Apr 28, 2026 Commissioners Court

[OPENING COURT]

[00:00:04]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING, UH, THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.

NOTICES OF THIS MEETING HAVE BEEN LEGALLY AND PROPERLY POSTED PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 5 5 1.

UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJE, AN OBJECTION, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DECLARE THE MEETING OPEN.

ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'D FIRST LIKE TO START OFF WITH THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE, AND I WOULD CALL UPON, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONER LANG GRAYSON TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGES, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND.

WOULD YOU BOW WITH ME AS WE PRAY? FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOUR THRONE, LORD, WITH THANKSGIVING IN OUR HEART, LORD, WE KNOW THE PROVISIONS YOU HAVE MADE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, LORD, THAT ARE TRUE AND NOR OBEDIENT TO YOU.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE, UH, YOUR WITNESS IN YOUR TESTIMONY THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO.

LORD, THANK YOU FOR, AGAIN, THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOUR PEOPLE, PROVIDE RESOURCES AND DIRECTION AS A COMMUNITY.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT HONOR.

WE THANK YOU FOR THAT PRIVILEGE, AND WE ASK FOR YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONSIDER TODAY COME TO FATHER, BE WITH THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BE WITH THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR FOREIGN, UH, OUR COUNTRY FROM FOREIGN, UH, THREATS, OUR, OUR PROPERTY, AND OUR, AND OUR, AND OUR FREEDOM.

LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WATCH OVER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GIVE THEIRSELVES DAILY TO THE PROTECTION AND THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ARE AFFORDED BY THIS COUNTRY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON, CHRIST JESUS WHO CAME, PAID AN ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT WE MAY SPEND ETERNITY WITH YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER, AGAIN, LEAD, GUIDE, DIRECT, AND PROTECT US AS WE BECOME THE WITNESS AND TESTIMONY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO BE EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR THESE THINGS WE PRAY IN YOUR SON'S NAME AS ALL GOD'S CHILDREN SAID, AMEN.

AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE, SAY, UNDER GOD ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

OKAY, THANK YOU ALL AND AGAIN, WELCOME.

AND FOR THOSE OF US, UH, OR THOSE OF YOU JOINING US ONLINE, WE WELCOME YOU AS WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE OR CHOOSE TO WATCH LATER.

OKAY.

UH, BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE AGENDA, I WANTED TO FIRST MENTION THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FORM.

I KNOW WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM 3.4 THAT MANY OF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AS WELL AS A PUBLIC HEARING ON A COUPLE OF STOP SIGNS.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THOSE ITEMS OR ANY OTHER ITEM, WE HAVE A PARTICIPATION FORM, WHICH IS AVAILABLE OUT IN THE HALLWAY.

IT'S BEHIND THE DOORS TO MY RIGHT, WHICH WILL BE TO YOUR LEFT.

UH, IT'S ON THE TABLE OUT THERE.

WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE FILL OUT THAT PARTICIPATION FORM AND HAND IT TO OUR, OUR COUNTY CLERK, CRYSTAL VALDEZ.

AND THEN SHE WILL HAND THAT FORM TO ME AND WE WILL BE SURE TO CALL UPON YOU WHEN YOUR AGENDA ITEM IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION, WE DO HAVE AGENDA ITEM 3.4, WHICH RELATES TO A RESOLUTION REGARDING DATA CENTERS.

UH, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT, SO, UH, I HAVE, I INTEND TO TAKE THAT ITEM UP AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO WE, WE KNOW THAT, UH, THIS MEETING IS AT A TWO, TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON ON A TUESDAY, AND A LOT OF YOU HAVE OTHER PLACES YOU HAVE TO BE, WHETHER IT'S BACK TO WORK, PICK UP KIDS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE'LL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 3.4.

SO WHILE, UH, WE CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, COMMENT ON ITEM 3.4, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STEP OUT INTO THE HALLWAY AND FILL OUT THAT PARTICIPATION FORM.

THERE IS, THERE ARE SEVERAL COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE TABLE OUT THERE.

SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT RESOLUTION, YOU MIGHT WANNA GO PICK UP A COPY AS WELL.

OKAY.

THANK YOU ALL

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS, EXCUSE ME, OF ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 21, HOWEVER I DO, AND, AND ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED BY ONE MOTION.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED ROUTINE.

HOWEVER, ANY COMMISSIONER, UH, HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND SEPARATELY CONSIDERED, I HAVE HAD SUCH A REQUEST AS TO ITEM A 15.

SO, UH, THAT IS THE ONLY ITEM AND THAT ITEM WILL BE, UH, CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

SO WE WILL, UH, IF, IF THERE'S NO OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WOULD CONSIDER A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 14 AND A 16 THROUGH A 21 MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

WELL, I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER GRAYSON TO APPROVE ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 14 AND A 16 THROUGH

[00:05:01]

I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO OPPOSITION ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 14 AND A 16 THROUGH A 21 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

UH, I, WE, I MENTIONED ITEM A 15 WILL BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ITEM

[A.15 Approval to clarify and amend pages 84, 86, 88, and 90 of the Ellis County FY 2025/2026 Adopted Budget to reflect current salary ranges within employee categories, salary appropriations are not affected. — Ellis County Judge John Wray (Part 1 of 2)]

SALARY APPROPRIATIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.

AND, UH, I HAVE ALSO HAD A REQUEST TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS, UH, FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING ITEM A 15.

AND, UH, WE THAT WILL BE, UH, SO I'LL PULL THAT TO LATER IN THE AGENDA AT THE END.

AND I WOULD CONSIDER AT THE, ONCE WE REACH THE END OF THE AGENDA TO CONVENE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 51 0.071 SUBSECTION TWO, WHICH ALLOWS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO CONVENE INTO OR ADJOURN INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO SEEK THE ADVICE'S ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEYS WHEN, UH, RENDERING THAT THOSE OPINIONS IN OPEN COURT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH, UH, THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, TEXAS RULES OF DISCIPLINARY CONDUCT.

SO WE'LL CONSIDER THAT LATER IN THE MEETING.

SO WE'LL PASS ON ITEM A 15 AT THIS TIME UNTIL AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALRIGHT, WE

[3.4 Discussion, consideration, and action of a Resolution by Ellis County Commissioners Court supporting enhanced regulation of data centers in the state of Texas. - County Commissioner Precinct 3 Louis Ponder ]

AND I WOULD FIRST ASK, UH, COMMISSIONER LEWIS PONDER TO DISCUSS THE ITEM.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

SO, UM, I GUESS I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT FIRST BEFORE WE READ IT.

SO, WITH, UH, WITH THE EXPANSION OF DEVELOPMENT AND, AND IN ELLIS COUNTY OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT, CURRENTLY THE, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REALLY REGULATE THESE THINGS, UH, MUCH.

I MEAN, DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE GOT A MINIMAL THING WE CAN DO AS FAR AS LOT SIZE AND, AND, AND ROAD FRONTAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

UH, DATA CENTERS, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF ANYTHING THAT WE CAN AFFECT.

I MEAN, IF THEY ASK FOR SOME ABATEMENT, WE CAN SAY, WELL, IF YOU WANT YOUR ABATEMENT, YOU GOTTA DO THESE THINGS.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

THAT'S REALLY ALL WE REALLY HAVE.

AND I THINK BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING SO MUCH MORE DEVELOPMENT NOW OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THE CITIES BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO, TO REGULATE.

AND, AND THAT'S GENERALLY WHERE DEVELOPMENT GRAVITATED WAS TO CITY LIMITS.

NOW IT'S GRAVITATING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

AND SO I, I FEEL IT IS TIME THAT THE COMMISSIONERS, AND I WANT THIS TO BE VERY LIMITED AUTHORITY, UH, BUT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME AUTHORITY TO SAY YES, BUT OR NO BECAUSE, OR IF SO, DO THIS, DO THAT.

IT NEEDS TO BE LIMITED.

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS CREATE A SITUATION WHERE, AND I KNOW NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE SITTING AT THESE TABLES WILL EVER OVERUSE OR ABUSE ANY AUTHORITY WERE GIVEN, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF COURT WE'LL HAVE IN FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU COULD END UP WITH A COURT THAT WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY TREAT YOU LIKE SUBJECTS INSTEAD OF CONSTITUENTS.

AND, UM, SO WE NEED TO KEEP IT LIMITED.

UH, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME CONTROL, SOME AUTHORITY TO WHERE WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN SAY YES, OR WE CAN SAY, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN DO IT, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA MEET SPECIFIC CRITERIA AND THE, THE RESOLUTION GOES OVER PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THAT.

SO I'M, I'M, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BANNING DATA CENTERS MORATORIUMS ON DATA CENTERS.

THIS IS ABOUT HAVING SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OUR COUNTY, OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING INSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.

WE LET THE CITIES HAVE THAT WE STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY, THEY STAY OUT OF OUR LANE.

UH, AND WITH THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER LET 'EM LET 'EM KNOW WHERE WE GET THAT WE, WHERE WE GET THAT, OH YEAH, WE GET THAT AUTHORITY FROM THE LEGISLATORS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE HERE THAT, THAT WANTS US TO BE GRANTED THAT TYPE OF AUTHORITY.

REACH OUT TO YOUR LEGISLATURES, REACH OUT TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE OTHER 254 COUNTIES IN TEXAS AND HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO THEIR LEGISLATORS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE A, IT'S GONNA TAKE A STRONG, UH, PUSH TO GET THE LEGISLATORS TO GIVE US THAT AUTHORITY.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TOO MUCH, I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU FOLKS CAN BE ABUSED, BUT I DO WANT TO BE

[00:10:01]

CORRECT.

YEAH.

VERY, VERY GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

AND, UH, THAT WAS A GREAT, UH, SUMMARY, COMMISSIONER PONDER.

AND THE RESOLUTION ESSENTIALLY RECOGNIZES THE STRAIN THAT DATA CENTERS, UH, PUT ON BOTH THE ELECTRIC GRID, ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION, WATER CONSUMPTION, UH, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE NOISE POLLUTION, AND OF COURSE, UH, LAND USE, YOU KNOW, AND THE, AND THE CHANGING CHARACTER OF AG LAND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOULD POSSIBLY BE PRESERVED FOR OTHER USES.

WHEREAS THESE, THESE DATA CENTERS SHOULD BE PERHAPS LOCATED IN AREAS OF THE STATE THAT DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH AGRICULTURAL USE.

SO THE, THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES THOSE THINGS, AND AS COMMISSIONER PONDER MENTIONED, UH, ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO STUDY THIS ISSUE AND PASS APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION, WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE GRANTING ADDITIONAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

SO WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, TO SPEAK.

UH, SO FAR WE HAVE FOUR UNDER OUR, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RULES, WE HAVE 30 MINUTES ALLOCATED FOR, FOR PUBLIC, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM, WE'D LIKE TO ADHERE TO THAT.

UH, WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK OR PARTICIPATE IN LATER AGENDA ITEMS. UH, EACH SPEAKER IS ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES ACCORDING TO OUR, OUR LONGSTANDING, UH, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION POLICIES.

SO, UH, WE'D ASK THAT YOU ADHERE TO THAT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SIGNAL WHEN YOUR FIVE MINUTES HAS EXPIRED, AND IF YOU WOULD JUST KINDLY, UH, WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS AT THAT TIME, IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, OR IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE PUBLIC SPEAKING ISN'T YOUR THING, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO, UH, LOOK AT OUR COUNTY WEBSITE, WHICH IS LOCATED@ELLISCOUNTYTX.GOV.

AND ON THAT WEBSITE YOU CAN FIND VARIOUS EMAIL ADDRESSES AND WAYS TO CONTACT, UH, BOTH ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TAKE THESE UP IN THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE SUBMITTED.

THE FIRST PERSON WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 3.4 IS RANDY BELLAMY.

SO RANDY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, UH, COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THEN SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME'S RANDY BELLAMY.

I LIVE AT 4 0 9 CHATWOOD TRAIL, VILLA TEXAS.

AND, UM, AS MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW, MY MAIN BACKGROUND IS IN HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGERATION.

UH, ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS THAT, UH, YOU STATED JUDGE RAY, IS THAT, UH, IT'S THE, THE NOISE LEVEL AND THE ELECTRICITY BEING USED, UH, THAT'S TWO OF THE MAJOR FACTORS WITH DATA CENTERS AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE BASICALLY ZERO CONTROL OVER THAT NOISE LEVEL AND, AND ALL, AND I'M ALL FOR THIS RESOLUTION IN THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING.

'CAUSE MOST OF THESE NOW ARE BEING BUILT OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IT SQUAT HARDLY THAT YOU CAN DO AGAINST THEM.

SO THERE IS, UH, THE NOISE LEVEL IS A LOT OF IT IS CONTRIBUTED TO BY THE AIR CONDITIONING A LOT OF, AND THE NUMBER OF FANS THAT THEY'RE USING, THE NUMBER, THE TYPE OF COMPRESSOR, THE SCREW COMPRESSOR THAT HAS SUCH A HIGH PITCH WINE TO IT, HAS REALLY DRIVEN THE NOISE LEVEL UP ON THESE THINGS.

SO, UH, THERE IS, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE USING WHAT THEY CALL WATER COOL.

UH, ALSO, WHICH THEN THE WATER USAGE GOES THROUGH THE ROOF.

WE'RE HAVING A HUGE PROBLEM HERE IN TEXAS WITH WATER.

LOOK AT, OF COURSE, CHRISTY, I MEAN, THEY'RE SITTING DOWN ON AN OCEAN WATER, CAN'T, CAN'T GET ENOUGH WATER TO FEED, UH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO NOT STRETCH OUR RESOURCES FOR THE, UH, UH, FORCE THE TAXPAYERS TO, TO FUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO, OR HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THESE DATA CENTERS AS THEY COME IN, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.

NOW I UNDERSTAND IT BRINGS IN TAXABLE VALUE AND STUFF, BUT THEN YOU GET INTO THE ABATEMENTS AND STUFF OF THAT, AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY FOR A DIFFERENT TIME.

BUT THERE'S, UM, NO REAL REASON WHY WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT.

AT ONE TIME, I UNDERSTOOD, AND THIS HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS BACK, THAT I HEARD THESE NUMBERS, THAT ELLIS COUNTY, UM, AGRICULTURE WAS $67 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT WAS, LIKE I SAY, AT THAT RATE THAT MANY YEARS BACK.

THE LAST TIME I HEARD IT WAS HALF THAT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF, OF LAND THAT'S BEEN ABSORBED AND THE USAGE THEREOF.

SO

[00:15:01]

UM, I'VE HEARD OF THEM PUTTING DA, UH, THESE DATA DATA CENTERS WAY OUT IN, IN THE DESERT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE DOING THAT, BUT, UH, WEST TEXAS, UH, WELL, TO ME THAT MAY BE A BETTER USE OF THE PROPERTY .

SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY, UH, IDEAS AND STUFF, BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RANDY.

THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OKAY, WE WILL NOW, UH, I WILL NOW CALL UP PATRICK SER.

MR. SER, IF YOU WOULD JUST, UH, SHARE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN, UH, SHARE WITH US YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS.

UM, MY NAME'S PATRICK SER.

I RESIDE AT 700 WEST MAIN STREET, WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS 7 5 2 1 6.

I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT.

SOME OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW THAT.

UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE WAXAHATCHEE CITY COUNCIL, AND I'M NOT GONNA NECESSARILY ADDRESS THAT.

I BROUGHT THIS UP IN CLOSING COMMENTS AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING TO, I FELT THE NEED TO START MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THE CONCERNS THAT, THAT I HAVE AND OTHERS HAVE AS IT RELATES TO THESE DATA CENTERS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY TELLING WAS WHEN ERCOT, THE FOLKS THAT WE RELY UPON TO PROVIDE US ENERGY, CAME OUT WITH A STUDY THAT SAYS THAT PEAK DEMAND WAS GOING TO TRIPLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR DATA CENTERS.

NOW, WHEN ERCOT, THAT ALWAYS TELLS US WHEN IT'S FREEZING OUTSIDE OR IT'S HOTTER THAN HECK OUTSIDE, THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF ELECTRICITY.

NONE OF US TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

BUT SO WHEN THEY'RE COMING BACK AND TELLING US THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A TRIPLE DEMAND ON OUR, ON OUR GRID, IT'S VERY CONCERNING.

UM, I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE FIGHT THAT SAYING, WELL, ERCOT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT.

AND INTERESTINGLY, THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, SIMILAR TYPE OF ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, COVERS THE MID CONTINENTAL INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR.

IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF ERCOT FOR 15 STATES.

NOW, TEXAS IS THE EPICENTER FOR DATA CENTERS.

WE HAVE THE LAND.

THERE'S BEEN, UM, UM, SOME THINGS OUT OF AUSTIN THAT HAVE MADE IT FAVORABLE, BUT EVEN IN THIS 15 STATE AREA OF THE MID CONTINENTAL INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR, THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE OVER A TRIPLE OF THE NEED FOR ELECTRICITY TO POWER THESE THINGS JUST IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

I'VE HAD, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE, I'VE STUDIED IT, I'VE LISTENED TO PEOPLE, I'VE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, IT'S GONNA PROVIDE A LOT OF JOBS.

WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT A DATA CENTER, IT DOESN'T PROVIDE THAT MANY JOBS.

AND THE JOBS ARE PRIMARILY FROM A TECHNICIAN STANDPOINT AND ARE RATHER LOW PAYING JOBS.

WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO USE UP THAT MUCH WATER.

THERE'S TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS FOR THE WATER TO TO, TO, UH, UH, UH, MINIMIZE THE WATER.

BUT AS JUST MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL NOT ONLY IN TECH, NOT ONLY IN ELLIS COUNTY, BUT IN TEXAS, AN AGRARIAN, UM, STATE.

UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT COMMISSIONER PONDER, I HAVE A COW CALF OPERATION IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, PRECINCT DOWN AT SOUTH ELLIS COUNTY.

AND I EXPERIENCE WHEN THE WATER TABLE STARTS TO DROP OR YOU USE SISTER AND WELLS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT ON OUR WATER IS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU GO OUT TO WEST TEXAS WHERE IT'S EVEN WORSE.

UM, THERE ARE ABATEMENT PROGRAMS, THERE ARE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE STATE TO REDUCE THE SALES TAX FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY.

THESE ARE NOT THINGS WHERE PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS AND IT'LL FUND IT.

WE HAVE THESE PRO UH, WE CAN, UH, HAVE SALES TAX, WE CAN HAVE NO, THE PROPERTY ABATEMENTS

[00:20:01]

SO I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE ON THE WALL TO PROTECT US IN ELLIS COUNTY AND UNDERSTAND, BASED UPON THE COMMENTS, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO.

AS I SAID, A WEEK AND A HALF AGO AT COUNCIL, I'M GONNA TRY TO DO SOMETHING AT THE CITY LEVEL.

IT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WILL WORK WITH Y'ALL TO DO WHAT CAN BE DONE.

BUT FIRST STEPS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT START TO BE PROACTIVE.

AS COMMISSIONER PONDER SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

UH, THANK YOU.

YOU THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN SER, APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, YOUR REMARKS.

OKAY, WE WILL NOW, UH, I'LL NOW CALL ON DAVID ROGERS TO COME UP AND OFFER YOUR COMMENTS.

MR. ROGERS, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN SHARE WITH US WHAT YOU WANT TO SHARE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE RAY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS DAVID ROGERS.

I LIVE AT 360 4 CROW ROAD IN MAY, PEARL, TEXAS, UH, WHICH WILL BE THE SITE OF OUR NEWEST PROPOSED DATA CENTER.

UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS TODAY.

UH, IN SUPPORT OF PREACHING THREE, COMMISSIONER, UH, LEWIS PONDERS.

ITEM THREE, FOUR.

UH, I'M NOT JUST HERE AS A RESIDENT, BUT I'M HERE AS A STEWARD OF LAND THAT HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR 151 YEARS.

OUR FARM IS RECOGNIZED AS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE FILM PLACES IN THE HEART.

THERE'S A MURAL OVER HERE WITH SALLY FIELD ON THE WALL, UH, WHICH IS, IT'S BASED ON MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, OUR GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.

AND THAT PROPERTY IS A LIVING PIECE OF S COUNTY'S HISTORY, CULTURE, AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE.

UH, SHE WAS FIGHTING FOR THE SAVE THE, UH, FARM IN THE FILM.

WE'RE FIGHTING TO SAVE IT NOW, UH, TODAY THAT LEGACY AND LIKE, AND MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, IT FACES A NEW KIND OF THREAT.

AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, DATA CENTERS ARE NOT SMALL DEVELOPMENTS.

UH, THEY ARE LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS IN RURAL AREAS LIKE OURS.

THEY BRING CONSTANT NOISE FROM GENERATORS AND COOLING SYSTEMS, BRIGHT LIGHTING THAT CHANGES THE NIGHT SKY, HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, ENORMOUS DEMANDS ON WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCES THAT'S BEEN PREVIOUSLY STATED.

AND THESE IMPACTS FUNDAMENTALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THE CHARACTER OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THE DANGER IS NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL, IT'S STRUCTURAL.

UH, TRANSITIONAL COUNTIES LIKE ELLIS COUNTY CURRENTLY LACK THE REGULATORY TOOLS, UH, NEEDED TO PREVENT, UH, TO PROPERLY EVALUATE AND MANAGE THESE PROJECTS.

WE DO NOT HAVE ZONING PROTECTIONS LIKE CITIES.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OR INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING.

AND YET THIS IS PRECISELY THE REASON WHY THESE DEVELOPERS HAVE TARGETED THESE AREAS.

UH, THAT PUTS COUNTIES AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS, UH, LIKE MINE AT AN EXTREME DISADVANTAGE, UH, WITHOUT ENHANCED AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING.

WE RISK ALLOWING INDUSTRIAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS FOR NEIGHBORING LANDOWNERS AND WITHOUT PROTECTIONS FOR WATER RESOURCES, AND WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEES THAT THE LAND WILL CAN EVER BE RESTORED TO PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL USE.

UH, FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE, FOR COUNTLESS FARMERS AND RANCHERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THIS IS NOT THEORETICAL, IT IS PERSONAL.

IT IS ABOUT WHETHER THE LAND WE PASS DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION REMINDS VIABLE, REMAINS VIABLE, OR IS PERMANENTLY CHANGED IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT UNDO YOU.

COMMISSIONER PONDER'S RESOLUTION IS ABOUT STOPPING.

IT'S NOT ABOUT STOPPING PROGRESS.

BY THE WAY, I'M IN THE SOFTWARE INDUSTRY.

I'M A SOFTWARE EXECUTIVE.

I FULLY SUPPORT DATA CENTERS.

WE NEED 'EM, NEED 'EM TO BE COMPETITIVE.

WHERE WE DON'T NEED 'EM IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.

UM, IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT GROWTH IS RESPONSIBLE, BALANCED, AND RESPECTFUL OF THE COMMUNITY IMPACTS.

IT'S ABOUT GIVING OUR COUNTIES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO PROTECT PROPERTY VALUES.

UH, PRETTY SURE MY, MY, THE PROPERTY OF MY PROPERTY VALUE IS GOING TO GO DOWN AS SOON AS THAT, THAT STRUCTURE IS BUILT RIGHT NEXT, RIGHT ACROSS THE FENCE FROM ME.

SAFEGUARD WATER RESOURCES, ENSURE PROPER SIGHTING OF INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER THAT DEFINES ELLIS COUNTY.

UH, URGE THE COURT TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE STATE AND RURAL COMMUNITIES DESERVE A VOICE IN COUNTIES THAT NEED, NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU MR. ROGERS.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UH, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO ASK MADELINE BRACKEN TO COME UP.

MS. BRACKEN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE AN ASSISTANT WITH YOU TODAY, .

THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU.

HI, I'M MADELINE BRACKEN.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

UH, I WANNA START BY SAYING, UH, MUCH LIKE THE LAST SPEAKER, I'M NOT A BRACKEN, I'M SORRY.

OH, SORRY.

UH, SIX MADELINE BRACKEN, 1634 COUNTRY HILLS WAXAHATCHEE.

VERY GOOD.

[00:25:01]

PERFECT.

PLEASE CONTINUE.

I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU.

UM, I WANNA START BY SAYING I'M NOT AGAINST ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR DATA CENTERS.

INNOVATION MATTERS, AND I UNDERSTAND, BUT GROWTH WITHOUT GUARDRAILS IS NOT PROGRESS.

IT'S A RISK.

AI DATA CENTERS, AS MENTIONED MANY TIMES BEFORE, REQUIRE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER, ENERGY, AND LAND IN RETURN.

THEY BRING RELATIVELY FEW LONG-TERM JOBS, WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HOST THEM.

THAT IMBALANCE SHOULD GIVE US PAUSE FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT.

ELLIS COUNTY IS NOT JUST AVAILABLE LAND ON A MAP.

IT IS A COMMUNITY, IT'S FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESS AND SHARED RESOURCES THAT WE ALL DEPEND ON.

IF WE DO NOT PUT THOUGHTFUL REGULATIONS IN PLACE, NOW, WE RISK COMMITTING OUR WATER, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OUR FUTURE TO PROJECTS THAT WE, THAT MAY NOT GIVE BACK IN PROPORTION TO WHAT THEY TAKE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING GROWTH, IT'S ABOUT SHAPING IT.

THAT CAN LOOK LIKE REQUIRING WATER IMPACT STUDIES FOR ANY NEW BUILDS, LIMITING THE USE OF DRINKING WATER AND ENSURING THE, THESE FACILITIES INVEST IN ONSITE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND EFFICIENT DESIGN, INCLUDING CONSIDERING LIGHT POLLUTION AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT COMPETING WITH THE RESIDENTS FOR IT.

IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO BRING THEIR, OH.

UM, IT CAN ALSO RE INCLUDE REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO BRING THEIR OWN POWER SETTING CLEAR STANDARDS FOR NOISE MITIGATION AND SETBACKS FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND MANDATING TRANSPARENT REPORTING ON WATER AND ENERGY USE.

I AM ASKING YOU TO TAKE PROACTIVE APPROACH, SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, PROTECT OUR RESOURCES, AND ENSURE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT REFLECTS THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF ELLIS COUNTY.

BECAUSE ONCE THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE, WE WILL BE LIVING WITH THEM FOR DECADES, AS WILL OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR OUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU MS. RACK.

AND THANK YOU TO YOUR DAUGHTER TOO.

ALRIGHT.

AND, UH, THE LAST PERSON WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS KATHY POTTS.

KATHY, IF YOU'LL COME ON UP.

ME? YES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE TOPIC? YOU'RE, YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU, MS. PONTS.

IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN SHARE WITH US WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY.

KATHY PONDS 300 EAST THIRD STREET, MAY PEARL, TEXAS.

Y'ALL THREW A CURVE BALL AT ME 'CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, MOVING THIS MEETING UP.

SO I HAD A BEAUTIFUL SPEECH ALL WRITTEN.

SO IT'S, IT'S AT HOME, SO I'M JUST GONNA SHOOT OFF THE HIP.

UM, WELCOME TO OUR WORLD.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

SO WE COULD HAVE DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE TILL THE SKY TURNS BLUE, RIGHT? WE HAVE THE PEOPLE WITH THE PROS BECAUSE IT BRINGS MONEY INTO THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES, AND WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THESE DATA CENTERS AND THE ISSUES THAT THEY BRING, SUCH AS, UM, WATER CONTAMINATION, POSSIBLE GRID ISSUES, ALL SORTS OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD.

BUT IT REALLY DOES US NO GOOD BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE NO SAYING, YOU HAVE NO SAY IN SOME OF THE MOST PREVALENT AND CONCERNING ISSUES THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS FACING AT THIS POINT IN TIME DUE TO GROWING PAINS.

SO WE, THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A VOICE BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR VOICE ON ANY OF THESE RURAL DATA CENTERS THAT ARE COMING IN.

SO WE NEED THIS RESOLUTION PASSED AND WE NEED OTHER COUNTY COUNTIES TO PASS THESE RESOLUTIONS SO THAT WHEN WE GO TO AUSTIN, WE HAVE THESE RESOLUTIONS BEHIND US SAYING, LOOK, WE DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

AND WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY YOU GUYS HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND SAYING, OKAY, THIS IS A LEGISLATION THAT WE NEED TO GIVE TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SO THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE.

WE'VE HAD TWO DATA CENTER HEARINGS ALREADY IN THE TEXAS HOUSE, AND WE HAVE THREE COMING UP IN THE TEXAS SENATE FOCUSED ON TAX ABATEMENTS FOR DATA CENTERS.

AGAIN, SOME OF YOU APPROVED DATA CENTERS, SOME OF YOU DON'T.

BUT THAT IS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN AUSTIN WHERE HOPEFULLY THEY'LL PUT LEGISLATION IN PLACE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO FOLLOW.

SO WE HAVE FIVE MORE HEARINGS IN THE TEXAS HOUSE IN REGARDS TO DATA CENTERS.

SO I HOPE THAT THIS PA RESOLUTION PASSES BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE NOW IN AUSTIN.

WE NEED TO TAKE THIS ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN OUR INTERIM HEARINGS SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN GET THE JURISDICTION TO LISTEN TO WE THE PEOPLE.

SO PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION.

PLEASE BACK US AS WE'RE WALKING THE HALLS AND TALKING TO LEGISLATORS.

PLEASE COME WITH US TO AUSTIN FOR THE INTERIM HEARINGS.

WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE NEXT SESSION.

IT CAN'T BE AN ISSUE LIKE SOME ARE EIGHT, 12 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

WE FINALLY GET IT PASSED.

WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE NEXT SESSION.

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MS. BONDS.

OKAY.

UH, THANK YOU ALL WHO PARTICIPATED AND OFFERED YOUR COMMENTS.

UH, A LOT OF GREAT, UH, GREAT THOUGHTS FOR SHARED THERE AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW THE REST OF THE, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS DO AS WELL.

UH, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? A LOT OF GOOD POINTS.

BROUGHT UP A LOT OF GOOD POINTS.

WELL, VERY GOOD.

I I CERTAINLY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.

SO IF I WOULDN'T COMMENT, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.

UM, ALL THE COMMENTS WERE SPOT ON AND THERE'S AN AGREEMENT WITH THIS COURT AND WE'VE ALWAYS DONE OUR BEST TO PROTECT.

IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS THE RURAL CHALLENGES, IT'S THOSE OF US WHO TRY TO MAINTAIN DRAINAGE.

ROADWAYS, WE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND WITH LIMITED BUDGET.

BUT LAND USE AUTHORITY IS SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE.

KATHY, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE DON'T, WE ABSOLUTELY DON'T HAVE LAND USE AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER.

UM, MY COLLEAGUES AT THIS VERY TABLE, JOHN AND I HAVE FOUGHT DESPERATELY AGAINST THE HIGH SPEED RAIL TRYING TO GET OUR LEGISLATORS TO SEE THINGS OUR WAY.

I CAN'T EVEN GET AN ORDINANCE ABILITY TO KEEP REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FROM KIDS AT AVALON ELEMENTARY OR THE BALLPARK 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF LAND USE AUTHORITY.

SO WHILE I APPRECIATE, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN.

WE HAVE TO SPEND OUR TIME WITH OUR LEGISLATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE KATHY'S ONE THAT GOES AND SHE GOES OFTEN AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, THAT, THAT EFFORT.

BUT SHE'S, SHE CAN'T DO IT ON, ON HER OWN.

UH, I'VE, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN AUSTIN AND IT'S, AND IT'S FOR THIS PARTICULARLY LAND USE AUTHORITY OUT OF ALL OF THE THINGS I FIGHT FOR, IT'S LAND USE AUTHORITY BECAUSE WE, WE ARE POWERLESS.

WE'RE POWERLESS TO, FOR DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE POWERLESS FOR ORDINANCES AND WE'RE POWERLESS TO STOP PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO COME IN AND PLOP DOWN ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND BUILD WHAT THEY WANNA BUILD.

ON ONE HAND, WE PROTECT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS PRIVATE CITIZENS TO HAVE THOSE RIGHTS, TO DO THOSE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S TIMES WHEN WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT.

BUT OUR ONLY HOPE, JUST LIKE KATHY SAID, IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE IN AUSTIN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE LEGISLATORS.

THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE TODAY THAT SAYS THAT WE SIGNED A A DOCUMENT TODAY THAT'S GONNA MAKE EVERYTHING JUST FINE.

THEY'RE STILL BUILDING, SIR.

THEY'RE GONNA BE ACROSS THE STREET BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

UH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE COMING OUT BY THE MOTORPLEX AND HE'S COMING ON STRONG TOO.

UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE, QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO EVEN MONITOR THEM.

WE BARELY HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO WATCH OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.

SO ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO, DID NOT WANT TO LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO BY.

COUNCILMAN SUITER, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US AS AT, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, AND LETTING OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THOUGH WE WANT THE RESOURCES AND THE REVENUE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT COMES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND BEING A LEADER IN TECHNOLOGY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALL WANNA LIVE HERE AND LIVE IN PEACE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR COMING AND SHARING TODAY.

YEAH, THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING ALSO.

YEAH.

WHEN I RAN FOR, FIRST WENT TO THE FIRST FORUM TO RUN FOR OFFICE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IT WAS ASKED ME IS, YOU KNOW, ELLIS COUNTY IS ON THE VERGE, WE'RE FIXING TO BLOW UP.

THAT WAS 2015.

AND IT HAS, BUT MY COMMENT THEN THEY ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU PLAN? AND, AND I, ANY OF YOU THAT WERE THERE OR GO TO FORUM STILL OR THING I ASKED YOU IS, WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE? UH, WE'RE SET TO BLOW UP.

HOW ARE WE GONNA COVER ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NARROW STREETS, UH, POWER, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT.

I MEAN, THEY TOOK CITY AWAY.

CITY CAN'T ANNEX ANYMORE UNLESS THEY'RE ASKED.

I FEEL LIKE OUR LEGISLATOR KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING WHEN THAT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE.

IT SOUNDED GREAT TO US.

I MEAN WE WERE LIKE, HOORAY.

THEY CAN'T COME HANGING NEXT ME ANYMORE UNLESS I ASK.

WELL THAT'S SORT OF A TWO-EDGED SWORD BECAUSE NOW WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY IS NOW TAKING PLACE IN THE COUNTY AND WITH NO REGULATIONS ON THAT, THEN WE'RE WIDE OPEN AND THE LEAST PEOPLE THEY WANNA LISTEN TO IS THAT TAXPAYER OUT THERE THAT COMES TO US AS COUNT AS AS COMMISSIONERS AND SAY, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THIS? I'M GONNA DO EXACTLY WHAT THE LEGISLATURE GIVES ME THE POWER TO DO ABOUT THIS.

I TOLD THEM THEN THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA GET INFRASTRUCTURE IS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE COMMERCIAL BUILDING.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE BUSINESSES MOVE IN.

UH, THAT THAT'S WHERE THE TAX BASE GETS PAID AT.

WE ALL PAY ALL WE CAN, BUT BEDROOM COM BEDROOM TAXES KILLS US.

I MEAN WHEN HE GOES UP, I DAUGHTER TALKING TO ME LAST NIGHT ABOUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT OUR TAXES GOING UP.

I GOT A PIECE OF DIRT NEXT DOOR TO ME THAT'S WENT UP EVERY YEAR SINCE I GAVE THAT PIECE OF DIRT TO ONE OF MY SONS TO BUILD A HOUSE ON.

AND HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND WENT AND BUILT THE HOUSE OR BOUGHT A HOUSE THAT WAS ALREADY BUILT.

[00:35:01]

I SAID GIMME MY LAND BACK.

SO HE SIGNED IT BACK OVER TO ME.

THAT PROPERTY HAS WENT FROM BEING TAXED AT ABOUT $30,000 SINCE I GAVE THAT PROPERTY TO HIM.

TO NOW IT'S AT $192,000 AND I'M PAYING $2,500 A YEAR JUST TO OWN THAT PIECE OF DIRT NEXT DOOR TO ME.

BEDROOM COMMUNITIES CANNOT PAY THE TAX THAT WE NEED TO PLAY FOR THESE INFRASTRUCTURES.

SO YEAH, A DATA CENTER WHEN IT COMES IN WHERE IT'S IN THE COUNTY OR WHETHER IT'S IN THE CITY, I'M NOT BIG GUNG HO ON ABATEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAD AT ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE ALL OF US, BECAUSE WE'RE HALF OF WHAT WE WERE AT ABATEMENTS, YOU'RE TALKING A TON OF MONEY AND IT, AND WHEN IT COMES IN, IT'LL HELP US OUT AT THE SAME TIME WE DO.

I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH YOU.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF REGULATION THAT WE CAN, THAT WE CAN GO AFTER.

IF NOT, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE GETTING RUN OVER.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A SOLAR FARM, FIXING CAN BE BUILT IN MY BACKYARD.

LOTS OF PROMISES WHEN IT FIRST CAME TO THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, WITH SITE AND THINGS SUCH AS THIS.

WE'RE GONNA PUT UP THESE BEAUTIFUL GREEN RED TIP FATAS, YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S BACK THERE UNLESS YOU GO TO ONE OF OUR ENTRY SITES.

WELL, THE CLOSER THEY GET TO GETTING THEIR PERMIT, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION.

SO I'M SAYING WE NEED MORE POWERS TO WHERE THAT WE COULD SAY, HEY NO, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA PROTECT THE HOMEOWNERS AROUND THERE, THEY DON'T WANNA LOOK AT THIS THING NIGHT AND DAY, DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO SO THAT WE DO NEED THIS A HUNDRED PERCENT.

WE NEED THIS, BUT WE'VE GOTTA HAVE OUR LEGISLATORS ON BOARD WITH IT.

AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST THING THAT I RAN ON THE IMMIGRATION IS WHAT I WAS REALLY TICKED FOR.

AND WE JUST NOW GET, ARE GETTING SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THAT.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF WHO WE ELECT.

BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY HATE HIM.

HATE WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT.

I DON'T ANYTHING HE SAYS THEY GO, THEY GO OPPOSITE TO HIM.

THEY DO THE SAME.

AND WHETHER THEY'RE IN PUBLIC OR WHETHER IT'S IN CLOSED DOORS.

BUT I THINK THE MOST COMMON SENSE IS AT LOCAL LEVEL.

'CAUSE WE ACTUALLY WORK, WE GO TO WORK, WE GET BUSY TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US AS WE'RE GOING OUT THERE.

IF YOU START MAKING MORE MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT BACK.

THE RAINY DAY FUND IS THERE BECAUSE WE GOT DUPED.

I AGREE WITH WHAT THE RAINY DAY FUND IS ALL ABOUT.

BUT WHEN YOU GET A DATA CENTER HERE, THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT GAIN GOES TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOWN THERE AND IT GOES IN A RAINY DAY.

FUND BYPASSES THE SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TOLD ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE JUST MAKING OUT GRADE ON THIS.

A LOT OF THAT'S A LIE.

IT'S NOT.

BUT THE LEGISLATURES LOVE DATA CENTERS.

THEY LOVE MUD DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY ROLL THE TAX IN ON IT AND WE GET BYPASSED.

YOU'D THINK THE SCHOOL, WE WOULDN'T PAY SCHOOL TAXES IF THE MONEY THAT'S GENERATED FROM THESE DATA CENTERS IN RED OAK ALL FUNDED.

I MEAN ALL GOES JUST, WE GET SO MUCH PER KID IS WHAT WE GET TO PROVIDE OUR SCHOOLS WITH, WITH THE NECESSARY NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.

THE REST ROLLS RIGHT IN THE RAINY DAY FUND WHEN WE WHINE, WE THROW FITS ABOUT OUR TAXES, THEN THEY GIVE US ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OFF OF OUR, OUR TAX VALUE FOR THAT YEAR AND LET SOME OF THE CRUMBS FALL OFF THE TABLE.

AND THEN WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT FOR A FEW WEEKS, A FEW MONTHS.

AND THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY SMART, THEY DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AT ALL.

SO I THINK I SPEAK FOR MOST EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT, BUT WE'VE WORKED HARD TO KEEP OUR TAXES LOW.

BUT EVEN IF WE DO GET POWER FROM THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS TO PUT PEOPLE IN POWER TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITIES DO.

SO IT'S SORT OF A TWOEDGED SWORD.

SO WE'VE GOTTA BE SMART ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO DO.

IT'S A VERY THANK YOU OFFER COMING AND JUDGE, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.

YEAH.

ALRIGHT.

VERY GOOD STARTING POINTS IS WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

WELL, I I, I THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT SHOWED UP AND COMMENTED AND THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE JOINING US ONLINE AND UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER PONDER FOR BRINGING US VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION FORWARD.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? UH, DO WE NEED TO READ IT FIRST OR JUST APPROVE IF YOU'RE WELCOME TO READ IT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY.

UH, BEFORE I READ IT, I WANNA MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT.

SO THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE.

UH, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IF

[00:40:01]

IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, CONTACT YOUR DEMOCRAT PRECINCT CHAIRS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE SAME THING.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD FOR THE LEGISLATORS TO SAY NO.

IF BOTH SIDES OF THAT AISLE ARE SAYING GIVE OUR COMMISSIONERS SOME CONTROL, UH, IF ONLY ONE SIDE, WELL, HOPEFULLY IT'S THE STRONGER SIDE SAYING IT.

UH, BUT IF YOU CAN GET, IF WE CAN GET BOTH SIDES TO ASK FOR THAT, IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR THOSE LEGISLATORS TO GO, EH, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

UM, WE'VE GOT MORE POWER THERE.

SO WHICHEVER SIDE OF THAT AISLE YOU LIVE ON, MAKE SURE YOUR PRECINCT CHAIRS PUSH FOR IT AT THEIR STATE CONVENTION.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

OKAY, I'M GONNA READ THIS THING.

I HOPE I DON'T HACK IT UP ALLERGY SEASON, YOU KNOW, SO I MIGHT BE A LITTLE SQUEAKY.

OKAY.

UH, AS RESOLUTION BY ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTING ENHANCED REGULATION OF DATA CENTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHEREAS ELLIS COUNTY SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNIZES THAT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING DATA CENTERS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FACILITIES, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE FUTURE ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS HYPERSCALE COMPUTING FACILITIES REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL ELECTRIC GENERATION TRANSMISSION CAPACITY AND WATER RESOURCES AND UNCOORDINATED OR RAPID LOAD GROWTH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE RELIABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS ERCOT GRID LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY.

AND WHEREAS LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT MAY IMPOSE SIGNIFICANT DEMANDS ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, LAND USE PLANNING, AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WHILE COUNTIES PROCESS LIMITED RE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO MANAGE SUCH IMPACTS.

AND WHEREAS DATA CENTERS CONSTITUTE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORTING COMMERCE, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, CYBERSECURITY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND TEXAS HAS EMERGED AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN ATTRACTING SUCH INVESTMENTS.

AND WHEREAS INCREASING ELECTRICAL DEMAND, REOCCURRING DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND LIMITED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCLOSURE OF RESOURCE CONSUMPTION NECESSITATE ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY AND LONG-TERM PLANNING TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRITY AND PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT, AND THIS IS THE POSITION OF THE COURT, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT, HOWEVER, IT FORMALLY OPPOSES THE USE OF OPEN LOOP EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY REQUIRING SUBSTANTIAL POTABLE WATER CONSUMPTION IN WATER CONSTRAINED RE REGIONS.

THE COURT FURTHER DECLARES THAT SUPPORT FOR FUTURE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE CONDITIONED UPON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENFORCEABLE SAFEGUARDS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL GRID RELIABILITY AND PREVENT UNDUE COST BURDENS ON RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL AND SMALL BUSINESS RATE PAYERS ENSURE SUSTAINABLE AND TRANSPARENT WATER USE PRACTICES PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS, RANGE LANDS, WILDLIFE HABITATS AND NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS PREVENT DEGRADATION OF COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL.