* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [OPENING COURT] [00:00:09] GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, AND, UH, PROPER NOTICES OF THIS MEETING HAVE BEEN POSTED, LEGALLY POSTED PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS FOUND AT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 5 5 1. UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJECTION, I WILL GO AHEAD AND DECLARE THE MEETING OPEN AND AGAIN, WELCOME. AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE LEWIS PONDER TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE STAND. OKAY. JOIN ME IN PRAYER, PLEASE. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU ARE SOVEREIGN OVER ALL NATIONS AND EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. GRANTED YOUR WISDOM FROM ABOVE. WISDOM THAT IS PURE PEACE, LOVING, AND FULL OF MERCY. GIVE US DISCERNING HEARTS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HONOR YOU AND SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS. PROTECT US FROM DIVISION AND PRESSURE. FILL US WITH INTEGRITY, COURAGE, AND HUMILITY. GUIDE US TO LEAD WITH JUSTICE, UNITY, AND A HEART FOR THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT. MAY YOUR HAND OF BLESSING REST UPON THIS COURT, OUR COUNTY STAFF, AND ALL WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD DIRECT THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS MEETING FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTY. AND THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE TO FLAG, FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO EQUALITY FOR WHICH STANDS NATION, GOD, LIBERTY KING, JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG P PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS STATE, ONE STATE. THANK YOU ALL. PLEASE BE SEATED. BEFORE WE, UH, GET INTO OUR AGENDA, I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS. WE HAVE A, A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORM THAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO FILL OUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM. THAT FORM IS AVAILABLE OUT IN THE HALLWAY. THAT WOULD BE THE DOOR TO MY RIGHT, UH, TO YOUR LEFT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FILL THAT FORM OUT AND HAND IT TO, UH, OUR COUNTY CLERK, CRYSTAL VALDEZ, PRIOR TO THE AGENDA ITEM BEING CALLED. WE WILL BE SURE TO, UH, GIVE YOUR, GIVE YOU YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM. [Proclamations, Recognitions, and Resolutions] OKAY. WE ARE FIRST GOING, BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP A COUPLE OF, UH, PROCLAMATIONS, WHICH IS R ONE AND R TWO. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS R ONE, UH, RESOLUTION BY THE ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO DESIGNATE A PORTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 87 AS ERNEST TUB MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. AND THIS, UH, RESOLUTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY COMMISSIONER PONDER. AND SO I WILL LET COMMISSIONER PONDER SPEAK TO US ON THIS ITEM. OKAY. UH, THIS RESOLUTION, WE ACTUALLY HAD DONE THIS BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND, UH, TEXT OUT HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE WORDING THAT NEEDED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC. UH, MAURICE OSBORNE FROM, UM, FROM, UM, REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON'S OFFICE HAD WORKED WITH THEM, GOT THE WORDING RIGHT AND GAVE IT TO ME TO, UH, SUBMIT TO, TO REDO. UH, GONNA GET A LITTLE BACKGROUND. SO ERNEST TUBS, HE WAS BORN FEBRUARY 9TH, 1914 ON A COTTON FARM IN THE TINY TOWN OF CRISP TEXAS, WHICH IS EAST OF, UH, INTERSTATE 45, I BELIEVE. OVER IN MR. STINSON. IS IT YOURS? YEAH. OKAY. UM, HE'S, UH, HE IS, UH, HE WAS NICKNAMED THE TEXAS TROUBADOUR. UH, HE GOT HIS START IN THE LATE THIRTIES. HIS FIRST BIG HIT WAS, UH, WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU IN 1941. UH, HE BECAME A STAPLE OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY. UM, HE PERFORMED IN OTHER SHOWS LIKE THE PORTER WAGNER SHOW, HEE-HAW. UH, AND HE AT THE HEE HAWS, WHERE I THINK HE INTRODUCED HIS, ORIGINALLY PLAYED WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS. HE ALSO PERFORMED ON THE JIMMY DEAN SHOW. AND SOME OF YOUR YOUNGER FOLKS ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT WHO IN THE HECK ARE THESE PEOPLE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, THESE ARE SHOWS I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. UM, SO ANYWAY, THAT'S, UH, THE INFORMATION ON, UM, ON MR. TUBBS. SO, AS OPPOSED TO READING THE WHOLE PROCLAMATION, I'M JUST GONNA READ THE NOW. THEREFORE, UH, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELLI COUNTY HEREBY REQUEST THAT TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WOULD HONOR THE LEGACY OF EARNEST TUBBS BY DESIGNATING A PORTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 87 BETWEEN THE EASTERN CITY LIMITS OF WAXAHATCHEE AND THE WESTERN CITY LIMITS OF ENNIS AS THE EARNEST TUB MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. GREAT. WE DON'T NEED A VOTE ON THAT, RIGHT? WE, WE, WE DON'T. WE DON'T. ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER. AND, AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE IN YOUR FIFTIES OR OLDER, YOU'LL [00:05:01] REMEMBER ERNEST TUB. OR IF YOU'RE A YOUNGER PERSON AND AS A, AND YOU'RE A FAN OF CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC, YOU'LL CERTAINLY KNOW WHO HE IS AS WELL. AND WE'RE PROUD TO CLAIM HIM, UH, AS AN ELLIS COUNTY NATIVE. IF YOU VISIT NASHVILLE, THEY, THEY ONCE HAD A FAMOUS RECORD STORE, THE ERNEST TUB RECORD STORE. I THINK THERE'S STILL ONE OPEN, EVEN THOUGH NOT MANY PEOPLE BUY RECORDS ANYMORE, BUT I THINK THEY'RE STILL ONE OF THOSE OPEN ON LOWER BROADWAY IF YOU VISIT NASHVILLE. ALRIGHT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, UH, ITEM R TWO, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION BY THE ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTING COUNTY AUTHORITY OVER WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY. UH, THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION WAS ALSO, UH, BROUGHT TO US BY COMMISSIONER PONDER, SO I WILL ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE AS WELL, OR ASK HIM TO. THANK YOU. UH, SO LIKE, UH, THE PREVIOUS COURT WE HAD A RESOLUTION, UH, ASKING THE STATE TO, UH, GIVE US SOME AUTHORITY OVER DATA CENTERS. AND, UH, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY DOING THE SAME THING OVER WIND AND SOLAR. IT'S POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THIS BECOMING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. CITIES HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE AS A COUNTY DO. 'CAUSE WE HAVE ALMOST NONE WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THIS. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING THE STATE TO PASS A BILL THAT WILL GIVE US SOME AUTHORITY TO WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SOMETIMES SAY NO IF IT'S NECESSARY, BUT ALSO SAY YES, BUT WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS. UH, AND SO I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION. YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE, ON THE WEBSITE, BUT I'M GONNA READ THE NOW, THEREFORE, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT STRONGLY URGES THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION GRANTING TEXAS COUNTY'S MEANINGFUL LAND USE AUTHORITY IN UNIN UNINCORPORATED AREAS, INCLUDING THE POWER TO REGULATE CONDITION, AND APPROVE THE SIDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS. AND TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE STANDARDS, REQUIRE PERMITTING PROCESSES AND ENFORCE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPAT COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES, PROTECT LANDOWNERS, SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND PREVENT THE OVERUSE OR DEGRADATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FURTHER CALLS UPON THE STATE LAWMAKERS PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND ENFORCEABLE AUTHORITY TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE GROWTH AND ENSURE THE LARGE SCALE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ENSURE THAT LARGE SCALE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN A MANNER THAT REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND VALUES OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES. ALRIGHT, AND AGAIN, NO VOTE NEEDED, RIGHT? CORRECT. UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER PONDER. AND, UH, AGAIN, A VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. AND WE DO HAVE, UH, KIND OF OUR FIRST WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT GOING IN THAT TOUCHES UPON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF ELLIS COUNTY. SO IF YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE NOT DRIVEN DOWN INTERSTATE 35 E TO THE SOUTH LATELY, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT THE CHANGE IN THE, UH, SCENERY AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT WAY. YEAH. [CONSENT AGENDA] OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 33 AND F1 THROUGH F NINE. ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. ANY COMMISSIONER MAY ASK TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION IN A SEPARATE VOTE. IF THERE ARE NO SUCH REQUESTS, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 33 AND F1 THROUGH F NINE. SO, MOVE, I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS A ONE THROUGH A 33 AND F1 THROUGH F NINE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. [1.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to release maintenance bond and not to accept the maintenance of roads, drainage, or other related infrastructure for public maintenance in Ferris Ranch, Phase 2, Ferris, Road & Bridge Precinct No. 1.] WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BEAR WITH ME, OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. WE WOULD ASK OUR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, ALBERTO MAREZ, TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO US ON THESE ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM 1.1, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND ACTION TO RELEASE THE MAINTENANCE BOND AND TO NOT ACCEPT THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS, DRAINAGE, OR OTHER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PUBLIC MAINTENANCE IN FERRIS RANCH, PHASE TWO, FERRIS ROAD AND BRIDGE PRECINCT NUMBER ONE, ALBERTO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS AN INTERNAL HOUSEKEEPING ITEM. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, GOING DOWN THE LIST OF SUBDIVISIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED, UH, INTO THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE DISCOVERED, UH, THESE TWO, THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE ON THE AGENDA THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORMAL ACTION BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT NOT TO ACCEPT THE INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, THE BO THE BOND ACTUALLY EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2024. UH, THERE IS A 12 MONTH PERIOD AT WHICH WE CAN MAKE ANY CLAIMS. UH, BETWEEN OCTOBER 13TH, 2024 AND OCTOBER 13TH, 2025, WE DID REACH OUT NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEVELOPER TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCIES. UH, THOSE WERE NOT DONE BY OCTOBER 13TH, 2025. ON OCTOBER 25TH, UH, THE COURT INDICATED THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN TAKING OVER THE MAINTENANCE DUE TO THOSE INCOMPLETE, INCOMPLETE ITEMS. UM, AT THAT MEETING, I GUESS NO FORMAL ACTION WAS EVER [00:10:01] TAKEN TO ACCEPT THE ROADS BESIDES JUST NO ACTION. UH, OCCASIONALLY WE'LL GET OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, YOU KNOW, ON THESE SUBDIVISIONS THAT CAN SHOW US WHERE THE COUNTY HAS NOT ACCEPTED THESE, UH, THESE ROADS AND THERE IS NO RECORD. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LEGAL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN OFFICIAL RECORD, UH, SHOWING THAT THE COUNTY DID NOT ACCEPT IT. SO, IN KEEPING WITH PAST STATEMENTS AND DESIRES, STAFF, UH, RECOMMENDS THAT THE ROADS, DRAINAGE, AND OTHER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS, UH, AFFAIRS RANCH, PHASE TWO. OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS? WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE. NO ONE TURN ANYTHING? NO COMM MAKE A MOTION AND NOT ACCEPT. THAT'S ONE OF THE MUDS, IS IT? NO, THAT'S NOT THE MUD, IS IT? OKAY. NO, IT'S JUST A, IT'S A SUBDIVISION, UH, FIRST PHASE WE TOOK, BUT THE SECOND PHASE, UH, NO RESPONSE OUT OF THEM. THE NO VEGETATION, THE DITCHES ARE SOME OF 'EM SIX, EIGHT FEET DEEP. AND WHEN THERE'S NO VEGETATION TO HOLD 'EM THERE, THE LOTS ARE SITTING IN THE DITCHES. AND THE DITCHES PROBABLY NEED THREE FOOT OF DIRT CLEANED OUT OF 'EM RIGHT NOW, NOT CONSIDERING THE CULVERTS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT. SO IT'D JUST BE A TON OF WORK FOR US TO DO TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE A ROAD TO PASS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED MONTHS TO TRY AND GET IT RESOLVED, BUT NOBODY WAS INTERESTED IN IT, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE DON'T ACCEPT. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM 1.1 FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AS ANYONE OPPOSED, HEARING NO OPPOSITION. ITEM 1.1 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP [1.2 Discussion, consideration, and action to release maintenance bond and not to accept the maintenance of roads, drainage, or other related infrastructure for public maintenance in Eyrie Meadows, Waxahachie, Road & Bridge Precinct No. 3.] ITEM 1.2, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND ACTION TO RELEASE THE MAINTENANCE BOND AND TO NOT ACCEPT THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS, DRAINAGE, OR OTHER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PUBLIC MAINTENANCE IN ERIE MEADOWS, WAXAHATCHEE ROAD AND BRIDGE PRECINCT NUMBER THREE, ALBERTO. THIS IS ALSO THE SAME AS THE LAST ONE, EXCEPT THIS ONE GOES BACK A FEW YEARS BACK. UH, THE LAST MEETING OCCURRED OCTOBER 24TH, 2024. THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT INDICATED THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN TAKING OVER AT THIS SUBDIVISION. ONCE AGAIN, I GUESS NO OFFICIAL RECORD STAFF RECOMMENDS IN KEEPING WITH THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS AND DESIRES NOT TO ACCEPT THE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE AS WELL. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, ANY UH, THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? YEAH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE FIRST COME INTO OFFICE. WE HAD, UH, HIT ME AND, UH, TURNS OUT, I THINK, I BELIEVE, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT INVOLVED. I KNOW THERE WAS SOME LEGAL ACTION BECAUSE THE ROADS THAT WHEN THEY POURED THE CONCRETE, THEY GOT A BUNCH OF CLAY BALLS. THEY EVIDENTLY DUG TWO DEEP INTO THE ROCK PILE, GOT A BUNCH OF CLAY BALLS IN THE CONCRETE. SO WE HAD ALL THESE POP MARKS IN THE CONCRETE. MM-HMM . LAST TIME I DROVE THROUGH THERE, CONCRETE WAS STILL HOLDING UP. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONNA LAST FOREVER. UH, WATER GETS DOWN IN THOSE HOLES AND IT, UH, FREEZES, MAKES CRACKS, AND THEN ONCE IT STARTS, IT'S GONNA DEGRADE RAPIDLY. THE, UH, DEVELOPER WASN'T WILLING TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT. AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO ACCEPT THOSE ROADS, UH, BACK THEN, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE IT OFFICIAL. SO NOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT OFFICIAL AND I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS MO THIS AGENDA ITEM. OKAY. WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.2 FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? UH, HEARING NO OPPOSITION? ITEM 1.2 PASSES THIS UNANIMOUSLY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALBERTO. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL NOW MOVE [3.1 Introduction of new Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, Samuel Adams. — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent Sidney Atchley] TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION OF OUR AGENDA AND WE WILL FIRST TAKE UP ITEM 3.1, WHICH IS INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE AGENT SAMUEL ADAMS. WE HAVE OUR TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE EXTENSION AGENT, SYDNEY ASHLEY TO, UH, LEAD US ON OR SPEAK TO US ON THIS ITEM. SO SYDNEY, WELCOME. THANK YOU. HI, JUDGE RAY AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH ME. I HAVE OUR DISTRICT EXTENSION ADMINISTRATOR, JAY KINGSTON, AND OUR NEW AG AND NATURAL RESOURCE AGENT THAT MR. KINGSTON WILL INTRODUCE TO Y'ALL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE SAMUEL, UH, TO THE COURT, UH, AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT APPLICANT. AND, AND WE, WE THINK WE FOUND THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT FIT FOR ELLIS COUNTY AND, UH, FOR SURE, YOU KNOW, MARK WILL BE MISSED. BUT, UH, BIG SHOES TO FILL AS WELL. AND SO WE, WE'VE CHALLENGED SAMUEL WITH THAT. UH, SAMUEL COMES WITH US WITH A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN AG EDUCATION FROM TEXAS A M COMMERCE. UH, HE'S ALSO A ARMY VET AND SO SOME BRINGS SOME, SOME LIFE EXPERIENCES THERE. I THINK THAT WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE HERE IN ELLIS COUNTY. HE, UH, PROBABLY WHAT, 12 YEARS OR SO IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION? NINE. NINE, OKAY. NINE YEARS. SEVERAL OF THOSE IN THE AG SCIENCE, UH, FIELD. AND SO I THINK HE BRINGS SOME EXPERIENCES, SOME KNOWLEDGE, UH, TO ELLIS COUNTY. SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HIM HERE. ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE? OH, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR, UH, SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. UM, MR. ADAMS. AND YOU HAVE A GOOD, STRONG AMERICAN NAME AS WELL. SO THAT'S A THAT'S A POSITIVE. OUR DATE WILL BE JUNE 1ST, [00:15:01] SO THAT'S A MONDAY. AND WE'LL GET YOU HERE WITH COUNTY HR AND GET THAT ALL LINED UP, BUT START ON JUNE 1ST. OKAY, GOOD DEAL. WE'LL HAVE A FULL STAFFED OFFICE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GREAT. WELCOME MR. ADAMS. THANKS, UH, YOU FOR JOINING THE TEAM. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SIDNEY. THANK YOU ALL. [3.2 Discussion, consideration, and action of a resolution for accepting additional funds from the 2025 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security Sub-Grant to Texas Counties for the total amount of $275,000 with a county required matching funds of $55,000. — Elections Administrator Jana Onyon] OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 3.2, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION FOR RELEASE, UH, I'M SORRY, ACTION OF A RESOLUTION FOR ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE 2025 HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF A ELECTION SECURITY SUB-GRANT TO TEXAS COUNTIES FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 275,000 WITH A COUNTY REQUIRED MATCHING FUND AMOUNT OF 55,000. AND WE HAVE OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, JANA ONION, TO SPEAK TO US ON THIS ITEM. JANA, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, LAST JUNE OF 2025, I BROUGHT THIS BEFORE THE COURT AND YOU GUYS APPROVED THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS GRANT. UH, THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT WAS, UH, 55, I BELIEVE 55,000. UM, BUT SINCE THEN THEY HAVE OPENED IT UP. THE COUNTIES CAN REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS. SO I'VE GONE BACK AND ASKED THEM FOR, UH, THESE AMOUNTS THAT YOU JUST STATED THERE, THE 275,000 WITH A MATCHING OF 55,000 AND THEY APPROVED IT. SO NOW I'M BACK HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SEE IF YOU'RE APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION AGAIN. UM, IT'LL HELP OUT WITH SECURITY, UM, AND E POLL BOOKS FOR THE ELECTIONS OFFICE. OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE THOSE REQUIRED MATCHING FUNDS IN OUR BUDGET. YOU DO? OKAY. VERY GOOD. THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER, OH, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET 55,000 AND NOW WE'RE GONNA GET 275,000. YES, SIR. YOU BETTER WORKS FOR ME, ? YES IT IS. ALRIGHT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT IT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO APPROVE ITEM 3.2. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? UH, HEARING NO OPPOSITION? ITEM 3.2 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JANNA. OKAY, [3.3 Discussion, consideration, and action to nominate the appointment of Randy Stinson, County Commissioner Precinct 1, for a 2-year term beginning July 2026 and ending July 2028 to the Regional Transportation Council Board with Kaufman County Judge Jakie Allen as the Alternate. — Ellis County Judge John Wray] WE'LL NOW TAKE UP ITEM 3.3, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND ACTION. TO NOMINATE THE APPOINTMENT OF RANDY STINSON AS OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT ONE FOR A TWO YEAR TERM, BEGINNING, UH, JULY, 2026 AND ENDING JULY, 2028 TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL BOARD WITH KAUFMAN COUNTY JUDGE JACKIE ALLEN, SERVING AS THE ALTERNATE, UH, COMMISSIONERS. I, I'LL OFFER A FEW COMMENTS ON THIS. FIRST, OUR PREVIOUS, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF, OF COURSE WAS, UH, LANE GRAYSON. UH, SO NOW THAT MR. GRAYSON, UH, HAS, HAS, UH, IS NO LONGER A PART OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THAT POSITION NOW REQUIRES A REAPPOINTMENT SINCE POSTING OF THE ITEM. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS, UH, CAME TO MIND. ONE IS THAT, UH, THE ITEM OR THE POSITION IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE . SO WE SHOULD, RATHER THAN HAVE THIS PERSON TAKE OVER IN JULY OF 2026, UH, WE SHOULD REALLY HAVE THAT DESIGNATE THAT THE PERSON'S TAKING OVER TODAY WITH THE APPOINTMENT MAY 12TH, 2026. UH, AND, AND I'VE ALSO DECIDED WE WILL PROBABLY DELETE THE END DATE. WE'LL JUST LET THAT RUN OUT ACCORDING TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT. UH, SECOND THOUGHT I HAD IN MIND WAS, UM, AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE PRIORITY OF ESSENTIALLY ELLIS COUNTY AND KAUFFMAN COUNTY SHARE APPOINTMENT OF ONE POSITION ON THIS BOARD, UH, AFTER HAVING DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THAT, UH, I FEEL IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TO APPOINT AN ALTERNATE FROM ELLIS COUNTY. WE WOULD APPOINT COMMISSIONER STINSON AND AN ALTERNATE FROM ELLIS COUNTY. ANY ANY THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON ON THAT? OH, I'M, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT. OKAY. UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER STINSON AS THE PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE, ELLIS COUNTY'S PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL BOARD AND COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER KYLE BUTLER AS THE ALTERNATE ELLIS COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL BOARD, EFFECTIVE TODAY, MAY 12TH, 2026. I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, UH, FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? UH, HEARING NO OPPOSITION? THE MOTION PASSES. I GET YOU. WHY YOU REAL SORT OF HESITANT YOU HATE TO VOTE FOR YOURSELF, RIGHT, ? YEAH. WELL, I KNOW WE'LL BE IN GOOD HANDS ON THE RTC. OKAY. UH, WE, I WAS JUST QUICK TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL DIDN'T BACK OUT. RIGHT'S COMING PONDER RIGHT, IT'S IN THE WORKS, RIGHT? IT'S IN THE WORKS. OH BOY. YAY. COMMISSIONERS. [MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION] WE DO HAVE, UH, A ONE ITEM POSTED FOR A POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT IS ITEM 4.1, WHICH WOULD BE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 SUBSECTION ONE, A CONSULTATION [00:20:01] WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. BAFF HEATH DELGADO ACOSTA, LLP VIA REMOTE CONFERENCE REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION CONCERNING TCEQ MATTERS, SPECIFICALLY PENDING TEXAS POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEMS, PERMITS AND PENDING PETITIONS FOR THE CREATION OF MUDS. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF MATTERS, UH, LINED UP FOR, UH, THE ATTORNEYS TO, TO UPDATE US ON. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENTER AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER, PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? UH, HEARING NO OPPOSITION? THE MOTION TO ENTER AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE TIME IS NOW 2:20 PM AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL STAND IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU. THAT GOES BACK TO LOCAL [ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION] GOVERNMENT. OH, OKAY. COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE BACK IN THE, UH, COURT ROOM AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OR EXIT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO EXIT, EXIT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM COMMISSIONER UH, BUTLER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED A HEARING? NO OPPOSITION. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOW CONCLUDED THE TIME IS 2:59 PM WE HAVE ALSO CONCLUDED ALL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY. AND WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJO MOTION. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? UH, HEARING? NO OPPOSITION? THE MOTION PASSES AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.