1 1 2 3 KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT 4 Regular Session 5 Monday, January 8, 2024 6 9:00 a.m. 7 Commissioners' Courtroom 8 Kerr County Courthouse 9 Kerrville, Texas 78028 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 PRESENT: ROB KELLY, Kerr County Judge ANNE OVERBY, Commissioner Precinct 1 24 RICH PACES, Commissioner Precinct 2 JONATHAN LETZ, Commissioner Precinct 3 25 DON HARRIS, Commissioner Precinct 4 2 1 I-N-D-E-X 2 NO. PAGE 3 *** Public Input. 5 4 *** Commissioner's Comments. 9 5 1.1 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 15 action to approve Resolution for Victims 6 of Crime Act(VOCA) Grant application (grant cycle October 2024 to September 2025.) 7 1.2 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 17 8 action regarding signage for the building located at 550 Earl Garrett. 9 1.3 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 21 10 action regarding public access to the building located at 550 Earl Garrett. 11 1.4 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 26 12 action to approve the Kerr County Incentive Program as part of the Texas Association of 13 Counties Healthy County Rewards Program for 2024. 14 1.5 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 32 15 action to approve a $500.00 donation from a citizen for the Sheriff's Equipment Fund: 16 72-370-530. 17 1.6 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 33 action to approve the Agreement by which 18 Kerr County and its Sheriff's Office Temporarily Join the Mutual-Aid Agreement 19 for Cooperation on Law Enforcement Efforts between the Sheriff's Offices of Various 20 Counties, and to authorize the County Judge to sign the same. 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 I-N-D-E-X 2 NO. PAGE 3 1.7 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 33 action to approve the Mutual-Aid Agreement 4 for Cooperation on Law Enforcement Efforts between the Kerr County Sheriff's Office and 5 the 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Kleberg County Attorney's Specialized 6 Crime and Narcotics Task Force, Carson County, Fayette County, and Guadalupe County Sheriff's 7 Offices, the City of Wharton, and the City of Boerne Police Departments, to be in effect 8 from February 26th thru March 1, 2024, and to authorize the County Judge to sign the same. 9 1.8 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 38 10 action to appoint Noel Putnam to the Emergency Services District #4(ESD #4) Board 11 for a two-year term. 12 1.9 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 40 action to re-appoint James Wood, Riley 13 Rector and Albert Martinez to the Emergency Services District #1(ESD #1) Board for 14 additional two-year terms. 15 1.10 Informational item regarding letter received 41 regarding Freedom's Path Kerrville II Limited 16 Partnership's Application for 2024 Housing Tax Credit and Direct Loans Programs with the 17 Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs(TDHCA) for the Freedom's Path Kerrville 18 II development proposed to be located at approximately 3602 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville, 19 Kerr County, Texas. 20 1.11 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 43 action to set schedule and process for 21 evaluation of Kerr County Department Heads. 22 1.12 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 49 action to renew Lease Agreement between Kerr 23 County and Schreiner University, which allows Kerr County to lease approximately one acre 24 of land, where Union Church building is located, from Schreiner University. 25 4 1 I-N-D-E-X 2 NO. PAGE 3 1.13 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 50 action for the Commissioners' Court 4 authorization to go out for a re-bid for crushed paving aggregate. 5 1.14 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 52 6 action for the Commissioners' Court approval regarding the surplus of two metal desks, 7 one wood side table, and one metal bookshelf with glass doors from the Kerr County Road & 8 Bridge Department. 9 1.15 Consider, discuss and take appropriate 53 action to approve a revised fee schedule 10 for the County Clerk's Office for the remainder of the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 11 1.16 Discussion regarding Information Technology 54 12 Department transition, needs and options. 13 2.1 Budget Amendments. 73 14 2.2 Pay Bills. 74 15 2.3 Late Bills. 76 16 2.5 Accept Monthly Reports. 76 17 2.6 Court Orders. 77 18 3.1 Status Reports from Department Heads. 78 19 3.2 Status Reports from Elected Officials. 79 20 3.3 Status Reports from Liaison Commissioners. 82 21 *** Adjournment. 86 22 *** Reporter's Certificate. 87 23 * * * * * * 24 25 5 1 JUDGE KELLY: Court will come to order. It 2 is Monday, January the 8th, 2024. It's 9 o'clock in the 3 morning, and the Kerr County Commissioners' Court is now 4 in session. If you would, please stand for the prayer 5 and the pledge, which will be led by Commissioner Paces. 6 (Prayer and Pledge) 7 JUDGE KELLY: Please be seated. As we 8 start, I apologize for my hacking. I'll address that 9 later. But anyway, I'm a little bit horse today. The 10 first item on the agenda is public input. Before we do 11 that, I want to remind everybody to turn your phones off 12 or to silent so they don't interrupt the proceedings. 13 And the public input is for something that 14 needs to be brought to the attention of this Court. 15 That's why it's called input not output. We can't -- we 16 don't have the opportunity to respond, but it's our 17 opportunity to hear from the public items that they 18 think should come to our attention. 19 We ask that you limit your remarks to items 20 that are not on the agenda. If there is an agenda item, 21 we ask that you wait until that agenda item is called. 22 But if it's not on the agenda, this would be the 23 appropriate time to address the Court. And we ask that 24 you limit your remarks the three minute. So with that, 25 I do have one person who has asked to speak. Ms. 6 1 Beddick(phonetic)? 2 MS. BEDDICK: Beddick. 3 JUDGE KELLY: You may approach the podium. 4 Identify yourself by name and where you live. 5 MS. BEDDICK: Can you hear me okay? 6 JUDGE KELLY: Yes. 7 MS. BEDDICK: All right. I'm Susan Beddick. 8 I have a residence at 775 Target Hill Road in East Kerr 9 County. I have been working with the voter registration 10 list for Kerr County, and I've come across a few things 11 that I believe the Court needs to address, a couple of 12 them are very important and need to be done quickly. 13 I had called the elections office to see if 14 there were campaign finance limits. They didn't know, 15 and referred me to the Secretary of State's office. 16 This is a County election that I was calling about. So 17 the Secretary of State has no jurisdiction over campaign 18 finance limits; your court does. But the staff didn't 19 know. 20 They're very nice, and I want to preface 21 this right here right now. This is not a complaint 22 about the elections staff whatsoever. They need 23 training. I have called to ask if we can electronically 24 file campaign finance reports for candidates. They 25 don't know if we can do that. I will tell you that the 7 1 legislature, the 88th Legislature, passed a bill, House 2 Bill 2626, and the Governor signed it in June of this 3 year. All campaign finance reports must be online 4 within ten days of receipt. You must keep those 5 campaign finance reports online for five years. But 6 your staff doesn't know that. So it's a problem of 7 training. 8 I know that there's a transition and I 9 understand that, you know, they're great about getting 10 back to me. They're as helpful as they can be or as 11 they can be, but they're not up on what's going on. 12 So I would suggest, number one, get some 13 training. Number two, in working on these election 14 lists, I have discovered that the March 2022 primary is 15 listing people whose addresses are not Kerr County. I'm 16 not saying it's nefarious because I kept digging to find 17 out why this happened. These people moved after March 18 of 2022. 19 Somehow the database with the voter list and 20 the people who actually voted in March of '22 are 21 interfaced and you are changing the addresses on a 22 historic record. Those files for who voted in March of 23 2022 or any election, once that election is over, that 24 should be a read-only file. You cannot alter it. And 25 I'm finding that your election records have been 8 1 altered. So that's something that the County needs to 2 get on very quickly. I'm sure it's an IT issue. But 3 that -- you should not be able to go back and change any 4 data on a historic election that has already passed. 5 The other problem I have, and I would like 6 to refer the Commissioners to look at the Comal County 7 elections website. It is fabulously up to date. All 8 the links work, everything you want is there. You know, 9 what I need for IDs. Where I go for, you know, to do a 10 mail-in ballot. All of it's there. All of the dates 11 are correct. 12 Then take a look at Kerr County. The only 13 thing that I found in Kerr County for the upcoming 14 election is that it's May the 5th. But early voting 15 starts February 20th. It's not on your website. So I 16 talked to the elections office about this. And again, 17 they're very sweet. 18 They told me that they're trying to get the 19 password to update the website. They don't have the 20 password. Why does no one in the County have a 21 password? They can't update your website at all. And 22 that is pretty unacceptable in this day and age, that 23 you can't go and look and see the information you need. 24 Furthermore, the telephone number that I was 25 given on the website takes me to the County Clerk. And 9 1 I understand she is transitioning to that. 2 (Timer ringing.) 3 MS. BEDDICK: I guess my time is up. She's 4 transitioning to taking over the elections. But on the 5 menu items, you can get your mental health record, your 6 traffic violations, your arrest records, there is no 7 option on your phone menu for elections. So I would 8 appreciate if you would kind of look into this because 9 these are the things voters need. 10 JUDGE KELLY: Thank you. 11 Any other public input? Well, with that 12 we'll do Commissioners' Comments and today we'll start 13 on the other end of the bench with Precinct 4. 14 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: That would be me. 15 Went to the stock show last week. I was there each day 16 and then went to the sale on Saturday. They've kind of 17 transitioned to a new form on the sale and what have 18 you. And whatever it was, it worked. The kids are 19 getting paid off for their hard work. 20 Right now, the sale stands at a little over 21 a million dollars with -- and right in the range of the 22 sale from last year, but with 30 fewer lots. And so our 23 kids are being rewarded. 24 I will tell you this. If you missed the 25 sale or anything, and you still want to help the kiddos, 10 1 you can. You can go online and do an add on. It's as 2 little as $25.00 as you see fit for your neighbor kid or 3 anybody else that you know. So that's all I got. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: A couple things. 5 Commissioner Paces mentioned a light rain. In my 6 measure we need some heavy rain in addition to the light 7 rain because most of our creeks are still dry in spring 8 flow. And I'm sorry for everyone who has severe cedar 9 fever, it's probably right next to me, because it is 10 unbelievable the amount of pollen. 11 A couple people I wanted to speak about 12 briefly. One is Clyde Holekamp. Clyde Holekamp was 13 recently recognized by the Farm Bureau as a Texas 14 pioneer. Pretty big honor for Clyde. He's -- his 15 family has been in the Comfort area for over 120 years 16 on the same property. It used to be 5-H Dairy. Morris 17 was his father, who started that and his sons stayed 18 with it. And then Clyde's brother, Glenn Holekamp, was 19 a Commissioner prior to me. So hats off to Clyde. He's 20 still very involved with AG. 21 And next is we lost somebody in the Eastern 22 part of the County, actually lived in Precinct 2. Ed 23 Story. Center Point area has probably changed more in 24 the past since I've been a Commissioner than any other 25 part of the County. And due to two things, in my 11 1 opinion, one is the sewer project. It enabled Center 2 Point to make a lot of changes and some growth, and 3 that's something that this Court started over 15 years 4 ago. 5 And the other is Ed Story had a vision for 6 that area and spent a great deal of time and effort. A 7 large portion of the buildings in downtown Center Point 8 have been renovated, and they're either owned by him or 9 his family. He was an amazing guy. My wife, who you 10 most of you know, was his executive assistant for over a 11 quarter century. They were really almost part of our 12 family. Some of our closest friends. So our prayers 13 are with the entire Story family, especially his wife 14 Edith, on his passing unexpected. 15 That's all I have. 16 JUDGE KELLY: Two. 17 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll echo the loss of 18 Ed Story is huge, particularly to the Center Point 19 community. And Ed was a good personal friend. I met Ed 20 when I was working in India, years and years ago. And 21 he was on the Board of Directors for Cairn Energy, who I 22 was working for. But great man and he has done so much 23 for our community. And he served on our ESD No. 3, so 24 we'll be looking for a replacement for Ed. But 25 condolences to all the family. Such a huge loss. 12 1 The burn ban remains lifted for Precinct 2. 2 And we remain in Drought Stage 3. So I'll echo the 3 comments of Commissioner Letz. We need definitely a lot 4 more water than we've gotten. 5 I do want to comment a little bit about, you 6 know, the public. And I caution you that when you burn, 7 it's one thing to burn brush, totally legal. And no 8 problem in doing that when the burn ban is lifted. But 9 we've had a couple incidents where people are burning 10 things beyond brush. 11 In particular, there was one incident the 12 Center Point Volunteer Fire Department responded to 13 where an old building had been pushed over and a bunch 14 of brush was piled up on top of the building. Well, 15 when that building was burned, it put out a lot of 16 hazardous fumes and one of our fire fighters has had to 17 seek medical help because of it. That is illegal. And 18 there are a number of items that you can't burn, such as 19 electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, 20 construction materials, any kind of asphalt, old tires, 21 rubber. I mean, just use some common sense. Burning is 22 intended to allow you to remove the brush that's on your 23 property and that's fine. But we've had a couple 24 incidents here lately where we've had violations. And 25 you will be fined for that. Okay. 13 1 Otherwise, I'll give a quick update on 2 Center Point sewer project. Progress is being made. 3 Only seven connections remain. They all required 4 grinder pumps and we're down to only 11 septic tank 5 demolitions that remain to be completed. And D Guerra 6 is planning to have all those connections completed this 7 week. We'll see if the weather -- I'm not sure. 8 But they are, of course, way behind schedule 9 on Phase 2 by 427 days and Phase 3, 578 days. And 10 that's actually significant liquidated damages. Anyway, 11 we're all anxious for the final completion of that 12 project and it has made a difference but -- well, it's 13 sure dragged on. 14 And I also thoroughly enjoyed the stock 15 show. So commendations to everyone involved in that, 16 putting on a great show. And it was a lot of fun to 17 announce the market meat goats this year. So that's all 18 I've got. 19 JUDGE KELLY: One. 20 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I'll be the last 21 person to say that I had a great time at the stock show. 22 I did lambs. Shelly, Jan, Becky and A.J. made it very 23 easy for me to step in and announce that and watch those 24 kids grow, go across the showroom floor with their 25 lambs. It was just precious. So kudos to them. Ran 14 1 like clock work. The envelopes and the bagging and 2 the -- everything, it was really nice. 3 I got an inch at my house. I have a little 4 kitchen garden. And let me tell you what. Gardens are 5 loving this little surface water. No, what do you call 6 that? Not surface water. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's fine. 8 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Just the condensation 9 that's coming down. But it's not really collecting but 10 it is going crazy. But that's about it for Precinct 1. 11 JUDGE KELLY: And the only thing I would add 12 is I don't know if what I'm suffering from is cedar 13 fever or arena dust. And I announced the senior heifers 14 in the indoor arena, and I was fine. And by that 15 evening, it was this. And I was congested and -- 16 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Blame it on the stock 17 show. 18 JUDGE KELLY: Well, it's a reminder that we 19 have contaminated dirt in that arena. And that problem 20 has not gone away and I'm merely reminding the public 21 that it must be addressed at some point in time. So -- 22 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I need to add one more 23 thing to that arena. The 15th of this month, a week 24 from tomorrow, the Ag Mech show will be in that arena. 25 And if you haven't seen it, you need to come out and see 15 1 what these kids do. It's amazing what they're being 2 able to build with the supervision of their advisors, 3 parents and different ones. And you can talk to them. 4 And you might look at something and say, boy, that -- 5 adults had to do that. Well, you start quizzing them on 6 it and they'll know why each nut and bolt is on that. 7 And also, we have -- and I helped with it -- 8 is a cutting torch contest, which is a competition type 9 deal. And that's -- that's -- it's a fan favorite. 10 People enjoy watching it. So a week from tomorrow try 11 to get out there if you can. That's it. 12 JUDGE KELLY: Very good. 13 Okay. With that, we'll move on to the 14 consideration agenda. First item on the agenda is to 15 consider, discuss and take appropriate action to approve 16 a Resolution for Victims of Crime Act Grant application 17 for the grant cycle of October '24 to September of '25. 18 Miss Peter. 19 MS. PETER: Judge Kelly, Commissioners. I'm 20 just asking that you -- I've provided the Resolutions to 21 Judge Kelly. I think perhaps you had copies but it had 22 an incorrect date on it so Judge Kelly has the one with 23 the correct signature date. These will be turned in 24 most likely between January 15th -- they've had a little 25 bit of a delay, it was supposed to be today -- and 16 1 February 8th. And we'll just be -- this is like 20, 2 almost 20 years they've been doing this. So just asking 3 that you approve so that I can apply. 4 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll make a motion that 5 we approve the Resolution for Victims of Crime Act grant 6 applications. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 8 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 9 approve the Resolution as presented. Any discussion? 10 Miss Peter, how does this affect the budget? 11 MS. PETER: This affects the budget in that 12 for the majority of the salaries and our operating cost 13 in the past, this grant has taken care of a good chunk 14 of it. At one point I think it took care of a hundred 15 percent. And getting this keeps money down for the 16 taxpayers. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And this is a program 18 that we have to do. 19 MS. PETER: Statutorily, yes, sir. You have 20 to have this program to service crime victims. It's 21 part of Chapter 56 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Exactly. 23 JUDGE KELLY: I think it's required for the 24 three prosecutors' offices as well as the Sheriff's 25 office. Is that right? 17 1 MS. PETER: That is correct. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So if we don't get it, 3 we have to pay for it. Either way. Okay. 4 JUDGE KELLY: Any other discussion? Those 5 in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 6 MS. PETER: Thank you, gentlemen. 7 JUDGE KELLY: Moving on to 1.2 consider, 8 discuss and take appropriate action regarding signage 9 for the building located at 550 Earl Garrett. 10 Ms. Sanchez. 11 MS. SANCHEZ: Good morning. So we recently 12 relocated our office there and walked around the whole 13 building. We actually have nothing that states we are 14 in that building. So we're hoping we can get some 15 signage put up saying that, what offices are located 16 there. I did speak to the City of Kerrville. We have 17 some options. I'm not sure where y'all want to go. 18 We can put directional signage for the 19 parking lot. We can do a monument sign, which depends 20 on the size of the lot. If the lot is 50 feet or less, 21 the sign would be a total of 32 square feet. If it's 22 greater than 50 feet, the sign would be a total of 64 23 square feet. We could also put a wall sign. We can 24 actually put one on each side of the building, but the 25 signage cannot be more than 12 percent of the total 18 1 square feet. If we do a sign, the sign, we would have 2 to get a permit. 3 But the City of Kerrville said that's all -- 4 that people will find something and take care of all of 5 that for us. Or we can do a banner design. And they're 6 exempt as long as they're attached to the building. 7 So I'm just hoping we can get some signage 8 put up so people know who's in that building. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think we definitely 10 need it. I think one of the things that would make 11 sense from my standpoint, is if we put up on the side of 12 that building on the break, Kerr County Annex. So 13 people know it's the Kerr County Annex. 14 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: It's that building. 15 Uh-huh. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And then up by the front 17 door, you can put in who's in there. Put a directory 18 outside the front door. And there's a PDO meeting 19 Friday. They may or may not be staying there. That'll 20 be discussed, I think, at that meeting. I do not 21 think -- you know, we need to have a type of workshop 22 in probably February makes sense, as to long term use, 23 what our plans are for occupancy of that building. 24 But I agree with you, signage definitely 25 needs to go in there on the outside of the building as 19 1 to who's in there and exterior that it's the Kerr County 2 Annex. 3 COMMISSIONER PACES: The only comment is 4 that it's likely to change over time. You know, the 5 occupancy. So whatever kind of sign we devise should be 6 something that we can modify. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. That's why I said 8 Kerr County Annex on the sides to identify the whole 9 building. 10 COMMISSIONER PACES: Yeah. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And then up by the front 12 door, something -- you know, that you can slide names in 13 and out. Something like that. 14 COMMISSIONER PACES: Sure. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And we could get -- 16 maybe get Shane to get an estimate of what it would cost 17 to put some kind of lettering on the outside. 18 COMMISSIONER PACES: Sounds good. 19 JUDGE KELLY: And another issue I think we 20 have with that building, is the restricted access into 21 the building itself. 22 MS. SANCHEZ: Yes. 23 JUDGE KELLY: That was originally done 24 because of the PDO, the Public Defender's Office, who 25 was concerned about the clientele that would be coming 20 1 in and out of the building and they wanted to -- the 2 ability to regulate the ingress and egress. 3 With them probably not being there at this 4 point, what it looks like, we probably have to make a 5 decision. Do we go ahead and make it where the public 6 can walk in without having to be buzzed in? Because at 7 this point, you have to be buzzed into the building just 8 to get in. We do have doors upstairs limiting access 9 for those that need more security. But for the Veterans 10 Services, which are on the ground floor, there's no 11 reason to have any type of restricted access for them to 12 be able to get into the Department. 13 And so one of the things I would consider is 14 get -- I want to have the Annex sign, whether we call it 15 Downtown Annex or just Kerr County Annex, because we do 16 have a West Kerr County Annex, but we put a general sign 17 up and then we have some sort of directory -- 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 19 JUDGE KELLY: -- as to what's in the 20 building, which can be changed as needed. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 22 JUDGE KELLY: But I think we also oughta 23 consider it to take the restricted access -- 24 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Off the downstairs. 25 JUDGE KELLY: -- off the downstairs 21 1 entrance. 2 MRS. STEBBINS: And Judge, that's item 1.3. 3 If you want to go ahead and call that, y'all can talk 4 about those items together. 5 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. Let's call 1.3 6 consider, discuss and take appropriate action regarding 7 public access to the building located at 550 Earl 8 Garrett. So now we've got it all on the table. 9 MS. SANCHEZ: If you were going to take it 10 away, we were going to ask if there was a way we could 11 somehow wire it to where we buzz them in from what would 12 be from our office. Because the way it is right now, 13 someone has to buzz in, either Environmental Health or 14 Chase has to leave their office to walk and hit the 15 button so they can be in; however, for our purposes if 16 we're conducting interviews, we actually won't know if 17 someone is there to let them in. I -- I wouldn't even 18 be able to hear it from my office. 19 So if it does not become, just so people can 20 walk in, as an alternate could we possibly do where we 21 can just remotely buzz them in from our office? 22 JUDGE KELLY: And my opinion on that is just 23 one opinion. The courthouse annex is a public building. 24 And the public oughta be able to have access to the 25 building. If we have departments that need to have 22 1 restricted access, then we should do that on a 2 departmental basis, just like with law enforcement. Law 3 enforcement needs to have restricted access. And I 4 understand the PDOs concern at the time. But without 5 them really being the anchor tenant at this point, seems 6 like we need to open that building up. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I reckon we could also 8 put signage right at the stairs, going upstairs, just 9 saying "No Admittance." You know. And some people may 10 ignore it. 11 COMMISSIONER PACES: Put a little chain or 12 something across there. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And chain -- put a 14 little chain across there. 15 JUDGE KELLY: There's a door probably. 16 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And if you -- 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: You could do a chain and 18 then they could go to one side. 19 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: If you buzz somebody 20 in -- if it were wired that way, you wouldn't be able to 21 see who it was though, right? 22 JUDGE KELLY: From their office, no. 23 MS. SANCHEZ: No. 24 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Yeah. So you would 25 just be buzzing anybody in. 23 1 MS. SANCHEZ: Correct. Yeah. 2 MRS. BADDERS: So right now, we usually let 3 the individuals in when -- we have a doorbell that says 4 ENV Health. But a lot of times the public will use it 5 even if they're there for PDO. And so my administrative 6 assistant or my database clerk, she -- one of them will 7 usually get up and go assist the customer and just ask 8 them, you know, which department they're here to see. 9 So that's how it's been for the past several months. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Ashli, since you've been 11 there the longest and I know your department probably 12 opens the door more than anybody else, how many people a 13 day are coming into that building? 14 MRS. BADDERS: It varies. I don't really 15 know. But sometimes I'm out in the field and people are 16 coming in and stuff. But we do get a lot of foot 17 traffic. And so this PDO, they were there at the very 18 beginning when we first moved in. I noticed it has 19 slowed down some. And I understand that Veteran 20 Services will be also getting a lot of foot traffic as 21 well. 22 So we can usually see people as they're 23 coming in from the windows and know if it's, like, one 24 of our professionals that we work with regularly and go 25 open the door for those individuals. But a lot of times 24 1 it's just been them ringing the bell or if you see them 2 coming, we'll just automatically get up and go assist 3 them. 4 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Ashli, if you had to 5 guess, would you say half a dozen times a day, 10 or 15? 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: 20? 7 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Just a guess. 8 MS. BADDERS: Yeah. About 10 to 15. 9 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Okay. 10 JUDGE KELLY: That would be my guess. 11 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Okay. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Thank you. 13 MRS. STEBBINS: And there are other ways 14 that you can see through that door. Their offices can 15 use -- they can see who's ringing the bell and they can 16 buzz people in. It's easy to make that happen for them. 17 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, that's 18 something else. I think we need to have Shane look at, 19 as far as -- 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And I think IT. I see 21 Bruce in the back. They're the ones that have done the 22 buzzer system over there and kind of figured out what's 23 there originally and, you know, we need to figure out a 24 better way so that offices can see who's at the door or 25 open the door. One or the other, I mean. 25 1 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. I think what I'm 2 hearing is a consensus to approve some sort of signage 3 and a consensus to have more public access to the 4 building itself. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 6 MS. SANCHEZ: And I did -- I'm sorry I 7 jumped in. I was also going to ask if we were -- if we 8 could, the way the parking is there's one disabled 9 parking spot. Could we put two that say "Veterans 10 Parking" towards the front of the building, if that 11 could be something we could add? 12 COMMISSIONER PACES: Sure. 13 JUDGE KELLY: I have no problems with that. 14 Especially with veterans. 15 MS. SANCHEZ: And did we want to get 16 directional signage for the parking lot as well or just 17 to the wall -- I mean the building? 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, you could put it 19 on the building and then up by the door. I mean, that 20 way you get -- you know, if people -- you know, veterans 21 and everybody else know that that's the building they go 22 to, then they go up to the door. I don't -- I have a 23 hard time visioning how you would put signage for -- I 24 think you can put a sign somewhere in the -- facing 25 either the Jefferson or Earl Garrett. 26 1 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: The building will be 2 fine. 3 MS. SANCHEZ: Okay. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. I think on the 5 building would get people identified. I mean the 6 numbers there since that doesn't tell you what it is, we 7 need kind of a -- 8 MS. SANCHEZ: Yes, sir. 9 JUDGE KELLY: So what I'm hearing is we need 10 to get more input from maintenance and IT. Get a little 11 bit more information to get into the details before we 12 make a motion and a second and approve something. But 13 it's all -- 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It needs to be done. 15 JUDGE KELLY: -- something that needs to be 16 done. 17 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Yeah. 18 MS. SANCHEZ: Yes, sir. Thank you. 19 JUDGE KELLY: So at this point we'll table 20 those for more information by the departments. 21 Next item is 1.4 consider, discuss and take 22 appropriate action to approve the Kerr County Incentive 23 Program as part of the Texas Association of Counties 24 Healthy County Rewards Program for 2024. Ms. Soldan. 25 MRS. SOLDAN: Good morning. Each year for 27 1 the past several years I've come to you asking for you 2 to approve a County sponsored incentive for the Healthy 3 County Program that rewards employees for participation 4 with a paid day off. TAC has changed the Healthy 5 Program provider from Sonic Boom to WebMD ONE for this 6 year and they're changing the way they reward the 7 employees. 8 Our Healthy County Committee is comprised of 9 Dawn Lantz, Nataly Uribe and myself. We discussed the 10 changes that are happening in the Healthy County Program 11 for this year and decided to propose changes to our 12 County sponsored incentives in order to match the new 13 program that TAC has changed to. WebMD ONE uses a point 14 system for challenges and completing online healthy 15 related assessments rather than credits for only 16 completing challenges. 17 According to TAC, under our current County 18 sponsored incentives from 2023, we only have eight 19 confirmed employees that will have earned PTO for this 20 year. As you can see from the page I provided to you 21 for November 2020 -- or for 2023 as of November down 22 there at the bottom, only 15 employees completed three 23 or four of the fitness contests, 139 employees had an 24 annual physical, and since our current County sponsored 25 incentive requires both an annual physical and 28 1 completion of three out of four challenges, most likely 2 only eight employees are actually going to earn the 3 eight hours of PTO. 4 So with the proposed changes to our County 5 specific incentives that I have there for you 6 highlighted in yellow, we're hoping to reward more 7 employees for their efforts in getting healthy. 8 COMMISSIONER PACES: Question, Tracy? 9 MRS. SOLDAN: Yes. 10 COMMISSIONER PACES: I mean, does this have 11 an impact on our insurance rates so that -- you know, 12 does the County benefit by our employees completing 13 these activities? 14 MRS. SOLDAN: In theory ultimately it does. 15 Because if -- if people are being healthy and being 16 active, they're going to be healthier. And insurance 17 should -- 18 COMMISSIONER PACES: Well, and definitely 19 the employees are the winners when they do this. Sure. 20 MRS. SOLDAN: Yeah. So my proposal, instead 21 of just eight hours of paid time off for completing what 22 we want them to complete, we would give four hours of 23 PTO if they receive their annual physical exam, which 24 would actually reward more employees. And then if they 25 realize they're getting that, maybe they would also look 29 1 at completing the Healthy County reward activity and be 2 eligible to earn possibly six hours of additional PTO. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And the annual physical 4 is paid for by our insurance. So I mean -- 5 MRS. SOLDAN: It is. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- it's a -- 7 MRS. SOLDAN: It's a no-brainer. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- good thing. To me, 9 it's a good thing to encourage because we do catch 10 health issues early on. 11 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: How would the 12 challenges track? It's just -- 13 MRS. SOLDAN: Through a tracking device. If 14 you have a watch or something like that. 15 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Oh, okay. 16 MRS. SOLDAN: And then they have an app that 17 it downloads to. 18 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Okay. Gotcha. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean, I think it's -- 20 what we can do to encourage our employees to be active 21 and be healthy, I think is good. So I'll make a motion 22 to approve the proposed County sponsored incentive plan 23 for 2024 as presented. 24 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I'll second that 25 motion. 30 1 JUDGE KELLY: We have a motion and a second 2 to approve the Kerr County Incentive Program for County 3 employees. 4 COMMISSIONER PACES: I've got a question 5 here. Why six hours for the Healthy County reward 6 activity instead of four? I mean, you know, in theory 7 then you're going to have people getting ten hours 8 instead of eight hours and making it more 9 administratively difficult. 10 MRS. SOLDAN: Just more incentive. 11 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: More incentive. 12 MRS. SOLDAN: And this is actually modelled 13 after another County, what they're doing. So I just kind 14 of took what they were doing that TAC provided to us. 15 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Because you only had 16 15 employees do that portion? 17 MRS. SOLDAN: Yeah. 18 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Yeah. 19 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I kind of agree with 20 what Commissioner Paces said. I'm all for the incentive 21 effect, but I don't like lowering the bar, you know, and 22 splitting it up. You are going to get more people 23 getting things, but I would prefer to amend that motion 24 that Commissioner Letz, four hours on the Healthy County 25 rewards activity. 31 1 COMMISSIONER PACES: Be my preference as 2 well. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: That's fine. I'll amend 4 it. 5 COMMISSIONER PACES: Did you get a second? 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's up to you. Do you 7 accept the amendment? 8 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I guess. I'm all for 9 more incentive. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. I will say that I 11 don't know that it makes that much different from an 12 administrative standpoint because -- 13 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Yeah. If 15 people 14 did it, that's not much -- 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Employees -- 16 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: -- admin. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- take two hours off, 18 three hours off, and it's tracked. It's going to be 19 tracked the same either way, whether it's four hours or 20 six hours or whatever. 21 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, a year from now 22 we might do it again and put it back in. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 24 JUDGE KELLY: All right. Okay. So we have 25 a motion and a second, as amended, from six hours down 32 1 to four hours incentive for employees for the Healthy 2 County reward activities. Is there any other 3 discussion? Those in favor say aye. Opposed? 4 Unanimous. 5 MRS. SOLDAN: Thank you. 6 JUDGE KELLY: Next item is 1.5 consider, 7 discuss and take appropriate action to approve a $50.00 8 donation from a citizen for the Sheriff's Equipment 9 Fund. 72-370-530. Sheriff Leitha. 10 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yes. Judge, I believe the 11 Court -- there's an amendment to that. It's $500.00 and 12 it's for the Sheriff's Office; not for an individual. 13 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: That's a big 14 amendment. 15 SHERIFF LEITHA: Just looking for y'all's 16 approval. 17 JUDGE KELLY: From a citizen for the office. 18 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yes. 19 JUDGE KELLY: $500.00. 20 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yes. 21 COMMISSIONER PACES: And it's $500.00? 22 SHERIFF LEITHA: Exactly. 23 COMMISSIONER PACES: Even the amended agenda 24 has $50.00. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move for approval. 33 1 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Second. 2 COMMISSIONER PACES: Second. 3 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 4 approve the $500.00 donation to the Sheriff's Equipment 5 Fund as presented. Any discussion? Those in favor say 6 aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 7 Item 1.6 consider, discuss and take 8 appropriate action to approve the agreement by which 9 Kerr County and its Sheriff's Office Temporarily Join 10 the Mutual-Aid Agreement for Cooperation on Law 11 Enforcement Efforts between the Sheriff's Office of 12 Various Counties and authorize the County Judge to sign 13 the same. Sheriff Leitha. 14 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yeah. And Judge, can you 15 call 1.7? They kind of go together. And there's an 16 amendment for that and there's a couple of dates or 17 typos that are wrong. But Jason just walked in with the 18 correct ones, so -- 19 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. 20 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Pass them out. 21 JUDGE KELLY: Let's call 1.7 also. 22 Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to approve 23 the Mutual-Aid Agreement for Cooperation on Law 24 Enforcement Efforts between the Kerr County Sheriff's 25 Office and the 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, 34 1 the Kleberg County's Specialized Crime and Narcotics 2 Task Force, and the Carson County, Fayette County, and 3 Guadalupe County Sheriff's Offices, the City of Wharton, 4 and the City of Boerne Police Departments, to be in 5 effect from -- what date to what date? 6 SHERIFF LEITHA: February 26th, '24 to March 7 1st, '24. 8 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. And to authorize the 9 County Judge to sign the same. Sheriff. 10 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yes. Okay. Just so the 11 public knows and the Court, we ran one of these last 12 year. These kind of -- these guys are -- it's just 13 throughout the State. They're all pretty good. We're 14 wanting to do another one this year. We had several 15 arrests. We took several million dollars worth of drugs 16 off the interstate that time. 17 This is just a group of guys, like the 18 sheriff's office, police departments that you see, they 19 kind of join together. And we'll work a one-week 20 period, you know, 24 hours a day. So it's that time of 21 the year we want to do another one again and just 22 looking for y'all's approval. 23 COMMISSIONER PACES: Look, I'm all in favor 24 of it, Sheriff. Let's clean up the little typos. 25 They're still in a number of these agreements reference 35 1 to 2023 where it should be 2024, so -- but I mean in 2 principal I'm good with it. But I will ask, aren't we 3 just telegraphing you know when we have such a narrow 4 time frame, you -- 5 SHERIFF LEITHA: You can look at it 6 different ways, Commissioner Paces. I mean, but these 7 people we're targeting -- I mean, they're from all over 8 the United States. You know, I mean we're not targeting 9 people in Kerr County. I mean, we're targeting people 10 going from the west coast to the east coast. 11 COMMISSIONER PACES: I understand. These 12 days the way information gets out and travels, I mean to 13 me, I would have been happier to see a broader range, 14 and be happy to see these agreements in place. I'm just 15 a little bit concerned that we might be tipping our 16 cards too much, but maybe not. 17 SHERIFF LEITHA: I'll tell you what. In 18 2025 we'll check those out. Yeah, I -- I understand 19 totally. You seem like you could be correct there. 20 They're still going to be back out going down the 21 interstate if we advertise or not but -- but I'll set it 22 up. 23 COMMISSIONER PACES: A lot of them are 24 pretty smart, that's my only concern. I'll go with 25 whatever you want to do. 36 1 SHERIFF LEITHA: I'll change it next time. 2 But anyway, looking for y'all's approval for fixing 3 those corrections which Chase has brought in. Thank 4 you. 5 JUDGE KELLY: Have we got a motion? 6 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll make a motion that 7 we approve the Mutual-Aid Agreement for Cooperation on 8 Law Enforcement Efforts, subject to the date changes per 9 the corrections to reflect the date of 2024. And do we 10 need a separate motion for the other one? 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 12 COMMISSIONER PACES: So let's stop for this 13 one. This is for item -- 14 JUDGE KELLY: 1.6. 15 COMMISSIONER PACES: -- 1.6, yeah. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 17 JUDGE KELLY: So we got a motion and a 18 second to approve the Mutual-Aid Agreement as presented 19 under 1.6. Any discussion? Those in favor say aye. 20 Opposed? Unanimous. 21 1.7. This is a Mutual-Aid Agreement for the 22 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, Kleberg County 23 Specialized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, Carson 24 County, Fayette County, Guadalupe County Sheriff's 25 Office, the City of Wharton, the City of Boerne Police 37 1 Department, as presented. 2 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I'll make a motion 3 that we approve 1.7. 4 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 6 COMMISSIONER PACES: Again, it needs to be 7 subject to changing the dates. 8 JUDGE KELLY: Subject to the correct dates. 9 COMMISSIONER PACES: Yeah, to the correct 10 dates of 2024. 11 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second. 12 Any other discussion? 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Question. The mix of 14 counties seems really odd to me. 15 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I wanted to ask. 16 SHERIFF LEITHA: Well, I'll give you an 17 example. Like us. We participate in -- and so it's 18 kind of just -- I guess if you run a proactive Sheriff's 19 office, you know what I mean? I mean some counties 20 don't care to participate. Now Medina County, which 21 we're like, don't do it. So these are guys that -- that 22 do it and are very good at what they do. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I was looking, you've 24 got Carson County, Fayette County, and Kerr County. 25 Anyway, again, it's your department. I'm -- 38 1 SHERIFF LEITHA: I'll give you an example. 2 The guy who hits the several million dollar load last 3 year, he was from the Panhandle, from Amarillo area, 4 153's office. So, you know, crime is crime wherever it 5 is. You know, it fits the right vehicle. But I 6 understand what you're saying. Some police departments 7 normally don't get involved in this. But Boerne has 8 asked to be a part of it this time. 9 JUDGE KELLY: Any other discussion? Those 10 in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 11 Moving on to 1.8 consider, discuss and take 12 appropriate action to appoint Noel Putnam to the 13 Emergency Services District No. 4 Board for a two-year 14 term. Commissioner Harris. 15 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yes, I had a gentleman 16 that started out with ESD No. 4, and he's decided to get 17 off of the Board, and Noel was available and went to a 18 meeting and felt like she could -- wanted to do it, so I 19 move for approval. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 21 COMMISSIONER PACES: Second. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And third. 23 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second. 24 And for those of you that don't know, she had extensive 25 experience serving on the Hunt School Board, the Hunt 39 1 Independent School District Board, so she's got -- knows 2 the area well. So we've got a motion and a second. Any 3 other discussion? Those in favor say aye. Opposed? 4 Unanimous. 5 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Do we have a 6 certificate or anything, or do a picture or -- 7 MS. GRINSTEAD: Do you want to swear her in? 8 We've got the oath ready. 9 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. 10 (Ms. Putnam was sworn in by Judge Kelly.) 11 JUDGE KELLY: I need you to sign this. So 12 that's the one the State requires. Now this is the oath 13 of office. 14 MS. PUTNAM: Okay. 15 JUDGE KELLY: Raise your right hand. 16 (Ms. Putnam was given the oath by Judge 17 Kelly.) 18 JUDGE KELLY: Congratulations. 19 MS. PUTNAM: Thank you. 20 COMMISSIONER PACES: So it's Commissioner 21 Putnam. 22 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Thank you, Noel. 23 MS. PUTNAM: Looking forward to it. 24 JUDGE KELLY: And for those of you that 25 don't know, she is our Grant Coordinator here at the 40 1 County. 2 Okay. The next item on the agenda is item 3 1.9 consider, discuss and take appropriate action to 4 reappoint James Wood, Riley Rector and Albert Martinez 5 to the Emergency Services District No. 1 Board for 6 additional two-year terms. Commissioner Harris. 7 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yes. All three of 8 these gentlemen are on ESD No. 1. No telling how long 9 James Wood has been on there but a long time. And their 10 term is up and they've all agreed to fulfill another 11 term. So I move for approval. 12 COMMISSIONER PACES: Second. 13 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 14 approve the reappointment of Wood, Rector and Martinez 15 as presented. Any discussion? 16 COMMISSIONER PACES: Just one question. 17 Don't you stagger your Commissioners on this? 18 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yeah. We kind of got 19 off some way or another and -- yeah. Just like Noel's 20 appointment will be kind of different. But these kind 21 of came together all at once. 22 COMMISSIONER PACES: Gotcha. 23 JUDGE KELLY: And I don't think we have any 24 of them here today, do we? 25 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: No. No. Not for the 41 1 reappointments. 2 JUDGE KELLY: So we've got a motion and a 3 second. Any other discussion? Those in favor say aye. 4 Opposed? Unanimous. 5 Moving on to item 1.10, it's an 6 informational item regarding the letter received 7 regarding Freedom's Path Kerrville II Limited 8 Partnership Application for the 2024 Housing Tax Credit 9 and Direct Loans Programs with the Texas Department of 10 Housing and Community Affairs, for the Freedom's Path 11 Kerrville II development proposed to be located at 12 approximately 3602 Memorial Boulevard, Kerrville, Kerr 13 County, Texas. Commissioner Paces. 14 COMMISSIONER PACES: Yeah, I just wanted to 15 make the public aware. In particular I think this is a 16 very good thing, if it comes through. But we received a 17 letter from Arx Advantage informing us that this was 18 coming up. And this Freedom's Path Kerrville II will be 19 a new construction development, if it gets funding. 20 It will be an apartment community proposed 21 to be comprised of about 58 units, of which 52 will have 22 restricted rents. But even for some of our veterans who 23 don't meet the lower income criteria, they'll still be 24 able to rent one of these apartments and live in 25 proximity to the veterans hospital. 42 1 And so overall, I understand this is the 2 second phase, so it's another apartment complex that 3 will be directly adjacent to the first complex, which 4 the feedback has been very positive about, so I see it 5 as a great addition to the community. And, of course, 6 it is subject to receiving some credit awards for 7 housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing 8 and Community Affairs and then a soft payment loan, 9 which would also come from that entity, and that award 10 decision is expected in July, 2024. And if awarded, the 11 project would begin construction sometime in early '25, 12 and then be available a year later. 13 So again, I'm just wanting to make the 14 public aware -- can be provided. And the information is 15 in the letter that was posted as an attachment to the 16 agenda for the public's information, if they want to 17 make any comments. But overall, I see this as a great 18 addition to the veterans community. And it will be 19 focused on only veterans, is my understanding, so -- 20 JUDGE KELLY: And this is an informational 21 item. No action taken. 22 COMMISSIONER PACES: That's all at this 23 time. No decisions to be made, but if Jenna wants to 24 add any comments to that in the letter. 25 MS. SANCHEZ: Hi. So we do see for a lot of 43 1 our veterans population housing is a concern. We do 2 have a lot of veterans who are either homeless or on the 3 verge of becoming homeless so these will be very good 4 for them. But I also have my advisory council, Gary and 5 Vicki have been here since the very beginning of the 6 first Freedom's Path if there's any questions you might 7 have for them. And I believe they're on the City 8 Council agenda on the 24th of this month as well. 9 COMMISSIONER PACES: So again, no action. 10 It's just to inform the public. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Very positive. And 12 hopefully it comes to fruition. 13 JUDGE KELLY: Very good. 14 COMMISSIONER PACES: That's it. 15 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. So with that, we'll 16 move on to the next item on the agenda, which is 1.11 17 consider, discuss and take appropriate action to set 18 schedule and process for the evaluation of Kerr County 19 department heads. Commissioner Letz. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We talked about this 21 briefly at our last meeting. And I know that some of us 22 have visited with some of our department heads. I don't 23 know if all of them are done yet but I think that we 24 need to kind of formalize this and have deadlines so 25 that we get it done. Because it is important for our 44 1 employees to know were they stand, what we think and for 2 us to evaluate. 3 County Attorney sent out after our last 4 meeting a form we have used in the past. But anyway, I 5 just wanted to keep this all moving. 6 JUDGE KELLY: So how do we know the ball is 7 moving. At this point, do we want to go ahead and 8 memorialize that evaluation form for each one of the 9 department heads of people being evaluated to be 10 presented to all the Commissioners and the Court so that 11 we can all fill out our forms and get them in? Is that 12 what we want to do? 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think -- I'm fine with 14 the form. And to me, I mean, it makes most sense for 15 certainly the liaison for the various departments to 16 work together. In most cases there's two of us. And 17 meet with the employee, and then come back to the Court 18 and have a discussion on -- you know, make sure 19 everyone's in agreement. I think really we need to see 20 the deadline more than anything else. And I'd say by 21 the end of February. 22 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: First quarter, yeah. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Or have it done by our 24 second meeting in February. Shouldn't take that long. 25 COMMISSIONER PACES: So this only will apply 45 1 for department heads; not elected officials? 2 JUDGE KELLY: We don't have to evaluate 3 them. 4 COMMISSIONER PACES: But you'd like to? 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Only department heads. 6 COMMISSIONER PACES: Yeah. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And -- 8 COMMISSIONER PACES: So how do we handle 9 somebody like Kelly Hoffer, who doesn't have any direct 10 liaison, she's kind of shared -- 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think we each do it. 12 I think we do it on each employee but I think it's kind 13 of the Liaisons who really work together. But I think 14 we do it on each employee. And if you want to meet 15 individually with them -- and just because you're not a 16 liaison doesn't mean you can't meet with a person. I 17 mean, it's just the liaison is just for a convenience to 18 them more. And I just think we need to have our 19 evaluation forms in so we can discuss it at our second 20 meeting in February. 21 COMMISSIONER PACES: So -- and the 22 discussion with the Court will be in Executive Session, 23 I guess? 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes. 25 JUDGE KELLY: If it's personnel specific it 46 1 has to be in Executive Session. 2 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Was there a form when 3 you sent us that? I now remember that, that allows the 4 person that's being evaluated to fill one out on 5 themselves as well? 6 MRS. STEBBINS: What I've done in the past 7 is give it to them. 8 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Okay. 9 MRS. STEBBINS: Give them a blank form. 10 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And then they get to 11 do it and then you get to come together and -- 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think it's a good idea 13 for them to do it on themselves and -- 14 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Right. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- then turn it in as 16 well. 17 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Okay. 18 JUDGE KELLY: So to clarify the process so 19 we're all on the same page, all the Commissioners and 20 myself will receive evaluation forms for all the 21 Department heads. And if you have anything to report, 22 and give it to the Liaison Commissioners, the Liaison 23 Commissioners will also give that evaluation form to the 24 person being evaluated, and then the Liaison 25 Commissioners will present the evaluation to the 47 1 department head, and the department head will have the 2 opportunity for their feedback, which will be taken up 3 no later than the last regular meeting of the Court in 4 February. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think that really -- 6 the only thing I'd change on that, I think that the 7 Court would want to meet as a whole to go over all the 8 valuations before there's feedback back to the 9 Department heads. 10 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I think, you know, 12 everything else except the executive department heads 13 and liaison -- 14 JUDGE KELLY: So just to clarify the 15 process. The evaluation forms will go out and it will 16 be filled out and they will be given to the respective 17 liaison Commissioners, who will then be responsible for 18 liaising with the Department head, who will have their 19 own evaluation. Then the liaison Commissioners will 20 report back to the Commissioners' Court in Executive 21 Session and then we will present it to the Department 22 head. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. And if like, 24 again, some of them we can do it and like even -- I 25 can't think of an example. Maintenance, you know. If 48 1 we each want to do one on maintenance we can, but the 2 Liaisons more the direct contact. 3 JUDGE KELLY: Well, yeah. The point being 4 is that everybody has opportunity to evaluate. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 6 JUDGE KELLY: The Liaisons are the ones that 7 are overseeing the evaluation process -- 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 9 JUDGE KELLY: -- and there will be feedback 10 to the department heads. That's what we're trying to 11 accomplish. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. 13 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: We all interact with 14 different department heads. Like IT. I mean, good 15 grief, that affects all of us. A great deal. 16 JUDGE KELLY: Well, and if you don't really 17 have much liaison with one of them, don't evaluate. 18 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yeah. 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 20 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. So is that a motion? 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yes, that -- well no, we 22 don't need a motion for that. I think we just do it. 23 JUDGE KELLY: Well, that's informational at 24 this point. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Yeah. Informational. 49 1 JUDGE KELLY: Very good. 2 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: It's a good start. 3 COMMISSIONER PACES: Well, I think we all 4 agree that that's the way to do it. 5 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yeah. Information 6 with direction. 7 JUDGE KELLY: But I think it was good for us 8 to talk it out here so that we know the procedure that 9 we want to follow. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Correct. 11 JUDGE KELLY: So let's move on to item 1.12, 12 which is consider, discuss and take appropriate action 13 to renew a lease agreement between Kerr County and 14 Schreiner University which allows Kerr County to lease 15 approximately one acre of land, where Union Church 16 building is located, from Schreiner University. 17 And we put this in sufficient detail so 18 everybody would know that what we're trying to do is 19 renew the Union Church lease with Schreiner, which is 20 for the exorbitant rate of one dollar a year. 21 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I move for approval. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 23 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll second. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Go ahead. 25 JUDGE KELLY: So we got a motion and a 50 1 second to approve the lease as presented. 2 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Is the form the same as 3 the previous one or -- 4 MRS. STEBBINS: It's a little changed 5 because the last one that y'all entered into 25 years 6 ago had all of the planning for moving the building, and 7 updates to the building and parking lot. So what I did 8 was take what Jody provided to me and modify it, 9 provided it to Schreiner, and this is where we went. 10 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 11 JUDGE KELLY: So it's been modernized. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It's been modernized but 13 you approved it? 14 MRS. STEBBINS: Yes. 15 JUDGE KELLY: Very good. Any other 16 discussion? Those in favor say aye. Opposed? 17 Unanimous. 18 So with that, let's take about a little over 19 five-minute break and we'll start back at ten o'clock. 20 (Recess) 21 JUDGE KELLY: Court will come back to order. 22 Calling on the ten o'clock docket. Item 1.13 consider, 23 discuss and take appropriate action for the 24 Commissioners' Court authorization to go out for a 25 re-bid for crushed paving aggregate. Miss Hoffer. 51 1 MS. HOFFER: Well, we are asking the Court 2 to give authorization for us to go out for a rebid of 3 crushed paving aggregates. During the awarding of our 4 annual road material bids, there was a discussion about 5 one bid we received for our crushed paving rock. The 6 vendor that submitted the bid does not make the rock 7 that they bid and, therefore, would not be able to 8 supply the aggregates that we'll need. 9 This also means that we do not have a true 10 bid for the aggregates that we use. The County Attorney 11 advised that we would have to go out for re-bid on this 12 item. 13 So at this time, I ask the Commissioners' 14 Court for the authorization to go out for a rebid on 15 crushed paving aggregate. And I also wanted to share 16 one of our crew chiefs who went out and we located 17 within a reasonable location of gravel pits, and he 18 visited about 12 of them and got samples and, you know, 19 had said we're going to go out for a re-bid, you know, 20 do you think you would have time to bid on our material? 21 And everybody said they would. You know, even if we 22 get -- we figured even if we got five or six and re-bid 23 so that would put us in a really good position. Because 24 we had to do the same thing last year with it. 25 But all of the rock that he visited is very 52 1 usable rock for us. And we also changed in our packet, 2 there's probably some backup on this, we noticed one 3 county, I think it was either Comal or Guadalupe, they 4 had put a map of their county and they had split the 5 County in quarters for delivery locations. Because it 6 does vary depending on where they're coming in as far as 7 delivery. So we -- we split ours in half. And so we'll 8 see, you know, if maybe we get some better numbers on 9 that, so -- 10 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll make a motion that 11 the Commissioners' Court approve -- or authorize the 12 re-bid for crushed paving aggregate as presented. 13 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Second. 14 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 15 approve the re-bid as presented. Any discussion? Those 16 in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 17 MS. HOFFER: Thank you. 18 JUDGE KELLY: Moving on to item 1.14 19 Consider, discuss and take appropriate action for the 20 Commissioners' Court approval regarding the surplus of 21 two metal desks, one wooden side table, one metal 22 bookshelf with glass doors from the County Road & Bridge 23 Department. Miss Mendoza. Oh, Ms. Shelton. 24 MRS. SHELTON: Yes. Road & Bridge has asked 25 to surplus this and we ask that you approve. 53 1 COMMISSIONER PACES: I move for approval. 2 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I'll second that. 3 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 4 approve the surplus as presented. Those in favor say 5 aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 6 Item 1.15 consider, discuss and take 7 appropriate action to approve a revised fee schedule for 8 the Kerr County Clerk's Office for the remainder of the 9 2023-2024 fiscal year. Mr. Collum. 10 MR. COLLUM: Good morning, Commissioners. 11 Good morning, Judge. So what y'all have in front of you 12 should be not only our -- well, what we have as our 13 current fee schedule, but also the revised one as well. 14 As of January 1st this year, Senate Bill 1612 actually 15 repealed specific Government Code that we found in 16 quite a handful of our fees as it pertains to recording 17 documents. That specific code was LGC 291.008(d), so 18 the revised fee schedule that you have in front of y'all 19 will be -- that is in -- 20 JUDGE KELLY: This was a one dollar filing 21 fee -- 22 MR. COLLUM: Yes, sir. 23 JUDGE KELLY: -- on many items on your fee 24 schedule that had to be eliminated because of the new 25 statute. 54 1 MR. COLLUM: Yes, sir. 2 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I move for approval. 3 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll second. 4 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 5 approve the fee schedule as revised. Any discussion? 6 All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 7 Next item on the agenda is 1.16 discussion 8 regarding Information Technology Department transition, 9 needs and options. Mr. Motheral. 10 MR. MOTHERAL: Good morning. Y'all have in 11 front of you a five-year plan I was asked to prepare so 12 that that would aid us during our transition. I would 13 like to draw your attention to the number of devices -- 14 the number of devices that we currently maintain. 960 15 devices. Quite a few. 16 There's also listed there the types of 17 storage that we are using now. We have local storage, 18 and we also have -- beginning to have more cloud storage 19 and cloud applications. There are works in progress and 20 there are future needs down there. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Bruce, on the floor 22 space. What are the requirements for space for you? I 23 mean, the size and also air-conditioning, you know, all 24 that kind of stuff, security. 25 MR. MOTHERAL: All that will have to be 55 1 looked at, yes. And not knowing where we're going to 2 end up would make a huge difference in some of that. 3 Some could be reused and some could not. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: How much square footage 5 do you think you need? 6 MR. MOTHERAL: Probably at least double of 7 what we've got. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: What do you have? 9 MR. MOTHERAL: Two closets. Yeah, the 10 reason we had talked about the rear half of the tax 11 office, whenever that got -- 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. But that didn't 13 happen, so -- 14 MR. MOTHERAL: Yeah. But the space is going 15 to be similar. Because we need space for storage, as 16 well as places to put lab equipment so that we could 17 test things before we deploy. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So 500 square feet? 19 Something like that? 20 MR. MOTHERAL: That's probably -- yeah. 21 Probably closer to 800. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: 800 square feet. 23 JUDGE KELLY: If memory serves me right, 24 didn't we have a plan that we just took where the IT 25 office was and we do across the back of the courthouse 56 1 back where the storage is for the tax office would be 2 the new IT department, had we passed the bond issue? 3 And everything that's in that storage area behind the 4 tax office, I believe, are things that can be stored 5 somewhere. 6 MR. MOTHERAL: Pretty much. 7 JUDGE KELLY: And we need to confirm that 8 with Bob. But probably be the back -- and we need to 9 keep -- these are conversations that I've had with Bruce 10 that maybe y'all haven't heard. But we need to keep the 11 IT department here at the courthouse. It doesn't get 12 exported. Can't go out to the annex. Needs to be here, 13 because of the lines that we have coming in. 14 And the real question is will we be able to 15 go ahead and expand across the back part of the 16 courthouse right over here. That would be the ideal 17 space for the IT Department, wouldn't it? 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, what I'm -- we 19 also have -- the Treasurer's Office is now empty. The 20 former Treasurer's Office, and that is a pretty big 21 area. 22 MR. MOTHERAL: It is. But because of the 23 possibility of water incursion, you can't put it down 24 there. 25 JUDGE KELLY: See, we didn't know that. 57 1 MR. MOTHERAL: It has happened. 2 JUDGE KELLY: Yeah, I'm sure it has. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 4 JUDGE KELLY: So really, you're on the 5 ground floor. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Just knock that off. 7 JUDGE KELLY: Well, when you look at the 8 ground floor of the courthouse, the only place you can 9 go is either the tax office or the clerk's office. And 10 I don't think he's ready to give up his space. 11 MR. MOTHERAL: Anyway. But that's -- that's 12 some of the things that we're going to need. Now, when 13 the City was faced with a similar thing, they put them 14 in a separate building entirely and redid everything. 15 And they're doing it again. Because they're moving it 16 all to the new office. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: From our standpoint, it 18 would be financially, I would think, less expensive to 19 move the tax office than to move you. 20 MR. MOTHERAL: Yes. 21 JUDGE KELLY: I'm not sure Bob would like 22 hearing that. 23 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, we've had 24 discussions about the building on the far side of 550. 25 JUDGE KELLY: 600 Earl Garrett? 58 1 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yes. 2 JUDGE KELLY: Which we are for the second 3 time talking about putting temporary storage over there, 4 maybe. 5 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, you know, we've 6 been talking about having a drive-thru and everything 7 else for dropping off -- 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: This may be another part 9 of a discussion we have on facilities and moving things 10 around in February. And we need to -- we need to come 11 up with somewhat of a master plan, and a lot of it's 12 going to be, you know, things that were in the bond 13 issue that didn't pass but still really have to be done. 14 So just figuring out now how to pay for them and what 15 the priority is. Or run another bond issue. 16 COMMISSIONER PACES: Can't wait a couple 17 more years. 18 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, the problem's on 19 the table now. 20 COMMISSIONER PACES: Or move some of Bob's 21 storage stuff down to the old Treasurer's Office. 22 JUDGE KELLY: I don't make any plans about 23 moving Bob without talking to Bob, I can tell you that 24 right now. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 59 1 MR. MOTHERAL: That's all I was trying to do 2 is keep y'all in the loop. Things that are going to be 3 needed as the transition comes about. 4 JUDGE KELLY: Well, let's talk about that 5 transition for a minute. 6 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: When is the 7 transition? 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Before we go to the 9 transition, I -- this may relate to another question. I 10 hear from other -- from departments that moving of data 11 around, mostly law enforcement, judicial, all that stuff 12 becomes a major problem -- 13 MR. MOTHERAL: Yes, it has. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- in time. 15 MR. MOTHERAL: Yes. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And that's not a 17 long-term affect. So this year we need to figure out 18 something better there. Where are we on trying to go 19 figure out how to -- 20 MR. MOTHERAL: Would you like to join me? 21 MRS. STEBBINS: Sure. Do you want me to? 22 MR. MOTHERAL: Sure. We had a meeting last 23 week. And discussing these issues and what we're going 24 to need. And one of the things that came up was that we 25 were wanting to look at what's called tech share. 60 1 MRS. STEBBINS: Oh, you're wanting to talk 2 about that? 3 MR. MOTHERAL: Yeah. 4 MRS. STEBBINS: Oh, I don't know a lot about 5 tech share. I do know that the amount of information 6 that law enforcement creates, and not just the Sheriff, 7 but KPD, Ingram, DPS, all of the agencies that we work 8 with, the amount of information that they create so that 9 the prosecutor's offices can do intake cases and 10 prosecute cases and provide information to defense 11 attorneys is increasing. I think Larry said that even 12 the vehicles, the number of cameras in each of their 13 vehicles is -- 14 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yeah, we have four cameras, 15 so there's four different devices right there. Besides 16 the officer's camera on there so. And then you have a 17 call where three or four, five deputies going to a 18 disturbance. So multiply that times five. And that's 19 just a lot of -- 20 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And then they're -- 21 SHERIFF LEITHA: And we're required to keep 22 them -- 23 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: -- online tapes, the 24 size of the file keeps getting bigger and bigger. 25 SHERIFF LEITHA: Yes. 61 1 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: That's the large part, 2 yeah. 3 MRS. STEBBINS: And so, while law 4 enforcement departments are shifting to cloud storage, 5 we -- prosecutors offices are unable to efficiently 6 capture that data anymore. And one of my employees said 7 that getting the information from one of the law 8 enforcement agencies locally was going to take his 9 computer, so that he couldn't spend the time working on 10 it, 16 hours to upload that -- that case. And that -- 11 that's just unacceptable. 12 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: What's the answer? 13 What are other counties doing? 14 MRS. STEBBINS: So what Bruce said, there's 15 something called tech share. There's a -- that's the 16 next step for us to look into. We had a meeting last 17 week where Lucy -- one of Lucy Wilke's employees is 18 going to go ahead and schedule a meeting with Kendall 19 County, I believe -- 20 MR. MOTHERAL: Yes. 21 MRS. STEBBINS: -- who uses that. There are 22 other counties that surround us that are similarly 23 situated that use that, to see if that's an option for 24 us so that we can -- we can share information more 25 efficiently. And it doesn't take away, for example, the 62 1 Sheriff's need for WatchGuard and that contract. It's 2 just going to cost -- it's just going to cost more money 3 in order to have us -- have our needs met. 4 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Do you have a kind of 5 ballpark on that? 6 MRS. STEBBINS: No. No, we're -- 7 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Not yet. 8 MRS. STEBBINS: -- heading into that 9 direction to figure out what that is so that y'all know 10 before budget. 11 JUDGE KELLY: But that's part -- part of the 12 reason for this conversation, is because of the Open 13 Meetings Act we're limited to talking to one other 14 member of the Court. And this whole Court needs to be 15 aware of the momentous changes that are about to occur, 16 and the expense, and the -- what I call the transition. 17 And I'm not -- not putting Bruce on the 18 spot, but eventually he's going to retire, like most of 19 us are going to retire at some point in our lives, and 20 the whole IT department is on the -- the front part of 21 the stage as to what do we do. What kind of a 22 transition do we make here? And the tech demands are 23 driving a lot of it. 24 MR. MOTHERAL: Yes. 25 JUDGE KELLY: So this is a discussion the 63 1 five of us need to have. It's going to happen, and 2 we're going to have to respond to it, and probably right 3 away. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I mean it will 5 definitely be a major impact on our budget discussions. 6 And that's why it needs to be, you know, going into the 7 budget where we are. 8 JUDGE KELLY: I see a hand out there. 9 MRS. SHELTON: Can I ask something? But 10 what I'm hearing is it's going to have a major impact 11 because you're using staff time right now to make up for 12 what we're lacking in IT. So it sounds like it may be a 13 budget issue either way. If -- do you hire more staff, 14 or do you let IT reign in that, they're IT? 15 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Or you go outside. 16 MS. SHELTON: Or you go outside. 17 JUDGE KELLY: Those are the issues. And we 18 can't talk about them privately so we have to talk about 19 them publicly. 20 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And one of the 21 employees in that meeting that we had last week, the IT 22 meeting, he's got like four different terminals on his 23 desk. Because some things come from one company that 24 has to run on this -- it's ridiculous how -- how he can 25 operate his job when he's watching this one and they're 64 1 taking ours. And it's not that we don't have the 2 bandwidth, right? 3 MR. MOTHERAL: No. 4 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: That wasn't the issue. 5 It's just the size of these files and combining them and 6 to make a packet for them to give out has just 7 ballooned. 8 JUDGE KELLY: Well, let me kind of recap 9 what I'm thinking here. We talk about the space. That 10 was the first thing we talked about. And that's 11 critical. And that's probably something that we need to 12 address sooner rather than later. And it's probably 13 time to sit down and have a joint conversation with the 14 tax office and maybe even the Clerk's office and talk 15 about what we can do and what we can't do. We know 16 we've got some physical limitation, that it has to be on 17 the first floor. But this is going to have to happen 18 pretty soon. 19 We've got the 600 Earl Garrett building 20 right now that's empty, that we can use for temporary 21 storage is what we've been talking about. Maybe we can 22 talk to Bob about moving some of the things that he 23 stores over there and put it in some kind of a secure 24 environment. I don't know. A lot of these things have 25 to be secured. 65 1 We're talking about the equipment. Talking 2 about office space. Talking about equipment. And 3 this -- this new tech -- what is it? 4 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Tech share. 5 MR. MOTHERAL: Tech share. 6 JUDGE KELLY: And that's something that 7 we -- we're going to need to transition to during this 8 budget cycle. I mean, we're still under this budget 9 through the end of September. 10 And then we talked about personnel. And we 11 talked about management of the IT department, the growth 12 of the IT department. I know my private conversations 13 with Bruce, I know we're talking about we have personnel 14 needs over there right now as we speak. And I'm also 15 pretty sure, don't mean to talk out of turn, but 16 whenever Bruce does retire, we're probably not going to 17 get somebody that's going to work for his salary. 18 That's going to be an issue. 19 And all this stuff is on the table right now 20 and we need to be paying attention to it. So I'm trying 21 to be a little bit of a provocateur and poke the bear a 22 little bit because we need to discuss these things while 23 we still have Bruce with us. Because it's important. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well what's -- either to 25 you, Judge, or to Bruce, what are the steps we need 66 1 to -- you know, just update us on a monthly basis, every 2 other week? I mean, we need to -- yeah, we talked about 3 it today, where are we going next? 4 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Some of those are tied 5 up in contracts. 6 COMMISSIONER PACES: We're trying to cover 7 our bases. 8 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Some of these are tied 9 up in contracts, too. So we may need a calendar of 10 who's in for what over the long haul when we can start 11 making those changes as well. 12 JUDGE KELLY: But in response to your 13 question as it's directed to me. Everybody at the 14 County knows that I don't like surprises and I like 15 plans. And we do not have a plan on IT's growth on 16 transition. And we need a plan. That's what I think we 17 need. And the plan has to be put together by the people 18 that are in the know. 19 Obviously, we want to get the benefit of 20 Bruce's expertise before he retires. We need to get the 21 input from the other departments that have major 22 techniques. We need to have input from the Court. And 23 we need to have some ad hoc committee come back and 24 report to this Court on a regular basis to bring us 25 along with this process; otherwise, we're not going to 67 1 know what's happening and it's just going to -- we're 2 going to wake up one morning and -- and I don't mean to 3 pick on you, Bruce, but you're going to put in your 4 notice and then what do we do? 5 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Do we need to have a 6 workshop? 7 JUDGE KELLY: Well, no, it's -- 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: It sounds like what we 9 need is what we're doing with -- looking at our step and 10 grade system, which is what Commissioner Paces and I are 11 on that committee. We need a committee with Liaisons 12 running it and figuring out who needs to be on the 13 committee and come back with -- 14 JUDGE KELLY: Well, the liaison is right 15 here. 16 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: I was going to say, 17 I'll start that committee. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And figure out who needs 19 to be on it and then come back to the Court in a finite 20 period, which would probably be the first of April, 21 really. If we're trying to be realistic. 22 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Right. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Because our goal was 24 first of March and I'm not sure we're going to make it. 25 COMMISSIONER PACES: Well, we're trying. 68 1 COMMISSIONER LETZ: We're trying. Yeah. 2 JUDGE KELLY: Let me just offer a reminder. 3 When we did -- when we were trying to assess what our 4 capital improvement needs were, we put together the 5 capital improvement plan committee, the CIP. And the 6 way we did that was every commissioner appointed 7 somebody to serve on this committee. And then we 8 interfaced with record office holders, with department 9 heads, and came back with recommendations to the Court. 10 And that's how we worked through that. I think that 11 process worked well. 12 I don't know if that's what we want to do 13 here or do we go ahead and just say, okay, we've got the 14 head of IT, and the Liaison Commissioner, and the County 15 Attorney or something like that, and put together a 16 committee that way. But we need to have something, some 17 vehicle, to tackle this problem and to report to us. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I would like to have an 19 outside person as well. And I know -- Bruce, and you 20 may know this -- I know we have a company in San 21 Antonio, I can't remember their name, that does help 22 with security. 23 MR. MOTHERAL: ARX technology. 24 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Do they have a -- 25 someone that can help us in this area? 69 1 MR. MOTHERAL: Sure. Sure. But be aware 2 that they're going to self-promote quite a bit. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. Well, and -- or 4 if there's somebody else. I mean, but I think we need 5 to have some other external input, in my mind. 6 JUDGE KELLY: I agree. 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Maybe the City of 8 Kerrville. I mean, I don't -- or some other IT 9 department around. Or maybe Kendall County. I mean, 10 you know, this would help to have -- 11 JUDGE KELLY: I don't know if they're going 12 to come over and work -- work for us. 13 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Not work for us. It's 14 just help on -- I mean, right now we have -- there's a 15 City committee going on right now that we have Kerr 16 County employees on. Maybe Reagan. 17 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And it's also helpful 18 to know what they're using because these guys are 19 interfacing with them and are these going to match up. 20 And so that is important. 21 JUDGE KELLY: Yeah. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: So anyway, I'll leave 23 that up to those that know IT a lot better than I do as 24 to who, but I think we need to have some outside input. 25 MRS. STEBBINS: May I also recommend that 70 1 the Sheriff or one of his designees because -- 2 JUDGE KELLY: Oh, of course. 3 MRS. STEBBINS: -- of the amount of 4 information comes from him, that department, that would 5 be really helpful. So if you could say Sheriff or 6 designee and -- 7 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. I agree. And 8 maybe our next meeting come back with a proposed 9 committee. 10 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Good. 11 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: You know, and a lot of 12 that with Bob we should probably get Ian and Bob on that 13 committee as well, I think. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 15 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, IT is in spaces 16 that are right next -- 17 JUDGE KELLY: Well, one of the things that 18 I'm concerned about -- I hear ya, and there's no 19 question that we need their input. It's vital. 20 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Exactly. 21 JUDGE KELLY: And we need their buy-in. 22 It's vital. But at the same time, they're really the 23 stakeholders. And is this the decision that this Court 24 is going to want to make or a committee of interested 25 parties make? 71 1 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Well, that's true. 2 But -- 3 JUDGE KELLY: One of the things that I like 4 about the CIP structure was, it was always open to any 5 one of the Commissioners to visit anytime they want. 6 And nearly everybody took advantage and did this to find 7 out where we were on this stuff and get their input. 8 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I guess my issue on this 9 one -- I don't think we need to appoint another 10 Commissioner to it. 11 JUDGE KELLY: No, I'm not saying that. I'm 12 saying we have a committee. That was a five person 13 committee. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. Okay. 15 JUDGE KELLY: And so we ought to have a 16 committee that we agree on, and then they are 17 responsible for coordinating with the major 18 stakeholders. Like the Sheriff's office is always a 19 major stakeholder in this thing. And in this case, the 20 County Clerk's office, the tax office. 21 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. Well, I'll just 22 turn it over to Commissioner Overby to come back with a 23 recommended committee and we can discuss it and -- 24 MRS. STEBBINS: And Texas Association of 25 Counties might also have someone that can be helpful to 72 1 us in that regard and help evaluate and -- and help. 2 MR. MOTHERAL: That's true. And they're 3 free. 4 JUDGE KELLY: So our consensus is -- I see a 5 hand up out there. 6 MRS. LANTZ: Go ahead. 7 JUDGE KELLY: No. 8 MRS. LANTZ: I just want to see if I can ask 9 Bruce the status of Odyssey. When are we going to be -- 10 MR. MOTHERAL: It's in progress. 11 MRS. LANTZ: Because, I mean, the longer -- 12 it's just worse and worse and worse. I mean, our team 13 is not getting updated. 14 MR. MOTHERAL: And we're -- it's kind of 15 like the -- we're waiting on -- 16 JUDGE KELLY: Time out. Somebody articulate 17 the problem with Odyssey so the public knows what we're 18 talking about. 19 MRS. LANTZ: It's aged. 20 MR. MOTHERAL: It's very aged. 21 JUDGE KELLY: And Odyssey is the -- 22 MR. MOTHERAL: It's the software we use from 23 dispatch through prosecution. 24 JUDGE KELLY: But it directly impacts the 25 clerk's office, both district and county, because all 73 1 those two use Odyssey? 2 MR. MOTHERAL: Correct. Yes. 3 MRS. LANTZ: Law enforce -- I mean, excuse 4 me, judicial input because our e-file needs to be 5 integrated where the judges get all their paperwork and 6 we're not -- we can't do that. 7 JUDGE KELLY: Well, then our future with 8 Odyssey is probably something that's on the table for 9 discussion in terms of -- 10 MR. MOTHERAL: It is. It's on that list. 11 JUDGE KELLY: Well, I guess the good news 12 and the bad news is -- the good news is we talked about 13 it and I feel better that we're sharing the information. 14 The bad news is we gotta roll up our sleeves and do 15 something about this. So I think we're all in 16 consensus. What I'm hearing is we have a consensus to 17 do something and we'll wait for a report back from our 18 liaison commissioner. 19 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Okay. 20 COMMISSIONER LETZ: The 22nd. 21 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Two weeks. Okay. 22 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. Very good. So with 23 that, I think that completes the consideration agenda. 24 We'll move on to the approval agenda. 25 Item 2.1, which are budget amendments. 74 1 MS. SHELTON: Yes. You have six budget 2 adjustments in front of you. Most of these are line 3 item transfers. The third budget adjustment down is to 4 take care of the projects that were approved at the -- 5 in August, I believe it is, so it's just to make that 6 normal, that yes, we're still going to cover those 7 four -- I think there's four projects with that. Is 8 that correct, Bruce? 9 MR. MOTHERAL: Uh-huh. 10 MRS. SHELTON: And so, y'all had already 11 approved it last year to come out of contingency, but 12 they were not completed in time. The fifth budget 13 adjustment is to add the Lone Star grant revenue and 14 expenses for the year. And so those are just two that 15 are kind of a little bit more unusual. 16 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: I move for approval. 17 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Second. 18 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 19 approve the budget amendments as presented. Any 20 discussion? 21 JUDGE KELLY: Those in favor say aye. 22 Opposed? Unanimous. 23 Item 2.2 pay the bills. 24 MS. SHELTON: Yes. With this first one, 25 we're asking that invoices are $270,506.25. There were 75 1 two invoices that came in this morning, and so we're 2 asking that you approve this, and know that it will not 3 exceed this amount. The Treasurer and I need time to 4 review them. They are for a lesser amount than what 5 y'all are approving. 6 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. I move for 7 approval. 8 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Second. 9 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 10 approve the payment as presented. 11 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Well, not as presented. 12 As may be modified. 13 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Amended. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: But the amount -- 15 JUDGE KELLY: As may be adjusted. 16 COMMISSIONER LETZ: May be adjusted. 17 MRS. SHELTON: Right now it's about a 18 $650.00 difference. It's less. So -- 19 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. 20 JUDGE KELLY: But we'll approve up to this 21 amount. 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. 23 JUDGE KELLY: To be adjusted. 24 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Okay. 25 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. Very good. Any other 76 1 discussion? Those in favor say aye. Opposed? 2 Unanimous. 3 Item 2.3 late bills. 4 MRS. SHELTON: Yes. $500.00. 5 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Move for approval. 6 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Second. 7 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 8 approve the late bills as presented. Any discussion? 9 Those in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 10 2.4 Auditor reports. 11 MRS. SHELTON: There are not any. 12 JUDGE KELLY: Very well. 13 MRS. SHELTON: Except the County audit will 14 begin next Tuesday, on the 16th. 15 JUDGE KELLY: Oh, yes. It's audit time. 16 MRS. SHELTON: External audit. 17 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: And she smiles. 18 JUDGE KELLY: That's always a fun time. 19 MRS. SHELTON: It is fun. It'll be 20 amplified by the end of next week. 21 JUDGE KELLY: We'll move on to item 2.5 22 monthly reports. 23 COMMISSIONER HARRIS: Yes. For November 24 2023 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Honorable Mitzi 25 French. December 2023 Justice of the Peace, Judge Mitzi 77 1 French, Precinct 1. Judge Hoyne, Precinct 2. Judge 2 Kathy Mitchell, Precinct 3. Constable Tommy Rodriguez, 3 Precinct 1. Kyle Snyder, Precinct 2. Paul Gonzalez, 4 Precinct 3. Brad Ryder, Precinct 4. Treasurer's 5 report, County Treasurer Tracy Soldan. Environmental 6 Health, Director Ashli Badders. Auditor's office, 7 County Auditor Tanya Shelton. District Clerk's Office, 8 District Clerk Dawn Lantz. And payroll December 2023, 9 County Treasurer, Tracy Soldan. I move for approval. 10 COMMISSIONER PACES: I'll second. 11 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion and a second to 12 approve the reports as presented. Any discussion? 13 Those in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 14 2.6 court orders. 15 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Got the Court Orders 16 from our December 27th, 2023, meeting. 40377 through 17 40397. They all look to be in order. I move for 18 approval. 19 COMMISSIONER PACES: Second. 20 JUDGE KELLY: Got a motion to approve the 21 Court Orders as presented. And second. Any discussion? 22 Those in favor say aye. Opposed? Unanimous. 23 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Judge, I do have a 24 comment on that. We still have an outstanding court 25 order regarding Tucker Street. And we -- I just need to 78 1 make sure we don't forget that. I know at some point 2 that's an important one that we need to get an order on. 3 MRS. STEBBINS: Charlie and I keep talking 4 about it. He was -- called me late Friday afternoon 5 and I was going to call him back this morning but he's 6 out sick. But we will touch base tomorrow and let you 7 know. But there's a piece of critical information we're 8 waiting on from someone else for that order. 9 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Okay. Just wanted to 10 make sure it doesn't -- 11 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Get away. 12 COMMISSIONER LETZ: -- forget. 13 JUDGE KELLY: Okay. Moving on to the 14 information agenda. 3.1 reports from department heads. 15 Ms. Badders. 16 MS. BADDERS: Good morning. I just wanted 17 to inform the Court, last week I was contacted by a 18 board member for the Texas Onsite Water Association, 19 asking if I would present at this year's Solar 20 Conference at the Waco convention in March. And so the 21 TOWA is the largest OSSF conference in the southwest. 22 So I'll be collaborating with a couple of DRs from 23 various counties, and presenting at the TOWA conference 24 this year. 25 And then secondly, y'all may recall last 79 1 month or two months ago almost, whenever I came here to 2 ask about the MGO. Well, we've decided to go a 3 different route, and we decided to stay with our current 4 software that we currently have, Safe, but just update 5 it to the cloud version. And thanks to Bruce, IT, and 6 working with them and the software provider, we've been 7 able to get that up and running and its been very 8 efficient and we're very pleased with it. So it 9 definitely helps with our needs as far as our 10 department. It also was more cost effective so we're 11 able to save about 3,000 annually with that, so -- 12 JUDGE KELLY: Good. 13 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: There we go. 14 JUDGE KELLY: Any other department heads? 15 Move on to Item 3.2 reports from elected 16 officials. Ms. Lantz. 17 MRS. LANTZ: Good morning, Judge, 18 Commissioners. I just wanted to give you an update 19 about what's going on in the District Clerk's office. I 20 want to give kudos to Terry Lyle, our senior collections 21 clerk. She's collected over $812,000 for our office, 22 which I think is great. Last year we only collected 23 around $674,000. So we're up about $80,000.00. So we 24 keep getting audited and they keep asking us why our 25 collections are going up. That's why. Because our 80 1 staff is collecting and they're doing a fabulous job. 2 As far as our civil goes, we've collected 3 over $303,000 and that gets disbursed to different 4 entities. We keep a small portion of that here in Kerr 5 County. But as well, the civil clerks are doing great 6 collecting what's coming in the doors there. 7 This year, the tax year for 2023, we had 8 over 648 new criminal cases filed within the office, 9 that's for both 198th and 216th. We had over 900 civil 10 cases. That includes non-family 440, and then 460 for 11 family cases, such as your CPS, family child support, 12 which we had over 900 new cases filed within our office. 13 The last year's total new cases coming in 14 our office was around 1,535, which is way up from the 15 previous year. I just wanted to give you an update on 16 CJIS. I spoke with our rep, Orlando Gallegos, last 17 Friday. We are at 90 percent and we are within 18 compliance. It takes everybody in Kerr County to stay 19 in compliance. We're trying to work on something that 20 way we can communicate between all the elected officials 21 that need to do CJIS to make sure we're all in 22 compliance and stay in compliance. 23 So with that, he's going to be start sending 24 out reports where possibly we ask just help each other 25 to make sure we stay within compliance. So it takes all 81 1 of us from law enforcement, the County Attorney's 2 office, the District Attorney's Office, the jail, 3 everybody to stay within compliance. So I know that the 4 Court gets reports on that. So I just wanted to give 5 you an update on that. 6 Passed that, the only other thing I wanted 7 to bring to the Court's attention, Shred-It. I had a 8 meeting last year with our person that does our 9 Shred-It. They're wanting to change our contract. Our 10 contract was issued back in 2009. We spend a lot of 11 money on Shred-It, and that comes out of a dedicated 12 fund which belongs to myself and the County Clerk. So I 13 just wanted to put everybody on notice that for next 14 budget year we're going to request that everybody take 15 care of their own Shred-It. Because it's costing us a 16 lot of money and there's a lot of documents I need to 17 get restored, as well as the County Clerk, to use those 18 funds for our whole records preservation. So that's 19 what's going on in the District Clerk's office and I 20 just wanted y'all to be aware. 21 JUDGE KELLY: Good report. Thank you. 22 Especially about CJIS. A lot of people don't understand 23 how important CJIS is. But if we go under 90 percent 24 compliance, we are unable to have any grants from the 25 State of Texas. So it's very important. 82 1 Okay. Any other election officials? Then 2 3.3 Liaison Commissioner reports. 3 COMMISSIONER LETZ: I have one. It's 4 really -- the last one but Reagan couldn't be here. I 5 talked to him Friday and again this morning with 6 Commissioner Overby. Two things. Just informational. 7 He had planned on getting rid of or trading 8 in a 2010 F-150 for one of his new vehicles. He wants 9 to keep that vehicle as a -- and move vehicles around 10 little bit as to who's doing what. It makes sense to 11 end up allowing all of the Animal Control officers to 12 have a vehicle which right now they're having to -- it's 13 just cumbersome. So he wants to keep that old vehicle, 14 the 2010. He says it's still mechanically good and 15 seems good to me. 16 The other thing, the Shelter Pro software 17 that they use out there is crashed. Does not work. 18 They can't figure -- "they" being Shelter Pro can't 19 figure out why it doesn't work here. 20 They are looking at new software, which 21 initial cost is a little bit higher and didn't have it 22 budgeted. But it doesn't have to -- it's much lower, if 23 any, cost into the future. And there's a chance that 24 Kerrville Pets Alive will pay for the new software. So 25 it may be a budget savings to us also. 83 1 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: We'll put that on the 2 IT review list as well. Even though they may take care 3 of their own. 4 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Right. So anyway, 5 that's -- that came from Reagan. Reagan had to go and 6 score some grants at AACOG this morning. 7 JUDGE KELLY: It's all good. 8 COMMISSIONER PACES: I attended the KARFA 9 meeting last week and still a lot of confusion about the 10 new radio system so a lot of discussion about that and 11 trying to get everybody lined up to address the 12 appropriate number of channels and so forth. But we'll 13 get there. 14 COMMISSIONER LETZ: There is something else. 15 You mentioned KARFA. EMS. There have been a large 16 number of accidents and several fatalities on 87 North 17 of Comfort. That's an area where you go from Kendall 18 County to Kerr County back to Kendall County and into 19 Gillespie County. So it's kind of -- we have an 20 agreement with Kendall County right now. And they never 21 invoice us so we never pay them. And they're getting 22 irritated by that. And I keep on telling them, just 23 send us an invoice and we will send you the money. It's 24 in our budget. 25 But I'm in the process of working with 84 1 Commissioner Carpenter and the EMS people in Kendall 2 County to look at that. Our -- currently it's $5,000 in 3 our budget to pay. Probably needs to go up a little bit 4 next year. But it's really important that there has 5 been some confusion on ambulances and need to probably 6 get really the KPD or KSO, I guess, involved with it as 7 well because there was a fatality, a serious accident 8 with a fatality and some other injuries that they 9 couldn't get an ambulance there. 10 And the agreement is that -- currently, that 11 if the Kendall County/Comfort unit is there, it will 12 respond on that far eastern edge of Kerr County. 13 However, if it's not available, you know, Kerrville is 14 responsible, and whatever happened, nothing was 15 dispatched. So there are some problems. 16 JUDGE KELLY: Fredericksburg is closer to 17 it. 18 COMMISSIONER LETZ: And parts of that. 19 Yeah, part of that area. But there's been -- and 20 Commissioner Carpenter and I are trying to schedule a 21 meeting with TxDOT because there have been over a three 22 week period, four serious accidents with two fatalities 23 on Steeler Hill. And something needs to be done there. 24 So that's all working. 25 JUDGE KELLY: Any other Liaison Commissioner 85 1 reports? 2 COMMISSIONER OVERBY: Well, I met with IT 3 and we've already discussed that one. 4 JUDGE KELLY: The only thing that I would 5 observe is that we have a lot of irons in the fire right 6 now. And we need to really stay focused because budget 7 season will start in May for y'all. Budget starts for 8 us in April. But you just look at the things that we're 9 working on with Step and Grade, the IT, the arena, the 10 Event Center, storage. Elections, we talked about that. 11 That animal control facility. And I haven't even come 12 to you yet with the workshop for the transportation 13 funding from AACOG that we're working on, which is 14 unbelievable. It's incredible. 15 But we have all these things on the table 16 and I'm just reminding all of us that we have to be 17 attentive and we're probably going to get some of these 18 projects assigned out to various ones of us to ride herd 19 on and report back to us because we don't want to drop 20 any of these. We want to keep them all together. 21 So anything else for the Court today? 22 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Don't we have Executive 23 Session? 24 MRS. STEBBINS: No. 25 COMMISSIONER LETZ: Oh. No, we don't? Oh. 86 1 Well, okay. 2 JUDGE KELLY: Very well. Then for once, 3 we're ahead of schedule, but we are adjourned. 4 * * * * * * 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 87 1 STATE OF TEXAS * 2 COUNTY OF KERR * 3 I, DEBRA ELLEN GIFFORD, Certified Shorthand 4 Reporter in and for the State of Texas, and Official 5 Court Reporter in and for Kerr County, do hereby certify 6 that the above and foregoing pages contain and comprise 7 a true and correct transcription of the proceedings had 8 in the above-entitled Regular Commissioners' Court. 9 Dated this the 18th day of January, A.D. 10 2023. 11 12 /s/DEBRA ELLEN GIFFORD Certified Shorthand Reporter 13 No. 953 Expiration Date 04/30/2025 14 * * * * * * 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25