[00:00:09]
LIKE TO 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 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551.
AND UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJECTION, I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL AND DECLARE THE MEETING OPEN. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UPON COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE LEWIS PONDER TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE STAND. PLEASE PRAY WITH ME.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR THOSE AROUND US. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY, STATE, AND COUNTY, JUST AS WE ARE YOUR SERVANTS. HELP US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALSO SERVANTS TO THE PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY AS SERVANTS, THAT WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS US WITH THE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING TO WORK TOGETHER IN MAKING THE BEST DECISION FOR THOSE THAT WE SERVE. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. 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. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PONDER. AND AGAIN, WELCOME IF YOU'RE HERE WITH US, OF COURSE. AND ALSO IF YOU'RE JOINING US ONLINE, WELCOME AS WELL. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS AND A PARTICIPATION FORM. IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE TABLE, OUT IN THE HALLWAY BEHIND THE DOOR TO MY RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE TO YOUR LEFT. WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM AND THEN HAND IT TO OUR COUNTY CLERK, CRYSTAL VALDEZ, AND SHE WILL GET IT TO ME WHENEVER THE PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. MATTERS ON ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL AND ARE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. HOWEVER, ANY COMMISSIONER MAY REQUEST TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION. IF THERE ISN'T SUCH A REQUEST, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A1 THROUGH A5 AND F1 AND F2. MOVE. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO OPPOSITION, THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. WE[2.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to update the Ellis County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual to add a Vehicle Replacement Procedures and Policy Section (Pages 26-28).]
NOW HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I'LL ASK OUR DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, EJ HARBIN, TO PLEASE COME SPEAK TO US ON THIS. THIS ITEM, THIS ITEM 2.1, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO UPDATE THE ELLIS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY AND PROCEDURES PROCEDURES MANUAL TO ADD A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES AND POLICY SECTION FOUND AT PAGES 26 TO 28 EJ.GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGETING PROCESS, PURCHASING WAS REQUESTED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON COUNTIES AND OTHER ENTITIES WITH VEHICLE REPLACEMENT POLICIES AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDED UPDATE FOR INCLUSION IN THE PURCHASING POLICY. AS PART OF THE PROCESS, PURCHASING MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO VEHICLE LEASING COMPANIES THAT WE'VE BEEN USING, ENTERPRISE AND AMERICAN NATIONAL LEASING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME OF THE COUNTIES THAT WE LOOKED AT, EL PASO, DALLAS CITIES OF GARLAND, STATE OF TEXAS, TEXAS A AND M AND CITY OF CARROLLTON.
JUST TO SEE KIND OF GUIDELINES AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING. OUR LOCAL COUNTIES NEXT TO US REALLY DID NOT HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. THE GOAL WAS TO DEVELOP A CONSERVATIVE POLICY THAT MAXIMIZED THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE BALANCING THE FINANCIAL RETURN TO THE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF AUCTION, THE POLICY IS DESIGNED SO A VEHICLE MAY BE REVIEWED BASED ON AGE OR MILEAGE, WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE FLEET. IF THE VEHICLE IS DEEMED TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE AND DEPRECIATION IS NOT EXCESSIVE. BEGINNING APRIL 1ST OF EACH YEAR, A LIST OF VEHICLES WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT AND TO BE INCLUDED IN A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, IF DURING THE YEAR VEHICLE BECOMES UNSAFE, INOPERABLE OR MAINTENANCE COSTS BECOME UNECONOMICAL, A RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SUBMITTED VIA AN AGENDA ITEM PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND THEN TO SEEK DIRECTION BY THE COURT. IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPLACEMENT, NEW VEHICLES WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE RECEIVING DEPARTMENT AFTER THE COURT APPROVED VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED
[00:05:04]
FROM THE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS KIND OF A ONE FOR ONE. THAT WAS SOMETHING I KNOW THAT WAS KEY TO YOUR DETERMINATION, AND I DID. SINCE WE DID MEET WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS THE BIGGEST USER AND LARGEST USER TO DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS THAT THAT Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE. BUT HE SAID UNLESS YOU HAD QUESTIONS, HE WAS HAPPY JUST TO SIT BACK. YEAH. THANKS. THANKS, CJ. AND THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL. YES. LEGAL HAS REVIEWED IT AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES. RIGHT. SO COMMISSIONERS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S SOME CRITERIA FOR BOTH TIME LENGTH OF TIME OF SERVICE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS MILEAGE. I HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION IS AT THE 120 000 MILES. IS THAT AN AUTOMATIC FLAG FOR YOU TO START LOOKING, OR THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE. WE WOULD PUT IT ON OUR FLEET COORDINATOR WOULD PUT THAT ON THE LIST AND THEN DURING THE PROJECT BUDGET PROCESS WOULD BRING IT BACK TO YOU. AND BUT WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT IT WOULD BE FLAGGED FOR REVIEW BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT HAS 120 000 MILES, IT'S IN A LOW USE CATEGORY AND NOTHING IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A PVE TYPE VEHICLE, THEN YOU COULD SAY WE COULD KEEP IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR IF YOU WOULD LIKE. IT WOULD BE UP TO Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATION. I'VE GOT A 19 YEAR OLD CAR THAT'S GOT 230 000 MILES ON IT. IT'S NEVER FAILED AN EMISSIONS TEST. AND SO I JUST I WOULD HATE TO JUST BE REPLACING CARS AT 120 000 WHEN WE COULD HOLD ON, HOLD ON TO THEM FOR YEARS TO COME. I THINK THAT WOULD SAVE US MORE MONEY THAN THE THAN THE TRADE IN VALUE. EXACTLY. I, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT JUST OKAY, IT'S 125. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TRADE IT IN. NO, THAT JUST MEANS IT WOULD HIT THE LIST. SO IT WOULD BE ON THE LIST. IT WOULD BE REVIEWED. AND THEN DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS WOULD LET YOU KNOW OF ANY DAMAGE OR ANYTHING. RIGHT. WHY THAT WAS ON THERE. AND THEN YOU COULD GIVE US A THUMBS UP OR SAY, LET'S HOLD IT. OKAY. IT WAS GEARED MORE FOR THE PATROL THOUGH. YEAH, YEAH. YES, YES. DIFFERENT SITUATION. BUT YEAH, YEAH, JUST A REGULARLY USED VEHICLE THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, PUT THROUGH THE STRESSES OF PATROL AND POLICE CHASES OR WHATEVER KIND OF AND WE DO HAVE SOME WORK TRUCK KIND OF THING. I THINK THOSE WE CAN GET A LOT MORE OUT OF THEM. YEAH. YES. AND WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS, JUST SOME WEIRD THINGS THAT COME UP ONCE IN A WHILE THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF RECALLS ON FORDS. SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE FORD IS GOING TO PERFORM OVER TIME. SO SAY THAT VEHICLE STARTED REQUIRING A LOT MORE MAINTENANCE THAN IT COULD BE PLACED ON THE ON THE LIST. AND THEN MAYBE FOR THAT SPECIFIC VEHICLE, IT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE FLEET OR LOWER USE CATEGORY.ALL RIGHT. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER WOULD GIVE, YOU KNOW, MOST DEPARTMENT HEADS KNOW ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES. IF YOU KEEP GOOD RECORDS ON THEM, THEN YOU CAN TELL HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE IS COSTING YOU ON IT. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THEM IN COMPLIANCE. AS FAR AS OIL CHANGES AND FILTERS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT, THEY DO LAST LONGER. BUT MOST DEPARTMENT HEADS, IF THEY'LL JUST KEEP GOOD RECORDS TO BACK UP WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR VEHICLES, THEN THIS IS PROBABLY A MINIMUM THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GO BY. YES. YES, SIR. RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE'S BEEN DRIVING A CAR THAT'S GOT 260 SOMETHING THOUSAND MILES ON IT, AND IT'S GETTING TO WHERE YOU CAN PROBABLY BUY LEXUS FOR WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THE TYPEKIT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT. HER STARTED GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF PROBLEM HERE AND THERE.
AND THEN WE HAD 4 OR 5 PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY IT FROM US. SO WE FINALLY SOLD IT. AND SHE'S GOT ANOTHER ONE NOW. AND I EXPECT PROBABLY LEAVE THIS ONE OUT IN OUR LIFE SPAN. SO WE HAD THAT ONE FOR 19 YEARS. SO MAYBE THEY'RE MAKING THEM BETTER BACK THEN THAN THEY DO NOW. BUT BUT EVERYBODY HAS TO USE COMMON SENSE AND BE DILIGENT AS FAR AS HOW WE SPEND MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING VEHICLES, I KNOW WE'LL SOMETIMES MOVE IT DOWN TO A, TO ANOTHER ONE THAT'S OLDER AND KEEP THE ONE THAT WE JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE FOR AND KEEP ROTATING THEM OUT TO WHERE WE GET THAT WORST ONE. WHEN WE DO GET RID OF THEM, INSTEAD OF TAKING ONE THAT'S GOT THAT MANY MILES ON IT. YEP. SO IT SORT OF WE GOT TO GET EFFORTS FROM EVERYBODY, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, OUR ELECTEDS, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AS FAR AS BEING DILIGENT ABOUT SAVING MONEY. WELL, I CAN SAY AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL WITH THE VEHICLES Y'ALL PROVIDED TO US. SO WE GO OUT OF THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF, MAINTAINED. WE APPRECIATE THE VEHICLES, SO WE MAKE SURE WE TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF THEM. SO WE DON'T HAVE WE WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT COMES BACK IN
[00:10:03]
19 YEARS. AND WITH THE MILEAGE, WE MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF IT. RIGHT. DON'T CHANGE. PRETTY SOON. YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER CATEGORY IN HERE ABOUT GET SOMETHING THAT DOES MAYBE TWICE AS MUCH MILEAGE. AS FOR WE'RE TRANSFERRING MONEY FOR FUEL. THAT'S CRAZY. YEAH.THAT'S TRUE. YEAH, YEAH. HIGH FUEL COSTS, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE OVER. I HOPE SO. OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES AND POLICY SECTION? SO MOVED. OKAY. WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ZAJAC AND IT ACTUALLY IS IS FOUND ON PAGES 25 AND 26 PER THE FINAL DRAFT. SO WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ZAKK. IS THERE A SECOND MOTION? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. DOES ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 2.1 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK CJ THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS WE WE NOW
[3.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to operate under Chapter 111, Subchapter C of the Texas Local Government Code. Including the creation of the Office of Budget Management and action to appoint a Budget Officer. - Ellis County Judge, John Wray ]
HAVE TWO ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS AND A CROSS POSTING ON ONE OF THOSE ITEMS FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE FIRST IS ITEM 3.1 WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO OPERATE UNDER CHAPTER 111, SUBCHAPTER C OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. THIS INCLUDES THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET AND ACTION TO APPOINT A COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER. SO, COMMISSIONERS, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. AS YOU KNOW, CHAPTER 111 ALLOWS A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF 125 000 OR MORE TO OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER C IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS. AND WE'VE AGAIN, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT. WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SOMETHING ONCE THE NEXT POPULATION CENSUS IS TAKEN. SINCE COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION OF 225,000 OR MORE EITHER HAVE TO APPOINT A BUDGET OFFICER OR THAT POSITION DEFAULTS TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR. SO WE HAVE THIS PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER ELECTING TO OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER C AND EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISHING, YOU KNOW, SOME SOME GENERAL OUTLINE OF OF THE BUDGET OFFICER'S DUTIES AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT. AND I SENSE THAT THERE'S WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS THIS IS THE PROPER ACTION TO TAKE. IT HAS BEEN FUNDED, OF COURSE, IN THE BUDGET. THERE IS A BLANK ON SECTION TWO WHEREBY WE WOULD ACTUALLY DESIGNATE AND ASSIGN A SPECIFIC PERSON AS THE BUDGET OFFICER. THERE MAY BE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS WELL AS JUST AN INTERVIEW PROCESS OR A DELIBERATION OF WHO SHOULD BE EMPLOYED IN THAT POSITION. I'VE GOTTEN SOME SOME LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE DO NEED TO DESIGNATE A SPECIFIC PERSON AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION, AND I KNOW THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE'VE DISCUSSED MOVING THE BUDGET SPECIALIST FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE INTO THIS POSITION. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT REALLY HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW THAT PERSON. AND SINCE IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS. BUT I THINK WE COULD MAKE THAT DESIGNATION TODAY THAT MAKE THAT MOVE TODAY WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL THEN HAVE AN OPEN PROCESS OF INTERVIEWS TO, TO, FOR, FOR FURTHER APPOINT THAT PERSON THAT I, OF COURSE, I'M SPEAKING OF. AMEL. AMEL SPENCER BERRY AMEL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. IT'S JUST AND HE, OF COURSE, WOULD BE A CANDIDATE DURING THAT INTERVIEW PROCESS. BUT SINCE IT IS AN IMPORTANT POSITION, I DO THINK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD GO OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVE A FRESH LOOK AND LET YOU SPEAK TO TO VARIOUS CANDIDATES. SO WE COULD EITHER CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO HAVE ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR TO TO FURTHER DELIBERATE APPOINTMENT OF A BUDGET OFFICER, OR IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTE ORDER WITH AMEL SPENCER. SPENCER BERRY, DESIGNATED AS BUDGET OFFICER WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW PROCESS. MY RECOMMENDATION GO INTO EXECUTIVE. OKAY I AGREE. VERY GOOD. WELL, WHY DON'T WE WE WILL HOLD ITEM 3.1 IN[MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
SUSPENSE. AND WE DO HAVE A POSTED EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM UNDER UNDER SECTION 4.1, WHICH IS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION FIVE FIVE, 1.074 A ONE. THAT'S FOR DELIBERATION[00:15:01]
OF THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE BUDGET OFFICER POSITION. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO THINK, OR I WOULD ALSO NOTE, THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION FIVE FIVE, 1.071, SUBSECTION TWO, WHICH ALLOWS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN A GOVERNMENTAL BODY MAY NOT CONDUCT, MAY NOT CONDUCT A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH ITS ATTORNEY EXCEPT ON A MATTER OR WE WE ARE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT THAT CONSULTATION ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551. SO THAT WOULD BE THE BASIS FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ENTER? WE CAN WE TALK ABOUT 3.2 AS WELL, 3.1 AND 3.2. IF YOU HAVE LEGAL QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE ON ON THREE POINTS, AS LONG AS THE MOTION WAS FOR BOTH. YEAH, YEAH. IF YOU HAVE LEGAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 3.2, THEN THAT WOULD ALSO BE APPROPRIATE UNDER FIVE FIVE, 1.071 SUBSECTION TWO, MOTION TWO SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZEKE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO OPPOSITION. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW IN CD LIKE TO TAKE A MOTION TO[ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZAJC.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION. THE.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED. THE TIME IS 2:54 P.M. OKAY. WE WERE HOLDING IN SUSPENSE ITEM 3.1 DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO OPERATE UNDER CHAPTER 111, SUBCHAPTER C OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND ACTION TO APPOINT A BUDGET OFFICER. SO, COMMISSIONERS, YOU DO HAVE THAT PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER IN FRONT OF YOU. IT DOES HAVE A BLANK IN IT FOR THE SPECIFIC BUDGET OFFICER THAT WOULD BE IN SECTION TWO THAT WOULD BE DESIGNATED TO FILL THAT ROLE. I GUESS I WOULD ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THE CONTENT OF THE MINUTE ORDER OR THE SPECIFIC PERSON TO BE APPOINTED AS BUDGET OFFICER. ANY THOUGHTS? IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO JUST LOOK OVER IT, PLEASE DO. JUST WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING OVER IT AGAIN, IT WOULD BE ELECTING SUBCHAPTER C UNDER CHAPTER 111 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. AND THAT COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER POSITION WOULD GO INTO EFFECT THAT DAY. SECTION TWO OF THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER SAYS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSIGN AND DESIGNATE BLANK AS THE BUDGET OFFICER. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER. SEE IT ONLINE. WHERE ARE YOU SEEING THAT? AT WHICH PORTIONS, COMMISSIONER? THE SECTION TWO ARE YOU SEEING? YEAH. ON PAGE TWO OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT ORDER, SECTION TWO ON PAGE TWO. SO AND THEN WHOEVER WHOEVER GETS APPOINTED AS A BUDGET OFFICER WILL THEN APPOINT THE BUDGET SPECIALIST THAT WILL WORK UNDER.
CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT'S THE SECOND POSITION THAT WORKS UNDER THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER.
AND THAT BUDGET OFFICER ANSWERS TO THE COURT. CORRECT. THE BUDGET OFFICER WOULD ANSWER TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE BUDGET SPECIALIST WOULD ANSWER TO THE BUDGET OFFICER. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE IF WE COULD READ THE WHOLE SURE MINUTE ORDER. YEAH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO READ THE ENTIRE MINUTE ORDER. OKAY. I'LL JUST START WITH THE RECITALS ON AND KIND OF SKIP THE PREFATORY CLAUSE. THE RECITALS ARE THAT. WHEREAS ELLIS COUNTY CURRENTLY OPERATES
[00:20:04]
UNDER SUBCHAPTER A OF CHAPTER 111 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR PURPOSES OF PREPARATION OF THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL BUDGET. WHEREAS, SUBCHAPTER C OF CHAPTER ONE, 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SETS FORTH AN ALTERNATE METHOD FOR BUDGET PREPARATION IN COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION IN EXCESS OF 125,000. IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF SUCH COUNTY CHOOSES TO OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER C, WHEREAS SUBCHAPTER C PERMITS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO APPOINT A COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER, THEREBY ENSURING GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE CITIZENS WHO ELECT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. WHEREAS, ELLIS COUNTY FALLS WITHIN THE POPULATION PARAMETERS, ALLOWING ELLIS COUNTY TO CHOOSE SUBCHAPTER C, AND WHEREAS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FINDS THAT CHOOSING TO OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER C WILL FACILITATE TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. FURTHER, THE FLOW OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE CITIZENS OF ELLIS COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, OR NOW, IT IS ORDERED NUMBER ONE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. ELLIS COUNTY ELECTS AND CHOOSES TO OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER C OF CHAPTER 111 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE INSTEAD OF UNDER SUBCHAPTERS A OR B OF SAID CHAPTER NUMBER TWO. THEREFORE, THE COUNTY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSIGN AND DESIGNATE BLANK AS THE BUDGET OFFICER. NUMBER THREE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. ELLIS COUNTY CREATES AND FUNDS THE POSITION OF COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER FOR ELLIS COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET TO COORDINATE AND OVERSEE THE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED PURSUANT TO THIS ORDER AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS SET FORTH IN SUBCHAPTER C OF CHAPTER 111 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE NUMBER FOUR, THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER. THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NUMBER FIVE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET SHALL SOLICIT POLICY GUIDANCE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND WILL IMPLEMENT SUCH POLICIES, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE DECISIONS ENACTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. IN LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE DUTIES OR AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER OR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER SHALL HAVE PRIMARY AUTHORITY FOR COMMUNICATION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT'S BUDGETARY POLICIES AND OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL PLANS THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF ELLIS COUNTY'S ANNUAL BUDGET COORDINATION AND MONITORING OF COUNTY REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE TRENDS AND TIMELY REPORTING OF SAME TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH FISCAL PLANNING, MONITORING AND POLICY ANALYSIS THAT ASSIST THE COURT IN MAKING WELL INFORMED POLICY AND FINANCIAL DECISIONS. GATHERING AND PROCESSING BUDGET REQUESTS FROM ALL COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS. WITH THE ADVICE AND INPUT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT PREPARING A PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ADJUSTMENT BY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOLLOWING CITIZEN INPUT. PREPARING AND PROCESSING BUDGET AMENDMENTS, LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AND BUDGET AMENDMENT ADJUSTMENTS NUMBER SIX. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET WILL COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY TREASURER, COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR AND THE COUNTY AUDITOR OF ELLIS COUNTY TO ALLOW FOR THE TIMELY SHARING OF INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, OTHER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO ENSURE SOUND FISCAL OVERSIGHT. NUMBER SEVEN, THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY BUDGET WILL OPERATE UNDER THE RULES AND GUIDELINES OUTLINED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE NUMBER EIGHT. THE BUDGET SPECIALIST POSITION IS CREATED AND ASSIGNED TO THE OFFICE. A JOB DESCRIPTION IS ATTACHED IN EXHIBIT A, AND THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS EFFECTIVELY THE SAME. BUDGET SPECIALIST. JOB DESCRIPTION USED FOR THE CURRENT POSITION IN THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. SO TO ESTABLISH THIS OFFICE, NOW WE HAVE TO APPOINT AN OFFICER.THAT'S THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT. CHAPTER 111. SO WE CAN APPOINT AN OFFICER AND THEN WE CAN STILL INTERVIEW FOLKS. RIGHT. AND AS I DISCUSSED WHEN WE FIRST WHEN I FIRST CALLED UP THE ITEM BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION. AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD MOST LIKELY WANT TO GO THROUGH A FULL INTERVIEW PROCESS AND OPEN UP THE JOB POSITION WITH A JOB POSTING, TAKE APPLICATIONS AND SORT THROUGH THOSE AND HAVE THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS COURT INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES.
WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET SPECIALIST AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. MR. SPENCER BERRY I
[00:25:01]
WOULD ASSUME THAT HE WOULD APPLY FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER POSITION DURING THAT INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND HE'D CERTAINLY BE WELCOME TO DO SO. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO HAVE A FULL A FULL INTERVIEW PROCESS. OKAY. BUT WE DO NEED TO APPOINT SOMEONE TODAY IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT IT AS WRITTEN. BUT AS FAR AS WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH ERIC TEST AS OUR OUR BUDGET OFFICER IN YOUR OFFICE. SO I'D LIKE TO PLACE HIM IN AS THE APPOINTED BUDGET OFFICER FOR TIME BEING UNTIL WE GO OUT AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.AND SO HE BE THE INTERIM IS WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WELL, HE WOULDN'T THE OFFICER, HE WOULD BE THE BUDGET OFFICER, BUT WE WOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD BE CONDUCTING A FULL INTERVIEW PROCESS BEGINNING AS SOON AS PRACTICAL AS POSSIBLE. START INTERVIEWING. RIGHT. AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. OKAY. SO WE HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTE ORDER. AS PRESENTED, FILLING IN THE NAME OF ERIC TEST ON SECTION TWO AS THE BUDGET OFFICER, WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. DOES ANYONE OPPOSED? NO. WE HAVE ONE OPPOSED FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1, AND WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A FULL INTERVIEW PROCESS THAT WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AND WE'LL. LET ME SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK. SURE. THIS THIS POSITION WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, TRYING TO TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD THAT WOULD FIT INTO ELLIS COUNTY AS A WHOLE. THIS THIS ISN'T A SET STONE. WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY. THIS IS A PROCESS OF GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THERE. CORRECT? YES. SO JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS THIS IS THE START OF THE PROCESS TO TO GET IT RIGHT. SO THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT JUST A SPUR OF THE MOMENT, SOMETHING THAT WE DECIDED. AND, AND BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF. RIGHT. AND I DO, I DO APPRECIATE THAT CREATION OF THIS POSITION AND THIS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO INTENDED TO CREATE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, SOME MUSCLE MEMORY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS SO THAT WE HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME INSTITUTIONAL INERTIA TO KIND OF REMEMBER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT MAYBE WERE MISTAKES AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WATCH ON GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. SO I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE DIRECTION TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, KEEP UP WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY. YEAH.
YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. EACH TIME WE GET A NEW JUDGE, WE GET A NEW BUDGET OFFICER, AND WE'RE THE SIZE OF A COUNTY THAT OUR BUDGET HAS GOTTEN SO BIG THAT I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN THERE EVERY YEAR, THAT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES THAT WE'VE HAD HERE. AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON KNOWS THE PROCESS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND WHEN A NEW JUDGE COMES IN, THEY MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST BUDGETEER THERE IS, BUT WE'VE GOT A GOOD OUTLINE FOR THEM TO GO BY, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE POLITICAL EVERY YEAR. I WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT DOES THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND IT'S TRANSPARENT THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE HOW IT'S SET UP. AND WE CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD. WHETHER I'M HERE OR ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMES IN, I FEEL LIKE IT'LL BE AN AID TO THEM AND AN AID TO ANY JUDGE THAT COMES IN IN THE FUTURE. IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE GREAT BUDGETEERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY KNOW HOW TO RUN A COUNTY. THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK PEOPLE. THEY KNOW HOW TO REPRESENT PEOPLE RIGHT? AND WOULD GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO BE DOWN AT THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICES FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE NEED HERE. RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY I'VE MADE THE MOTION AS TO THE WAY THAT I PRESENTED IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STINSON. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE
[3.2 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve an order establishing the Office of County Administration per the adopted FY2027 Budget, including powers, roles, and responsibilities. - Ellis County Judge, John Wray]
WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 3.2, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDER ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. PER THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, INCLUDING POWERS, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SO, COMMISSIONERS, YOU'VE GOT THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH THAT OFFICE AND THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. AGAIN, THIS IS A POSITION THAT WOULD REPORT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE, THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO HANDLE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY. I'M HAPPY TO READ THAT ONE TOO. WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO DO THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.YEAH. AND AGAIN, I'LL SKIP THE PREFATORY CLAUSE AND JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO THE RECITALS. THE FIRST IS WHEREAS ELLIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH AND INCREASING GOVERNMENTAL COMPLEXITY, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEMANDS PLACED
[00:30:03]
ON COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAVE EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. AND WHEREAS, BY CENTRALIZING SOME FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE COUNTY CAN REALIZE INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND BETTER FOCUS. AND WHEREAS, CREATING THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL STREAMLINE THE COUNTY'S ORGANIZATIONAL AND REPORTING STRUCTURE, OPTIMIZE COUNTY PERFORMANCE, IMPROVE COORDINATION OF SERVICES, AND GREATLY ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, RESPONSIVENESS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND WHEREAS, CREATING THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL ALSO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO APPROACH TOUGH CHALLENGES MORE STRATEGICALLY AND PROACTIVELY. AND WHEREAS, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S FULL TIME MISSION WILL BE TO BREAK DOWN SILOS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST ACROSS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND THE VARIOUS OFFICES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE WITHIN THE COUNTY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ELLIS COUNTY CITIZENS AND FURTHER THE INTENT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, NUMBER ONE TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, ELLIS COUNTY CREATES AND FUNDS THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WITH TWO STAFF POSITIONS. A JOB DESCRIPTION OF EACH. EACH OF WHICH IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT A AND THAT. JUST A SIDE NOTE, THAT WOULD BE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR. NUMBER TWO, BACK TO THE TO THE ORDER ITSELF. NUMBER TWO, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHALL RETAIN OVERALL AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS FILLED, THE COUNTY JUDGE SHALL SERVE AS THE INTERIM SUPERVISOR OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL OVERSEE ITS DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE COUNTY JUDGE IS SERVING AS INTERIM SUPERVISOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE COUNTY JUDGE MAY APPOINT OR DISMISS OTHER POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. THE POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL BE FILLED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND COUNTY PROCEDURES. UPON APPOINTMENT, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS AND DISMISS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY MAJORITY VOTE. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. NUMBER FOUR, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, WHICH IS RESERVED FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER, WHICH IS RESERVED FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. SUCH AUTHORITY WILL NOT EXTEND TO POSITIONS THAT MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS. NUMBER FIVE, THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WILL SOLICIT POLICY GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND IMPLEMENT SUCH POLICIES AND DECISIONS ENACTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE PRIMARY AUTHORITY FOR COORDINATING THE DAY TO DAY ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IMPLEMENTING AND ADMINISTERING POLICY POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE, COORDINATION AND SUPPORT TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES. MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, REDUCE UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES, ELIMINATE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF COUNTY SERVICES. IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING POTENTIAL AREAS OF OPERATIONAL RISK, WASTE, INEFFICIENCY OR INADEQUATE INTERNAL CONTROLS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.IDENTIFYING LONG RANGE OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC PLANNING GOALS AMONG COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. ASSISTING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANNUAL COUNTY BUDGET. COORDINATING MAJOR COUNTY PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND REPORTING SYSTEMS. PROVIDING REGULAR REPORTS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CONCERNING COUNTY OPERATIONS, DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE, STAFFING, MAJOR PROJECTS AND OTHER MATTERS REQUESTED BY THE COURT AND PERFORMING OTHER SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL DUTIES AS MAY BE ASSIGNED OR DELEGATED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. NUMBER SIX, THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WILL WILL COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
OTHER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO ENSURE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FLOW OF
[00:35:01]
PUBLIC INFORMATION TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND THE CITIZENS OF ELLIS COUNTY. SO THAT'S THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER. COMMISSIONERS. AND AS AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS COMPLETELY. THIS CAN BE MODIFIED OR CHANGED AT ANY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. GIVE YOU A CHANCE JUST A FEW MINUTES, TO CONTEMPLATE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DISCUSS OR SO AS AS IT READS RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY JUDGE CAN APPOINT OR DISMISS POSITIONS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT. DOES THAT GIVE THE COUNTY JUDGE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT OR DISMISS DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS? THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION. IF YOU WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENTION. OKAY. I WOULD SAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, AT LEAST MAKE IT WHERE IT IS THE WAY IT IS NOW. YEAH. THE YEAH. SO THE WORDING THERE IS JUST SHALL SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERVISOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT WAS JUST REALLY TO ENSURE THERE ARE THE TWO SUB POSITIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN BE MANAGED. RIGHT.CORRECT. JUST TO MANAGE THOSE TWO EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF, NOT TO EXERCISE THE FULL. RANGE OF OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES GRANTED BY THE MINUTE ORDER. CERTAINLY NOT THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE OR TO DISMISS OR APPOINT DEPARTMENT HEADS. OKAY. WELL, Y'ALL, Y'ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION PART OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD WAIT. BUT. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. AND I THINK A LOT OF THE REASON OF WHY I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT TOO, IS LOOKING AT NUMBER FOUR. THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY. I UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S THERE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A POSITION LIKE THIS AND I'M LOOKING OBJECTIVELY AND I'M NOT LOOKING THROUGH ANY OTHER LENS RIGHT NOW, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A POSITION LIKE THIS AND YOU DON'T GIVE THEM THE POWER TO DO THAT, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER POSITION WE'RE PAYING IN THE COUNTY THAT THEORETICALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING MORE THAN THIS COURT CAN. HOWEVER, WHAT'S TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY WON'T COME IN HERE AND GO ROGUE AND WREAK HAVOC? AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T SEE COMING, AND THEN WE'RE LEFT TO CLEAN UP THE MESS AFTER WE LET THAT PERSON GO. WELL, THAT'S THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE. IF IF YOU MAKE IT AS A COURT BODY INSTEAD OF ONE SUPERVISION IT MAKE IT A COURT BODY. RIGHT. THAT WAY NOBODY CAN CAN COME IN AND DO IT. RIGHT. WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BY A MAJORITY VOTE CAN OVERRIDE ANYTHING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DOES, AND CERTAINLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AND FIRE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DO ANYTHING RADICAL WITHOUT MAKING SURE HE OR SHE HAS LINED UP SUPPORT AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY THINGS NORMALLY WORK. BUT WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING IF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT TWEAKS ARE NEEDED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT, THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY. EACH OF YOU HAS THE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST AN AGENDA ITEM TO, TO MAKE SUCH CHANGES. I, I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ZACK. I'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS AND I'VE SEEN WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN AND HAS STRONG POWER AS A JUDGE OR SOMEBODY THAT'S IN OFFICE THAT HAS STRONG POWER AS A JUDGE, AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TREATED FAIRLY DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS AND GETS VOTED OUT. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THIS COURT ROOM FILLS UP WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE EITHER MOVED OUT OF THE OFFICE THEY WERE IN, BECAUSE THAT STRONG POWER GIVES YOU THE PROCESS TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM OFFICE TO THIS BUILDING TO THAT BUILDING. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU GOT EVERYBODY FIGHTING. THEN THEY HAVE THE POWER ALSO TO FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY GAVE THEM $2,500 OR 4 OR $5000 AS A CAMPAIGN DONATION. BUT I WANT THAT PERSON GONE. I'VE SEEN THAT FIRSTHAND, AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A WAY TO CHANGE THAT. SO STRONG POWER LEFT THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S A POWER THAT IF YOU'RE IN THAT OFFICE AND YOU EARN IT, THAT'S SOMETHING THE COURT CAN GIVE YOU. BUT IF NOT, THE COURT REMAINS THE AUTHORITY OF HIRE AND FIRE. I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S NOT CLEAR TO ANYBODY. THAT'S IF YOU'LL ASK A DEPARTMENT HEAD, I YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T FIRE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT YOU CAN FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADS, YOU CAN
[00:40:03]
FIRE PEOPLE THAT ARE KEY PEOPLE THAT WE'VE GOT IN PLACE HERE THAT HAVE WORKED, AND WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO TRAIN THEM AND GET THEM TO WHERE THEY DO A GREAT JOB, BUT THEY MIGHT OFFEND ONE PERSON OUT THERE IN THE COUNTY BY NOT DOING THE DUE PROCESS THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD DO WHEN THEY DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND TURN AROUND AND GO DONATE $5,000 TO SOMEBODY. IF YOU'RE ELECTED, GET RID OF THEM. MAYBE I DIDN'T MAKE THIS CLEAR. I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. I'M SAYING I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S IN THERE, BUT I DISAGREE WITH IT. OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE DOCUMENT AS IT'S WRITTEN, BUT I WOULD LIKE THIS STRICKEN BEFORE IF, IF AN ADMINISTRATOR DECIDES HE WANTS TO FIRE SOMEBODY, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO FIRE THEM. BUT IT COMES BACK TO THIS COURT JUST LIKE IT DOES IF HE DOESN'T HAVE STRONG POWER. AND THIS COURT AS A DECISION WHICH WAS ELECTED BY Y'ALL, HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY NO, I THINK HE'S WRONGLY FIRED. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT PERSON. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. SO, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY I WOULD I GUESS I WOULD MAKE I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THIS DOCUMENT TO SAY THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY. AFTER CONSULTING WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT. I'M SORRY, I WAS TRYING TO. I WAS PROCESSING TOO MANY THINGS. DO YOU MIND? DO YOU MIND SAYING THAT ONE MORE TIME? COMMISSIONERS? I WOULD I WOULD MOVE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY AT THE. WITH A MAJORITY VOTE OF ELLIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO AFTER ELLIS COUNTY, I WOULD JUST ADD IN. AND THEN. DO WE NEED TO SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO FIRE THE COUNTY AUDITOR BECAUSE THAT'S A. WELL, YEAH, WE WE DON'T HAVE THE APPOINTED. THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I'M JUST MAKING SURE IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE IN HERE. THAT'S NOT REALLY A DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY. PERFECT. I'M MAKING A NOTE. SO THAT'S MY MOTION. WELL THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, THEY COUNTY JUDGE CAN FIRE SOMEBODY, BUT THEY HAVE THE PERSON THAT'S BEING FIRED HAS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COURT. AND THE COURT CAN SAY, YEAH, WE'LL HEAR WE HEAR THE APPEAL. AND THEN WE SAY, NO, YOU KEEP THEM RIGHT.IT KEEPS US OUT OF LAWSUITS, FOR ONE THING. SURE. RIGHT. THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.
DO WHAT? THE WAY. THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THIS IS SECTION FOUR. IT BASICALLY SAYS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY. HOWEVER, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DOES NOT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY OVER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR. THAT AUTHORITY IS RESERVED FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE AS TO THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, AND THAT AUTHORITY DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER. THAT AUTHORITY IS RESERVED FOR THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT AS TO THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER, BUT ALL OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS, SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING, THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIGENT HEALTH, THOSE. THOSE TYPES OF DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT FOR OTTER.
BECAUSE OTTER FALLS UNDER THE COURT, THE AUDITOR IS KIND OF AN INDEPENDENT ANIMAL. YEAH.
ALL IT HAS TO SAY IS HE HAS A RIGHT TO HIRE AND FIRE, BUT THE PERSON, THE PERSON BEING FIRED HAS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY. SO WE I GUESS FIRST, I KNOW COMMISSIONERS, I HAD A HAD A MOTION, I GUESS, TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT. I GUESS MAYBE IT WOULD BE CLEANER IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTE ORDER WITH THE THAT AMENDMENT RATHER, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CARES TO TO JUMP OUT THERE AND MAKE THAT MOTION THE MINUTE ORDER WITH WHAT. WELL, HE'D HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO. WE'D HAVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT. WITHDRAW YOUR OR. WELL, YEAH. OR YOU CAN JUST WITHDRAW IT IF YOU WANT TO.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE YOU ARE YOU WANTING TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD THE APPEAL, AMEND YOUR MOTION.
OKAY. AND LET'S DO THAT. LET'S AMEND THE MOTION AND SAY THEY CAN APPEAL THEIR FIRING TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO JUST AMEND THE PROPOSAL? LET ME DO THIS. YEAH. MAKE A MOTION TO WITHDRAW THAT. YOU DON'T YOU DON'T YOU CAN JUST WITHDRAW IT.
YEAH. LET ME WITHDRAW IT. SO CAN, CAN I, CAN I KIND OF HELP YOU WRITE THIS AMENDMENT? DO YOU DO YOU MIND IF I DID? YOU GO AHEAD. OKAY. SO AS I APPRECIATE IT, COMMISSIONERS IKE YOU THIS IS THE PART I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET HUNG UP ON. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTE ORDER WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT SECTION FOUR SPECIFIES? THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AND DISMISS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS COUNTY, WITH A CONFIRMING MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. COMMA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
[00:45:01]
COORDINATOR, AND THEN THE REST OF THE WORDING OF SECTION FOUR WOULD REMAIN THE SAME. IS THAT YOUR MOTION? I WANT TO WITHDRAW THE AMEND THE AMENDMENT THAT I PUT IN. YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN I WOULD MAKE A NEW AMENDMENT THAT SAYS THEY CAN APPEAL ANY FIRING TO. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, AMEND IT, AMEND SECTION FOUR TO SAY THEY CAN APPEAL THEIR DISMISSAL TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, WE HAVE A PRESENTED PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER THAT'S NOT BEEN PASSED. BUT COMMISSIONERS IKE IS MAKING A MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER TO ADD AT THE END OF SECTION FOUR THAT THE DISMISSED DEPARTMENT HEAD OR DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYEE MAY APPEAL HIS OR HER DISMISSAL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. CORRECT. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER. IS THERE A SECOND? IS EVERYBODY TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT? YEAH, I THINK I UNDERSTAND IT. I ALSO NEED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THAT HIRING AND FIRING IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT ADMINISTRATOR IS GOING TO DO. THERE'S GOING THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON. SO. RIGHT. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT POWER OR ALL OF THAT, THAT CONTROL AND PUTTING IT BACK IN THE COURT'S LAP. WE'RE JUST TAKING THAT ONE PIECE. CORRECT. THAT COULD END UP BEING DEVASTATING FOR NOT ONLY THE PERSON LOSING THEIR JOB, BUT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. RIGHT? IF IF WE END UP WITH SOME VENGEFUL SITUATION OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. RIGHT. OKAY. WE HAVE THAT MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER. WHAT WE WOULD DO IS IF SOMEONE MAKES A SECOND, WE WILL VOTE ON THAT PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT ORDER, AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE TO POSSIBLY ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTE ORDER, AS AMENDED. YEAH. IF WE ADD THE APPEAL, IS THE FIRING EFFECTIVE AFTER THE APPEAL, OR IS THERE A TIME WHERE THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT. SURE. SHOULDN'T BE THAT COMPLICATED. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WHEN YOU GET. WHEN YOU START GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, MAN.ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THAT MAYBE IN. TRIAL AND ERROR, I GUESS. YEAH. SOMEBODY COMES INTO THE PICTURE AND THEY GOT TO KIND OF SHOW WHO THEY ARE. THEY GOT TO PROVE THE SELF THEY GOT TO. RIGHT. SO I MEAN, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT JUST ANY HIRING AND FIRING WOULD COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT? WHY DON'T WE APPROVAL FOR THAT APPROVAL OF THAT DISMISSAL OR WHATEVER? I MEAN, YEAH, SO AGAIN, THAT WOULD KIND OF GET US BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL THAT I MADE. OKAY. HOLD ON. GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE TO SORT OF PROCESS THIS IN MY HEAD. I STILL KIND OF THINK THAT THAT ORIGINAL WORDING WOULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING. THAT WOULD BE IF WE JUST IN SECTION FOUR AFTER THE WORD ELLIS COUNTY OR PHRASE ELLIS COUNTY APPEARS, IF WE JUST ADDED WITH A CONFIRMING MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMA, AND THEN THE REST OF THE WORDING STAYED THE SAME, I THINK THAT WOULD THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL AMENDMENT, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO WE DID HAVE YOUR WE DID HAVE YOUR PENDING MOTION FOR AN AMENDMENT. SO LET ME I'LL WITHDRAW THAT MOTION AND REVERT REVERT BACK AND MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND IT IN THOSE WORDS.
THIS IS HOW THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE, RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER, SECTION FOUR, TO ADD AFTER THE PHRASE ELLIS COUNTY WITH A MAJORITY. I'M SORRY. WITH A CONFIRMING MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMA. AND THEN THE REST OF THE LANGUAGE REMAINING THE SAME. THAT'S THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER WORKS. DOES THAT DOES THAT NOT CONFUSE THE SECOND WHERE IT SAYS, WITH EXCEPTION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. BUT IF IF LEGAL HAS A CHANCE TO SLEEP ON IT, WE CAN ALWAYS WE CAN ALWAYS WE CAN ALWAYS CLEAN IT UP NEXT TIME OR THE NEXT TIME AFTER THAT. YEAH, I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER. SECTION FOUR. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER.
THIS IS JUST A VOTE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER, NOT A VOTE TO ADOPT THE MINUTE ORDER. SO, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. I. IS ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NO. OPPOSITION.
THAT MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT. ORDER PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY.
[00:50:02]
COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS POINT, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WELCOME TO FURTHER DISCUSS OR OFFER COMMENTS, BUT WOULD ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME TO ADOPT THE MINUTE ORDER, AS AMENDED? SO MOVED. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED MINUTE ORDER, AS AMENDED BY COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STENSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I. DOES ANYONE CARE TO VOTE? NO. NO. NO. OKAY. WE HAVE TWO NO VOTES FROM FROM COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER. YES. VOTES FROM ME AND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND COMMISSIONER STENSON. AND THAT MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 2. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD THOUGHTS AND GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I THINK WE'VE WE IT ALWAYS TURNS OUT BETTER WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS IT AND CONSIDER IT AND INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE PUBLIC ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES. I THINK WE TOOK SOME GREAT STEPS TODAY TO ADDRESS THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY. THAT'S CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED TO HAVE 250 000 PEOPLE IN IT WITHIN THE THE NEXT 24 YEARS. I'M SORRY, 500,000 PEOPLE IN IT WITHIN THE NEXT 24 YEARS. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE CONCLUDED OUR OUR AGENDA. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I.