[00:00:04]
          HIM. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT IS 9 A.M. ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2026, HERE IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ROOM. I WILL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ARE PRESENT, AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS NECESSARY FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS. WE HAVE SEVERAL PUBLIC ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION. I WILL ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE RISE AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TOGETHER THIS MORNING. WE GATHER ALWAYS IN YOUR NAME, AND WE THANK YOU THAT WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY WHERE WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF YOUR PEOPLE. WE PRAY, LORD, FOR YOUR DISCERNMENT AND YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE DEAL WITH MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE THE COURT THIS MORNING. AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS WHERE WE FAIL YOU. WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME. AMEN. 
          AMEN, AMEN. PLEASE JOIN US. 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 TEXAS. FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU. YOU CAN BE SEATED. WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH SOME 
          [ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR]
BUDGET AND TAX ITEMS. ITEM BT1 BEING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2026 TAX RATE OF $0.417000 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUATION, WHICH EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. IF ANYONE IN THE ROOM WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COURT ON THIS MATTER, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD TO THE PODIUM. YOU CAN SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE. IF ANYONE WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COURT ON THE BUDGET OR TAX RATE, NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. I'LL NOTE THAT THE TIME IS 902. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CURRENTLY OPEN. WHILE WAITING FOR THAT LAST CALL TO SEE IF ANYBODY WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COURT, I'LL NOTE THAT THE ON THE AGENDA THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE PUBLISHED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND AVAILABLE IN THIS ROOM WAS THE TAX IMPACT TAXPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO BE POSTED WITH THE AGENDA. THAT INDICATES THAT THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR FALLS BETWEEN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE FALLING BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOBODY APPROACH THE PODIUM, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO ACTION RELATED TO ITEM BT1. BUT WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM BT2, WHICH IS A CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE FOR 2026 TAX YEAR OF 41.7 CENTS PER $100 IN VALUATION. ANY DISCUSSION, COMMENT OR QUESTION. WE HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED OUR BUDGET. 
          AFTER A LENGTHY PUBLIC MEETING LAST WEEK. ARE THERE ANY FOLLOW UP ITEMS THIS WEEK? IF NOT, I WOULD CALL FOR A MOTION JUDGE. I'LL MOVE TO CONSIDER AND ADOPT THE TAX RATE FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR 0.417000 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUATION. I'M SORRY, YOU NEED TO READ THAT MOTION. I DON'T HAVE THAT ON MY HERE WE GO. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY ADOPTION OR TAX RATE OF 41.700 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUATION FOR 26 TAX YEAR, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AT 10.08% INCREASE IN TAX RATE. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BAILEY SECOND. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOWELL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECORD VOTE. PRECINCT ONE. HOW DO YOU VOTE. 
          YES. PRECINCT TWO. YES. PRECINCT THREE. YES. PRECINCT FOUR YES. I VOTE YES AS WELL. 
          ITEM T TWO CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND THAT WAS A RECORD VOTE. MOVE TO ITEM B, T THREE WHICH IS THE SAME ITEM FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT FOLLOW THE TAX MATTERS. THIS YEAR I BELIEVE WE HAD FOUR ACTION ITEMS TO ADOPT OUR BUDGET LAST WEEK AND A PUBLIC HEARING AND TWO ACTION ITEMS TO ADOPT OUR TAX RATE THIS WEEK. IT'S A LOT OF ACTION, SEVERAL VOTES AND SEVERAL MOTIONS. WE TRY TO GET THAT RIGHT. SO ITEM BT3 IS CONSIDERED AN APPROVE ORDER 2026-94, WHICH IS THE ORDER SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR THE COUNTY OF JOHNSON FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR AND DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF. I WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH THIS WITH COMMENT AFTER, IF I MAY, SIR, I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF JOHNSTON COUNTY BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.417000 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 10.08% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE, AND TO APPROVE ORDER 2026-94, WHICH SETS FORTH THE PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR JOHNSON COUNTY AT 0.417000 PER $100, ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR AND SETS GENERAL FUND TAX RATE AT 0.353116 PER $100 OF 
          [00:05:05]
ASSESSED VALUATION. THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE AT 0.013884 PER $100, ASSESSED VALUATION AND FMLRNOMNO TAX RATE OF 0.050000 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BAILEY SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOWELL AND COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE YOU SAID YOU HAD A COMMENT. I DO I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MAY BE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY HERE TODAY, BUT THE VICIOUS ATTACK THAT OUR GOVERNOR IS PUTTING OUT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND HOW THIS IS ALREADY INTO THE RECORD, IS, IS BASICALLY A A SMOKING MIRROR, IF YOU WILL. IT DOES NOT GIVE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE REFLECTION OF WHAT AND WHY IT IS BEING PUT IN THIS MANNER. WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT 10% OR 16% IS OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY UP THE ROAD HAS GOTTEN SO MUCH OF. WHAT THAT REFLECTS IS WHAT IS DEMANDED UPON COUNTY GOVERNMENT FROM THE STATE. WHAT IS THE HIDDEN FEES OF ALL OF THIS? IS THE IS THE DEBT COLLECTION FOR WHICH WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE, INDIGENT HEALTH. THAT ALONE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, EQUATES TO $5 MILLION OUT OF LOCAL TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT REIMBURSE AND SEND US MONEY FOR. WE'LL GET 8% OF IT, 8%. BUT YET WE'RE MANDATED TO DO THAT. WE'RE MANDATED TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE, WHICH ALL CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND LOCAL ENTITIES DO THIS NOW. BUT WHEN THAT $2 MILLION HIT COMES THAT WE GOT THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE LOCAL TAXPAYER TO GET THAT. WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT A JAIL OUT HERE THAT IS NOW FULL OF LOCAL PEOPLE, WHERE WE WERE LEASING OUT BED SPACE, THAT WAS BRINGING AND HELPING OFFSET THE COST OF OPERATING A JAIL. NOW WE HAVE MORE POPULATION OF LOCAL PEOPLE, SO WE'VE LOST THAT INCOME STREAM. BUT NOW GUESS WHAT? WE'VE GOT THAT TAX DOLLARS GOING OUT. THE STATE DOESN'T HELP US WITH ANY OF THAT. SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S MESSAGE IS, IS, IS, IS REALLY DECEIVING TO THE LOCAL, TO, TO ALL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I CALL HIM OUT ON IT AND I PLAN TO DO SO. 
          THIS TWO THIRD VOTE THAT HE IS CALLING FOR TAKES US TO A ZERO REVENUE CAP. SO WHEN THAT AMBULANCE CONTRACT COMES UP OR THAT JAIL SPACE OUT THERE BECOMES COMPLETELY AT CAPACITY AND WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY BED SPACE FOR LEASE. THAT INSURANCE COMES UP NEXT YEAR. HE WANTS US TO GO TO THE TAXPAYER AND SPEND ABOUT $150,000 FOR A SPECIAL CALL TO ELECTION. AND WHO IS GOING TO SAY, YES, I VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE? WELL, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? WE DON'T GET TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES OR WE HAVE MAYHEM. IT IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. AND THE WAY THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING ALL OF THIS OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND BLAMING LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR HIGH PROPERTY TAXES IS A LIE. AND I'M STANDING HERE SITTING HERE TO TELL YOU. SO IT IS. IT IS JUST WRONG TO TO TAKE THOSE KIND OF MESSAGES WITH THAT KIND OF POWER AND THAT KIND OF MONEY TO THROW THIS NONSENSE OUT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL HIM SO IN FACE TO FACE. AND I'LL STOP THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I WILL ADD TO THAT. IF CREEK COUNTIES ARE CREATURES OF STATUTE, WE ARE CREATED BY STATE LAW, AND WE DO THE THINGS THAT THE STATE INSTRUCTS US TO DO. ABOUT 75% OF OUR BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM. THAT'S ALMOST ALL THAT WE DO. THE OTHER FUNCTIONS SERVE THOSE FUNCTIONS. SO ADMINISTRATIVE LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OR PURCHASING THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, I.T. FACILITIES, THOSE THINGS TEND TO SERVE THE COURT SYSTEM, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM. SO JUST SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF AS YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DO, CITIES AND COUNTIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL DO DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY ALL TAX AT DIFFERENT RATES AND FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. AND ANY REDUCTION IN SERVICE BY THE COUNTY AS A REDUCTION IN A A NECESSARY SERVICE. THE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO, LIKE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, ARE THINGS THAT I THINK PROVIDE A TREMENDOUS VALUE TO EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN THE COUNTY. IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE EXCEPT CITY OF CLEBURNE OR CITY OF BURLESON, YOU'RE IMPACTED BY THE AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT WE HELP MAKE SURE THAT IT'S HERE. AND SO I THINK THAT'S WISE WORDS, COMMISSIONER BAILEY. AND I THINK A REMINDER THAT THE THINGS WE DO ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE. I DON'T THINK COUNTIES NEED TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OR WE NEED TO BE OUT IN FRONT, BUT THE THINGS WE DO ARE IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING 
          [00:10:03]
A COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL FEEL SAFE IN. AND THEY WANT TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES. THAT ALL SOUNDS REALLY GOOD TO THE, TO THE, THE FOLKS AND SAYING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAXED OUT OF YOUR HOUSES BY YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE GET ZERO SALES TAX IN THIS COUNTY. AND THERE'S MANY COUNTIES THAT ARE STRUCTURED AS WE ARE. MOST OF THEM ARE RURAL COUNTIES JUST LIKE THIS COUNTY. BUT WE CANNOT BE JUDGED BY HARRIS COUNTY, DALLAS COUNTY, EL PASO COUNTY, THESE TARRANT COUNTY, THESE COUNTIES THAT COLLECT SALES TAX. YEAH, THEY'VE GOT THE POPULATION THAT WARRANTS IT, I GUESS. BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THE VOTERS COULD VOTE IN A SALES TAX REPRIEVE HERE. BUT I, YOU KNOW, GETTING THAT DONE IS GOING TO BE LIKE THE TWO THIRDS THE FAKE CALL OUT THAT WE'RE GETTING CALLED OUT ON, ON THE TWO THIRDS. 
          WE'RE AT THREE AND A HALF CENTS ON THE REVENUE CAP. WE WERE AT $0.08 UNTIL WE'RE FIVE YEARS AGO. AND WE'VE LIVED WITHIN THOSE MEANS. BUT THIS TWO THIRDS MAJORITY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING ON TAKES US TO ZERO, TAKES US TO ZERO. AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE A TRAGEDY. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT WILL IT'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THAT TO REALLY SHOW ITS REAR, ITS HEAD, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FOR COUNTIES LIKE OURS. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION. AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR. THIS IS ALSO A RECORD VOTE. PRECINCT ONE. HOW DO YOU VOTE. YES. PRECINCT TWO. YES. 
          PRECINCT THREE. YES. PRECINCT FOUR YES. I VOTE YES AS WELL ON ITEM THREE. THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AS A RECORD VOTE. BEFORE WE GET TO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, I'M GOING TO GO 
          [PUBLIC PARTICIPATION]
AHEAD AND MOVE TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO DO SO. WE'LL BEGIN WITH JAMIE JONES. MISS JONES, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, I'LL NOTE THAT THERE IS A TIMER BEHIND ME. YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE. IT WON'T START YET. WON'T START UNTIL YOU START. DON'T START. OKAY. YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES. WE WON'T. WE WON'T CUT OFF THE MICROPHONE. NO. YOU'RE GOOD. WE WON'T CUT OFF THE MICROPHONE AT THREE MINUTES. WE DO ASK THAT YOU KIND OF WRAP THINGS UP AS AS WE APPROACH THE TIME LIMIT. YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOOD. 
          YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I AM JAMIE JONES. I AM THE CURRENT VP FOR JOHNSON COUNTY PIONEER SETTLERS ASSOCIATION. WE KICK OFF OUR 134TH YEAR, OCTOBER THE 7TH. WE GO THROUGH THE 10TH, OCTOBER THE 7TH WE WILL OPEN UP WITH THE PARADE. I EXPECT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL IN THE PARADE AT LEAST. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE THE OPENING CEREMONY. THE CARNIVAL WILL BE OPEN NIGHTLY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 5 TO 10. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IS OPEN TIL 11. ON WEDNESDAY WE DO THE QUEEN CONTEST. SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IN IN HIGH SCHOOL GETTING READY TO GRADUATE OR GOING TO VO-TECH SCHOOL, HAVE THEM GET REGISTERED AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T GET THEM A $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP. WE A THURSDAY NIGHT WE HAVE THE BABY CONTEST. IF YOU'VE GOT BABIES. OH MY GOODNESS, BRING THE BABIES GRANDBABIES. GREAT GRANDBABIES. BRING THE BABIES. I ENJOY EMCEEING THAT EVENT VERY MUCH. SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN. AND THEN FRIDAY NIGHT, INSTEAD OF DOING THE FIDDLE CONTEST THIS YEAR, WE'RE ACTUALLY INTRODUCING THE STRING CONTEST. SO WE'LL HAVE BANJOS AND FIDDLES AND ALL KINDS OF STRINGS. SO GET REGISTERED FOR THAT AND AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THAT. BRING SOME, SOME EXTRA THINGS OUT FOR US SATURDAY. OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT OUR ENTERTAINMENT LINED UP FOR THE EVENING. AND AT 4:00 WE WILL PRESENT THE FIRST RESPONDER TRIBUTES. SO I AM SEEKING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOMINATION AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. SO I PRETTY MUCH GOT ALL THE OTHER LITTLE CITIES TAKEN CARE OF, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT AT 4:00 ON SATURDAY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL IN THE BACK PART OF THE PACKET IS OUR SPONSORSHIP SHEETS. OH, THAT WAS TOUGH. AND WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY COOL SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE CAN DO OR YOU CAN DO FOR US. AND WE DO APPRECIATE JOHNSON COUNTY VERY MUCH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, I HAVE TO JUST TELL YOU, WHOEVER PUT THESE TOGETHER. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. VERY NICE JOB. I WORK REALLY HARD AT THAT. YEAH. OKAY. I DON'T DO ALL OF THE GRAPHICS, BUT I DO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. ALSO, YOU DIDN'T MENTION IT, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR. IT WAS IN AUGUST. 
          OH, PRAISE THE LORD FOR THAT. YES, IT'S THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE THE CARNIVAL WAS BOOKED TWO EXTRA WEEKS IN FREDERICKSBURG, SO WE ACTUALLY HAD TO BUMP IT OUT. AND WE 
          [00:15:01]
PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO BUMP IT OUT NEXT YEAR AS WELL. SO WHEN YOU WERE SAYING THAT, I'M THINKING, YEAH, BECAUSE LAST YEAR I WAS DRIPPING IN ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS WERE DRIPPING. SO THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME A LITTLE BETTER WEATHER BREEZES. 
          YES SIR. AND MAYBE THAT'LL MAYBE THAT'LL BRING SOME PEOPLE OUT FOR THE CARNIVAL. I THINK SO, YEAH I THINK SO. WELL BEST OF LUCK. HOPE IT TURNS OUT REALLY WELL. WELL I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I HAVE A BLAST. SO I COVER A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS IN THERE, SO I'M HAPPY. SO WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          NEXT I HAVE BETSY RUFFIN. MISS RUFFIN, COME FORWARD. WELL, THIS GOES ALONG WITH THE PROCLAMATION THAT WILL BE COMING. BUT SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1787 AT 4 P.M. BELLS RANG OUT ANNOUNCING THAT THE NEW US CONSTITUTION HAD BEEN VOTED IN. PUTTING ASIDE THE PROBLEMATIC ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION THIS SEPTEMBER 17TH, WITH HELP FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, WE WILL BE BRINGING THE DAR DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BELLS ACROSS AMERICA TO JOHNSON COUNTY IN CLEBURNE, INCLUDING BELLS RINGING AT EACH OF THE FOUR ENTRANCES HERE AT THE FIRE STATIONS, THE POLICE STATIONS, THE CITY HALL, AND SO ON. SO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE BELLS, IT IS REMINDING US THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL AND ADEQUATE CONSTITUTION THAT WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, THAT SETS OUR RIGHTS AS AMERICAN CITIZENS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS REDMAN. ALL RIGHT. NEXT I HAVE LORNA NEELY. MISS NEELY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I WANT TO ACTUALLY START WITH I TRY NOT TO GO OFF SCRIPT. I KNOW I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES, BUT I WANTED TO START WITH WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER BAILEY, THAT THERE ARE STATE MANDATES THAT ARE CAUSING ABSOLUTE DISCONNECTS FOR THE OVERSIGHT THAT IS BEING PUT ON THE COUNTIES. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO START IN ON AND BE FOLLOWED BY OTHERS ABOUT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS. BUT ALSO I COME TO YOU KNOWING THAT WITH THE REVENUE NOT BEING THERE TO MANAGE THESE OVERSIGHTS, MY MILITARY SERVICE AND MY HUSBAND'S MILITARY SERVICE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THESE DISCONNECTS. AND WE, AS THE BROAD COMMUNITY ARE, ARE WILLING TO HELP IN THE IN THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE STILL DO HAVE EVEN WITH THE MONETARY DISCONNECT, DISCONNECT, WE DO STILL DO HAVE OVERSIGHT ON SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'LL START WITH MY NAME IS LORNA NEELY AND MY HUSBAND FORREST, AND I LIVE IMMEDIATELY NEXT DOOR TO SIX FIVE, TWO EIGHT COUNTY ROAD 204 IN GRANDVIEW, TEXAS. THIS IS NOT AN ABSTRACT ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. OUR PROPERTY IS DIRECTLY ADJOIN. TAKE A MINUTE. I'M JUST GOING TO NEED MY 10S AND THE RESIDENCE IS BEING USED IN OPERATION OF APPROXIMATELY 100FT FROM MY CHILDREN'S WINDOWS. FORREST AND I HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. AFTER RETIREMENT, WE DELIBERATELY CAME BACK TO GRANDVIEW TO THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED US, RAISED MOSTLY HIM. I JUST GRADUATED THERE IN ALL TRANSPARENCY TO RAISE OUR OWN CHILDREN. WE BUILT OUR LIVES AND WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN LOOK US UP. WE INVEST DEEPLY. WE ARE NOT JUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT STAND BY. TODAY, I'M STANDING BEFORE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BECAUSE AN OPERATION OF HOUSING MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS UNDER STATE PROVISION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IMMEDIATELY NEXT DOOR TO OUR FAMILY, AND WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE STATE AND THE COUNTY SYSTEMS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE PROPERTY EVER FULLY CONNECTED. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE ARE AND ARE NOT TRYING AND ASKING YOU TO DO. WE ARE NOT SIMPLY HERE BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS OF THE T, D, C, J SUPERVISION LIVE NEXT DOOR TO US. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO ACT BASED ON FEAR, RUMORS OR ASSUMPTION. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO DECLARE THE PROPERTY AS ILLEGAL. TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING MUCH MORE BASIC THAN THIS. DETERMINE WHAT THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY OPERATING AS TO DETERMINE THE RULES THAT APPLY TO THOSE OPERATIONS, AND DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE RULES ARE BEING FOLLOWED. BECAUSE WE DO UNDERSTAND THE SEPARATION IN ALL OF THE GOVERNANCE OF THIS, BASED UPON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM PAROLE OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT RECORDS GATHERED TO DATE BY MYSELF, FORREST AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE BELIEVE THAT 6528 
          [00:20:01]
COUNTY ROAD 204 IS OPERATING AS A TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING RESOURCE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE TEXAS. WE HAVE FORREST AND I PERSONALLY HAVE A TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST PENDING THE STATE FOR THE UNDERLYING FILE. UNTIL THOSE RECORDS ARE RECEIVED, THERE ARE FACTS WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW, AND WE DON'T WANT TO STAND HERE AND PRETEND THAT WE DO KNOW THEM. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE COUNTY RECORDS IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY AS RESIDENTIAL. WE KNOW IT'S APPROXIMATELY 1.7 ACRES. WE KNOW IT RELIES UPON ON SITE SEWAGE FACILITY, AND WE KNOW THAT MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS UNDER STATE SUPERVISION ARE NOW BEING HOUSED THERE. YOU CAN SEARCH THAT ADDRESS AND FIND MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OFFICIALLY BEING HOUSED THERE. SO ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKING JOHNSON COUNTY TO ANSWER IS, AT WHAT POINT DOES ACTUAL OPERATION OF A PROPERTY REQUIRE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK BEYOND THE WORD RESIDENTIAL ON THE RECORD AND EXAMINE WHAT MATERIALLY IS OCCURRING THERE? WE ARE ASKING YOU TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, ORDINARY CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE HAD TO NAVIGATE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES, PAROLE PROCEDURES, COUNTY DEVELOPMENT RECORDS, ON SITE SEWAGE REQUIREMENTS, PROPERTY RECORDS, PUBLIC INFORMATION LAWS, AND MULTIPLE LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT SIMPLY TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THIS SITUATION. THAT SHOULD CONCERN EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE SITTING IN FRONT OF US. 
          BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES. THERE ARE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE RULES, BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS ONLY WORK IF SOMEBODY CONNECTS THEM. WE HAVE DONE SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK TO MAKE THIS THAT EASIER. WE ARE COMPOSING FOR THE COUNTY A DETAILED ACTION GUIDE CONTAINING A GOVERNMENTAL CONTACTS AND STEPS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD. IN THIS REVIEW, THERE IS ALSO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE ARE INTENTIONALLY NOT DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING PUBLICLY TODAY. SOME OF THAT INFORMATION INVOLVES IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS, HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIPS, PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT WE BELIEVE DESERVE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL REVIEW. WE ARE NOT WITHHOLDING THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S UNIMPORTANT. WE ARE WITHHOLDING IT PUBLICLY BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVESTIGATE IT, NOT SEND SENSATIONALIZED. WE DID NOT BELIEVE THE THREE MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR ACCUSATIONS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT. IS BE BEFORE THE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES HAVE EVALUATED THE UNDERLYING INFORMATION, FACTS VERSUS QUESTIONS AND BELIEFS. 
          WE THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY ASK JOHNSON COUNTY TO DESIGNATE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL OR OFFICIALS WITH WHOM FORREST AND I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION PRIVATELY AND RECEIVE DIRECTION CONCERNING JURISDICTION AND APPROPRIATE REFERRAL. AND ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE ARE ASKING SOMEONE IN THE JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO OWN THE COORDINATION OF THIS REVIEW. 
          OUR FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SERVE AS THE COMMUNICATION BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED, BUT WE WILL BE ASSISTING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHEN AN OPERATION OF THIS NATURE IS OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 100FT FROM OUR CHILDREN'S BEDROOM WINDOWS, I BELIEVE IT IS RESPONSIBLE TO EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THE APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS WERE CONSIDERED, MATERIAL FACTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND THE APPROPRIATE DECISION MAKERS AND THE RULES THAT APPLY ARE FOLLOWED. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE AN EMOTIONAL APPEAL TO YOU. 
          I HAVE GOTTEN ON A PLANE AND HANDED MY CHILD TO MY HUSBAND IN MY MILITARY SERVICE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY OVERSEAS. I HAVE UNPACKED MY MY OWN PLANE, MY OWN LUGGAGE WITH MY UNIFORMS. I AM ASKING FOR HELP IN THIS. I HAVE SERVED IN A CAPACITY THAT IS FAR GREATER THAN MANY OF THE PEOPLE HAVE STOOD UP TO SERVE. I KNOW THE RULES, I KNOW THE REQUESTS, AND I'M EMOTIONALLY APPEALING TO YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE FACTS. AND IF JOHNSON COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE JURISDICTION OVER THIS PARTICULAR CONCERN, PLEASE HELP OUT US TO DIRECTLY PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF GOVERNMENT BODIES THAT DO. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN OUTCOME THAT IS, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW. WE ARE ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS PROCESS. I WANT YOU TO DO ONE THING OR TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD IN AUSTIN, AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AND WHAT AND WHO AND WHY. AND WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE FIGHTING FOR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. AND YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REGULATE. IT'S GOT TO COME FROM THE STATE. BUT WHAT YOU JUST DID HERE NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, DURING THIS NEXT 
          [00:25:05]
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN REGARDS TO REGISTERED PEOPLE. SO I'M I AM WILLING TO ADDRESS THE REGISTERED PIECE OF THIS, BUT THERE ARE COUNTY REGULATIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WHERE THIS SINGLE FAMILY HOME SHOULD NOT BE OPERATING. FOR MANY THINGS THAT I HAVE FOUND, I WILL GLADLY HELP GUIDE THE GOVERNMENTAL OVERSIGHT THAT THE COUNTY DOES HAVE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN EVALUATION OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED NOT ONLY FOR THE PAROLE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING THERE, BUT THE GENERAL EXISTENCE OF THIS BEING MATERIALLY USED AS A BUSINESS TO FOLLOW THE MONEY OF WHERE IT GOES, FOLLOW THE MONEY OF WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. AND WE HAVE A LOT, LIKE I SAID PRIVATELY, WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHAT IS ALSO HAPPENING, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD OPEN THE EYES AND THE CONNECTION, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE MISSING HERE AND FOR US WILL GO INTO DETAIL, IS THE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING RESOURCE THAT IS RUN BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, HAS A APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH WE BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY WAS IS TO BE INCLUDED IN, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN. THEREFORE, THE COUNTY DOES HAVE AN ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO, AT THE VERY LEAST, INVESTIGATE THE PARAMETERS OF THE APPLICATION TO SAY, WAS THE COUNTY CONSIDERED IN THIS. ARE THE RIGHT CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE FOR THE APPLICATION OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE TO BECOME. WHAT IS MATERIALLY BEING USED AS ALMOST THE. WE'LL CALL IT THE MULTI COMMUNITY UTILIZATION, BUT ALMOST AS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, MINUS THE LEGALITY OF KITCHENS MISSING FOR UP TO UPWARDS OF 10 TO 14 REGISTERED PERSONNEL. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO DIRECTLY TALK ABOUT THE THE PERSONNEL. THAT IS ANOTHER SILO THAT WE ARE WORKING. WE ARE LOOKING TO SAY COUNTY. YOU HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE THAT IS. WE ARE NOW WE KNOW THAT IS OPERATING AS A MULTI FAMILY USE. 
          AND WE WOULD LIKE. DEFINITION OF THAT. WE WOULD LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE CHECKED, AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE SHUT DOWN ON THE ACCORD OF. NOT THAT WE HAVE SEX OFFENDERS THAT ARE NEXT TO US. OF COURSE, WE CAN ALL BE MOTIVATED BY INTERPERSONAL THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE THIS HOUSE, THIS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON 1.7 ACRES WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO BE FROM OUR COUNTY REVIEW WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO BE INFRASTRUCTURALLY CHANGED TO OPERATE AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND DEED RESTRICTIONS, ETC. TO BE SHUT DOWN IN A CAPACITY OF A BUSINESS. THANK YOU, MISS NEELY. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ASKED FOR WAS A POINT OF CONTACT. YES, I THINK THE APPROPRIATE POINT OF CONTACT IS JENNIFER VANDERLIN. SHE IS NOT HERE TODAY. SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. HER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IS HERE. JUST TO YOUR LEFT, IF YOU WILL PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT TO. OH MY GOSH, I'M SORRY, I DON'T REMEMBER YOUR LAST NAME. MATT MCGUIRE. 
          MCGUIRE. I WAS GOING TO SAY MCGUIRE. AND THAT'S AN ACTOR. MR. MCGUIRE. MISS VANDERLIN WILL REACH OUT TO YOU. I THINK SHE'S OUT OF TOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. SHE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU. SHE CAN COORDINATE COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS MATTER. THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THE COURT. WE CAN'T MAKE POLICY. WE CAN'T MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN EXISTING POLICY STATEMENTS OR REFERRAL OF TO STAFF MEMBERS TO HANDLE THIS ITEM. WE ALSO CAN'T ALL JOIN IN, ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT IS IN YOUR CORNER. WE WANT TO BE HELPFUL. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT MISS VANDERLIN CAN COORDINATE WITH UP TO TWO OF US THIS FALLING IN PRECINCT FOUR, AND THIS BEING AN ITEM OF PARTICULAR PERSONAL INTEREST TO COMMISSIONER WOOLLEY. I IMAGINE HE WANTS TO BE ONE OF THOSE TWO PEOPLE. AND I IMAGINE THERE ARE OTHER FOUR OF US ARE ALL WILLING TO BE THE SECOND OF THOSE. I SEE COMMISSIONER BAILEY RAISING HIS HAND. AND IF IF NOT HIM, THEN ME. WE WILL LOOK AT WHATEVER YOU CAN SEND IN, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND COMMIT, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT WHICHEVER TWO OF US END UP WORKING ON THIS WILL SIT DOWN WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND STATE SENATOR WITH YOU TO CONVEY THIS MESSAGE AS WE MOVE TOWARD JANUARY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE. MR. VAN DER LINDE AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND EXCHANGED EMAILS AS THEY HAVE. SO IT'S IT'S IN THE WORKS. IT'S JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEARING SOME INSPECTIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO WE'RE WE'RE ADDRESSING IT. ALL RIGHT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT I HAVE FOR CHRIS NEELY, MR. NEELY. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHRIS NEELY. AND AS MY WIFE EXPLAINED, OUR FAMILY AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE HERE. I WANT TO FOCUS MY TIME ON WHAT WE'RE ASKING JOHNSON COUNTY TO DO BASED UPON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM PAROLE OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS 
          [00:30:04]
GATHERED TO DATE. WE BELIEVE 6528 COUNTY ROAD 204 IS OPERATING AS A TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ALTERNATE HOUSING RESOURCE. BUT WE WANT TO BE VERY PRECISE ABOUT THAT STATEMENT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTING THAT'S CURRENTLY PENDING WITH THE TDC FOR THE UNDERLYING STATE FILE. UNTIL THAT FILE IS RECEIVED, THERE ARE FACTS CONCERNING THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION APPROVAL, INTENDED OPERATION, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ABOUT PUBLICLY. WELL, WE DO KNOW IS THAT COUNTY RECORDS IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY AS RESIDENTIAL. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 1.7 ACRES, UTILIZES AN ON SITE SEWAGE FACILITY, AND IS NOW BEING USED TO HOUSE MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS UNDER STATE SUPERVISION. THAT CREATES A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION FOR JOHNSON COUNTY. 
          DOES THE ACTUAL AND INTENDED OPERATION OF THIS PROPERTY MATCH WHAT JOHNSON COUNTY HAS APPROVED THIS PROPERTY AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT? WE ARE ASKING THE COUNTY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THROUGH A COORDINATED GOVERNMENTAL REVIEW. FIRST, DETERMINE WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS MATERIALLY OPERATING AS. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE WORD RESIDENTIAL SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY END THAT ANALYSIS. WE'RE ASKING THE COUNTY TO EXAMINE THE ACTUAL NATURE AND SCALE OF THE OPERATION AND DETERMINE WHICH COUNTY REQUIREMENTS APPLY. SECOND, REVIEW THE COUNTY REGULATED INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON THE OPERATION. THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY INTENDED TO SUPPORT NOT SIMPLY A SNAPSHOT OF WHO HAPPENS TO BE PRESENT ON A PARTICULAR DAY. OCCUPANCY APPEARS TO HAVE INCREASED RAPIDLY, AND THE RELEVANT QUESTION IS NOT ONLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE TODAY, IT'S ALSO WHAT IS THE PROPERTY INTENDED AND AUTHORIZED TO ACCOMMODATE? AND CAN THE COUNTY APPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THAT USE? THIRD, OBTAIN THE NECESSARY STATE RECORDS AND COMPARE THEM AGAINST JOHNSON COUNTY'S OWN RECORDS? WE'RE INTENTIONALLY NOT DESCRIBING PUBLICLY EVERY DOCUMENT. LIKE MY WIFE STATED, WE WANT THE INVESTIGATION TO OCCUR FIRST, AND THEN WE CAN USE FACTS TO DISCUSS THOSE THINGS. WE ASK THAT THOSE DETAILS BE HANDLED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS. FOURTH, DOCUMENT THE COUNTY'S FINDINGS. IF THE OPERATION COMPLIES WITH APPLICABLE COUNTY REQUIREMENT, LET'S DOCUMENT THAT. BUT IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY IDENTIFIED, LET'S DETERMINE WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION FALLS WITHIN THE COUNTY'S AUTHORITY AND THE STATE'S AUTHORITY. AND IF THE ISSUE BELONGS TO ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, LET'S FORMALLY PUT THAT INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF THAT AGENCY, RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE PROCESS TO END WITH WILL. THAT JUST ISN'T OUR JURISDICTION. FINALLY, WE ASK THAT JOHNSON COUNTY DESIGNATE ONE PERSON TO COORDINATE THE REVIEW. WE KIND OF ALREADY TOUCHED ON THAT. 
          THERE ARE MULTIPLE GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS INVOLVED HERE. WITHOUT THE COORDINATION, ONE AGENCY CAN REVIEW ONE PIECE, ANOTHER AGENCY, ANOTHER PIECE. AND THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE POINT OF COLLECTION, THOSE THOSE ARE KIND OF JUST ISOLATED ON THEIR OWN ISLAND, RIGHT? SO WE NEED A PLACE FOR THEM TO ALL COME BACK TO. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN APPROPRIATE COUNTY OFFICIAL OR OFFICIALS WHO MAY PROVIDE THE INFORMATION PRIVATELY AND RECEIVE DIRECTION CONCERNING JURISDICTION AND REFERRAL. WE'RE NOT ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO DECLARE THIS PROPERTY ILLEGAL TODAY. WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU ALL TO REACH A PREDETERMINED CONCLUSION. WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU MAKE SURE THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY COMPLETES THE REVIEW, ESTABLISH WHAT THE COUNTY HAS THIS PROPERTY APPROVED AS ESTABLISHED, WHAT THE STATE APPROVED IN THE APPLICATION, ESTABLISH WHAT IS ACTUALLY OCCURRING AT THE RESIDENCE AND DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE THINGS ALIGN. IF THEY DO DOCUMENT IT, IF THEY DON'T ADDRESS WHAT FALLS WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION AND HAND OVER ANYTHING THAT FALLS UNDER SOMEONE ELSE'S JURISDICTION AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STAY ON THEM TO MAKE SURE IT MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. 
          THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TODAY. I, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LISTENING TO US. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO US 100FT CLOSE TO US, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR PROPERTY AND BEING NEXT DOOR. THIS IS CONCERNING FOR THE COUNTY AS WE'VE DONE OUR RESEARCH. 
          ELLISON HILL COUNTY HAVE FAR LESS OF THIS HAPPENING IN THOSE COUNTIES. SO THERE'S CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT WE AREN'T, AND MAYBE WE COULD DO SOME RESEARCH. MAYBE IT HAS TO BE IN A PROCESS. IT'S SOMETHING IN THEIR PROCESS IS DETERRING THESE INDIVIDUALS 
          [00:35:06]
FROM DOING THIS IN THEIR COUNTIES. WE JUST NEED TO SPEAK TO THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS TO FIND OUT WHAT WHAT THOSE ARE. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT, I HAVE TAMMY RIDDELL, MISS RIDDELL. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TAMMY RIDDELL, AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN LORNA AND FORREST. THIS IS MY HOME. THIS IS WHERE MY FAMILY IS. MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY OWN LAND THAT WRAPS AROUND THIS AREA. AND I KNOW THIS NEIGHBORHOOD NOT FROM LOOKING AT A MAP, BUT FROM LIVING THERE. THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT 6528 COUNTY ROAD 204 ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE WHAT IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THE REAL WORLD. 
          IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED HOUSE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE PIECE OF RURAL TEXAS LAND, SEPARATED FROM EVERYONE AROUND IT. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 1.7 ACRES. THINK ABOUT THAT. THEIR FAMILIES AROUND IT, THEIR CHILDREN AROUND IT, THEIR HOMES IMMEDIATELY AROUND IT. CHILDREN LIVE, PLAY, WALK, RIDE BIKES, VISIT FRIENDS, AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THIS AREA. THIS IS A LIVING, ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT MAY BE 1.7 ACRES, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEN I LEARNED THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS BEING USED TO HOUSE MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS UNDER STATE SUPERVISION, ONE OF MY FIRST QUESTIONS WAS VERY SIMPLE. DID THE PEOPLE MAKING THESE DECISIONS ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WERE PLACING THIS OPERATION? DID SOMEONE LOOK BEYOND AN ADDRESS ON A PIECE OF PAPER? DID THEY UNDERSTAND HOW SMALL THE PROPERTY ACTUALLY IS? DO THEY UNDERSTAND HOW CLOSE THE SURROUNDING HOMES ARE? DID THEY UNDERSTAND THAT CHILDREN LIVE RIGHT THERE? DID THEY UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT THAT OCCUR THERE? AND DID THE COUNTY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE ACTUAL USE THAT IT WAS BEING PROPOSED THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED? AND I'M NOT STANDING HERE ASKING YOU TO ASSUME THAT EVERY PERSON LIVING AT THIS PROPERTY PRESENTS A DANGER. I'M ALSO NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON SOMEONE'S CRIMINAL HISTORY ALONE. I AM ASKING YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT LOCATION MATTERS. WHEN GOVERNMENT MAKES DECISIONS AFFECTING A COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE MATTER. THE CHILDREN WHO LIVE HERE ALREADY MATTER ALREADY. THEY MATTER TO. AND THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BUILT THEIR LIVES AND HOMES HERE DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES UNDERSTOOD THE COMPLETE PICTURE BEFORE AN OPERATION OF THIS NATURE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SAFETY IS BROADER THAN ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL. SAFETY INCLUDES APPROPRIATE OCCUPANCY, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, EMERGENCY ACCESS AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN OPERATION. IT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT THE ACTUAL USE OF A PROPERTY HAS BEEN PROPERLY EVALUATED BY EVERY GOVERNMENT ENTITY ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND IT. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THE REQUEST FOR CHRIS AND LORNA ARE MAKING TODAY. 
          PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS SITUATION TO BE REDUCED TO. IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SO PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE THERE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE QUESTION BEING RAISED IS DIFFERENT. WHAT IS THIS PROPERTY ACTUALLY BEING OPERATED AS? AND ONCE THAT IS ESTABLISHED, WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS APPLIED TO THAT OPERATION? REAL QUICK, AS A LIFELONG RESIDENTS RESIDENT, I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT THIS FROM THE GROUND, NOT JUST FROM A FILE. I INVITE YOU OUT TO TAKE A LOOK, WALK AROUND, LOOK AT WHERE THIS PROPERTY SITS, AND LOOK AT HOW CLOSE IT IS TO THE SURROUNDING HOMES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, MISS RIDDELL. I WILL MAKE ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO THIS. IT LOOKS LIKE COMMISSIONER BAILEY AND COMMISSIONER WOOLLEY ARE GOING TO LEAD THE CHARGE ON THIS. AND WE DO WANT TO BE INFORMED. I THINK WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. SO THE TWO COMMENTS THAT I HAVE ARE JUST STATEMENTS OF FACT OR POLICY FROM THE COUNTY. 
          THE FIRST IS, I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED A FORMAL NOTICE OF ANY OF THESE KIND OF OPERATIONS EXISTING IN THE COUNTY. SO IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTY BEING REQUIRED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION AS WE WE MOVE FORWARD, PROVIDE THAT IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. WE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM THE AIR THAT IT IS A MANDATORY PIECE OF THEIR APPLICATION, WHICH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE. ABSOLUTELY. 
          THANK YOU. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE OF THESE THAT EXIST IN THE COUNTY. I'VE HAD OTHER PHONE CALLS IN OTHER AREAS. IT'S IT'S A GROWING IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM. THE OTHER COMMENT I HAVE IS AT ONE POINT YOU MENTIONED DEED RESTRICTIONS. THAT IS ONE THING THAT ONLY PROPERTY OWNERS CAN ENFORCE. SO IF THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE ONLY 
          [00:40:03]
WAY OUT AND THAT'S NOT PASSING THE BUCK. BUT IF THOSE DO EXIST, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT PROPERTY OWNERS CAN LOOK AT INDEPENDENTLY OF ANYTHING THE COUNTY DOES. I KNOW Y'ALL SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT ADDRESS IS AGAIN, 652862046. ALSO, LOOK AT THE DILAPIDATION THAT HAPPENED ON THAT HOUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPROVED. IF YOU'D LIKE. WHEN YOU LOOK IT UP, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE PLAYGROUND. THE PLAYGROUND THAT IS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, WHICH ALSO WAS NOT REMOVED BY THE OWNER. SO IT IS ACTUALLY A PLAYGROUND IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF THIS PROPERTY WITH THE LACK OF. THE ACTUAL HOUSES, THE LACK OF TEETH. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONER WOOLLEY. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THAT YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT WE'VE WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT OF THAT, A LOT OF THIS ALREADY. YEAH. AND AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO TO AUSTIN AND DISCUSS IT SOME MORE. 
          SO PLEASE HELP US WITH THAT. YES. ALL RIGHT. THE FINAL PERSON I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLAYTON CARMACK, OFFICER CARMACK. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, MY NAME IS CLAY CARMACK. I'M A EMPLOYED AS A DETECTIVE AT THE CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LOCK CAMERAS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT. CAN YOU RAISE THAT MICROPHONE UP JUST A LITTLE BIT? THANK YOU. HEAR ME NOW? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS CLAY CARMACK. I'M EMPLOYED AS A DETECTIVE AT THE CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FLOCK CAMERAS TODAY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT DUE TO THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT HE'S DOING, THERE'S A VOTE FOR POSSIBLY DOING AWAY WITH THE FLOCK CAMERAS IN THE COUNTY. 
          AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT HERE TO TRY TO DRIVE YOUR POLICIES OR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WE'VE HAD DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO YOUR CAMERAS. 
          THEY'VE ONLY BEEN UP FOR A SHORT TIME, AND SO FAR WE'VE COMPILED A LIST OF ABOUT FOUR PAGES LONG OF MAJOR FELONIES AND WHATNOT THAT HAVE BEEN EITHER SOLVED OR ARRESTS MADE STRICTLY BECAUSE THOSE CAMERAS WERE THERE. ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT WE HAD WAS A MURDER, AND BECAUSE OF THE CAMERAS, FROM THE TIME THAT WE LEARNED OF THE WHEN THE MURDER HAPPENED TO THE TIME WE HAD HIM IN HANDCUFFS WAS WITHIN HOURS. THAT WAS THAT'S NOT A NORMAL THING. NORMALLY IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WEEK OR TWO OF CHASING THESE PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE, TRYING TO FIND THEM. BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE CAMERAS, WITHIN HOURS, HE WAS IN HANDCUFFS AND IN CUSTODY. 
          THAT MURDER IN PARTICULAR, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY REMORSE ABOUT IT. AND IF ANOTHER ONE HAPPENED, IT WAS GOING TO. BUT IT CAME TO A QUICK HALT. OTHER THAN THAT, WE'VE HAD I IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, I'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AT ROBBERIES THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRACK DOWN BECAUSE OF FLOCK BURGLARIES, THAT THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO IT WAS AND TRACK THEM DOWN WAS BECAUSE OF FLOCK, WHICH TURNED INTO MORE DOPE ARRESTS WITH THOSE PEOPLE, VEHICLES FULL OF BURGLARY TOOLS, YOU NAME IT. AND IT'S ALL DUE TO THE FLOCK CAMERAS BEING IN PLACE. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S A WHOLE SLEW OF LESSER CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLVED BECAUSE OF IT, OF THEFTS AND, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT IN THE PAST WOULD HAVE JUST SIMPLY BEEN A CLOSED CASE BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE LEADS TO FOLLOW UP ON, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE WERE. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE, THE GOOD THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH FLOCK. I'VE REALIZED THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT COULD NOT BE GREAT WITH IT AS WELL, BUT WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THEM YET IN OUR CITY. ANYWAYS, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL? I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU DETECTIVE, WE 
          [PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS]
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE HAVE A FEW MORE PUBLIC ITEMS. ITEM ONE IS ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGARDING COUNTY AND PRECINCT EVENTS. ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? WELL, I, I JUST GOT SOMETHING TO SAY. WE'RE COMING AROUND TO SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER NOW AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FINISH UP OUR ROADS, BEAR WITH OUR GUYS. THEY'RE OUT THERE JUST TRYING TO DO A JOB AND HAVING TO DODGE CARS THAT ARE MAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WAIT FIVE MINUTES. IT'S I HAVEN'T HAD ONE ALMOST RUN OVER THIS YEAR. I DID HAVE ONE HIT LAST YEAR, BUT THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB AND GET IN AND OUT. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THERE ANY LONGER THAN Y'ALL WANT US THERE, BUT WE CAN'T SNAP OUR FINGERS AND HAVE THE ROAD BUILT, SO Y'ALL JUST PAY ATTENTION. WHEN YOU START SEEING THE SIGNS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION SIGNS AND STUFF, THERE'S THREE PHONE CALLS YOU GET ON A ON A ROAD. YEAH, THE POTHOLES, THE DUST, AND THEN THEY'RE DRIVING TOO FAST. WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S WE WANT WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX THIS ROAD? YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH LONGER IS IT GOING TO TAKE? WELL, CAN YOU 
          [00:45:05]
SLOW THE TRAFFIC DOWN NOW THAT YOU GOT IT FIXED? I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THREE PHONE CALLS YOU JUST ABOUT GET ON. EVERY ROOM IN THE FOURTH CALL IS CAN YOU INSTALL SPEED BUMPS? YEAH, YEAH YEAH YEAH. ON THE ROAD FRONTAGE FRONT, WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TXDOT. I'M SURE YOU GUYS RECEIVED AS WELL THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE BRIDGE ON FM 731 CONSTRUCTION IS SLATED TO REOPEN RECOMMENCE FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK. I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A THURSDAY AND THURSDAY 935 STARTS FRIDAY. THANK YOU. THE EXPANSION OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE OVERPASS AT 917 OVER I-35 CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE ON FRIDAY. SO BIG WEEK IN JOHNSON COUNTY FOR TXDOT. THOSE ARE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS. IT IS. AND Y'ALL, Y'ALL REALIZE THEY SAY WHEN IT'S GOING TO START DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO START ON THE BRIDGE. THEY'RE GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC OUT OF THE WAY FOR WHEN THEY DO START ON THE BRIDGE. SO YOU MIGHT NOT SEE ANYTHING RIGHT AT THE BRIDGE, BUT SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THEY'RE WORKING. GETTING IT READY FOR ANOTHER BRIDGE PROJECT OUT HERE AT CHISHOLM TRAIL, RIGHT THERE AT AMAZON IS SCHEDULED TO LET IN JUNE OF 27. THAT GOT MOVED UP TO. SO THAT THAT GOT MOVED UP THREE YEARS. 
          YEAH. GRATEFUL TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND AND LEADERSHIP THERE FROM THE PARTNERSHIP WITH TXDOT AND MICHAEL MORRIS AND ALL OF THOSE. AND THEN GREAT SEPARATION IN JOSHUA THAT'S BEEN MOVED UP. IT'LL BE A COUPLE OF YEARS YET BECAUSE OF ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL. BUT FINALLY BETTER THAN SIX. YEAH, FINALLY SOME, SOME, SOME POSITIVE IN REGARDS TO MOBILITY, GETTING SOME, GETTING SOME VERY TROUBLE SPOTS THIS THING OUT HERE. WHEN IT OPENS VERY SOON IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A MESS. BUT YEAH BUT WE'RE GLAD. 
          GRATEFUL. YES SIR. I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND REMIND OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE STILL UNDER A BURN BAN. YES, YES. THE WEATHER AND THE CONDITIONS ARE IN AN EXTREME CATEGORY RIGHT NOW. AND I'M JUST ASKING PEOPLE TO PLEASE BE CAREFUL. DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS AREN'T AREN'T AVOIDABLE. APPARENTLY THAT FIRE IN PALO PINTO COUNTY WAS STARTED BY A BLOWOUT ON A VEHICLE. IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, UNAVOIDABLE. AND I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH WRAPPING THAT THING UP. BUT THAT THING'S BEEN GOING ON, YOU KNOW, AND DONE WHAT, A HUNDRED, 000 ACRES OF DAMAGE. AND SO WE WE JUST NEED TO BE EXTREME UNDER EXTREME CAUTION. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE. NO. THAT 2/10 I GOT LAST WEEK AND SOLVING PROBLEMS. WE DIDN'T GET 2/10. I DID. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM TWO. THIS IS A PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION FOR POW MIA RECOGNITION DAY AND JOHNSON COUNTY CONSTITUTION WEEK WITH MARTY PETERS, AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY. I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY TO JOIN ME UP FRONT FROM THE COURT AS WELL AS THE PARTICIPANTS THIS MORNING ON THIS ITEM. LET'S SEE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING THAT ARE BOTH RELATED. 
          YEAH. OKAY. WONDERFUL. WE WILL START WITH THE POW MIA RECOGNITION DAY. WHEREAS THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS POWMI RECOGNITION DAY SINCE 1979 TO COMMEMORATE PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION MILITARY PERSONNEL WHOSE WHEREABOUTS REMAIN UNKNOWN. AND WHEREAS THIS DAY IS RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD ON MILITARY INSTITUTIONS, SHIPS AT SEA, STATE CAPITAL SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, NATIONAL VETERANS, VETERAN AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FEDERAL BUILDINGS, AND THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT, POST AND 50 POST AND SQUADRON 50 IN JOHNSON COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH THE VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN JOHNSON COUNTY. 
          AND WHEREAS THE REMAINS OF MANY KOREAN WORLD WAR TWO. VIETNAM. AND SERVICE MEMBERS FROM OTHER WARS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ARE BEING RETURNED HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AT AN ESTIMATED 15,000 FORMER POWS LIVE AMONG US NATIONALLY AND WORLD WAR TWO. MIAR70 1693 7359. MISSING FROM 
          [00:50:03]
THE KOREAN WAR, 1565 ARE UNACCOUNTED FROM THE VIETNAM WAR, AND A TOTAL OF OVER 4100 ARE MISSING FROM TEXAS AND ESTIMATED TO BE RECOVERABLE. AND WHEREAS WE WISH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO FORMER POW MIA PERSONNEL IN OUR MIDST AND TO THE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT RETURNED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO STAND BESIDE THEIR FAMILIES AND HONOR THOSE WHO WERE HELD CAPTIVE AS PRISONERS OF WAR. WHILE WE PLEDGE TO NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE, NOR EVER ABANDON OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO BRING THEM HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, AS RECENTLY AS JULY 2026, REMAINS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO TEXAS FAMILIES FROM AS FAR BACK AS WORLD WAR TWO, FINALLY GIVING CLOSURE TO THE GOLD STAR. 
          FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN WONDERING FOR DECADES. AND WHEREAS JOHNSON COUNTY PATRIOTIC CITIZENS REALIZE OUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED UNTIL OUR HEROES ARE RETURNED SAFELY TO OUR SHORES, OR A FULL ACCOUNTING IS PROVIDED TO THEIR LOVED ONES. AND FURTHER DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL POW MIA RECOGNITION DAY. INASMUCH AS THERE ARE FAMILIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY THAT STILL AWAIT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LOVED ONES WHEREABOUTS SINCE AS LONG AGO AS WORLD WAR ONE. AND WHEREAS CLEBURNE AMERICAN LEGION POST 50, AUXILIARY UNIT 50 AND SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION WILL HOST A CEREMONY AT 313 WEST CHAMBERS THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2026. FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMEMBERING AND HONORING THESE HEROES. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF JOHNSON COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2026 AS POWMIA RECOGNITION DAY IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THANK YOU AND THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU JUDGE. YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING AS I DROVE IN THIS MORNING, OUR LIVES ARE SO FULL AND SO BUSY. WE HAVE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND FAMILY OBLIGATIONS. AND DURING VIETNAM, POW! MIA WAS CONSTANT, CONSTANTLY PRESENT ON THE NEWS. WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT EVERY DAY. WE SAW THEM COMING HOME. WE SAW THEM NOT COMING HOME. AND SO MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY THAT WE BECOME COMPLACENT AND WE FORGET. 
          BUT THEIR FAMILIES DON'T. SO ONCE A YEAR, THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY SEPTEMBER, WE ASK THAT YOU PAUSE AND REMEMBER, WEAR A YELLOW RIBBON. TIE A RIBBON AROUND A TREE. JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, THAT THE FAMILIES STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONE. AND AND JUST PAUSE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES. PRAY FOR THEM. ATTEND OUR SERVICE IF YOU WISH. YOU'RE WELCOMED. BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME, JUST TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HE'S GOING TO DO A PHOTO. YES. OKAY. I'M GOING TO DO THE PHOTO FOR HER. OKAY. THIS IS VERY MUCH A RELATED ITEM. AS WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN ALL OR GIVEN SOME ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE, IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE ALSO HONOR CONSTITUTION WEEK. I BELIEVE THE NOTE YOU HANDED OUT SAID 239 YEARS AGO THAT WE ADOPTED THIS CONSTITUTION. 1787 JOHNSON COUNTY CONSTITUTION WEEK. WHEREAS, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE GUARDIAN OF OUR LIBERTIES, EMBODIES THE PRINCIPLES OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND A REPUBLIC DEDICATED TO RULE BY LAW. AND WHEREAS, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026 MARKS THE 239TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DRAFTING OF THE US CONSTITUTION, AND WHEREAS. THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION DAR PETITION CONGRESS IN 1955 TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH 23RD AS CONSTITUTION WEEK AS AN ANNUAL OBSERVATION, RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS BOTH FITTING AND PROPER TO ACCORD OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THIS MAGNIFICENT DOCUMENT AND IT'S MEMORABLE ANNIVERSARY, AND TO THE PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS WHICH WILL COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION. AND WHEREAS PRESIDENT DWIGHT D EISENHOWER SIGNED THE RESOLUTION INTO LAW ON AUGUST 2ND, 1956 TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION AND 
          [00:55:02]
REMIND CITIZENS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND IT. AND WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY PREAMBLE TO THE TO THEIR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND ALL BRANCHES OF OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL SWEAR AN OATH TO SUPPORT, DEFEND, SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
          AND. WHEREAS, CLEBURNE'S NATHANIEL WINSTON, CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, FORMED IN 1957, MEMBERS HAVE WELCOMED. CEDEO AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 50, CHARTERED IN 1926. MEMBERS TO JOIN IN CLEBURNE'S CELEBRATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION. AND. WHEREAS, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR NATION, BELLS SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, CALLING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ANNOUNCING SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ALERTING CITIZENS TO MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE. 
          AND ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1787, BELLS RANG IN PHILADELPHIA TO SUMMON THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST READING OF THE NEWLY DRAFTED UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. DAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY. A L A ENCOURAGES THE CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF CLEBURNE TO JOIN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION IN BELLS ACROSS AMERICA BY RINGING BELLS AT 3 P.M. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DRAFTING AND SIGNING OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF JOHNSON COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23RD AS JOHNSON COUNTY CONSTITUTION WEEK AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT WE URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO STUDY THE CONSTITUTION AND REFLECT ON THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN AMERICAN. 
          REAFFIRMING THE IDEALS OF THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT THEY HAD IN 1787 BY VIGILANTLY PROTECTING THE FREEDOMS GUARANTEED TO US THROUGH THIS GUARDIAN OF OUR LIBERTIES, AND WE FURTHER ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN BELLS ACROSS AMERICA. AT 3 P.M. 
          ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026 BY INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU. WITH PATRIOT DAY RECENTLY PASSED, I REMIND PEOPLE THAT AS DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, HOURS WERE THE. OUR ANCESTORS WERE THE ORIGINAL PATRIOTS WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY. MANY OF US ALSO HAD ANCESTORS IN THE WAR OF 1812 WHEN BRITAIN TRIED AGAIN. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT MUCH MORE THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT THIS CONSTITUTION MEANS, BECAUSE THIS STARTED WITH NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE RIGHTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE CONSTITUTION GIVEN TO US, FIRST BY GOD AND ASSURED IN THIS CONSTITUTION. 
          SO THANK YOU, AND I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ IT. I HAVE A TUTORING STUDENT THAT OFTEN GETS EXTRA HISTORY BEING A DAUGHTER OF A HISTORY TEACHER, AND I TELL HIM, WHY AM I MAKING YOU LEARN ALL OF THIS? AND HE'S TO RESPOND BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO BE AN INFORMED CITIZEN. I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO BE INFORMED CITIZENS. ONE, TWO. THREE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU ALL THE WAY AROUND LIKE I DO. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM THREE, A PRESENTATION OF RETIREMENT PLAQUE TO STEPHANIE WILLIAMS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I'LL INVITE CAPTAIN ARRIOLA FORWARD FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. SO STEPHANIE 
          [01:00:16]
RECENTLY RETIRED WITH US AND SHE'S STILL PRETTY YOUNG. SO SHE LITERALLY DEDICATED ALMOST HALF OF HER LIFE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SHE'S GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE SOME TIME AND, AND ENJOY LIFE FOR A CHANGE. SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE CALL HER AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, AND SHE'S GOING TO DROP WHAT SHE'S DOING, WAKE UP, WHATEVER, AND SHE'S GOING TO COME IN AND SHE'S GOING TO FILL WHATEVER ROLE SHE NEEDS TO FILL. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ALL YOURS. YOU'VE EARNED IT. THANK YOU. THERE'S A THERE'S A TEN MINUTE SPEECH REQUIRED 30S FOR EVERY YEAR. YEAH, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT VERY MUCH. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. AND DO YOU THINK IT'S A LITTLE FUNNY? THE FOLKS THAT TALK FOR A LIVING SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO TALK HERE. WHAT'S SAD IS I REMEMBER WHEN SHE GOT HIRED. OH, I WAS A DEPUTY AT THE TIME. PRETTY SURE I WAS HER JUNIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL, SO I. I'VE KNOWN HER LONGER THAN ALL OF Y'ALL HAVE. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM FOUR. UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF COUNTY BUILDINGS BY CODY SIBLEY, OUR FACILITY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 
          I KNOW WE GOT A LOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY, SO I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS AS QUICK AS WE CAN. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S MY SCREEN, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED. I'M WORKING ON GETTING A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, WE'LL GET STARTED. I'LL START WITH THE 110 NORTH MAIN RIGHT HERE. THE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS. WE FINALLY GOT EVERYTHING BACK FROM STRUCTURAL. THAT'S 100% COMPLETE. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THEM, US AND THE GC, AND WE SHOULD MEET EITHER THE END OF THIS WEEK OR SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK TO KIND OF SORT OUT ANY PARTICULARS IN THAT SHERIFF'S OFFICE, JUVENILE REMODEL. THE CMU BLOCK HAS ALL BEEN INSTALLED, AWNINGS OVER THE RECRUITMENT AREA AS WELL AS JUVENILE ALL THAT. THE HANDRAILS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETED. THE JUVENILE LOBBY ACTUALLY, FRIDAY AFTERNOON I WAS OVER THERE ABOUT 445 AND THEY WERE FINISHING UP DOING THE FLOORING. I THINK THEY'LL DO THE CODE BASE AND THEN THAT SHOULD COMPLETELY FINISH OUT. JUVENILE ART CEILING GRID IN THE LIGHT FIXTURES HAVE NOT GONE IN YET, BUT THAT'S THAT'D TAKE PROBABLY HALF A DAY. AND THE LANDSCAPE DRAINAGE OVER THERE WAS INSTALLED IN FRONT OF JUVENILE ITSELF. MEDICAL EXAMINER'S ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND THEY ARE REALLY WHEELING AND DEALING NOW. SO THE DRYWALL HAS ALL BEEN INSTALLED. PAINT'S BEEN COMPLETED, THE INSPECTIONS HAVE ALL BEEN DONE, AND THE CEILING GRID ITSELF HAS BEEN INSTALLED. LOOKING AHEAD THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS, THE TWO OBVIOUSLY PROJECTS WE HAVE ROLLING ARE THE SHERIFF'S JUVENILE REMODEL AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S. THEY EXPECT US TO BE IN THAT PUNCH OUT, CLOSE OUT PHASE OF BOTH PROJECTS BY THE NEXT TIME I PRESENT IN OCTOBER. SO WE SHOULD BE COMPLETED OR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY THAT NEXT MEETING. THE EXTERIOR PAINT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THAT WOULD BE ALL THE HANDRAILS AND GUTTERS AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE PAINTED PARKING LOTS OR STRIPED WITH THAT NEW CONCRETE THAT WE HAD PUT OUT THEIR JUVENILE LOBBY, OBVIOUSLY THAT BE COMPLETED, LANDSCAPING BE COMPLETED, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT, AND OUR STAFF AT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S ARE DOING THE DATA DROPS. AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BAILEY'S CREW IS EITHER THERE TODAY OR THEY WILL BE THERE THIS WEEK, FINISHING UP DOING THE PARKING, STRIPING AND SEALING THAT. WE'VE ALREADY GOT COUNTERTOPS PICKED OUT, FLOORING PICKED OUT AND EVERYTHING, SO THEY'LL BE INSTALLING THAT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AND LIKE I SAID, THAT ONE WILL BE IN THE PUNCH LIST PHASE CLOSE OUT HOPEFULLY ACTUALLY WITHIN THEY PROJECT WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. SO ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH, WE WILL PRETTY MUCH BE COMPLETED WITH THAT PROJECT. GOING INTO SOME OF THE PICTURES, THESE PICTURES THAT I HAVE FOR I'M GONNA START WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S. 
          THIS WAS THE PICTURES I HAVE NOW ARE FROM THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT. WE HAD RIPPED OUT ALL THE DRYWALL. SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF CHANGE HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR OFFICES. ALL THAT DRYWALL WAS RIPPED OUT AND THEY'VE ALREADY RIPPED OUT THE FLOORING AND EVERYTHING. SO WE'VE EVEN JUST COMING UP WITH WHITE PAINT. IT'S ALREADY BRIGHTENED UP THE SPACE QUITE A BIT. THIS IS ONE OF THE THE BACK OFFICES WITH A COUPLE WINDOWS. THEY'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. THESE PICTURES WERE ALL TAKEN THURSDAY AFTERNOON. SO THIS IS THE FRONT 
          [01:05:04]
ENTRANCE. THIS IS WHEN YOU WOULD COME IN. I DID NOT THERE'S A LOT OF CHAOS IN THE FRONT STILL WITH A LOT OF SUPPLIES AND MATERIAL. SO I DIDN'T TAKE A DIRECT STRAIGHT ON PICTURE OF THIS. BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT BIG OPEN AREA. THAT IS WHERE THE BREAK ROOM WILL BE. THEY'VE WALLED THAT IN, COUNTERTOPS ARE GOING IN, I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK, ALL THE MILLWORK AND COUNTERTOPS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE GOING IN NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THIS IS BY ACTUALLY JUVENILE EXCUSE ME. THIS IS THE HANDICAP RAMP AS WELL AS THE JUST KIND OF FRONT LANDING OF THAT BUILDING. AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE PICTURE I TOOK OVER THERE THE AFTERNOON THAT WAS THE LOBBY. IF YOU'LL KIND OF IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH JUVENILE LOBBY, THE CEILING GRID USED TO JUST BE A COUPLE INCHES ABOVE THE DOOR FRAMES. SO PART OF THE CHANGE ORDERS WE BROUGHT TO COURT A NUMBER OF MONTHS BACK WAS TO RAISE THAT CEILING HEIGHT AND MAKE IT NOT FEEL AS CRAMPED. AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. IT WAS A MINIMAL CHANGE ORDER, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE HELPED, YOU KNOW, WIDEN THE SPACE UP QUITE A BIT. THIS IS THAT CMU BLOCK. IT TOOK SURPRISINGLY LONGER THAN EXPECTED. THE EXPECTED DELIVERY TIME WAS 6 TO 8 WEEKS, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO 12 WEEKS. I BELIEVE IT WAS 11.5 BEFORE WE FINALLY GOT IT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WITH THOSE 107 DEGREE DAYS, THEY WERE TYPICALLY ONLY OUT THERE UNTIL ABOUT 11 OR 12:00 BEFORE THEY COULDN'T STAND IT AND HAD TO CALL IT A DAY. SO THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT DONE. LIKE I SAID, THAT IS COMPLETELY DONE. THIS IS THE OTHER HALF. THIS IS GOING TOWARDS THE SHERIFF'S AND RECRUITMENT AREA AS WELL. 
          THAT'S ALL COMPLETED. LIKE I SAID, LANDSCAPING WILL BE IN HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT 3 OR 4 WEEKS. ONCE THEY KIND OF DIAL IN THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR WORK. AND JUST TO KIND OF REFRESH ON THAT FOUR WEEK LOOK AHEAD, WE SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED WITH EVERY PHASE OF BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS. WE EXPECT THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO BE DONE RIGHT AROUND OCTOBER 1ST. SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BE DONE AT LEAST BY THE NEXT TIME I PRESENT TO COURT. SO THAT'S EXCITING. IT'LL BE GOOD TO GET A COUPLE OF THOSE PROJECTS CLOSED OUT AND OFF THE BOOKS. APPRECIATE YOU DOCUMENTING AND BRINGING THOSE BACK TO US WITH PROGRESS PHOTOS. IT'S NICE TO SEE KIND OF WHERE WE ARE. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK AFTER THAT. WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND LET 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
EVERYBODY STRETCH THEIR LEGS. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. AS A REMINDER, CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT ARE TYPICALLY HOUSEKEEPING MEASURES OR ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS THINGS THAT WE DO FREQUENTLY. THEY ARE NOT DISCUSSED SEPARATELY UNLESS SOMEONE REQUESTS AN ITEM BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEM CA1 THROUGH. CA66. THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER THIS TIME OF YEAR. WE HAVE A TON OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, DRIVEN LARGELY BY RENEWALS OF CONTRACTS THAT ALREADY EXIST. WE RENEW EVERY FISCAL YEAR. SO AS WE RAMP UP THROUGH SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE LOTS OF CONTRACTS, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, JAIL AGREEMENTS, DISPATCH AGREEMENTS, ALL OF THOSE SORT OF THINGS THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF SPACE ON HERE. THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF ITEMS. I WILL NOTE THAT THIS DOES INCLUDE A RATIFYING THE NEXT YEAR'S SB 22 GRANT APPLICATION AND GRANT AGREEMENT. SO THAT DOES APPEAR TO BE AN ONGOING PROGRAM, AT LEAST FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT NEED SPECIFIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT? I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE AREAS ON THERE IS AN APPOINTMENT IS TO FULFILL A REMAINING OF A TWO YEAR TERM, BUT VOLUNTEERS TO TO SOME OF THESE COMMISSIONS AND STUFF. THEY THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT. YES. THANK YOU. I WILL ALSO POINT OUT, IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC THIS MORNING ABOUT COORDINATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE SECTION OF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN THE MIDDLE ITEM K 17 THROUGH 21 ARE ITEMS THAT WE DO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION ON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION TO TAKE ACTION ON, BUT WE DO PUT THEM ON OUR AGENDA TO MAKE THEM PUBLIC RECORDS AND TO PUT THEM ON THE MINUTES. SO THEY'RE ON OUR WEBSITE AND ARE SEARCHABLE. THOSE THIS TIME AROUND ARE ALL NOTICES FROM THE STATE, EXCEPT ONE NOTICE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR. 
          THE OTHER FOUR ITEMS ARE FROM THE STATE, ONE REGARDING POTENTIAL PRESCRIBED BURNING AT THE STATE PARK, WHICH THEY. THEY GENEROUSLY PROVIDE US. NOTICE THEY DON'T FALL UNDER OUR. OUR BURN BAN. AND THEN THE OTHER THREE ARE TKC ITEMS. SO LARGE WASTEWATER PLANT APPLICATIONS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS TO BRING BIG DEVELOPMENTS INTO AREAS OF THE COUNTY WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THOSE ARE ALWAYS ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. SO BE AWARE THAT THOSE ARE THERE ON MOST OF OUR MEETING AGENDAS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. THEN I WOULD CALL FOR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, 
          [01:10:06]
A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER WILLEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE, AYE. ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN. THE CONSENT AGENDA CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL MOVE TO OUR ACTION AGENDA AND HANDLE THIS FIRST ITEM, ITEM A ONE. CONSIDER AN APPROVED BILL RUN FOR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS FEES. I HAVE RECUSED MYSELF FROM THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONER 
          [ACTION ITEMS (Part 1 of 3)]
BAILEY, DO YOU MIND? SURE. GENTLEMEN. ACTION ITEM A1 CONSIDERED. APPROVE BILL, RUN FOR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY. FEES. MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED. JUDGE. 
          ABSTAIN. ALL RIGHT. THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WITH THAT IT IS 1011. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS UNTIL 1020. LET EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD ON AT 10:21 A.M. WE WILL PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF AFTER A BRIEF RECESS THIS MORNING. WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP WITH ITEM A2. CONSIDER AN AUTHORIZED PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND PROPOSALS. MR. ANDERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TODAY? NOTHING TODAY, JUDGE. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM A2. WE DO HAVE THREE MORE ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS. I WANT TO MOVE THROUGH THOSE. BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON THAT SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IT'S ON AN ITEM WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED YET, AND SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK. MR. KEITH, KELLY, MR. KELLY, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT AND WE ARE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOU. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I CAN HOLD OFF AND PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKSHOP IF THAT WOULD BE EASIER. NO, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE. GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. WE'LL TRY TO GET TO THE WORKSHOP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. OKAY. BASICALLY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FLOCK CAMERA SITUATION. I PROVIDED EACH OF YOU A LITTLE RESEARCH, KIND OF A DEFINITION OF WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THAT FLOCK CAMERA'S SITUATION GOING, THE APPLES AND THE, THE INTRODUCTION OF FACIAL RECOGNITION IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF CAMERAS TAKES THEM FROM LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS TO BEING ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH TRACK YOU ANYWHERE YOU GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CASE LAW IS PRETTY, PRETTY SOLID ON THIS. 
          IT'S IT HAS NOT. THE SUPREME COURT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ACTUAL CAMERAS, BUT THEY HAVE VERY MUCH ADDRESSED THE CELL PHONE, THE GATHERING OF CELL PHONE DATA WITHOUT A WARRANT. 
          AND I THINK YOU WILL FIND AS AS YOU KNOW, THE COURT MOVES SLOWLY, BUT I THINK YOU WILL FIND THE. THE COURT WILL ALSO RULE THAT YOU CAN'T USE THESE CAMERAS WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. 
          WE'RE A NATION OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT CHECKED. 
          AND I THINK BASED ON THE NUMBER OF HEADLINES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THESE CAMERAS AND FRAUDULENT USE OF THESE CAMERAS, THAT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS GOES BEFORE THE COURT. VOTER SENTIMENT IS KIND OF INTERESTING. SO VOTERS REALLY THERE WAS A RECENT POLL BY TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY AND TAKEN BY OVERSIGHT INSIGHTS, AND 64% OF TEXANS ARE AGAINST THESE CAMERAS. THAT'S THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER THAT FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT. THE OTHER THING THAT THIS COMMISSIONER COURT SHOULD PROBABLY PAY ATTENTION TO IS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SEIZED ONTO THIS ITEM AS AN ELECTION ITEM, AND THEY ARE RUNNING ON A PLATFORM AGAINST THESE FLOCK CAMERAS. THE RESULT OF THAT IS GOVERNOR FLIP FLOP. 
          MR. ABBOTT HAS HAS DECIDED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SUSPEND FUNDING FOR THESE CAMERAS. NOW, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S GOING TO HOLD HIS FINGER UP IN THE AIR AND SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING, BUT IT'S NOT BLOWING IN HIS FAVOR. AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION WITH THAT. GOVERNOR DESANTIS DOWN IN FLORIDA HAS SUSPENDED ALL THE USE OF THEIR CAMERAS OR ACTUALLY NOT SUSPENDED, BUT UNFUNDED THEM AND REMOVED THEM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF YOU KNOW ME, I AM VERY, VERY PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRO FIRST RESPONDER. AND THIS IS A TOOL. BUT AS WITH ALL TOOLS, THERE MUST BE CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
          AND WE HAVE A YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, JOHNSON COUNTY HAS BEEN GETTING A WHOLE LOT OF BAD PUBLICITY. YOU KNOW, OUR SHERIFF IS GOT HIS OWN FELONY PROBLEMS. WE GOT HALF THE GODLY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE STILL IN JAIL, BUT THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO 
          [01:15:05]
END UP THERE. THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW IF THESE CAMERAS WERE USED, TRACKING ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE'S OVER IN GODLY AND, AND I WOULD CHALLENGE AND I'VE, I'VE CHALLENGED MANY, MANY COURTS ON THIS AND CITY COUNCILS, DO YOU GUYS EVEN KNOW HOW MANY ACCESS TO THOSE CAMERAS YOU GET? DO YOU TRACK IT? DO YOU GET A REPORT? EVERY COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF HITS, THE BADGE NUMBERS, THE CASE NUMBERS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NUMBER OF HITS FROM OUTSIDE OF YOUR AGENCY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE HUGE NUMBER. IF YOU'VE SEEN ANY OF THE THINGS ON PFLUGERVILLE, YOU KNOW, PFLUGERVILLE HAD ROUGHLY 60 AGENCIES THAT THEY HAD AGREED TO SHARE WITH, BUT THERE WERE OVER 400 AGENCIES ACCESSING THEIR CAMERAS FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ALLOWING PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO SPY ON YOUR CITIZENS, TO TRACK YOUR CITIZENS. AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD STANCE ON THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN FLOCK AND THESE COMPANIES COME IN AND THEY PRESENT THESE WONDERFUL SCENARIOS, ONE OF THE NUMBERS THEY THROW OUT IS THEY HAVE A 98.6% ACCURACY. WELL, YOU NEED TO GO READ THE FINE PRINT BECAUSE IF YOU READ THE FINE PRINT, THAT'S 98.6% ACCURACY PER DIGIT. SO IF YOU HAVE A SEVEN DIGIT LICENSE PLATE, YOUR ACCURACY IS 75%. SO THERE WAS A CASE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO DOWN IN FLORIDA, 23 YEAR OLD LADY WAS ARRESTED AND THROWN IN JAIL FOR 13 DAYS FOR VEHICLE MANSLAUGHTER BASED ON A FLOCK HIT AN IDENTICAL CAR, SAME MODEL AND MAKE IS HERS. CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS A DIFFERENT COLOR AND HAD NO DAMAGE, BUT SHE SPENT 13 DAYS IN JAIL BEFORE SOMEBODY WITH A SANE MIND REALIZED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AND WHEN THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE FLOCK DATA, THEY REALIZED THAT SHE COULDN'T EVEN HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA BASED ON THE TIME DISTANCE STUFF, SLOPPY POLICE WORK. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THAT WAS YOUR DAUGHTER SITTING IN JAIL FOR 13 DAYS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I'D HAVE BEEN ONE HOT DAD, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. I'M SURE WE'VE ALL SEEN THE HEADLINES OF THE ABUSES. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME HERE IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH REGARDING A CASE WITH A NO BILL, AND WE HAD A DEPUTY THAT TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO SEARCH NATIONWIDE FOR THAT PERSON. I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE CAN'T WE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO POLICE THEMSELVES ON THIS. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME GUARDRAILS. AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THESE FLOCK CAMERAS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS THAT THESE CAMERAS HAVE. SO THERE'S A THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN THE BACK OF THIS ABOUT THE ENGLISH SPECIAL FORCES THAT ACTUALLY HAD CAMERAS SUPPLIED THAT WERE ON THE APPROVED LIST FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND THEY WERE IN THEIR DRONES AND THEY WERE SENDING EVERYTHING BACK TO CHINA. SO THINK ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE MANY OF THE ENEMIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IF THEY CAN TAP THE ACCESS TO THESE CAMERAS, IT'S JUST AS GOOD. IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN HAVING FEET ON THE GROUND. THEY CAN TRACK US. THEY CAN KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS. THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. WE'RE DOING THE DATA, THE CAMERAS ARE ALL FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY. IT'S A BUNCH OF INVESTORS, PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS. THEY OWN THE DATA. 
          NOW YOU TELL ME HOW THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO OWN THE DATA ON THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, SO THEY CAN SELL THE DATA TO ANYBODY THEY WANT. WELL, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH THAT IS THEY'RE SELLING DATA TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. NOW, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING TO TRACK AND TRYING TO GET US TO PAY BY THE MILE FOR INSURANCE INSTEAD OF BY THE YEAR. SO THOSE OF US THAT DRIVE A LOT OF MILES, AND I KNOW YOU COMMISSIONERS, A LOT OF YOU GUYS HAVE GOT MILLION MILE PLUS BACKGROUNDS WITH AN EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORD. I'VE GOT OVER A MILLION MILES ACCIDENT FREE, VERY PROUD OF THAT. BUT IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY'S EYES, WE ARE MUCH MORE AT RISK OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVEN'T HAD ONE. INSTEAD OF US BEING REWARDED FOR ALL THE GREAT PRACTICES IN DRIVING THING WE HAVE. SO ONE OF THEIR GOALS WILL BE THIS WILL. IF THIS CONTINUES TO GO, THIS WILL IMPACT THE INSURANCE RATES BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE DATA AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL WHERE 
          [01:20:04]
YOU GO, WHAT CITIES YOU DRIVE IN, WHAT YOUR ROUTINE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FLOCK SAYS THEY DELETE THE DATA, THE PICTURES IN SEVEN DAYS. BUT THIS IS AI DRIVEN. THESE THESE CAMERAS ARE TAKING A A FINGERPRINT, IF YOU WILL, OF YOUR VEHICLE. YOU GOT A MISSING HUBCAP. IT'S LOGGED. 
          YOU GOT A DENT IN YOUR FENDER. IT'S LOGGED. AND ONCE THEY LOG ALL THAT AND GET IT IN THE DATABASE, YOU CAN SEARCH ON IT FOREVER. YOU HAVE THE THE CAMERA IMAGE MAY BE GONE, BUT THE DATA IS STILL THERE. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE DATA NEVER GOES AWAY UNLESS IT'S ON HILLARY CLINTON'S SERVER. SO I JUST PREPARED THIS FOR YOU GUYS. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO REALLY DIG INTO THIS, BUT AS A VERY CONSERVATIVE CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, I THINK THIS THESE CAMERAS CREATE AN INCREDIBLE DANGER TO OUR WAY OF LIFE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A FEW MORE ACTION ITEMS TO PICK UP WITH. I WANT TO MOVE TO THOSE ITEMS. AND WE'VE GOT SOME OUTSIDE FOLKS HERE FOR WORKSHOPS. I'M TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY, AT LEAST OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, IN AND OUT, BEFORE NOON IF WE CAN. WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP WITH ITEM A THREE. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDER AND APPROVE ORDER 2026-83 DESIGNATION AND INSTALLATION OF A NO THROUGH TRUCK SIGN ON FORGOTTEN LANE FROM FM 917 TO HIGH RIDGE DRIVE AND JOHNSON COUNTY, TEXAS. PRECINCT THREE. 
          COMMISSIONER. WHAT THIS IS, IS IT'S A COUNTY ROAD THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT UNTIL THE INDUSTRIAL BUILT AND TRUCKS DELIVERING IN AND OUT. I'M ONLY DOING ONE END OF IT BECAUSE BURLESON, BURLESON CITY OF BURLESON IS THE OTHER END. AND THEY'RE APPROVING THE NO THROUGH TRUCKS ON THEIR END. AND THEY ASKED IF WE WOULD DO OUR END. SO I PUT IT ON HERE FOR FOR THAT I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE SURROUNDING AGENCIES IF WE CAN. I KNOW YOU KNOW, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY'RE MAKING A DELIVERY AND GOING IN ONE WAY AND COMING OUT THE SAME WAY THEY WENT IN, IT'S LEGAL TO RUN. THAT'S FINE. THIS, THIS THE INDUSTRIAL IS ON 35. THIS RESIDENTIAL AREA IS BEHIND IT. 
          IT'S ALL ON THE BACK SIDE OF ALL THIS STUFF. PLUS IT'S ACTUALLY A DIVIDED COUNTY ROAD. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE IN THE COUNTY, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY A MEDIAN WITH TREES AND PLANTS AND STUFF IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THERE PULLING A STOCK TRAILER BEFORE AND IT'S REAL CLOSE WITH IT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THERE. ALL RIGHT. THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. IT IS 10:33 A.M. IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION TO ADDING THE NO THROUGH TRUCK SIGN ON FORGOTTEN LANE, NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FEEL FREE TO SPEAK. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOBODY COMING FORWARD, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM A3? ALL RIGHT. I'D CALL FOR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WOOLLEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. 
          ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN ITEM A3 CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY MOVED ITEM A4. THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING APPROVE ORDER 2026-80 FOR INSTALLATION OF A STOP SIGN AT BETHESDA ROAD EAST AT WINNETT ROAD. STOP SIGN TO BE INSTALLED ON BETHESDA ROAD, EAST JOHNSON COUNTY, TEXAS. PRECINCT THREE COMMISSIONER. DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW THIS IS A BASICALLY A T INTERSECTION AND TWO PARTS OF THE T AND NOT THE STRAIGHT PART HAVE STOP SIGNS. ONE OF THE STRAIGHT SIDES NEVER HAD A STOP SIGN, AND RESIDENTS IN THE AREA SHOWED CONCERN AND ASKED ABOUT IT, AND I FIGURED WE'D PUT IT ON AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING. I'LL NOTE FOR THE RECORD, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AT THIS TIME. IT IS 10:34 A.M. IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS THE COURT ON THE MATTER OF A STOP SIGN AT WHEN IT. ROAD OR ON BETHESDA ROAD EAST AT WINNETT ROAD, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. YOU CAN SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOBODY COME FORWARD, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? WELL, I MEAN, I'LL SAY I'M NOT A FIRM BELIEVER IN JUST GOING OUT AND CHANGING TRAFFIC FLOW. 
          BUT I THINK IF THERE'S A NEED FOR SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS, AND I'VE WATCHED THE INTERSECTION QUITE A BIT, AND I THINK THIS WILL DEFINITELY MAKE IT A SAFER INTERSECTION. SO I MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WILLEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN AND ITEM. A4 CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY MOVE TO ITEM A5. THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDER AND APPROVE ORDER 2026-89 APPROVAL OF JOHNSON COUNTY CLERK'S FY 2027 RECORDS ARCHIVE PLAN AND 
          [01:25:01]
APPROVAL OF THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID PLAN PURSUANT TO SECTION 118.025 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. MISS LONG, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS SHORT THIS YEAR. WE ONLY HAVE TWO BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF THIS FUND. ONE OF THOSE IS WE FOUND ORIGINAL 1900 DEED RECORDS AND AFFIDAVITS THAT WERE JUST IN BOXES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESERVED. SO THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR. AND THEN THE OTHER. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GETTING SOME OF THE HISTORICAL VITAL RECORDS PRESERVED. SO AFTER THESE TWO THINGS, WE SHOULD BE PRETTY MUCH DONE OUT OF POTENTIALLY WHAT WOULD COME OUT OF THIS FUND. SO THIS MAY LOOK REALLY DIFFERENT COME NEXT YEAR DURING THIS. SO THAT'S IT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. IT IS 10:36 A.M. IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK ON THE COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDS PRESERVATION PLAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AT THIS TIME. YOU CAN SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION, OFFER YOUR OPINION. I WILL NOTE FOR ANYBODY LISTENING WHILE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK, THIS IS A SPECIAL FEE FUNDED FUND, WHICH MEANS THESE ARE NOT PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS. THESE ARE FILING FEE DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE THE SERVICE. AND THESE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR PRESERVING THE RECORDS THAT ARE PAYING THE FEES. ALL RIGHT. SEE, NOBODY COME FORWARD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM A5? ALL RIGHT. I WOULD CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAILEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN A5 CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HANDLE ITEM A6, WHICH IS CONSIDER AN AUTHORIZED COUNTY CLERK TO COMPLETE THE 2027 SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES FEES REPORT WITH NO CHANGES AND SUBMIT TO THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT COMES UP EVERY YEAR. 
          THERE ARE SEVERAL AGENCY HEADS OR OFFICE HEADS THAT ARE NOTIFIED OF THE OBLIGATION TO REPORT HERE. TYPICALLY, THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS WORKED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET THE REPORTS FILED THIS YEAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NONE OF THE CONSTABLE FEES OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE FEES ARE CHANGING FOR THE PROPOSED F A FY 2027. IF THAT'S INCORRECT, I SEE SOME CONSTABLES IN HERE. WE HAVE CAPTAIN ARREOLA FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RUN DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND TELL US WE'RE ON, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO AUTHORIZE REPUBLISHING THE FEES. OH, HERE COMES MATT. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNEW HE HAD TO SAY SOMETHING. EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT ME. OH, YES, THAT IS CORRECT, JUDGE. WE WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. AND ON THE CONSTABLE SIDE OF THINGS, WE WORKED, ALL FOUR OF US TOGETHER, AND WE JUST REQUESTED OUR FEES STAY THE SAME FOR 2027. ALL RIGHT. WE WE WENT UP ON THOSE A FEW YEARS AGO ON A FEW OF THEM, DIDN'T WE? WE HAVE. AND IT'S GETTING YEAH, IT'S GETTING TO THE TIME THAT THAT THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO RELOOK AT IT BECAUSE WE USUALLY RUN, I DON'T KNOW, 3 TO 5 YEAR CYCLE ABOUT THE SAME THING. SO PROCESS STUFF GOING UP LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS. SO BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE COMFORTABLE LEAVING THEM THE WAY THEY ARE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH CONSTABLE. MOVE TO APPROVE IS PRESENTED SECOND. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BAILEY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN AND ITEM A6 CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO ITEM A EIGHT. WE WILL LEAVE ITEMS A7 AND A9 FOR A LITTLE LATER IN THE MEETING. ITEM A8 IS CONSIDER AUTHORIZED PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE RFP 2026-303. GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT TO PROCURE THE SERVICES OF A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR TO PURSUE AND ADMINISTER THE 2027 2028 T TEXAS CDBG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
          THIS RELATES TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, WHICH IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAN BE USED FOR ROADS, WATER, WASTEWATER, OTHER MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. MOST OF MOST INTEREST TO THE COUNTY IS, OF COURSE, COUNTY ROADS. SINCE WE DON'T DO WATER OR WASTEWATER. MR. ANDERSON, I THINK YOU HAVE A ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS PRESENTATION. YOU DID COVER A GOOD BIT OF WHAT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. THIS IS UP TO A. 
          MY RESEARCH IS CORRECT. IT'S UP TO A $750, $750,000 GRANT DOES REQUIRE, I BELIEVE, A 2% MATCH. 
          THE DEADLINE COMING UP FOR THIS IS DECEMBER 1ST, AND THIS IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. IT'S FOR COUNTIES THAT DON'T RECEIVE DIRECT HUD FUNDS, BUT IT DOES HAVE ALL THE TWO CFR 200 REQUIREMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL SIMILAR TO ARPA. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THE PURSUIT OF A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR WOULD BE THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE BEST COURSE FOR THE COUNTY TO MANAGE THAT. SO AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT IF WE HAD A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, THAT THAT PERSON WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH CFR 200. AND THE INDUSTRY STANDARD AT THIS POINT SEEMS TO 
          [01:30:05]
BE THAT THEIR FEES WOULD BE PAID OUT OF A FUTURE GRANT. SO IF WE'RE AWARDED, THEY'RE USUALLY ADMINISTRATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE DOLLARS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE GRANTS AND THAT WOULD PAY FOR THESE SERVICES REALLY AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE BURDEN ON THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING OFFICE. I WAS THINKING HE COMPARED IT TO ARPA. I WAS THINKING THAT'S WHY STEVE WASN'T HERE. HE'S HIDING. THIS IS A TWO PART GRANT PROCESS. AND SO PHASE ONE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE COUNTY TO IDENTIFY A PROJECT. I'M SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, ONE THAT CAME UP AS A POSSIBLE CONTENDER IS, OF COURSE, THE COUNTY ROAD AND PRECINCT ONE, WHERE THERE WAS A MULTIPLE FATALITY ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. IT'S ALREADY ON OUR OUR LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, AND IT'S A PRETTY MAJOR PROJECT, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING IT THROUGH THE PHASE ONE, YOU KNOW, FILTERING PROCESS, THEN WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO RETAIN AN ENGINEER AGAIN, THROUGH A BIDDING PROCESS. THAT PERSON WOULD AGAIN BE PAID WITH GRANT FUNDS, AND WE WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PROJECT WE HAVE, SUBMIT PLANS AND A COST ESTIMATE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE AWARDED THE FUNDS AS PART OF PHASE TWO OF THAT PROJECT OR THAT GRANT APPLICATION. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME ON THIS AS FAR AS WHEN THE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND WHEN WOULD WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY PROJECT? I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT IN MIND TOO, SO OKAY. I DO NOT KNOW. I KNOW THE ROUND ONE TIMELINE IS DECEMBER ISH, MID DECEMBER END OF DECEMBER. WE HAVE TO GET A THE GRANT APPLICATION SUBMITTED. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUNDING TIMELINE IS. IT'LL BE SOMETIME IN 2027 THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ROUND TWO. AND IF WE GET A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, WE CAN MAYBE WHEN WE AWARD THAT PROJECT, BRING THEM IN AND DISCUSS A LITTLE FURTHER IN DEPTH WHAT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BEFORE WE SIGN OFF ON AN APPLICATION. GRANTS ARE. ARE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD SOMETIMES. YEAH. THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, BUT BUT I'VE, I'VE, I'VE AGREED FOR YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF DOLLARS BY NOT HAVING THAT. BUT IT IS VERY TIME CONSUMING. SO TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS SEGUE INTO POSSIBLY GETTING SOMETHING POSITIVE, WHETHER IT BE THAT PROJECT OR MR. WOOLLEY'S PROJECT OR SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I MEAN, EVERY ONE OF US HERE CAN PICK 3 OR 4 AREAS IN OUR PRECINCTS THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL JUSTIFY THIS ONE, BUT ALSO HOPEFULLY GET THAT GET THAT DOOR OPEN. THAT BRINGS MORE DOLLARS, WHETHER IT BE FEDERAL OR STATE MATCH OR WHATEVER, BUT A 2% MATCH OR A 20% MATCH IS NOT UNREASONABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A THERE'S A GOOD BENEFIT HERE IF WE CAN GET THE PROCESS STARTED, I'D MOVE TO APPROVE THEM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BAILEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WILLEY, MAYBE WITH EACH A COMPETING PROJECT THEY HAVE IN MIND, WE'LL FLIP A COIN GOING TO SNEAK IN THERE AND TAKE IT. ALL RIGHT. JUST BEFORE WE TAKE THE FINAL VOTE. LANCE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT YET, BUT WHAT GENERALLY IS THE FEE IS A PERCENTAGE. WHAT ARE THESE GRANT WRITERS CHARGE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. THIS THIS IS SET TO BE PUBLISHED AS AN RFP. SO A PROPOSAL. IT WILL INCLUDE PRICING INCLUDED. YEAH. AND I MEAN, I AS I SAID, MY UNDERSTANDING IS INDUSTRY STANDARD IS IT'S INCLUDED OUT OF GRANT FUNDS. BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF ONE POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATORS. AND THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THE IS FUNDED IN AND OF ITSELF AND IS AND IS PRODUCTIVE, IT'LL, IT'LL CERTAINLY HELP US MAKE THAT DECISION WHEN THE TIME COMES. IS THIS A POSITION THAT WE WANT TO CREATE BECAUSE IT HAS RESULTS IN IN THIS IN THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH ACTUALLY IS, IS HAS A POTENTIAL OF CONTINUING THAT AND BRINGING MORE DOLLARS IN THAN WHAT IT COST THEM COST US THE TAXPAYERS. SO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD OPTION HERE TO GET STARTED WITHOUT TAKING A RISK. I THINK, COMMISSIONER, TO THAT POINT, I THINK SEPARATE AND APART FROM THIS CONVERSATION, WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AT SOME POINT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH GRANTS IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A GRANT WRITING OR GRANT ADMINISTERING POSITION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, AND IT'S NEVER QUITE COME THROUGH IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT, AND A LOT OF THESE GRANTS DO INCLUDE 10 OR 15% OF OVERHEAD OR ADMINISTRATION THAT WE'VE NEVER CAPTURED AT THE COUNTY. IF WE GET A GRANT FOR $750,000 WITH A MATCH, WE USUALLY PUT THE MATCH IN AND TURN ALL OF THAT TOWARD THE PROJECT. WELL, LONG TERM, WE COULD CLAIM THAT 15% 
          [01:35:02]
OVERHEAD OR ADMINISTRATION PUT IT INTO THE COUNTY BUDGET TO PAY FOR PART OF AN OFFICE. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO TO SKIN THE CAT, SO TO SPEAK. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT. 
          I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE GET INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR, MAYBE DIG INTO WHAT OUR FUTURE POLICY LOOKS. AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION WAS, YOU PAY A GRANT WRITER A PIECE AT A TIME. YOU GOT THIS GRANT, THIS GRANT, THIS GRANT AND THIS GRANT. BEFORE YOU'RE DONE. DEPENDING UPON THEIR FEES, YOU MAY HAVE, IN FACT, IN THAT YEAR ALREADY PAID A GRANT WRITERS SALARY TO DO NOTHING BUT GRANT WRITE FOR US. 
          ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I THINK THIS MAY BE A WAY TO GET STARTED, TO SEE IF IT WOULD JUSTIFY US LOOKING INTO THAT. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE FIRST INITIATED GRANT WORKS TO ADMINISTER THE ARPA FUNDS, I WAS AGAINST THAT AND VOTED AGAINST IT. BUT AT THE END, IN THE END, I'M LIKE, THEY WERE A THEY WERE A CHAMPION ON OUR BEHALF AND WERE A MAJOR ASSET IN THAT ENTIRE PROCESS. 
          CAN'T IMAGINE GOING THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH ARPA WITHOUT THEIR GUIDANCE AND THEIR ASSISTANCE. SO I DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 100% SUCCESS AS WE HAVE MADE IT. YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME MONEY LEFT ON THE TABLE SOMEWHERE BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT DIRECTION. YEAH. POSSIBLY GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE ITEM A EIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED BY THE SAME SIGN AND A EIGHT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE GOING TO 
          [WORKSHOP (Part 1 of 2)]
LEAVE OUR OTHER TWO ACTION ITEMS ON THE TABLE FOR NOW. AND MOVE TO WORKSHOP. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ITEM WS3. CONSIDER REQUEST FROM THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO UTILIZE DEBT TO PURCHASE AND RENOVATE OFFICE SPACE. I'M GOING TO INVITE THEM TO COME FORWARD. THEY'VE GOT A PRESENTATION. I WILL NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL REQUEST WAS WITHDRAWN ABOUT THE TIME WE PUBLISHED OUR AGENDA. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO LET THIS OFF OF THE AGENDA WITHOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS FUTURE PLANNING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT HOW TO SECURE THEIR FOOTPRINT, TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO OVER THERE. AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD TIME TO INVITE MR. FAST, OUR OUR CENTRAL APPRAISAL CHIEF APPRAISER AT THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, I BELIEVE PETER SWENSON IS HERE, WAS HERE, ONE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. AND SO GOOD WAY TO OPEN A DIALOG ABOUT THIS, MR. FAST. THANK YOU, JUDGE BEDEKER. MY NAME IS MITCH FAST. NICE TO MEET ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING HERE SOONER. I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS POSITION SINCE ABOUT DECEMBER 1ST OF 2025. I CAN'T TELL IF IT'S BEEN TEN MONTHS OR TEN YEARS, BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT TO LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES, THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE NOW IS. SERVED THE DISTRICT WELL FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. I THINK SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONCEPT IN 1983, THAT'S BEEN THE FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN USED HERE IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THE STAFFING LEVELS HAVE CHANGED QUITE A BIT FROM THAT POINT. THERE WERE AREAS THAT WERE LEASED OUT DURING THOSE TIMES. SO THERE WAS ROOM TO GROW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT WE'RE BASICALLY FULL UP NOW. WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR POSITIONS THAT ARE UNFILLED BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE STRUGGLE WITH IS WHERE DO THEY GO? I NOTICED THIS RIGHT AWAY ONCE I GOT ON BOARD AND SUGGESTED THAT PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND TAXING JURISDICTIONS OF JOHNSON COUNTY WAS GOING TO BE BETTER SERVED IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THIS PROJECT. STARTED BASICALLY AUGUST 10TH. WE SENT OUT NOTIFICATION TO THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON THE DESIRE TO PURCHASE A FACILITY CLOSER TO THE COUNTY LINE. IN BURLESON. IT WAS A THREE PHASE NOTIFICATION TRYING TO GIVE THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS AMPLE TIME TO GET THIS ON THEIR AGENDAS. IT REQUIRES A RESPONSE WITHIN 30 DAYS, WHICH REQUIRES THE ACTION WITHIN 30 DAYS. THEN THE TAX JURISDICTION HAS TEN DAYS TO GET THAT RESOLUTION TO US. AND SO WE WE STARTED ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO DO THIS PROJECT. 
          THE REASON WE DO THAT IS TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE, SECTION 6.051 SAYS THAT FOR AN APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO PURCHASE ANY PROPERTY OR SELL ANY PROPERTY, WE HAVE TO GET THE APPROVAL OF THREE QUARTERS OF THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS HERE IN IN YOUR COUNTY, THERE IS ABOUT 26 TAXING JURISDICTIONS THAT BASICALLY VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS. 
          SO THAT MEANS SEVEN NO'S WOULD CANCEL THE PROJECT DURING THE COURSE OF DISCUSSIONS WITH 
          [01:40:04]
VARIOUS TAXING JURISDICTIONS. AFTER THEY RECEIVED THIS LETTER, IT DID BECOME APPARENT TO THE BOARD THAT IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE NOT GOING TO GET THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF APPROVALS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. SO BASICALLY ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, WE SENT OUT A NOTIFICATION TO THE ENTITIES THAT. WE WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW OUR REQUEST FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          AND YOU, IF IT WAS ON YOUR AGENDA, YOU DIDN'T NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU KNOW, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO WITH WITH WHAT YOUR MEETINGS AND WHAT NOT. BUT BUT WE WEREN'T GOING TO PURSUE THIS PROJECT IN ITS CURRENT FORM. SO AS OF NOW, THE BOARD HAS DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THIS PROJECT. AND WE'RE NOT CALCULATING ANY APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OR ANYTHING. WE BASICALLY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO TO GET IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEEDS OF THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY OWNERS, TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A PROJECT THAT MAKES SENSE TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THIS SLIDE SHOW REALLY HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT FORMER PROJECT, SO IT'S NOT THAT RELEVANT. THE ONE THING THAT WAS RELEVANT WAS THIS IDEA ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE AND THE NEED FOR TAXING JURISDICTIONS TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT. IF WE DO FIND A PROJECT, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF THIS GROUP TO SELL OUR CURRENT BUILDING, WHICH THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN AS WELL. AND THAT WILL REQUIRE THE SAME THREE QUARTERS APPROVAL FROM THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS TO DO TO DO THAT. THERE WAS A SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WENT INTO DEVELOPING THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE STARTED A FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, EXCUSE ME, FACILITIES, LONG RANGE PLANNING, REPORTING PROCESS WITH A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THAT KIND OF REPORTING TO KIND OF LOOK AT, OKAY, WE KNOW HOW OUR FACILITIES FUNCTIONING NOW, WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE TEN YEARS FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, BECAUSE WE HOPE WHATEVER WE MOVE INTO FROM THIS CURRENT LOCATION IS SOMETHING THAT'S ABLE TO SERVE THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND TAXING JURISDICTIONS FOR AT LEAST 15 OR 20 YEARS. AND AS PROBABLY ALL OF YOU HERE HAVE SEEN, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT KIND OF TIME COMMITMENT. JOHNSON COUNTY HAS GROWN PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THAT TIME. SO WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS OTHER FORCES AT PLAY THAT CAN IMPACT APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. SOME OF THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS IF BASICALLY AN APPRAISAL DISTRICT CAN'T REALLY GUARANTEE FUNDS PAST THE CURRENT BUDGET CYCLE. SO ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE A FUNDING OUT CLAUSE. AND IF THERE IS NO LONGER A BUDGET TO PURCHASE THINGS OR DO THINGS, THEN NO ONE'S ON THE HOOK TO PAY THAT. 
          HOWEVER, THE THE BUILDING WOULD GO BACK TO THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS. AND IF IN FACT, WE HAD A BUILDING THAT WAS FUNCTIONING AS AN APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THEN THERE WERE NO NEED FOR THAT BUILDING, IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS AND THEY COULD DECIDE WHETHER THEY NEEDED TO USE THAT AS A OFFICE BUILDING, OR THEY WANTED TO SELL THAT AND THEN SPLIT UP THE FUNDS ACCORDINGLY. THE WAY THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BUDGETS ARE CALCULATED IS BASICALLY BASED ON LEVY AMOUNT. SO IF IN A COUNTY THERE WAS A $10 MILLION OF LEVY FOR ALL THE JURISDICTIONS, AND THE COUNTY HAD $1 MILLION OF THAT LEVY, THAT'D BE A 10% RATIO. SO 10% OF OUR BUDGET WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY. IN THIS CASE, YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT 21% OF THE LEVY. THE NEXT BIGGEST TAXING JURISDICTION IS AT ABOUT 10 OR 11%. SO YOU GUYS ARE ALMOST DOUBLE THE NEXT LARGEST TAXING JURISDICTION. SO WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THESE PROJECTS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO OUR BUDGET, ABOUT 20% OR A FIFTH OF THE PROJECT COST IS SHOULDERED BY THE COUNTY. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS AND TRY TO GET AN ALIGNMENT ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. THE BOARD HAS SUGGESTED MAYBE WE DO SOME SORT OF COLLABORATIVE EVENT, COLLABORATIVE EVENT. WE DO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND THE THOUGHT WAS MAYBE TO INVITE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF BOARDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT SUBCOMMITTEE PROCESS. AS THAT FIRMS UP. I'LL BE HAPPY TO INFORM JUDGE BECKER OF HOW THAT LOOKS. AND THEN IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, WE HAVE A PATHWAY FORWARD FOR THAT. ALSO, ON ANY ISSUE RELATED TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING, ACQUISITION BUDGET, ANYTHING THAT COMES TO MIND, YOU'RE WELCOME TO CONTACT ME AT ANY POINT. MY NAME IS MITCH FAST. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS M FAST, AND THE ADDRESS IS AT 
          [01:45:03]
JOHNSON CITY.ORG, SO BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON, ON ANY OF THESE TOPICS. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY FAST HERE. I JUST APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALLOTTED FOR US. THIS NEXT SLIDE TALKED ABOUT WHY FACILITY SOLUTION WAS LOOKED AT. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT BUILDING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BASICALLY BECAUSE OF SPACE AND PARKING, THAT SITE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THE KIND OF SIZE REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE LIKELY GOING TO NEED. IT'S ABOUT 12,700FT■!S NOW. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MAY BE NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE, PLUS TO HAVE A BOARDROOM ON SITE, WHICH RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING TIME IN THE CLEBURNE CONVENTION CENTER FOR ALL THE BOARD ACTIVITIES. YOU'RE PROBABLY AT THE 20,000 SQUARE FOOT LEVEL, AND THEN THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 100 SPACES VERSUS THE AROUND 4849. THAT'S THAT'S THERE NOW. SO THE OTHER OPTIONS WERE, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RENOVATE AND USE THE EXISTING SPOT, YOU CAN EITHER BUY A BUILDING AND REMODEL IT OR BUILD SOMETHING NEW. AS TIME WENT ON. AND THE COST OF THOSE. ACTIVITIES WERE EVALUATED, MUCH LIKE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN YOUR OWN ACTIVITIES WITH THE REMODELING AND ACQUIRING OF COUNTY FACILITIES, THE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT OF ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION HAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. SO WE ENDED UP WITH BASICALLY TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING. WE WERE THINKING THAT WOULD BE CLOSE TO $10 MILLION. THAT'S WHY THE EXISTING FACILITY, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT FOR SIX AND THEN SIX AND A HALF, AND THEN PUT MAYBE A MILLION, MILLION AND A HALF INTO IT, YOU WOULD SAVE A LITTLE MONEY AND A LITTLE TIME TO TO GET THAT DONE. BUT AS MENTIONED, THE THAT PROJECT IS DEAD NO LONGER GOING TO BE CONSIDERED. SO WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON WHAT MAY WHAT MAY WORK. I HAVE QUESTIONS. I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS. LAST SLIDE HERE JUST SAYS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DEVELOP A PRACTICAL, LONG TERM FACILITY SOLUTION THAT IMPROVES PUBLIC SERVICE FOR ITS APPRAISAL DISTRICT OPERATION AND RESPECTS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON TAXING UNITS. SO THAT'S THE MAIN GOAL THAT WE'VE GOT AS OF THIS POINT. 
          SO WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE TO THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS. AND WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PROPERTY OWNERS. I THINK THAT A PROPERTY OWNER IS HAVING TROUBLE COMING IN AND INTERACTING WITH APPRAISAL DISTRICT STAFF AND THE CURRENT FACILITY, BECAUSE THERE IS JUST NOT A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO AND TALK ABOUT THE VALUE, THE EXEMPTIONS, AGRICULTURAL APPRAISAL, ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO COME IN AND VISIT WITH PROPERTY, EXCUSE ME, VISIT WITH APPRAISAL DISTRICT STAFF ABOUT AND AT LEAST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME SORT OF SEMI-PRIVATE OR SEMI CONFIDENTIAL SETTING. RIGHT NOW IT'S BASICALLY MORE I'M ON THIS SIDE OF THE COUNTER AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TELL ME ANYTHING YOU WANT ON THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTER, WHICH IS NOT NOT IDEAL. SO I'M DONE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. WELL, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S A TOUGH JOB, YOU KNOW, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE. AND WE'VE SEEN IT OVER THE YEARS. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE THE NEW BOARD CAME ON AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE WHAT YOU WHAT YOU INHERITED AND GET GOING THAT WAY. I, I GUESS SOME CONCERNS FOR ME IS, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS IS THIS IS THE COUNTY SEAT OF THIS COUNTY, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO MOVE IT OUT OF OUT OF HERE. SO I HAD I HAD PAUSE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT MOST OF WHAT WE DO HERE IS REPRESENTED RIGHT DOWNTOWN IN THE COUNTY SEAT. 
          AND I THINK THAT SHOULD PROBABLY REMAIN. HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW YOU HAVE A $2 MILLION CASH BALANCE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS COLLECTING WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH ANIMOSITY AND SO MUCH. I THINK MR. KELLY NAMED IT EARLIER, THE WIND BLOWING OUT OF AUSTIN IN REGARDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL TAXATION. HOW CAN WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED HERE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED? NOW, THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ROOM SOMEWHERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, $2 MILLION TO REINVEST INTO RENOVATING WHAT WE HAVE USED FOR YEARS. THAT WOULD BE A SERVICE OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS TO THE PEOPLE I, I KIND OF GOT A LITTLE IDEA ON SOMETHING THAT MAY HELP. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT SHORTLY. 
          YOU KNOW, I, I JUST. AGAIN. THIS IS A TOUCHY ISSUE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEN WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF DOLLARS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT FINANCING AN ADDITIONAL FOUR AND A HALF, $5 MILLION. HOW WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED OVER A PERIOD OF 
          [01:50:05]
TIME THAT. THAT DIDN'T PASS THE I MEAN, IT JUST TO ME AS A TAXPAYER, I'M JUST QUESTIONING HOW WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED? WHAT WOULD THAT MECHANISM BE? BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES DOWN IN AUSTIN THAT ARE POINTING THEIR FINGERS AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 
          NOW, HERE WE ARE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPROVING SOMETHING HERE THAT MAY RAISE QUESTION TO THAT VERY ENTITY THAT YOU REPRESENT FROM AUSTIN, AND HOW THAT IT LOOKS TO THIS COURT AND WHAT DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE BASED ON HOW WELL THEY'RE OR NOT, THAT IS RECEIVED BY MANY THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE FIGHTING THIS, I DON'T KNOW, DO OTHER DO OTHER COUNTIES THAT THEIR CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS HAVE A, A POT THAT THEY CAN DO THINGS WITH. I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION. WELL, THE JOHNSON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAD MAINTAINED A SURPLUS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND IT BASICALLY GETS CREATED WHEN YOU FINISH UNDER BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. AND THEN YOU CAN OBLIGATE THOSE FUNDS, BASICALLY AMEND YOUR BUDGET AND RESERVE THOSE FUNDS. THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS HAVE TO APPROVE THAT. AND MUCH LIKE THE APPROVAL OF BUILDING. 
          WHEN YOU NOTIFY THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME ACTION, LIKE AMEND THE BUDGET, THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO RESPOND WITH YES OR NO. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WE DID. THOSE AMOUNTS WERE PRETTY SMALL. I MEAN, $200,000, IT'S NOT SMALL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EYES. BUT WHEN THE BUDGET'S LIKE $5 MILLION, TWO, $200,000 WASN'T A LARGE AMOUNT. AND THAT BUILT UP OVER TIME TO BE ABOUT $1 MILLION, BUT A LARGE CHUNK WAS FROM THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET, AND THERE WAS ABOUT TEN OPEN STAFF POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF APPRAISER THROUGHOUT THAT TIME FRAME. AND THAT'S WHAT CREATED THE LARGE SURPLUS SITUATION FOR 2025 OF ABOUT A MILLION. I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY A MILLION, 2 OR 1,000,004. THAT WAS BASICALLY THE 2026 BUDGET WAS AMENDED TO OBLIGATE THOSE FUNDS, AND THOSE WERE MOVED TOWARD THE BUILDING REPLACEMENT RESERVE COMPONENT. SO THAT WAS IN PLACE TO TRY TO FACILITATE THIS FACILITIES PROJECT. NOW, BEYOND THAT, TO SAY, WHERE ARE THE FUNDS GOING TO GO FOR ANYTHING LIKE, LET'S SAY THE DISTRICT BUYS A BUILDING AND IT COSTS $5 MILLION AND THEY GET A MORTGAGE FOR 5 MILLION BUCKS? WELL, THE OPERATING BUDGET IS GOING TO BE PASSED ON TO THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS WITH THAT SAME LEVY PERCENTAGE THAT I WAS JUST DISCUSSING THERE, WHERE THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% OF THAT. SO I THINK WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT, IF YOU'RE AT 20% AND THERE WAS ABOUT A $500,000 A YEAR DEBT OBLIGATION PAYMENT, THEN 125,000 OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AS A BUDGET INCREASE TO THE TAXING JURISDICTION, TO THIS TAXING JURISDICTION HERE, SOME PLACE TO BE 10%, SOME PLACE TO BE 5%. SO IT'D BE SMALLER AMOUNTS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR TOTAL LEVY WAS. BUT ALL OF IT REALLY RELATES TO INCREASING THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BUDGET TO FUND A NEW BUILDING. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO TRY TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY TO HAVE A NEW FACILITY. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, SIR. I'LL TELL YOU MY MAIN TO STEAL A TERM FROM COMMISSIONER WOOLLEY. MY MAIN HEARTBURN WITH THAT WAS YOU'RE NOT IN THE COUNTY SEAT ANYMORE. THAT BOTHERED ME. YOU GOT PEOPLE FROM RIO VISTA HAVING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO BURLESON. IF THEY WANTED TO COME MEET WITH Y'ALL. THAT BOTHERED ME. I HAD A THOUGHT AND I KIND OF MENTIONED IT TO THE JUDGE THIS MORNING, AND I DON'T KNOW THE LEGALITIES BEHIND IT, BUT WE'RE FIXING TO TALK ABOUT REMODELING THE ANNEX BUILDING. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OFFICE SPACE LEFT IF THEY WOULD HELP REMODEL WITH SOME OF THAT 2 MILLION, WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO SPEED THAT PROCESS UP? THEY COULD HAVE A BOARDROOM, ALL THEIR OFFICES OR WHATEVER, AND BE IN A COUNTY BUILDING RIGHT HERE ON THE SQUARE. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK. THE COUNTY'S NOT GENERALLY IN A LANDLORD BUSINESS, BUT. WELL, IT'S IT'S NOT ON COMMON. I MEAN, WE'VE WE'VE HOSTED OTHER WE'VE RENTED SPACES BEFORE. RIGHT. BUT I MEAN, IT WOULD BE NOT FAR FROM WHERE THEY ARE. PLENTY OF 
          [01:55:05]
PARKING AND IT MAY SPEED. I, I AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT THAT IT TAKES THOSE TAX DOLLARS THAT WERE GATHERED BY THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND PUTS THEM TO USE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY, AS OPPOSED TO TO INCURRING MORE DEBT BY PURCHASING SOMETHING WITH A OBLIGATED DEBT GOING FORWARD. NOW, THAT BEING SAID, IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER HOW THOSE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING HELD BY THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE DIRECTION. IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS, OR IS IT JUST A FUND BALANCE THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENTITY IS ALLOWED BY WHATEVER LAW? BUT FOR ME, IT'S LIKE THAT'S A CAPTURE OF $2 MILLION THAT COULD GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS. IT'S IF IT'S IF IT'S IF THERE'S NOTHING MORE THERE THAN IT'S ACCRUING INTEREST OR SOMETHING OTHER FOR SOME FUTURE USE OF THIS DEPARTMENT. BUT YET IT CAME FROM THE TAXPAYERS. I DON'T KNOW. AND I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT SHOULD SHOULD BE REFUNDED. SO I CAN, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING YOU SAID, MR. FAST, AND I THINK IT PLAYS INTO WHAT COMMISSIONER WHITE WAS SAYING, BUT YOU MENTIONED A POTENTIAL COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, SOME MEETING BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND AND I THINK ON THE ONE HAND, I THINK WE MAKE BAD DECISIONS WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS FROM THE DAIS WITHOUT HAVING DONE THE HOMEWORK FIRST. AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS A WORKSHOP. AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS WITHOUT STARTING A CONVERSATION. BUT I THINK AT LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT SOUNDS LIKE AS FAR AS COMMISSIONER WHITE'S CONCERNED, I THINK THERE'S AN INTEREST IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. I CAN SAY THAT I WON'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CLEBURNE, BUT I THINK BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, WE WE PROBABLY BOTH HAVE AN INTEREST IN KEEPING THIS SERVICE AVAILABLE IN CLEBURNE AS THE COUNTY SEAT. HAVING SAID THAT, THE COUNTY OFFERS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT BUILDINGS IN THREE DIFFERENT CITIES THAT WE OFFER SERVICES OTHER THAN THE COUNTY SEAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. IF HAVING ARB HEARINGS IN BURLESON MAKES SENSE OR ALVARADO MAKES SENSE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH EXTRA RESOURCES. DOWNTOWN CLEBURNE BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY THAT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY WE COULD MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE Y'ALL'S PUBLIC MEETINGS HERE. THIS IS A BUILDING THAT SITS EMPTY AT NIGHT. YOU HAVE NIGHT MEETINGS. 
          IT'S PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYERS. AS LONG AS WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE SAFE AND CLEAN BY THE MORNING WHEN WE CAME IN THE NEXT DAY, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME RESOURCES, AND I, I HESITATE TO SAY ANY ONE PATH SOUNDS BETTER THAN ANOTHER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THE ACTUAL LOGISTICS OF THAT LOOK LIKE. BUT LIKE I SAID, AS LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT MAYBE FINDS A WAY TO SHARE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN. MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD A SECOND LARGE MEETING PLACE AND MAYBE THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR ARB HEARINGS, IF THERE'S A CONFERENCE ROOM SETTING SOMEWHERE IN ANOTHER CITY, MAYBE THOSE CAN RUN CONCURRENTLY. I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. I THINK THE IDEA OF GETTING US TOGETHER IN AN OPEN MEETINGS FRIENDLY WAY WOULD BE IMPORTANT, AND GETTING INPUT FROM ALL THE CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN SHARE SOME RESOURCES TO ULTIMATELY REDUCE EVERYBODY'S TAX BILL. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS ABOUT THE CITIES COORDINATING COUNTY, COORDINATING WITH THE CITY TO SHARE RESOURCES. AND, FOR EXAMPLE, WE RUN ELECTIONS CONCURRENTLY WITH CITY OF BURLESON. WE'VE ALLOWED THEM TO RUN CITY ELECTIONS INSIDE OF A COUNTY FACILITY. EVEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ELECTIONS. AND THERE'S SOME TRICKS TO MAKING THAT WORK. THEY THEY HAVE TO OPEN ON A SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. 
          AND SO WE HAVE THEM PAY FOR SECURITY TO BE THERE ON SITE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDING. BUT WE'VE MADE IT WORK. AND IT, IT THE RESULT IS MORE PREDICTABILITY FOR THEIR CITIZENS BECAUSE THEY CAN ALWAYS VOTE IN THE SAME PLACE AND A LOWER COST FOR BOTH ENTITIES. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON, ON THE TABLE, I THINK WE, LIKE I SAID, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN TALKING THROUGH THAT AND SEEING HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE. MY MY OPINION IS, IS THAT ALL OF US ARE FUNDED BY THE SAME TAXPAYERS, AND THERE'S NO POINT IN US DOING SOMETHING, AND THEN Y'ALL DOING SOMETHING RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVING TWO OF THE SAME THING TWO BLOCKS FROM EACH OTHER. YES. AND WE, WE DO HAVE THE EXACT SAME GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES AS THE COUNTY AND THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. SO I THINK OUR INTERESTS ARE ALIGNED IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EFFICIENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE. I THINK SO, TOO, WHAT COMMISSIONER WYATT'S TALKING ABOUT. THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR ACROSS THE STREET. YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS AND YEARS WE OWNED THE BUILDING. WE ACTUALLY LEASED THAT BUILDING TO THE BANK. IT WAS ON THE BOTTOM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUR PROPERTY, THAT THE BANK THAT WAS THERE FOR ALL THOSE YEARS WAS LEASING THAT BOTTOM SPACE FROM THE COUNTY. SO LEASING SPACE IN ONE 
          [02:00:04]
OF OUR BUILDINGS IS NOT NOT NOTHING NEW, NOT ANYTHING NEW, RIGHT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT PARKING LOT OVER THERE HAD A DRIVE THROUGH MOTOR BANK IN IT AT ONE TIME, YOU KNOW. WELL, THAT WAS ALL. I JUST THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF USABLE SPACE OVER THERE. WELL, MAYBE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND UTILIZE. WELL, IT'S A PRACTICAL DECISION TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS, WHETHER IT BE RENOVATE WHAT THEY'VE GOT, AND WE FIND A SPACE FOR THEM OR AROUND THE COUNTY AND OR THE CONTRIBUTION ON THAT BANK BUILDING FOR A PERMANENT HOME THAT HAS ALL OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. AND WE FIGURE OUT SOME SORT OF A LONG TERM LEASE AGREEMENT FOR $10, WHATEVER. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BUT BUT BECAUSE OF THE INITIAL DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN KIND OF SUPERSEDES ANY, ANY, ANY. WELL, AND IT'S GOING TO AND IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A LITTLE WHILE BECAUSE WE GOT TO GET THE TAX OFFICE OUT OF THERE FIRST BEFORE WE CAN EVEN START. BUT AT LEAST IF WE DID GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, AT LEAST YOU WOULD SAY THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, YOU KNOW. GO AHEAD, JUDGE. OH, JUST COMMISSIONER, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT HAVING THAT SURPLUS, USING THAT TO RENOVATE AND TREATING IT AS PREPAID RENT, THAT IS RETURNING IT TO THE TAXPAYERS. YOU KNOW, IF IT'S 20 OR 30 YEARS OF RENT PAID IN ADVANCE, THAT LOWERS THEIR OPERATING COSTS, WHICH LOWERS THEIR BILL TO THE TAXING ENTITIES, WHICH LOWERS OUR TAX RATE BACK TO THE THE CITIZENS. SO I THINK ALL THE OTHER VOTING AND ALL THE OTHER VOTING ENTITIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEIR BLESSING, I WOULD THINK, AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE WHAT IS ALL OF THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY NINE, I THINK WAS THE NUMBER. BUT BUT STILL, I THINK THAT PARTNERSHIP BE EASY TO DIGEST BY ALL THE OTHERS. I THINK IT WOULD BE A UNANIMOUS DECISION. WELL, IT'S GOING TO SAVE THEM $10 MILLION. HAVING TO FIND A PLACE AND BUILD A BUILDING, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK MAYBE THE TAKEAWAY IF YOU FOLLOWED US, OUR BACK AND FORTH IS I THINK WE ALL LIKE THE IDEA OF A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. IF YOU ALL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, IF YOU WILL LET ME KNOW AND I WILL HELP COORDINATE WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COURT. AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO. OH, NO. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER WHITE'S RAISING HIS HAND FIRST. SO THE TWO OF US CAN BE A POINT OF CONTACT. WE CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A PROJECT UP FRONT UNLESS WE CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. BUT WE CAN ALSO DO THAT BEFORE WE REALLY TAKE ANY KIND OF ACTION. BUT I THINK HOPEFULLY WHAT YOU CAN TAKE BACK TO YOUR BOARD IS THAT THERE'S A REAL APPETITE FROM THE COUNTY TO, TO SHARE SOME RESOURCES ON THIS. WELL, I APPRECIATE THOSE SENTIMENTS. 
          AND I KNOW THAT ECHOES WHAT MY OWN FEELINGS WERE, AS WELL AS WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEELINGS WERE. I WILL JUST ADD THAT THE LOCATION WAS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON. 
          COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS NEXT LOCATION. SO I THINK THAT WAS HEARD PRETTY LOUD AND CLEAR TO THE IDEA OF HAVING MULTIPLE BUILDINGS. I WORKED FOR 17 YEARS WITH THE CORYELL COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. IN THAT COMMUNITY, THERE'S GATESVILLE, WHICH IS THE COUNTY SEAT, AND THEN THERE'S COPPERAS COVE, WHICH IS NOW ABOUT THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF GATESVILLE. WE DID DO THE MULTIPLE LOCATION PROCESS AND AND THAT DID WORK, BUT IT WASN'T WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS. AND I IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO BE BASICALLY ANY SOLUTION. THERE'S GOING TO BE PROS AND CONS AND JUST TRYING TO PICK THE ONE WITH THE MOST PROS AND THE CONS WOULD BE IDEAL. YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, THE BUILDING WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST EMPTY FLOOR SPACE RIGHT NOW IS THE BURLESON SUB COURTHOUSE. THAT SECOND FLOOR IS ABOUT HALF UNUSED AND HALF UNFINISHED. THERE MAY BE POTENTIAL THERE AS WELL. AND THAT'S ALREADY A A CITY AND COUNTY SERVICE CENTER. SO ADDING THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT THAT THERE THAT MIGHT PAY SOME REAL DIVIDENDS. JUST A SATELLITE OFFICE. YES. AS A SATELLITE OFFICE, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T REPLACE THE CLEVELAND OFFICE. BUT AS I THINK THEY NEED TO STAY IN THE COUNTY SEAT, OF COURSE, I'M JUST ONE VOTE. BUT NO, NO, I AGREE, I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T SUPPORT MOVING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BURLESON. BUT I'M GLAD WE HAVE A BURLESON SUB COURTHOUSE WHERE THOSE SERVICES ARE. YEAH. I HAD A PERFECT BUILDING LOCATED. WE COULD YOU KNOW IT MAKES MY COMMUTE TOO LONG. YEAH MINE TOO REAL SHORT. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU MISTER. I JUST HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION KIND OF CIRCLING BACK TO SOME OF COMMISSIONER BAILEY'S COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURPLUS OR RESERVE. WE WERE HIT WITH A PRETTY GOOD SIZE INCREASE IN FEES THIS YEAR. I RECALL CORRECTLY, IT WAS ABOUT A 25% INCREASE. WHAT? WHAT? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM, I GUESS IS, I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK TAXING ENTITIES TO APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT WAS AND WE DIDN'T TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T 
          [02:05:01]
RECALL RECEIVING ANY PRIOR NOTICE OF THAT, JUDGE. WE DID. AND I'LL PARTIALLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION BEFORE. MR. FESTA'S THE INCREASE THAT WE SAW THIS YEAR WAS LARGE. IT WAS NOT A 25% INCREASE TO THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT'S BUDGET. IT WAS A 25% INCREASE TO OUR SHARE OF OUR SHARE. THAT'S WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026. AFTER WE HAD APPROVED OUR BUDGET, WE APPROVED THEIR BUDGET. THAT DID COME THROUGH THE COURT AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS. THERE WAS AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER THAT INCREASED THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR SCHOOL TAXES, AND PART OF THAT WAS A PLAN BY THE LEGISLATURE TO REPLACE LOCAL FUNDING WITH STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, THEREBY REPLACING PROPERTY TAX FUNDING WITH SALES TAX FUNDING FROM THE STATE. THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE, OR MAYBE THE UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCE OF THAT. THE CADS BUDGET IS BASED ON TAX LEVY, AND BECAUSE THE LOCAL TAX LEVY OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, TO BE REPLACED BY STATE FUNDS, OUR PORTION INCREASED. AND AFTER THE BUDGET, WE HAD ABOUT A 200 $225,000 LOSS. YES, AN AMENDMENT TO THAT BUDGET THAT CAME THROUGH IT WAS NOT A CHANGE TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE PUT THAT ON COURT, BUT WE DID RECEIVE THAT IN MY OFFICE. AND WE WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT ON AS AN INFORMATION ITEM. 
          BUT WE RECEIVED THAT AFTER THAT ELECTION. WE DID DISCUSS IT. OKAY. YEAH, IT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE PROCESS. OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW IT CAME UP DURING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS. 
          THAT'S WHY YEAR OVER YEAR, OUR APPROVED BUDGET SHOWS A $250,000 INCREASE ON THE BUDGET. 
          MUCH OF THAT DATES BACK TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION OF LAST YEAR. I'LL LET MR. FAST ADD IN ANY DETAILS, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT US OFF GUARD AND IT BECAUSE WE'RE 21% OF YOUR BUDGET, IT TURNED INTO A PRETTY SIZABLE NUMBER, I WOULD SAY THAT'S AN EXCELLENT EXPLANATION THERE. THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS SCHOOL TAX RATES USED TO BE A LOT HIGHER THAN THEY ARE TAX T DOWN, THAT MEANT THEIR LOCAL LEVY DECREASED. AND IF YOUR STAYED THE SAME OR IF YOUR TAX RATE WENT UP ANY AT ALL, YOU JUST SAW A REBALANCING OF THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS. SO IF YOU WERE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES OF LEVY CONTRIBUTION IN 2022, 2023, 2024, WHENEVER THE FIRST ROUND OF BASICALLY CALLED IT MC, OUR MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT STARTED SHIFTING THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT FUNDING AND VOTING NUMBERS TO LARGER IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES, SMALLER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO THAT WAS PROBABLY UNFORESEEN, AS MENTIONED. BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE MATH MATH IS WORKING. ANOTHER STATE IMPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. YEAH, SURE. THAT DOES ACCOUNT TO A LITTLE BETTER THAN HALF A CENT ON OUR TAX RATE. SO YEAH, YEAH, IT'S NOT NEGLIGIBLE. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR TO EVERYBODY HERE IN THE ROOM AND WATCHING VIA THEIR COMPUTER, I WAS ACTUALLY NOT TRYING TO GET THE COURTHOUSE OR THE COURT MOVED TO BURLESON, TEXAS. THAT WAS ALL JUST FUN AMONGST US. WE'VE WE'VE BEEN I'M USED TO BEING PICKED ON. BUT ANYWAY, TO BE CLEAR, I WOULD EVEN VOTE THAT WE. IT NEEDS TO STAY AND REMAIN IN CLEBURNE, TEXAS, SINCE THIS IS THE COUNTY SEAT. SO THANK YOU. SO I DON'T GET BEAT UP LATER ON FACEBOOK. OH YOU WILL ANYWAY ON SUNDAY. OH YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ONE? I'LL PULL IT UP. YOU'RE FINE. I THINK WE'VE MADE A GOOD OFFER HERE SO YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. STARK. YES. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN, STARTING THE CONVERSATION HERE. WE WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS. MY PLEASURE. SO SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG. IT'S. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE. AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS WS3. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION RESULTING TO THAT. IT'S 1120. LET'S GO AHEAD AND BREAK UNTIL 1130. 
          WE'LL COME BACK AND DEAL WITH WS3 WHICH IS THE FLOCK CAMERA WORKSHOP ITEM. SO WE'RE IN RECESS UNTIL 11. I'M SORRY WS5. WE ARE IN ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK INTO ORDER. IT IS 11:30 A.M. AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP WITH ITEM WS5. DISCUSS STATUS OF LICENSE PLATE READER, FLOCK CAMERAS AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY RELATED ACTION. THIS ITEM BECAME NECESSARY TO ADD TO THE AGENDA AFTER GOVERNOR ABBOTT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT STATE FUNDS WERE NO LONGER GOING TO GO TOWARD LICENSE PLATE READING CAMERAS. WHILE WE ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE, AND THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FOCUSED ON STATE AGENCIES, HE DID ALSO MENTION STATE GRANTS AND THE ENTIRE FLOCK CAMERA PROGRAM IN JOHNSON COUNTY IS SUPPORTED BY 
          [02:10:06]
GRANT. THAT IS HOW THAT PROGRAM WAS BROUGHT INTO JOHNSON COUNTY THREE YEARS AGO. THAT'S HOW THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN FUNDED. AND TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I ASKED THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO REACH OUT TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION ACT. FOLKS, THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE GRANT, AND REQUEST GUIDANCE ON THE IMPACT OF THAT. THE GUIDANCE THEY REPORTED BACK WAS THAT GRANT FUNDS WERE NOT GOING TO BE PAID FOR ANY LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS, AT LEAST FOR NOW. THEY'VE PUT A PAUSE ON REIMBURSEMENTS FOR EXISTING EXPENSES, OF WHICH THE COUNTY HAS ABOUT $300,000 IN UNREIMBURSED EXPENSES. THEY WERE SPENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A GRANT AGREEMENT, AND WE FOLLOWED THE AGREEMENT TO THE T, BUT THE STATE IS THREATENING NOT TO REIMBURSE THOSE DOLLARS. ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT IT'S RIGHT HERE AT BUDGET TIME THAT WE THAT. OKAY, SO LET'S JUST SPIN THIS FOR A SECOND. OUR LITTLE COUNTY IS $320,000 AND THAT WE'RE OWED PRESENTLY BY THE STATE FOR THIS GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED IN AND FUNDED. 
          GOVERNORS RIGHTS ARE ALL WRONG ON THIS MATTER, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS. THERE'S PROBABLY AN ADDITIONAL 100,000 I WOULD THINK, THAT HAS ACCUMULATED SINCE THAT NUMBER WAS BILLED OR SUBMITTED. THAT'S PROBABLY ALL GOING TO TURN AROUND COME NOVEMBER. JUST LIKE DATA CENTERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE'S BRINGING PAWS TO, BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING SCARED BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SHOWED UP IN BUSSES, NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THE PUBLIC SHOWED UP. AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST I DARE SAY THAT YOUR CELL PHONE, IT'S IN YOUR POCKET IS MORE TRACKABLE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LICENSE PLATE READER THAT BASICALLY SNAPS THAT SNAPSHOT. AND MR. KELLY, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TODAY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT LOCALLY RECENTLY, CHILD WAS ALMOST ABDUCTED RIGHT OVER HERE IN KEENE, TEXAS. 
          THERE WAS NO LICENSE PLATE TAKEN OF THAT VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS AN IMAGE TAKEN OF THAT VEHICLE WITHIN SIX HOURS, THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS CONFESSING NOT ONLY TO THAT CRIME, BUT OTHERS. SO WHERE'S THE WHERE DO YOU WEIGH IT OUT? YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE THE GOOD AND WHAT IS THE BAD? THE BAD IS, IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO ABUSE THE SYSTEM. THE GOOD IS, IS JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS HERE THIS MORNING THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH CRIME IS, IS, IS HE'S WITNESSED AND TENURED OFFICER, LOCAL IN, IN THE BENEFIT OF IT. IT'S JUST LIKE ALL TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S, THERE'S BENEFIT AND THEN THERE'S DOWNTURNS FOR IT. BUT, BUT WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THAT NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE A LITTLE PREMATURE FOR US TO PULL THE PLUG WITHOUT SEEING WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO. YOU CAN BET THAT JUST LIKE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS, THERE'S GOING TO BE AMENDMENTS TO, NUMBER ONE TO GRANT. BUT THE PURPOSE AND THE USE OF IT. TECHNOLOGY IS OVER ALL OUR HEADS AS FAR AS HOW MUCH WE KNOW, WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW ABOUT THE INFORMATION GATHERING TOOLS THAT ARE OUT THERE. YOU TALK ABOUT A CELL PHONE FOR PROBABLY SIX YEARS, AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE LITTLE CABLES OUT ACROSS THAT ROAD ANYMORE. COUNTING THAT TRAFFIC WHEN WE GOT 30 MINUTES OF CONGESTION OR 20 MINUTES OF TRAFFIC SITTING IDLE, SITTING STILL, IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT SIGNAL THAT IS ON. HOWEVER MANY CELL PHONES ARE SITTING AT THAT LOCATION. 
          SO THAT'S BEING TRACKED. I DARE SAY EVERY THE IF, IF, IF, IF THERE WAS SOME NEED TO LOOK FOR ONE OF US PRESENTLY, EVEN IF OUR PHONE WAS TURNED OFF, IT COULD BE PAINED WITHIN SO MANY FEET. AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE SO, SO THE TO, TO, TO, TO TAKE A NEGATIVE APPROACH THAT THIS IS A TOOL THAT IS BEING USED TO TRACK ALL OF US. I DON'T HAVE IT ON MY PHONE, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT FACIAL RECOGNITION. YOU GOT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT IF YOU WANT THAT EXPOSED AND THAT OUT THERE, AND MAYBE BE ACCESSIBLE BY SOMEBODY THAT CAN HACK INTO YOUR PERSONAL THINGS. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU STOP THAT, BUT I SEE THIS AS A I WENT TO WE WENT TO THAT REAL TIME CENTER IN TARRANT COUNTY BEFORE WE EVER AGREED TO LOOK INTO THIS. 
          CURRENTLY, I THINK THAT LOWE'S HOME DEPOT. I KNOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR HOA. WE HAVE FLOCK CAMERAS. WE PAY FOR THEM ON OUR DUES. IT'S. IT'S JUST THAT IT'S JUST THAT MUCH 
          [02:15:04]
MORE TOOL. YOU KNOW, THE ARGUMENT, NOT THE ARGUMENT, BUT THE COMMENTS WERE MADE IN HERE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS IS, WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST US TO HIRE 3 OR 4 MORE OFFICERS? AND WHEN WE WENT OVER THERE AND WATCHED REAL TIME SCENARIOS, IT DIDN'T TAKE ANY OFFICERS WITHIN 2 OR 3 MINUTES OF ONE CRIME THAT IT WAS A DRUG TRANSACTION, THAT WE WATCHED IT IN REAL TIME. 
          I MEAN, I WAS LIKE, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? THAT CHILD IN IN KING THAT WAS ALMOST ABDUCTED. 
          BUT. HAD WE NOT HAD THAT KNOWLEDGE TO TAKE HIM OFF THE STREET, HOW MANY MORE KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED BY NOW? SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE THAT'S THAT'S THE GOOD AND THE BAD TO IT. BUT I, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO PULL THE PLUG UNTIL WE SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO REINSTATE COME NOVEMBER AFTER THAT ELECTION IS OVER. WELL, AND FURTHERMORE, HAS HE ACTUALLY PUT OUT AN ORDER CANCELING OR PAUSING THIS IN ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY? I WOULD SAY HE HAS NOT. BUT THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID THEY ARE PAUSING BASED ON HIS COMMENTS PAYING US. YES, THE. SO I THINK THERE'S TWO ISSUES HERE. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ITEM OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE AND THEIR PUBLIC POLICY THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. THERE'S ALSO THE BUDGETARY MATTER. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS SOME APPRECIATION TO KERR AND MASSEY, WHO IS HEADED UP THIS PROGRAM. HE'S RUN THE GRANT. HE HAS LIVED AND BREATHED AND PROBABLY BLED AND SWEAT AND CRIED OVER THIS THING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. HE WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT TO FLOCK, AND I THINK THE BUDGETARY ITEM FLOCK IS TAKING A SIMILAR VIEW TO WHAT YOU TWO ARE SAYING IS THAT COME NOVEMBER, THE THE WINDS MAY CHANGE. AND MISTER MASSEY, DEPUTY MASSEY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS THEY'RE WILLING TO PAUSE BILLING AT THE MOMENT AND FOR 90 DAYS TO SEE IF WE GET SOME FORMAL GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE ON THE GRANT THAT IS PERMANENT. AND IF FUNDING IS CUT OFF PERMANENTLY FROM THE STATE, THEN WE HAVE THE OPTION TO EXIT THE CONTRACT AT THAT TIME. AND IF FUNDING IS REINSTATED, THEN WE WOULD PICK UP AND CONTINUE WITH A GRANT FUNDING PIECE. IS THAT MORE OR LESS I GET CLOSE TO THE RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. CURRENT MASSEY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YES. FLOCK HAS SENT ME CORRESPONDENCE SAYING THAT THEY WILL DELAY FOR 90 DAYS OR DEFER FOR 90 DAYS. THE. ANY PAYMENTS PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE. 
          THIS PAUSE IN GRANT FUNDING AND THEN IF AFTER 90 DAYS. IF THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED OR IF IT'S ELIMINATED, IF THE GRANT FUNDING IS ELIMINATED OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEY WILL LET US OUT OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH NO PENALTIES. AND, MR. MASSEY, WHILE I HAVE YOU UP HERE, IS IT? TELL ME IF I'M GETTING THIS WRONG. BUT IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT MORE OR LESS THE N V CPA GRANT. THEY'VE BEEN SOLICITING FOLKS TO PUT UP FLOCK CAMERAS USING THOSE GRANT FUNDS? ISN'T THAT THE PRIMARY ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES BEING CARRIED OUT WITH THAT GRANT? THE GRANT'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT AND COMBAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS. AND SO THROUGH THAT, THEY HAVE SAID THAT LICENSE PLATE READING AND OTHER THINGS ARE WHAT THEY WANT. THAT MONEY SPENT ON. WELL, THANK YOU, MISTER MASSEY, I APPRECIATE THAT. SURE THING. AND I HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. I WANT YOU ALL GET FINISHED DELIBERATING. THANK YOU. SO ON THE LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PIECES ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE. I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT ISSUE IS SOMEWHAT RESOLVED, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND DISCUSS. BUT ON THE BUDGETARY SIDE, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THEY WANT TO ADD TO THE THOUGHT OF ACCEPTING A 90 DAY DEFERMENT AND THEN REEVALUATING AT THE END OF THAT 90 DAYS? I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO. IT SEEMS LIKE THE LOGICAL APPROACH NOW, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE IS SOME POLICY CONSIDERATION HERE AS WELL. AND AND I HATE WHEN BUDGET DRIVES POLICY. I THINK SOMETIMES IT HAS TO. BUT IT'S GOOD TO DISCUSS THESE THINGS. COMMISSIONER BAILEY, I THINK YOU YOU MADE A POINT OF KIND OF HOW WE GOT HERE, I THINK, MR. KELLY, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SPEAKING. YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY PERSON. YOU HAVEN'T REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO ME PRIOR TO THIS, BUT I HAVE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME PRIOR TO THIS REGARDING THE SAME ITEM. AND I THINK WHERE I AM, NOT THAT ANYBODY ASKED ME TO GIVE A POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE MOMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. 
          COMMISSIONER BAILEY, THIS IS A THERE'S A BALANCE, RIGHT, THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL. IT CLEARLY SERVES AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE. I THINK DEPUTY MASSEY AND OTHERS LOCAL WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE MURDERERS, WE'VE HAD ABSCONDERS, WE'VE HAD FUGITIVES BROUGHT TO JUSTICE BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I DO ALSO SHARE SOME OF THE 
          [02:20:04]
PRIVACY CONCERNS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS RIPE FOR MAYBE A LITTLE HEAVIER HAND WITH REGULATION FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. 
          I'M GOING TO LOOK AT YOU, COMMISSIONER. NO, YOU'RE NOT FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT WE DO HERE, HOW MUCH OF THAT WE DO OVER TIME. BUT BUT HAVING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, HAVING SOME AUDIT TRAILS TO SHOW THAT WE DON'T. I MEAN, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE NEWS STORIES ABOUT SOME COP IN A SMALL TOWN AND SOME OTHER STATE RUNNING HIS EX GIRLFRIEND OR THE GIRL THAT TURNED HIM DOWN ON A DATE 300 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK. THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN AUDIT TRAIL THAT WE CAN SIT HERE AND ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN JOHNSON COUNTY. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN JOHNSON COUNTY, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE PAPERWORK OR THE WRITTEN POLICY OR THE I DON'T I'M NOT IN A POSITION WHERE I CAN. THAT WAS MY QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE ASKED WHAT THE POLICIES ARE, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD WHAT THE CERTAIN QUESTION I WAS ASKING WAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN AN ACTUAL WRITTEN POLICY ON THE UTILIZATION OF. I THINK WE COULD WE COULD TRY TO DETERMINE THAT IN HOUSE, BUT I THINK IT'LL ALL CHANGE IN THE SESSION. AGAIN, I THINK THAT JUST JUST LIKE ALL OTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE THE GOVERNOR BRINGING PAUSE ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS IS GOING TO TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER WHAT IS DISCUSSED. YOU'LL HAVE GROUPS FROM ALL SIDES OF THE AISLE, JUST LIKE THE PRESENTATION WE HAD HERE THIS MORNING. YOU KNOW, IN OUR COUNTY REGARDING THE WRONG PEOPLE, IN THE WRONG LOCATIONS AND, AND HOW THOSE THOSE ARE THOSE ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY. THEY'RE ALREADY DISCUSSIONS. BUT YOU CAN WITH THE OUTCRY FROM THE PUBLIC TO GET THE GOVERNOR TO BRING PAUSE TO DATA CENTERS, THE OUTCRY FROM THE PUBLIC, NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. EXACTLY RIGHT. THANK YOU, MIKE, BUT FOR HIM TO DRAW PAUSE TO. LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL. BUT YET I GO BACK TO THIS, THIS IT'S IT'S ALL IT'S POLITICAL. THERE'S AN ATTACK ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NOW WE'RE FACED WITH, OKAY, FLOCK HAS STEPPED UP AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE 90 DAYS ON THIS OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO. WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO BOW OUT, WHICH IS THE THE CORRECT AND BEST WAY FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS. BUT WHAT IF THEY DIDN'T? AND EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY CITY THAT HAS A BILL DUE RIGHT NOW THAT HAS SPENT 320, 000 OR PERHAPS 2 MILLION OR 3 MILLION IN METROPLEX, TARRANT COUNTY, TO BE PARTICULAR WITH ALL THAT THEY'VE GOT. OH, WELL, YOUR LOCAL TAXING ENTITY DOWN THERE, THEY JUST RAISED YOUR TAXES. AGAIN, I'M JUST SAYING IT'S A TOOL. THIS IS BY DESIGN. THIS IS NOTHING THAT THAT. IT'S SO OBVIOUS. WELL, THERE'S THERE'S, IT IS SO OBVIOUS WHAT'S GOING ON. SO MANY GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME FROM FLOCK. JUST LAST WEEK, THEY FOUND A HARRIS COUNTY SILVER ALERT GUY IN CLIFTON SIX HOURS AFTER HE LEFT. HOW LONG WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN TO FIND HIM? YOU KNOW HOW MANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN TO FIND ANY OF IT? WHY WOULD ANYBODY IN HARRIS COUNTY BE IN CLIFTON, TEXAS, LOOKING FOR HIM? YEAH, WELL, SAME THING WITH THAT. THAT CHILD PREDATOR THAT ENDED UP, I THINK, IN GAINESVILLE UP NEXT TO OKLAHOMA. HE WAS GOING TO OKLAHOMA, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A I THINK IT'S A TOOL. BUT LIKE ANY TOOL, IT CAN BE ABUSED. MAYBE WE JUST NEED THE POLICE. WELL, THERE NEEDS TO BE PENALTIES FOR THOSE THAT DO. YES, I AGREE, I THINK MR. MASSEY MAY HAVE SOME SOME INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE COMFORTING. LET HIM TALK. THANK YOU. I DID PREPARE A FEW SOME INFORMATION THAT I WANTED TO READ TO Y'ALL. Y'ALL KNOW THAT I DON'T LIKE TO READ AND TALK. I'D RATHER JUST SPEAK. BUT IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE TIME AND STAY FOCUSED, I. I MADE A WRITTEN THING. I WANT TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT STATEMENTS CONCERNING STATE FUNDING AND ALPR TECHNOLOGY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEPARATE THE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. THE FIRST IS WHETHER WE WHETHER STATE GRANT FUNDING WILL ULTIMATELY CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THESE CAMERAS. THE SECOND IS WHETHER THIS TECHNOLOGY IS PROVIDING A WORTHWHILE PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF JOHNSON COUNTY. THOSE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME QUESTION AT THIS TIME. FUNDING FOR THE LICENSE PLATE READERS HAS BEEN PAUSED. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED, THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL REASON FOR JOHNSON COUNTY TO RUSH INTO DISMANTLING THE SYSTEM. FLOCK HAS OFFERED AGENCIES AFFECTED BY MVC A DECISION, A 90 DAY PAYMENT DEFERRAL ON EFFECTIVE RENEWALS. DURING THAT PERIOD. WE. WE OWE NO PAYMENTS ON THOSE RENEWALS. 
          THERE ARE NO LATE FEES OR INTEREST, AND THE CAMERAS REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL. FLOCK 
          [02:25:05]
HAS ALSO ADVISED US THAT IF THE FUNDING ULTIMATELY IS NOT RESTORED OR REPLACED, THE AFFECTED CAMERAS CAN BE REMOVED FROM OUR AGREEMENT WITHOUT PENALTY OR FURTHER PAYMENT OBLIGATION. THEY HAVE FURTHER ADVISED AT THIS POINT, THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL REGULATORY OR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO THE PROGRAM OR SERVICES. MY RECOMMENDATION IS SIMPLY THAT WE USE THE TIME WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO MAKING A PERMANENT DECISION TODAY WHILE FUNDING SITUATION IS STILL DEVELOPING. THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION REGARDING OUR EXISTING CAMERAS. 15 OF OUR CAMERAS ARE NOT FUNDED. THROUGH THIS GRANT. THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY FUNDING FOR THOSE CAMERAS REMAIN IN THE BUDGET REGARDLESS OF ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE MVC FUNDING FOR FUNDED PORTION OF THE NETWORK. I BELIEVE THOSE 15 CAMERAS SHOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL. AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE FLOCK IS PRODUCING RESULTS FOR JOHNSON COUNTY. ONE OF OUR BEST EXAMPLES OCCURRED IN KEENE THAT WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT. THE 15 YEAR OLD GIRL REPORTED THAT AN UNKNOWN MAN HAD ATTEMPTED TO GRAB HER WHILE SHE WAS WALKING. DISPATCH USED FLOCK TO IDENTIFY A VEHICLE MATCHING THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, KEENE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT WORKED TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE DRIVER AND LOCATE HIM IN NORTHWEST FORT WORTH. WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS, SURVEILLANCE HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE SUSPECT WAS DETAINED AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONFESSED TO THE ENCOUNTER AND WAS ARRESTED WITHIN. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE INVOLVING A SERIOUS CRIME, BUT I THINK SOME OF FLOCK'S GREATEST VALUE IS ACTUALLY FOUND IN CRIMES THAT DON'T MAKE THE NEWS. IN ANOTHER CASE, A CITIZEN HAD AN APPROXIMATELY $3,500 RIDING LAWN MOWER STOLEN. A NEIGHBOR WITNESSED THE THEFT, OBTAINED PHOTOGRAPHS. INVESTIGATORS WERE THEN ABLE TO USE FLOCK IMAGERY TO SHOWING THE SUSPECT TRUCK WITH A STOLEN YELLOW MOWER STILL STRAPPED IN THE BED. A CITIZEN'S OBSERVATION AND PHOTOGRAPH BECAME AN ACTIONABLE, ACTIONABLE INVESTIGATIVE LEAD. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE MAJOR VIOLENT CRIMES WILL ALWAYS RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES, BUT OUR CITIZENS ARE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AFFECTED BY THEFTS, BURGLARIES, STOLEN TRAILERS, STOLEN TOOLS, AND OTHER PROPERTY CRIMES. HISTORICALLY, A DEPUTY MIGHT RECEIVE A GRAINY RING CAMERA IMAGE OF A TRUCK LEAVING SOMEONE'S PROPERTY AND HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION TO WORK WITH. TODAY, FLOCK MAY ALLOW THAT DEPUTY TO TAKE THE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION OR SURVEILLANCE IMAGE AND DEVELOP A POSSIBLE LICENSE PLATE, DETERMINE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OR IDENTIFY WHERE ELSE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN. A $3,500 LAWNMOWER MAY BE CONSIDERED A RELATIVELY MINOR CRIMINAL CASE, BUT IT ISN'T A MINOR LOSS TO THE CITIZEN WHO WORKED TO PAY FOR IT. AND IF I MAY, THAT CAME FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY CAMERA HELPED WITH IT. YES, SIR. OR COMMUNITY CAMERA? YES, SIR. A STOLEN TRAILER MAY NOT MAKE THE EVENING NEWS, BUT THE TRAILER MAY BE HOW SOMEONE EARNS A LIVING FLOCK GIVES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE LEADS AND SPEND MEANINGFUL INVESTIGATIVE TIME ON THOSE EVERYDAY CRIMES WHERE HISTORICALLY, THERE SIMPLY MAY HAVE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH INFORMATION TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE PRIVACY CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE TECHNOLOGY, AND I BELIEVE THOSE CONCERNS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. OUR CAMERA NETWORK IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED AROUND STRATEGIC COVERAGE RATHER THAN BLANKET SURVEILLANCE. SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAMERAS ARE PRIMARILY PLACED ON ROADWAYS ENTERING AND EXITING JOHNSON COUNTY AND ITS STRATEGIC SELECTED TRANSPORTATION CHOKE POINTS. WE DO NOT PLACE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAMERAS THROUGHOUT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CAMERAS ARE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS ROADWAYS NOR TOWARDS PEOPLE'S HOMES. WE ALSO PLACE SAFEGUARDS ON HOW THE SYSTEM IS USED. EVERY DEPUTY AND DISPATCHER WHO RECEIVES A FLOCK ACCOUNT COMPLETES AN APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 HOUR TRAINING SESSION. IN THAT TRAINING, I SPECIFICALLY EMPHASIZE THAT A FLOCK ALERT IS AN INVESTIGATIVE LEAD, AND IT'S NOT AN ENFORCEMENT DECISION. THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATING THE VEHICLE VISUALLY, VERIFYING THE LICENSE PLATE, VERIFYING THE INFORMATION, AND CONDUCTING A PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATION BEFORE TAKING ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION. AND WE DO NOT SIMPLY PROVIDE EMPLOYEES ACCESS TO THIS TECHNOLOGY AND ASSUME IT IS BEING USED APPROPRIATELY, WE AUDIT ITS USE. AS PART OF OUR REVIEW, WE EXAMINED DOCUMENTED FLOCK ACTIVITY AND COMPARED ITS USE WITH OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE AND INCIDENT REPORTS. WHAT WE FOUND WAS CONSISTENT WITH LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY. STOLEN VEHICLES, WANTED PERSONS MISSING AND ENDANGERED PERSON THEFTS, BURGLARIES, WELFARE CONCERNS, VIOLENT CRIMES AND ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS. OUR REVIEW DID NOT IDENTIFY AN APPARENT PATTERN OF DEPUTIES USING FLOCK FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES OTHER THAN PROPER OR OTHER IMPROPER REASONS. WE ALSO DID NOT IDENTIFY IN THE RECORDS. WE REVIEWED A DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WHERE ERRONEOUS FLOCK INFORMATION RESULTED IN THE WRONGFUL ARREST OF ANY INNOCENT 
          [02:30:01]
PERSON. AND SINCE JOHNSON COUNTY BEGAN USING FLOCK IN MARCH OF 2023, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS RECEIVED NO FORMAL COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT A DEPUTY STOPPED THE WRONG VEHICLE OR TOOK ENFORCEMENT AGAINST AN INNOCENT PERSON BECAUSE FLOCK PROVIDED INCORRECT VEHICLE INFORMATION. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD STOP AUDITING THE SYSTEM. IT MEANS WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO IT. TRAINING TELLS OUR EMPLOYEES HOW THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE USED. AUDITING HELPS US VERIFY HOW HOW IT IS ACTUALLY IS BEING USED. FLOCK ISN'T PERFECT. SOMETIMES THERE ISN'T A CAMERA IN THE RIGHT PLACE, SOMETIMES THERE'S NO HIT. 
          SOMETIMES INFORMATION CAN BE INCOMPLETE OR INCORRECT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY FLOCK DOES NOT REPLACE POLICE WORK. IT SUPPORTS THE POLICE WORK. I OFTEN DESCRIBE FLOCK AS ANOTHER WITNESS STANDING ALONG A PUBLIC ROADWAY. IT CAN TELL US WHAT IT OBSERVED JUST AS A CITIZEN OR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO AN INVESTIGATOR. BUT FLOCK DOESN'T DETERMINE GUILT. IT DOESN'T MAKE AN ARREST, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO STOP A VEHICLE. OUR DEPUTIES DO THAT, AND THEY REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE DECISIONS. FINALLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE STATE FUNDING REQUIRES JOHNSON COUNTY TO MAKE A HURRIED DECISION. WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS 90 DAY PAUSE WITH CONTINUED SERVICE. WE HAVE 15 CAMERAS WITH EXISTING FUNDING THAT IS IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON THE GRANT, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL YEARS OF ACTUAL EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATING THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS PRODUCING LEGITIMATE PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFITS. WE HAVE TIME TO EVALUATE MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM DURING THIS WINDOW, RETAIN THE 15 CAMERAS. WE ALREADY HAVE NON GRANT FUNDING FOR, MONITOR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FUNDING AND MAKE A LONG TERM DECISION WHERE WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION. THE QUESTION BEFORE US SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE WHETHER FLOC IS PERFECT. THE QUESTION SHOULD BE WHETHER WITH STRATEGIC CAMERA PLACEMENT, LIMITED RETENTION, TRAINED USERS, HUMAN VERIFICATION, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS TECHNOLOGY MAKES OUR DEPUTIES MORE EFFECTIVE WHILE PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF JOHNSON COUNTY. BASED ON OUR OWN CASES, OUR OWN RECORDS, AND OUR REVIEW OF HOW THE SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY BEING USED, I BELIEVE IT DOES THIS. OUR DOCUMENTED SUCCESS RECORDS CURRENTLY SHOW AT LEAST 36 STOLEN VEHICLES OR VEHICLE TYPE ASSETS RECOVERED, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE FLOC PROGRAM. FLOC IS NOT ONLY RECOVERING STOLEN PROPERTY, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED MULTIPLE CASES WHERE IT DIRECTLY ASSISTED IN LOCATING MISSING OR ENDANGERED PEOPLE, INCLUDING MISSING JUVENILES AND EVEN A JUVENILE INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION. AND FOR THESE REASONS, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GIVE THE FUNDING SITUATION TIME TO DEVELOP AND MAKING A PERMIT INSTEAD OF MAKING A PERMANENT DECISION TODAY. AND THEN I. MR. KELLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP EARLIER AND SPEAKING WHAT YOU BELIEVE. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I MADE A COUPLE OF NOTES WHILE YOU WERE SPEAKING. AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE REAL QUICK. NO FLOC THAT JOHNSON COUNTY HAS DOES FACIAL RECOGNITION. WE ARE NOT TRACKING CELL PHONES THROUGH FLOC. YOU SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHECK AND BALANCE. I HOPEFULLY MY PRESENTATION SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING THAT. WE ARE HOLDING DEPUTIES ACCOUNTABLE. AND YOU SHOULD SEE THAT THROUGH THE PROSECUTIONS OF DEPUTIES FOR OTHER OR FOR OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OF OTHER CRIMES. I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR WHO PERFORMS AUDITS. ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU WAS WHAT ABOUT OTHER AGENCIES? IF YOU COULD, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE SO THAT YOU'RE ON THE RECORD. KEITH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T BUY. I'M ALL RIGHT. SO SO THIS IS LIKE I MENTIONED, I AM NOT I AM NOT ANTI-POLICE AT ALL. I AM PRO FIRST RESPONDER. THIS IS A GREAT TOOL. IT NEEDS CHECKS AND BALANCES. I'M NOT SURE EVEN IF JOHNSON COUNTY'S GOT GREAT CHECKS AND BALANCES. THERE'S BEEN SO MANY SITUATIONS OF OTHER AGENCIES ACCESSING CAMERAS, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO ACCESS ACCESS. THOSE. AND AND ALL I'M HERE TO TELL YOU GUYS IS I THINK YOU NEED TO GET ON THE FRONT END OF THIS AND BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC OF HOW YOU'RE POLICING IT. YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T YOU DON'T NEED TO GIVE NAMES AND STUFF. BUT I, I THINK THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE ACCESSED. YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUCCESSES. FLOC OVERALL, THOUGH, HAS ABOUT A 75% ACCURACY RATE. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR DEPUTIES WELL TRAINED AND THEY'RE MAKING STOPS ON A PARTIAL LICENSE PLATE AND THEY DON'T DO IT RIGHT, IT'S A POTENTIAL FOR A REAL PROBLEM. AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO I'M VERY HAPPY THAT JOHNSON COUNTY IS IN FRONT OF THAT. I WANT DEPUTIES TO HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED, BUT I'M NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYBODY TURNING. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO INTO A WALMART OR A LOWE'S OR 
          [02:35:07]
WHEREVER THEY HAVE CAMERAS, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO GO IN THERE AND SHOP. 
          I HAVE CAMERAS IN MY FACILITY. MY CUSTOMERS HAVE A CHOICE TO DO BUSINESS WITH ME. WHEN I DRIVE DOWN RENFRO AND THERE'S A CAMERA SITTING OUTSIDE OF THE CANA BAPTIST CHURCH FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE TURNING INTO THE CHURCH. I'M LIKE, NUMBER ONE, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHO OWNS THE CAMERA BECAUSE COMMISSIONER WHITE SAYS IT'S NOT JOHNSON COUNTY'S. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COUNTY, IF SOMEBODY'S PUTTING A CAMERA IN THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE COUNTY, THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO APPROVE THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. THAT'S THAT'S THE TEX DOT ROAD. OKAY. IT'S MOST LIKELY A DPI OR SOMETHING. I CAN ADDRESS THAT IF IF YOU IF I GOT ONE MORE COMMENT FOR THAT. IF NOBODY KNOWS WHERE ALL THE CAMERAS ARE, THEN WHAT PREVENTS A COMPANY FROM JUST GOING AND PUTTING THEM UP? BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS. THERE IS A TRACKER. THE FLOCK'S NOT GOING TO PUT UP ANY CAMERA THAT'S NOT PAID FOR. WELL, THAT'S THAT'S GOOD BUSINESS. THE CAMERA ON RENFRO, SPECIFICALLY IN FRONT OF KENNA BAPTIST CHURCH IS CITY OF BURLESON CAMERA, A BURLESON POLICE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT CAMERA. AND IT WAS PERMITTED THROUGH TEX DOT. AND THEY WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO GET IT INSTALLED. OKAY. AND I FLETCHER AND I ARE HAVING LUNCH HERE A LITTLE BIT. FAIR ENOUGH. FAIR ENOUGH. AND THAT GOES ALONG WITH OUR THE WAY THAT WE INSTALL CAMERAS TOO IS WE PUT THEM ON THE OUTSKIRTS AS VEHICLES COME IN SO THAT WE CAN RECORD THE LICENSE PLATES. AND THEN IF A BAD PERSON COMES INTO THE CITY OR THE COUNTY, THEY BREAK INTO YOUR CAR, THEY BREAK INTO YOUR HOUSE. WE POTENTIALLY HAVE THEIR LICENSE PLATE OR A VEHICLE DESCRIPTION OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES TO GO AFTER THEM. BECAUSE OUR OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO PUT BAD GUYS IN JAIL. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. GREAT, GREAT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE, A COUPLE OTHER QUICK THINGS. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT OTHER OFFICERS DOING BAD THINGS. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED, BUT I DON'T THINK ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE PUNISHED BECAUSE OF WHAT, ONE OR 2 OR 10 OR EVEN 20 BAD OFFICERS DO. THEY SHOULD THEY SHOULD BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT. ALSO, POLICE WORK TOGETHER ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALREADY. WE HAD A MURDER IN JOSHUA AND WE RELIED ON SOUTH KOREAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO PUT THE PERSON BACK ON AN AIRPLANE AND SEND THEM BACK TO DFW AFTER HE KILLED HIS GRANDMOTHER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP WORKING TOGETHER. THE FLOCK DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER. WE DID HAVE ONE NEGATIVE. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? UP TO THE MICROPHONE? I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME. YES, SIR. KB OR K BRIAN HARDER. I'M AN OPERATOR RESIDENT. YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT NOBODY WAS FOUND IN JOCO TO HAVE ABUSED THE CAMERAS. THERE'S A NATIONWIDE STORY OF A LADY THAT WAS TRACKED 83,000 TIMES ACROSS EVERY BLOCK CAMERA IN THE NATION, IN THE NATION. AND THAT WAS JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I CAN ADDRESS THAT IF YOU'D LIKE. PLEASE. ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE I'D LOVE THAT THE STORY DOESN'T HAVE VERY MUCH CLEAR INFORMATION ONLINE. SO IT'S VERY HARD TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT IT WAS OUR DEPUTIES THAT TRACKED NATIONWIDE, WHICH YOU MENTIONED IT OR I THINK KELLY DID MENTION HOW IT BREAKS LAWS ACROSS STATE LINES. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SEEMING TO HAVE HAD HAPPENED BACK IN, I THINK, 2024, MARCH OF 24, I BELIEVE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE, BUT I KNOW THE INSTANCE THAT. HOLD ON PLEASE. COULD YOU REPEAT YOUR YOUR NAME ONCE MORE? MAYBE SPELL IT PLEASE? YES, SIR. K BRIANNA HARDER. KABRIANNAHARDER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU, MISS CARTER. 
          THAT INSTANCE WAS A. DEPUTIES RECEIVED A CALL FOR SERVICE ABOUT A WELFARE CHECK IN REFERENCE TO. A MAN CALLED IN AND SAID THAT HIS SIGNIFICANT OTHER HAD PERFORMED A SELF ABORTION ON HERSELF. AND HE WAS WORRIED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BLEED OUT AND DIE. THE DEPUTIES RESPONDED. THEY GOT INFORMATION. THEY OBTAINED A LICENSE PLATE FOR THE VEHICLE THAT SHE WAS IN. 
          AND THEN THEY DID THIS FLOCK SEARCH TO SEE WHERE SHE HAD TRAVELED TO, TO CHECK HER WELFARE, TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WAS OKAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OFFICER AT THE TIME PUT THE WORD ABORTION IN THE SEARCH BECAUSE SHE PERFORMED A SELF ABORTION ON HERSELF. AND SO THAT WENT OUT TO ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HE DID A NATIONWIDE SEARCH. IT WAS QUICK. IT WAS EASY. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SUBSEQUENT TRAININGS SAYING DON'T ALWAYS DO THE EASIEST THING. AND SO THAT'S WHY THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THAT, AND YOU COULD DO SOME OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO SEE THE STATUS OF THAT CASE. BUT IT'S 
          [02:40:03]
AN ONGOING CRIMINAL CASE. YOU'RE WELCOME. IF I MAY COMMENT, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF, OF, OF WHAT WE SEE IN THE WORLD TODAY WITH ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY. AND IT DOESN'T I MEAN, WHETHER IT'S FLOCK CAMERAS, IT'S DATA, IT'S ALL FEAR DRIVEN. MOST OF THE NEGATIVE THAT WE ARE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. WE YOU KNOW, YOU READ SOMETHING LIKE MISS HARTER JUST READ, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IT PULLS ON YOUR HEARTSTRINGS AS TO WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD. BUT THIS, THIS FEAR DRIVEN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NOTHING ELSE. I MEAN, MY GOD, THAT'S I DON'T HAVE IT. I DON'T WANT IT. I DON'T LOOK AT IT. MOST OF THE TIME, PEOPLE SEND ME SOMETHING AND THAT'S HOW I LEARN ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S A, IT'S A. IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. AND TO YOUR POINT, 1 OR 2 PEOPLE, TEN PEOPLE, WHATEVER WE CAN, WE CANNOT JUDGE THIS BY 2 OR 3 BAD ACTORS. IT'S JUST LIKE US GETTING COMPARED TO HARRIS COUNTY, ONE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, 254 COUNTIES, 111 FORMULA DON'T FIT ALL. WE ALL DO IT DIFFERENT. BUT IT'S. 
          BUT THIS IS NO DIFFERENT IN THE FEAR THAT COMES WITH IT. OUT OF THESE KINDS OF STORIES THAT MAKE IT OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA, THE UNKNOWNS ABOUT WATER AND ELECTRICITY FOR THE DATA CENTERS. AND WE HAD COURTROOMS FULL OF PEOPLE HERE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. BUT YET EVERYBODY WANTS TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW. BUT YOU YOU CAN'T KNOW. AND BUT EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN ON THE FLOCK CAMERAS IN REGARDS TO JOHNSON COUNTY, THOSE GOOD STORIES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF IT FAR EXCEED THE FEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE SHARING ABOUT FLOCK AND ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. AND IT'S ANOTHER TOOL. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE ENOUGH DEPUTIES. YES, SIR. IT'S A GOOD TOOL. I'LL STOP THERE. THANK YOU SIR, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I WOULD MUCH RATHER HIRE TEENAGERS AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE TO STAND ON CORNERS AND WRITE DOWN LICENSE PLATES AND VEHICLE DESCRIPTIONS OF CARS THAT GO BY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE AMAZING FOR PAYING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYING PEOPLE IN THAT SORT OF STUFF. BUT IT'S NOT FEASIBLE. SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL GIVING ME THE TALK. I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT MIGHT WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. ALSO, I DO HAVE ONE THOUGHT AND THEN TWO RELATED QUESTIONS, AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE ENCROACHING ON THE LUNCH HOUR, BUT THE THOUGHT, I'LL KEEP IT SHORT. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE THESE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES, OUR SANITY CHECK PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO, AND YOU RESPECT THEIR OPINION. AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, LIFELONG LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSON. AND SO SOMEBODY I RESPECT THEIR OPINION ABOUT THIS, BROUGHT THIS ITEM UP TO ME INDEPENDENTLY. PRIOR TO THIS BEING ON THE AGENDA. THIS WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AS THINGS WERE BECOMING MORE NATIONALLY PUBLICIZED. AND HER COMMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RUN SOMEBODY THROUGH TOILETS, CREATES A VERY CLEAR AUDIT TRAIL. IT CAN BE CHECKED BY THE STATE, IT CAN BE CHECKED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHO HAD ACCESS TO WHAT INFORMATION. AND THAT'S VERY PROTECTED INFORMATION. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE KNOW IF A BAD ACTOR RUNS A TEA, LET'S CHECK FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES. 
          THAT PERSON WILL LIKELY BE ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING THAT. THOSE LAWS SURROUNDING THAT PROGRAM. THE QUESTION SHE LODGED TO ME WAS, DO WE HAVE THAT SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION WITH FLOCK CAMERAS? AND THE ANSWER WAS, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT YOUR POSITION OF NOT TAKING SOME KIND OF MAJOR POLICY ACTION TODAY. BUT THAT HAS BEEN RINGING IN MY EARS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, IS DO WE KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION WE HAVE FOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WEEDING OUT ANY POTENTIAL BAD ACTORS? AND SO THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE RELATED TO THAT, THAT WAS THE THOUGHT. I SAID I HAD A THOUGHT AND TWO QUESTIONS. THE FIRST IS. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS AND MAYBE THIS IS BETTER DIRECTED AT CAPTAIN AREOLA, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE FLOCK POLICY TO HAVE A WRITTEN LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY. THIS COURT CANNOT ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY PUT A WRITTEN POLICY FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT ON COURT AND MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. IF THERE WERE A PUBLIC VERSION OF A WRITTEN POLICY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COULD WORK TOWARD DOING SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAN? AGAIN, I GET QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BACKUP. I NEED TO TAKE A STANCE DEFENDING SOMETHING, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M OPPOSED TO IT. IT MEANS I NEED MORE TO BE ABLE TO TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COULD WORK TOWARD? I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR CAPTAIN AREOLA, BUT I WILL SAY THAT JOHNSON COUNTY HAS A POLICY FOR THE USE OF FLOCK AND AND LICENSE PLATE READING IN GENERAL. AND IT I MEAN, THEY HAVE A POLICY ALREADY, AND I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE PREFACED WITH BOTH OF THESE QUESTIONS. I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED AN ANSWER ON THE SPOT RIGHT NOW, BUT SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS 
          [02:45:04]
WE MOVE FORWARD. THE SECOND OF THOSE IS, I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING INTERNAL AUDITS ON THE SYSTEM. I THINK THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO EVERY SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S A CONVERSATION. MR. MILLMAN, I HAVE ABOUT IT SYSTEMS THAT MR. WATSON AND I HAVE ABOUT FINANCIAL SYSTEMS. WE HAVE TO DO REPEATED FREQUENT AUDITS BECAUSE ONE OF THESE LAPTOPS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ACCESS ALL MANNER OF DATA. AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHO HAS ACCESS, WHAT ACCESS THEY HAVE AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT. CERTAINLY WHAT THEY'RE CHANGING, IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING. ONE THING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THERE, AND MAYBE IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IS I HESITATE TO USE THE WORD OUTSIDE AUDIT, BECAUSE I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PATTI BROWN COMING IN AND DOING LIKE THEY DO WITH OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT, BUT MAYBE PROVIDING SOME KIND OF REPORT OR ACCESS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND OR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OR COUNTY AUDITOR, SOMEBODY WHO'S OUTSIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT CONNECTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CONNECTED TO AUDITING, TO CHECK TO RUN THOSE, NOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA. 
          THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE NAME OF A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH A LOT. THEY DON'T NEED TO SEE JUST DATA OTHER THAN THE PROSECUTOR'S AUDITOR'S OFFICE WOULDN'T. BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CASE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEARCH, THE KIND OF THING THAT THEY DO. AND THE ANALOGY I WOULD RUN THERE, OF COURSE, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS CALLED THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, BUT THEY HAVE A WHOLE OFFICE OF INTERNAL AUDIT, AND THEY'VE GOT, I BELIEVE, FOUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THAT ALL THEY DO IS GO OFFICE TO OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES, THAT NOBODY'S TAKING TICKET MONEY AND PUTTING IT IN THEIR POCKET AND DISMISSING A CASE. IT'S IT'S HOW WE STAY TRANSPARENT. IT'S HOW WE SHINE SUNLIGHT INTO EVERY AREA OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES. YOU ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE WITHOUT A SPOTLIGHT OVER YOUR SHOULDER, AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION. BUT IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT AFTER THE FACT THAT AFTER SOME AMOUNT OF TIME, A REPORT COULD BE GENERATED AND AUDITED BY ANY ONE OR MORE OF THOSE THREE OFFICES, THAT KEEPS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE MAYBE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, BUT LET SOMEBODY ELSE AGAIN, GIVE ME INFORMATION THAT I CAN THEN DEFEND THE SYSTEM WITH. IF I HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY AND I HAVE A QUARTERLY AUDIT FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYING NO, WE LOOKED AT WHAT THEY LOOK AT AND THEY'RE NOT USING IT FOR PERSONAL, PERSONAL, OR IMPROPER PURPOSES. THEN THAT GIVES ME SOMETHING I CAN TURN AROUND AND DEFEND THE SYSTEM WITH AS WELL. AND SO AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TOO MUCH. YOU'VE BEEN ON THE SPOT ENOUGH TODAY AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          BUT THOSE THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS THAT MAYBE IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO BETTER WRANGLE THOSE TWO QUESTIONS, I THINK WE CAN DO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OTHER AREAS. WE'RE DEALING WITH MORE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THESE DAYS THAN IT SEEMS LIKE EVER BEFORE. AND WE'VE TRIED TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT, LET THE DAYLIGHT IN AND AND JUST SHOW PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THAT PURPOSE. I THINK IT WOULD BE FINE TO DO. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, FLOCK DOES HAVE A AN EXTENSIVE AUDITING PORTION OF IT THAT BOTH MYSELF AND LIEUTENANT GEORGE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE ACCESS TO. GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AT THIS POINT? I THINK WE JUST TABLED THIS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE. VERY QUICKLY. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY GOOD FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I THINK A LOT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT MYSELF OR REPEAT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE SOME GOOD POINTS IN RELATION TO FLOCK. 
          I'LL ECHO WHAT DEPUTY KERN HAS SAID. THE FLOCK HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN PROSECUTION, IN STOPPING CRIME. THERE IS A LIMIT TO THAT AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS DEBATE IS. I HOPE THIS KIND OF GOES FORWARD. SO MY POSITION IS I HOPE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TABLES THIS TODAY TO LOOK AT WHAT THE FUNDING WILL BE LATER. BUT THE POSITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY CAN GO SO FAR. THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR WHEN IT COMES TO I COULD PUT A TV IN EVERYBODY'S LIVING ROOM. THE WATCH IS WHAT YOU DO AND BECOME ORWELLIAN, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE BALANCE, I THINK WHAT MR. KELLY SAID, MR. STRINGER SAID ONLINE. I THINK THERE'S GOOD, HEALTHY DEBATE OUT THERE. AND I THINK, LIKE WHAT JUDGE BECKER HAS SAID IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE I THINK FLOCK HAS MADE A MISTAKE, AND I HAD AN AUDIT TRAIL BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM. AND SO FLOCK HASN'T FIGURED OUT AND ANTICIPATED WHAT THE PUBLIC WAS GOING TO ASK FOR. BUT IN THE INTERIM, HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT FUNDING IS. AND THE INTERIM, WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE AUDIT TRAIL IS. I WOULD JUST ASK THIS COURT TO SAY, WE HAVE A TOOL. LET'S GO AHEAD AND KEEP IT IN THE TOOLBOX WHILE WE HAVE THE TOOLBOX AVAILABLE, WHILE WE DISCUSS WHAT WE SHOULD DO GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S MY SIMPLE REQUEST, IS THAT YOU LET JOHNSON COUNTY CONTINUE TO USE FLOCK WHILE WE HAVE THIS DEBATE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO USE IT AND WHAT KIND OF SAFEGUARDS AND BUMPER RAILS THIS FLOCKING TO HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO PUT THIS OUT THERE, JUDGE. AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT NOWHERE ON THIS. WHEN THIS GOT PUT ON THERE DID I THINK WE WERE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH FLOCK CAMERAS TODAY. I THINK IT WAS. AND, AND I, I'M I'LL TELL YOU, I CALLED THE JUDGE IN QUESTION BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUNDING AS HARD AS OUR BUDGET WAS THIS YEAR. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET 
          [02:50:06]
WE GOT TO COME UP WITH A HALF $1 MILLION TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR, THAT WE'VE ALREADY USED WHEN THEY QUIT THE FUNDING, AM I WRONG? THAT WAS JUST WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT AMONGST OURSELVES EXCEPT IN THIS SETTING. TO YOUR TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, THAT'S A HALF $1 MILLION HERE THAT IF THEY HADN'T DONE THIS EXTENSION FOR US, WELL, I'M HAVING TO TRY TO COUGH IT UP. YEAH, I'M AWARE BECAUSE BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT THAT REIMBURSEMENT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S TRIGGERED OUR FUNDING. THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE BEHIND ALL OF THAT. THERE IS. AND I THINK AND THAT'S THE WAY I TOOK THIS BEING AS A WORKSHOP ITEM, WAS FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO. I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER A PLAN TO DO AWAY WITH FLOCK. TODAY. I WILL SAY THAT WITH THE FUNDING PAUSE, I ACKNOWLEDGED THE POTENTIAL THAT WE WOULD COME HERE AND DISCUSS UP TO AND INCLUDING DISMANTLING THE SYSTEM. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S FOR BUDGETARY PURPOSES. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO ADJUST TO THAT. AND I'M MADE AS THE BUDGET OFFICER. THAT'S YOUR ROLE. YEAH. BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT TO BRING IT BEFORE THIS COURT AND HAVE MR. KELLY COME TODAY AND YOUNG LADY OUT HERE COME AND, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE SOME OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PAUSE ON IT. YEAH. YOU KNOW THANK YOU, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PAUSE ON IT HERE. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO THROW OUR HANDS UP AND SAY, YOU WIN, BUT IT'S A IT'S A IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I THINK MY POSITION ON IT IS THAT WE I KNOW THE TERM TABLE HAS BEEN MENTIONED, BUT IN ORDER TO TABLE SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION. I RECOMMEND WE JUST TAKE NO ACTION. AND IF THIS PRESENTS ITSELF IN A DIFFERENT MANNER DOWN THE. 
          AFTER EARLY NOVEMBER, WE LOOK AT IT THEN. ALL RIGHT, I THINK I HEARD ENOUGH PEOPLE SAY NO ACTION ALL AT THE SAME TIME THAT I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION. I FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION TO TAKE NO ACTION, I DO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE BUDGETARY ISSUE AND THOSE OTHER ITEMS THAT THAT WERE MENTIONED, NOT JUST BY MYSELF, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING DILIGENT STEWARDS OF A SYSTEM LIKE THIS. I DO BELIEVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS, AND I BUT I DO THINK THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN ALL DO TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TO CREATE SOME OF THAT CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT KEEP PEOPLE CONFIDENT IN A SYSTEM LIKE THIS. I'LL GO FURTHER TO SAY, IF I MAY, TOO MANY TIMES IS BROUGHT UP IN THIS COURTROOM ABOUT THE ISSUES GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY REGARDING OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. IT HAS NO BEARING ON THE DUTIES THAT ARE BEING HELD AND TAKEN UP EVERY DAY AS PROFESSIONAL AS THEY CAN. MR. ARREOLA BACK THERE AND ALL THE STAFF THAT ARE OVER THERE HAVE GUIDED US, HANDLED THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS IS GETTING ANY KIND OF NEGATIVE PUBLICITY IS BECAUSE IT'S GETTING TALKED ABOUT. THERE'S A JUDGE AND JURY. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN HERE THAT WILL DEAL WITH THAT. BUT THIS COUNTY IS IS IN GOOD HANDS LAW ENFORCEMENT WISE TODAY AS IT HAS EVER BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE. WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM, AND I'M AND I WILL STOP THERE. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT IS NO ACTION ON WS5. IT IS NOW 1215. LET'S ADJOURN UNTIL OUR. LET'S RECESS UNTIL 130 FOR LUNCH. WE WILL RECONVENE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS AND A COUPLE OF ACTION ITEMS. EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          BUT WE ARE IN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.