1 1 2 3 4 5 6 KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT 7 Special Session 8 Monday, January 25, 2016 9 9:00 a.m. 10 Commissioners' Courtroom 11 Kerr County Courthouse 12 Kerrville, Texas 78028 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 PRESENT: TOM POLLARD, Kerr County Judge H. A. "BUSTER" BALDWIN, Commissioner Pct. 1 24 TOM MOSER, Commissioner Pct. 2 JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Pct. 3 25 BOB REEVES, Commissioner Pct. 4 2 1 I-N-D-E-X 2 NO. PAGE 3 Commissioners' Comments 6 4 1.1 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 8 action to recognize and present plaque to 5 Sylvia Foraker, Kerr County Jail Administrator for a perfect jail inspection. 6 (Sheriff Hierholzer) 7 1.2 Public Hearing regarding installing a stop 14 sign at the intersection of Church Street 8 and Dutch Ln, Pct. 4. (Leonard Odom/Charlie Hastings) 9 1.3 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 14 10 action for the Court's Final Approval regarding installing a Stop Sign at the 11 intersection of Church Street and Dutch Ln, Pct. 4. (Leonard Odom/Charlie Hastings) 12 1.4 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 15 13 action to authorize the Road and Bridge Department to remove existing unused cattle 14 guards on Weatherby near IH-10 and Fall Branch Road near its end, Pct. 4. (Charlie 15 Hastings) 16 1.5 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 18 action to accept a drainage easement from 17 Otheil J. Erlund, Jr. And Rachel Erlund for the construction and maintenance of 18 erosion control adjacent to Hermann Sons Road, Pct. 3. (Charlie Hastings) 19 1.9 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 21 20 action on renewing contract with Air Methods (formerly known as AirLife) and Air Evac by 21 offering payroll deduction to employees through the County Payroll system. 22 (Dawn Lantz) 23 24 25 3 1 I-N-D-E-X (Continued) 2 NO. PAGE 3 1.10 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 22 action to authorize the Environmental 4 Health/Animal Services Director to reduce the annual registration fee to $1 during 5 the Annual Rabies Vaccination Clinics being held February 6 - February 20, 2016; Current 6 fees are $5 (neutered/spayed) and $10 (non-neutered/spayed). (Ray Garcia) 7 1.7 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 27 8 action on a Resolution in support of the Kerr County Juvenile Probations Department's 9 application to the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) for the Youth Averted 10 from Delinquency (YAD) Program and authorize the County Judge to sign same. (Jason P. 11 Davis) 12 1.8 Annual report from Kerr County Historical 30 Commission. (Julie Leonard) 13 1.11 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 47 14 action to approve Resolution expressing official intent to reimburse with tax-exempt 15 obligation proceeds costs to acquire rights-of-way relating to the Center 16 Point/East Kerr County Wastewater Project. (Comm. Letz, Pct. 3/Comm. Moser, Pct.2) 17 1.12 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 51 18 action to enter into a contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. For 19 Right of Way Services, and authorize the County Judge to sign various Disadvantaged 20 Business Enterprise Program documents for the East Kerr County/Center Point Wastewater 21 Right of Way Services Project, Pcts. 2, 3. (Charlie Hastings) 22 1.13 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 54 23 action to declare as surplus all radio equipment that was removed from towers, 24 and to approve disposal of the equipment. (Sheriff Hierholzer) 25 4 1 I-N-D-E-X (Continued) 2 NO. PAGE 3 1.14 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 55 action to approve the Partial Exemption 4 Racial Profiling Report that has to be submitted to the Texas Commission on Law 5 Enforcement (TCOLE)annually. (Sheriff Hierholzer) 6 1.15 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 56 7 action to approve application for the Emergency Management Performance Grant 8 (EMPG) to assist state and local governments with all hazards emergency 9 preparedness. (Sheriff Hierholzer) 10 1.16 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 58 action to authorize acceptance of deed 11 for 0.45 acres, more particularly described as Tract B in the deed dated February 17, 12 1955 and recorded in Volume 97, Page 560 of the Deed of Records of Kerr County, 13 Texas. (Comm. Moser, Pct. 2) 14 1.17 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 62 action to replace fire alarm system at the 15 courthouse. (Tim Bollier) 16 1.18 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 62 action to approve the Partial Exemption 17 Racial Profiling Report for Kerr County Constable, Pct. 4. (Comm. Reeves, Pct. 4) 18 1.19 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 63 19 action to approve contract with Castle Lake Volunteer Fire Department and allow 20 the County Judge to sign same. (Judge Pollard) 21 1.20 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 64 22 action to authorize Kerr County to apply for Alamo Area Council of Governments 23 (AACOG) grant regarding hazardous waste disposal. (Comm. Reeves, Pct. 4) 24 25 5 1 I-N-D-E-X (Continued) 2 NO. PAGE 3 1.21 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 68 action to authorize repairs and capital 4 improvements at county youth baseball and softball field. (Comm. Letz, Pct. 3) 5 1.22 Discuss the recent, and another disruption, 74 6 of telephone service to Kerr County. (Comm. Moser, Pct. 2) 7 8 4.1 Pay Bills. 84 9 4.2 Budget Amendments. (County Auditor) 85 10 4.3 Late Bills. (County Auditor) 85 11 4.4 Approve and accept Monthly Reports. 86 12 5.1 Reports from Commissioners/Liaison 86 Committee Assignments as per attachment. 13 5.2 Reports from Elected Officials/Department 87 14 Heads. 15 5.3 Reports from Boards, Commissions and 87 Committees. 16 a). City/County Joint Projects or Operations Reports. 17 b). Other 18 *** Executive Session 19 1.6 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 95 action to approve the submission of a 20 General Victim Assistance grant application to the Office of the Governor for fiscal 21 year 2016-2017 to fund the Kerr County Victim's Rights Coordinator Program. (Rosa 22 Lavender) 23 Adjourned 96 24 Reporter's Certificate 97 25 6 1 THE COURT: Okay. It's Monday, January 2 25th, 2016, in the Kerr County Commissioners' Court is 3 in session. Commissioner Reeves will lead us today with 4 the prayer and the pledge of allegiance. 5 (Prayer and pledge of allegiance.) 6 THE COURT: All right. This part is for 7 members of -- citizens that want to come forward and 8 speak on something that is not on the agenda. If you 9 want to do that, then please step up to the podium and 10 identify yourself by name and address, and limit 11 yourself to three minutes please, your talk. Is there 12 anyone? All right. 13 Those wishing to speak on items on the 14 agenda, please fill out a form, it's usually back there 15 on that table, and ship it forward if you want to speak 16 on something on the agenda. 17 All right. We'll move to the next thing, is 18 Commissioners and the County Judge's comments, if any. 19 We'll start with Number 1. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, thank you, but 21 I have nothing at this time. During the meeting, I have 22 several things to talk about. 23 THE COURT: Okay. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Just wanted to remind 25 everybody that the town hall meeting this Wednesday, six 7 1 p.m. to discuss the proposed and planned quarry on 2 Highway 27 just west of the airport, so I think they'll 3 be a lot of people there, they'll be a lot of 4 information provided by everybody, from Martin Marietta 5 to TXDOT, to TCEQ, to you name it, we're going to have 6 them there discussing the plans and limitations, and the 7 Judge will be there, also. So just wanted to remind 8 everybody of that. Thank you. 9 THE COURT: Thank you. I have nothing. 10 Mr. Letz. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: The great stock show, 12 but I'll defer to Number 4 about the stock show stuff. 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Before I get to the 14 stock show, you know very often our employees are asked 15 to speak at various functions, and I received an e-mail 16 from Mr. Garcia that our own Ashley Batters will be 17 speaking on the third of February at UTSA for the 18 Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists. 19 She's an alumni of UTSA and they've asked her to come 20 back as one of their speakers in that, so I compliment 21 the staff on getting that kind of recognition. We've 22 got a first-class Environmental Services Department 23 here, and this just shows it. So please convey our 24 thoughts to her. Please. 25 AUDIENCE VOICE: Yes, Sir, I will. 8 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Had a great livestock 2 show. Couldn't have done it without everyone that's 3 involved, including the County. I think the Sheriff was 4 able to test out some of our emergency management 5 functions with the command trailer out there as a drill. 6 When we shut the computer off Saturday night, we were at 7 a million 83 thousand, which is down little bit from 8 last year but we still had a pretty good stack of money 9 that's being added to the kids' auction prices, and a 10 we'll get busy putting that in, so we'll probably get 11 very close to what last year was. 12 One thing I did see, we don't have enough 13 parking. We had to open up River Star and even with the 14 road temporarily closed there's still traffic going 15 around barricades, and I think definitely in the future, 16 we will need to look into probably closing that section 17 of the road. So a great turn out and great compliments 18 on the facility. I think everybody on the Court made it 19 out there at one time or another. And good livestock 20 and good kids. Thank you, Judge. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: Uh-huh. All right. Let's 22 go to item 1.1 on the agenda. Consider, discuss and 23 take appropriate action to recognize and present plaque 24 to Sylvia Foraker, Kerr County Jail Administrator for a 25 perfect jail inspection. Sheriff Hierholzer. 9 1 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I'd like to mention a 2 few things first, if you don't mind. We did receive a 3 letter today from the Texas Commission on Jail 4 Standards, which reads the Texas Commission on Jail 5 Standards wishes to acknowledge the excellent work of 6 Kerr County Sheriff's office with the certificate of 7 compliance with the Kerr County Jail. Most recent 8 inspection of your facility on January 14th by the 9 Commission on Jail Standards and inspection Jacklyn 10 Stemmler(phonetic), has demonstrated that your facility 11 is in compliance with minimum standards. Certificate of 12 compliance demonstrates your outstanding leadership and 13 the diligent work of your staff in complying with 14 minimum standards. And it goes on down. 15 Normally, we get inspected every year, and 16 the Court knows that, and our jail has always passed 17 inspection, but this year was a little bit special, too 18 because we are one of the few if not the only jail in 19 the state that did not have a single technical 20 assistance or a correction of anything they could find. 21 They spent the whole day out there inspecting it and 22 going through as the Judge knows, he was out there. 23 And it's just very seldom and very rare that 24 a jail in this state, especially in today's time, passes 25 it without any kind of issues at all. And you know, I 10 1 got to thinking about that, and I think it is major for 2 our County, and it's something major for our jail. And 3 as you can see, and I'll ask them real quick to stand up 4 there, those that already aren't. These are members of 5 the jail staff of the Kerr County jail, and I think that 6 they are in a lot of ways being unsung heroes. I mean 7 they are kind of behind the scenes, don't get mentioned 8 much, don't get talked about much. 9 But to give you an example, we've got over 10 30 inmates in that jail right now that are classified as 11 suicidal. People who are on watch those people, they 12 watch constantly if not every 15 minute checks, 13 twenty-four seven. And we do not have a suicide in our 14 jail, I think since my existence in this County, or 15 since that jail was built over 20 years ago, there's 16 only been two completed suicides, among probably 17 hundreds of attempts, but because of the quick reaction 18 and due diligence of the jail staff, we just don't have 19 suicides. 20 And the other thing is, just like this 21 weekend, you know, we had inmates trying to assault two 22 of our jailers. That is not unusual. And the problem 23 with a lot of that, a lot of these inmates are mental 24 health issues waiting to go to Vernon or something like 25 that, they've already been found incompetent, so when 11 1 they assault a jail staff or something like that, 2 there's not even really anything the criminal justice 3 system can do with them. 4 So I would like for all the jailers that are 5 present and jail staff present to please stand up first 6 so we can acknowledge y'all for your hard work, and this 7 isn't all of them but quite a few of them wanted to be 8 here to show Sylvia some support. But these people need 9 a lot of support from this Court, too. 10 (Audience clapping.) 11 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: And I do have 12 certificates for each of these people that we will give 13 out later, I don't want to bog down the time here. But, 14 there is one other Department that I really need to 15 recommend and normally I give them a lot of grief over 16 issues, but you know like our architect told us, our 17 jail even though physically or by building time it's a 18 little over 20 years old; that jail is really over 60 19 years old. Because if you look at most buildings, they 20 operate 8 hours a day and shut down. That jail operates 21 twenty-four seven, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 22 So all the issues of the pipes, everything about it, is 23 more like a 60-year old building than it is a 20-year 24 old building. 25 And this year, because I know I was on them, 12 1 I think Shane's here, Tim's here, his supervisor, but I 2 would like to give some accolades to our maintenance 3 division, and Shane being assigned out there, because it 4 is everyday that I probably sign five to six different 5 maintenance deals that need to be looked at and worked 6 on or corrected, and Shane has been able to keep up with 7 that and get all that done this year. And I truly 8 appreciate the work of the maintenance division and Tim, 9 and so I thank him. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Sheriff, that's also 11 reflected in your inspection, right? 12 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yes. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So that's another 14 endorsement -- 15 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yes, because they make 16 a point of it this year, which they don't normally make. 17 The inspector made note that it was the sanitary 18 inspection showed everything was very well maintained, 19 of something they don't normally see. 20 But the one person that hears the most grief 21 from me about the jail is who we're kind of here today, 22 that I would -- one of the few times I do this, would 23 like to acknowledge Sylvia Foraker, jail administrator, 24 she's been with the Department over ten years, and has 25 done a fabulous job as jail administrator in keeping the 13 1 books and the paperwork and everything up to date, and I 2 think she even talked her husband into showing up. But 3 I would love to present Sylvia with a token of my 4 appreciation, and I think the whole county's 5 appreciation, and it says presented to Sylvia Foraker, 6 Kerr County Jail Administrator, with great appreciation 7 and recognition for your contribution to the success of 8 a perfect jail inspection on January 14th of 2016. And 9 I thank you. 10 (Audience clapping.) 11 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Judge, you want to come 12 down here or something. 13 JUDGE POLLARD: Be glad to. 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Y'all give Rusty 15 something to stand on. 16 (Photographs taken, off the record.) 17 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: And again, thank y'all, 18 all the jail staff for all the work and dedication 19 you've done. All right. Now, you can go back to work. 20 JUDGE POLLARD: Rusty, last year that jail 21 administrator said that you argued with her an awful lot 22 about stuff. She didn't say a word this year about 23 that. 24 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: No, she didn't; she's 25 learning. 14 1 JUDGE POLLARD: You must have been sick that 2 day or something. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: She always finds 4 pieces of paper out of place or something. 5 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yeah. She didn't find 6 anything. 7 THE COURT: Okay. Item Number 1.2 on the 8 agenda is a public hearing regarding installation of a 9 stop sign at the intersection of Church Street and Dutch 10 Lane in Precinct 4. Is there anyone wishing to speak in 11 that public hearing? All right. There being none, the 12 public hearing is closed. 13 We'll go to item 1.3, consider, discuss and 14 take appropriate action for the Court's final approval 15 regarding installing a stop sign at the intersection of 16 Church and Dutch -- Church Street and Dutch Lane in 17 Precinct 4. Mr. Hastings. 18 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. In December we 19 discussed having a public hearing. That public hearing 20 is now complete for the installation of the stop sign. 21 At this time, we're asking this Court for their final 22 approval regarding the installation of a stop sign at 23 the intersection of Church Street and Dutch Lane in 24 Hunt, Precinct 4. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I visited with some of 15 1 the neighbors there, and what's arising from this and 2 the need for putting it in is the way the school traffic 3 moves in, and with the one cross street there, and I 4 know Number 1 knows where we're talking about. They 5 come off North Fork, come down there, and they're not 6 stopping. So I move for an approval of placing the stop 7 sign that's indicated. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 10 that the Court approve the installation of a stop sign 11 at the intersection of Church Street and Dutch Lane in 12 Precinct 4. Is there any further discussion? There 13 being none, those in favor of the motion signify by 14 raising your right hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 15 All right. Thank you, Mr. Hastings. 16 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. 17 JUDGE POLLARD: We'll move on to item 1.4, 18 consider, discuss and take appropriate action to 19 authorize the Road and Bridge Department to remove 20 existing unused cattle guards on Weatherby -- I guess 21 that's Weatherby Lane or Street or something. 22 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Road. 23 JUDGE POLLARD: Near IH-10 and Fall Branch 24 Road near its end, Precinct 4. Mr. Hastings. 25 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. We believe the 16 1 existing cattle guard on Weatherby at I-10 is no longer 2 in use, and needs to be removed. There is another 3 existing cattle guard on Weatherby that is near Lower 4 Reservation that appears to be in use. And on Fall 5 Branch we authorize the Court -- the Court authorized 6 the closing of Fall Branch, there's a cattle guard that 7 needs to be removed now, because of that. A new one has 8 been installed where the road ends by the property 9 owner, a private one, so the existing one on Fall Branch 10 is now able -- we need to remove it as well. 11 If authorized by the Court, Road and Bridge 12 will notify property owners that are adjacent to the 13 cattle guard by certified mail of the proposed cattle 14 guard removal, and they will have 74 days after 15 notification has been mailed to request in writing for a 16 public hearing. After 90 days from the original 17 notification if no public hearings have been requested, 18 Road and Bridge by state law may remove the cattle 19 guards. 20 We respectfully request the Court to 21 authorize Road and Bridge to begin the process of, by 22 notification, removing existing unused cattle guards on 23 Weatherby Road near I-10, Fall Branch Road near its end, 24 and they're in Precinct 4. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I've looked at both of 17 1 these and I concur that they're not in use any longer, 2 and move for approval of the agenda item. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 4 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 5 that the Commissioners' Court authorize Road and Bridge 6 to remove the existing unused cattle guard on Weatherby 7 near IH-10 and Fall Branch Road, near its end. And I 8 guess that's really to initiate the procedure that 9 Mr. Hastings -- 10 MR. HASTINGS: Yes, it is. 11 THE COURT: -- just talked about. That's 12 the motion I would -- I would assume. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: In accordance with law. 15 MR. HASTINGS: With the -- excuse me Sir, 16 with the clarification. That if we don't receive any 17 public hearing request that at the end of 90 days, we 18 would be able to go forward. 19 JUDGE POLLARD: Yes. 20 MR. HASTINGS: Okay. Thank you. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, any further 22 discussion? 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, part of 24 history here, I remember when I was a commissioner down 25 in Precinct 4 many years ago, and we've all heard this 18 1 joke, but I've heard it for real with my ears. 2 During the budget process, there was a fella that sat 3 down kind of on this end of the table, Yankee-type 4 feller, and he says we were buying cattle guards and he 5 wanted to know why we had cattle guards and whose cattle 6 were we -- were we guarding. That actually happened, I 7 mean that was for real. But now we're taking them all 8 up. 9 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yeah. We don't need 10 these guards. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We finally done it 12 what after 30 years. God. 13 JUDGE POLLARD: Yeah. That's not anybody on 14 currently? 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That is correct. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: He's probably at this 17 end. 18 JUDGE POLLARD: Yeah, just making sure 19 that's clear. All right. Any further discussion of any 20 kind? There being none those in favor of the motion, 21 signify by raising your right hands. It's four zero, 22 unanimous. 23 All right. Item 1.5, consider, discuss and 24 take appropriate action to accept a drainage easement 25 from Otheil J. Erlund, Junior and wife Rachel K. Erlund 19 1 for the construction and maintenance of the erosion 2 control adjacent to the Hermann Sons Road in Precinct 3. 3 Mr. Hastings. 4 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. On Hermann Sons 5 Road, we have one of our culverts that goes under the 6 road is adjacent to Mr. Erlund's property, and we've 7 experienced a great deal of erosion from the storms from 8 last year, and storms in the past. He has offered to 9 grant an easement that would allow us to access that 10 properly and also construct some concrete rip 11 wrap(phonetic), that's what we'd like to do. We cannot 12 do the work unless we have an easement because some of 13 the work needs to be done outside of the existing right 14 of way, and in order to access it, we would need to be 15 outside the existing right of way down in that creek 16 bed. 17 Road and bridge request that the Court 18 except 0.29 acre drainage easement from Otheil J. 19 Erlund, Junior and Rachel K. Erlund for the construction 20 and maintenance of erosion control adjacent to Hermann 21 Sons Road, it's in Precinct 3. The easement was 22 prepared by our County Attorney, and the survey was done 23 by Lee Voelkel. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll move for approval 25 and make a comment. 20 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 2 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 3 that we accept a 0.29 acre easement, drainage easement 4 from Otheil J. Erlund, Junior and wife Rachel K. Erlund, 5 for the construction and maintenance of an erosion 6 control adjacent to the Hermann Sons Road in Precinct 3. 7 Is there any further discussion? 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Two things. One, I 9 was -- just for everyone in the audience's benefit more 10 than the Court, is that the county's prohibited from 11 going on private properties to do any work without 12 permission, and this is an easement that would give us 13 permission. And the second thing is the reason for 14 this, if we don't do this, we're at risk of losing that 15 portion of the the road eventually. I mean it's a 16 significant issue from an erosion standpoint, and I 17 totally support us doing this; otherwise, we're going to 18 have a lot more expense down the road, pardon the pun. 19 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Is there any 20 further discussion? There being none, those in favor of 21 the motion signify by raising your right hands. It's 22 four zero, unanimous. All right. Thank you, 23 Mr. Hastings. 24 Item 1.6, consider, discuss and take 25 appropriate action to approve the submission of a 21 1 General Victims Assistance grant application to the 2 office of the Governor for fiscal year 2016-2017 to fund 3 the Kerr County Victim's Rights Coordinator program. 4 Good morning, Miss Lavender. 5 MS. LAVENDER: I'd like to ask you to go 6 ahead and pass this until our discussion on 1.23 later 7 in the morning, or you can pass it and wait until after 8 we have that discussion, either way. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I want to do that, pass 10 it and come back to that. 11 MS. LAVENDER: That would be great. Thank 12 you. 13 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Let's go to -- 14 well, 9:25 am. is a time that's not -- it's not quite 15 9:25. We'll jump down to 1.9, consider discuss and take 16 appropriate action on renewing contract with Air 17 Methods, formally known as AirLife, and Air Evac by 18 offering payroll deduction to employees through the 19 County payroll system. Dawn Lantz. 20 MS. LANTZ: Good morning, Judge, good 21 morning, Commissioners. This is something we do every 22 year, we offer this to the employees, we offer two 23 different air life helicopter services. And they had 24 sent us the contract to see if we'd like to participate 25 in this year. Air Methods, which was AirLife, there fee 22 1 is going to remain at ten dollars per year per 2 household; however, the other AirLife, Air Med, has gone 3 up from 45 dollars a year to 50 dollars a year. I did 4 send the contracts to the County attorney for her 5 approval. So -- 6 JUDGE POLLARD: So she approves. 7 MS. LANTZ: Yes. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move for approval. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 10 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Is the payroll 11 deduction only for the employee? Is there additional 12 for family members that are on the insurance policy? 13 MS. LANTZ: It is per household. So it's 14 the employee's household. So it would cover everyone in 15 the household. 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Thank you. 17 JUDGE POLLARD: Any further discussion? If 18 not, those in favor signify by raising your right hands. 19 It's four zero, unanimous. Thank you. 20 Still not 9:25, let's go to item 1.10. 21 Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to 22 authorize the Environmental Health/Animal Services 23 Director to reduce the annual registration fee to one 24 dollar during the Annual Rabies Vaccination Clinics 25 being held February 6 to February 10 -- through February 23 1 10; current fees are five dollars, which includes neuter 2 and spay, and ten dollars for non-neutered and spayed. 3 Mr. Garcia, did I read that right, is that right? 4 MR. GARCIA: Close. Yes, Sir. 5 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. 6 MR. GARCIA: It's February 6th through 7 February the 20th. Good morning, Judge, and 8 Commissioners. The annual Kerr County Rabies 9 Vaccination Clinic will be held February 6th through 10 February 20th at various veterinarian clinics and 11 veterinarian hospitals in Kerrville and in Ingram areas 12 during normal business hours. 13 In addition to those area veterinarian 14 clinics and hospitals, there will also be rabies 15 vaccination clinics held on February 6th from one p.m. 16 to three p.m. at the Upper Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire 17 Station and the Center Point Volunteer Fire Station. 18 These clinics are sponsored by Kerr County 19 Commissioners' Court, Kerr County Animal Service, local 20 rabies control authority, and the local area of 21 veterinarians. The basic fee for rabies vaccination is 22 going to be 9 dollars. And the yearly City-County pet 23 license fee we are requesting to be reduced, as the 24 agenda item stated to one dollar during the annual 25 rabies vaccination clinic. 24 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Move for approval. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded for 4 approval for reducing the annual registration to one 5 dollar for the rabies vaccination clinics to be held 6 between February 6th and February 10th -- February 20th, 7 2016, as opposed to the current fees of five and ten 8 dollars for neutered and spayed or for non-neutered and 9 spayed. Any further discussion? 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Is that the same thing 11 we've done in the past, Ray? 12 MR. GARCIA: Yes, Sir, it is. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, thank you. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Question, Ray. Do 15 you -- or is there a program where households can 16 register all their pets for one flat fee? Didn't there 17 used to be one? Do you still have something like that, 18 I thought for ranches, I thought. 19 MR. GARCIA: We have a lifetime for -- but 20 not -- I don't know if they had that in the past prior 21 to me. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. I know at one 23 point there was people that had a number of dogs, they 24 could get a -- register them all. 25 MR. GARCIA: I'll look into that for you and 25 1 see what they had in the past. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That is something that 3 would maybe encourage registration, little bit easier. 4 JUDGE POLLARD: Do you think this program's 5 having any affect on our rabies, keep finding more and 6 more cases of rabies in Kerr County? 7 MR. GARCIA: Yes, Sir. Yes, Judge, I think 8 it does there definitely. If we can get one pet 9 vaccinated out there, it's better than having none, and 10 again with the numbers of 25 last year, that we had, it 11 most definitely helps. Last year we had a total of 126 12 pets vaccinated. And again, any pet vaccinated to help, 13 you know, the control of rabies is -- 14 JUDGE POLLARD: I'm of the opinion, I wonder 15 if you agree with this, that we have increased diligence 16 and we're looking out for rabies more and more, and I 17 think that's what's caused our finding more rabies cases 18 this past year than we have in the years before that, do 19 you agree with that? 20 MR. GARCIA: Yes, Sir. That's exactly what 21 happened, Judge. When the Commissioners' Court passed 22 that court order and merged the two departments, what we 23 decided to do is to step up the testing, and that's 24 exactly what happened. Proactive and testing for 25 rabies, and again as we increased the positive cases -- 26 1 JUDGE POLLARD: Just more awareness of the 2 public now? 3 MR. GARCIA: More awareness, exactly. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'm sorry. 5 JUDGE POLLARD: Go ahead. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: What is the -- if 7 somebody suspects an animal may be rabid and they kill 8 it, something about don't shoot it in the head, or 9 what's the deal on that? 10 MR. GARCIA: Yes, Sir. If the public 11 suspects an animal to have rabies, you're asked not to 12 dispatch or not to shoot it in the head, because that's 13 the brain. The brain stem is what is actually tested. 14 So if you're going to dispatch an animal, do it in the 15 body area and not in the head, because then -- we'll 16 still send it off, and we'll let the lab tell us it's 17 not testable. 18 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It's best not to do 19 that. 20 MR. GARCIA: It's best not to shoot it in 21 the head, thank you. 22 JUDGE POLLARD: By an ax or shovel is not 23 good either in the head, right? Any further discussion 24 about that motion? If not, those in favor signify by 25 raising your right hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 27 1 All right. It's now finally past 9:25 a.m., 2 we'll go back to item 1.7. Consider, discuss and take 3 appropriate action on a Resolution in support of the 4 Kerr County Juvenile Probations Department's application 5 to the Alamo Area Council of Governments, known has 6 AACOG, for the Youth Averted from Delinquency, called 7 YAD, known as YAD, Y-A-D program and authorize the 8 County Judge to sign same. Mr. Davis. 9 MR. DAVIS: Good morning, Judge. 10 JUDGE POLLARD: You speak in little 11 acronyms, please. 12 MR. DAVIS: Everything in the juvenile 13 justice is an acronym unfortunately. 14 JUDGE POLLARD: I know. 15 MR. DAVIS: Good morning, Judge and 16 Commissioners. This is a grant that we have applied for 17 for a number of years, we partnered with BCFS here 18 locally. Some years BCFS applies, some years we apply. 19 The difference between because AACOG will set the 20 standards with the Governor's office. Actually, we've 21 applied for this grant a number of years. It was in 22 place, where we were the recipient. There were two 23 years preceding the current fiscal year. This last year 24 we were not funded. We did not reapply through AACOG, 25 we being the juvenile probation department, we did not 28 1 score enough voluntary ranking to keep the program 2 going. BCFS came forward, and they stepped up and we 3 are asking -- 4 JUDGE POLLARD: You don't know how we're 5 ranked yet? 6 MR. DAVIS: We won't know until approval 7 begins. Lot of the programs themselves, they have 8 financed it to this point. 9 We are asking that this Court approve the 10 application that we go in and submit an application and 11 go through that process to submit to be funded to 12 through the AACOG so BDFS will not have to pay for that. 13 There is no magic grant fund requirement, there is no 14 match for the County. And it means that we don't 15 receive the funds, we don't receive the funds. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: You don't know how we're 17 ranked yet. 18 MR. DAVIS: We won't know until -- we're 19 beginning the process right now. This is the first 20 step. BCFS, actually they write the grant. We are the 21 grant recipient, we being the Juvenile Probation 22 Department. Really what we do is we contract with BCFS, 23 they provide service, it's a pass through. We don't 24 gain or lose any money in the process. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. 29 1 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Move for approval. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded for 4 approval. The application for a grant with AACOG for 5 the Youth Averted from Delinquency Program, YAD, and to 6 authorize the County Judge to sign same. Any further 7 discussion on that motion? 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's a resolution. 9 JUDGE POLLARDE: Oh, it's a resolution in 10 support of it, all right, sorry. 11 MR. DAVIS: Thank you. 12 JUDGE POLLARD: That's the motion? 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Mr. Davis, the first 15 whereas in the resolution I'm all for this, I'm just a 16 little unclear. It said the YAD program operated for 17 the 2016, 2017 year to run from September 1-16 to August 18 31-18. Is that the correct verbiage? 19 MR. DAVIS: I apologize, Commissioner. May 20 I see it? 21 COMMISSIONER REEVES: It looks like a two 22 year and a one year -- 23 MR. DAVIS: No; it should be a one fiscal 24 year, and if I made a mistake there then we would need 25 to amend that. September first, 16, should it be -- 30 1 August 31st, 17, that's correct. Thank you. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That correction is also 3 included in mine. 4 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. The motion being 5 corrected, or addition to the second made that 6 correction. All right. Any further discussion on it? 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I do have a question. 8 Jason, if you don't get the grant and if they don't get 9 the grant, what -- is there a plan in place of what to 10 do with that particular -- 11 MR. DAVIS: There is not; the program will 12 go away at that point. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: It will go away? 14 MR. DAVIS: Yes, Sir. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Those in favor 17 of the motion signify by raising your right hands. It's 18 four zero, unanimous. 19 Item 1.8, annual report from Kerr County 20 Historical Commission. Julie Leonard. Good morning, 21 Ma'am. 22 MS. LEONARD: Thank you. I think y'all have 23 copies of this. I've added a few things that I've left 24 off. The purpose of the Kerr County Historical 25 Commission is to protect and preserve Kerr County's 31 1 historic and cultural resources for the use, education, 2 enjoyment and appreciation of present and future 3 generations. 4 We are a unit of the Texas Historical 5 Commission and work under the guidance of the Kerr 6 County Commissioners' Court. Also Clarabelle Snodgrass, 7 we call her the Grand Dom of Kerr County history, she 8 said if you don't know where you came from, you do not 9 know who you are. So -- 10 JUDGE POLLARD: Or where you've been. 11 MS. LEONARD: -- I think that's a good thing 12 to remember. We, the KCHS meets at noon on the third 13 Monday of each month, with the exception of June, July, 14 August and December, at the Union Church Building, 15 Broadway and East Main, Kerrville, Texas. Our public 16 meetings begin with a program and last an hour, 17 including a formal meeting, local newspapers inform the 18 public of our programs and meetings. 19 Officers this past year was myself, Julie 20 Leonard, Francelle Robinson Collins, Mary Lee Jobes 21 Stewart, Wilma Council Teague. Francelle vice 22 president, Mary Lee secretary, and Wilma was treasurer. 23 We've been awarded the distinguished service 24 award by the Texas Historical Commission for the last 25 seven years, and only 72 counties out of 254 Texas 32 1 counties have approved and gotten this honor. I've gone 2 out of order here. 3 Our programs this year, Francelle Collins, 4 the chairman of this, one of the programs we have. "The 5 story of us, the impact of tuberculosis in the 6 development of Kerr County was given by Nancy Alford. 7 Kerr County Historical Commission member 8 Wayne Musgrove, he's a 5th generation Texan and Director 9 of the Texas Ranger Foundation, he gave a talk on his 10 great grandfather who fought at San Jacinto. He brought 11 a display of antique weapons, guns, and saddles. And 12 then also at that meeting, Joe Davis, executive director 13 of the Texas Ranger Foundation updated us on the 14 progress of the Ranger Museum in Fredericksburg. 15 Deborah Gaudier discussed Sears and Roebuck 16 houses, 1908 to 1940. Kits were ordered and delivered 17 by railroad. And they all had numbers and were built 18 according to these kits. And examples of these homes 19 are on Earl Garrett and North Street, and then on Farm 20 Road 1350 in Center Point. We think they're probably 21 many more in the town, but they have not been 22 identified. 23 Clarabelle Snodgrass, a hundred and one 24 years old, she talked about living and ranching on the 25 Divide in the 1920's to the 1950's. And she's also just 33 1 a remarkable speaker. 2 Tom Moser, former NASA Senior Executive, who 3 held key roles in every NASA human space flight from 4 Apollo to the space station gave a program on NASA then 5 and now. 6 Jeanne Sutton described highlights and 7 interesting places in her Hunt Driving Tour booklet. 8 Robert Puig came in from California and 9 former Kerrville resident, and gave a program on his 10 book The History of Mexican patriotic celebrations held 11 in Kerrville, Texas, 1923 to 2003. He presented the 12 KCHC with copies of his book, and we distributed them to 13 our archives at Schreiner University, the Kerrville 14 History Center and Schreiner University library. 15 Sandy Wolfmueller gave a program and brought 16 early Texas books. And she described the most collected 17 and collectable books for Kerr County. 18 Rosa Lavender presented a program on her 19 book about Kerr County Judge's and courthouses. That 20 was a real interesting program. 21 Our project -- some of our projects this 22 year, Mary Lee Stewart chaired, and we hosted Robert 23 Puig's presentation of his 500 page documentary book 24 about Kerr County's Mexican-American community dating 25 back to the 1880's. Had a hundred and forty guests, and 34 1 we were entertained by Tejano music hall of fame member 2 Fritz Morquecho. And we also had -- that was at the 3 library. 4 Boy Scout Troop 111 members Chase Hall, Gabe 5 Torres, Antonio Flores, Julian Torres, Adrian Ozuna and 6 Devon Chaison, Dr. Scott Chapman, Byar Ditmore restored 7 Historical markers at Center Point Cemetery, Camp Verde, 8 Wharton Cemetery and Cypress Creek School. They were 9 awarded certificates and merit badges at the Notre Dame 10 Ring of Honor Ceremony. 11 We also, Kerr County, granted a Rescuing 12 Texas, a mini-grant from North Texas University. This 13 is a thousand dollar grant, to add to Kerr County on 14 their Portals to Texas site. And this is a statewide 15 digital collaborative effort with 250 partners. This is 16 an free online site to provide access to educators, 17 museums, students, researchers and general public. It 18 will assist us to preserve our unique historical 19 documents and artifacts through this digitization 20 process. We we have submitted 17 more oral histories, 21 and the Kerr County album, and the University has added 22 all of our historical markers. Mary Elaine Adamek Jones 23 has shared this project. This is a long time project 24 submit Kerr County documents and artifacts, and we'll 25 continue to really be excited about this project. 35 1 And if you go online to Portals of Texas 2 history, it'll lead you through the fight and click on 3 Kerrville, and you will see all our -- it's really 4 impressive. And people long before me have organized 5 this project and had all the information that -- that's 6 been going on. 7 Also, to keep in touch, we were thanking 8 John Trolinger, the IT of Kerr County. He's helped 9 update our County web site. And we've gotten a lot 10 of -- since it's been updated, Mike Bolin was here, 11 we've gotten lots of people asking for information so 12 it's really helped. 13 We also participated in the project by the 14 friends of the Kerr County Historical Commission, it was 15 an exhibit at Schreiner mansion entitled the story of 16 us, impact of tuberculosis in the development of Kerr 17 County. And there were visual exhibits and documents, 18 letters, artifacts, and we had lectures by Nancy Alford, 19 Dr. Dan Bacon and Joe Herring. This exhibit was 20 cancelled early because of the transfer of ownership of 21 the Schreiner mansion, and they weren't interested in 22 Historical display, so -- but anyway, the Kerr County 23 friends of the Kerr County Historical Commission, their 24 purpose is to raise funds for the Historical Commission. 25 Historical markers, Deborah Gaudier is our 36 1 chairman, and we've had dedications for the Gatlin site, 2 which is an archeological site, Mosty Brothers Nursery 3 in Center Point, and the Famous Door Saloon. And I 4 think Buster was there for that. We had probably a 5 hundred and 50 people. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Wouldn't have missed 7 it for anything. 8 MS. LEONARD: He wasn't going to tell his 9 memories of that. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There was a lot of 11 people. 12 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: You have a -- 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: There's a lot of 14 people not going to talk about the background of the 15 Famous Door. 16 MS. LEONARD: Notre Dame School is going to 17 be dedicated this coming February third at 7:50 in the 18 morning. One of our members said you can come in your 19 PJ's. So anyway that's at Notre Dame School at 7:50, 20 and that's during catholic school week. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's the third you 22 said? 23 MS. LEONARD: The third. Center Point First 24 Christian Church has not been dedicated, and finally 25 we've gotten HEB Grocery Store, it's installed and very 37 1 impressive. It's on the east end right by the pharmacy 2 entrance. 3 The KCHC has assisted in the Main Street 4 Kerrville in celebrating preservation Texas week. 5 Members helped in showing historic buildings in the 6 downtown and main street area hoping to interest 7 perspective buyers and rental agents. 8 The Historical Appreciation Committee has 9 developed a program for 7th grade students to educate 10 them about different aspects of Kerr County history, and 11 all county schools have been contacted. We've not heard 12 from them, but we're hoping we'll get some feedback. 13 Endangered properties, Deborah Gaudier, the 14 Comparette House at Jefferson and Tivy. And I think 15 that's been sold to a church, and they're interested in 16 restoring that building. So we're real excited about 17 that. 18 The A. C. Schreiner house, that's where 19 Walter Shell Hayes(phonetic) and Barbara lived, is 20 another in danger, and I think it's been sold. So we'll 21 wait and see on that. The Tivy Hotel at Main and Tivy, 22 and the Schofield School for girls, and you can barely 23 see it, if you can see it at all it's next door to the 24 Museum of Western Art. 25 And also we've been saddened to see the 38 1 Garrett House being destroyed, and hopefully that will 2 bring some attention to the community and the County 3 about saving some of our older homes, our history. 4 The cemetery committee, Linda Nelson 5 Reynolds, she is still documenting and photographing all 6 Kerr County cemeteries, and she takes pictures of the 7 graves, and they're sent to the find a grave website, 8 and she's also worked with the Kerrville Fire Marshall 9 to locate the grave of William Roberts, a fireman killed 10 in route to an emergency in the 1930's. And he was 11 honored at a -- Mr. Roberts was honored at a ceremony at 12 Glenrose Cemetery. 13 She's also working with the Blanks' family, 14 and this family's been over a hundred year residents of 15 Kerr County, and we found that documenting black history 16 in Kerr County really has been sadly neglected. 17 Oral histories, Francelle Collins and 18 assisted by Bonnie Pipes Flory, they've interviewed Joe 19 Luther, Judge Tom Pollard, Jane Ragsdale, John Milford 20 Mosty, Raymond Hardee and Willie Bill. And these 21 interviews will be transcribed and archived and 22 available for the public at Schreiner Logan Library, and 23 the Kerr History Center. And may also probably be added 24 the next year to the Portals to Texas website. They can 25 be viewed not only in Texas but worldwide. 39 1 Archives, Louis Stephens. He Archived KCHC 2 agendas and items given to the KCHC, and these are kept 3 in the KCHC archives at Logan Library Schreiner 4 University. And they will be available to the public by 5 appointment. 6 Schreiner University has gifted many items 7 from the Schreiner mansion to the KCHC when it was sold, 8 and we're storing these items in hopes that they will 9 someday may be displayed in a Kerr County museum. We 10 are one of four counties in Texas that has no County 11 museum. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: May I ask a quick 13 question, and I just -- I lost touch with it. Who did 14 we sell -- who did Schreiner sell the mansion to? 15 MS. LEONARD: The Cailloux's. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: All right. 17 JUDGE POLLARD: And their plans are to 18 restore it? 19 MS. LEONARD: Pardon. 20 JUDGE POLLARD: And their plans are to 21 restore it? 22 MS. LEONARD: I don't know. 23 JUDGE POLLARD: You don't know. 24 MS. LEONARD: I don't know. I just know 25 they've -- they have meetings there, and you have to pay 40 1 to have your meeting there, but I think Schreiner did 2 the same thing. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: I see. 4 MS. LEONARD: But I think they're also 5 trying to put an elevator in the building, which might 6 be a problem, because it can't be on the outside, and 7 it's a designated historic building by the U.S., and so 8 they're going to have to get permission. But I 9 understand there was an elevator inside, so they might 10 be able to get by with that. But we don't -- Texas, we 11 don't have any jurisdiction over what -- I know Camp 12 Verde had to comply with architectural problems with the 13 store. And I was at several meetings that they had to 14 redo drawings and stuff. So anyway -- 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. But it's -- it 16 has a historical marker now, correct? 17 MS. LEONARD: Yeah. But is also has a 18 historical building marker, which is different from just 19 a site marker. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So as I understand the 21 process from the Camp Verde, they either have to comply 22 with the recommendation of the Federal Register and the 23 State if they make any changes to the building; 24 otherwise, the building will lose its designation. 25 MS. LEONARD: That's right. They lose their 41 1 designation. 2 The Union Church Building. The KCHC with 3 the help of James Wright, Julius Neunhoffer, Leroy 4 Schlechte installed a large retractable screen and wired 5 a ceiling mounted projector that can use computer 6 connections for powerpoint and other visual programs. 7 This project enhances the usefulness of this building, 8 and especially for meetings. So I hope the County makes 9 sure that other organizations know that this has really 10 helped that building. We paid for the project from our 11 budget. And Tim, I think you helped wire that or helped 12 them do something with that project, or am I getting 13 you -- 14 MR. BOLLIER: You're giving me too much 15 credit at this time, but I'll take all I can get. 16 MS. LEONARD: Okay. But anyway they got 17 this over and we've used it several times. It's just -- 18 it's really wonderful. Also, Leroy and Julius designed 19 and built storage racks for chairs and tables that give 20 added space back on either -- on the left side. And it 21 really makes it easy when we, you know, get all our -- 22 finish our meetings. 23 I also didn't put in here, I've met with 24 Malcolm Matthews, he was City of Kerrville's River Trail 25 Project, Susan Sanders, Riverside Nature Center and Tara 42 1 Bushnome(phonetic) with the UGRA, to advise them about 2 adding to historical points of interest. They're going 3 to have an interpretive sign along the river trail, and 4 so we're going to -- they're going to incorporate, you 5 know, historical sites along that trail. So I don't 6 know when that's going to be done or -- but anyway, I've 7 met with them and we've not had a meeting since. 8 Also, we -- the KCHC stays connected with 9 Commissioner Buster Baldwin through e-mails and 10 meetings. And on a personal note, I will miss you 11 Buster, but I guess we'll have you around for a few more 12 months. 13 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're not going to 14 start crying, are you? 15 MS. LEONARD: I left my hanky in my purse. 16 Anyway, thank you, Buster. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 18 MS. LEONARD: And also thank you, Judge 19 Pollard, Commissioners Baldwin, Moser, Letz, Reeves and 20 Jody Grinstead for continued support of our Commission. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: Any other comments or 22 discussion? 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: One question -- you go 24 ahead. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah. Just to thank 43 1 Julie. I mean that was one year's worth of activity. 2 And she is right in front of every bit of it. So Julie, 3 I thank you, thank you for what you do. 4 MR. BOLLIER: Miss Leonard, you did notice 5 that we replaced the steps in front on -- 6 MS. LEONARD: Did notice that. Thank you 7 very much. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Now he wants credit. 9 MS. LEONARD: He did get some credit. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: The question I have and 11 I think this was accurate because I was told, the -- in 12 Comfort is the old -- I guess the original Kerr County 13 Clerk's office and the jail that was underneath it, are 14 still standing. But that is -- but it doesn't have any 15 kind of a historical designation on it. I know it's in 16 Kendall County, I've encouraged some sort of 17 coordination with Kendall County, to make sure that 18 property recently sold, that structure is not destroyed. 19 Because it certainly has historical history to both 20 counties. 21 MS. LEONARD: Can we move it to Kerr County? 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have no idea. 23 MS. LEONARD: I'm kidding. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, it may be, rather 25 than have it destroyed, that would be worthwhile. 44 1 MS. LEONARD: Do you know who I might visit 2 with. Maybe we can. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'll find out who's the 4 head of the Comfort Historical Society is. I think I 5 know, but I don't want to give out the wrong name. 6 MS. LEONARD: And the subject of markers, I 7 would love to see a marker for the Union Church 8 building. It needs one. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: True. 10 MS. LEONARD: We'll make the application in 11 the next budget. I think those markers start at 16 12 hundred dollars, which makes a lot of people, you know, 13 hesitant about applying for them. But I really -- I'm 14 sure that building would be approved, and that 15 application period is I think August through November, 16 and then they let you know and in January whether or not 17 your application's have been accepted. So I mean it's 18 not a done deal. But I can't imagine that building not 19 having one. And it's really -- it needs -- it needs 20 that historical marker. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I agree. 22 MS. LEONARD: So I guess we'll be discussing 23 with y'all -- or I'm not, and discuss among yourselves. 24 JUDGE POLLARD: You mentioned a speaker that 25 spoke whose grandfather fought at San Jacinto. 45 1 MS. LEONARD: Yes. 2 JUDGE POLLARD: I think my great great 3 grandfather fought there too, his name was William 4 Stanhope Taylor. Okay. Any other comments? 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I just want to say 6 that the programs they had there are some of the most 7 fascinating things that goes on. You know, the cattle 8 drives, those stories about they talk about the cattle 9 drives and like going out Harper Road. I can just see 10 in my mind that whole valley just full of cattle headed 11 north, and it's just incredible. And it's just talking 12 about the Sears and Roebuck houses that came in here on 13 a train, and you know, I think every board was numbered, 14 and that kind of thing. 15 To give you an example, Jim Morris's jewelry 16 store right up here, that's one of those houses. And 17 there just neat, neat houses. But the history of all 18 that stuff, it's incredible. I've been down there where 19 I've seen some Civil war guys wandering around, there 20 too, and retired doctors here in town who put on their 21 programs, and it's just fascinating. It's incredible, 22 really good stuff. So if y'all pay me five dollars I'll 23 tell you when they are. 24 COMMISSIONER REEVES: How about four. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I'll take it. 46 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Okay. Get with me 2 later. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: One other question. Is 4 there an historical marker on the -- I don't know the 5 name of the building, it's one of the Schreiner houses, 6 the L. D. Brinkman Corporation headquarters? 7 AUDIENCE: There is. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: There is one. 9 AUDIENCE: And there's also one on the 10 national registry. 11 MS. LEONARD: Another one that needs one is 12 the Schreiner building in downtown. I notice the 13 Cailloux's have put one back behind the mansion, but 14 that's not an official marker. So they'll be contacted 15 this year to -- to get a marker. We also have a plaque 16 project that's kind of floundered. We put historical 17 plaques on the different buildings in downtown, and we 18 have a walking tour, so we want someone who could be 19 enthusiastic about that. So anyway, that's that. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Buster, we need to 21 accept this, correct? 22 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move that we accept 23 this, correct. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I second. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 47 1 that we accept the report from the Kerr County 2 Historical Commission. Any other further comments? 3 There being none, those in favor of the motion signify 4 by raising your right hands. It's four zero, 5 unanimous. 6 Thank you very much for all of your work. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSELY: Thank you. 8 JUDGE POLLARD: Item 1.11, consider, discuss 9 and take appropriate action to approve Resolution 10 expressing official intent to reimburse with tax-exempt 11 obligation proceeds cost to acquire rights-of-way 12 relating to the Kerr -- Center Point/East Kerr County 13 wastewater project. Commissioners Letz and Moser. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Go ahead. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: At our last meeting, 16 Dusty Traylor was here and he spoke to us about this, 17 and he's then contacted Tom Spurgeon, our lead counsel 18 or legal bond counsel, and prepared the Resolution, 19 which is in our packet. The bottom line on this is this 20 will allow the County to start the right of way 21 acquisition for the project sooner than having to wait 22 until June when the funds become available from the 23 Texas Water Development Board, and the reason for doing 24 this is to -- otherwise it'll delay the whole project 25 six or seven months at a minimum. And that, jeopardizes 48 1 future other funding that we already have lined up. And 2 the way it works is that we borrow money from our 3 reserves and then we pay our reserves back in June, 4 July, whenever we close on the tax exempt certificates 5 of obligation with the Water Development Board. So it's 6 a -- it's basically about a six-month borrowing from 7 ourselves for the project. 8 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Which is similar to 9 what we've done like with the jail and the preliminary 10 expenses incurred before we sold the bonds, we did a 11 reimbursement for the expenses out of the proceeds, 12 right. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, this is a little 14 bit different from the standpoint is that it's pretty 15 common to reimburse some of the expenses. This is the 16 project. 17 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Right. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Beyond just the 19 expenses; it's the actual right of way acquisition. 20 And the amounts we have been approved by the Water 21 Development Board 601 thousand. Part of that is loans, 22 part of that's loan forgiveness. And anyway -- 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Just might emphasize 24 the fact that it's critical on timing because we're 25 going to lose some other essential grants if we don't 49 1 get this going. We'll have to wait. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So I make a motion to 3 approve the resolution as submitted by our bond counsel. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 5 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 6 that we approve the Resolution submitted by our bond 7 counsel. It's in the agenda package under under item 8 1.11 of the agenda, and it's to express official intent 9 to reimburse with tax exempt obligation proceeds costs, 10 in order to require right of ways relating to the Center 11 Point East Kerr County wastewater project. Is there any 12 further discussion? 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We might as well look at 14 it. My motion's to authorize you to sign the 15 Resolution. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. 17 JUDGE POLLARD: Do we agree to the motion, 18 did it say that? I don't see it in here. 19 COMMISSIONER REEVES: And it says that the 20 role was called in the Resolution, so do we need to vote 21 individually. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes, I would say yes we 23 need to do role call vote. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Wait a minute, Judge. 25 Don't anybody move until I figure that out. Why the 50 1 role call? 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Because we don't all 3 sign it. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Because it's I'm 5 guessing -- I don't know, Commissioner, but I'm guessing 6 because it's affecting the tax and borrowing from 7 ourselves. 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And we don't sign; just 9 the Judge signs it. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: The Judge signs it. 11 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: We do that all the 12 time though and we don't have a role call. 13 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, we're just 14 approving the Resolution. Are we authorizing the County 15 Judge to sign same, too? 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 17 JUDGE POLLARD: Item 1.11 doesn't say that, 18 but I presume since the Resolution is exhibited as back 19 up, that it's probably inferred. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'm not sure it is a 21 role call. 22 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I think a role call is 23 everybody's present. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's says how many ayes 25 and no's, in the abstentions. And it says that the 51 1 following that we're all present. I don't see that it's 2 a role call vote in the Resolution. I guess it doesn't 3 hurt to do a role call vote. That would be safer that 4 way. 5 JUDGE POLLARD: That's a good idea. Okay. 6 Let's have a role call vote on it. We'll start with 7 Commissioner 1. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I vote aye. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: 2. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Aye. 11 JUDGE POLLARD: I vote aye. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Aye. 13 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Aye. 14 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, it's unanimous, 15 five zero, to pass that -- to pass the Resolution 16 authorizing execution of the Resolution. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Correct. 18 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Any further 19 discussion on that? That takes care of it, doesn't it? 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Let's go to item 22 1.12. Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to 23 enter into a contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, 24 Inc., for the right of way services, and to authorize 25 the County Judge to sign various Disadvantaged Business 52 1 Enterprise Program documents for the East Kerr 2 County/Center Point wastewater right of way services 3 project, Precinct 2. Mr. Hastings. 4 MR. HASTINGS: Thank you. For that project 5 it's approximately 75 easements that are needed. This 6 is the East Kerr Center Point wastewater project. The 7 project is funded by the Clean Water State Revolving 8 Fund through the Texas Water Development Board. Grant 9 requirements include making a good faith effort to hire 10 disadvantaged business enterprises. Kerr County has met 11 the disadvantaged business enterprise good faith efforts 12 by doing two things, advertising in the Kerrville Daily 13 Times, and advertising on the internet. Those are 14 indicated in some of those DBE forms that are attached. 15 The Court also authorized earlier in last 16 year negotiations with Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam 17 Incorporated to provide right of way services for the 18 project. They will meet or exceed the EPA's DBE fair 19 share goals through the use of certified DBE sub 20 consultants. They will go through the process of -- the 21 same process that we did to find those sub consultants. 22 The sub consultants that they'll be using for appraisals 23 and for appraisal reviews. 24 At this time, I'm requesting the Court to 25 enter into a contract with Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, 53 1 Inc. for right of way services in the amount of 2 $419,804, and authorize the County Judge to sign forms 3 Texas Water Development Board 0216, and TWDB 0373. 4 Those forms are those good faith effort forms I 5 mentioned to hire Disadvantaged Enterprises. This is 6 Precincts 2 and 3. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: So move. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, it's been moved 10 and seconded that we execute those forms from Lockwood. 11 And the first question I have has the County Attorney 12 looked at them and approved them? 13 MS. STEBBINS: I have yes, Sir. 14 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. Go ahead. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I visited with Clay 16 Schultz, he's kind of our project lead who's on board 17 today, and because we're doing this a little bit -- you 18 know, I want to make sure that we are following the 19 procedures exactly. And before I'm going to go ahead 20 and the Judge execute all the agreements, then we need 21 to send them, this is on Clay's recommendation, send 22 them to the Water Development Board. Let them make sure 23 that everything has been approved, as if we were getting 24 the funding and closing immediately. And then we'll 25 sign off on all the documents to make sure that are 54 1 nothing that hasn't fallen through the cracks. So 2 they'll be a little bit of a time lag of the execution, 3 and then we go to the Water Development Board before 4 everything is finalized and the contract is actually 5 awarded to whatever they're called, Lockwood Andrews. 6 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Is there any 7 further discussion or comment? There being none, those 8 in favor of the motion signify by raising your right 9 hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 10 All right. We go to item 1.13. Thank you, 11 Mr. Hastings. Consider, discuss and take appropriate 12 action to declare as surplus all radio equipment that 13 was removed from the towers, and to approve disposal of 14 the equipment. Sheriff Hierholzer. 15 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yes. This includes 16 like a lot of radio power supplies, a couple of the 17 older VHF 900 radios that are not usable for us at all 18 with the newer system. Microwaves, radio, dispatch 19 console equipment and other miscellaneous equipment. 20 We'd like to what is salvageable, that could have any 21 value, put it on GovDeals, and if not, let's go ahead 22 and destroy it. And -- 23 JUDGE POLLARD: Salvageable -- put it on 24 what? 25 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: GovDeals. To sell it 55 1 to somebody who might see that could use it. We'll list 2 it all and see if the County can re coop anything out of 3 it; but if not dispose of it. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Judge, I move for 5 approval. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 7 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 8 for approval of the Sheriff's plans to declare all radio 9 equipment that was removed from the towers, and surplus 10 and to approve his disposal plan as described. Any 11 further discussion? There being none, those in favor of 12 the motion signify by raising your right hands. It's 13 four zero, unanimous. 14 All right. Item 1.14, consider, discuss and 15 take appropriate action to approve the partial exemption 16 racial profiling report that has to be submitted to the 17 Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, annually. Sheriff 18 Hierholzer. 19 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: This is just one of 20 those required ones by the State. And it also requires 21 that we furnish it and that it be accepted by the 22 Commissioners' Court of the County. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move we accept it. 24 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: That's about it. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 56 1 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 2 that we approve the partial exemption racial profiling 3 report that has to be submitted to the Texas Commission 4 on Law Enforcement. Any further discussion? If not, 5 those in favor signify by raising your right hands. 6 It's four zero, unanimous. Thank you, Sheriff. 7 Item 1.15, consider, discuss and take 8 appropriate action to approve application for the 9 Emergency Management Performance Grant to assist state 10 and local governments with all hazards emergency 11 preparedness. Sheriff Hierholzer: 12 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: This is a grant I know 13 the city of Kerrville has applied for it every year, but 14 now that we do a emergency management coordinator Doug, 15 would also like to apply for it. It is a federally 16 funded program to assist state and local governments 17 with all hazards, emergency preparedness. Federal 18 government through the EMPG program provides the 19 necessary direction, coordination, guidance and 20 necessary assistance as authorized to support a 21 comprehensive, all hazards, emergency preparedness 22 system. The emergency management performance grant 23 program provides federal funding to assist states and 24 local governments with all hazards, emergency 25 preparedness. EMPG funds are allocated by the 57 1 Department of Homeland Security, to participate in the 2 states on the populations share basis. Participating 3 states then distribute these funds for reimbursement of 4 applicable state and local emergency management program 5 expenses. Then it goes on a little bit more. This 6 isn't a hundred percent, but it could help offset some 7 of Doug's salary that the county's paying, or any other 8 kind of stuff. 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: What's the amount on 10 the grant? 11 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I do not have an amount 12 yet. We just applied for the grant and then it goes 13 up as far as -- 14 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Is this straight from 15 the Governor's office? 16 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Yes. 17 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Or from AACOG? 18 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: No; it's from the 19 Governor's office. But it's federal and then down to 20 the states. 21 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Yeah, I understand. 22 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: It gets -- 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: You may not know the 24 answer to this, but since it's for Kerr County and the 25 city's applied for it in the past, will there be some 58 1 adjustment based on the fact that both County and. 2 City -- 3 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Probably. There very 4 well could be. I would think the State would look at 5 that. 6 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Okay, I move for 7 approval. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded for 10 approval of the application for emergency management 11 performance grant from the governor's office to assist 12 state and local governments with all hazards emergency 13 preparedness. Any further discussion? There being 14 none, those in favor of the motion signify by raising 15 your right hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 16 COMMISSIONER REEVES: How about a brief 17 recess, Judge. 18 JUDGE POLLARD: Sounds good, ten minutes. 19 10:15. 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: 10:20. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, 10:20. 22 (Recess.) 23 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Looks like it's 24 10:20 to me, we'll resume. And the next item is item 25 1.16, consider, discuss and take appropriate action to 59 1 authorize acceptance of a deed of 0.45 acres, more 2 particularly described as tract B in a deed dated 3 February 17, 1955, and recorded in volume 97 page 560 4 of the deed records of Kerr County, Texas. This is in 5 Commissioner Moser's Precinct 2. And my understanding 6 is, I know I've received an e-mail from the County 7 Attorney that she's approved the form of the deed. So 8 Mr. Moser. 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Correct, thank you, 10 Judge. This property's is on Center Point River Road 11 right across from Lion's Park in Center Point. And the 12 deed had restriction on it that it had to be public use, 13 and the County attorney has reviewed this, like you 14 said, in a quick claim that that restriction be removed, 15 so this is to authorize us to proceed forward, to accept 16 that, let's keep that deed whatever, the right legal 17 term is if you will, and this is -- they require five 18 thousand dollars for administrative fees from LCRA to do 19 this, so I move that we take the appropriate action to 20 authorize acceptance of the deed .45 acres as you've 21 described. And the five thousand dollars out of and it 22 will be -- talked to Brenda and we'll take this out of 23 the budget in professional services. 24 MS. DOSS: Yes, Sir. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: Is there a second? 60 1 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 2 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded 3 that we accept the deed as proposed. It's a quick claim 4 deed from the LCRA conveying 0.45 acres to Kerr County, 5 or quick claiming to Kerr County, that 0.45 acres, 6 described as tract B in the deed dated February 17th, 7 1955, and recorded in Volume 97, page 560 of the deed 8 records of Kerr County, Texas. 9 Actually I pulled the original deed, and it 10 had a reverter clause in there. It did require that 11 the -- that it was deeded to the County from the LCRA 12 but was to be used for public purposes. The problem was 13 it had a reverter clause in there, that said if it's 14 ceased to be used for public purposes for any reason, 15 then it reverted back to the LCRA, which made it really 16 important that we acquire from the LCRA a release of 17 that reverter clause, and that restrictive covenant. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And that's essentially 19 what this quick claim does at this time, it releases. 20 JUDGE POLLARD: It does it exactly, in fact 21 specifically say so in there that it releases that. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Where is this tract 23 exactly? 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It's about -- it's 25 right in the center almost of Lion's Park, right across 61 1 the river. It's about the third lot, you know where it 2 goes down across the low water crossing back to the 3 west. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I always thought it was 5 that first one where there's like a little trailer or 6 mobile place on it. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: No. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And so it's the third 9 one back. And being -- and the idea is that we're going 10 to do then is put this out for bid. 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: This enables us to do 12 that, right. And it's an absolutely beautiful piece of 13 property. It's high, there's a lot of, you know, 14 several homes are being built in there. I think one's 15 just being finished. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: Well, it's high on the side 17 and then it goes down to the lake but it's useable 18 property on the lake. Has oh a hundred and -- roughly a 19 hundred and thirty feet frontage on the lake. And about 20 a hundred and 35 or 40 feet frontage on the street and 21 above, up above. 22 Any further discussion? If not, those in 23 favor of the motion signify right raising your right 24 hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Thank you, Judge. 62 1 JUDGE POLLARD: Thank you. Item 1.17, 2 consider, discuss and take appropriate action to replace 3 fire alarm system at the courthouse. Mr. Bollier. 4 MR. BOLLIER: Yes, Sir. I have not -- I do 5 not have a quote on that yet, but they did come. We did 6 go through the courthouse. 7 JUDGE POLLARD: Who came? 8 MR. BOLLIER: We went through with the fire 9 marshall and all that stuff so I'm just waiting on the 10 quote, that's all I'm doing. So I'm asking the Court to 11 wait until the next Court meeting, please. Thank you 12 very much, Sir. 13 JUDGE POLLARD: Is there a motion? 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, pass. 15 JUDGE POLLARD: Oh, just pass. 16 Item 1.18. Consider, discuss and take 17 appropriate action to approve the partial exemption 18 racial profiling report for Kerr County Constable 19 Precinct 4. Commissioner Reeves. 20 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yes, Sir. Constable 21 Huffaker was here but had to leave. Asked me to just 22 convey that this is similar to what the sheriff had us 23 previously, all the information that's in here back up 24 material, and I move for approval. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 63 1 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded. We 2 consider and discuss and take appropriate action to 3 approve the partial exemption racial profiling report 4 for Kerr County constable Precinct 4. Is there any 5 discussion? There being none, those in favor signify by 6 raising your right hands. It's four zero, unanimous. 7 Item 1.19. Consider, discuss and take 8 appropriate action to approve contract with Castle Lake 9 Voluntary Fire Department and allow the County Judge to 10 sign same. If you look in your agenda package under 11 this item, you'll find that the proposed contracts it's 12 a one-year contract -- actually, it's a renewal, I 13 guess, doesn't say that, but it's same thing that we 14 have with voluntary fire departments, and it provides 15 for one year, and has a maximum for up to three thousand 16 dollars cost to Kerr County. It does provide that Kerr 17 County has to provide workman's compensation for the 18 voluntary firemen, and the fire department is required 19 to keep us informed with us a proper list of who their 20 volunteer firemen are. Are there any questions or 21 comments? 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move for approval. 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 24 JUDGE POLLARD: Any further discussion? 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Commissioners, this is 64 1 the part that you can't get there from here? 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 3 COMMISSIONER REEVES: It's over there where 4 the Bear -- 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Bear Creek. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Bear Creek. But you 7 got to go to Pipe Creek in Bandera County to get there? 8 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I'm glad they can get 9 there. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'm glad they can, 11 because we can't, very easily. Sheriff found a body 12 over there not too long ago. 13 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: It's been a few years. 14 But every once in a while we have to make a call over 15 there for a burglar alarm. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: Those in favor of the motion 17 signify by raising your right hands. It's four zero, 18 unanimous. 19 Item 1.20, consider, discuss and take 20 appropriate action to authorize Kerr County to apply for 21 Alamo Area Council of Government grant regarding 22 hazardous waist disposal. Commissioner Reeves. 23 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yes, Sir. Counselman 24 Steven Fine called me several weeks ago about applying 25 for this grant, but at that time the deadline had 65 1 passed, they have extended the deadline. What this 2 grant is, in the past the City of Kerrville would have a 3 community-wide day where you could bring in paint, 4 insecticides, anything that couldn't be dumped, and the 5 city did all of the funding for this, with some of the 6 grants out of AACOG and out of the State now, you can't 7 apply for it in two successive years. 8 I received the grant application last week, 9 the County attorney and I have just briefly looked over 10 it, it's due on February 11th. If we would receive the 11 grant, the city has proposed through an interlocal 12 agreement that will get drown up to fund any money that 13 the grant does not cover. Our in kind contribution then 14 would be a place to hold the recycling or the hazardous 15 waist they pick up. Could be at the recycling center, 16 could be at the events center. No dates have been 17 specified yet. 18 But at this time, I'd just like the Court 19 approval for myself and County attorney and Mr. Garcia, 20 and probably Miss Lavender to probably review the grant, 21 to see if what we'd like to get into. If so, fill out 22 the grant and bring it back for this Court's approval, 23 at the first meeting in February. If we don't like what 24 it looks like then, we'll just say no. 25 COMMISSION BALDWIN: Let me second that 66 1 motion. 2 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Thank you. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: The last sentence. 4 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No. He's using all 5 that as a motion. 6 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. All right. 7 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Would you repeat it 8 to me? 9 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. 10 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'd like -- I'd just 11 like approval to pursue with the grant application. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Does it take a Court 13 action to proceed with an application? 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'd like it on this 15 one, just so we're not interested in it then we don't 16 spend all of our time. I think it's a needed thing to 17 get rid of a lot of the stuff that otherwise no telling 18 where we'll find it. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I move. 20 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Commissioner, does it 21 move for applying for it if you decide this is the route 22 that you want to go, which it probably will be, you 23 going to apply to AACOG for the grant? 24 COMMISSIONER REEVES: That's correct. 25 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And that's what this 67 1 Court order's going to be? 2 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I would bring it back 3 at our first meeting in February for the Court to 4 approve. 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I see. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: To apply for the 7 grant. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's a great program and 9 a lot people use it, and I think I'm very much in 10 support of it. 11 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And you mentioned 12 possible place. When you said the recycling center, 13 you meant the old recycling. 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Our building on -- 15 over on Schreiner Street. 16 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, yeah, right. 17 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Or the other one that 18 we have talked about because the parking problems, might 19 be the indoor arena at the Events Center because we have 20 enough crowd and parking there, and they could drive in 21 one door and just keep driving out. And that's 22 naturally would be subject to meeting with Jake out the 23 at Events Center and making sure there's no conflict. 24 COMMISSIONER MOSER: The location TBD. 25 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Right. 68 1 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and seconded 2 that we approve consideration or authorize to proceed 3 with an application there to apply for -- to the Alamo 4 Area Council of Government for a grant regarding 5 hazardous waist disposal. Any further discussion? 6 There being none, those in favor of the motion signify 7 by raising your right hands. Four zero, unanimous. 8 That takes care of that. 9 Item 1.21. Consider, discuss and take 10 appropriate action to authorize repairs and capital 11 improvements at the County youth baseball and softball 12 fields. Commissioner Letz. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. I put this on the 14 agenda, and I handed out today a list entitled KYBSA 15 complex needs. A little bit of update for little 16 leagues and with all of this about that facility and new 17 facility. After the final, almost final plans have been 18 drawn up for the new city athletic fields, and then the 19 arrangement that's going to be made that those fields to 20 be operated by a third party, it was determined by the 21 little league board that that facility will not meet the 22 needs of little league by itself. They do intend to use 23 it for their games, but the number of youth fields is no 24 more than they currently have at the current facility. 25 So their plan is to use the new facility, but also use 69 1 the old facility, with their growth and where they are 2 they want both -- you know, plan to use both. 3 I went through, or maintenance went through 4 this list, and everything little league drew up the 5 list. Maintenance has gone over it, everything that's 6 highlighted on the list are items that Tim looked at, 7 their safety issues, essentially their lights, and the 8 lights need to be replaced, and mostly all the rest of 9 it are chain links. A couple irrigation repairs that 10 he's already done. And then there's a lot of fencing 11 just over time, that chain link fence curls, and if 12 someone, you know, kid's to reach down there, they're 13 going to basically stab themselves. And there's also 14 batting cages that are needed. 15 The other items in here are all the 16 maintenance of the actual fields. A lot of L-screens 17 that need to be replaced, a lot of other upgrades. 18 Cover pitcher mound, Little League would cover all of 19 that. So it's kind of a joint effort to get those 20 fields, you know, safe again. 21 Road and Bridge has a lift truck that they 22 went over and checked, they have a truck with a boom 23 tall enough to reach the lights of the two baseball 24 fields on the Highway 27 side of Turtle Creek. So the 25 combination of the Road and Bridge and Maintenance would 70 1 be to change light bulbs. 2 Two things put it on the agenda. One, I'm 3 not sure it needed to be just to kind of authorize 4 maintenance to do the work. A lot of it doesn't require 5 any dollars other than manpower over there. But there 6 would be expenditures for some chain link material, a 7 few other ancillary materials. I'd recommend that we 8 include that two batting cage nets. The nets are over 9 15 years old that are there, and right now if you walk 10 by and a kid hits the ball just right you could get hit 11 right in the head with a ball and go out outside with 12 the hole in the net. They have been repaired but 13 they're pretty significant. 14 Little League has budgeted ten thousand 15 dollars out of their budget to do other upgrades out 16 there. And you know the cost of a batting cage net's 17 about a thousand dollars a piece, and then the other 18 materials is maybe 2000, I would think, for the chain 19 link. So I would make a motion to authorize maintenance 20 to proceed with the maintenance that they've identified 21 on the list and also authorize four thousand dollars out 22 of our Parks Capitol Improvement Fund for two batting 23 cage nets and chain link material required. And I 24 believe there's quite a bit more than that in that park 25 fund. 71 1 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I'll second. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Mr. Moser and I have 3 talked about it. 4 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, we talked about 5 it. Because I think at one time and I think Jonathan 6 said that you know a lot of this is safety related. 7 So -- and so therefore I'd go along with this. But I 8 think we need to come back on all the other things we 9 talked about on parks and funding for the parks and 10 those improvements that we want to make. 11 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. 12 COMMISSIONER MOSER: I second this, or did 13 you? 14 COMMISSIONER REEVES: I did. 15 JUDGE POLLARD: It's been moved and 16 seconded, that county maintenance department be 17 authorized to make the improvements thereafter described 18 on this exhibit that Commissioner Letz has furnished all 19 of us, and will become part of the record, and in 20 addition to doing that authorize the expenditure of four 21 thousand dollars by the park's fund of the County for 22 purposes of making the repairs, buying materials and so 23 forth for those repairs. Any further discussion? 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Just wanted to ask 25 the auditor, those funds are there -- 72 1 MRS. DOSS: In the capitol project fund, 2 yes, Sir. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: And this is not only 4 for little league people, this is Kerr County property. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 6 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: That needs to be 7 taken care of. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. Kerr County and 9 road and bridge also has been over there. They're under 10 the old agreement that's still in effect on kind of a 11 year to year basis. They go over there and maintain the 12 parking lot a little bit, fill big pot holes. 13 Maintenance has been going over repairing breaks in 14 irrigation and things. But little league is -- they're 15 putting in their -- like I say about ten thousand 16 dollars back into this facility. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And I think that 18 facility just keeps getting better and better and better 19 as you drive passed it, based on what little league 20 does, and Tim and his crew and road and bridge. So 21 it's -- it's a great asset. 22 JUDGE POLLARD: That's a really important 23 thing we do for the citizens of Kerr County. 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Absolutely, 25 absolutely. And when a baseball team wants to go there 73 1 to use the facility for practice or maybe even a game or 2 so, how much do you charge them? 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Little League's in 4 charge of that. There is a -- 5 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: How -- 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're currently under 7 basically the same agreement that we've been under for a 8 long time. Since they now are going to need this 9 facility long term, there's a license agreement that the 10 former County attorney worked on, and they will be 11 looking at it. But little league, that agreement's 12 specifically authorizes little league to charge an 13 appropriate amount for people to use that facility, and 14 actually requires them to allow it open to the public. 15 But people do have to pay if they're going to have like 16 the select baseball teams use it or other. It's up to 17 little league to figure out how to oversee it. So we're 18 not in the business of -- 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: They do all the 20 administrative. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And all that other 22 stuff. 23 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I want you to say 24 it's not near as much as Boerne would charge? 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And it's nowhere near 74 1 what Boerne would charge. 2 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Or the City of 3 Kerrville, but I'm not going to say that. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I'm not sure. The deal 5 with the little league is very, very fair. It's just as 6 not what they thought they were getting, but it's very 7 fair. 8 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Thank you. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Those in favor 10 of the motion signify by raising your right hands. It's 11 four zero, unanimous. All right. 12 Item 1.22. Discuss the recent, and another, 13 disruption of telephone service to Kerr County. 14 Commissioner Moser. 15 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yes. There was another 16 disruption as everybody knows that lasted for 13 hours, 17 and I believe it was January the 13th, somewhere along 18 that. 19 JUDGE POLLARD: Put me out of business, at 20 my law office. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Put everybody out of 22 business. Let me find something here, just give me one 23 second. I want to read something to show the 24 significance of this outage. We've received a letter 25 from Peterson Regional Medical Center. I'm just going 75 1 to pull out parts of it, the impact that this had on the 2 hospital. There was no access to helicopter transport 3 for critically ill patients, there was no access to 4 on-call physicians. There was no access to referral 5 hospitals to secure safe locations for information 6 transfer. There was no access to fax lines for 7 transferring critical patient information. 8 Also, the home health and hospice patients 9 without service required that all the nursing staff stop 10 their services, and confirm the welfare of each of the 11 roughly 80 hospice patients, and 160 home health care 12 patients. So they had to visit each one of those homes. 13 They were not able to interact and contact life alert, 14 personal monitors, and the loss of this service also 15 temporarily inactivated the cardiac system. That's 16 where EKG is transmitted from the emergency medical 17 vehicle, okay, the EMS vehicle, to the hospital. So 18 those are just indications of the types of things that 19 were disrupted. So -- 20 JUDGE POLLARD: At the hospital. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: At the hospital. This 22 is just the hospital. This didn't talk about all the 23 financial impact and everything else. So I followed 24 through, the Court authorized me to have a meeting last 25 December when the third or fourth cut occurred. I 76 1 reconvened the same group again, which included the 2 city, the two telephone companies, EMS, I met the 3 emergency medical management coordinators, 911 executive 4 director and some other people that have to do with 5 locating the services. We held that meeting last week. 6 The thing that is of interest, there were two cuts. At 7 the last meeting we had in December, we identified a 8 redundant route by with which all 911 services could 9 be -- reliability increased. That was put into place; 10 however, there were two cuts, one in Boerne, in Boerne 11 area and one in Bandera County. One occurred at 9:45 in 12 the morning and the other one occurred at 4:30 in the 13 afternoon. So even though we had the redundancy 14 route -- 15 JUDGE POLLARD: It cut the redundancy route, 16 too. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Two different 18 contractors cut the redundancy route. So we think we 19 have identified what the issues are. Part of it has to 20 do with telephone companies working with AT&T. We've 21 been in contact with them, so the only thing I'll say 22 right now is we know what action needs to be taken, and 23 that action is being put in place. And its a joint 24 effort between city, county, 911, and the two telephone 25 companies. The two local telephone companies are going 77 1 above and beyond. They came in here and made a nice 2 presentation to us, they're going to invest about a 3 hundred thousand dollars themself in making sure that 4 we've got this. 5 JUDGE POLLARD: That includes Hill Country 6 and Windstream. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That includes Hill 8 Country Telephone Coop and Windstream. So what we need 9 to do is get AT&T to do their part. I'll let it stop 10 right there, but thank you. 11 JUDGE POLLARD: What's it going to take to 12 get AT&T to do their part. I'm not going to let it lay 13 there. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: They've been 15 communicated with. We'll see. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: Okay. 17 COMMISSIONER MOSER: We have -- we've talked 18 to the mayor myself, have contacted Andy Murph(phonetic) 19 and AT&T has some internal affairs people that they've 20 been contacted, and to identify where the ball's been 21 dropped. And so I think that it's clearly been -- the 22 issue's been defined, the recommended action's being put 23 in place, and if it doesn't take place quickly, then 24 we'll come back to the Court and see what we can do. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: I think maybe Lamar Smith 78 1 oughta be added to that, too. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yeah, it's really a 3 state -- a state thing right now. There's no federal 4 regulatory system. All that stuff's been declared. FCC 5 and everything. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Commissioner, was the 7 error on the contractors or on the -- they didn't know 8 where the lines were, or do you know? 9 COMMISSIONER MOSER: No. The error was on 10 the contractors, I think, in both cases. One of them 11 there was boring, and they just bored right through 12 another one. They're using a rock saw, and so we had 13 the locating service at the meeting the other day, and 14 so there was, you know, and that's going to continue to 15 happen, you know, it's going to happen. 16 So what we need to do is make sure we get as 17 much redundancy in place as we can and diversity. 18 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Sheriff, if we get the 19 redundancy taken care of for 911, there's also the other 20 issues that the commissioner is speaking about, that's 21 separate, wouldn't it be? I mean such as the hospital 22 being shut down, or are they all routed for 911? 23 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: No; that's separate. 24 911 is just is another component that got shut down. 25 That's just you know -- when you lose those fiber optics 79 1 that's just one of the things it cuts down. Just like 2 it shuts down the banks, it shut down the hospital, it 3 shut down 911, shut down my office, you know, all that 4 kind of stuff. 5 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It cost this County 6 millions of dollars, you know. When banks have to shut 7 down, and stock transfers can't occur, and in addition 8 to the things that I read with the hospital, and the 9 sheriff, and people even though we had 911 service 10 there, people have, you know, AT&T service on their cell 11 phones, didn't do them any good, they couldn't call. 12 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Well, when the second 13 cut occurred, it pretty well shut down not just AT&T, 14 you know, because of the lines, you know, land lines 15 from here were shut down. Different ones through the 16 several carriers. So it's just -- we've even looked at 17 and I know we could go forward with 911 that we've been 18 talking about, and all the counties and entities could 19 help fund that, but my question with that is, well 20 great, we keep 911 active, but if nobody can call into 21 911 because of the cell phones, land lines or whatever, 22 just what good is it? 23 COMMISSIONER MOSER: See, that's it. 24 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: That's what I don't 25 know. 80 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: That's the interesting 2 thing. The first cut was made, 911 was still 3 operational because of the redundancy that was put in 4 place because of December 13th -- I mean the December 5 meeting we had. 6 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Right. 7 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And then it was 4:30 8 that afternoon is when the second line was cut 40 miles 9 away in Bandera County. So one was in Kendall County 10 and one was in Bandera County, and that's when 911 went 11 down. But you're right, independent that's just the 12 911. 13 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Right. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Hospitals, banks, 15 everything else was in fact affected. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: Tom, do you know when you're 17 using a rock saw and cut those fiber optic lines like 18 that, the contractor's supposed to find out from the 19 telephone company where the lines are supposed to be. 20 Sometimes they're not where they're -- where the 21 telephone company tells them. So my question is, did 22 they -- was it the contractor that knew that -- knew 23 where the lines were and cut the lines, or were they not 24 where they were supposed to be and he cut them? 25 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It was a little bit of 81 1 both, okay, I think is the right answer. 2 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Because I know I 3 watched the company, and I won't get into who, but I 4 watched the company, they're subcontractors digging the 5 trench for fiber optics, okay. And it was supposed to 6 be about ten feet off of the property line. And when I 7 got over there and looked, because it was ten feet off 8 the property line I had, and where I was going to build 9 a fence, that trench went like that,(Indicating), okay. 10 It was not a straight trench, it was crooked and I was 11 afraid of hitting. I told that subcontractor, I said 12 that's not a very straight trench, you know, I'm liable 13 to hit it when I dig a post hole. And he looked at me 14 and said oh yeah, it is a little crooked, so I'll have 15 to get them to retrench, so they retrenched it, so I 16 knew exactly where that trench was and that fiber 17 optics. But I still called 811 myself to get them to 18 come out and marked it. And where they marked it was 19 another three feet away from where it actually was. If 20 you're getting at who is -- who is in something like 21 this, who would be to blame. The original contractor 22 that installed the original fiber optic, the 811 that 23 didn't quite mark it in the exact same spot it should 24 be, or the new contractor that's digging and hits it, if 25 they're trying to lay all this within a three foot 82 1 trench to begin with, who's to say how it curves. So, I 2 don't know. 3 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Now, it's my 4 understanding in locating a gas line, okay, is just 811 5 identifies where it is, but they have -- before they 6 have -- before they take action on digging the trench or 7 whatever, they have to do a visual locate of that thing. 8 They have to dig down to that gas line, and see exactly 9 where it is before they proceed with their boring or 10 cutting or whatever, that doesn't -- that's not required 11 for telephone lines, my understanding. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or for gas either, it's 13 not, it's not. 14 COMMISSIONER MOSER: It's my understanding 15 it was required for gas. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: No. Gas lines are 17 better located. They will send a person out and do 18 them. They do a better job I guess. 19 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Well, some of the 20 contractors don't -- the other day we were talking about 21 that they have to do visuals. So some of that stuff -- 22 so maybe there's been some changes in that, I don't 23 know, John. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I know you can and I 25 have before asked the gas company, because I didn't 83 1 believe where they said it was. I said I want you out 2 here when we were digging because I don't -- I know your 3 line's not where you say, or it's as deep as they say. 4 Wherever they say as long as it's as deep as they say. 5 But there's -- the gas company's are a whole lot better. 6 The phone company's -- you know. I think it's just -- 7 it's hard for them to do, they assume the lines go 8 straight as best they can. And they're locating them, 9 and there's a lot of these that can cause interference 10 on their machines. I mean it's not their fault. It's 11 just -- it's a combination of all the above to 12 contractors that does the original work, and depth. 13 COMMISSIONER MOSER: And the 811 folks that 14 were there the other day recommended and suggested that 15 we have a work shop okay, for this area, for the 16 contractors, for 811, for the utilities and all, to make 17 some of these people more aware of what it is, what 18 severity it is, and how to do take more care of what 19 they're doing. So how good, what good that'll do, I 20 don't know, sometimes education helps. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: Well, the damages suffered 22 by businesses is one thing, we'll leave it up to them to 23 try to collect their damages, whatever they desire. But 24 when people's lives are put at risk, and people possibly 25 dying, now, that's something that we can't sit back and 84 1 let allow. We got to keep pressure on this. 2 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yes, Sir. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: And figure out how to solve 4 this problem. 5 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I do think we oughta 6 make sure that the voluntary fire departments know how 7 much we appreciated them coming back out again and 8 manning their stations in case there were issues during 9 the cut. Because I asked them to man them and they did. 10 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Is there any 11 further discussion on that issue. If not, we'll go on 12 to the next one. The next one is at 11 o'clock, timed 13 one. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We can pay the bills. 15 Everything else is in executive session. 16 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, let's pay the 17 bills. 18 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move we pay the 19 bills. 20 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded that 21 we pay the bills as submitted. Is there any further 22 discussion? 23 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Who seconded it? 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: Any discussion? If not, 85 1 those in favor signify by raising your right hands. 2 It's four zero, unanimous. 3 Budget amendments. 4 MRS. DOSS: We have one budget amendment. A 5 line item transfer in the Road and Bridge Department. 6 JUDGE POLLARD: That's a ten thousand dollar 7 move, I think. 8 MRS. DOSS: Yes, Sir. 9 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move for approval. 10 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 11 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded for 12 approval of the budget amendment as submitted. Any 13 further discussion? Those in favor signify by raising 14 your right hands. Four zero, unanimous. 15 JUDGE POLLARD: Late bills. 16 MRS. DOSS: We have two late bills, Sir. 17 One was for the elevator inspection and another one is 18 for supplies in juvenile detention facility. 19 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: I move that we 20 approve them. 21 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 22 JUDGE POLLARD: Been moved and seconded for 23 approval of the late bills as submitted. Those in favor 24 signify by raising your right hands. It's four zero, 25 unanimous. Did you raise your's? 86 1 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Yes, I did. 2 JUDGE POLLARD: Approve and accept monthly 3 reports. 4 COMMISSIONER REEVES: Yes. Annual jail 5 inspection report, January 2016, ESD, number one audit 6 results for the year 2015. Constable Precinct 3, 7 December 2015, J.P. monthly report December 2015, J.P. 8 monthly reports -- J.P. 4 monthly report November 2015, 9 December 2015, Constable Precinct 4 monthly report 10 December 2015, County Treasurer quarterly investment 11 report December 2015, County Treasurer monthly report 12 December 2015. 13 Is that all of them, Miss clerk? Move to 14 approve and sign as needed. 15 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: Second. 16 THE COURT: It's been moved and seconded 17 for approval -- to approve and accept the monthly 18 reports as read into the record by Commissioner Reeves. 19 Any further discussion? There being none, those in 20 favor signify by raising your right hands. It's four 21 zero, unanimous. 22 Any reports from Commissioners or Liason 23 Committee assignments? 24 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: No. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I just have one. Out at 87 1 the AG barn everyone thought we had that water problem 2 previously that we didn't get -- basically all the 3 plumbing wasn't working properly. And we went ahead and 4 authorized that being fixed, and Tim got it done. And 5 it's all a new variable drive pump, anyway it works 6 great. We have more water pressure than we know what to 7 do with. So it's well worthwhile move getting that 8 done. 9 JUDGE POLLARD: Any other reports from 10 commissioners? All right. 11 Reports from elected officials or department 12 heads, anybody? The Sheriff is saying no. 13 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I did mine right off 14 the bat. 15 JUDGE POLLARD: I can't believe that. We 16 even brought a stool for you to stand on. 17 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: You and Buster. 18 JUDGE POLLARD: Reports from boards, 19 commissions or committees. Anybody? City/County joint 20 projects or operations reports? Or any other reports? 21 It is not quite 11, you ready to go on 22 your's at 11, Rosa? 23 MRS. LAVENDER: Yes. Before we go into 24 executive session, there are some people that would like 25 to say something about what we're go to talk about in 88 1 executive session. We could go ahead and do that prior 2 to going out. 3 JUDGE POLLARD: All right, who are they? 4 MRS. LAVENDER: Miss Wilke, and I have a 5 letter from Mr. Knight(phonetic) and Rusty and Heather.. 6 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Start coming to 7 the podium, and identify yourself. And try to limit it, 8 please. 9 MS. WILKE: Good morning, Judge Pollard, 10 Commissioners. I just wanted -- I think the issue 11 before you today is whether or not to leave the crime 12 victim indigent coordinator position as is, and would 13 recommend that you do. It's been working perfect, I 14 don't have any complaints or suggestions for 15 improvement. Rosa's been doing a phenomenal job. It's 16 good to have her in a central location right here at the 17 courthouse. Most people think that D.A.'s and 18 prosecutors office at the courthouse, have had people 19 constantly coming to the courthouse looking for you, we 20 thought that's where your office was. 21 She's been doing a phenomenal job. She 22 immediately gets in touch with these victims when 23 they -- immediately after the case is filed, and she 24 keeps in touch with them throughout. Our office never 25 has to make any contact with them. She's very 89 1 knowledgeable in everything from burden of proof and 2 procedure, so we don't even get involved with victims 3 until it's time for trial. If we need a meeting with 4 the victims Rosa sets that up. She gives us some 5 options for dates and we come in and visit with them. 6 It's been working perfectly. 7 So I would ask that if you kept it be kept 8 the same way. I think the only problems we're going to 9 have is finding a replacement for Rosa who's good and 10 knowledgeable in really all aspects of prosecution, as 11 well as investigations. So that's my recommendation. 12 And I'll be happy to answer any questions if you have 13 any for me. 14 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Thank you. 15 SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: The only part I would 16 say is I think that it does entail even a lot more than 17 that part. Every agency's required to have a crime 18 victim coordinator and liaison. And my department would 19 have to, and all the other ones that deal with criminal 20 justice would have to have our own, if we don't have a 21 joint one. So the coordinator's position was created 22 and is funded through a grant, and I think the biggest 23 issue is Rosa's retiring at the end of this year, so I 24 think most of us would like to see that grant program 25 continue, and ask we hire -- and the County hire another 90 1 coordinator at that time, because otherwise we've got to 2 designate somebody to it, so does every other department 3 to do that. And she's taken on just a lot more than 4 just the criminal victim coordinator. Through that 5 program, she's also taken on helping and qualify the 6 Court appointments for attorneys and the indigent 7 inmates that do need court-appointed attorneys, or may 8 have such found someone who doesn't qualify for, which 9 saves the county a lot of funding. So this is a needed 10 program, and it's a very good program, because law 11 enforcement, D.A.'s office are extremely busy on dealing 12 with the crime itself, or the prosecution part of it, 13 where we really do need a liaison to help deal with the 14 victims and explain how the system works for them. And 15 help them apply for state funding for the client victim 16 compensation act, and assist them to get through the 17 whole system. 18 I've seen where you'd have to give a at the 19 end of Court where the victim can get up and read his 20 statement into the Court, where the victim's were too 21 traumatized to be able to do that. I've seen Rosa stand 22 stand up and give that statement to the Court for that 23 victim. And to also pretty well hold their hands of 24 kids that comes up there during this and explain and 25 show them how the whole Court process works. Because as 91 1 the Judge probably knows dealing with juveniles, you put 2 a kid in a courtroom with 12 jurors, and everybody 3 asking questions, that's one of the scariest things 4 they're going to -- that a kid can go through. So it's 5 a very needed program to keep them going in this County. 6 MS. STEBBINS: I just want to reiterate what 7 Rusty and Lucy have both said. I don't believe how many 8 cases Rosa has with the DA's, but I know that it is a 9 couple of drawers more than what she has for my office 10 and the misdemeanors. She's dealing with 36 open cases 11 right now, in adult misdemeanors and three I believe for 12 juvenile cases. And I can't imagine like Rusty said, we 13 each have to designate a person in our service in our 14 office to take on the role, if this office was not 15 replaced, and I can't imagine the amount of time it 16 would take for a person in my office to deal with each 17 of those victims in those cases, and we are all 18 stretched real thin as it is, and in each of our 19 offices, and I think that her role here, while she is 20 probably not replaceable, at least this office is 21 something that is necessary to how we run our offices, 22 and I just want to reiterate that having that Rosa -- I 23 mean that Lucy and Rusty has said. That's a pretty 24 necessary role in the County. 25 JUDGE POLLARD: Good morning. 92 1 CHIEF KNIGHT: Judge Pollard, Honorable 2 Commissioners. I'm going to keep this really short. 3 You already have my letter. I'm really reiterating 4 everything else that you've heard here from the other 5 agencies and offices involved. She functions this crime 6 victims compensation coordinator position really 7 function goes as a central clearing house for victims 8 advocacy here in Kerr County area. And it's worked very 9 well for the last 15 years. We've established a pretty 10 good working relationship with Rosa. 11 I think it's going to be very, very 12 difficult to replace her, but not an impossible task. I 13 think that the way that this program is set up now, is 14 truly a efficiency and economy of how we do things here 15 in the centralized location and utilizing that central 16 clearing house concept, our agency has sent forth about 17 334 cases to Rosa's office, every year. Which is a 18 significant portion. Now, not everyone of those cases 19 require some type of intervention, but she screens each 20 one of those cases, and does a tremendous job for not 21 only our agency but all the agencies in the County. So 22 you have my letter. Very short. And thank you. 23 MRS. LAVENDER: Before we go into Executive 24 session, let me make a couple comments. I asked them -- 25 told them what we were going to do today. As you know 93 1 we're going to retire the end of the year, and this 2 program is very unique. There's 254 counties in the 3 state of Texas. And as most of you know there's 254 4 right ways to do things. And for Kerr County this has 5 been the right thing for us to do for the last 12 years, 6 not quite 15. That makes me three years older than I 7 am. But other counties it might not work; but for us 8 it's worked well. It's six agencies, the 216th DA's 9 office, the 198th DA's office, the County attorneys 10 office which includes your juvenile cases, the Kerrville 11 Police Department, the Sheriff's Department, and the 12 Ingram City Marshall's Department. And when we started 13 this 12 years ago it was kind of like let's see how it 14 evolves, and it's moved into this situation where you 15 have one person that's the go-to person for victims in 16 the County. And I personally would like to see the 17 program left like it is, so that in the continuity of 18 it, whoever we hire, you hire, can be trained to carry 19 on the way it's carried on now because it's so 20 successful and these people have spoken to that. So 21 that's really all I want to say in this open session. 22 And then when we go into executive session, we'll get 23 into a little more detail on it. And the reason we 24 brought this forward in January, instead of July when 25 we're doing budget. Because there's a grant issue, the 94 1 grant's due next Monday and so the decision needs to be 2 made now about what we're going to do now. 3 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: All right. I want to 4 ask you a question, and I want to do it in open Court 5 for the record. Generally when you have supporters come 6 in, it means that there's a possibility of something bad 7 going on. Is there some reason that I don't know about? 8 MRS. LAVENDER: No. They wanted to be able 9 to do this. 10 COMMISSIONER BALDWIN: You're okay, you're 11 not paying them? 12 MRS. LAVENDER: No. They said they'd like 13 to come. 14 JUDGE POLLARD: He wants to see your hold 15 card. 16 MRS. LAVENDER: Okay. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's time to go 18 into Court. I mean we spend I don't know hundreds of 19 thousands, if not millions of dollars on the criminals. 20 And this is a small pittance that we spend in allocating 21 for the victims. And I think it's money that's well 22 worth being spent. 23 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Anybody else? 24 All right. If not, then we're going to go adjourn into 25 closed session at this time. 95 1 (Open session closed, executive session 2 held, the transcript of which is contained in a separate 3 document.) 4 OPEN SESSION (RESUMED) 5 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. We'll go back 6 into open session, and back to Item 1.6. Wait for Bob 7 to get back. All right. We're back to Item 1.6, and 8 are there any motions or comments or whatever with 9 regard to Item 1.6 after closed session? 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I make a motion to 11 authorize the preparation and submission of a general 12 victim assistance grant application to the office of the 13 Governor, for the fiscal year of 2016, 2017. And the 14 salary match should be same as it -- the same as this 15 year's, same as current year. 16 MRS. LAVENDER: No. Got a two percent 17 increase. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Same as this year except 19 a two percent increase. 20 COMMISSIONER MOSER: Second. 21 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Been moved and 22 seconded, as stated exactly in item 1.6, since you read 23 it. And I'm not go to repeat it again. All right. Any 24 further discussion? If not, those in favor of the 25 motion signify by raising your right hands, it's four 96 1 zero, unanimous. 2 I don't think there are any actions required 3 on the items, any other items in closed session, is that 4 correct? 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's correct. 6 COMMISSIONER REEVES: That's correct. 7 JUDGE POLLARD: All right. Is there 8 anything else? If not, we're adjourned. 9 * * * * * * 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 97 1 STATE OF TEXAS * 2 COUNTY OF KERR * 3 I, DEBRA ELLEN GIFFORD, the Official 4 Certified Shorthand Reporter in and for the Kerr County 5 Commissioners' Court, do hereby certify that the above 6 and foregoing pages contain and comprise a true and 7 correct transcription of the proceedings had in the 8 above-entitled Commissioners' Court. 9 Dated this the 5th day of February, A.D. 10 2016. 11 12 /s/DEBRA ELLEN GIFFORD Certified Shorthand Reporter 13 No. 953 Expiration Date 12/31/2016 14 15 * * * * * * 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 98 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25