Aug 04, 2026 Commissioners Court

[OPENING COURT]

[00:00:09]

NOT HEAR THE CLOCK TOWER, BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T GO OFF. BUT MY MY PHONE DOES INDICATE THAT IT'S 2:00. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL TO MEETING. CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.

NOTICES OF THIS MEETING HAVE BEEN LEGALLY POSTED PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS FOUND AT GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551. UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJECTION, I WILL GO AHEAD AND DECLARE THE MEETING OPEN. ALL RIGHT. AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UPON COUNTY COMMISSIONER MATT ZEKE TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY WITH THANKS AND PRAISE FOR YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BREATH IN OUR LUNGS AND THE ABILITY TO LOVE YOU AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. YOU GUARANTEE US THAT WE WILL NEVER WALK ALONE IN THIS LORD AND THAT YOU ARE. YOU ARE WITH US ALL THE TIME. YOU'RE ALWAYS IN OUR CORNER. WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE US TODAY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR ELLIS COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS THAT WE REPRESENT, LORD. AND WE ASK THAT YOU ALWAYS KEEP US ON YOUR PATH AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS TO GLORIFY YOU. WE ASK THAT YOU COMFORT THOSE IN NEED AND GUIDE OUR DECISIONS. AND IN YOUR SON JESUS'S NAME, 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 THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS IKE, AGAIN, WELCOME. IF YOU'RE ATTENDING HERE TODAY, THANK YOU FOR DOING SO. IF YOU'RE JOINING US ONLINE, WELCOME AS WELL. AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING LATER ONLINE, WE ALSO WELCOME YOU. OKAY. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS. WE HAVE A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORM THAT IS AVAILABLE OUT IN THE HALLWAY. IT'S BEHIND THE DOOR TO MY RIGHT OR THE DOOR TO YOUR LEFT. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FILL THAT THAT FORM OUT. GIVE IT TO OUR COUNTY CLERK, KRYSTAL VALDEZ, AND SHE WILL GIVE IT TO ME. AND WE'LL BE SURE TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO COMMENT ON THE ITEM WHEN IT'S CALLED UP FOR DISCUSSION OR FOR CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I DOES ANYONE OPPOSED, HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THOSE ITEMS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. AND I WILL NOW CALL UP ITEM A FOUR, WHICH IS APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO

[A.4 Approval to enter into a Special Road Use Agreement with Sol Marina Energy Center, LLC to cover potential road damage during construction for 3.6 miles of road usage and acceptance of the bond for $318,535.87 per mile, located in Road and Bridge Precinct No. 1. - County Engineer Zachary Gerich]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LACEY HAMILL. I LIVE AT 448 FM 2377 IN RED OAK. I WANTED TO

[00:05:04]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MISS HAMILL. ALL RIGHT. WE NEXT HAVE DAVID LOWE, WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. MR. LOWE, IF YOU WOULD COME UP AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND SHARE YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD SPECIFICALLY TRY TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE ROAD USE AGREEMENT RELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT. THANK YOU, MR. LOWE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DAVID LOWE. I LIVE AT 417 FM 2377. TO CONTINUE WITH LACEY'S COMMENTS, OUR NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS, CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED HAS BEEN PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED AS A COMPANY ALIGNED WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. TEXAS LAW, INCLUDING THE LONE STAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT, PROHIBITS CERTAIN AGREEMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW DESIGNATED CHINESE COMPANIES ACCESS TO CRITICAL TEXAS INFRASTRUCTURE.

GREG ABBOTT HAS PLACED A CATTLE ON TEXAS PROHIBITED TECHNOLOGIES LIST. 2024 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT SAYS THAT IF YOU BUILD ANYTHING RELATED TO NATIONAL SECURITY, YOU CANNOT USE ANY COMPONENTS FROM CHINA. CATL DOMINATES THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN SO THOROUGHLY THAT 90% OF THE BATTERIES IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY IN TEXAS, RELY ON AT LEAST ONE CRITICAL CHINESE COMPONENT, OFTEN CATL CELLS OR THE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES IT CONTROLS. CATL BATTERIES CAN CONTAIN HIDDEN COMMUNICATION FEATURES, BACKDOORS, AND REMOTE CONTROL CAPABILITIES. THOSE FEATURES TURN GRID SCALE BATTERY STORAGE BES INTO POTENTIAL WEAPONS, THOUSANDS OF BOMBS THAT A FOREIGN ADVERSARY COULD DISABLE, OVERHEAT, OR WEAPONIZE DURING A CRISIS. IN FEBRUARY OF 2026, THE VAN ZANDT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PASSED A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON B. ESS SOLAR AND WIND PROJECTS AFTER CONCERNS AROSE REGARDING THE USE OF CATL COMPONENTS IN PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE RISK CONCERNS. WE REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. 233 SUBCHAPTER C FIRE CODE IN INCORPORATED AREAS. SECTION TWO.

33.061 AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE FIRE CODE A THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OVER 250,000, OR A COUNTY A ADJACENT TO A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OVER 250,000, MAY ADOPT A FIRE CODE AND RULES NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE FIRE CODE. ELLIS COUNTY IS ADJACENT TO DALLAS COUNTY, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF OVER 250,000. WE FURTHER REQUESTED THE ELLIS COUNTY REQUIRED DISCLOSURES AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ALL UL 94995 40 A FIRE TESTING DOCUMENTS AND RELATED COMPONENT MANUFACTURING INFORMATION PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS, INCLUDING THE NFPA 855 PERTAINS TO THE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AND INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE. THESE STANDARDS ALLOW THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION, THE AHG, TO OBTAIN UL 9540 A TESTING REQUIREMENT REPORTS IDENTIFYING BATTERY CELL MANUFACTURERS, INVERTER MANUFACTURERS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THERMAL RUNAWAY FIRE TESTING RESULTS IF COMPONENTS MANUFACTURED BY CATL OR SUN GROWER IDENTIFIED, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY EVALUATE EVALUATE WHETHER SUCH PROJECTS VIOLATE TEXAS LAW OR CREATE UNACCEPTABLE PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS. AND FINALLY, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS ARE FREQUENTLY DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS, WIND ENERGY PROJECTS, DATA CENTERS REQUIRING MASSIVE CONTINUOUS POWER DEMANDS. THESE PROJECTS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT RURAL LAND USE, PROPERTY VALUES, WATER RESOURCES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO PAUSE

[00:10:04]

TWO SENTENCES LEFT. YES, PLEASE. PLEASE CONTINUE. YEAH. OBTAIN AND REVIEW THE UL 9548 TESTING DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL PROPOSED BEST FACILITIES. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS DURING EVENING HOURS ACCESSIBLE TO WORKING CITIZENS AND PROTECT ELLIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, LANDOWNERS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY BEFORE APPROVING INDUSTRIAL SCALE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK. THANK YOU MISTER. THANK YOU. MR. LOWE. I KNOW OUR FIRE MARSHAL IS HERE. YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT WITH HIM AFTER THE MEETING OR OUT IN THE HALLWAY. HE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, WHICH WE HAVE, WHICH WE HAVE ADOPTED. AND JUST FOR FOR PURPOSES OF YOUR IF YOU'RE JOINING US ONLINE OR HERE TODAY, WE DO HAVE A A DECORUM POLICY AND A POLICY ON SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEMS. IT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER WITH AN OVERALL MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES PER AGENDA ITEM.

I WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCING THAT. WE TRY. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR PUBLIC AND WE WANT TO TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS. WE CERTAINLY DO. YOU'RE WELCOME TO EMAIL US SEPARATELY FROM THE MEETING. YOU'RE WELCOME TO CALL ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, INCLUDING ME, TO SHARE YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO CONDUCT AT OUR MEETINGS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY ON TASK AND ON POINT AND KEEP THE MEETING MOVING FORWARD IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. IF WE KEEP ALLOWING OTHER LOTS OF DISCUSSION BEYOND THE SCOPE OF AN AGENDA ITEM, THE ROOM IS GOING TO GET FULL OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S ON THEIR MIND IN ANY WAY, ON ANY AGENDA ITEM.

AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY DISRUPT THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO I HOPE YOU WILL RESPECTFULLY, YOU KNOW, HONOR, HONOR OUR INTENTIONS OF OUR POLICY AND CONTACT US SEPARATELY IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN ITEM OR AN ISSUE THAT REALLY ISN'T AN AGENDA ITEM. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE THIS PENDING AGENDA ITEM OF A FOUR, WHICH AGAIN IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THIS DEVELOPER TO REPAIR COUNTY ROADS. AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM A4 TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTE, BECAUSE IT DOES WRAP AROUND MY HOUSE. AND SO IT WOULD LOOK SORT OF BIASED IF I, YOU KNOW, VOTE NO OR VOTE YES.

AND THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, DAMAGING TO ME IF I DECIDE TO SUE LATER BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, RIGHT. LOSS OF VALUE TO MY PROPERTY. RIGHT. SO LET ME LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THE SOLAR PANELS. DID THEY MEET ALL THE COUNTY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS? YES, WE REVIEWED FOR DRAINAGE STANDARDS. WE HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM. THEY'RE DOING DETENTION.

EVERYTHING ON THAT WORKED OUT AS FAR AS DRAINAGE, NOT PUTTING ANY OTHER. BUT IS. BUT AS FAR AS EVERYTHING THAT EVERYTHING THE COUNTY CAN ASK THEM TO DO. THE FIRE MARSHAL LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT DOES NOT CONTAIN BATTERY STORAGE UNITS. SO IT DOES NOT DOES NOT. OKAY. AND, THE ROAD BOND IS DIRECTLY FOR IT'S NOT USING THE COUNTY, MONEY TO DEVELOP THAT ROAD.

THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR. IF THEY HAD TO COME IN AND REPLACE THE ROAD AFTER IT'S TORN UP DURING CONSTRUCTION. SO IF AND WHEN WHAT'S TORE UP AFTER THE IF AND WHEN PUT IN. OKAY. OKAY. SO COMMISSIONER STINSON HAS RECUSED HIMSELF. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON A4? ANYTHING ELSE? I MEAN, IT'S IT'S, I MEAN, OUR, OUR, OUR ABILITY TO SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T BUILD IT. THAT SOLAR FARM IS NOT THERE, NOT THERE, THERE AT ALL. CORRECT. AND, AND LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S NO BATTERY STORAGE THERE. THEY'VE MET THE COUNTY POLICIES AS FAR AS DRAINAGE AND WHAT LITTLE AUTHORITY WE HAVE, EVERYTHING WE REQUIRE FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT. THEY MET THOSE STANDARDS. SO APPROVING THE ROAD USE AGREEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE DO OR DON'T WANT THE SOLAR SOLAR PANELS. THIS IS JUST JUST APPROVING THEM TO PAY FOR THE ROAD IF THEY DESTROY IT. YES.

CORRECT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER TO APPROVE ITEM A4. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONERS IKE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I, I, AND COMMISSIONER STINSON HAS RECUSED HIMSELF. SO ITEM A FOR DOES ANYONE VOTE? NO. BY THE WAY, I DID NOT HEAR ANY NO VOTES. SO ITEM A4 PASSES

[1.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to accept the performance bond for Daybreak Manor. The ± 20.172-acre site is located ± 3,080 feet northeast of the intersection of Baucum Road and Angus Road, Waxahachie, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 3.]

[00:15:04]

PRECINCT NUMBER THREE. ALBERTO. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. BACK ON APRIL OF 2024, THE COURT DID APPROVE A PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR 15 LOTS ON THIS PROPERTY. THE CIVIL PLANS WERE APPROVED A FEW MONTHS AGO AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUILD THE ROAD. SO THIS IS THE A PERFORMANCE BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $485,880.12. AND THE ROAD LENGTH IS ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OVER 1000FT. SO STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS PERFORMANCE BOND WITHIN THAT AMOUNT AS PRESENTED. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. NO. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.1 FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.1 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW

[1.2 Discussion, consideration, and action on an Interlocal Agreement between Ellis County and the City of Waxahachie including but not limited to certain public improvements, right-of-way abandonments, address assignment, street naming, and permitting, within the master-planned Haven Ranch Development project located within the incorporated city limits of the City of Waxahachie, and the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), Road and Bridge Precinct No. 2.]

STREET NAMING AND PERMITTING WITHIN THE MASTER PLAN TO HAVEN RANCH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED WITHIN THE INCORPORATED CITY LIMITS OF WAXAHACHIE AND THE CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. ROAD AND BRIDGE. PRECINCT NUMBER TWO, ALBERTO. YES. BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, THE DEVELOPERS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT ENTERED INTO A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF WAXAHACHIE. PART OF THAT, I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANNEXING PER PHASE AS THE PROJECT DEVELOPS OUT. THE CITY WANTED TO, COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY REGARDING, ADDRESSING STREET NAMING PERMITTING AHEAD OF THOSE PROPOSED ANNEXATIONS FOR THOSE PHASES. AND IT ONLY MAKES SENSE IF THE AREA IS GOING TO BE EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF WAXAHACHIE. WE DO HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE WITH, GOODLAND, I GUESS BACK, BACK WHEN IT WAS CALLED PRAIRIE LANDS. SO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE COUNTY DOESN'T HANDLE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S ALL CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE. SO IT'S SOMETHING SIMILAR. THIS THIS ONE OUT BY THE LAKE. YES. IT'S SOUTH OF LAKE WAXAHACHIE. YES.

RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. SO STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS AGREEMENT. A LEGAL HAS REVIEWED THE AGREEMENT. AND WALKS HAD YOU PASSED IT LAST NIGHT IN THEIR CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM 1.2. IF NOT I WOULD TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.2 MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.2 FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STENSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.2 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE PURCHASING

[2.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to purchase One (1) 2026 GMC Elevation 1500 from James Wood Chevrolet for the Department of Development in the amount of $48,030.00.]

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE GOING ON EARLY RIGHT TRYING TO GET DONE THIS THIS BUDGET CYCLE INSTEAD OF YEAH, YEAH. THIS IS A PURCHASE, NOT A LEASE. IT'S A PURCHASE. CORRECT. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.1 FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE, I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 2.1 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE ADMINISTRATION

[3.1 Presentation of the 2025 annual report from Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, by General Manager Kathy Jones. - Ellis County Judge John Wray]

SO. OKAY, WHAT A NIGHT HERE WHEN YOU'RE DONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. JUDGE

[00:20:05]

[00:25:04]

THERE WE GO. THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDED SEVERAL MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT. IN THE FUTURE GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, THE DISTRICT REMAINED ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE LEGISLATORS, STATE AGENCIES, GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP ENSURE THAT LOCAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO BE GROUNDED IN SOUND SCIENCE AND LOCAL DECISION MAKING. BEYOND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE DISTRICT REMAINS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN BOTH GROUNDWATER AND REGIONAL WATER PLANNING. WE CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN A JOINT PLANNING PROCESS TO DEVELOP DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS. I ALSO SERVE ON BRAZOS G REGIONAL WATER PLANNING GROUP AND REPRESENT BRAZOS G ON REGION C REGIONAL WATER PLANNING GROUP, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO HELP ENSURE LOCAL GROUNDWATER DEMANDS ARE CONSIDERED AS REGIONAL WATER PLANS ARE DEVELOPED. I'M PROUD TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS RECENTLY THAT ULTIMATELY CULMINATED IN THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S ADOPTION OF THE 2027 STATE WATER PLAN, WHICH WILL BE USED TO GUIDE WATER PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ACROSS TEXAS FOR THE YEARS TO COME. AND BEFORE, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THE PAGES TO FLIP BEFORE I TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO KAITLYN, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGAIN FOR THE FOR TODAY'S OPPORTUNITY AS DALLAS COUNTY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE TREMENDOUS GROWTH, PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES BECOMES INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. AS I'VE MENTIONED, MEETING THESE FUTURE WATER DEMANDS WHILE PRESERVING LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR AQUIFERS THROUGHOUT REQUIRES THOUGHTFUL PLANNING AND INFORMED DECISION MAKING.

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION IS NOT SOMETHING ANY ONE AGENCY CAN ACCOMPLISH ALONE. IT TAKES THE STRONG COLLABORATION AMONG THE COUNTY, MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIERS, DEVELOPERS, INDUSTRY LANDOWNERS, AS WELL AS WITH THE DISTRICT. BY CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER, RELYING ON THIS SOUND SCIENCE, WE CAN ENSURE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH WHILE PROTECTING ONE OF THE ELLIS COUNTY'S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE WATER. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KAITLYN, WHO IS OUR PERMANENT DIRECTOR. AS I MENTIONED, SHE'LL PROVIDE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION THAT WE SEE OCCURRING, ALONG WITH THE WATER TRENDS AND SO FORTH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KATHY, THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU. DID I GO TOO FAR? NO. YOU'RE GOOD. IT'S TRIGGER HAPPY. CAITLIN. THANK

[00:30:07]

ANY WELLS DRILLED PRIOR TO THAT, FOR THE MOST PART ARE REGISTERED ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DO NOT HAVE EXACT DATA ON WHERE THOSE WELLS ARE LOCATED, AND A LOT OF THEM REMAIN UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, AS WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON REGISTERING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REGISTERING THEIR WELLS, WE ARE SEEING THE NUMBERS INCREASE AND THE NUMBER OF WELL, REGISTRATIONS WE ARE SEEING. FOR WELLS DRILLED PRIOR TO 2011, BEFORE WE WERE CREATED. SO AT THE END OF 2025, ELLIS COUNTY HAD 364 WELLS REGISTERED WITHIN THEIR COUNTY. MOST OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE DOMESTIC WELLS, WITH A HANDFUL OF THEM BEING PERMITTED WELLS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE 96 THESE PERMITTED WELLS ARE GOING TO REPORT TO US ANNUALLY. THEY'RE GOING TO COVER THINGS LIKE YOUR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES, YOUR NON-AG IRRIGATION, INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIG INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS YOU HAVE AROUND HERE, MOST OF THEM ARE RELIANT ON GROUNDWATER IN SOME WAY, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. YOU SEE NOW, IN 2025, WE SAW A TOTAL OF 51 WELL, REGISTRATIONS COME INTO ELLIS COUNTY. JUST BECAUSE WE SAW 51 WELL, REGISTRATIONS DOESN'T MEAN ALL 51 WERE DRILLED. SOME OF THOSE COULD HAVE BEEN APPROVED LATE IN THE YEAR, MEANING THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE DRILLED EARLY 2026 OR EVEN MIDDLE OF 2026, DEPENDING ON WHEN DRILLERS COULD GET OUT THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, DATING BACK TO 2024 OR DATING BACK TO 2021. THE MOST WE'VE SEEN IS PROBABLY 29. WELL, REGISTRATIONS COME IN. SO WE ARE SEEING A BIT OF AN INCREASE. NOW. MOST OF THAT IS DOMESTIC WELLS. BUT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON. THIS MAP REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE REGISTERED IN ELLIS COUNTY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE SEVERAL WELLS THAT ARE UNKNOWN.

WE'RE NOT SURE OF THEIR LOCATION. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN PARTS OF ELLIS COUNTY BACK IN THE 80S AND 90S DID HAVE WELLS DRILLED. BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE REGISTERED ON THAT VOLUNTARY BASIS, WE DON'T HAVE THEM ON THIS MAP. AND A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE IS THOSE TEND TO BE ON THE EAST SIDE OF ELLIS COUNTY, WHERE IT KIND OF SHOWS THAT THEY'RE OPEN. THEY'RE NOT AS RELIANT ON GROUNDWATER OVER THERE AS THEY USED TO BE. AND SO WE DON'T SEE ANY NEW DRILLING OCCURRING. ALL OF THE NEW DRILLING WE SEE OCCURRING ARE HAPPENING TOWARDS THE SOUTH SIDE OF ELLIS COUNTY. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE WEST SIDE, AS YOU ALL CAN SEE. BUT THAT'S ALSO WHERE ALL OF YOUR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES SIT. SO YOUR BUENA VISTA, MOUNTAIN PEAK, SARDIS, ALL OF THOSE HAVE SOME FORM OF GROUNDWATER THAT THEY USE. AND THOSE ARE REFLECTED. THE DOMESTIC WELLS ARE REFLECTED BY THE BLUE DOTS. AND THEN THE RED DOTS REFLECT THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, WELL, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS IN ELLIS COUNTY ARE RECEIVING SOME KIND OF GROUNDWATER, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, A REASON THAT WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF DRILLING GOING ON IN THE EAST SIDE OF ELLIS COUNTY IS DUE TO THE LARGE DOWN DIP THAT WE SEE OCCUR AS YOU MOVE WEST TO EAST. WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WELL, DEPTHS ON THE WEST SIDE OF ELLIS COUNTY, YOU'RE TALKING 200 TO 500FT DEEP WHERE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EAST SIDE, THOSE SAME AQUIFER FORMATIONS ARE 3000FT DEEP. SO IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. THE COST OF DRILLING IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER BECAUSE OF THAT. AND SO YOU JUST DON'T SEE THE DOMESTIC USE LIKE YOU DO ON THE WEST SIDE. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ACTUAL PRODUCTION AND THE GROUNDWATER USE. SO THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOLELY COVER OUR NONEXEMPT WELLS AND OUR NONEXEMPT WELLS MEAN THAT YOU REPORT AND PAY ON THE WATER THAT IS USED. AND YOU REPORT ON IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

YOUR BIG USERS IN THIS AREA ARE GOING TO BE YOUR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING. OF THE 90, I BELIEVE IT WAS 96 WELLS THAT WERE PERMITTED. 82 OF THESE COME FROM EITHER INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING OR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. SO THAT REALLY MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF WHAT YOU SEE IN ELLIS COUNTY. OF THE 3 BILLION GALLONS, OBVIOUSLY CLOSE TO, THREE POINT OR I'M SORRY, 2.9 BILLION OF THAT IS FROM THAT INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING AND PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE AND JUST QUICKLY POINT OUT

[00:35:03]

HOWEVER, IT WAS GROUPED TOGETHER, SO WE HAD LONGER SPELLS WITHOUT RAIN. AS FAR AS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IRRIGATION, IT'S NO SECRET THE MORE CONSISTENT THAT THE RAIN IS, EVEN IF IT'S FOR SHORTER SPOUTS, OBVIOUSLY THE LESS YOU HAVE TO WATER. SO WE SAW THAT.

WE SAW THAT BEING REFLECTED IN THE NON AG IRRIGATION USE. BUT FOR THE MOST PART ELLIS COUNTY WAS DOWN ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THEY USED BY APPROXIMATELY 5%. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OUR PERMITTED ALLOCATION FOR ELLIS COUNTY SITTING AT 4.3 BILLION.

THE DISTRICT TOTAL CURRENTLY SITS AT 9.9 BILLION. SO ELLIS COUNTY MAKES UP THE GOOD A GOOD MAJORITY OF IT. THEY ARE OUR HIGHEST ALLOCATED COUNTY OF OUR FOUR COUNTIES, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST WATER USE. SO THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED. WE DO ANTICIPATE THIS ALLOCATION TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS IT HAS FOR ELLIS COUNTY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DUE TO THE RELIANCE OF THOSE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. WE ARE AWARE OF SEVERAL LARGE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT ARE GOING TO ANTICIPATE USING THAT GROUNDWATER RESOURCE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'LL EXPECT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS INCREASE. AND THEN WHENEVER WE LOOK AT OUR PERMITTED ALLOCATION, WE WANT TO ALSO LOOK AT OUR ACTUAL PRODUCTION AND WHAT THAT SHOWS WE'RE ACTUALLY USING. SO ELLIS COUNTY CURRENTLY SITS AT 69.5% OF THEIR ALLOCATION. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IMPACTED BY, ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES COMING IN, BUT MOST OF ALL BY OUR DROUGHT CONDITIONS. AND AS OF 2026, WE HAVEN'T HAD SEVERE DROUGHTS. WE'RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE MORE MODERATE DRY CONDITIONS. BUT WE TEND TO GET JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN TO KIND OF KEEP US OUT OF THAT SEVERE DROUGHT, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT. OUR TRENDS FOR OUR PRODUCTION THIS YEAR FOR 2026 ARE LOOKING ABOUT THE SAME AS 2025. SO I WOULD EXPECT MOST OF THOSE NUMBERS TO KIND OF SIT RIGHT THERE, UNLESS WE HAVE SOME UNFORESEEN DROUGHT EXPERIENCE COMING UP IN THE FALL, WHICH YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS IS KIND OF WHERE EVERYBODY SITS. AND ELLIS COUNTY, USING 69% OF THEIR ALLOCATION, SHOWS THAT THEY'RE USING THE GROUNDWATER RESOURCE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT TAKING, THEY'RE USING IT WITH CAUTION AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONSERVING THEIR RESOURCE. SO THAT IS EVERYTHING I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. AND KATHY AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAITLIN. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY WITH ONE OF THOSE GRANDFATHERED WELLS, ARE THERE REASONS WHY YOU WOULD VOLUNTARILY REGISTER IT? CAN YOU SHARE WITH THAT? YEAH. SO OUR BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION ON WHY SOMEONE SHOULD REGISTER THEIR WELL IS BECAUSE WE CANNOT PROTECT IT IF WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. AND THE WAY THAT WE PROTECT YOUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES FOR YOUR WATER WELL IS THROUGH SPACING REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM TRACK SIZE REQUIREMENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR SPACING REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT YOU MEET PROPERTY LINE SPACING AS WELL AS WELL TO WELL SPACING. AND THAT BASICALLY ENSURES THAT THERE IS NOT A STRENUOUS IMPACT ON YOUR WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE DO NOT KNOW THAT WELL IS THERE, THEN WE CAN'T USE IT AS THE NEAREST KNOWN. WELL, AND SO THAT WOULD BE OUR BIGGEST MOTIVATOR FOR REGISTERING THOSE. OKAY. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. SO QUESTION ABOUT WATER USAGE. SO WE WERE LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS LIKE 3 BILLION. WAS THAT 3 BILLION GALLONS IN ELLIS COUNTY? YES, SIR. SO WE PULLED 3 BILLION GALLONS FROM THE AQUIFER. WE USE IT AT EITHER SEEPS BACK DOWN INTO THE GROUND OR IT GETS EVAPORATED. THEN IT RAINS AND IT SEEPS BACK DOWN.

IS THERE A TIMELINE OF HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THAT TO REPLENISH? LIKE IF WE PULL 3 BILLION, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR 3 BILLION TO GET BACK DOWN IN AQUIFER? LONGER THAN ANYBODY WILL BE ALIVE. IT IS. IT IS BEING EXTRACTED AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN IT IS ABLE TO REFILL AND BE REPRODUCED ESSENTIALLY. AND KATHY, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN HERE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 0.2% OF ALL RAINFALL THAT WE RECEIVE ACTUALLY BECOMES USABLE GROUNDWATER AGAIN. SO HOW DOES OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THOUSANDS OF YEARS. SO RIGHT NOW THE WATER WE'RE PULLING IS WATER THAT SEEPED DOWN THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. OKAY, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A TREND FOR SOME OF WHAT HISTORICALLY WERE RURAL WATER PROVIDERS LIKE BUENA VISTA OR MOUNTAIN PEAK. THOSE GUYS, SOME OF THEM ARE TRENDING TOWARD BUYING SURFACE WATER, PERHAPS FROM A CITY OR ANOTHER RURAL PROVIDER THAT MAY TREAT SURFACE WATER. ARE YOU SEEING A TREND OF THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE THOSE LARGE PIPELINES THAT CROSS ELLIS COUNTY? DO YOU

[00:40:04]

GO WAY BACK, ROCKET SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 30 PLUS YEARS, SERVE ON GREATER DALLAS PLANNING COUNCIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THAT AS WELL AS I'M, AN EMPLOYEE OF HALF ASSOCIATES FOR THE LAST 40 PLUS YEARS. AND FULL DISCLOSURE, WE DO SOME GIS MAPPING FOR PRAIRIE LAND GROUNDWATER DISTRICT, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT PART.

I'M AS MUCH TO TO SHARON, PART OF WHAT THE PART THAT WATER HAS BEEN SUCH A BIG ISSUE FOR US IN, IN DALLAS, AREA AND THE GROWING AREAS, INCLUDING ELLIS COUNTY. I WOULD SUGGEST, FIRST OF ALL, THANKING THE COUNTY, NUMBER ONE, FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND BEING PART OF THE GROUNDWATER CONTROL DISTRICT. THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT. IT'S ONLY BEEN THE LAST 15 PLUS YEARS. THE SECOND PART IS I THANK THE COUNTY AS WELL FOR THEIR REPORTING ON WASTEWATER. AS WE TALK ABOUT GROUNDWATER, THE PROTECTION OF THAT GROUNDWATER IN ITS CURRENT USES AND ITS WATER QUALITY, THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED MAPPING OF ALL THE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS WITHIN THE COUNTY TO THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. AND THAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL DOING THAT EFFORT. I KNOW THAT'S A BIG EFFORT IN THAT MAPPING SIDE.

AND I WOULD ASK THE ON THE THIRD PART IN CLOSING IN THAT FOR GROUNDWATER IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS. AND WE'RE JUST HEARD HERE THAT IT TAKES MILLENNIUM TO RECHARGE, THAT THAT PART OF THE INDUSTRY AND THE WATER SUPPLY FIELD IS LOOKING AT AQUIFER RECHARGE AND REUSE. AND ONE OF THE FEW, THINGS THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO IS ITS DRAINAGE SIDE OF THINGS. SO AS WE START LOOKING AT FOR A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE OF HOW WE HANDLE OUR STORMWATER, CONSIDER THE AQUIFER RECHARGE AND REUSE AS A POSSIBLE, A POSSIBILITY FOR THAT AND PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER. SO WITH THAT, I THANK I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, MR. CRAIG. I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR KATHY OR KAITLYN. THE RAINWATER HARVESTING REBATE CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS AND HOW THE PUBLIC CAN GET INVOLVED TO, TO HARVEST THEIR OWN RAINWATER? YES. FIRST OF ALL, ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE ARE MAKING SOME UPDATES THAT SHOULD EVEN BE LIVE TODAY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE OFFER IS TO OUR RESIDENTS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK A, A REBATE ANNUALLY ON SYSTEMS THEY INSTALL. AND WE BASE IT ON A DOLLAR PER A DOLLAR PER GALLON, A DOLLAR PER GALLON REBATE. SO THEY STILL NEED TO PROVIDE RECEIPTS AND PHOTOS. WE SOMETIMES DO ON SITE INSPECTIONS. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE GRANT PROGRAM, THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM. AND WE WE PUT IT IN PLACE LAST YEAR, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SUCCESS WITH IT. BUT PART OF THAT IS ON US

[00:45:02]

WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A NICE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO, TO PUT TOWARDS THAT. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS ON THAT. WHEN I, THAT'S NOT A COST SHARE. IT DEPENDS ON, ON THE, HOW LARGE THE SYSTEM. YEAH. SO WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF GRANTS FOR THAT. SO IF SOME, YOU KNOW, THE EASIEST WAY TO INSTALL A PROJECT LIKE THAT IS ON NEW FACILITIES, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DOABLE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AS WELL. BUT THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.

SO RESIDENTIAL, DOES THAT HAVE TO BE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE USED AS POTABLE WATER OR JUST FOR IRRIGATION WATERING. OH, IRRIGATION OUTDOOR USE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE.

IT DEPENDS WHETHER YOU CAN EVEN BRING IT INDOORS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S CODES ON BRINGING THAT IN. IF YOU'RE ON AN EXISTING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. RIGHT. SO MAKING SURE ALL DISCLAIMERS THERE ON YOUR WEBSITE, THE GRANT. YES, SIR. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE ONE GRANT INSTALLATION THAT WENT IN LAST YEAR AT THE ELLIS COUNTY RURAL HERITAGE FARM. I'M SORRY I EVER STOP BY THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE SIGN. OH, OKAY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU, KATHY AND KAITLYN SO MUCH. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WELL ITEM 313.1 WAS

[3.2 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve order of the General Election to be held on November 3, 2026 for the purpose of electing County and Precinct Officers as required by Article XVI, §65 of the Texas Constitution. - Elections Administrator Jana Onyon]

AND ALL OF THESE SITES AND EVERYTHING HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH THE ELECTION BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL TOO. SO. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3.2. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON, TO APPROVE ITEM 3.2. AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 3.2 PASSES

[3.3 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve the appointment of the election day presiding, alternate judges and central counting station personnel for the upcoming two year term (September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2028), as submitted by the Democratic and Republican Parties. - Elections Administrator Jana Onyon]

[00:50:04]

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR JANA ON ITEM 3.3? IF NOT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3.3 FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 3.3 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. JANET.

[3.4 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve the 2026-2027 Payroll Schedule. - County Treasurer Cheryl Chambers]

THANK YOU. IT'S JUST A STANDARD EVERY TWO WEEK, RIGHT? EITHER ON A FRIDAY, YOU GET A PAYCHECK OR FRIDAY, YOU GIVE ME A TIME SHEET. SO THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE'RE JUST STICKING WITH THE SAME OLD SCHEDULE. WE JUST HAVE TO ADOPT IT EVERY YEAR. YES. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR QUICK QUESTION. SO WE TALKED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT Y'ALL WERE HAVING TO WORK WEEKENDS AND STUFF TO GET PAYROLL IN. WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR US TO TURN IN PAYROLL WEEKLY INSTEAD OF ALL AT ONE TIME, SO YOU COULD WORK ON IT THROUGH THAT PRIOR WEEK? I THINK BECAUSE WHAT WE DO ON SUNDAYS IS THE JAIL TIME SHEETS, AND THEY TURN THOSE IN OR EMAIL THEM TO US BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 5:00 SUNDAY MORNING. AND WE REALLY DON'T MIND WORKING. IT'S EVERY OTHER SUNDAY. CHERYL ZINC IS HERE FOR THREE HOURS. I'M USUALLY HERE FOR TWO OR LESS, AND IT JUST MAKES OUR MONDAY BE A LOT SMOOTHER. IT MAKES IT A LITTLE LESS OF A MONDAY THAT WE CAN BE HERE SUNDAY WHEN IT'S QUIET. THERE'S NOBODY HERE TO DISTRACT OR RIGHT WANT US TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. WE GET IN, GET IT DONE, AND WE'RE OUT. SO IT WORKS WELL FOR US, RIGHT? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU THOUGH. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ON THIS ITEM 3.4.

IF NOT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3.4 FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I DOES ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 3.4 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. WE'LL

[3.5 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve the 2026-2027 Holiday Schedule. - Interim Human Resources Director Norma Luna]

SO COMMISSIONERS, ANY, ANY DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I WOULD TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3.5 MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3.5 FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZAKK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 3.5 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. NORMA. ALL RIGHT. WE

[3.6 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve the 2026-2027 Commissioners Court Meeting Schedule. - Ellis County Judge John Wray]

[00:55:04]

THERE IS, THE, NEW JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER TRAINING, WHICH HAPPENS ON JANUARY 19TH OR WOULD COVER THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 19TH. SO THERE'S BEEN A SUGGESTION TO MOVE THAT MEETING TO THE, THE PRIOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 15TH. THE SECOND WAS A CONFERENCE CONFLICT, FOR THE NORTH AND EAST TEXAS COUNTY JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION, ANOTHER TRAINING EVENT THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ATTEND. AND SO IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM OR BE SURE WE HAVE A QUORUM FOR THAT MEETING, THERE WAS A SUGGESTION OF MOVING THE MEETING TO FRIDAY, JULY 16TH. FROM TUESDAY, JULY 20TH. YEAH. I REQUESTED THIS, COME UP A FEW TIMES WHERE I HAD TO EITHER DRIVE BACK FROM A CONFERENCE AND SIT THROUGH COURT OR, OR, YOU KNOW, DO IT ONLINE OR SOMETHING. AND I, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW COUNTY JUDGE AND GOT A NEW COMMISSIONER HERE. NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO, MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO MISS COURT TO MAKE THESE TRAININGS. I SPOKE WITH CAMERON JUST A BIT AGO AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. IT'S A JUDICIAL ORIENTATION TRAINING, THAT FALLS THE WEEK OF GET THIS RIGHT. DO YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY, I'M SORRY, THE WEEK, FEBRUARY 1ST THROUGH THE SIXTH. IF WE WERE TO MOVE THAT ONE TO JANUARY 29TH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL. AND THAT WAY WE DON'T NOBODY HAS TO MISS A MEETING. YEAH. WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A QUORUM ISSUE. IF SOMEONE COMES UP SICK AND SOMEONE'S IN HOUSTON OR SOMETHING, THAT CREATES A PROBLEM. VERY GOOD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM CHANGING THAT FEBRUARY 2ND MEETING TO JANUARY 29TH AS WELL. COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE ARE NO SUCH, THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FEBRUARY 2ND MEETING BEING MOVED TO JANUARY 29TH. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MADAM CLERK, DID YOU PICK UP ON THE FEBRUARY. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. I KNEW YOU WOULD. I JUST, IF THERE'S EVER ANY CONFUSION. I KNOW IT'S MY FAULT, NOT YOURS. SO. ALL RIGHT, SO, WE WILL NOW

[3.7 Discussion, consideration, and action to select the Texas County & District Retirement System rate for Plan Year 2027. - Ellis County Judge John Wray]

PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD, MISS FOX, IF YOU'LL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST GO AHEAD. YES. IT'S OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE CHRISTINA FOX. I THINK IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD A MEMBER FROM T C KIND OF COME AND BREAK DOWN HOW OUR PLAN WORKS, WHAT IT DOES FOR US, HOW WE GET THE RATES, WHAT'S OUR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION RATE, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND KIND OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO THE FUTURE. SO I WILL LET HER TAKE IT AWAY AND THEN I'LL LET ERIC ASSIST IF HE IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU NORMA. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN. SO TCRS WAS CREATED BACK IN 1967 BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. WE ARE MANAGED BY A NINE MEMBER BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE TEXAS SENATE. THE THINGS THAT FUND THE BENEFITS GOING OUT THE DOOR. WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY STATE FUNDING. SO THE ONLY THINGS THAT PAY THE BENEFITS ARE OUR INVESTMENT EARNINGS, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THE PLAN. SO WHAT ELLIS COUNTY CONTRIBUTES, AND THEN EMPLOYEES OWN MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM FROM PAYROLL DEDUCTION. WE PARTICIPATE WITH OVER 900 INDEPENDENT PLANS ACROSS THE STATE. EVERY COUNTY IN TEXAS PARTICIPATES WITH US. WE PROVIDE RETIREMENT, DISABILITY AND SURVIVOR BENEFITS TO MORE THAN 400,000 TEXANS AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. THE SIZE OF OUR FUND WAS 56 BILLION AND AT 91% FUNDED. WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST WELL FUNDED PUBLIC

[01:00:05]

SO NOW I WILL GET INTO YOUR PLAN PARAMETERS. AS A REMINDER, YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE CONTRIBUTING 7% OF THEIR PAY EVERY PAY PERIOD TO FUND THEIR FUTURE RETIREMENT BENEFIT. WHEN THEY ARE VESTED AND ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE, ELLIS COUNTY WILL MATCH THEM $2 FOR EVERY DOLLAR THEY'VE SAVED. THE VESTING REQUIREMENT TO EARN THE RIGHT TO THOSE MATCHING DOLLARS IS EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE. PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AT THE LATEST AGE 60. AS LONG AS THEY'RE VESTED, THEY CAN RETIRE YOUNGER THAN THAT BY MEETING THE RULE OF 75, WHERE THEIR AGE, PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE COMBINED TO EQUAL THE NUMBER 75, OR IF THEY HAVE 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF AGE. YOU ALL ALSO OFFER A PARTIAL LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTION AT RETIREMENT, WHICH ALLOWS RETIREES TO WITHDRAW A PORTION OF THEIR ACCOUNT BALANCE OUT IN A LUMP SUM, AND YOU ALSO PROVIDE GROUP TERM LIFE COVERAGE FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS, WHERE IF THEY WERE TO PASS AWAY WHILE THEY'RE ACTIVELY WORKING, IT GIVES THEIR BENEFICIARY ONE TIMES THEIR ANNUAL SALARY IN ADDITION TO THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFIT. THIS JUST SHOWS THE REPLACEMENT RATIOS OF HOW MUCH OF A PERSON'S FINAL INCOME AT RETIREMENT WILL BE REPLACED BY THE BENEFIT, BASED ON DIFFERENT YEARS OF SERVICE. AND THIS IS SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC TO THE PLAN OF BENEFITS THAT YOU ALL ARE OFFERING. WITH THE 7% EMPLOYEE DEPOSIT RATE AND 2 TO 1 MATCH.

I WILL GET INTO THE LAST LEG HERE. SO THIS REPRESENTS ONE BENEFIT DOLLAR THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR. AT TCRS LAST YEAR WE PAID 2.6 BILLION IN BENEFITS. OF THAT, $0.74 OF THE BENEFIT COMES FROM INVESTMENT EARNINGS. WHAT OUR INVESTMENT TEAM IS DOING WITH ALL OF THE POOLED MONEY COMING IN FROM ALL OF THE EMPLOYERS AND THE EMPLOYEES. SO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS ACCOUNT FOR ANOTHER $0.15 OF THE BENEFIT DOLLAR. AND THEN EMPLOYEES OWN MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTS FOR THE REMAINING $0.11 OF THE BENEFIT DOLLAR. AS YOU CAN SEE, INVESTMENTS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FUNDING THE BENEFITS. TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE HAVE A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO. THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT OF COURSE THEY HAVE COUNSEL FROM OUR INTERNAL INVESTMENT TEAM, ALONG WITH THE EXTERNAL INVESTMENT MANAGERS THAT WE HIRE. THIS SHOWS WHAT OUR ANNUALIZED RETURNS HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT WE HAVE EXCEEDED INDUSTRY ESTABLISHED BENCHMARKS ACROSS ALL PERIODS. AND WHILE 1% OR MORE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, THIS REPRESENTS AN ANNUALIZED RETURN. AND SO 1% A YEAR OVER 30 YEARS ACTUALLY EQUATES TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER TIME. THIS SHOWS WHAT OUR ACTUAL RETURNS HAVE BEEN SINCE WE BEGAN DIVERSIFICATION. THE GRAY BAND REPRESENTS OUR RISK TOLERANCE, HOW COMFORTABLE THE BOARD IS IN ALLOCATING ALL OF THE MONEY INTO THOSE DIFFERENT ASSET CLASSES. IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, WE ARE EXPECTING OUR RETURNS TO LAND WITHIN THAT GRAY BAND SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE RETURNS WITH AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF RISK. FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAVE BEEN WITHIN IT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OUTLIERS, THE TWO BIGGEST BEING THE GREAT RECESSION IN 2008, FOLLOWED BY THE SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY IN 2009. THOSE RETURNS DO, EXCUSE ME, DO PLAY A ROLE IN THE RATE THAT THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR BENEFIT LEVELS AND QUITE SIMPLY, IN BETTER THAN EXPECTED YEARS, THE WAY WE'VE HAD THE LAST THREE YEARS SYSTEM WIDE, IT HAS A RATE LOWERING RATE LOWERING EFFECT ON YOUR RATE FROM YEAR TO YEAR. IN DOWN MARKET YEARS, SYSTEM WIDE RATES GO UP TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSSES. TCRS DOES HAVE MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO WEATHER MARKET DOWNTURNS. THAT INCLUDES OUR RESERVES, WHICH RIGHT NOW STAND AT 5.8 BILLION. SO THE BOARD WOULD DECIDE HOW MUCH TO DISBURSE AMONGST ALL PLANS IF IT'S A DOWN MARKET YEAR. AND WE ALSO SMOOTH BOTH EXCESSIVE GAINS AND LOSSES OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, SO THAT IN DOWN MARKETS IT ALLOWS TIME FOR THE MARKET TO RECOVER. SO THE INVESTMENT RETURN WILL PLAY A ROLE IN THE RATE THAT YOU ALL ARE PAYING, AS WELL AS THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT THE ACTUARY IS TAKING A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON, SPECIFICALLY HERE AT ELLIS COUNTY ON DECEMBER 31ST OF EVERY YEAR, THEY WILL CONSIDER ALL OF THAT, ALONG WITH THEIR NORMAL ASSUMPTIONS, TO DETERMINE WHAT RATE WILL ADEQUATELY FUND YOUR FUTURE

[01:05:04]

[01:10:03]

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF? WHAT DO WE WHAT'S THE BENEFIT? WELL, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE, WE, OUR, OUR, THE RATE, THE EXPERIENCE OR WHATEVER THE ELECTED RATE THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE PAY GOES DOWN BY TWO BASIS POINTS EVERY YEAR. YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS THIS PAST YEAR. YES.

HELPED IT BY TWO BASIS POINTS. I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I LOOK BACK AT I THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE ABOUT 2021 OVER FUNDING. I THINK THERE WAS A LUMP SUM PAYMENT IN 2021. YOU'VE DONE A COUPLE OF LUMP SUM PAYMENTS. YES, AND I'VE GOT A HISTORY. I WROTE IT DOWN. THAT, OF COURSE, WAS COVID, YOU KNOW, SO THE MARKET WENT DOWN QUITE A BIT DURING 2020, CAME RIGHT BACK PRETTY QUICK. BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME ELECTION TO USE A HIGHER THAN REQUIRED RATE BEGINNING THEN AS WELL AS MAKE SOME LUMP SUM PAYMENTS. SO WE'RE REALLY ON A TREND NOW WHERE WE COULD, WE COULD LOWER OUR ELECTED A GREAT AMOUNT. AND WE PROBABLY IN OUR, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPIRIT OF, RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING, WE HAD, SINCE WE'RE ONLY GETTING A 2% RETURN ON THAT OVERFUNDING, WE PROBABLY HAVE OTHER PLACES WE COULD REALLY USE THAT, THAT MONEY FOR OTHER, YOU KNOW, REQUIRED OFTEN, MANDATED SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE. SO I WOULD THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER LOWERING IT IF, KATRINA OR, OR CHRISTINA. I'M SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. YEAH. OUR OPTIONS TO LOWER IT, WE COULD LOWER IT ALL THE WAY TO 10.58%.

WE'RE AT 11.19. OR WE COULD GO SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. SO, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? ISN'T THERE A SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH RATE THAT PLAYS INTO THIS AS WELL? IT IS THE RATE FOR YOUR GROUP TERM. LIFE COVERAGE IS IT'S NOT A LOT. IS THAT FACTORED INTO THAT? IT'S WAY LESS THAN THAN, IT'S WAY LESS THAN IT'S LESS THAN A PERCENT. BUT I NEED TO LOOK THAT UP. THAT'LL BE ON A DIFFERENT, IS THAT FACTORED INTO THAT 10.58? IT IS SEPARATE, SEPARATE, SEPARATE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU'LL PAY ANNUALLY FOR IT. BUT THE RATE FOR THAT IS. 0.1%. SO 11 BASIS POINTS RIGHT. YEAH. SO THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE 10.58 OR 11.19. WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE TO DO. RIGHT? SO IF WE WERE TO ADJUST THAT DOWN TO WHERE WE'RE NOT OVERPAYING AT ALL, WHAT CAN YOU GIVE ME A SCENARIO OF WHERE WE WOULD BE, HOW THAT WOULD HELP US ASIDE FROM, I MEAN, WE WANT TO HAVE THAT MONEY JUST PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN A BETTER LOCATION. SO YES, ABSOLUTELY. YOU DEFINITELY, IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN YOUR CURRENT BENEFIT LEVEL OF 7% EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE AND A 2 TO 1 MATCH, THE MINIMUM THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO PROVIDE THAT OR TO ADEQUATELY FUND IT OVER A 20 YEAR AMORTIZATION IS 10.58%. AND YEAH, I THINK THAT YOU'D YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE FUNDED AT THAT OVER 80% MARK BECAUSE BY SIMPLY DOING THAT, YOU ARE MOVING TOWARDS 100% FUNDED IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE 20 YEAR AMORTIZATION. YEAH. AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE REQUIRED, I THINK, BY STATUTE TO GIVE YOU THE ACTUARIES HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT. YES. YEAH. SO WE, WE ARE, 80% FUNDED IS CONSIDERED ACTUARIALLY SOUND. WE'RE AT ABOUT 88% 88. YEAH, CLOSE TO 89.

AND IF WE LOWER DOWN TO THE, THE 10.58%, WE'RE STILL AS OF TODAY, 89%. YES. AND PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DROP BELOW 89% FUNDED. IN FACT, THAT EXTRA 9% IS GOING TO KEEP GROWING. AND WE'RE AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'LL GET TO 100% ANYWAY STILL AT SOME POINT. YES. YEAH. AND WE'RE ALREADY ON A PATH BY VIRTUE OF HAVING PAID AHEAD, OUR ELECTED RATE, MINIMUM LEVEL TO MAINTAIN ACTUARIAL SOUNDNESS. YES. SHOULD CONTINUE TO DROP. THAT IS CORRECT. AND THE GREAT PART ABOUT TDRS IS, IS THAT IF YOU WANTED TO JUST PAY YOUR REQUIRED RATE THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AGAIN. SO DECIDE TO PUT IT BACK IN OR JUST CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN.

AND UNLESS SOMETHING DRAMATICALLY BAD HAPPENS, EITHER IN, OUR POPULATION OR

[01:15:05]

OKAY. WELL, COMMISSIONERS, DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION 1.5, 10.58, TEN POINT. THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE 10.69 WITH THE SD. IT'LL WE WOULD ADD IN THE GROUP TERM LIFE COVERAGE FOR THE TERM LIFE POLICY. THAT IS CORRECT. .6.6. SO TO MAKE SURE OUR MOTION IS CORRECT, CHRISTINA, SHOULD WE I MEAN WE'RE ELECTING TO SET THE ELECTED RATE. DO WE NEED TO FACTOR IN THAT ZERO POINT OR 0.09 OR NO ON THE MOTION FOR PURPOSES OF THE MOTION? SO AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN YOUR GROUP TERM LIFE COVERAGE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT. BUT WE WILL MAKE WE WILL GET YOU A NEW PLAN AGREEMENT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE ELECTED RATE OF 11.19%. AND IF Y'ALL DON'T PLAN ON MAKING A LUMP SUM CONTRIBUTION, IT'LL JUST HAVE THE PLAN AGREEMENT THAT YOU'LL BE SIGNING OFF ON, ASSUMING ALL BENEFIT LEVELS STAY THE SAME, ARE THE CONTRIBUTION RATE OF 10.58%. AND I'M LOOKING HERE AND I'M SEEING THAT THE RATE FOR THE GROUP TERM LIFE COVERAGE FOR 2026 WAS 0.11%.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, BUT I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. RIGHT? SO TODAY WE'RE JUST REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT PLAN PIECE. SO THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER WAS TO LOWER THAT CONTRIBUTION RATE TO 10.58%. AND WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THAT. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER A SECOND TO LOWER TO 10.58 FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. CHRISTINA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GET YOU THE PROPER PLAN

[3.8 Discussion, consideration, and possible action concerning scope of design services for Ellis County owned property located at 1305 West Jefferson in Waxahachie. - Ellis County Judge John Wray]

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 3.8, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING THE SCOPE OF DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE ELLIS COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1305 WEST JEFFERSON AND WAXAHACHIE. WE DO HAVE THIS POSTED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST IT'S REALLY PROBABLY MOSTLY A DISCUSSION ITEM. AND OF COURSE, AS THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW, THE COUNTY PURCHASED THAT BUILDING BACK IN JULY. I DON'T THINK IT'S EVEN BEEN A FULL MONTH. AND, A COUPLE OF POINTS TO MAKE ARE THAT ARCHITECTS IS, IS CURRENTLY CONTRACTED BY THE COUNTY TO DESIGN AN ELECTIONS AND RECORD STORAGE FACILITY AT THE COUNTY FARM. HOWEVER, THE THOUGHT, OF COURSE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WE WOULD SWITCH GEARS AND LOCATE THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND POSSIBLY SOME STORAGE, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, OVER AT THE JEFFERSON STREET BUILDING. DUE TO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN SCOPE WITH ARCHITECTS.

THE PHASE ONE ELECTIONS OFFICE RENOVATION WAS FUNDED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2026.

AND THEN SO THE FIRST AND WE SHOULD GET A REDUCTION IN A CHANGE ORDER, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE OWE TO ARCHITECTS IS A $36,000 REDUCTION, I THINK, DUE TO DELETION OF THE RECORDS BUILDING. BUT THE FIRST THING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY DISCUSS IS POSSIBLY MOVING THE COMMISSIONERS, COURTROOM AND ADMINISTRATION AND SOME ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO 1305 WEST JEFFERSON AND THEREBY INCREASING THE SCOPE OF DESIGN TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE DISCUSSION, I GUESS. DO Y'ALL WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEIR SCOPE A LITTLE TO DO THE WHOLE BUILDING NOW FOR DESIGN OR JUST THE ELECTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU WANT TO GIVE TO ARCHITECTS MOVING FORWARD? WE I BELIEVE THE ELECTIONS BUILDING WAS ANTICIPATED TO USE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 OF THE 500 ZERO SQUARE FEET. YEAH, ROUGHLY.

YEAH. WE THE PLAN WAS TO KIND OF DO A LITTLE EACH YEAR. CORRECT. RIGHT. IS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR DO YOU WANT TO OR YOU'RE SAYING, I THINK THAT IS THE PLAN. THIS WOULD JUST BE THE DESIGN. DESIGN. YEAH. IT WOULDN'T BE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION. I DO MY THOUGHT IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU DON'T KIND OF HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR THE BUILDING, YOU MIGHT DO

[01:20:05]

DESIGN IT 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. SAVE US SOME MONEY BY SPENDING A LITTLE MORE MONEY, YOU PREPLAN AND THEN YOU PRIORITIZE AS YOU BUILD IT OUT. I GET IT NOW. YEAH. I'M WITH YOU. SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT AN WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON IT. I THINK IT'S JUST A CHANCE TO KIND OF SPEAK, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. RIGHT, RIGHT. THERE'S ONE OTHER COMMISSIONERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY, BUT NO, NO PRESSURE. I JUST, NO, NOT RIGHT OFF, I DON'T. OKAY. THERE'S ANOTHER, ANOTHER ASPECT TO THE NEW JEFFERSON STREET BUILDING. THERE HAS BEEN SOME INTEREST. I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS ONE. THERE'S BEEN SOME INTEREST EXPRESSED BY TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO SOON EXIT THEIR OFFICE SPACE DOWN ON MAIN STREET. DOWN THERE, KIND OF LIKE BY BROOKSIDE ROAD, AS YOU MAY KNOW. AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SECURE A LEASE FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE. THEY HAVE, THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR CORSICANA LOCATION IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE AS WELL. THEY HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN LEASING SOME SPACE FROM US IN THE IN THE JEFFERSON STREET BUILDING. BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE THROWING SPITBALLS AT THE WALL TO DISCUSS A NEW NAME FOR THE BUILDING AS WELL. AND WE MIGHT HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ON THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT, AND PROBABLY IT WOULD BE THE ELLIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, BUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER WE SHOULD LEASE A PORTION OF THAT BUILDING TO TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. I THINK THE DOWNSIDE OF IT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY WOULD PAY RENT. THAT'S THE POSITIVE UPSIDE. THE DOWNSIDE OF IT IS, IS THAT IF THEY WANT A TEN YEAR LEASE AND WE NEED THE SPACE, YOU KNOW, SOON, WE MIGHT BE IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION. AND I, IN MY SHORT TIME AS COUNTY JUDGE, IT FEELS LIKE ONE OF THE CRISES WE'RE ALWAYS DEALING WITH IS SPACE.

SO ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? MAYBE IF HE IF HE DID IT IN A LIKE A TWO YEAR, YEAH, WE COULD, WE COULD CYCLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE YOU RENEW UNLESS WE. SO A SHORT TERM LEASE THAT THAT MIGHT BE FEASIBLE. THEY. HOWEVER, AS YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF COMMERCIAL LEASES, THE LANDLORD WILL MAKE TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, THE BUILD OUT AND THEN, EFFECTIVELY AMORTIZE THAT INTO THE LEASE TERM. SO YOU SIGN A FIVE OR 5 OR 10 YEAR LEASE. AND IF THE LANDLORD SPENT $50,000, ON TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, THEN YOU, YOU ADD AND YOU HAVE A FIVE YEAR LEASE, YOU INCREASE THE RENT BY $10,000 PER YEAR, PLUS SOME TIME VALUE OF MONEY COMPONENT.

USE IT LIKE IT IS. YEAH. WELL, I THINK THEY WANT, I THINK THEY'RE HINTING THAT THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. YEAH. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INDICATION THAT, THAT THEY

[01:25:06]

BECAUSE FAIR POINT. IF WE'RE GOING TO HIRE AN ARCHITECT TO DESIGN IT. YEAH. WE GOT TO KNOW IF THAT'S THE. YEAH. DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE. YEAH. IS THAT FOR TWS TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE DESIGN. YEAH. JUST TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH MOVING FORWARD ON THINGS VERY FAST IN THE COUNTY. WHEELS TURN SLOW BECAUSE OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT. YEAH, YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER COURT AND THEN PUT IT ON EXECUTIVE SESSION TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT. YEAH, WE CAN WE CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THE NUANCES. YEAH. I GUESS THE QUESTION IS REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, DO YOU WANT THE DESIGN TO ENTERTAIN THE FUNDS, TO ENTERTAIN THE DESIGN FOR WHAT WE NEED IN THE EVENT WE NEED ANOTHER 10,000 SQUARE FOOT? YEAH. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO. YEAH. THE QUESTION WOULD BE WE'RE INCREASING THE SCOPE OF DESIGN WITH ARCHITECTS FROM JUST 20,000FT OF ELECTIONS BUILDING TO A FULL 50,000FT■!S FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING. SO WHEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT OTHER 30,000, DO WE WANT THAT TO INCLUDE A POSSIBLE LEASE SPACE? YEAH. OR NO. AND YEAH. OKAY. YEAH, THERE'S NO ACTION.

I JUST WANT TO GET SOME DIRECTION. WE'LL GET WITH ARCHITECTS AND, AND START TO KIND OF, YEAH, WE MAY WANT TO HAVE IT ON THE NEXT COURT AGENDA AS WELL, JUST SO PEOPLE CAN KIND OF RUMINATE ON IT A LITTLE BIT FOR TWO WEEKS AND YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. THANK

[MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SO WE DID RECEIVE THAT LETTER FROM GREEN BRICKS LAWYERS, AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT WITH OUR LAWYERS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO. OPPOSITION. THE MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION PASSES AND THIS. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT NOW STANDS IN EXECUTIVE S

[ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOW CLOSED. THE TIME IS 4:00 PM. AND COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR AGENDA. SO WITH THAT I WOULD ALSO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. WE

[01:30:03]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.