16 constantly been reaffirmed and validated by this Court. Now, 17 this is my fifth appearance in front of this Court, and I am 18 very vigorously protesting the absurd proposal that a gate or 19 gates be erected across Gulch Ranch Road. Erection of this 20 gate anywhere across this road would negate all previous 21 findings of the Court. As a fire barrier, and position of 22 the road, I want to present to the Court -- I only have one 23 copy, I'm sorry. I was going to present it to Mr. Pollard, 24 but this represents the burn area. 25 We had -- we lost a major part of our H.O.A. in 3-23-15 34 1 1981 with a flash fire. It -- looking at that map, you can 2 see I've marked where Gulch Ranch Road is, and it's a major 3 fire barrier in that valley. It's a valley. It's very 4 susceptible to brush fires like we've had. I've consulted 5 any number of times with Al Wilson. Al Wilson has come out 6 and talked about this before, and I believe -- and -- well, I 7 know that the fire department supports us on this. Like I 8 say, there's really no reason for a gate here. There's no 9 appropriate fencing for any kind of restraining livestock. 10 Even if there was livestock to re -- to restrain, there's 11 never been livestock on it. There's never been a fence, and 12 there's really no reason for the gates. And in previous 13 statements to the Kerr County Road and Bridge Department, it 14 was stated that the reasons for the gate was to stop trash 15 from being dumped on the road and to stop Joe Sleyko from 16 smoking on the road. Really. But, you know, after 13 years 17 of careful observation of this road, I've never witnessed any 18 trash being dumped there. It's -- it's been basically just 19 rudely barricaded with a couple old cedar trees, and they 20 called that a -- a barrier, I guess. And the absurd claim 21 that they -- they told Road and Bridge that they witnessed me 22 smoking on this road is -- it's pure fabrication. The reason 23 was -- it was to increase the fire hazard here. I don't even 24 smoke. I mean, really, I quit smoking 21 years ago. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Good for you. 3-23-15 35 1 MR. SLEYKO: It's been stated this morning that 2 that road wasn't maintained. I know for a fact, I -- I have 3 a letter dating all the way to -- to August of '08, which I'd 4 like to present to you also, requesting Bruce Oehler -- may 5 I? I don't know where to start this; I'm sorry. To which I 6 never got an answer. And we -- we made the same case back 7 then in '08, and again we got resistance, but it wasn't 8 closed until here recently. And now there's -- 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: What was the purpose of the 10 letter? You didn't -- you said -- 11 COMMISSIONER REEVES: It's coming around. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: What do you mean? You 13 presented it, so what was the purpose of the letter? 14 MR. SLEYKO: Well, that I had notified or requested 15 Bruce Oehler at that time to get involved in this. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, got it. Thank you. 17 MR. SLEYKO: To reopen the road. And I think I've 18 highlighted it there, sir. And -- and concerning its 19 importance as a fire break. You know, I'm no longer -- I'm a 20 disabled vet. I had to quit the volunteer fire department, 21 but at the time, we needed that road. We still need that 22 road. That road lets access not only to us, Guadalupe Ranch 23 Estates, but all the way down Bee Caves and Rocky Top Road. 24 It's an access road. And it's just -- you know, it was just 25 stated this morning that it's no longer maintained. I know 3-23-15 36 1 for a fact that it was maintained by the County up until 2 spring of '07. And it was stated that there's water 3 available on the land. There -- it's a very seasonal. You 4 know how Kerr County is; if you get rain, you get rain. But 5 there's no live water on it; there's no way they can ever 6 adequately water livestock without a drilled well, the way I 7 see it, anyway. 8 And they say that we never use the road. We use 9 the road all the time. As soon as we got the -- the debris 10 that they blocked both ends of that road, our residents are 11 on it all the time. I was on that road within ten minutes of 12 the barricades being taken down. There's actually -- it's 13 not even actually a rough road. I mean, we live in the -- in 14 the country; we want a country road. We don't want an 15 asphalt, two lanes going each way. It's a fine road. I use 16 it all the time, so it's not like it's completely useless to 17 us. And just in conclusion, not to really drag this out, 18 like I say, this is the fifth time. It's time we put this 19 thing to bed, I would think. It's just my very sincere 20 desire to put this matter finally to rest. 21 As a Kerr County taxpayer, I sincerely regret the 22 time, money, and energy that our Commissioners Court has 23 expended on this matter. My god, this -- Bob Reeves is 24 actually the fourth Commissioner that I've worked on this 25 program. I haven't kept track on all the presidents of the 3-23-15 37 1 H.O.A. that we've had, but I know we've gone through four 2 commissioners already. And it's never been officially 3 blocked. Everyone tells us we're right. And we really 4 appreciate Commissioner Reeves' involvement in this rightful, 5 lawful resolution of this matter. And I just -- we need to 6 put this madness to stop. And it's our road. It's an 7 integral part of our H.O.A. infrastructure, and I see no 8 reason that we shouldn't leave it that way. And I -- I can't 9 really understand some of this stuff. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Can you wrap it up, please? 11 MR. SLEYKO: It's done. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 13 MR. SLEYKO: Thanks. Thank you for your time, 14 Commissioners. Appreciate it. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you for your time, 16 sir. 17 MR. SCHULTE: Commissioner, can I make one very 18 small follow-up point? 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You certainly may. You're a 20 lawyer, aren't you? 21 MR. SCHULTE: On a good day. If this road is as 22 necessary as Mr. Sleyko said for fire breaks, that sort of 23 thing, the volunteer fire department opens the gate and 24 drives up there. Exhibit A is a letter that says that this 25 happens all the time. They even encounter gates with pass 3-23-15 38 1 codes that they have, and they have no problem with that. 2 Open the gate, use it for fire protection. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, sir. 4 MR. HIGHTOWER: Can I make a follow-up -- 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yes, sir, if you'll make it 6 quick. 7 MR. HIGHTOWER: Yes, I'll make it real quick. One 8 of the things that our ag program is going to do is we're 9 going to remove all the cedar. There won't be any cedar to 10 burn up there. So that -- since the road only goes to our 11 property, there won't be cedar; there won't be anything to 12 burn, so it's not a fire issue any longer. And we're not 13 proposing to prevent people from utilizing the road. We're 14 just going to gate it for our livestock. And being our 15 property, we have now decided to put livestock on it, to make 16 it ag exempt. So, it's not the fact that we haven't had it 17 in the past, so suddenly we can't have it now. And also, to 18 do the fencing before the gate is approved, we're not going 19 to spend $100,000 to fence 80 acres to end up with two open 20 gaps there, so we have to have a gate approved prior to 21 planning our fencing. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, sir. Before I 23 call the next item, there's two or three chairs up here, 24 guys. Right up here in the front, there's -- I see two. And 25 then one by the gentleman that just spoke. Over there by his 3-23-15 39 1 wife is one. I guess that's his wife. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Y'all can sit in the front row. 3 MR. ROTGE: I'm not scared. I didn't want to take 4 someone's spot. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Two right there. That's 6 Jody there sitting beside you. Introduce yourself. 7 (Laughter.) We're going to move forward here. Patty 8 Crockett? Patty, would you like to come forward and speak? 9 Nice to see you, ma'am. 10 MS. CROCKETT: Thank you. It's the first time I've 11 ever done this. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Would you give your name and 13 address, please? 14 MS. CROCKETT: Patty Crockett, 295 Fallow Run, part 15 of Guadalupe Ranch Estates. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 17 MS. CROCKETT: And I have been a property owner and 18 resident there for 20 years, and I am a current board member. 19 I feel that in looking at all the past legal things that 20 have, you know, followed us through this whole process for 21 many, many years, and what's right and fair to property 22 owners, and what's needed, is this is the right thing to do. 23 That road should be left open. We, as a community and as 24 board members, never knew this plan about the ag -- ag 25 property, their ag plan. The only thing that we had heard 3-23-15 40 1 was that it was because of someone dumping trash on their 2 property from that road. I did not see the trash. I do 3 believe that was a thing -- as far as I know, it was a 4 one-time thing. We're a community. I think that the 5 agricultural plan can be done without blocking that road. I 6 think that what they're talking about, while wonderful, is 7 for a personal need and benefit or desire, and not for what 8 the community needs. So, basically for, you know, what the 9 community needs, what's right and fair, and what we have 10 legal precedence for and rules for, is that that should be 11 left open. Thank you. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thank you. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, Ms. Crockett. 14 That was the last participation form that I have. Is there 15 anyone else that would like to come speak? 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have questions. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, we're going to -- 18 we've got another agenda item. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, I'm sorry. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: But as far as the public 21 hearing is concerned, is there anybody else that would like 22 to come forward? And before I close the public hearing, I 23 want to say that this is what government's all about. You 24 have the right to come and speak your piece. And I play -- I 25 play music with a band, and this guy says -- always says, "We 3-23-15 41 1 take requests. We don't take them very serious, but we take 2 requests." But glad -- thank you for coming and 3 participating, and now we'll close the public hearing. 4 (The public hearing was concluded at 9:50 a.m., and the regular Commissioners Court meeting was 5 reopened.) 6 - - - - - - - - - - 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And we'll go on to Item 1.8; 8 consider, discuss, take appropriate action regarding placing 9 gates at the ends of Gulch Ranch Road pursuant to petition 10 filed by Steve Schulte, attorney of record for the Hightower 11 and McAnelly families. Commissioner Reeves from Precinct 4. 12 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Thank you, Commissioner. 13 First of all, I want to thank everybody who spoke today, 14 regardless of which side of the aisle, and literally, it 15 looks like that's how it is here. But I want to thank 16 everybody for speaking. As Joe said, this has been going on 17 for a long time. I think this was one of the first things 18 that was brought up to me after Commissioner Oehler's death, 19 and we've been working on it. Ms. Stebbins, Mr. Hastings, 20 Mr. Odom, we've all had meetings with both sides, and in one 21 instance, everybody got together on it. As you'll recall, 22 last October, I believe it was, there was a petition filed by 23 Mr. Taylor on behalf of the owners out there for the County 24 to take over maintenance once again. The road does not meet 25 our criteria at this time, nor do we have the budgeted funds. 3-23-15 42 1 No action was taken on that. 2 As far as the -- the gate issue that's been brought 3 up, I think Mr. Taylor has made a very valid point. We 4 don't -- if it was to be gated, you don't want a gate to 5 nowhere. In other words, if you're going to gate something, 6 you need to be enclosing something. I don't want a gate and 7 no fence on that. And there's been issues brought by the 8 Hightowers and the McAnellys of illegal dumping and 9 what-have-you. I've assured both of those families that if 10 that ever occurs, then the gentleman sitting right back there 11 on the back row, Mr. Garcia, will expediently investigate and 12 find out the cause of the illegal dumping in our county. He 13 does an excellent job of that. I have been contacted by 14 different firefighters, firemen, and some claim that it's not 15 needed; some claim that it is needed. I, for one, looking at 16 it, some type of access in case of a fire is needed on that. 17 But Joe is right; it's been going on for four commissioners, 18 and I think two or three county judges, so -- so this is not 19 something that's just popped up. I think we've all learned 20 about the Transportation Code in the past 12 months. I will 21 point out -- and, Mr. Odom, correct me if I'm wrong -- this 22 road has never been maintained by Kerr County. 23 MR. ODOM: To my knowledge. 24 COMMISSIONER REEVES: To your knowledge? 25 MR. ODOM: Yeah. 3-23-15 43 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'm sure y'all have some 2 questions that you might want to ask first. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Fire away, Number 3. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: My question goes to the 5 maintenance issue, 'cause I think it was Mr. Sleyko who said 6 that it was maintained in 2007. Mr. Odom says it wasn't. 7 And based on a court order that somebody gave us, we voted in 8 2004 to abandon, discontinue, and vacate the county road for 9 maintenance, so I question that date. I mean, it's kind of 10 like there's -- you know, it appears to me, for what it's 11 worth, that both sides are kind of grasping at various things 12 that kind of puts up their point, whether the dumping and the 13 fire lane, and some of those -- those things are not, you 14 know, all that critical. The other guy said it's been 15 maintained here and there. To me, I look at it just, you 16 know, kind of common sense-wise, I guess, that it's a road. 17 If the road's being used as a road by the property owners' 18 association, it ought to stay as a road, but the H.O.A. ought 19 to be responsible for maintaining the road. If it's not 20 going to be a road, I mean, I don't know -- I think the 21 intent on the plat -- I haven't looked at it, but I presume 22 that it was for it to be a road, not a recreational park. 23 So, you know, kind of my idea is, what's it being really used 24 for? If it's being used as a road, maybe it should stay as a 25 road. But by the pictures, it doesn't look like it's a real 3-23-15 44 1 good road, but, you know, the H.O.A. should be responsible 2 for it. If there -- if it's not going to be used as a road, 3 I don't have any problem with gates being put on it. You 4 know, that's just kind of -- I look at it pretty cut and 5 dried. I'm not sure what the legal side of it is. I rely on 6 the attorneys for that part. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I have about three or four 8 questions. On the -- the Hightower and the McAnelly 9 property, is it -- is it -- are your properties fenced? 10 Other than the road itself? 11 MR. HIGHTOWER: At the moment, nothing is fenced. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Nothing is fenced? 13 MR. HIGHTOWER: Well, no, that's not true. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'm talking about the 15 periphery, not -- not both sides of the road. 16 MR. HIGHTOWER: Only a portion. There's a 6-acre 17 tract along a different road, Fallow Run. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, you have to fence it if 19 you're going to put cattle on it? 20 MR. HIGHTOWER: That's right. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. Another question; you 22 said you have ag exemption. Is that -- and this is for the 23 Appraisal District, not me, but I'm curious. So, does your 24 ag exemption -- 25 MR. HIGHTOWER: We're working to acquire ag 3-23-15 45 1 exemption. We don't have -- 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: You don't have ag exemption 3 right now? 4 MR. HIGHTOWER: It takes five years, and we've been 5 working on -- 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It takes five years to get ag 7 exemption? 8 MR. HIGHTOWER: Yes, it does. And to do that, 9 we've been, of course, clearing cedar. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. Okay. 11 MR. HIGHTOWER: And working towards the vineyard 12 program first. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 14 MR. HIGHTOWER: And we've been doing that for about 15 four years now. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, your plan -- your plan is 17 to fence it all? 18 MR. HIGHTOWER: Yes. 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Periphery of both properties? 20 MR. HIGHTOWER: Right. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Forget the -- the both sides 22 of the road for right now. 23 MR. HIGHTOWER: Uh-huh. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And my next question is, it 25 seems like the biggest concern is having access by the other 3-23-15 46 1 homeowners to this property. If there's a gate on it, it's 2 not locked, it's just an inconvenience to have to open and 3 close the gate. 4 MR. HIGHTOWER: Right. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And that happens a lot in 6 properties around the state. It's been my personal 7 experience that similar situations -- put a gate up, leave it 8 unlocked, and people can have access to it for whatever 9 reason. Fire departments go through even gated communities 10 where they have to have a code, so I don't see an issue -- 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Right. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: -- with that. You know, fire 13 department's going to go through it, and especially if it's 14 just temporary. And I -- I've heard it -- and this is for 15 Len Odom. I've heard it stated that all of our county roads 16 are paved. 17 MR. ODOM: That's correct. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Is this a county road or not? 19 MR. ODOM: County-maintained roads. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So this one is not maintained, 21 period? 22 MR. ODOM: We don't maintain it. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So it's a county road, but 24 it's not maintained? 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: It's not a county -- it's a 3-23-15 47 1 public road that's privately maintained. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Public road. Okay, got it. 3 MR. ODOM: All roads in the county are county 4 roads, even city streets. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, hearing the request for 6 the gate, it's so that -- forget the trash and all that other 7 kind of stuff; that's going to happen whether it's gated or 8 not. Too bad. But it's -- part of your plan is to -- to put 9 the gates here and fence the -- the other part of the 10 property? 11 MR. HIGHTOWER: That's correct. And one of the 12 issues with the fencing, we have a -- a large hog population, 13 as Kerr County has all over. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Mm-hmm. 15 MR. HIGHTOWER: And the fencing for the vineyard is 16 going to have to occur to keep the hogs from destroying that 17 as well. Now, just in response to what -- to a statement 18 there, we have a large lake on this property. I mean, 19 relatively speaking, 150 feet long, 75, 80 foot wide, 20 spring-fed; it has never been dry in the 36 years we've been 21 out there, so we do have water in -- also in one area, plus a 22 well that we've already drilled. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 24 MR. HIGHTOWER: So that's the reason that we need 25 the whole place fenced in one single fencing, rather than 3-23-15 48 1 breaking it up. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Do you have any timeline when 3 you plan to fence this? 4 MR. HIGHTOWER: Well, we're going to start fencing 5 fairly soon, once -- if we get the gate approved. If we 6 don't get the gate approved, then we may not do anything. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, got you. Okay. 8 MR. HIGHTOWER: We're not going to spend an extra 9 $35,000, $40,000. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I think those are my 11 questions. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Commissioner 3? 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Quick question. Would a cattle 14 guard be an option to you? 15 MR. HIGHTOWER: No, not really. I mean, it's -- I 16 don't ever have the confidence in cattle guards, particularly 17 for the hogs. It's not going to stop the hogs. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, from the -- it's not 19 going to stop hogs, really, but the gate -- I mean, cattle 20 guards are used around the county quite a bit. 21 MR. HIGHTOWER: Yeah. But -- 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's a more -- I mean, the 23 fencing issue can be solved with cattle guards. I mean, it 24 may not be what you want to do, but it could solve -- 25 MR. HIGHTOWER: We've been told by a lot of 3-23-15 49 1 individuals it won't function for the hog issue. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, nothing will function for 3 the hog issue. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Not even a fence. 5 MR. HIGHTOWER: Well, to an extent, the fence 6 should be -- the fencing and gate will be better. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Anything else? Commissioner 9 Reeves, I'll entertain a motion if you have one. If you 10 don't -- I'm assuming that if we don't have a motion, nothing 11 passes; then nothing changes. But if you have a motion, 12 I'd -- 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I will make a motion. I tend 14 to agree, though, that there should not be a gate to nowhere, 15 as I put it. And so I would make a motion to approve this 16 agenda item and allow the gates to be installed once all the 17 perimeter fencing on both properties is complete, the 18 perimeter being defined as any enclosure of the property. 19 Their getting ag or not, that's totally out of our bailiwick. 20 But I would make a motion to allow the gates if the property 21 is fenced, and not before. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: May I ask you a question? 23 Now, are you going to police that? Or is the County Attorney 24 going to ride out there on horseback and police it? Or the 25 county -- 3-23-15 50 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'm sure me and Mr. Odom and 2 Mr. Hastings can accomplish that. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So you'll keep an eye on 4 that? 5 COMMISSIONER REEVES: But that is my motion. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay, there's a motion. Is 7 there a second? 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'll second that. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There's a second. Any 10 further discussion? 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'd like to hear from the 12 County Attorney's office. 13 MS. STEBBINS: I think that you can do that. You 14 can make it conditional on it, so that once they come back to 15 us and say it's done, we'll come back to -- the Commissioner 16 and Ray; they can go out there. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Anything else? Do you have 18 any comments? Total stranger. 19 MS. STEBBINS: Total stranger. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is that it? So, all in 21 favor of the motion to approve the agenda item, raise your 22 right hand. 23 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And it's a 4-0 vote. Thank 25 you. 3-23-15 51 1 MR. SCHULTE: Can I have a clarification on what 2 the motion was? Are we required to come back and get 3 approval of the gate after the perimeter fencing is finished? 4 Or do we have approval for the gate -- 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You have approval for the 6 gate to go up as soon as the fences are complete. 7 MR. SCHULTE: Okay. No further action of the 8 Commissioners Court is required? 9 COMMISSIONER REEVES: No, but it will be subject to 10 Road and Bridge and myself saying that the fence is approved, 11 that a fence is built. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: But not Commissioners Court. 13 Okay. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: All right. Item 1.9; 15 consider, discuss, take appropriate action for the Court to 16 accept the preliminary revision of plat for Lots 1 and 2 of 17 Scenic Valley Springs, Phase 2, Volume 8, Page 81, and Jack 18 A. Hall unrecorded plat, Volume 3, Pages 149-B-1, in Precinct 19 1. Mr. Hastings? 20 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. Harold and Linda Johnson 21 are the owners of the proposed Lot 1, and Michelle Vinatieri 22 is the owner of the proposed Lot 2. They're building homes 23 and installing septic tanks on each of their lots. Both 24 parties have been working with O.S.S.F. and the Floodplain 25 Administrator, and during their meeting with O.S.S.F., it was 3-23-15 52 1 brought to our attention that there was a parcel that had 2 been illegally subdivided. Illegal subdivisions cannot 3 obtain floodplain or septic permits until the subdivision is 4 brought into compliance, and that's what they're trying to do 5 here today with this plat. At this time, we're asking the 6 Court to accept the preliminary revision of plat and set a 7 public hearing for Monday, April 27th, at 9 a.m. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So moved. 9 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 11 second. Is there any further discussion? Yeah, that's mine. 12 That's fine. Hearing no further discussion, I'll call for a 13 vote. All in favor, please raise your right hand. 14 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a 4-0 vote. Thank you. 16 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. 17 COMMISSIONER REEVES: My apology to you, 18 Commissioner; I jumped out before you could do it. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: None necessary, sir. Item 20 1.10; consider, discuss, take appropriate action on 21 implementation of the waterfowl management phase of bacteria 22 reduction plan at Flat Rock Lake. Ms. Bushnoe? There she is 23 right there, from U.G.R.A. 24 MS. BUSHNOE: Good morning. Yes, sir. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Welcome. 3-23-15 53 1 MS. BUSHNOE: Thank you. And I realize I have been 2 remiss at keeping y'all informed of the recent status of the 3 bacteria reduction plan. It's been several years since I 4 spoke to Commissioners Court, so thank you, Commissioner 5 Moser, for inviting me to come in and give an update on the 6 implementation of the bacteria reduction plan, specifically 7 the waterfowl management stage. U.G.R.A.'s -- just a little 8 bit of background. U.G.R.A.'s been working with T.C.E.Q. for 9 about 10 years to address an impairment to the recreation 10 criteria for a stretch of the Guadalupe River from Town Creek 11 downstream to Flat Rock Lake. So, after preliminary studies, 12 U.G.R.A. received grant funding from T.C.E.Q. to put together 13 a local plan that was going to suggest solutions to address 14 the different sources of the elevated bacteria levels. 15 So, we used scientific data as well as input from a 16 stakeholder group to develop the strategies, and the group 17 consists of representatives of Kerr County. We've always had 18 a Commissioner with the -- participate in the group, as well 19 as Tim Bollier and Ray Garcia have been active, and Charlie 20 Hastings has been involved with the program from the 21 beginning. We've also had other staff of the City of 22 Kerrville and TexDOT and other local organizations and 23 individuals. So, we all approve strategies to address 24 bacteria levels in the river. The sources that we're looking 25 at were human, pet, waterfowl, and roosting birds. So, the 3-23-15 54 1 group agreed to address waterfowl bacteria sources through 2 removal, and also through education, and both of those were 3 approved by the stakeholder group. 4 So, the issue is that large populations of domestic 5 non-native waterfowl are congregating in riverside parks in 6 the area. People come to feed them in that small area, and 7 so there's a large amount of bird waste that's entering the 8 river in a small area, which isn't good for the E. coli 9 bacteria levels. And also, the domestic waterfowl 10 populations are reservoirs for disease that can spread to 11 native waterfowl populations. We've been tracking the 12 abundance of the non-native waterfowl in Riverside Park since 13 2008, and they were holding steady for a while, and about a 14 year and a half ago, the Egyptian geese has really started to 15 take off, and we've seen there's a flock of about 50 of them 16 that hang out in the grassy area by the boat ramp at Flat 17 Rock Park. That's also right where people swim, where most 18 of the recreation occurs, so we'd like to start with 19 implementing some removals to use that -- 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What kind of bird is that? 21 MS. BUSHNOE: Egyptian geese? It's a non-native -- 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's those little black 23 things that I see? 24 MS. BUSHNOE: No, those are native. Those are 25 coots, and they're just here in the winter. Egyptian geese 3-23-15 55 1 have, like, reddish, orangish -- they're kind of a rusty 2 color, and they -- what I understand about their biology is 3 that they lay eggs throughout the year. They don't just have 4 a spring clutch like a lot of waterfowl do, so they can -- 5 their population can increase very quickly because of that. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I asked Tara -- she's met with 7 Ray Garcia and folks, and I think Tim. And I had a number of 8 questions about this, 'cause, you know, people get emotional 9 about trapping birds and taking them off and so forth. So, I 10 don't remember all my questions, but I know Tara answered 11 them all. One of them, I said, "What do you do with the 12 birds when you trap them?" 13 MS. BUSHNOE: Mm-hmm. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That -- and second one is, 15 we're focusing on Egyptian geese. 16 MS. BUSHNOE: Right. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And, you know, what percentage 18 of the potential E. coli contribution that Egyptian geese to 19 wild birds -- you know, we have a lot of wild birds coming in 20 here. So, are we spending a lot of taxpayer money and 21 creating emotional issues, you know, perhaps with a -- with a 22 small segment of the contamination? And what are the answers 23 to those two questions? 24 MS. BUSHNOE: So, the -- the problem that's being 25 addressed by removing the geese is that you're reducing a 3-23-15 56 1 source of E. coli bacteria. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: But what -- is it a little 3 source, a big source, or what? 4 MS. BUSHNOE: Well, the Egyptian geese are a fairly 5 recent factor, I guess, in the waterfowl number. We had 6 mostly the white domestic ducks that were present when the 7 initial -- back in the beginning when the project analysis, 8 called bacteria source tracking, was performed that 9 identified certain contributions from either humans, pets, 10 waterfowl, wildlife. So, that information, combined with 11 some analyses that the engineer that was hired on the 12 contract put together, they -- they listed things like what 13 would give you the biggest bang for the buck? What strategy, 14 and including the cost of that strategy, is going to reduce 15 the greatest amount of bacteria? And our biggest bang for 16 the buck was reducing the amount of roosting birds on the 17 bridges, so that was the first one we went with, putting some 18 netting up on the Highway 16 bridge. And the next one was 19 waterfowl. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That's the thing I wanted you 21 to say, that you had a pretty good study done that 22 quantitively looked at these things, and then came up with a 23 priority -- 24 MS. BUSHNOE: Right. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: -- of what to address. 3-23-15 57 1 MS. BUSHNOE: And we've implemented education, in 2 that there is a human component of waterfowl, having people 3 understand that, you know, it is fun to go out -- kids love 4 to go down and feed the ducks and geese and see them up 5 close. But you think about you also have those same kids 6 wanting to go swimming right next to it, so it's balancing -- 7 balancing those two things. Because it's not -- you know, 8 bird waste has a higher concentration of E. coli bacteria 9 than other animals, and so having a large amount of it in a 10 swimming area is, you know -- 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So when you trap them, what do 12 you do with them? 13 MS. BUSHNOE: So, we're partners with U.S.D.A. 14 Wildlife Services, which is their division that addresses 15 animals, and they have equipment to trap them. And we've 16 found a farm that is willing to take them -- take the 17 animals. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I have one other observation. 19 And it's in the city, but it's in -- where the Town Meeting 20 Creek forms a lake in Riverhill. 21 MS. BUSHNOE: Mm-hmm. 22 COMMISSIONER MOSER: There used to be just a couple 23 of families of Egyptian geese. 24 MS. BUSHNOE: Right. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Last year it got to be way 3-23-15 58 1 over 100. So, you know, the thing you bring up, it's kind of 2 a unique bird in the proliferation, in -- they're roosting, 3 and I know that they were, you know, disabling the eggs, 4 making them, you know -- 5 MS. BUSHNOE: In response to that, the birds 6 learned to lay their eggs on rooftops. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I mean, so I think -- but I 8 think what you've done, Tara, and U.G.R.A., in looking at 9 this and all the options of the use of public funds for that, 10 is, you know, to be commended for doing it thoroughly. 11 MS. BUSHNOE: I appreciate it, thank you. And a 12 lot of staff time with local agencies is going to contribute 13 to this project, but, you know, outlay of actual dollars is 14 very limited. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just a general comment. I 16 mean, I think this is just another step of this Court and 17 other entities -- this Court's being concerned about the 18 quality of the water in the Guadalupe River. Same reason for 19 the whole Center Point wastewater project and the Kerrville 20 South project. We have focused a lot of effort to try to 21 keep the river clean, and this is just one of those efforts. 22 MS. BUSHNOE: Thank you. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Good point. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'll make a motion that we 25 approve the request -- to trap the Egyptian geese, right? -- 3-23-15 59 1 and as delineated by Tara and U.G.R.A. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There's a motion and a 4 second. Is there any further discussion? 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And this is limited -- I mean, 6 from our standpoint, it's limited to Flat Rock, correct? Or 7 anywhere? 8 MS. BUSHNOE: Yes, Flat Rock is really -- 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Flat Rock. We don't really 10 control the other locations where they are. 11 MS. BUSHNOE: Yeah, we're sharing information in 12 our plans with other areas with Egyptian geese issues so that 13 they -- they have a little more tools if they want to address 14 them themselves. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Very good point. It is in 16 Flat Rock, right? 17 MS. BUSHNOE: Yes. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: All in favor, raise your 19 right hand. 20 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. We're in recess 22 for 10 minutes. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thank you, Tara. 24 MS. BUSHNOE: Thank you. 25 (Recess taken from 10:14 a.m. to 10:28 a.m.) - - - - - - - - - - 3-23-15 60 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Commissioners Court's back 2 in session. It is now 10:00 something. 3 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 28. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 10:28. And we're going to 5 go to Item 1.11, which was timed for 9:28. Consider, 6 discuss, take appropriate action for the Court to accept the 7 preliminary revision of plat for Lots 148-149 of Vistas 8 Escondidas de Cypress Springs Estates, Volume 7, Page 9 363-364, and set a public hearing for Precinct 4. 10 Mr. Hastings? 11 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. Lot 148 and 149, the 12 owner would like to replat those, move the lot line. Lot 148 13 would go from 2.4 acres down to 1.66 acres, and Lot 149, 14 5 acres down to -- would go up to 5.74 acres. They have 15 requested the alternate plat process, which states the 16 commissioner of the precinct in which the proposed 17 subdivision is located may approve an alternate plat process 18 for plat approval for any subdivision with less than five 19 lots, as set forth in this section. And what that ends up 20 being is a public hearing will still be required; however, 21 notices to the property owners are not required, so there's a 22 little bit of savings in time and process. At this time, 23 we're asking the Court for approval to use the alternate plat 24 process, and also set a public hearing for the revision of 25 plat for Lots 148 and 149 of Vistas Escondidas de Cypress 3-23-15 61 1 Springs Estates, Volume 7, Pages 363 through 364, for Monday, 2 April 27th, at 9:10 a.m. 3 COMMISSIONER REEVES: So moved. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a motion and a 5 second. Any further -- 6 THE REPORTER: Who seconded? 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I seconded. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: He did. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Question. Because of the -- 10 and I have a little -- obviously, this particular lot, but 11 the size of 148-A is getting pretty small for right there. 12 MR. HASTINGS: It is. However, under our rules, 13 because there's a community water system and O.S.S.F., it's 14 outside of a high-density development area, the minimum lot 15 size is 1 acre, and they're looking at 1.66. 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: And, actually, it's smaller 17 for -- up on the hill, but when you get below the hill in 18 this first phase, it's comparable size. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I would make a comment, just 20 for O.S.S.F. to make sure that -- it may be a pretty limited 21 building spot. 22 MR. HASTINGS: Okay. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or drainfield, whatever kind of 24 equivalent's going to be put out there, I guess, because of 25 the terrain and the soil. This is one of the ones in the 3-23-15 62 1 valley? 2 COMMISSIONER REEVES: No, this is one up on top. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's where you get into 4 trouble trying to fit a septic in, because that front neck, 5 you're not going be able to put a septic in, so the septic is 6 going to have to go in the very low end of the -- 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Actually, the front neck, the 8 building setback -- I've talked with the developer and out at 9 Road and Bridge, and the building setback takes a lot of that 10 neck out of there to begin with. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And the other comment is, going 12 on long-term memory, they're not increasing the lots, so I 13 don't have a problem. But they got that lot size, I believe, 14 because of the density -- overall density of the development 15 under water availability. So that they -- it's not going -- 16 this one works, but that 5-acre tract can't be split. They 17 really can't add lots, as I recall. 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yeah. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: They're kind of capped. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, your motion is to -- to 21 accept the preliminary revision and set a public hearing for 22 April 27th at 9:10? 23 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yes. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And we have a second to that 25 motion. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your 3-23-15 63 1 right hand. 2 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote, thank you. I 4 don't know if I can do this. (Laughter.) I'm going to read 5 it -- this agenda item the way that it is written down here. 6 Now, if it were me, that really cares more than normal 7 people, I would -- I would write it a little differently, but 8 the item is 1.14, and it reads, "Consider, discuss, and take 9 appropriate action on request from Sean Rotge to use the show 10 barn at the Hill Country Youth Event Center for a midget 11 wrestling event." Now, if it were me, I'd put a "little 12 people affray," but -- (Laughter.) Midget wrestling. I 13 don't know what to say. Take it. 14 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah. We're just looking for 15 approval to do several -- multiple events. Live music, Texas 16 music, bring back some little people wrestling, and just do 17 some fun stuff, family-oriented to the Hill Country. So, 18 that's why we're here. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: But this agenda item is just 20 for the little people wrestling. 21 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Well, there's going to be live -- 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Also going to have rock 23 bands? 24 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Not rock bands; it will be 25 country bands. 3-23-15 64 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Are you going to have live 2 music? 3 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And what else? 5 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: That's pretty much it. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't -- I don't see the need 8 for this to be an agenda item. Jody wanted it on the agenda. 9 Because as long as you're -- 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's true. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- using it for a proper use 12 and you're paying the fees, you know, to me, it's -- 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Well, I think -- I think 14 surely they're making an announcement that there's going to 15 be little people wrestling, which I will be in attendance. 16 (Laughter.) 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: But they can make an 18 announcement -- I'm with Commissioner Letz. Why is that 19 before the Court? 20 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah, we were just told we had to 21 come before you guys for it. There's going to be multiple 22 events per month out there. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: This is for -- oh, this is an 24 ongoing -- 25 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah, 'cause we're looking to 3-23-15 65 1 maybe do a couple dates per month with either a live band or, 2 you know -- 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's different. Okay, I 4 understand. 5 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yeah. And we've got multiple 6 events per month, like on the weekends? Or -- 7 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah, just the weekends. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I think we're booked 9 pretty -- 10 MS. GRINSTEAD: The show barn is not booked that 11 much. But we've pretty much brought anything out of the 12 ordinary. Any kind of concerts, that kind of thing, I've 13 brought before you. If it's a private party, a standard goat 14 sale, whatever we have -- since this was out of the norm, 15 that was my understanding, is you wanted to know about it 16 first. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. I thought it was just 18 one time. 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, especially since it's a 20 couple times a month. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: How long are we going to be 22 doing this? Is this, like, for one month? Six months? 23 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Really and truly, I guess until 24 people don't find it interesting any more, is kind of our 25 thinking. We're going to extend our catering license over 3-23-15 66 1 and, you know, sell beer, of course, that type of thing. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: How many -- how long are you 3 booking it? How many -- 4 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Now, the live -- like, the live 5 bands, I would say they're out there pretty constantly. I 6 would say throughout a year at least. 7 MS. BAILEY: I think if you approve it, you need to 8 limit it to six months out from whatever date they're looking 9 at. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's where I'm going. 11 MS. BAILEY: Okay, yeah. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Need to probably look at the 13 other venues, make sure that there's no conflicts. Probably 14 like three months, maybe. Look at three months right now and 15 see -- see what it's doing. But I think it's just a matter 16 of -- we have multiple uses out there a lot of times. That 17 gets a little bit -- making sure doors are locked and things 18 like that. 19 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Oh, yeah, we'll have the proper 20 security and all that good stuff. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, is this for a day, a 22 weekend, or entire weekend? 23 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Well, we were talking about doing 24 it as a day, and then making it early enough to where 25 everybody can come out. You know, I mean, I'm sure -- 3-23-15 67 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Sounds like you have an idea, 2 but not a plan. 3 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Well, we've actually got the guys 4 waiting for us to give them a date. So, I mean, they have 5 all the plans. We're just the guys that are saying, "Yeah, 6 we have a place." So -- 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I kind of agree with 8 Commissioner Moser here; he's got the idea, but I'd like to 9 see the plan before we acted on anything. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And I'd like to see -- I'd like 11 to see, you know, written, the dates you wanted so we can 12 say, "These are the dates you're going to have," and go out 13 three months -- no more than three months right now. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Do you have a date for -- 16 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Yeah, we actually have -- well, 17 we don't have a date from them, because we didn't know 18 whether the barn was available, so it's kind of our -- 19 MR. SEAN ROTGE: They're going to be available in 20 the next three weeks. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Whose "they"? 22 MR. SEAN ROTGE: The little people. 23 THE REPORTER: I'm sorry, can I get your name? 24 MR. SEAN ROTGE: Sean. Sean Rotge. 25 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: I'm Scott Rotge. 3-23-15 68 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It's still vague. You know, 2 I'm sorry, but I -- you know, I hear you, "We got these guys, 3 we got the band. We want it for this time. We don't know 4 what the dates are." 5 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: Okay. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: But you're saying vote on it. 7 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: The Midget Wrestling Association 8 guys, they're an actual association, and basically, that's 9 who we're working with. And they're just -- they are asking 10 for a date from us, so that's why we were looking for -- if 11 it was okay with you guys, we're going to get a date from 12 them. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I mean, that's kind of where 14 we're at. How about if we do this? How about we -- because 15 you're lucky that we have another meeting tomorrow, and we 16 recess this item until tomorrow, and then you can get a date 17 from your people and you can get it to Jody and come up with 18 a date. That way you can come back tomorrow, just give it to 19 Jody, and not have to go here. Say, "These are the dates we 20 want it. Here's what we want." 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: What time should they be 22 here? 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Our court's at 10:30. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Let that be first. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That shouldn't take long. 3-23-15 69 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That'd be cool. 2 MR. SCOTT ROTGE: That's fine with us. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay, thank you. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: 16. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.16. Consider, 6 discuss, take appropriate action regarding Amendment 4 to 7 contract with Tetra Tech for engineering services on the 8 Center Point wastewater system. Commissioner Moser, Precinct 9 2; Commissioner Letz, Number 3, and Keller Drozdick. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll start it, then let Keller 11 continue with it. Basically, I think we've talked on the 12 Court before. Part of this project is -- requires some 13 upgrades to the W.C.I.D. wastewater plant in Comfort. One of 14 the upgrades is getting rid of the sludge. Sludge -- aerobic 15 stuff. Anyway, and this -- that was not in the original 16 scope, and we need to amend the contract so they can design 17 the sludge separator and all that stuff to get rid of the 18 sludge that we're going to be creating with the Center Point 19 wastewater. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And let me comment, too, that 21 I know there's questions about why do these design 22 modifications come in on all projects? Here's another 23 perfect example. I think once the initial layout for all of 24 the -- the sources of contribution to this wastewater system 25 down in Comfort were there, and then looking at the surge and 3-23-15 70 1 the requirements of T.C.E.Q., then it became very apparent 2 that the facility could not handle it without these 3 modifications. So, that's just part of -- of, you know, 4 pretty standard engineering design and evolution. So, go 5 ahead, Keller. 6 MR. DROZDICK: Yes. Specifically, this was a while 7 back, about, I think, almost a year. The prior amendment 8 that was approved was for the design of the wastewater plant 9 improvements, and so at that time for that amendment, we 10 developed a scope based on information we had available, 11 which was y'all's design drawings of the plant and 12 conversations with personnel at the plant, to understand what 13 modifications were likely to be needed. So, we developed a 14 scope at that time that included -- not to go into 15 excruciating detail, but increasing the capacity on the 16 aerators for the effluent in the lift station, adding filters 17 and sludge pumps. That was all well and good, and we started 18 proceeding with detailed design based on that scope. And one 19 of the first steps we did is we went out there and did a more 20 detailed analysis of what was in place, and gathered more 21 data, more operational data, and did a more detailed review 22 of some regs, and noted at that time early on that the 23 original plans called for them to use sludge drying beds, 24 which they currently have installed. And that would provide 25 what's called sludge stabilization, essentially reducing the 3-23-15 71 1 microbes in the sludge. 2 We found out, talking to the operators on-site, 3 yeah, those are there, but they don't use them any more, and 4 so they didn't currently have any sludge stabilization. And 5 since the plant was built, regulations had changed, and so 6 since we're coming in to do changes to the plant, we're 7 required to bring the plant up to the current regulations. 8 So, we identified that actually did not have the sludge 9 stabilization. The best way, we felt, to do that was through 10 anaerobic digestion. There's a couple different processes, 11 but that's the preferred method. And so this amendment 12 specifically is for just that design scope, what's required 13 to stabilize the sludge that's compliant with current 14 regulations at the plant. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's it. I'll make a notion 16 to approve the amendment as submitted. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion and a second. Any 19 further discussion? 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have a question -- another 21 question on the payment part. 22 MR. DROZDICK: Yes, sir? 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Is this -- and we've had 24 several discussions on some of these items. What's the 25 payment frame -- time framework for this part of the project? 3-23-15 72 1 MR. DROZDICK: For this Amendment 4 specifically? 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Where's the money -- the 3 amendment, we've talked about it, but when are the payments 4 due? 5 MR. DROZDICK: We haven't set a fixed due date, 6 'cause we understand that the County is basically constrained 7 by the available funds from the funding agency. This is 8 actually very similar, I was thinking about, to early on in 9 the project where the State did not release design funds. I 10 think it took them eight months to review the planning 11 documents before they released the design funds. We couldn't 12 wait, so we went ahead and proceeded with design, and 13 basically didn't issue an invoice, because we knew you guys 14 couldn't pay it; that was pointless, so we just proceeded 15 with that work, and once the funds were available, we 16 invoiced you for it at that time. We followed basically the 17 same plan with this, where we understand that the funds would 18 have to come out of a funding source that hasn't been 19 finalized yet, so we wouldn't be invoicing you guys until we 20 knew you had the funds in place to pay it. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's what I wanted you to 22 say, thank you. (Laughter.) 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: He said it. Good. 24 MR. DROZDICK: On the record and everything. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Anything else? 3-23-15 73 1 COMMISSIONER LETZ: No, that's it. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 3 second. All in favor, raise your right hand. 4 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And none opposed. Thank 6 you. 7 MR. DROZDICK: Thank you. 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thanks, Keller. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Keller was hoping I wouldn't 10 remember that, but -- 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.17; presentation by 12 Texas Association of Counties risk management benefits 13 review. Dawn Lantz and Victor Uvalle. 14 MR. UVALLE: Good morning, Commissioners. Good to 15 see y'all. I just wanted to stop by and thank y'all for 16 keeping the workers comp insurance, your property and 17 liability coverages with TAC. But as you know, we don't only 18 just provide the coverage; we also help with trying to do 19 risk control and all those areas of trying to prevent 20 injuries and lawsuits and things like that. And on that 21 note, I do want to mention that the County did earn a Gold 22 Star safety award this year, and so that's -- 'cause it was 23 earned. You had to earn it, and it's hopefully affected the 24 bottom line by keeping your costs down for the worker's comp 25 coverage, and also just keeping the employees safe from being 3-23-15 74 1 injured, you know, so those two things. And also, it took 2 the county effort and it took management support; it took 3 y'all's permission for us to come help and train and things 4 like that. But -- and several people at the county did help 5 us. 6 But there was another award that we give out every 7 year to several territories, and that's what we call -- or we 8 give it to a person. We call it the "Making a Difference" 9 award, and Dawn here was awarded that award. That was earned 10 also, because we noticed that there has been a difference in 11 the past couple of years of where the safety program was and 12 where it is now. Like I said, unfortunately, there's some 13 times I wish some people could get that -- could earn the 14 award twice in a row, two or three times, but the way that we 15 do it is we try to get a different person every year to get 16 that Making a Difference award. That doesn't mean that 17 there's not other people that may have deserved it, but we 18 had to pick one out there. But this is also, like I said, to 19 try to prevent your costs from going up, and to try to keep 20 your accidents down and try to prevent lawsuits out there. 21 And I did put this booklet on your table, and it 22 does have your risk control consultants -- there's three 23 other people that can come help train at the county, provide 24 technical assistance, things like that. Use them. If you 25 need them for something, use them. And I'll also give you 3-23-15 75 1 this, because we have a lot of new people at TAC in our 2 management position, so their pictures are in here also. And 3 we got a few new people in the claims department, so their 4 pictures are here too, and they kind of tell you what they 5 do, what line of coverage they cover and things like that, so 6 at least if you ever -- you can put a face to the voice on 7 the phone out there. 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I have a question. 9 MR. UVALLE: Yes, sir? 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, there's all these nice 11 awards and Gold Star and all this other individual award and 12 all the pictures of your staff and all. So what did our -- 13 how'd our rates decrease? What percentage did we decrease? 14 What's -- what percentage increase did we avoid? 15 MR. UVALLE: I can bring that technical data. I 16 did not bring it at this time. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Well, that's the bottom line. 18 All this other stuff is nice, and, I mean, we got places to 19 hang gold stars and all that kind of stuff. 20 MR. UVALLE: Right. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: But what's it mean to us? 22 MR. UVALLE: I can definitely bring that 23 information. I don't have it -- 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'd like to know that. 25 MR. UVALLE: I sure will. 3-23-15 76 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Can you send us a letter with 2 that? 3 MR. UVALLE: Yes, and if you want, I could come by 4 and visit with you. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: No, just send us a letter. 6 You can save your travel; just send us a letter. 7 MR. UVALLE: And, actually, we had talked about 8 doing that at the next presentation when we actually did the 9 award. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Just send us a letter in 11 writing; that would be really great. 12 MR. UVALLE: Sure will. I'll do that research. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Victor, the -- the award 14 that she got, how big is the -- how big is the area that she 15 was chosen from? 16 MR. UVALLE: It's 64 counties. 64 counties, west 17 Texas and south Texas, just a quadrant of the state, a 18 quarter of the state. Actually, two people got it in the 19 area, so two people got it in this area out of 64 counties. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, it's a bigger deal than 21 what we think it is. 22 MR. UVALLE: Yes. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Of course, I remember when 24 Victor was the little kid up at TAC. 25 MR. UVALLE: Right. It's been a while. 3-23-15 77 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Hasn't it? He's been there, 2 like, 20 years now or something. 3 MR. UVALLE: Oh, yeah, been there a long time. 4 They've got a lot of new faces, lots of young people working 5 there. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're getting to be one of 7 the geezers now. 8 MR. UVALLE: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Congratulations. 10 MR. UVALLE: Comes with good experience, too. I 11 can help out. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And he had hair when he first 13 started coming around. 14 MR. UVALLE: I know, that's what's I miss. Even if 15 it was white hair, I would take it. (Laughter.) 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Be careful, it keeps going. 17 MR. UVALLE: I know. Bald is beautiful. 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I do want to compliment 19 Mrs. Lantz for her award. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Absolutely. 21 COMMISSIONER REEVES: And it's very well deserved, 22 Dawn. 23 MR. UVALLE: It was earned. 24 COMMISSIONER REEVES: You take good care, Dawn. 25 (Applause.) 3-23-15 78 1 MR. BOLLIER: Okay, that's enough. 2 MR. UVALLE: Thank you. I'll get the real data for 3 you. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Dawn, do you want to add 6 anything? You want to take anything away? 7 MS. LANTZ: Well, it's the employees that do it. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I see. 9 MS. LANTZ: And the management. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you guys very much. 11 Item 1.18; consider, discuss, take appropriate action on a 12 request to allow animals for dog shows in the Event Hall at 13 the Hill Country Youth Event Center. Lori Graham. Ms. 14 Graham? Would you give us your address for the record, 15 please? 16 MS. GRAHAM: 155 Kerrville South Drive. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Do you want to just hand me 18 all those? And I'll pass them. Thank you. 19 MS. GRAHAM: Most of you know who I am. Been here 20 almost all of my life. Went to school with one of you. 21 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Easy. 22 MS. GRAHAM: I called Buster -- what was it? -- a 23 couple months ago, when a friend of mine went by the Ag Barn 24 to see the new facility and get it booked, because we had 25 several out-of-county people wanting to come and come back. 3-23-15 79 1 One was the Hill Country Australian Shepherd Club of America. 2 The other was the Alamo Dog Obedience Club, or -- and the San 3 Antonio Dog Obedience Club. And we also had an interest from 4 the Teacup Agility Association, which means dogs that are 5 small. And all these people want to come to Kerrville. And 6 I just recently found out that the San Antonio Kennel Club 7 expressed much interest and will be coming to Kerrville, 8 which is a five-day cluster. And I'm not just talking about 9 a one-day rent for the weekend; talking about five legitimate 10 rental days. 11 And -- but going back to what -- my friend went out 12 there, and why I called is I found out that that new building 13 is not available for animals. And I thought that was the Ag 14 Barn, and available for animals. And the dog show people are 15 very cleanly. We have huge restrictions. The American 16 Kennel Club has benches, and keeps big control over 17 cleanliness and people that are rowdy or obnoxious, and so 18 it's not a run-amok organization. San Antonio, I believe, 19 Kennel Club's been here since -- 1913? -- 1913, so they do 20 something right. Coming to Kerrville will be a big benefit. 21 They -- Kerrville is not like San Antonio, where you can go 22 in any motel you want to; it's huge area. We're Kerrville. 23 We have so many hotels. We have so many restaurants. 24 Everybody that comes has to stay somewhere, either in their 25 R.V. or a hotel. Most people coming in, families have to 3-23-15 80 1 stay in a hotel. They have to eat. So, what I would like is 2 that it be open at least to dog shows, which would even be 3 cat shows. I don't -- not a big cat person, but I would be 4 able to listen to that. But have the dog show people come. 5 They're clean. It's better than a beer bash. 6 I wrote some points down just a little bit, that 7 people need the climate control. All the dogs -- poodles, 8 Havanese, all these long-haired, short, fluffy dogs, people 9 don't want to go on the dirt. They're not going to come 10 groom their dogs on the dirt come show. I like climate 11 control; I like to sleep in my own bed. When I was at the 12 last San Antonio Showdown the first weekend -- no, second 13 weekend in March, plus that whole week, I saw over 10 14 different state license plates. According to Robert, there 15 were -- Onofrio, which is the dog show secretary, there were 16 over 25 states entered in this past show in San Antonio. I 17 can just see that -- I also called the -- sorry, I don't mean 18 to wander. But I called the Convention and Visitors Bureau 19 here in Kerrville. There is only one convention that 20 weekend, which was the motorcycle group that's against 21 children -- 22 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Abuse. 23 MS. GRAHAM: -- abuse. That was one hotel. And 24 everything else, she said, depended on the weather. There 25 was nothing really booked. That means the Ag Barn wasn't 3-23-15 81 1 booked, that I'm aware of. So, this is five-plus days of 2 people here eating, staying, spending money, plus a lot of 3 people from out of state who can see our place. I love 4 Kerrville. I haven't gone anywhere else. Also, I was just 5 talking to Robert. We can use the facility. Every barn 6 could be used. Also, part of the park probably could be 7 used. I opened his eyes and said we could do a retriever 8 trial where they do it on the water. Believe it or not, I've 9 had people ask me, "Are there alligators in the lake?" 10 Because where they live there are alligators, and they can't 11 throw a bumper in the lake. So, this is just something that 12 could be done and have different venues open up, which means 13 more people will come. 14 I'm off to Kansas here in a couple of weeks. They 15 have agility/herding/obedience rally, confirmation lure 16 coursing, all in one area, and you have to pick, because you 17 can't get to all of them. But everybody's full. All the 18 hotels are full. And I just think at that time of year, 19 there's no one really coming to Kerrville. Being in the 20 restaurant business, you kind of cringe after hunting 21 season's over. You wait for spring break; you hope there are 22 big conventions. But having a set cluster coming every year, 23 we'd always be happy to have. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: When you say every year, is 25 this something that you're proposing to do for multiple 3-23-15 82 1 years? 2 MR. STEIN: Yes, we're proposing that. Right now 3 we have a contract that we haven't signed yet, but we will 4 for three years. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's another agenda item. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Oh, I see. 7 MR. STEIN: You want me to wait until then? 8 MS. GRAHAM: This is Mr. Robert Stein; he's with 9 the San Antonio Kennel Club. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, I'll wait. 11 MS. GRAHAM: But yes, it's proposed to be yearly. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. I think the -- I don't 13 think -- I don't have any problem with dogs, but I probably 14 want to defer really deciding on this, personally, because 15 tomorrow we have a firm that we're going to be visiting with 16 quite extensively about long-term operations and management 17 possibly out there, and we'd like to kind of get their 18 opinion before we make a definite decision. This isn't going 19 to affect, I think, the -- the other agenda item, but as an 20 overall policy, I think we're going to -- we're just trying 21 to -- and this is just for you; we're trying to hold off on 22 making any long-term policy decisions out there until after 23 tomorrow. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That's a good point. Because 25 in that, I think we're talking here primarily, yeah, see how 3-23-15 83 1 you can use other venues there at the Ag Barn. But this is 2 the -- the Exhibit Hall. You know, you want to make sure 3 that if you have a dog event and then a black tie event the 4 next day, -- 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: -- you know, it's compatible. 7 But you don't have to answer that. Well, I think 8 Commissioner Letz makes a good point. 9 COMMISSIONER REEVES: And I think we should wait 10 till -- you know, I want to go into this with an open mind. 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Sure. 12 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I am very excited about the 13 economic impact that it could bring to the county, and to the 14 using of all the facilities, and I think something like this 15 might work. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Sure. 17 COMMISSIONER REEVES: But I definitely want to hear 18 what the consultant might have to say tomorrow. 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I agree. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I agree. 21 COMMISSIONER REEVES: So I'd like, like I said, to 22 recess this item till tomorrow. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: But I think -- I mean, to me, 24 just looking -- and I've talked to Commissioner Reeves a 25 little bit about it. I mean, seems to me these are held in 3-23-15 84 1 hotels frequently. 2 MS. GRAHAM: Yes, there has been a specialty at the 3 Y.O. for the Clumber Spaniel. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah. 5 MS. GRAHAM: I was there. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I don't see a problem, but we 7 just don't want to start a whole bunch of long-term decisions 8 until we visit with the people tomorrow. People are flying 9 in from Philadelphia to talk to us. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I agree with him. I don't see 11 an issue, but it's -- if we're going to have this group that 12 does this, and potentially do it for us out there, we need to 13 hear what their view is, too. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 15 MS. GRAHAM: As long as they have open minds, I'm 16 all for it. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'm sure this -- they're going 18 to be out to try and figure out how to use it as much as 19 possible. 20 MS. GRAHAM: This one would be something that could 21 grow. There's more than the one entity -- 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 23 MS. GRAHAM: -- of dog shows. We can bring a lot 24 of people in. We know a lot of people. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And we -- I mean, we have an 3-23-15 85 1 agenda item tomorrow, so we can do this at 10:30 along with 2 another one that we deferred -- or actually, sometime 3 tomorrow. 4 MS. GRAHAM: Yes, sir. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It will be after 10:30. We'll 6 visit with them for a while, but -- okay. 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Thank you. 8 MS. GRAHAM: Thank you. Then I'll see you 9 tomorrow, correct? 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yes, ma'am. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It will be -- we will reconvene 13 today's meeting at 10:30 here, I believe, and it'll be 14 towards the end of that when we take any action on this item. 15 So -- 16 MS. GRAHAM: See you at 10:45. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. We're going to recess 19 Item 1.18, and we'll call 1.19; consider, discuss, take 20 appropriate action regarding establishing a public hearing on 21 proposed Rules and Regulations for County Parks in Kerr 22 County, Texas. Commissioner Moser? 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right. Thank you, 24 Commissioner. We have a draft of some rules and regulations 25 for county parks, and we discussed this at one of the 3-23-15 86 1 previous commissioners courts, and decided that before we do 2 anything like this, we should have a public hearing. So, I 3 move that we have a public hearing -- I didn't select a date 4 on that, so one that we -- next Commissioners Court in April. 5 I think we should let this word get out, so sometime maybe 6 the second -- 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Probably should, with public 8 notice or something, be the second meeting in April. 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah. And I think that would 10 be good, second meeting in April. Yeah, okay. So, I make 11 that motion. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second? 13 THE CLERK: What time? 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 10 o'clock. 15 THE CLERK: 10 o'clock? 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, the motion is to set a 17 public hearing for the second meeting in April at 10 a.m. 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And there's a second. Any 20 further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 21 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a 4-0 vote. Thank you. 23 Item 1.20; consider, discuss, take appropriate action to 24 reappoint Steve King and Ed Livermore to the Kerrville/Kerr 25 County Joint Airport Board for the second -- for a 3-23-15 87 1 second-year term, June the 1st, 2015, to June the 1st, 2017. 2 Commissioner Moser? 3 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right, that is for a two-year 4 term. That's -- thank you. The Airport Board is -- the way 5 it's comprised and the way that nominations are made for 6 participation or membership to the board is based on skills 7 and expertise that the board needs. And Steve King has 8 served as the president of the board for a long period of 9 time. He has business-related experience which he brings to 10 the table, as does Ed Livermore, plus that and banking 11 experience. The board has worked very effectively. I know 12 that it's been said many times; I think when -- when 13 Commissioner Letz was liaison and I was on the board, the 14 budget out there was, like, $600,000 a year, $400,000 coming 15 from the City and the County. It's -- the budget now is 16 approximately 400,000. It's been cut dramatically. The 17 airport operations is -- is, you know, almost perfect. It's 18 extremely good, so I think these two gentlemen have served 19 well, and agree to serve, you know, beyond this. I think the 20 revenue from the City and the County within the next year or 21 two will be zero, so I think that that's just an endorsement 22 of these two gentlemen. So, I move that we approve the 23 appointment of Steve King and Ed Livermore to the Airport 24 Board for a two-year period from June 1st, 2015, to June 1st, 25 2017. 3-23-15 88 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. Is there 2 a second? 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And a second. Any further 5 discussion? 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just an additional comment. I 7 certainly agree with everything Commissioner Moser said. And 8 another thing; I mean, Steve has served as president -- 9 what's this? -- a couple of -- three years now, I think. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Four years, and has done an 12 outstanding job, and just the leadership out there, and I 13 think it's important to keep a little continuity out there. 14 We have -- I'm not sure what Corey's going to do, but Kirk 15 Griffin's been on there now a year -- about a year. And who 16 else is out there? 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Keep going; I'll come up with 18 it. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Anyway, the -- I think -- 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Bill Wood. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Bill Wood. He's been on there 22 for about a year, too. It's good to keep some of the ones 23 that have a little bit longer perspective. Steve's been 24 there, basically, since I think the Airport Board in its 25 current form was started. 3-23-15 89 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Even before. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And before that, and brings 3 some long-term knowledge, which I think it's very important 4 to keep Steve there too, along with new ideas and new people. 5 So, I certainly support both of them. Ed's been on there, I 6 think three years, I'm guessing. 7 MS. HARGIS: Two. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Two or three years. So, they 9 have that experience, and they've done an outstanding job. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Anything else? I want to 11 make a comment, that, you know, some of us here remember 12 before we established an Airport Board, and it was one of 13 those things that was back and forth with us and the City, 14 and -- and battleground every year, and et cetera. And we 15 finally got the Airport Board established and in place, and 16 it's a credit to these men that they continue being there and 17 continue being appointed. And I'm sorry that the Mayor left, 18 because I want to say that -- leave the damn thing alone. 19 It's running fine. It's one of the few boards that is 20 established in this county that really runs the way it's 21 supposed to run, and I appreciate them, and I think that we 22 need to keep hands off of it and let it go. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And you're exactly right. And 24 the thing that has made it work, and these gentlemen insist 25 on, is they don't represent the City; they don't represent 3-23-15 90 1 the County. They represent the airport. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Precisely. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: They understand that we're the 4 owners. If it comes to a financial consideration, they come 5 to us where they need to, but they run it, and it works. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. So, let's vote. All 8 in favor, raise your right hand. 9 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's 4-0. Thank you very 11 much. Item 1.21; consider, discuss, take appropriate action 12 on request from Volunteer Services Council for the Kerrville 13 State Hospital to be approved as a nonprofit organization in 14 order to receive reduced rate for use of the Hill Country 15 Youth Event Center. Denise LeMeilleur? 16 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Hi. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Would you tell us your 18 address, please? 19 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Do you want my personal address or 20 the Volunteer Services address? 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I couldn't care less. 22 MS. LEMEILLEUR: 721 Thompson Drive. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you very much. 24 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Thank you. I'm the president of 25 the Volunteer Services Council for the State Hospital. We 3-23-15 91 1 are a nonprofit, recognized by the I.R.S. as a nonprofit. We 2 have already reserved the Hill Country Youth Barn -- well, am 3 I saying it right? The name has changed. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: We know what you mean. 5 MS. LEMEILLEUR: For our motorcycle ride and rally. 6 This is the first year that we have had -- that we're doing 7 the Hill Country motorcycle ride. The ride is for mental 8 health awareness. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I 9 left -- gave you guys all the supporter letter that we sent 10 out to our supporters for this. What we do with the funds is 11 we use the funds to go back to help patients and patient 12 programs that are not funded by the State, because the 13 Kerrville State Hospital is -- doesn't have enough of the 14 funds for what patients need. There are -- a lot of our 15 patients come indigent. We provide them with birthday 16 parties, and we provide them with Christmas presents and 17 parties, and we provide for their families. We have a lodge 18 there, a family lodge, much like -- if you would, like a 19 Ronald McDonald house or something like that, where families 20 can come and visit their loved ones, and they don't have to 21 pay to stay in a hotel. That's -- that housing is provided 22 for them. 23 All of that takes money, and so we're trying to do 24 a fundraiser there, the first of this kind of fundraiser that 25 I really think that has been done in Kerr County for a 3-23-15 92 1 nonprofit. And we have limited it to 150 motorcycle riders. 2 We feel like the first year, that's probably about what we 3 can handle. But being that it is a fundraiser, what we're 4 trying do is reduce the cost, because all of the money goes 5 directly back to patient benefits and patient programs at the 6 State Hospital. So, we're asking for a reduced rate. We 7 would like to ask for it free, but we understand that nobody 8 can do anything for free, so what we're asking for is to have 9 it reduced as much as possible. It costs so much per table 10 and it costs so much per chair to use the facilities in 11 addition to the -- the facility itself, so anything that you 12 could do to waive the expenses of that, we would be greatly 13 appreciative. The rally is -- we are going to make it a 14 community event. We are having Kristy Vanderberg coming with 15 the Ultimate Gift of Life. We're talking to the blood bank 16 to have them out there. We will have a speaker from La 17 Hacienda come, as well as a doctor from the State Hospital to 18 talk about mental health awareness. 19 Mental health is a stigma that we are all impacted 20 by. It costs taxpayer dollars; it costs insurance companies 21 money, and it's because we don't understand mental health. 22 And that -- you know, we think if it's diabetes, we can go 23 take a shot and fix our insulin. If it's blood pressure, we 24 can take a pill. But mental health, you don't always 25 understand that -- that stigma that society places on people 3-23-15 93 1 with mental health. So we're trying to bring awareness to 2 it, and at the same time, bring awareness to the need -- that 3 we need funds to do this, and to do it right. We do have a 4 band coming. Because this is a family-friendly community 5 event, we are not going to be serving alcohol. And we're 6 looking for sponsors to help us provide for the -- for the 7 food that we're going to be doing out there. We'll get there 8 early in the morning; we will leave. We'll have volunteers 9 working with the event getting the food and everything ready 10 while we go on our ride. We'll come back and we'll have a 11 silent auction, we'll have a meal, our guest speakers, a 12 little bit of music, and then be out of the facility, leaving 13 it as clean as we found it. So, that's what I'm asking for 14 today, is just a reduced rate on the cost of the building. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So this is your first event? 16 MS. LEMEILLEUR: It is our first event. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, great. 18 MS. LEMEILLEUR: It's not our first fundraiser 19 event. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right. 21 MS. LEMEILLEUR: We've always done a gala in the 22 past, and it's always been in the fall. And if you guys have 23 lived in Kerrville a long time like I have, every gala is in 24 the fall, and every person is soliciting for money somewhere 25 from August to, you know, the 1st of January for their -- so 3-23-15 94 1 money is limited then. So, we want to do something 2 different, and hopefully get a different venue of -- of 3 people that are going to come and participate in it. And we 4 also know that mental illness a lot of times is caused by 5 substance abuse, and so that's the purpose of the guest 6 speaker from La Hacienda. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So this is 8 motorcycle-oriented? 9 MS. LEMEILLEUR: This is motorcycle-oriented, 10 that's right. 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That's neat. Another 12 question. How many volunteers do you have? 13 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Caryn? 14 MS. TALARICO: We have 54 that actually are -- are 15 enrolled that are -- they are on a constant basis. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, 54 volunteers. 17 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Now, out of all of that, we 18 probably will have, I would say, about 30 that are going to 19 be at the facility. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: No, I was just asking about in 21 general. 22 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Okay. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: 54, that's great. 24 MS. TALARICO: That does vary throughout the year. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. All right. 3-23-15 95 1 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Just thinking of planning the 2 ride, we're also going to have a lot of volunteers that are 3 going to be coming with us on the ride, just to be part of 4 that. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I move for approval. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 7 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Right now, the motion for 8 approval is to grant the nonprofit rate as published? 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And what does that -- when 12 you establish a nonprofit, what does that do? 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 50 percent of the published 14 rate. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's 50 percent off? 16 MS. GRINSTEAD: Fifty percent of the rental fee, 17 yeah. 18 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Would that also be 50 percent of 19 the cost of the tables and chairs? 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yes. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: She said no. 22 MS. GRINSTEAD: Typically, it hasn't been, but it's 23 up to you. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Whatever our standard -- 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I certainly think the state 3-23-15 96 1 mental hospital is a big part of this community. It's been 2 there for a long time, and, you know, I -- I think anything 3 we can think about using taxpayers' money to support this, I 4 don't have any problem with that at all, even if it's for 5 50 percent for tables and chairs, if that's consistent with 6 our policy. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right now, we don't do tables 8 and chairs. It's just the rate. 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And, you know, what we do -- I 11 mean, how many tables and chairs are you going to -- how much 12 are we talking about there? 13 MS. LEMEILLEUR: If we're going to have 150 riders, 14 you're probably talking about a total of 200 chairs, so -- 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: How much is a chair? 16 MS. GRINSTEAD: A dollar a chair. 17 MS. LEMEILLEUR: We're looking at 20 tables or 18 something. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Probably $300 total there. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: You and I can -- 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, I -- 22 MS. LEMEILLEUR: We're not taking them home with 23 us; we're going to leave them there. (Laughter.) 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'll cover half the cost of 25 the chairs. 3-23-15 97 1 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I won't go that far, but -- 2 (Laughter.) I hate to give you -- to do that, because then 3 we're going to have to do it for every other -- 4 MS. LEMEILLEUR: You set a precedent; I understand 5 that. But this will be a community event, hopefully a 6 successful one. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Maybe others will volunteer to 8 help cover that cost. I don't think we should make that a 9 policy to cover that -- waive that fee. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I agree, so therefore I'll -- 11 I'll personally contribute. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We'll help, okay. 13 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Thank you. I appreciate it. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We'll do it that way. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, we have a motion to 17 approve the agenda item. Do you want to put those specifics 18 in there? 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just -- 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bust him for some cash? 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: The specific approval is -- or 22 motion is to approve the Volunteer Service Council for 23 Kerrville State Hospital to be a nonprofit organization for 24 renting the Exhibit Hall at the Hill Country Youth Exhibit 25 Center. 3-23-15 98 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And we have a second to 2 that? 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Didn't I second? 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Do we have a second? 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. And any further 7 discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 8 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a 4-0 vote. Thank you. 10 MS. LEMEILLEUR: Thank you. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.22; consider, 12 discuss, take appropriate action on a request to use the 13 courthouse grounds on May 25th, 2015, for Memorial Day 14 events. Maggie Baker, come forth. 15 MS. BAKER: Good morning. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Good morning. 17 MS. BAKER: May 25th is Memorial Day; it's a 18 Monday. We would like to go ahead and see if our -- my 19 committee would like to see if we can use the courthouse 20 grounds for our Memorial Day event. We're going to be 21 unveiling the panels we've been waiting for, and we're going 22 to be involving a lot of the area young school children. We 23 want to try to get more of the young kids involved, because 24 over the past years, it's been just, you know, older people 25 like us. We want to get the schools involved. We have one 3-23-15 99 1 school that's going to come in, and they're going to sing 2 some songs; they're going to play instruments. We've got one 3 school that's coming in; their band is going to be playing 4 for us. And we've got a couple of young soldiers. One is 5 active duty, and the other is separated. And we're going to 6 have a lot of the other young soldiers around, hopefully the 7 recruiters coming in, so it's going to be about an hour long, 8 and we just need some use of the county chairs and permission 9 to use the grounds. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 11 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a motion and second. 13 Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 14 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you, ma'am. 16 Thank you, Maggie. 17 MS. BAKER: Thank you. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.23; consider, 19 discuss, take appropriate action on request from Recovery 20 Orientations Systems Care to be approved as a nonprofit 21 organization under the blanket of the Hill Country Alcohol 22 and Drug Council, and in order to receive a reduced rate for 23 the use of the Hill Country Youth Event Center. Maggie 24 Baker. 25 MS. BAKER: Yes, sir. We're going to have an 3-23-15 100 1 event. We want to have it on May 2nd. We'd like to use the 2 event center. What this is, is it's going to be a 3 fundraiser. There's no alcohol involved because of it being 4 an alcohol and drug recovery event. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Huh, how's that work? 6 MS. BAKER: We're going to have a silent auction, a 7 live auction. We've got a live band. We have a couple of 8 speakers coming in. And this money is going to be used to 9 help with advertising and seminars to help a lot of our 10 recovering individuals. And the reason I am doing this, I 11 was selected as the chair of R.O.S.C., and only if they would 12 include veterans. They do have a small amount of veterans 13 that go out to the Hill Country Area Council on Alcohol and 14 Drug, but they asked if I would come in so that we could 15 bring in more veterans. There's a lot of veterans that 16 either aren't eligible or don't want to go to the V.A. 17 Hospital. They think there's some kind of a stigma there, so 18 they don't apply to go out there. And with this, what we're 19 going to do is we have a lot of other resources to where 20 veterans can go. They can come out to there; they can even 21 use the services of the, you know, Kerrville State Hospital, 22 Sid Peterson, or there's other churches that are available to 23 them. But a lot of them don't know that these resources are 24 available to them. So, by us having this fundraiser, raising 25 this money, we can get more information out to the -- to 3-23-15 101 1 mainly the veterans. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, good. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Only question I have, Maggie, 4 is wording. It's under the blanket of the Hill Country 5 Alcohol and Drug Council, so I take it the Hill Country 6 Alcohol and Drug Council is a 501(c)(3)? 7 MS. BAKER: Yes. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And -- 9 MS. BAKER: And R.O.S.C. is like just an 10 organization -- not really an organization; it's a group of 11 individuals who get together once a month to help educate 12 these individuals to be able to bring them into -- 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: But the group actually 14 renting -- the agreement will be with the Hill Country 15 Alcohol and -- 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Drug Council. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 20 second. This letter from I.R.S. says that thumbs up for the 21 Hill Country Alcohol and Drug Council. Is that -- did that 22 come from you? 23 MS. STEBBINS: I haven't seen the letter, no. 24 MS. BAKER: I brought that. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: This is one of the 3-23-15 102 1 requirements, I think, to have in here. All in favor, raise 2 your right hand. 3 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you. 5 MS. BAKER: Thank you. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, Maggie. Item 7 1.24; consider, discuss, take appropriate action on request 8 from San Antonio Kennel Club to reserve the Hill Country 9 Youth Event Center beyond the three-year term allowed by the 10 current policy, and discuss the R.V. hookups at the facility. 11 Commissioner Reeves and Robert Stein. Commissioner Reeves? 12 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Thank you. A few weeks ago, 13 Jody, Tim, and I met with the San Antonio Kennel Club. They 14 were very impressed with our facility. They're looking 15 forward to moving their show that I believe was discussed in 16 the previous agenda item to Kerrville, taking it from the 17 Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, and would like to move it to 18 Kerrville. Our current regulations and rules limit it to a 19 three-year term, but Robert would like to discuss two items, 20 one extending that, and then two regarding some R.V. hookups. 21 So, I'll let you have it. 22 MR. STEIN: Okay. Let's start with the R.V. 23 hookups. I got a quote on Friday that to upgrade the 10 24 existing R.V. hookups to 50-amp and add 10 more hookups with 25 50-amp plus water would be about $22,000. And, you know, to 3-23-15 103 1 tie that into the extension of the contract, San Antonio 2 Kennel Club would like to offer to pay half of that $22,000 3 if you would extend our contract to five, possibly six years. 4 We calculate that we would get back the money that we pay for 5 those R.V. hookups within five to six years. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: So, with the hookups -- you 7 say you would get back the money. Would you take the income 8 off -- 9 MR. STEIN: Not from you. Typically, what we do -- 10 from what I'm understanding, you charge $25 a day for hookups 11 for the R.V's, and we would charge an additional $25, so it 12 would be a total of $50 a day for all the R.V's. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So -- 14 MR. STEIN: We would not take any of your income. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: How many hookups are you 16 adding? 17 MR. STEIN: We'd add 10 more, which would make it 18 20. But in the future, we would love to see it go up to 40. 19 We'd be willing to pay for half of that also. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Do we know where these would 21 be? 22 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Looking with Tim and Jody, 23 the 10 that we have, plus the additional 10 that we're 24 talking about right now, would be on the fence between the 25 indoor arena and the outdoor arena. The other ones could be 3-23-15 104 1 along the side between the new show barn and River Star. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 3 COMMISSIONER REEVES: There's already electricity 4 and water. That -- 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Sewer. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Well, these would be -- we 7 could add the sewer on this. This side would just be water 8 and electricity. I like the fact that we can give 50-amp 9 hookups. Most R.V.'s, you can get a converter to go down, 10 but most of them -- 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Use 50. 12 COMMISSIONER REEVES: -- use 50-amp. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, that amount of power is 14 available on both -- on the other side? 15 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Tim, have you talked to the 16 electrician if there's ample power on the other side of River 17 Star? 18 MR. BOLLIER: As of right now, we were doing it in 19 sections. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Huh? Is there -- is there 21 sufficient power for 10? 22 MR. BOLLIER: There should be. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: No, there's no "should be." 24 MR. BOLLIER: I can't -- I can't answer that. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: We need to know. It'd be nice 3-23-15 105 1 to know. 2 MR. BOLLIER: I would -- I mean, I'm just guessing. 3 I would think there would be, but we did not look at it. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 5 MR. BOLLIER: We just did the -- 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So, it may be more than 7 $22,000? 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Well, now, there's enough 9 power for the additional 10. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And upgrade the 10 that we 11 have between the indoor arena and outdoor arena? 12 MR. BOLLIER: Yes. 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I think Tim was saying he 14 didn't know if there's enough power for the -- 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I got you, okay. So, 16 sufficient power where the additional 10 proposed -- that 17 answered my questions. 18 MR. BOLLIER: Where the R.V. space is now, it will 19 be fine. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Got you. 21 MR. BOLLIER: We'll try to work on the rest later. 22 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Got you, got you, got you. 23 Okay. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And the -- go back to the other 25 one. Is your use of the event hall or the show barn? 3-23-15 106 1 MR. STEIN: We'd like to rent all three. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: All three? 3 MR. STEIN: Yes, sir. 4 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Are you wanting the dog shows 5 in the new building? Or are you talking vendors? 6 MR. STEIN: We would like to, but if you don't 7 approve having animals in there, we would put vendors there. 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So, you're flexible either way. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, good. 11 MR. STEIN: We prefer to allow dogs in that room 12 also, but especially for, like, the toy breeds. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Super. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: So, is this a recessed item 16 till tomorrow? 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: No, 'cause they're willing to 18 use either one, so -- 19 MR. STEIN: And one other point. You know, I said 20 we would make our money back within five to six years, and 21 that's just on our five days -- or actually four days of R.V. 22 use. Y'all would get your money back a lot faster, because 23 I'm sure there's other people that would use it besides the 24 four days for our dog show. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Well, it sounds good. I want 3-23-15 107 1 to ask the County Attorney, is there any legal aspects that 2 we might be stepping into by partnering with this group to 3 pay for R.V. hookups? 4 MS. STEBBINS: Nothing I can think of off the top 5 of my head. I'll have to look to see. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I understand, subject to. 7 Subject to. 8 MS. STEBBINS: But I can't think of anything. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And the funds from our 10 standpoint would come from this -- two options. There's some 11 left in the capital account for that building, and then 12 there's parks. It could come out of either one of those. It 13 kind of fits in either one of those. There's money available 14 in both of them. We can decide that at a future date. The 15 Auditor's looking at me. There is funds in both of those? 16 MS. HARGIS: No, the funds are there. But you have 17 to remember, we have an electric bill that's attached to that 18 $25. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 20 MS. HARGIS: So our electric bill cost is going to 21 go up, so it's not a total -- 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right, but it will sustain -- 23 if you need to raise the rates on the electric, then we can 24 work with that, too. This is -- this is something that -- 25 you know, this additional R.V. hookups is something that I've 3-23-15 108 1 heard about for quite a while from a number of groups out 2 there that think we need to do this. This is a great 3 opportunity to do that, and appreciate your offer to pay for 4 half. Gets it done quicker. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I think the motion, 6 though -- and I agree; thank you for that. But the motion 7 should have a specific year, not five or six. Let's do five 8 or six. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Would you like -- which would 10 you prefer, five or six? 11 MR. STEIN: We'd prefer 10. But -- (Laughter.) 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Sounds like it's closer to 13 three. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay, we're down to three. 15 MR. STEIN: 'Cause like Bob said, we really like 16 that facility. It's really, really nice. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It is nice, isn't it? 18 MR. STEIN: It is. It's excellent. Excellent. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Any problem with six? 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I have no problem. 21 MR. STEIN: Six would be great. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I make a motion we authorize a 23 six-year contract, or reserving the Hill Country Youth Event 24 Center for the San Antonio Kennel Club. And let's do that, 25 just a separate one. That's one motion. 3-23-15 109 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'll second that. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 3 second to extend the number of years for rental. Any further 4 discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 5 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And now I guess we need to 7 talk about the R.V. hookups. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes, and I'll make a motion 9 that we accept their offer to pay up to $11,000 -- 10 MR. STEIN: Well, 50 percent. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Half. 12 MR. STEIN: We're not going to put a dollar amount. 13 We'll pay half. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Half of the upgrade of the 10 15 current R.V. hookups, and add 10 additional R.V. hookups at 16 Hill Country Youth Event Center. The other funds for the 17 County's half will come out of our capital account. We'll 18 designate which funds at a future date. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's a good motion. 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'll second that. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And we have a second. Any 22 further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. 23 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you very 25 much. 3-23-15 110 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'd just like to say thank 2 you for, one, choosing Kerr County, and two, being willing to 3 step up and help with improvements out there before you even 4 have your first event. 5 MR. STEIN: Well, we think it will only help us, 6 so -- you know, so we are very excited about coming to... 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Looking forward to it, sir. 8 Thank you. 9 MR. STEIN: Thank you. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thank you. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.25. Milton? 12 Consider, discuss, take appropriate action on request from 13 Peterson Regional Medical Center Foundation to be approved as 14 a nonprofit organization in order to receive a reduced rate 15 for the use of the Hill Country Youth Event Center. Summer 16 Perkins and Milton Dare. I'm assuming that you're Summer 17 Perkins? 18 MS. PERKINS: Yes, sir. 19 MR. DARE: And I'm Milton Dare, and we're at 20 Peterson Regional Medical Center at 551 Hill Country Drive. 21 And Summer is our Annual Giving and Donor Relations 22 Coordinator, and also with us today is Jim Wilson, who is 23 treasurer of the Peterson Regional Medical Center Foundation. 24 I have here for the Court -- 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Just give them all to me; 3-23-15 111 1 I'll hand them around. Thank you very much. 2 MR. DARE: What I've handed y'all today is -- is 3 evidence of our status as a nonprofit organization, in 4 support of Peterson Regional Medical Center, along with a 5 copy of the program from our 2013 event. These events, under 6 the umbrella of Legacy Gala, have been held now for some 12 7 years, and we're excited for the opportunity to potentially 8 bring this event to the new county facility. One of the 9 goals that we have, obviously, is to grow the base of support 10 we have for Peterson Regional Medical Center. We supply more 11 than $2 million a month in uncompensated care to this -- to 12 this community, this regional community. And we have watched 13 with excitement as this new facility has grown, and as the 14 opportunities are there for us to expand our event. We are 15 limited right now to about 600 people in the -- in the 16 community. And this facility would allow us to grow that to 17 -- to 1,000, 1,100, 1,200 people for the facility. Our 18 official name is Peterson Regional Medical Center Foundation. 19 The letter identifies our transition from Peterson Regional 20 Health Care Center Foundation to in 2008, when the hospital 21 d/b/a was authorized to Peterson Regional Medical Center 22 Foundation. We look forward to working with your county 23 staff and with the Commissioners to have a successful event 24 out at your facility, and be happy to answer any questions. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: This is going to be in October? 3-23-15 112 1 MR. DARE: November. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: November. 3 MR. DARE: We're looking at a November date, 4 November 14th. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're excited you're coming on 6 over. Think it's going to be a great -- this is going to be 7 a great event to showcase the facility. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: And it will also help the 9 medical center. And I want to say when we had the ribbon 10 cutting, Milton was already trying to figure out where to put 11 everything on that. (Laughter.) 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, I saw him out there. 13 MR. DARE: I appreciate Commissioner Reeves, and 14 Jody has been a great help, and they've met us out there a 15 couple of times and showed us around. And it's -- y'all 16 really did a wonderful job, and in designing -- conceiving 17 and designing and building the facility. I think it's going 18 to support this region for a long time to come. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Thank you. Move approval of 20 the agenda item. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a motion and a 23 second. Summer, do you want to make any comment? 24 MS. PERKINS: We're excited to use your facility, 25 so thank you for having us out there. 3-23-15 113 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'm excited about the 2 partnership between Commissioners Court and Peterson 3 Hospital. That's the way it should be. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Right. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Any further discussion? All 6 in favor, raise your right hand. 7 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a 4-0 vote. Thank you 9 very much. 10 MR. DARE: Thank you so much, Commissioner. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. We're going to 12 get through this, gentlemen. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Promise? 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yep. May have to waive the 15 rest of it. Item 1.26 -- okay, we're losing the clerk. 16 MS. BOLIN: No, you're not. I'm just moving. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Item 1.26; consider, 18 discuss, take appropriate action to remove an office in the 19 County Clerk's office. Becky Bolin, John Trolinger, and Tim 20 Bollier. 21 MS. BOLIN: We had a -- 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That's French. 23 MS. BOLIN: We had a court order done several years 24 ago to put up the old chief deputy office, and now it is not 25 being used, so I am requesting permission to have Tim -- 3-23-15 114 1 Tim's crew remove that office. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I move approval. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion. Is there 4 a second? 5 COMMISSIONER REEVES: What is the reason behind 6 removing it? 7 MR. BOLLIER: Space. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Space, okay. 9 MS. BOLIN: Space is a big one. Also, I want 10 people to know when they come in that my office is open-door, 11 you can get to me. And that blocks my door. 12 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There's a second. Any 14 further discussion? 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Question. What's the cost 16 going to be? 17 MR. BOLLIER: There shouldn't be a whole lot of 18 cost to it. The only thing that's there that I may have to 19 get an electrician for is some electrical outlets. Other 20 than that, there shouldn't be any. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So it can be done in-house? 22 MR. BOLLIER: Yes, sir, I'm going to try taking 23 that down, because at a later date I believe John Trolinger 24 is going to come in here, because he would like to add a 25 little room back into the clerk -- the tax office area there. 3-23-15 115 1 He's already spoken to Diane about it. So, we're going to 2 try to save that material and use it for that. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion and second. All in 5 favor, raise your right hand. 6 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you very 8 much. Item 1.27; consider, discuss, take appropriate action 9 to approve the contract between the Texas Health and Human 10 Services Enterprise and Kerr County for the vital statistics 11 records, and allow County Judge to sign same. Becky? 12 MS. BOLIN: This is a yearly contract that allows 13 us to partner with the Texas Health and Human Services to 14 print birth certificates for people not born in Kerr County. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 18 second. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your 19 right hand. 20 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4-0 vote. Thank you. 1.28; 22 consider, discuss, take appropriate action to fill one 23 vacant-slash-budgeted position in the County Clerk's office. 24 Becky? 25 MS. BOLIN: And this one, I'd like to hold off 3-23-15 116 1 until after executive session, if I may. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 1.29; consider, discuss, and 3 take appropriate action regarding G.B.R.A. -- is this an 4 executive session? 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We're going to take 1.29 and 7 1.30, I think, -- 8 MS. STEBBINS: Mm-hmm. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: -- into executive session. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Finish this stuff. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. We'll go to -- just 12 hold on just a second. We'll go to the approval agenda. 13 Item 4.1, pay bills. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move we pay the bills. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a motion and second. 17 All in favor, raise your right hand. 18 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Bills have been paid. You 20 have to raise your right hand. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Oh, I'm sorry. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4.2, budget amendments. 23 County Auditor? 24 MS. HARGIS: Yes, sir, we do have -- we have three. 25 Moving things around a little bit for the radio repairs that 3-23-15 117 1 we have. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You mean for the Sheriff? 3 MS. HARGIS: Yes. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh, god. I'm glad he left. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion and a second. All in 8 favor, raise your right hand. 9 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion carries, thank you. 11 4.3, late bills. County Auditor? 12 MS. HARGIS: We do have some late bills. The folks 13 had a little bit of trouble getting things in. And the 14 Animal Control was very busy, and so they didn't get their 15 bills in. We'd like to get everything paid that we can so we 16 don't pay late charges. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move approval. 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Second. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I have a motion and second. 20 All in favor, raise your right hand. 21 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion carried. 23 MS. HARGIS: Thank you. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 4.4, approve and accept 25 monthly reports. Number 4? 3-23-15 118 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Two for this meeting. J.P., 2 Precinct Number 1, February 2015; J.P., Precinct Number 2, 3 February '15. Move to approve. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion and second. All in 6 favor, raise your right hand. 7 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Motion carries. Information 9 agenda. Reports from the Commissioners, liaison/committee 10 assignments? Anything? 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I have something. Just for 12 the record, this pertains to liaison with the airport and the 13 Airport Board. And another thing that we have an interlocal 14 agreement with is an Airport Planning Committee, okay? Which 15 was really set up to facilitate and make sure that there's 16 good communication between the City and the County. It was 17 brought to our attention that there were some things that 18 took place outside of the -- or not using the forum of the 19 Airport Planning Committee on some capital improvements out 20 at the airport. One of them was the Mooney roof, and I think 21 that that's been resolved. The Mooney roof issue, there's an 22 agreement which has been drafted, and we haven't seen the 23 final version yet, but it basically says that the -- it's a 24 million and a half dollar contract to fix the roof. It'll be 25 a contract with Mooney International and the contractor to 3-23-15 119 1 execute that contract, half a million coming from the County, 2 half a million from the City, and about half a million from 3 Mooney. 4 There was some controversy over the agreement, 5 wanting Mooney to make sure that they satisfied their 6 requirements and had the funds necessary to do this. There 7 was a conversation between the City and Mooney on that. 8 Also, there was a -- it was to be stipulated that anything 9 that goes above the contract, Mooney would be responsible for 10 it. There was some long discussions at the Airport Planning 11 Committee the other day and at the Airport Board where that 12 would not be the case. And that was a final agreement, that 13 anything that goes above a million and a half, they have to 14 come back to all three parties and figure out how to resolve 15 that. So, the purpose of this Airport Planning Committee is 16 to be that forum. It's not to be, you know, unilateral 17 between the City and airport, so forth. So, that's been 18 resolved. 19 The other thing was, the City proposed -- or 20 identified some projects for the -- to Senator Cornyn's 21 staff, major capital improvements out at the airport; runway 22 extension of 1,400 feet, from 6,000 to 7,400 feet. The other 23 thing was a customs facility, and the other thing was a 24 control tower. All three of those things have been looked at 25 by the Airport Board and have been rejected as not being 3-23-15 120 1 really viable. So, I just want to say that, you know, it 2 took a lot of working on the outside to get these things 3 quieted down, but there was a lot of things. So, I just want 4 to go on the record as saying airport planning committees are 5 for that purpose, and that's where they ought to be handled. 6 So, I think all the issues are resolved, hopefully, so that's 7 all I have on the -- on the airport. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you, sir. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll just add one thing on the 10 airport as well. As part of this effort, Commissioner Moser 11 and I met with some representatives from Mooney and the City 12 out at Mooney the other day, and did another walk-through in 13 part of the facility, and it's absolutely amazing; the 14 investment that the new Mooney, Mooney International, has put 15 into that facility in equipment alone is over four and a half 16 million dollars, and they are continuing to -- and that's -- 17 they've done that. Then they spent, I know, 100,000 on 18 concrete repairs. They've added another 100,000 on new 19 lights in addition to that, and they've done all that, so 20 they really are making a commitment to Kerrville. And I know 21 I, for one, had some hesitation early on because of the long 22 history of Mooney kind of ebbing and flowing, but they seem 23 to really -- this group that's running it right now is very 24 committed to Mooney and to Kerrville, which is very good to 25 see. 3-23-15 121 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I want to add one thing to 2 that, too. I look at that -- it's not an official 3 partnership, but the way it operates is a partnership between 4 four parties; City, County, Airport Board, and Mooney. And 5 Mooney has just really, you know, contributed to -- to being 6 a partner here. And the other thing that they told us the 7 other day is, what, probably a year ago they had six 8 employees. They're up to 135. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 135? 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, 135. They're doubling 11 their production rate this next week, okay, from one aircraft 12 a month to two aircraft a month. And the other thing I think 13 is -- this partnership thing is so important is they are -- 14 they are going to produce a new aircraft. They've already 15 built the engineering model of it. They'll have a flying 16 version of it in July. They're looking for a facility of 17 150,000 square feet to produce this aircraft. We're 18 competing. We'll be competing with other cities around the 19 state and around the nation for this, so I think it's very 20 good for us to make sure that we recognize Mooney 21 International as a partner in this endeavor. 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Any other liaison issues? 23 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I just want to say on a Road 24 and Bridge issue -- and we've all heard Commissioner Baldwin 25 talk about he'll go to a conference and they'll talk about 3-23-15 122 1 they graded 2 miles of road this year. And we've got such a 2 good department that all of our roads are paved. I went out 3 with Charlie Hastings the other day on one county road that 4 -- it's a Kerr County road, but it's hard to get there from 5 here, because you have to go through Kimble County to get to 6 it. And so we went down Kimble County's county road, which 7 I've got pasture roads in better shape than that, and we 8 pulled up where you could tell where the county line was, 9 'cause then you came to pavement, and Kimble County had a 10 sign erected that says, "County maintenance ends," and then 11 you cross over into the good county paved roads. But the 12 whole point of this is that we've got some excellent roads in 13 this county, and the Road and Bridge Department is doing a 14 great job. And I think we all know that, but I just wanted 15 that on the record. 16 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Appreciate you saying that. 17 That's always good to say nice things about our departments. 18 Anything else? Okay, we'll go to reports from elected 19 officials and department heads. Auditor? 20 MS. HARGIS: I just want to clarify on that 21 contract with Gabriel, what they do is -- is the contract is 22 through the 15th. It's from the 15th through the 17th, but 23 they will actually be doing the audit on the year '14 and 24 '15. And so the year has to -- it's a calendar year, so they 25 don't get it prepared until the following year, and that's 3-23-15 123 1 the reason why they talked about that. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Makes sense. Ms. Attorney? 3 MS. STEBBINS: No. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You don't have anything? 5 MS. STEBBINS: No, sir. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The honorable Sheriff of 7 Kerr County? 8 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Just quickly, I think y'all 9 know we're still doing informational sessions and all the 10 meetings. We have some coming up on the jail bond issue. 11 And the last thing is, remember last Commissioners Court I 12 told you about the donated funds and equipment funds and 13 that? Just for F.Y.I., we had those 12 T-shirts we were 14 accepting donations for that people could come get a T-shirt 15 and donate. So, you know, in that fund, there's been an 16 additional $184 deposited in that equipment fund that we do 17 just normally, but we're just going to quit dealing with the 18 T-shirts any more, okay? 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No more T-shirts? 20 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: No more T-shirts. That was a 21 donation. They say that's for y'all, not us, so after that 22 A.G.'s ruling, no more T-shirts. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Of course, that's just his 24 opinion. 25 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Right, but until we can get a 3-23-15 124 1 different one, I got to go by that one. (Laughter.) 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The one we like. 3 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yeah. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: The smart one. Any boards, 5 commissions, committees, City/County projects, et cetera? 6 Operation reports, whatever? Nothing. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just one thing. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I believe the Auditor said 10 she's here three more weeks. I think that puts -- this is 11 going to be her last meeting with us. 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: This is it right here? 13 MS. HARGIS: Mm-hmm. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So I just want to say thank 15 you. You've done a great job. 16 MS. HARGIS: Thank you. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You really have. You've 18 been difficult to get along with, but -- (Laughter.) But I 19 think that's part of being good at what you do. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I do not endorse what he just 21 said. 22 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I would kind of wonder who was 23 more difficult, y'all or her. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Stay out of this. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: She has a difficult job to 3-23-15 125 1 do, and she does it very well. Even if she and I do butt 2 heads, it's because we butt heads, but I have never felt that 3 she didn't do her job very well. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Absolutely. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'll say, Jeannie, you've done 6 a superb job. It's been a pleasure working with you, and I 7 don't know how we're going to find a replacement equal to 8 you, so thank you. 9 MS. HARGIS: Thank you. I appreciate that, thank 10 you. 11 (Applause.) 12 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You know, we can be bought. 13 (Laughter.) As a matter of fact, it's lunchtime. Thank you. 14 So, we're recessing this meeting until -- 10:30 tomorrow or 15 something? 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I can't remember that -- 18 MS. STEBBINS: We've got one item we've got to come 19 back to. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, I'm going to get to 21 that. But the open meeting, we're going to recess till 22 10:30. And now we're going to close the open meeting and go 23 into executive session. 24 (The open session was closed at 11:44 a.m., and an executive session was held, the transcript of which 25 is contained in a separate document.) - - - - - - - - - - 3-23-15 126 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Commissioners Court's back 2 in session. It is now 12:14. Is there any action to be 3 taken from the executive session? 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. But just to be clear on 5 something, I believe you earlier recessed us, so can you 6 unrecess us? 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That is correct. I was 8 wrong. And I probably will spend less time in the bar 9 tonight. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. That being said, under 11 Item 1.28, I'll make a motion that we authorize the County 12 Clerk to fill up to three positions that are currently vacant 13 in that office. That's it. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We have a motion and a 16 second to authorize the County Clerk to fill up to three 17 positions in that office. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And those are budgeted -- 19 currently budgeted positions. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And they are currently 21 budgeted positions. Any further discussion? Anything from 22 you, Becky, while we're -- before we vote? 23 MS. BOLIN: No, sir. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You want to deny this? 25 MS. BOLIN: No. 3-23-15 127 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Raise your right hand. 2 (The motion carried by unanimous vote, 4-0.) 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It's a unanimous vote. 4 MS. BOLIN: Thank you. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Thank you. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Okay, I misspoke earlier. 7 We're not -- we're going to -- now we will go -- let's see. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: To recess. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're done, I think. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, but you know what I 11 was thinking about? We're going to recess until 10:30 12 tomorrow, but we're bringing back items what and what? Two 13 of them, I think. Item 14 -- 1.14, and then what was the 14 other one? 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: About the dogs. 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 1.18. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: 1.8? 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 18. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Oh, 18. 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 1.14 and 1.18. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah. Yeah, 1.14 and 1.18 22 will come back; they're to be brought back tomorrow at 10:30. 23 Good? 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Motion we adjourn. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: No, we're not adjourning. 3-23-15 128 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Not adjourning. We're going 2 to recess. 3 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Recess. Recess, pardon. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I declare us recessed. 5 (Commissioners Court recessed at 12:15 p.m.) 6 - - - - - - - - - - 7 8 9 STATE OF TEXAS | 10 COUNTY OF KERR | 11 The above and foregoing is a true and complete 12 transcription of my stenotype notes taken in my capacity as 13 official reporter for the Commissioners Court of Kerr County, 14 Texas, at the time and place heretofore set forth. 15 DATED at Kerrville, Texas, this 26th day of March, 2015. 16 17 REBECCA BOLIN, Kerr County Clerk 18 BY: _________________________________ Kathy Banik, Deputy County Clerk 19 Certified Shorthand Reporter 20 21 22 23 24 25 3-23-15