[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:20]
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. WATCH OVER THEM AND WATCH OVER ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED HEALTH ISSUES AND TRAGEDIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SO MANY THINGS OVER THE RECENT WEEKS AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE COMFORT TO THOSE FAMILIES AND THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE AFFECTED. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR US. WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. WE ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER US. IN JESUS, WE PRAY.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE
[4. BUDGET WORKSHOP: The Court will discuss matters related to Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget and hear Department Budget Presentations.]
NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FORALL. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THIS IS THE LATEST ON THIS. OKAY.
>> ARE WE READY, JUDGE? >> WE ARE READY IF YOU ARE
READY. >> CAN WE GO TO THE ONE THAT SAYS PERSONAL REQUEST? THAT IS WHAT WE STARTED WITH. THAT ONE RIGHT THERE. SO BEFORE I TALK ABOUT ANY ADS OR DELETIONS WITH THE AGENCY, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES. I KNOW WE HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMING UP, BUT THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE CIVILIANS. SO I ASK AND I PRAY THAT Y'ALL GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND ATTENTION TO THESE SALARIES, THE PAY SCALE OF OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES. AND I KNOW Y'ALL WILL. YOU HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR OVER THE YEARS. I HEARD YOU REITERATE TIME AND TIME AGAIN YOUR DEDICATION FOR THE DEVOTED EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO HAVE. SO THAT BEING SAID, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDING PEOPLE, I WOULD BE CONTENT NOT TO ADD ANYBODY IF WE TOOK CARE OF WHAT WE GOT. THEY ARE BY FAR OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, AND SO, THE ADDS ARE LEGIT. THE REQUEST FOR ADDS ARE LEGIT.
THERE IS GOOD REASON FOR ALL OF THEM. AND I CAN GO DOWN HERE AND ADDRESS THESE ONE BY ONE, OR Y'ALL ARE READING THEM.
Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT THEM. Y'ALL CAN ASK ME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE. IT MIGHT BE MORE TIME EFFICIENT FOR Y'ALL TO DO THAT. THE BIG ONE ON HERE, THE ONE DELETION THAT STANDS OUT . 18 MONTHS AGO, THE COUNTY PUT -- OR BEFORE THAT, THE COUNTY PUT A GAME ROOM AFTER THE FACT AND IT WAS TO SOME DEGREE AND UNDID -- UNFUNDED MANDATES. THEY PUT ON -- A BURDEN ON OUR AGENCY FOR THAT. WE ABSORBED HER OVER AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT HER EXISTING PAY SCALE, OVER $100,000 A YEAR. WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER JUSTIFY THAT EXPENSE FOR OUR AGENCY. THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE DROPPED WAY DOWN, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES
[00:05:02]
THAT SHE HAS INCURRED -- OR THAT SHE'S BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR, THEY HAVE SLID DOWN, NEXT TO NOTHING. AND SO, THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES OF GAME ROOM ADMINISTRATOR CAN EASILY BE ABSORBED ONCE AGAIN BY AN EXISTING EMPLOYEE , AND THE DEPUTIES WHO EXECUTE THOSE ACTIONS BASED ON THE GAME ROOM ORDINANCE. I THINK THAT IS A LEGITIMATE THING AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME , OR AT THE END OF THIS BUDGET CYCLE TO NO LONGER FUND THAT GAME ROOM ADMINISTRATOR POSITION FOR THAT MUCH MONEY.THAT BEING SAID, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDING DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND PATROL, THAT IS WHAT OUR COUNTY STAFFING IS NOW, 24 SEVEN. IF EVERYBODY SHOWS UP FOR WORK, IF NO ONE'S ON VACATION, IF NO ONE IS IN TRAINING, WE HAVE FOUR NUECES COUNTY DEPUTIES COVERING THE FOUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF NUECES COUNTY. AND SO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE ON ANY GIVEN DAY BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS ON VACATION. SOMEONE IS IN TRAINING. SOMEBODY IS SICK OR INJURED. AND SO, THE MAJORITY OF NIGHTS HERE IN NUECES COUNTY, AND DAY SHIFTS HERE IN NUECES COUNTY, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE DEPUTIES PATROLLING THE ENTIRE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF NUECES COUNTY. AND BY ADDING FOUR MORE, THAT WOULD CREATE THAT BUFFER THAT WE NEED TO BETTER STAFF PATROL FUNCTION FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF NUECES COUNTY. SO THAT IS WHERE THAT ASK COMES FROM. WE HAVE ONE SERGEANT INVESTIGATOR C.I.D. CRIMES. SO TRAFFICKING AND MOSTLY INTERNET CRIMES OF CHILDREN IS A BIG DEAL AND IT GETS BIGGER ALL THE TIME. WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED C.I.D., CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION , PERSON TO FOCUS ON THAT. THEY COLLABORATE WITH US WELL. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN AND INTERNET CRIMES AND THE TRAFFICKING ELEMENT OF THAT, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF NUECES COUNTY, THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SHERIFF , AND YES, WHEN I GO TO MIKE MARKEL AND SAY, CAN YOU HELP US OUT IN THIS INVESTIGATION, YEAH, THEY DO, BUT IT IS STILL OUR RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE SHOULD BE THE ONES TAKING THE LEAD ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF NUECES COUNTY. WE ARE ASKING DOWN -- NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING US UP TO. THE ON TASK FORCE OFFICERS. WE HAVE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO DEA, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM. THREE OF THEM ARE BEING PAID AT THE SERGEANT LEVEL, BUT ONE OF THEM IS BEING PAID AT DEPUTY 3 LEVEL BECAUSE NINE YEARS AGO, WHEN HE WENT INTO THAT POSITION, THAT IS THE RINK HE HAD WITH OUR AGENCY. THE OTHER TASK FORCE OFFICERS, WHEN THEY WENT OVER TO HOMELAND SECURITY, OR TO DEA, THEY WERE HIRED BY US AS SERGEANTS, AND SO NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING ALL THAT FOURTH AND MOST TENURED TFO, TASK FORCE OFFICER, UP TO THE SAME LEVEL OF PAY THAT THE OTHER THREE ARE. SO RECLASSIFY CRIME DATA, CLERKS FROM GRADE 13 TO 16, THOSE CIVILIANS, THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, BUT THEY ARE THE CIVILIAN COMPONENT OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS. THEY ARE SIMILAR TO DISPATCHERS, OR SOMEBODY OF THAT SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM UP. EVERY DAY, THEY DEAL WITH SENSITIVE AND CLASSIFIED MATERIALS. EVERY DAY, THEY MAKE SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT IN MAGNITUDE AS WHAT ARE PATROLS ARE DOING OUT THERE, BUT THEY ARE CLERKS. THEY WORK IN THE BUILDING THAT I WORK IN. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS CIVILIANS. AND YES, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CREATE A RIFT WITH OTHER CIVILIANS AT THAT CLASSIFICATION, AND SO I WILL DEAL WITH THAT NEXT BUDGET
[00:10:04]
SESSION. THIS IS BABY STEPS OF GETTING OUR AGENCY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, AND THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START WITH THE CRIME DATA CLERK. SO THAT IS THE PERSONNEL REQUEST 3700. DOY'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> THESE SAVINGS ON HERE FROM THE TOP PORTION AND DELETING THE TWO , IS A TOTAL SAVINGS OF 3 TO 9494 . IS THAT CORRECT? AND THE ASK IS 347, SO IT IS A NET INCREASE WITH THESE CHANGES. YOU WOULD HAVE 3000 .
ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT THE SAME WAY I AM, TERESA?
>> WHERE ARE YOU? >> I AM JUST DOING THE -- DELETING THE GAME ROOM. DELETING THE TWO CORRECTION OFFICERS, AND THEN THE CHANGES HERE. THE RECLASSIFYING IS --.
AND IF YOU HAD ALL OF THIS UP --
>> THERE IS THE RECAP SUMMARY.
>> PASSED OUT. NOT PART OF THE PACKET THAT WAS HANDED OUT.
>> THIS MORNING? >> RATE. WITH THE POWERPOINT
PACKET. >> I WAS TRYING TO ADD THESE UP
AND GET THESE COST SAVINGS. >> SORRY. DELETE THREE
POSITIONS. >> IT IS STILL UP. HE HASN'T DONE THE REST OF HIS PRESENTATION, THOUGH.
>> SORRY. GO AHEAD. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THE ONE PUBLIC LIAISON PERSON IN OUR MEETINGS WITH THE SHERIFF , NATALIE, STEPPED UP AND HELPED WITH THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE AND HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS WITH THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. SHE IS ON OUR TEAM UPSTAIRS. THIS IS THE REASON I TOLD THEM I WOULD ASK FOR THAT TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY, FROM OUR FIRST LITTLE MINI DILEMMA, IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED , SO.
>> WAS THIS ALL ONE THING? WAS THIS ALL IN PACKET OR ARE THESE
DIFFERENT TO PASS OUT? >> THIS IS THREE DIFFERENT ONES. IT IS THREE DIFFERENT ONES. YES.
>> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, IF YOU WANT TO GO ON.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE PUBLIC LIAISON. THAT WOULD BE A PERSONNEL CHANGE UNDER 3720. SO 3710 OR 3700 IS OPERATIONS, AND THAT IS PATROL. THAT IS WARRANTS. AND SO THOSE ARE MOSTLY THE UNIFORMED SERVICES OF THE AGENCY. 3700 IS THE JAIL. THAT IS WHERE THAT LIAISON CHANGES COMING IN. WHEN WE CREATED THAT POSITION TWO YEARS AGO, WE RECLASSIFIED A VACANT CORRECTIONAL OFFICER POSITION. IT'S ABOUT $15 AND ALMOST $16 AN HOUR. AND NATALIE, FIRST, WE HIRED DEE HAWKINS THERE. AND THEN WE HAD NATALIE, AND SHE HAS PROVEN HER WORTH. IT'S AMAZING. NOT JUST FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, ESPECIALLY DURING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS .1 THE JUDGE AND I WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO SPLIT THE BABY. FOR HER TO PAY HALF -- SORRY -- FOR HER TO PAY HALF AND FOR ME TO PAY HAVE TO GET THIS PUBLIC LIAISON, THIS MARKETING PERSON, THIS INFORMATION PERSON , TO GET HER COMPENSATED FOR WHAT SHE DOES.
FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. SO WHETHER IT'S NATALIE WILLIAMS IN THIS POSITION OR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE FUTURE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VALUABLE PIECE, AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS, WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALSO THE COUNTY
[00:15:03]
JUDGE, HIS OFFICE, AND THE EMERGENCY OFFICE, RECORD OF EMERGENCY OPERATION. I THINK IT IS A GOOD CONCEPT, AND I WOULD ASK Y'ALL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO THERE WERE SOME OTHER PERSONNEL -- NOW, WE MOVE ON TO 3720, WHICH IS THE JAIL. AND THERE IS A RECLASSIFICATION REQUEST. WE HAVE A POSITION IN THAT JAIL . IT SHOULD BE A SERGEANT POSITION. AND YOU ARE GOING TO SAY, BUT SHERIFF, YOU HAVE EIGHT VACANT SERGEANT POSITIONS AS THEY ARE. YES, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING THOSE. IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR ABILITY BASED ON OUR CURRENT MANPOWER SITUATION. THOSE ARE SUPERVISORY SERGEANT POSITIONS. THE SERGEANT POSITION WE ARE WANTING TO CREATE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT POSITION . A GANG ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A GENTLEMAN THAT HAS BEEN DOING THAT JOB FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND HE HAS BEEN DOING IT AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER 3. BUT THE NATURE OF HIS JOB , AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT ASSIGNMENT , I BELIEVE, WARRANT HIM BEING A SERGEANT, AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT, AND IT WON'T BE A SHIFT SUPERVISOR.HE WON'T BE IN THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND, BUT HE WILL CONTINUE, WHETHER IT'S HIM OR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE FUTURE, THEY WILL HAVE THAT RANK AND THAT AUTHORITY AS A SERGEANT IN THE JAIL. THEN WE TALKED ABOUT CRIME DATA CLERKS. WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC LIAISON. AND WE WOULD BE DELETING TWO CORRECTION OFFICER POSITIONS TO SOFTEN THE BLOW ON THE ADDED EXPENSES UNDER 3720. JUDGE, 3720. SO THOSE ARE THE PERSONNEL ASKS , OR ALTERATIONS. SO IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO OTHER REQUESTS, GOING BACK TO 3700. AND IT WOULD BE THIS ONE HERE.
SO TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE GOING UP, UP, UP. AND SO THESE TRANSPORTATION COSTS UNDER 3700 OVER THE MOVEMENT OF PRISONERS.
IF THE JUDGE TELLS US TO GO TO WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS AND MOVE AN INMATE, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY WHEN ONE OF OUR MOST WANTED GETS PICKED UP IN ANOTHER CITY, ANOTHER STATE, WE HAVE TO GET THEM DOWN HERE. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THEM DOWN HERE. THE WAY CHIEF COOK HAS STRUCTURED THAT OPERATION IS, IF IT IS AN EIGHT HOUR TRIP, FIGURE, AUSTIN IS FOUR HOURS AWAY. IF IT IS A CITY IN TEXAS THAT WE CAN MAKE THE PICKUP, IN AN EIGHT HOUR DAY, WILL DO IT OURSELVES. WE WILL HAVE OUR DEPUTIES, OUR WARRANT DEPUTIES, MAKE THAT RUN. IF IT INVOLVES AN OVERNIGHT EXPENSE IN THE MOVEMENT OF PRISONERS, AND THEY HAVE TO BE DROPPED OFF WHEN WE DROP SOMEONE OFF FROM LOUISIANA, THEY HAVE TO BE DROPPED OFF AT SOME COUNTY JAIL ON THE WAY BACK. THEY CAN'T STAY IN THE HOTEL WITH THE TRANSPORTING AGENCY, ANSWER, THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICS THAT GO INTO THE MOVEMENT OF PRISONERS, AND IT GETS EXPENSIVE. AND SO WE ANTICIPATE A NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 THIS YEAR. TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. SO ONE THING WE HAVE DONE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME FOR FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I BECAME SHERIFF, THAT THE PREVIOUS SHERIFF WAS DEPENDENT ON JUST ONE VENDOR TO DO THAT. AND WE HAVE FOUND THREE OTHER VENDORS TO DO THAT. THERE NOW IS COMPETITION , AND EVERY SINGLE WORK, OR EVERY SINGLE WORK ORDER, EVERY JOB ASSIGNMENT THAT COMES IN FOR MOVING PRISONERS, WE PUT IT OUT THERE , AND WE GET THREE OR FOUR BIDS EVERY SINGLE TIME, AND WE ALWAYS GO WITH THE MOST COMPETITIVE. THESE ARE ALL LEGITIMATE, CERTIFIED COMPANIES THAT DO THESE TRANSFERS, OR THESE MOVEMENTS, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY PRUDENT IN SELECTING
[00:20:01]
WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTY. THE OTHER 3700 IS OVER TIME .THE COURTHOUSE SECURITY AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES HAVE TALKED ON THE LEASE OF VEHICLES. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY VEHICLES IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. MICHAEL ROBINSON HAS BEEN VERY -- HE IS VERY AWARE OF THIS. WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX VEHICLES THAT ARE USED DAILY IN PATROL THAT HAVE WELL OVER 200,000 MILES ON THEM. I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ALREADY HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, BUT YOU WILL, AND A BIG PART OF HIS ASK IS GOING TO BE KEEPING OUR DEPUTIES SAFE. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, WE ARE FORCED TO DO AN $8000 REPAIR ON THE FRONT END OF A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT WORTH $8000. WE HAVE TO BE SMARTER ABOUT THAT. I KNOW THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME IN DATE, MICHAEL AND HIS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS IN SOME HAND-ME-DOWN CARS THAT HE HAS ROTTED OUR WAY, WHERE WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOTALLY WITHOUT NEW VEHICLES. HE'S DONE THE BEST HE'S CAN, BUT HE IS GOING TO ASK TO DO BETTER. THAT IS THE REASON WHY.
>> EXCUSE ME, SHERIFF. THESE PAPERS DON'T MATCH THE ONES THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AS GAVE US, ASKING FOR AMMUNITION.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW. THIS IS OLDER INFORMATION.
>> YET. CHIEF COOK BELIEVES AMMUNITION SHOULD BE THE COUNTY. IT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD SCROUNGE FOR EVERY YEAR OUT OF OTHER BUDGET FUNDS. AT LEAST IN MY FIVE YEARS, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RELIABLE FUNDING SOURCE. I'M NOT GOING TO COME Y'ALL AND ASK Y'ALL TO ABSORB THE GUARANTEED $100,000 A YEAR FOR AMMUNITION. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BUYING THAT AMMO WITH RELIABLE FUNDING SOURCE, SO IF Y'ALL SEE THAT ON YOUR PAPER, THAT'S
>> I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT TO THE COMMISSIONERS. IDEA YOU HAD SAID YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR THAT.
>> KNOW. WE ARE NOT. >> THIS IS DIFFERENT INFORMATION HERE.
>> MOVING ONTO 3720. YOU WILL NOTICE, 3710, THAT IS OUR D -- I.D. SECTION. THERE ARE NO REQUESTS. WE ARE AT A GOOD PLACE WITH OUR I.D. THAT IS CAPTAIN WHITMORE'S AREA. HE'S NOT ASKING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL THIS COMING YEAR. WE'VE GOT -- WE CAN JUST CONTINUE ON THE COURSE WE ARE ON FOR 3710, AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER. 3720 . THE BIG ONE IS OVERTIME , I BELIEVE. IT IS A BIG THING WHEN WE ARE STUFFING THE GEL. WE ARE 57 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHORT.
THEY ARE WORKING 412 HOUR SHIFTS, BUT THEY ARE GETTING THEIR TWO DAYS OFF. FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THEY WEREN'T.
THEY ARE FORCED TO WORK -- OR HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO WORK -- ON THEIR DAYS OFF. THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE, WITH OUR CURRENT STAFF, AND THEY ARE WORKING 412'S, AND THEY ARE GETTING THEIR DAYS OFF. THEY APPRECIATE THAT EIGHT HOURS OVERTIME . IT MAKES THEIR PAYCHECK MUCH BETTER FOR THEM. THE STAFFING MODEL IS A BIG ELEMENT TO THAT, BUT WHAT I LEARNED FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO , AND THEY EDUCATED ME ON THIS, AT THE END OF THE BUDGET YEAR, THE MONEY THAT WAS NOT SPENT BECAUSE OF THOSE
[00:25:02]
VACANT POSITIONS, PRETTY MUCH WASHES OUT THE OVERTIME EXPENSE. SO, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, PRETTY MUCH, IT IS A WASH. THE OVERTIME VERSUS THE MONEY SAVED BY ALL THE VACANT POSITIONS. SO THE OTHER SOCIAL SECURITY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR THE MAIN JAIL. WE ARE AT RISK WHEN TECHNOLOGY GOES DOWN.WE ARE AT RISK FOR AN EXTENDED OUTAGE. WITH THOSE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE GET IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, WITHIN 24 HOURS. AND WE'VE HAD TO USE THEM FREQUENTLY. AND SO, I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONTINUE , OR WE ADD THOSE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE TECHNOLOGY VENDORS FOR BOTH THE MAIN JAIL AND THE ANNEX. INMATE UNIFORMS, MATTRESSES, SUPPLIES. THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. WE ANTICIPATE HAVING TO PAY MORE THIS COMING YEAR FOR THE UNIFORMS. THE MATTRESSES AND SUPPLIES. OTHER EXPENSES. WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL CAMERA ADDS AT THE JAIL AND THE ANNEX. THIS IS ALL ABOUT LIABILITY. WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURS. WE HAVE OVER 200 CAMERAS IN THE MAIN JAIL NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY IN THE ANNEX. WHENEVER SOMETHING OCCURS, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION OF THAT INCIDENT. WE HAVE SOME BLIND SPOTS IN THAT JAIL THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THAT IS WHAT THOSE CAMERA ADDS ARE FOR. THE HEAVY-DUTY CHAIRS FOR THE ANNEX AND THE MAIN JAIL. THE JUDGE FOUND US MONEY -- TERESA FOUND -- SOMEBODY FOUND US MONEY. WE WERE ABLE TO BUY SOME CHAIRS.
THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS EIGHT. I BELIEVE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF BUYING 40. AND THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR, WE NEED 40 MORE. WE CAN'T BUY CHEAP CHAIRS. THEY ARE NOT LUXURY X CHAIRS WITH MASSAGERS OR MUSIC IN THEM. THEY ARE DURABLE ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE WEAR AND TEAR IN A JAIL ENVIRONMENT.
SO. WE'VE ALSO ACCOMPLISHED THE TRACTOR BUCKET SHREDDER AND RIDING LAWNMOWER. WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT. THANK YOU, TERESA. THERE'S A BIG ONE HERE. IT IS CALLED GRANDMA BULL LOGIC CONTROL SYSTEM. SO THAT IS BASICALLY THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS JAIL A SAFE PLACE. SO Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THE MAIN CONSOLE, THE BRAIN CENTER, THE DISPATCH CENTER ON THE SECOND FLOOR OVER HERE, WHERE YOU WALK IN THERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN AIRCRAFT CONTROLLERS ROOM WITH ALL THE MONITORS COME ALL THE RADIOS, ALL THE TELEPHONES, ALL THE INTERCOMS THROUGHOUT THE JAIL. EVERYTHING IS IN THERE. THERE IS CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THAT COMMAND CENTER AND GUARD POSTS AND GUARD CUBICLES ON EVERY SINGLE FLOOR. AND IT INVOLVES A LOT OF WIRE. A LOT OF WIRELESS, AND A LOT OF HARDWARE , AND IT IS CALLED A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROL SYSTEM. THAT, PLC. IF IT GOES DOWN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE ARE SUNK. WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER. INITIALLY, I WAS ASKING Y'ALL TO PAY FOR THAT. BUT I WILL BUY THAT OUT OF MY COMMISSARY COMMISSION ACCOUNT. I AM WILLING TO DO THAT. THAT IS WHAT THAT COMMISSARY -- THAT ROMAN NOODLE
[00:30:02]
ACCOUNTS, THAT IS WHAT THAT IS FOR. IT WILL EAT UP ABOUT HALF OF WHAT I HAVE SAVED UP. WHAT WE HAVE SAVED UP, WITH $595,000. I BELIEVE IT IS, BY GOVERNMENT CODE, IT IS AN ACCEPTABLE BUY WITH THAT MONEY. YOU CAN ONLY USE THAT MONEY FOR THE AFFAIR, AND SAFETY OF THE INMATES. I'M WILLING TO DO THAT TO SHOW YOU I HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.THAT'S IT. Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL?
>> SHERIFF, I THANK YOU FOR ENDING ON THAT NOTE. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT WE ADDRESS AS A COURT WITH EACH OF THESE REQUESTS FOR THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS THAT COME BEFORE US.
WHAT CAN YOU OFFER? BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF ASKING.
I WAS MENTIONING TO THE JUDGE THE OTHER DAY, IT SEEMS LIKE MORE THIS YEAR THAN EVER AT THIS POINT. LAST YEAR, WE HAD SOME, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WERE A HANDFUL. THIS YEAR, THERE ARE SO MANY. AND THEY ARE ALL JUSTIFIABLE. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TRIED TO MAKE THE CUTS THAT YOU HAVE, MY ONLY QUESTION IS, GOING TO THE -- AND THIS COULD BE A QUESTION FOR LATER ON. WE DON'T NEED TO ADDRESS IT RIGHT NOW. YOU'VE MADE CUTS IN A LOT OF WAYS. YOU'VE TRIED TO RECLASSIFY IN A LOT OF WAYS.
IS THERE A POINT -- I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, THE NUMBER WAS A LOT LARGER AS FAR AS UNFILLED POSITIONS, AND NOW YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN RECRUITING, BUT STILL, I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT YOUR OFFICE, YOUR DEPARTMENT, SOME FOR NONLAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS, BECAUSE THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS BETTER, OR THE ENVIRONMENT IS BETTER. THEY ARE STEPPING UP THEIR GAMES. CAN THAT NUMBER BE ADJUSTED ANYMORE THAN IT ALREADY IS? I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS BEFORE AS FAR AS ON-FIELD CORRECTIONAL OFFICER POSITIONS, BUT MAYBE NEXT TIME, AS WE ADDRESS THIS AGAIN, WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WAS BEFORE, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE NOW TO SHRINK THAT NUMBER, AND CAN THAT BE ADJUSTED ANYWAY TO HELP JUSTIFY THOSE COSTS? SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS IF WE HAVE THESE POSITIONS, AND WE BASICALLY HAVE TO FUND THEM BECAUSE YOU EXPECT THAT AMOUNT OF OFFICERS TO JUSTIFY -- THAT YOU CAN JUSTIFY AND USE THEM, BUT IF THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT ANYMORE TO HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE IN THE END -- I WILL GO ON RECORD RIGHT NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL THIS . I'M IN SUPPORT OF EVERYONE'S REQUEST. WITHIN REASON, WE HAVE TO WORK SOME OF THESE DOWN, AND I KNOW EVERYONE IS GOING TO SEE THAT, BUT OVERALL, WE, AS A COUNTY HERE, ARE TAKING A VERY DANGEROUS APPROACH IN TRYING TO SQUEEZE THIS NUMBER DOWN AND DOWN AND DOWN AND FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER, WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE REVENUE. IT IS A FINE LINE. A FINE BALANCE TO WEIGH BETWEEN WHAT KIND OF BURDEN DO WE PUT ON TAXPAYERS, BUT, IT PAINS ME, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT IS TO YOU BECAUSE YOU WORK WITH THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN ALL THIS TIME -- IT PAINS ME TO SEE SOMEONE I'M FRIENDS WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THAT THEY HAVE MOVED, AND ONE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY MOVED, BUT REALIZING IT'S GOT TO BE A WORKLIFE ISSUE. EITHER PAY OR WORK ENVIRONMENT. THESE PEOPLE ARE VETERANS IN YOUR OFFICE. I'M SURE THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION NOT AT ANY KIND OF HAPHAZARD, QUICK DECISION, BUT HAD TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IT WITH THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE INVEST ALL THAT WE CAN IN ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S, BUT YOURS IS AND SET -- ESSENTIAL.
SO LIKE I SAID, THE WAY YOU ENTERED, WANTING TO PUT SOME SKIN IN THE GAME, MEANS A LOT. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WE SEE IS A BIG NUMBER, BUT I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE HAS THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY TO AT LEAST TRY TO WORK WITH THIS, BUT REST ASSURED, I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT A BUDGET THAT IS CRAZY, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A BUDGET THAT IS STABLE THIS YEAR, WITHOUT REDUCING IN SUPPORT OF IT. ANYTIME WE WANT TO HAVE A FEEL GOOD DROP IN TAX RATE, THERE'S CONSEQUENCES.
AND I'M SURE YOU SEE THOSE ON A DAILY BASIS AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE COMING HERE TO US. MY CLOSING ITEM IS, HOW MUCH MONEY COULD WE SAVE THE BRAND-NEW JAIL WITH ALL THESE MONIES YOU
[00:35:02]
ARE TALKING ABOUT, HAVING TO ALLOCATE TO DIFFERENT AREAS. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I KNOW WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE ON THAT. I WOULD LOVE TOHAVE THAT DISCUSSION MONDAY. >> APPRECIATE THAT.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA -- I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT THE OTHER DAY -- I KNOW THAT IS A GREAT POINT ABOUT THE POSITIONS AND I'VE ASKED BEFORE IS, WELL, BUT THEIR OVERTIME BUDGET HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED THIS YEARS. THAT'S WHY HE'S ASKING FOR THOSE 57 POSITIONS OVER TIME, THAT'S THE REASON HE'S STAYING AT THAT NUMBER. I THINK THERE IS AN INCREASED ASK IN THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTUALLY OVER THAT AMOUNT.
>> JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> PLEASE. >> I DO KNOW SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, SHERIFF, THAT HAVE, EITHER RETIRED OR QUIT. AND THEY GO OUT AND WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY GET ALL THE TRAINING HERE, WE GIVE THEM ALL THE TRAINING TO GO WORK ELSEWHERE, WHERE THEY PAY THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT DOES BOTHER ME THAT YOUR HAVING TO USE CARS THAT ARE -- SHOULD'VE BEEN TURNED IN , A YEAR AGO OR WHATEVER. THE MOST EMBARRASSING THAT COULD -- THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO US, I BELIEVE, IS SOMEONE HAVE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY LOSE THEIR LIVES, AND WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THE FAMILY THAT, WELL, IT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE CAR, THE TIRE ROD OR WHATEVER HADN'T GIVEN OUT ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE. I DO AGREE WE NEED TO GET YOU SOME CARS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT WHATEVER WE CAN. THOSE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR WHAT
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. GOD BLESS Y'ALL.
>> HAVE ANY ARPA FUNDS. DO YOU HAVE ANY ARPA FUNDS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. WE SPENT ALL OF THAT DURING COVID WHEN WE WERE HOUSING PRISONERS IN VICTORIA.
>> IF THERE IS EXTRA, WHY NOT USE IT FOR IT?
>> THEY WERE MAXED OUT, ALSO. THE PERCENTAGE THAT WAS ALLOWABLE INTO ARPA, THEY USED. THEY DID TWO YEARS OR
SOMETHING. >> CERTAIN EMPLOYEES, BUT NOT ALL EMPLOYEES. THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER OPTION WE CAN LOOK AT , IF THERE ARE SOME EXTRA FUNDS, YOU KNOW. INSTEAD OF INAUDIBLE ] , MAYBE YOU CAN USE THE ARPA FUNDS AND KEEP THEM FOR TWO YEARS. THAT IS SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT, TOO. YOU KNOW. YOU CAN'T USE THE SAME EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY MAXED OUT, BUT THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES, I'M SURE, THAT CAN BE USED, AND TRANSFER THE MONEY TO THE OTHER EMPLOYEES. WHATEVER, I THINK IT'S ONLY WE CAN LOOK AT.
>> APPRECIATE IT. >> DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT
ANYTHING? >> NEXT, WE HAVE THE INAUDIBLE ] COLLECTORS. THEIR PERSONAL REQUEST, YES. THESE WOULD'VE BEEN PRINTED, EVERYONE, BUT OUR COMPUTER
PROBLEM FRIDAY STUMPED US. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE. HE IS ILL SO HE'S NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. I'M HERE IN HIS STEAD. BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I'M SIR. THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO TRY TO ADDRESS, AS WELL. IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST, IN OUR OUTLAY REQUEST, WE REQUESTED LOCKERS IN RELATION TO A MANDATE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS , WHERE THERE'S BEEN A STARTUP IMPLEMENTING WEB DEALER STATEWIDE. ALL CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE SUPPOSED TO GET ONLINE AND SEND INFORMATION TO OUR OFFICE ELECTRONICALLY. IN RELATION TO THAT, TEXTD DMV SAID THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET INVENTORY FROM OUR OFFICE.
BY THE TIME THEY DID THE BUDGET REQUEST, THEY DIDN'T DECIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT. IN PREPARATION FOR THAT, WE
[00:40:03]
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WISE TO PURCHASE SMART LOCKERS, SO THAT WE COULD ISSUE INVENTORY TO THE DEALERSHIPS, BUT THEY HAVE SINCE SENT AN EMAIL SAYING THE STATE WILL ISSUE THE INVENTORY TO THE DEALERSHIP. OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUEST FOR THOSE SMART LOCKERS IS NO LONGER NEEDED. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I BELIEVE THE REQUEST WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND $44,000. WE ARE NOT GOING TO NEED THOSE SMART LOCKERS. I WOULD REQUEST THAT OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUEST FOR THE 50 BOOTHS BE REMOVED FROM OUR BUDGET REQUEST.>> OKAY. >> AND I'M SORRY. WE JUST GOT THAT INFORMATION LIKE LESS THAN --
>> YOU HAD ALREADY PURCHASED THEM.
>> NO. WE HAVEN'T PURCHASED THEM. THIS WAS JUST A REQUEST.
WE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO NEED THOSE SMART LOCKERS. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IT BE REMOVED FROM OUR BUDGET REQUEST.
>> THANK YOU. >> ALSO, IN RELATION TO THAT, WE DID REQUEST AN INCREASED IN OUR LINE ITEM 5311 SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, WHICH INCLUDES OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE RELATED TO OUR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEES AND SOFTWARE FEES. AND WE HAVE TWO ITEMS IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO TO NEED, AS WELL. SO WE ARE GOING TO REQUEST THAT FOR LINE ITEM 5311, WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OF 9000 $353. WE NO LONGER NEED AS MUCH BECAUSE WE NO LONGER NEED THE ] HARDWARE. SO WE ARE GOING TO AMEND THAT REQUEST TO BE DECREASED TO $6497. LINE ITEM 5311. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
RELATED TO THAT? >> SO I SEE TWO PAGES, PLUS OR MINUS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THE ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT IS THE NET INCREASE THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR?
>> ARE GENERAL EXPENSES, I BELIEVE IT WAS $11,000 DECREASE OVERALL. SO WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY NEED LESS MONEY NOW THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DECREASING 5311 TWO $6497.
>> YOU ARE JUST SHUFFLING MONEY AROUND. I SAY THAT WITH GREAT RESPECT. TO WHERE YOU ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PERSONNEL YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF .
>> THE PERSONNEL WAS SOMETHING SEPARATE. THIS IS JUST OUR GENERAL EXPENDITURES. AND OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY THAT I WAS
THINKING ABOUT. >> SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS OVERALL, FOR THE ENTIRE, ALL THE FUNDS YOU HAVE TOGETHER, WHAT IS THE NET INCREASE, DECREASE, OR WHATEVER, FOR THE
OVERALL ASK? >> THE OVERALL ASK, INCLUDING
>> OKAY. >> IT IS APPROXIMATELY 110 --
$110,000. >> $110,000 APPROXIMATE INCREASE FOR EVERY FUND YOU HAVE INCLUDED COMBINED.
>> THAT IS WHAT I NEEDED. THANK YOU.
>> NOW, REGARDING EMPLOYEES' RESTRUCTURING, WE ARE TRYING TO RECLASSIFY ALL OUR EMPLOYEES SO ACROSS THE BOARD, ALL OF OUR CLERKS WILL ALL BE THE SAME. WE ARE REQUESTING REGARDING EMPLOYEES ONLY IS A -- LET'S SEE HERE. IT IS A NET INCREASE OF 110,000, $176. THAT INCREASE, JUST FOR EMPLOYEES.
NOW, PART OF THAT, WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT. AND WE HAVE TWO FROZEN POSITIONS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE SACRIFICING TO OFFSET THE EXPENSE TO RECLASSIFY THESE EMPLOYEES. SO BY DOING THAT, GIVING UP THOSE FIVE EMPLOYEES, WE STILL ARE DEFICIENT, AND WE ARE REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF 110,106 . -- $110,176. OUT OF THOSE INCREASES, WE COLLECT A PARCEL FEE, MEANING WE OFFSET THE COST TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE PROPERTY TAXES, ALL THE TAX ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY, THROUGH A PARCEL FEE. SO SOME OF THIS INCREASE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING IN BUDGET WILL BE RECAPTURED IN THE PARCEL FEE.
WE ESTIMATE THAT THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,000 THAT WE WOULD RECOUP FROM THE TAX INCREASE.
IN THE FORM OF A PARCEL FEE. THAT IS JUST AN ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT. THAT IS HOW MUCH WE WOULD INCREASE OUR BUDGET TO THE TAX PAYMENTS TO RECOUP. NOW, THE RELINQUISHING OF THE
[00:45:03]
FIVE EMPLOYEE POSITIONS WE HAVE IS CONTINGENT ON THE INCREASE.SO IF WE DON'T GET THE INCREASE, WE STILL WANT TO RETAIN THOSE FIVE POSITIONS. WE DON'T WANT TO RELINQUISH THOSE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, WE DO COLLECT AN AMOUNT OF FEES FOR THE COUNTY ITSELF. LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE COLLECTED A LITTLE OVER $11 MILLION JUST IN FEES, NOT INCLUDING TAXES THAT WE HAVE THAT CAME TO OUR OFFICE THAT WERE THEN TURNED OVER BACK TO THE COUNTY. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST THE RECLASSIFICATION AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, CREATION OF THESE NEW POSITIONS, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE THE STAFF ALL THE SAME, WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY USE THEM IN MORE PLACES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT SPECIALIZED POSITIONS. THEY WOULD ALL BE AT THE SAME LEVEL OF 18. SO WE HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE 15 AND 16, WHICH ARE CLERKS. THEY WOULD ALL BE RECLASSIFIED AS 18S.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYONE? SO YOU ARE STILL SAYING THAT WITH THE EMPLOYEE CHANGES, WITH DELETING THE FIVE POSITIONS WITH YOUR INCREASE AND OFFICE CLERICAL, WHATEVER OFFICE EXPENSES, WITH YOUR INCREASE TO THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES , THAT YOU COLLECT FROM THIS ASK WOULD STILL BE AN ADDITIONAL 110,000
>> THAT'S ALL WE NEED. >> OKAY POINT
>> EXCUSE ME. I THINK IT MAY BE EVEN LESS THAN THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE REDUCING POSTAGE FOR THIS YEAR. SO WHEN YOU BACK OUT THE POSTAGE STEPS BUDGETING RIGHT NOW, IT IS 14,716
INCREASE. >> WITH POSTAGE, IT COMES AND GOES EVERY OTHER YEAR. THEY ARE GOING TO CUT IT THIS YEAR.
IT'S GOING TO COME RIGHT BACK. AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK YOU FOR IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. SO WHATEVER THEY SAVE ON POSTAGE THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO COME RIGHT BACK
NEXT YEAR. >> AND IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
16 YEARS AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
>> IT IS A STATE MANDATE THAT WE HAVE TO MAIL OUT THE VOTER
>> IT IS STILL COMING OUT NEXT YEAR.
>> YOU GOT IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS, ANYBODY?
>> I THINK WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS THE JP 1. ARE THEY OUTSIDE OR HERE ANYWHERE? EDWARD, YOU JUST HAPPEN TO BE BACK THERE AT THE DOOR. THANK YOU. WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG. IF -- DO YOU WANT TO LET PEYTON AND THEM KNOW TO CONTACT EVERYBODY TO BE WATCHING?
>> IT SUPPOSED TO BE ALTOGETHER, RIGHT? J-P.
>> IF THEY ARE NOT HERE, WHY DON'T WE JUMP AHEAD TO EDWARD SO HE CAN GET OUT OF HERE ? WE ONLY ALLOW 15 MINUTES EACH FOR
THEM, SO. YES SIR. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. THANK YOU. YES. AND THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME OUT AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. I WOULD LIKE TO GO CHECK OUT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLINIC THAT WE ARE HAVING. I KNOW COMMISSIONER IS OUT THERE THIS MORNING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER UNITS WERE DROPPED OFF.
>> DO WE HAVE ONE OF THESE FOR YOU OR ANYTHING?
>> NO. I'M JUST GOING BY THE BUDGET THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED.
>> ALL OF THE PERSONAL REQUESTS WERE IN THE BUDGET PACKET THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. HOWEVER, IF THERE HAVE BEEN MODIFICATIONS SINCE, THAT MAY NOT BE REFLECTED IN WHAT WE
GAVE YOU. >> I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT PAGE
THEY ARE ON. >> WELL, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT INTERIM PARKS, IT'S ON PAGE 24.
>> I THINK THE NUMBERS CHANGED.
>> YEAH. SOMEHOW, DISTRICT CLERK GOT OUT OF ORDER. I FOUND
MINE IN MY BOOK. >> IT WILL BE 01 78 AND 4190.
>> SOMEHOW, IT GOT OUT OF ORDER. I'M SORRY.
[00:50:01]
>> IT USED TO BE 34. >> YEAH. 34 IS DISTRICT CLERK
>> SEE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR 01 71ST. CORRECT. THAT'S
THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE HERE. >> SO,
>> THERE IS NOTHING IN MY OTHER ONE.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR IT. I APOLOGIZE.
>> WELL, LET ME START. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THE OPERATIONS FOR BOTH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PARKS OPERATES THROUGHOUT NUECES COUNTY. WE GO FROM WE ARE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE COUNTY AS FAR AS THE RULES SECTION OF THE COUNTY. WE RUN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE RUN HEATING, COOLING. WE DO A LOT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO TO PREFACE THAT, WE ARE LOOKING TO, AS FAR AS INLAND PARKS, WE ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD PUSHED BACK LAST YEAR. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ALSO INCLUDE INTO THIS BUDGET, PARKER POOL. PARKER POOL WAS A SEPARATE ITEM, BUT NOW WE ARE GOING TO PUSH IT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO INCLUDED INTO OUR PARKS, AS WELL. DO YOU WANT ME TO --
>> NO, GO AHEAD. YOU STARTED. >> I APOLOGIZE. THE ORDER WAS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS BRIEFING SCHEDULE, AND WHENEVER THAT WAS UPDATED, THEY DIDN'T REDO THE BOOKS FOR THE TIME. I
APOLOGIZE. >> WHAT PAGE IS THAT, LISA?
>> PAGE 375 IS WORSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICES BEGAN . IN THIS GREAT BIG BOOK. YES. BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS DONE
ORIGINALLY . I APOLOGIZE. >> WHAT PAGE IS THAT, LISA?
>> PAGE 375 IS WHERE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICES BEGAN
>> THEY WERE PLACED IN ORDER BASED ON THE JULY 9TH SCHEDULE.
AND SO ON THE JULY 9TH SCHEDULE, IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR 4:30 TO 5:00. AND SO, THEREFORE, ON THE JULY 9TH SCHEDULE, IT WAS ON PAGE 375 FOR SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AND THEN INLAND PARKS BEGINS ON PAGE -- I'M TRYING TO GET
THERE. 383. >> THERE'S COUNTY LIBRARY ON
383 POINT >> YOU ARE IN THE FIRST VERSION OF THE BOOK. THOSE WERE BASED ON NUMBER ORDER. THEN WE TRIED TO REORGANIZE IT BASED ON THE SCHEDULE AND WHENEVER THE SCHEDULE GOT REDONE BECAUSE IT WAS MOVED AGAIN, WE DID ANOTHER PRINTING OF THE BOOKS A SECOND TIME.
>> I DON'T THINK I GOT IT. >> YOU MIGHT BE ON PAGE 34, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S INLAND PARKS IS 34 POINT
>> IN THE ORIGINAL, IT IS PAGE 34.
>> 350 IS GOING TO BE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THAT HELPS.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE LOOKING AT COMBINING PARKER POOL WITH INLAND PARKS . THAT IS GOING TO BE A $52,000 ASK THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE MOVING OVER. THE INCLUSION OF ALL THE PERKS IS THE ONE GROUP IS YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
>> EDWARD WANTED IT. >> THE THING, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE BEEN IT -- IN IT. WE KNOW HOW THE GROUP OPERATES. WE KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND IT. FOR US, IT HAS NOW BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY, SO TO SPEAK. SO WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. TO THAT END, THOUGH, WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING SPLASH PADS AND TAKING CARE OF THIS POOL . MAYBE HOPEFULLY BUILD ANOTHER SPLASH PAD. WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE . SO THE EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO BE KIND OF LIKE A POOL/ SPLASH PAD PERSON.
[00:55:12]
THEY CAN DO, WITH THE WARRANTIES AND STUFF RUNNING OUT, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FIX STUFF, ADD CHEMICALS, THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE ARE GOING TO BE NEEDING GOING INTO THE FUTURE SO WE CAN DEDICATE SOMEBODY TO DO ALL THESE LOCATIONS. ANOTHER THING THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS EQUIPMENT UPGRADES THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR PARKS, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT,BUSINESS EQUIPMENT. >> I THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF
YOUR ARE ABOUT MONEY. >> YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, JUDGE, THAT IS BRAND NEW STUFF WE ARE ADDING IN. THERE ARE PORTIONS NOT BEING TOUCHED THAT WE WANT TO ADD NEW EQUIPMENT IN THE FUTURE.
>> HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING ON THAT? WHICH LINE ITEM? YOUR ASK
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON 70 POINT PARKS.
>> ABOUT 450,000 FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
>> I WAS LOOKING ON THIS REQUEST.
>> YES. >> OH. OKAY. THAT IS FROM
>> SO PLAYGROUND AGREEMENT IS NOT CHEAP ANYMORE. A SWINGSET IS GOING TO COST YOU ABOUT $5000.
>> THIS IS A.D.A. >> ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A.D.A. A LOT OF OUR PRODUCTS ARE GOING THAT ROUTE. THEY STARTED OUR 88 PARKS AND THE COMMISSIONER PICKED UP ON IT. WE ARE INCLUDING A LOT OF MORE INCLUSIVE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT INTO OUR PARK AREAS. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO REPLACE SOME OF OUR VEHICLES. YOU KNOW. THEY ARE 200,000 MILES PLUS. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY NEW VEHICLES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACED.
>> NOBODY GOT ANY. LET'S BE CLEAR. EVERYONE SAYS THAT. THAT COMES HERE. WE CUT THAT OFF LAST YEAR POINT
>> AND JUST LIKE THAT SHERIFF, WE WANT TO RETAIN OUR PEOPLE, SO WE ARE ASKING FOR INCREASES ON THAT FOR THEM.
ON THE 4190 SIDE, AGAIN, WE ARE ASKING FOR VEHICLES -- 15 PASSENGER VAN VEHICLES . WE DO TRANSPORT SENIORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, TO AND FROM DOCTORS VISITS, LOCATIONS, GOING SHOPPING, DOING, AS PART OF OUR GRANT OPERATION PROGRAM. WE ARE AGAIN LOOKING AT RETURNING HER FUNDING TO WHERE WE WERE AT PRIOR TO CUTS LAST YEAR. AND WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT MAKING CHANGES TO OUR PERSONNEL, AS WELL.
>> YOU ARE ADDING ONE NEW PERSON THERE, TOO?
>> WE ARE ASKING -- WE MAY ASK IN TWO YEARS FOR A DRIVER, BUT THAT WILL BE IN ABOUT TWO YEARS. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER JACK ON OUR ARPA GRANT PERSON SO WE CAN HAVE TRANSPORTATION, THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT, AT THE SAME TIME THEY SUPPORT US IN TRANSPORT, AS WELL.
>> A NEW POSITION ON HERE. OKAY.
>> YOUR NEW POSITION IS THE CERTIFIED POOL OPERATOR AT THE
BOTTOM. >> AT THE BOTTOM, BUT AT THE TOP, IT SAYS OPERATIONS CLERK, NEW POSITION, TOO.
>> THAT IS CUTTING HER CUSTODIAN AND CREATING OPERATIONS CLERK OUT OF THAT. SO IT IS JUST A WASH, THAT ONE POSITION. OKAY. YES. I WAS SEEING TWO POSITIONS CREATED,
>> CUTTING A CUSTODIAN AND PUTTING IN OPERATIONS CLERK IN.
>> ON THE NEW ONE. >> WE JUST CHANGED.
[01:00:07]
>> SO THE TOTAL ASK, OTHER THAN EQUIPMENT AND STUFF THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR TODAY LOOKS LIKE 289 . 289,000.
>> 915,000? 915,000? >> NO. THAT IS WITH CAPITAL.
>> WE INCLUDE CAPITAL ON EVERYTHING, IT IS 1,000,084
1,840,000. >> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OPERATING ASK, THAT IS AROUND -- SPOKE TO 93.
>> 293. >> YOU KNOW HOW WE DO IT. THIS ALLOWS US TO GO BACK TO DOING HER CLEANUPS, ART TIRE CLEANUPS. OUR SUPPORT OPERATION ROLES. THAT IS WHAT WE ASK.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVERETT. >> JP 1 IS UP FIRST. 11.
>> CLEARED BY THE OTHER JPS IF I COME UP HERE POINT THANK YOU, HONORABLE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
>> WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DO OUR BEST IN PROVIDING A FULL DAY AT WORK. IT IS THE TOP REVENUE RECEIVER AND CONTINUES TO BE.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS JUSTICE FOR ALL AND NOT THE FUNDS. OUR OFFICE IS OPEN FROM 8:00 TO 5:00 P.M. WE ARE OPEN DURING LUNCH HOURS. WE CALL IT A MILITARY CHILD TIME. -- CHOW TIME. WE WERE GIVING -- GIVEN A SURPRISE AUDIT. FROM FAMILY CODE, PROPERTY CODE, CODES FOR OUR OFFICE, OUR EMPLOYEES TAKE VERBAL ABUSE FROM OUR CUSTOMERS BUT I DO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE TIME TO REGROUP AND OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A COUNSEL ASSIGNED BETWEEN THE COURTS OF ONE ONE AND 12. IT CONTINUES TO GET CROWDED AND PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED. I HAVE REQUESTED FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS TO HAVE A BAILIFF TO MONITOR OUR FRONT OFFICES ON A PERMANENT BASIS TO NO AVAIL. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. LASTLY, PLEASE, I DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET A THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT. OUR OFFICE REQUESTED CHANGES IN THE 2024-2025 BUDGET YEAR. WE HAVE REQUESTED A FIVE TIER FILING CABINETS. RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THE CASES ARE JUST PUT INTO BOXES AND LOADED INTO THE CORNER. IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD. THAT IS STANDARD ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT WOULD BE ONE CABINET, A FIVE TIER FILING
>> SAY AGAIN, SIR? >> ANYTHING YOU NEED IN FURNITURE SHOULD GO TO CAPITAL OUTLAY POINT
>> YES HER. I'M JUST EXPLAINING MYSELF SO YOU KNOW.
YES SIR. YES OR POINT I'M JUST --
>> YES SIR. IT COMES OUT OF CAPITAL OUTLAY DEPARTMENT.
ASK FOR IT. >> YOU ASK FOR IT, YES.
>> OKAY. ALSO, THE JURY CHAIRS. WE REQUESTED THIS QUITE SOME TIME WHILE YOU ARE COMMISSIONER, AND SO THEY ARE ANTIQUATED. THE CHAIRS IN THE NEED TO BE UPDATED. ALSO, NEW CHAIRS FOR MY BOARD ROOM AND OFFICE. TOO. AND WE NEED ALSO, A BAILIFF JERK, A WITNESS SHARE, AND WITNESS CHAIRS. ALL THESE CHAIRS I'M BRINGING UP, I REQUESTED A LONG TIME AGO. EVEN CAPITAL OUTLAY, THAT IS FINE, BUT THOSE CHAIRS, I REQUESTED EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO, AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND WE ARE REQUESTING AGAINST MATURE THAT WE GET THOSE CHAIRS ON THE BOARD.
[01:05:01]
>> SO HAVE YOU REQUESTED THIS RECENTLY?
>> THE COST IS OVER -- IF IT IS UNDER 50,000 , YOU PRETTY MUCH GO AHEAD. IF IT IS OVER THAT AMOUNT, THEN IT NEEDS TO COME
HERE BEFORE ALL OF YOU. >> YES SIR.
>> YES MA'AM. THAT IS ALL I HAVE. I THINK Y'ALL SO MUCH
FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO. >> WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL ASK FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT, NOT CAPITAL OUTLAY PERSONNEL?
>> I DIDN'T GET THAT. >> 8000 POINT
>> 1000. I DIDN'T BRING THAT UP HERE. THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE A FEW YEARS. WE HAVE MANAGED TO COMPLETE OUR WORK WITH THE BUDGET THAT Y'ALL GIVE US EVERY YEAR, AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT IT'S COMING TIME THAT WE NEED SOME HELP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE JUST THREE ITEMS WITH YOU THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER. ONE IS, AS THE JUDGE SHARED WITH YOU , WE HAVE CHAIRS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALL OF OUR CHAIRS ARE OVER 12 YEARS OLD. WE CHECKED WITH SOME FURNITURE STORES AND THEY STATED THAT CHAIRS USUALLY LAST, YOU KNOW, ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS. THEY ARE A LITTLE OLD. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
SO WE ARE ASKING THAT AT LEAST 10 OF OUR CHAIRS THAT WE LOOKED AT THAT NEED SOME HELP, BE REPLACED WITH SOME NEW CHAIRS, AND SO WE ARE ASKING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT , YOU KNOW, HELP US IN THAT AREA. WE HAVE A NICE COURT. EVERYTHING IS KEPT REAL WELL, BUT SOMETIMES, THINGS NEED REPLACING, AND SO WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU HELP US WITH THE REPLACEMENTS AND CHAIRS THAT WE NEED. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, BUT ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE AT OUR WINDOW THAT GREET CUSTOMERS, WELL, NOT CUSTOMERS, BUT PEOPLE THAT COME TO COURT , SOME OF THEM MAY COME A LITTLE ILL. THEY COUGH. THEY SNEEZE. THEY HAVE TYPES OF AIRBORNE TYPE OF BACTERIA DISEASE THAT TRANSMIT RIGHT ACROSS OUR STAFF'S FACE. WHAT WE ARE ASKING THAT MAY HELP IN THIS CLOSENESS BETWEEN THE PERSON THAT VISITS OUR COURT, WHICH MANY ARE UNHAPPY BECAUSE THEY COME TO PAY A TICKET OR SOMETHING, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY. BUT YOU KIND OF HELP US WITH THAT. WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR SOME MICROPHONES, AND I'M SURE JUDGE WOULD WELCOME THIS AS WELL. TO KEEP DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PERSON THAT COMES TO THE WINDOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SITUATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR STAFF A LITTLE BIT I DON'T THINK THIS IS A VERY COSTLY ITEM. I DON'T KNOW PRICES. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP MY STAFF AS THEY GREET PEOPLE EVERY MORNING, AS YOU KNOW, AND JP COURTS ARE VERY BUSY COURTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN EVERY DAY.
THE LAST THING IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
THERE IS AN OLD EXPRESSION THAT SAYS , BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE. YOU KNOW. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO MYSELF AND MY STAFF. WE WANT TO BE THE BEST WE CAN BE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN DO IN OUR COURTS, AND IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, WE NEED SOME UPDATES, TRAINING. WE NEED TO ATTEND SEMINARS. WE NEED TO ATTEND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. ONE TIME, WE DID HAVE A BUDGET OF $4000 TO TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY STAFF, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UPDATE OURSELVES IN TRAINING TO BE THE BEST WE CAN BE. AND SO WE ARE ASKING THAT WE JUST -- A LITTLE MORE -- IF WE COULD HAVE THE $4000 WE HAD AT ONE TIME. LAST YEAR, WE WERE GIVEN 500, WHICH BARELY COVERED MY EXPENSES OF A REQUIRED 20 HOUR TRAINING PROGRAM THAT I HAD TO GO TO EVERY YEAR , THAT IS REQUIRED OF ALL THE JUDGES. THE BUDGET WAS JUST BARELY COVERED BY EXPENSES. NOW, THE GOOD PART IS, THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE PROVIDED FREE OF
[01:10:06]
CHARGE. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE JUDGE. THE CHARGE COMES IN THE TRAVEL AND THE HOTEL WE HAVE TO STAY AT. THEY DON'T COVER THAT. THEY DO PROVIDE US WITH THE TRAINING THAT WE NEED TO STAY CURRENT. THESE ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT I SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THESE THREE ITEMS, THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US THIS COMING YEAR. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I WISH YOU A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.>> AND THE SAME FOR YOU , AS THE CAPITAL OUTLAY WITH THE CHAIRS AND THE REQUEST. THE SAME AS WHAT WE JUST TOLD THE
JUDGE. >> LET ME TELL YOU A QUICK STORY. WHEN WE ASKED FOR THESE CHAIRS, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT SAID, WELL, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THIS.
WE WOULD DO IT OUT OF OUR BUDGET INSTEAD OF OUT OF YOUR BUDGET. I SAID, THE WORD THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US. SO I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET ME GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN THE BUDGET. IF YOU CAN HELP US, THAT IS LESS MONEY WE HAVE TO USE. WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY. THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE IT FOR US. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WORK ON MIGHT. I WORK ON ASSURANCE. AND SO, THAT IS PART OF OUR BUDGET. BUT HOPEFULLY, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BOBBY GONZALEZ.
TOPICS. I KNOW THIS IS A BUDGET HEARING, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE RURAL AREA WHERE WE ARE DEALING WITH, AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT NEED. MAY I PROCEED,
JUDGE? >> YES, PLEASE. I'M SORRY.
>> IT'S OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T PRESENT A BUDGET, I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I REPRESENT VITAL STATISTICS FOR THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, SO LATER ON WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO MERGE THE VITAL STATS OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS OUT OF PRECINCT 5, USING 51, PRECINCT 52, AND PRECINCT 13, BIRTHS AND DEATHS ARE PART OF THE COUNTY. LATER ON, I WILL COME TO THAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
ANOTHER TOPIC I NEED IS I NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME CHEMISTS IN OUR BUILDING. OUR BUILDING IS GETTING BUSIER.
INAUDIBLE ] WE HAVE NO CAMERAS OUT THERE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. WE ARE LOOKING SO THAT HOPEFULLY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT -- WE CAN INVEST IN CHEMIST TO PROTECT THE STAFF WE HAVE, BUT ALSO, OUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $2000 ON THAT ONE. I WOULD ALSO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT IN OUR BUILDING, WE HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT COME ACROSS OUR BUILDING. WE ONLY HAVE PROBABLY A 24 BY 32 WINDOW . WE ARE HOPING THAT THE COUNTY WOULD INVEST IN THAT OR ALLOW ME TO LOOK AT THAT COME TO SEE THE PRICE ON AN ITEM , WHAT THAT MIGHT BE. ITEM NUMBER 4, IS MAYBE A RACE FOR OUR CHIEF AND OUR CLERKS.
JP CLERKS GET PAID LESS THAN COUNTY COURT CLERKS AND ART HEAD CLERK GETS $21 AN HOUR. OUR REGULAR CLERKS MAKE $15 AN HOUR, AND YET THEY HANDLE ABOUT 3 TO 5000 CASES PER YEAR. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE, IN REFERENCE TO THAT, IF I.T. -- INAUDIBLE ] AN MO YOU FROM YOU GUYS TO TAKE PAYMENTS THROUGH THE PHONE. I'M SORRY. A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED IN REFERENCE TO CITATION. THEY WANT TO DO THE OPCS PAYMENT PLAN. THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU THEIR CREDIT CARD NUMBER SO THEY CAN REMOVE THE HOLD ON THEIR LICENSE. THAT IS A TOLL THAT WOULD BE USED BY OUR COURT AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES AT THE JP LEVEL THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO AT THIS TIME. I THINK THAT WOULD BRING AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF REVENUE JUST LIKE THE PAYMENT PLAN ON THE WEBSITE, THE WEB PAYMENTS DID. WHEN MARK TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT, IS I'M LOOKING FOR HOPEFULLY A 10% RAISE FOR ME. I SERVE ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. ABOUT $8000. I SERVE ON THE JPCA COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT JUDGES ARE TAUGHT THE TOOLS THEY NEED FOR WHAT COMES ACROSS THEIR DESK. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY FOR STUFF, WE HAVE A LOT OF MODULES THAT THEY GOT DURING SOME OF THE DOWNTIME THAT WE HAVE. NOT SO MUCH DOWNTIME. WE MAKE THE
[01:15:05]
DOWNTIME TO TAKE IN OUR CLASS HERE, EIGHT TO OUR CLASS TO CATCH UP WITH SOME OF THE MATERIAL THAT IS COMING UP.THAT IS BEING PUSHED BY OUR JPCA AND THE TRAINING STANDARD.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE , THE JPCA, OF WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO COME IN THE LAST SESSION WE HAD 717 BILLS PROPOSED IN UNFUNDED MANDATES OR MANDATES THAT WOULD NOT MAKE IT A COURT FRIENDLY -- THE JP COURT -- ONLY 11 OF THEM WERE ABLE TO BECOME LAW. THAT IS THE REASON I'M LOOKING FOR THAT MONEY, TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH TO AUSTIN WHEN WE TESTIFY TO COMMITTEES. WE HAVE A PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO JPS AND THE COUNTY. WE ARE A SUB COMMITTEE DISCUSSING INQUESTS . AT THIS POINT, JPS ARE LIABLE TO BE SUED IF AN INQUEST HAS BEEN DONE IMPROPERLY OR THE FAMILY WANTS TO CHALLENGE IT. WE ARE PUTTING A BILL TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW JPS TO NOT BE SUED IN CASE SOMEONE WANTS TO CHALLENGE THE REASON SOMEONE PASSED AWAY, AND ALSO, THE MES.
THERE WOULD BE NO CHANCE TO SUE A ME BECAUSE WE HAVE MES, TO MAYBE 1 MILLION AT MOST. THAT IS STILL IN SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS I WORKED ON.
] WE HAVE WORKED ON THAT TO TACKLE THAT. I DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH SPACEK'S AND TESLA. NEW PUMP STATIONS. NEW PIPELINES . NOT ONLY FROM NUECES COUNTY STARTING IN MIDLAND COME ALL THE WAY TO OUR PRECINCT AND PORT. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. DIVERSIFICATION THAT I HAVE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. I KNOW I DIDN'T GIVE YOU A NUMBER, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WE DO AT JP TO PROMOTE NOT ONLY OUR JOB BUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT KEEP PEOPLE GOING IN OUR PART OF THE COUNTY. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU. AND HE QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NEXT UP, WE HAVE VETERAN
SERVICES. JJ. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE,
COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD. HOW ABOUT YOURSELF? I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER 1275, VETERAN SERVICES POINT 1397, WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE SAME, WHICH IS THE VETERANS CEMETERY. IT IS A $9000 PER YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET. WE ARE STAYING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS. 5210, OFFICE EXPENSES. LAST YEAR, WE HAD $2500 BUDGETED. I REQUESTED $3500 THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE WILL BRING ON TWO ADDITIONAL STAFF FROM SOCIAL SERVICES. 2230, TELEPHONE AND UTILITIES -- REQUESTED A BUMP OF $1000 ANNUALLY .5240, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF VEHICLES. WE REQUESTED $200, BUT I WILL NEED TO CHANGE THIS. WE ARE REQUESTING 1000, SINCE WE DO HAVE THAT NEW TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT WAS DONATED TO OUR OFFICE, AND THAT 16 FOOT UTILITY TRADER THAT WAS ALSO DONATED, SO IN CASE A TIRE GOES OUT OR A WINDSHIELD WIPER OR SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE ARE REQUESTING $1000 IN TOTAL SO IT'S AN INCREASE OF $800. 5300, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXPENSES.
WE ARE REQUESTING $2000. I BELIEVE WE ALWAYS REQUEST 1000.
WE ARE REQUESTING A $1000 INCREASE SO WE CAN CONTINUE MAINTAINING THAT SOFTWARE. THAT SOFTWARE ALLOWS US TO COMPOSE, CEMENT, AND TRACK VA CLAIMS AND APPEALS THROUGH THE VA DATABASE. THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. AS FAR AS THE BUILDING SPACE AND RENTS, 5422, THAT WILL GO TO ZERO BECAUSE WE WILL BE MOVING BACK TO THE COURTHOUSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE FOR SAVINGS. 5422. 3510, OTHER EXPENSES POINT WE DID REQUEST AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 300, ACTUALLY $490, AND THAT IS SO WE CAN CONTINUE PRINTING OUR VETERAN QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS. I KNOW THAT WAS A CONCERN FOR OUR VETERANS. WE ARE ASKING FOR $490 INCREASE THERE SO WE CAN CONTINUE OUR COURT NEWSLETTERS AND ARE CRAMPED BROCHURES.
5540. THIS IS THE TRAVEL. WE ARE REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF $500. A TOTAL OF $2000, SO WE CAN CONTINUE OUR TRAINING FOR CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION PURPOSES. AS I MENTIONED, IN
[01:20:04]
THE BUDGET REQUEST, I DID LIST A TRUCK LEASE REQUEST, WHICH WAS ABOUT $17,824 ANNUALLY. WE CAN ELIMINATE THAT SINCE WE GOT THE DONATION OF THE BIGGER TRUCK. THAT IS A CHANGE. I WON'T REQUEST THAT IN THE BUDGET. WE WILL NEED FUEL, WHICH IS ROUGHLY $7200 ANNUALLY. AND $500 OF INSURANCEFOR THE PICKUP TRUCK. >> AND WILL THAT BE A WASH? BEFORE, DIDN'T YOU HAVE A VEHICLE ALLOWANCE? NOW YOU HAVE A TRUCK, SO SOME OF THAT IS A WASH.
>> IT IS GOING TO BE OBSERVED.
>> AS FAR AS PERSONNEL, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I DID REQUEST TWO ADMIN SECRETARIES AND TWO ASSISTANT VSOS. THAT IS ROUGHLY $150,000 IN TOTAL. I DID LIST IN YOUR PACKET SOME STATISTICAL DATA FROM ADJACENT COUNTIES AND THEIR VSO OFFICES.
I TRIED TO LOOK AT THAT COUNTY. THEIR OFFICE HAS 500 LESS VETERANS IN THEIR COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE 10 STAFF IN THEIR OFFICE. WE HAVE SIX VSOS. TWO ADMIN SECRETARIES . WE HAVE ONE VSO .1 ADMIN ASSISTANT. WE ARE TRYING TO , YOU KNOW, SHOW THAT THE NEED IS THERE. ANY TIME WE WHEN A CLAIM, WE BRING REVENUE TO THE COUNTY, SO IF A VETERAN GETS 100% DISABILITY, THEY GET $4000 A MONTH AND THAT IS MONEY THEY SPEND HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THE MORE CLAIMS WE WENT, THE MORE REVENUE WE BRING INTO THE COUNTY. I DID ALSO LIST THE TWO PERSONNEL THAT ARE COMING IN FROM SOCIAL SERVICES ON THE BUDGET.
ASK FOR AN INCREASE TO MY SALARY SO I CAN GET IN LINE WITH MORE OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT HAVE THE SAME STAFFING LEVELS AND WORK ASSIGNMENTS. BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S $200,000 IN TOTAL. THE TOTAL REQUEST. AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO CHANGES FOR THE CEMETERY. 1397. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ASK -- ANSWER, JUDGE AND
COMMISSIONERS? >> THE TOTAL REQUEST THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR -- THE PERSONAL YOU ARE SAYING IS 278,000 , WITH ADDITIONAL COST, IS 340,000, BUT WHAT YOUR TOTAL ASK FOR IS -- DO YOU KNOW THAT?
>> SO TOTAL WITH THE POSITIONS COMING IN FROM SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH SHOULD BE A WASH -- THEY SHOULD BRING IN THEIR OWN INCOME, I BELIEVE IT IS -- IN TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY $200,000,
>> YES. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. CONGRATS ON THAT NEW TRUCK. IT IS VERY
NICE. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> NEXT UP IS HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TOLD 45 AND DEPARTMENT 80.
>> ARE AT, JUDGE, I THOUGHT I WAS ON FOR 11:15.
>> WE HAVE A NEW SCHEDULE. YOU ARE 10:45 AND 11:00, AND WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO PAY
ATTENTION . >> YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL OTHER
>> COUNTY, I HAVE SENT YOU A NEW PRESENTATION JUST NOW.
COULD YOU BRING THAT UP? I WAS GOING TO PRINT THAT OUT FOR THE COURT, BUT SEEING AS I'M OUT OF TIME , I ASK IF YOU CAN BRING THAT UP.
>> IT IS NOT A BAD THING. ALTHOUGH, THIS IS JUST HEARING EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OUR BUDGET IS. IT IS EASY TO SIT HERE AND JUST LISTEN.
[01:25:07]
>> IT HASN'T COME THROUGH YET.
>> IT HASN'T COME THROUGH. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE COURT HAS HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, AND I TOOK A GREAT, DETAILED LOOK AT MY BUDGET TO SEE IF, NUMBER ONE, IT WAS ACCURATE, AND NUMBER TWO, WHERE I COULD MAKE ANY CHANGES IF NECESSARY. BASED ON MY REVIEW OF THE BUDGET, I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH DEANNA ON FRIDAY , AND ALSO SPOKE TO TERESA. THERE WERE SOME ERRORS THAT I MADE POINT I KIND OF PANICKED AND I THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE REQUESTS WERE NOT INCLUDED. SUCH AS LINKEDIN LEARNING AND E SCALES. IT WAS ACTUALLY INCLUDED. I CORRECTED THAT. AND AS A RESULT, MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN MY ORIGINAL BUDGET REQUEST , WHICH ORIGINALLY TOTALED $189,385 BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THE REVIEW THAT I CONDUCTED, THE CHANGES THAT I MADE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THAT BUDGET REQUEST AMENDED FROM $189,385 DOWN TO $67,000 .
DID THAT COME THROUGH YET? >> WHICH ONE DID YOU WANT?
INAUDIBLE ] >> BUDGET WORKSHOP SUMMARY MEMO. 722 UPDATE.
>> 22. >> IN THIS REQUEST THAT I HAVE PRESENTED BEFORE THE COURT, I DID A REVIEW OF -- ] I ACTUALLY REVIEWED ONE OF MY ASSOCIATES' TIME. MELINDA ROBINSON. SHE IS PUTTING IN SIGNIFICANT TIME, AND BASED ON THAT, WHICH I WILL PRESENT TO THE COURT IN A SEPARATE DOCUMENT, I HAVE PREPARED , BUT I DON'T HAVE WITH ME RIGHT NOW. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. THEY SHOW THAT SHE WORKED ABOUT 607 HOURS OVER SINCE 10/1/23 WHEN HER POSITION WAS APPROVED.
BASED ON THAT AND THE WORK THAT MY STAFF HAS, COMBINED WITH THE REALITY THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DEFERMENTS THAT REALLY NEED KEY POSITIONS, I'VE REQUESTED IN MY BUDGET REQUEST FULL-TIME TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST, WHICH WILL BASICALLY DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE SHERIFF WAS DOING PREVIOUSLY BY SOURCING SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO LOOKING AT LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TEAM. TO REALLY SOURCE AND ATTRACT TOP TALENT. THAT WOULD BE A KEY POSITION FOR US, WHICH WOULD BE PAY GRADE 24. IT WOULD BE ABOUT $29,800 POSITION. WITH BENEFITS THAT COMES TO ABOUT $60,429. THEN I REQUESTED RECLASSIFICATION OF MY POSITION . WHEN I STARTED WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT A YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS AGO, I REQUESTED A SALARY OF 110 . THAT WAS GRACIOUSLY GIVEN TO ME BY THE COUNTY WITH A $10,000 MOVING ALLOWANCE , BUT I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THERE WAS A THREE YEAR LAPSE WHEN INCREASES ARE DONE BASED ON OUR CURRENT PAY SYSTEM. AND I HAVE ACTUALLY DONE A WAGE SURVEY, WHICH WILL JUSTIFY THE REQUEST CURRENTLY -- COMPARABLE COUNTIES ARE AROUND 140,000 FOR THE HR DIRECTOR. AND THE LOWEST PAID DIRECTOR IN THE FIVE COUNTIES THAT I DID A WAGE ANALYSIS ON IS ABOUT 112,000. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER COUNTY WITH ABOUT 1800 EMPLOYEES OR
[01:30:04]
LESS. SO MY REQUEST IS FOR A RECLASSIFICATION FROM A PAY GRADE 39 TO A PAY GRADE 42. WITH BENEFITS. THAT COMES TO 19,508. I ALSO REQUEST AN INCREASE TO MY VEHICLE ALLOWANCE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING CONSIDERABLE TRAVELING, AS YOU'RE AWARE. THERE IS RISING FUEL. AND MAINTENANCE.SO WITH THAT, REQUEST, IT BRINGS MY TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST OF $83,379 , AND ALSO, I REALIZED THAT SINCE COVID-19 HAS BEEN IN PLACE, WE HAVE NOT DONE CIVIL SERVICE TESTING, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT BASED ON OUR CURRENT POLICY MANUAL. THAT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID. AND SINCE COVID HAS EXPIRED , WE ARE REQUIRED TO RESUME THAT TESTING. OUR COMPUTERS ARE QUITE ANTIQUATED AND UNABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES WE NEED THEM TO DO. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A SOFTWARE CALLED E SCALES THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK. IT IS CURRENTLY USED BY HARRIS COUNTY, AND IT ENABLES APPLICANTS TO COMPLETE TESTING FROM THEIR HOME. THEY CAN DO IT ONLINE. THIS WOULD SATISFY OUR CIVIL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS TO DO CLERICAL TESTING , AND WE CAN EVEN UPDATE AND MODIFY THAT TESTING TO INCLUDE SKILLS SUCH AS WORD, POWERPOINT, AND EXCEL, IF THE TERM -- DEPARTMENT FINDS THOSE SKILLS MORE NECESSARY. THAT WOULD COME TO $14,215. FOR THAT SOFTWARE. THEN THERE IS A $1000 INCREASE REQUEST FOR POST ACCIDENT TESTING. WE HAVE EXPRESSED A RISE IN COST FROM DR. CENTERS. WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT TO BE ALLOCATED, AS WELL.
COMBINED, THAT COMES TO $99,629. BASED ON TUITION REIMBURSEMENT USAGE, WE HAVE ALLOCATED $51,000 , HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS, SO I CAN UTILIZE THAT $31,000 SAVINGS IN THAT AREA, WHICH WOULD HELP REDUCE MY REQUEST DOWN TO $67,629.
>> HOW MUCH HAVE WE GENERALLY DONE IN THE TUITION
REIMBURSEMENT? HOW MUCH? >> YEAR TO DATE, THERE ARE
ABOUT $4000. >> LAST YEAR, COMPARATIVELY,
ANY OF THESE? >> THERE WAS A BIG DECREASE.
I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR. THERE WAS A BIG DECREASE WHENEVER COVID HAPPENED. PEOPLE WEREN'T ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.
>> I'M JUST MAKING SURE. >> AND SO WE DECREASED THERE.
IT COULD GO BACK UP. I CAN'T PREDICT.
>> THAT, I REALIZE THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THE SAVINGS IN THAT FUND ACCORDINGLY. IF THE COURT IS UNABLE TO GRANT THAT REQUEST, $67,629, WHICH WOULD PHYSICALLY MEAN THAT WE COULDN'T FUND THE POSITION FOR TEMPORARY ASSOCIATE -- I'M SORRY -- FOR THE TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST, I DEVELOPED ANOTHER PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER. IF YOU COULD BRING UP OPTION B FOR ME.
THANK YOU. WITH THIS REQUEST, I WAS SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO GET THE REQUEST EVEN LOWER, STILL ALLOWING FOR THE PAY INCREASE THAT WAS REQUESTED. I WILL BE GIVING EACH OF YOU A PACKET WITH THE WAGE ANALYSIS THAT I CONDUCTED, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS THAT YOU SHOULD'VE HAD THIS MORNING. I
[01:35:04]
WAS ABLE TO GET THE COST DOWN TO ZERO. SO WE WOULD BE REQUESTING A TOTAL BUDGET INCREASE OF ACTUALLY 0, IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FUND THE TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST POSITION, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT BY REDUCING THE FUNDS IN SOME FUNDS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THEY ARE NOT USED. OR THAT WE COULD SUCCESSFULLY DELETE AND NOT INCUR HARDSHIP ON THE DEPARTMENT. ONE OF THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE FOOD AND KITCHEN EXPENSE OF $700. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER EXPENSE REDUCTION OF $1500 . $1000 DEDUCTION IN OTHER SERVICES BASED ON UNUSED PORTIONS, YEAR TO DATE. AND EIGHT $31,000 DECREASE IN OUR UNUSED TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH WOULD NET A ZERO DOLLAR INCREASE AND STILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT I HAVE REQUESTED. DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?>> ON THE FOOD AND KITCHEN EXPENSES, IS THAT FOR YOUR JOB FAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU USE THAT FOR?
DOES THAT DEPLETE THAT? >> YES. IT WOULDN'T BE FOR JOB FAIRS. IT WOULD BE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THE EXTERNSHIP WE HAD LAST WEEK. THAT FUND HASN'T BEEN USED BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY USE THAT FUND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC SUCH AS THOSE EVENTS. IT HASN'T BEEN A LARGE REQUEST . IT HAS BEEN UNDERUTILIZED. YEAR-TO-DATE, I'VE ONLY SPENT ABOUT $59 AND
THAT FUND. >> BUT THEN YOU ARE GOING BACK TO THE TOP. YOUR FIRST REQUEST AND FIRST CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT ALL OF THE EXTRA HOURS WE HAVE PUT ON MELINDA THAT THE NEW POSITION WOULD RELIEVE SOME, AND YOU ARE WILLING TO
CUT THAT. >> I REALLY DO NEED THAT POSITION, BUT IF THE COURT IS IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GRANT THE REQUEST, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO FORGO ANOTHER YEAR AND CREATE A HARDSHIP ON MY STAFF. WE HAVE A HEAVY WORKLOAD, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT THUS FAR, AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT ANOTHER YEAR. BUT I DO WANT THE COURT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE STILL HAVE CRITICAL AREAS LIKE THE COUNTY JAIL, THE SHERIFFS THE PERMIT, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS, THAT HAVE POSITIONS THAT ARE HARD TO FILL. THAT POSITION WOULD BE ESSENTIAL IN HELPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE VACANCIES
AND FILL THEM QUICKLY. >> THE POSITION -- AGAIN, THE POSITION YOU WANT, HOW MUCH IS IT TOTAL? 68,000?
>> IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 60,429 WITH BENEFITS. ABOUT
40,000 ON SALARY . >> WHAT IS THE TOTAL?
>> 60,419. >> THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING
THAT IS DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW. >> YES SIR. ALONG WITH THE E SCALES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH OUR CIVIL SERVANT POLICIES.
>> 14,250. >> YES. THOSE WOULD BE LISTED ON THE FIRST REQUEST, BUT I INCLUDED A SECOND REQUEST, WHICH IS A BARE-BONES REQUEST TO GET THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR, BUT WE DO NEED THE ASSISTANCE IN HELPING HR TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM PREMIUM SERVICES TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT IT SERVES.
>> OKAY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.
I THINK THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, I THINK THEY SAID SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL LATER OR SOMETHING. SO NEXT UP, M1, DID Y'ALL GET THE NEW SCHEDULE? Y'ALL ARE LATER ON, BUT WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY. IF I GET TO THE NEXT AND NOBODY IS HERE, I CAN BOUNCE YOU IN IF YOU WANT TO.
SORRY. THE COMPUTERS WERE DOWN FRIDAY, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET THE LATEST WHEN WE CHANGED THE SCHEDULE UP. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS UP NEXT.
[01:40:12]
AND THIS IS A NEW DEPARTMENT, SO IT'S NOT IN OUR BOOK.>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I DO HAVE A FEW HANDOUTS IF I CAN PASS THEM UP.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I'M SHARING TWO THINGS WITH YOU. THE FIRST IS THE QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS MOVING TO. AS WE'VE TAKEN ON SOME NEW TASKS COMING TOWARDS US, ONE BEING PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THE OTHER BEING
THE BURIALS IN THE CREMATION. >> THE BURIALS AND CREMATIONS HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT IS A STATUTORY DUTY OF THE COUNTY
GOVERNMENT, SO YES. >> CAN I TAKE THAT AS A GIVEN
THAT IT'S COMING MY WAY? >> WHAT'S COMING?
>> THE BURIALS -- THAT HAS TO GO TO A DEPARTMENT TO TAKE
OVER. >> IT'S NOT A GIVEN FOR ME. WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THAT. WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON WHERE IT'S
GOING. >> RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT A GIVEN, BUT YOU CAN DISCUSS THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE LIKELY PLACE WITH YOU SITTING THERE. THE REST HAS NOT BEEN --
>> IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, THOUGH.
>> I DID PLACE IT IN THERE AS A POSSIBILITY, AS A PLACEHOLDER.
>> THIS IS NOT VOTED ON OR DECIDED ON.
>> SO AS I SAID, TWO BIG THINGS THAT ARE MY BIG PLACEHOLDERS ARE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE BURIALS AND MAINTAINING THE LOT SERVICES BUT BASED ON THOSE TWO THINGS AND WHAT I'M PRESENTING HERE, ON PAGE TWO, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET. IF YOU LOOK FROM THE FIRST PORTION, I WAS PRESENTING OUR 23-24 BUDGET. SEEING THAT TOTAL OF 23,168 POINT WHERE I'M BETTING THE CHANGE REQUEST, OF COURSE, THE BIG ONE BEING UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IS HAVING AN IMPROVED CONTRACT FOR THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICAL SERVICES. I'M EMPHASIZING THE CLINICAL PUBLIC HEALTH PORTION OF IT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PORTIONS TO IT. THAT RIGHT THERE -- THE CHANGE WOULD BE
922,870. >> THAT IS NOT A CHANGE. THAT HAS ALREADY GONE OUT FOR BID, AND THAT IS A SET AMOUNT.
>> YES POINT >> THAT IS A CONTRACT WE HAVE
TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. >> OKAY. AND THE SECOND THING HERE THAT I HAVE LISTED -- I HAVE THE INDIAN BURIALS LISTED ON THE ESTIMATED COST FROM LAST YEAR. NOW, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT WE WILL BE COVERING , PARTICULARLY WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HAVING THE CHANGE REFERRED TO AS OFFICE SUPPLIES. THAT DOES INCLUDE SOME HEAVY MARKETING FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE DOING. SO THAT IS WHERE THE BIG CHANGE OF THAT 5000 COMES FROM. THE ADDITION THERE. AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH 2, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE WITH MEDIANS REGARDING THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CITIES AND COUNTIES AND WITH HEALTH OFFICIALS. IN ORDER TO COVER THE COST OF ATTENDING THAT PRIMARY CONFERENCE , ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 100,000 TO
THE TRAVEL. >> AN ADDITIONAL? THE TOP PART IS YOUR INITIAL, WHAT YOU ARE ALREADY GETTING?
>> YES POINT >> IS THERE ANY INCREASES IN
THE TOP PART OF THE PAGE? >> NO. THE TOP PART IS WHAT WE
[01:45:01]
HAVE BEEN GETTING. THE MIDDLE PART IS THE CHANGES. THE LAST THING IS TALKING ABOUT STAFFING. I AM REQUESTING A STAFF RECLASSIFICATION FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY COORDINATOR, AND THAT IS WHAT THAT 65 159 IS. NOW, I HAVE ANOTHER SHEET TO EXPLAIN THIS RECLASSIFICATION. MIND IF IHAND Y'ALL THESE PACKETS? >> SURE.
>> I DON'T SEE THE CHANGE. HERE.
>> THANK YOU. >> USE OF THE TOP ONE IS WHAT
YOU HAVE NOW? >> THE TOP IS WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
THE MIDDLE ARE THE CHANGE REQUESTS.
>> I DON'T SEE THE CHANGE ON THE CLASSIFICATION ON THE
COORDINATOR OR YOURSELF. >> IT IS 65,000.
>> THAT IS THE 65,559. THAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
>> WHICH IS WHICH? >> HOW MUCH IS DIVIDED -- IS
THAT ON HERE? >> IT IS ON PAGE 120.
>> DID HE JUST PUT IT ON? >> I HAVE TOO MANY PAGES
EVERYWHERE. >> IT IS ON THERE.
>> SO THESE ARE CHANGING YOURS AND ERRANDS POSITIONS TO THESE TWO? DELETING THE TWO AND CHANGING YOUR CLASSIFICATION AND NAME AND JOB DUTIES AND EVERYTHING?
NOW, IN THE PACKET I HANDED Y'ALL --
>> IT GOT 64,210. THAT IS WHAT YOU'VE GOT, CORRECT?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT.
>> WOW. >> NOW, IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THAT, WHAT I PROVIDED WAS , IN THAT PACKET, KIND OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. TYPES OF PERSONNEL INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING FROM DISHES FROM THE TCAQ, TO DO THESE FUNCTIONS WE ARE PROPOSING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
TRYING TO MAINTAIN THINGS ON A CONSERVATIVE BASIS, BASICALLY, ME AS THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE ENCOMPASSING THOSE DUTIES THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE DOING. I AM PROVIDING WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION WOULD BE FOR WHAT I AM DOING , AND THOSE OTHER POSITIONS, WHETHER WE GET TO THOSE IN THE FUTURE OR NOT, THOSE DUTIES NEED TO BE COMPLETED. NOW, AS FAR AS A WAGE EVALUATION, YOU KNOW, I DID LOOK AT DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
I DID LOOK LOCALLY WITH OUR CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
BASICALLY THE REQUEST THERE IS AROUND WHAT THEY TYPICALLY PAY THEIR MANAGERS AND NOT THEIR DIRECTORS.
>> ALL THIS COURT HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH , THE ONLY THING WE HAVE APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IS THE CONTRACTED AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH PERSON OVER THERE AT THE
>> SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL DUTIES WHATSOEVER FOR YOU THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR GOING FORWARD.
>> CORRECT. THERE'S ACTUALLY NO DUTIES BECAUSE IT IS
CONTRACTED. >> THERE ARE DUTIES ASSOCIATED , AND THEY ARE LISTED THERE . AND I CAN HIGHLIGHT THOSE AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE OBLIGATIONS WITH THE STATE BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE -- IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE
[01:50:07]
FUNDS, IT IS COMING FROM THE COUNTY, NOT THROUGH OURCONTRACTOR. >> QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDS, REQUESTING GRANTS? >> YES POINT FOR THE GRANTS AND
CONTRACTS. >> BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. THE ONLY THING APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS THE CONTRACT WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> INCLUDING ALL OF THESE FUNCTIONS, NONE OF THOSE WERE APPROVED , IS MY RECOLLECTION.
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO MUCH INTO ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH I DO APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING A LOT OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT INTO THAT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE MET WITH ME SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS, DR.
POINT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, REFERENCING THIS CHART YOU HAVE, IS THAT -- ARE ANY OF THOSE FUNCTIONS COVERED BY PUBLIC WORKS? OR IS IT ALL DONE CITY COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT? >> AT THE MOMENT, IT IS CITY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE OSSF PERMITS AND ALL THAT, THAT IS A FUNCTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH , BUT PUBLIC WORKS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, TOO. I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. I JUST WANT TO TALK OUT LOUD WHILE WE HAVE JUAN HERE. I THINK THIS COULD INAUDIBLE ] ARE TALKS IN THE FUTURE AND BETWEEN NOW AND FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL, THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE
WORKED OUT. >> YES. AND WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS TO SEE SOME OPTIONS OF HOW WE APPROACH THIS. ALL WE CAN DO IS PRESENT OPTIONS. MUCH OF THIS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET. JUST TO ADD TO THAT, TOO, IN TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, EVENTUALLY, WE CAN GET THOSE TO WHERE -- THEY DO HAVE FEES TO WHERE THEY CAN OFFSET THOSE COSTS OR WHAT THOSE SERVICES ARE. THE SAME THING GOES WITH THE CLINICAL PUBLIC HEALTH. IN THE FUTURE, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO APPLY TO GRANTS TO THE STATE THAT CAN COVER SOME OF THOSE COSTS. IT WON'T COVER EVERYTHING, BUT IT WILL COVER
SOME OF THOSE COSTS. >> ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, TOO?
>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO DOES HAVE SOME ADMISSION COSTS THERE.
SPOKE GO AHEAD. >> SORRY. AND SO, LOOKING AT YOUR COMPARISON, FOR 3094, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, YOU SHOW THE 23-24 BUDGET. THE DIFFERENCES, RIGHT? AND ASSUMING THAT A LOT OF THESE VARIABLES ARE INCLUDED, IN THE COMMUNITY WELLNESS PART AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH PART, IF IT IS ALL ACTUALLY INCLUDED INTO THAT HUB, THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, I WAS LOOKING DOWN ON THE CHART THAT YOU PROVIDED US, AND IT SHOWS 23-24 HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET. IS THAT THE AMOUNT THAT
WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED TO YOU? >> THIS IS A 23-24 ALLOCATION.
AND BASED ON WHAT WE ARE PLACING IT OUT, THAT COULD BE THE POTENTIAL 23-25 ALLOCATION POINT
>> IT WOULD BE LESS. >> YES POINT
>> LESS THAN THE ASK FROM LAST YEAR. OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> AND WE HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUT US REDUCING OUR ASK WITH THE INCREASE WE PUT ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT LAST YEAR TO TRY TO HELP THEM, AS WELL. THAT IS MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TO COME UP WITH
>> SO ON YOUR OFFICE SUPPLIES, YOU WOULD BE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5000 , INSTEAD OF THE 27, IT WOULD BE 7700?
I HAVEN'T BROKEN DOWN BASED ON PREVIOUS COST, SO IT IS 700, BASED ON PRINTER TONER, 1400, TWO 100 POINT THE PRINTOUTS WE
[01:55:05]
MADE ARE AROUND 400. THE MARKETING IS THE BIG ONE AT4000. >> BUT ALL OF THIS IS CONTINGENT ON WHETHER WE DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THAT
>> OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I TOLD YOU YOU COULD GO NEXT, BUT YOURS IS VERY BIG.
THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO JUMP UP? APPARENTLY, EVERYONE HAS THE OLD SCHEDULE, SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, I WILL GET TO THEM RIGHT AFTER THIS ONE. YOU HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOT LONGER.
>> LET ME SEE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, FORREST MITCHELL FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE. I'M SPEAKING FOR THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THAT OFFICE. IF I COULD BE A LOT, HOW TO THINK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE SHOW OF SUPPORT BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ARPA FUNDING FOR THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW OFFICE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE SIGNIFICANT ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE STATIONARY FORENSIC X-RAY MACHINE THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THAT BUILDING, AS WELL. THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT ASK IN OUR CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE HAD SUBMITTED IN MAY. AND SO THE REQUEST FOR THE MEDICAL OFFICE, MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WITH THOSE ALLOCATION OF ARPA FUNDS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT OCCURRED SINCE THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION OF THIS BUDGET REQUEST IN MAY. A COUPLE OF THOSE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. IN THIS REQUEST. FIRST AND PROBABLY FOREMOST IS THE AWARD OF A NEW CONTRACT FOR TRANSPORT COMPANY. SO THE AMOUNT CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORT, WE THINK WILL POTENTIALLY BE INSUFFICIENT.
THE COST OF THE TRANSPORT CONTRACT HAS INCREASED , AND SO WE WILL BE SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THAT AREA. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT EXACTLY HOW MUCH THAT WILL BE. BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND $50,000 ADDITIONALLY. THE OFFICE IS CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT IN. AS STORAGE CASES. SO OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE DEPLOYING TO EACH AND EVERY METRO, CALL THAT COMES INTO OUR OFFICE REGARDING DEATH NOTIFICATION TO TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STORAGE CASES COMING, AND COORDINATING WITH FUNERAL HOMES.
>> I AM THINKING BACK AND I THOUGHT THE CHANGE WITH THE TRANSPORT WASN'T GOING TO BE AN INCREASE, THAT IT WAS ALREADY IN YOUR BUDGET. I MUST BE WRONG, APPARENTLY, IF THIS IS AN INCREASE, BUT I WASN'T THINKING THERE WAS -- AND YOU
ARE SAYING 30 TO 40,000? >> WE ARE ESTIMATING BETWEEN $30-$50,000. WE WERE NEGOTIATING DOWN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. IT WAS HIGHER, AND THE CONTRACTOR HAS PROVIDED A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS AT -- THAT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE IS DOING. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STORAGE CASES, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE IS ABOUT 10% OF THE NUMBER OF REMAINS THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THE OFFICE. WE ARE HOPING TO SEE SOME SAVINGS THERE.
>> CAN ASK A QUESTION? >> PLEASE.
>> I JUST GOT A QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND -- THE COMPANY THAT GAVE YOU THE PRICE OR WHATEVER GO UP ON THE PRICE. IS THERE A REASON THEY ARE GOING UP? YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAD. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WE HAVE FOUR STATIONS THERE. DO WE NEED ALL FOUR STATIONS? CAN WE
DO WITH THREE STATIONS? >> WELL, THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE BUILDING TODAY IS THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 40 YEARS.
>> EVERYTHING WILL BE SET. IF IT IS GOING TO HELP, WE MIGHT
[02:00:04]
NOT BE ABLE TO BE USING ALL STATIONS. THOSE THAT PUT THE NUMBERS TOGETHER FOR THE OTHERS TO SEE -- JUST SAYING, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN KIND OF PLAY AROUND HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT, EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED -- EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE , YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE PLAN TO BEGIN WITH, WHAT THE ARCHITECT , OR -- I GUESS, MAYBE A JURY REQUEST, BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? MAYBE A YEAR FROM NOW OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW?>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THAT. NOT EVERY DAY DO WE HAVE FOUR CASES STACKED UP, BUT GENERALLY ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, SINCE WE DO AUTOPSIES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WE NEED EVERY STATION THAT WE HAVE. I BELIEVE THIS MORNING WE HAD 6 TO 7 CASES THAT WE ARE WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY. EACH OF THOSE STATIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE EACH TECH CAN BE ASSIGNED EACH OF THE FOUR STATIONS, SO.
>> AND WE ARE ACTUALLY REUSING TWO FROM THE OLD TO NEGATE THE COST, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ARCHITECT TO USE SOME OF
THE OLDER ONES. >> THAT IS NOT WHAT HE TOLD ME.
>> TWO OF THEM WOULD BE REUSED.
>> IN THE NEW AUTOPSIES, WE ASKED FOR FOUR STATIONS AND FOR THE SUITE, WE REUSED THE STATIONS TO REDUCE THE TOTAL
NUMBER. >> ON THIS BUDGET, YOU ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT OR ANYTHING. WE
COVERED ALL OF THAT, RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT, JUDGE. ALL OF THE CAPITAL ITEMS REQUESTED HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN -- ARE NOW
FUNDED. >> WE APPROVED -- EXCEPT FOR 4, WE APPROVED IT. NORMALLY, THE PLANT WAS ONLY GOING TO HAVE TWO. IT WAS GOING TO BE SET IN CASE WE BRING BACK A TABLE AND CONNECT IT.
OF THEM. TO MOVE MONIES AROUND --
>> THE MONEY FOR EQUIPMENT WAS ARPA MONEY WE ALLOCATED TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY.
>> NO. THE MONEY THAT WAS ARPA FUNDS THAT CAME OUT AT $7
MILLION POINT >> THE 7 MILLION AND THE
CONTRACT. >> THAT WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. YOU KNOW. IT WASN'T ON THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT ONLY HAD TWO.
USE THEM? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT MONIES -- WE CAN ALWAYS BRING IT BACK A YEAR FROM NOW AND SET IT UP WHEN WE HAVE TO. YOU KNOW. I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BUT , YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP.
>> WHEN THE CASES ARE LOADED UP, WE ACTUALLY USE ALL FOUR OF THEM. RIGHT NOW, THAT IS THE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING. LACK OF STATIONS. THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> SORRY. >> THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER. I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND EXPLAIN IT FURTHER OFF-LINE. SO THE OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE CHANGED IT IN ADDITION TO THE CAPITAL OUTLAY BEING ELIMINATED THROUGH THE USE OF ARPA FUNDING, THE OTHER AREA THAT HAS CHANGED IS IN THE AREA OF TRANSPORT COSTS , AND AGAIN, I SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO EXACTLY INDICATE THE CHANGE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OVER YEAR, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE ARE ALSO NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE ONLINE MAINTENANCE FEE FOR THE QUINCY TECH CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE WE HAVE THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE ELIMINATED ONE POSITION DID THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS FISCAL YEAR TO COVER THOSE COSTS , AND FROM THAT, WE WILL SEE ADDITIONAL OPERATING COSTS.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE IS SEEKING TO RECLASSIFY OR CREATE A NEW JOB DESCRIPTION . THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE LOST OUR
[02:05:08]
CRIMINAL -- CHIEF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR THROUGH RETIREMENT AND RATHER THAN REPLACE THEM, WE HAVE JUST HIRED REGULAR INVESTIGATORS. WE ARE NOW SEEKING TO CREATE KIND OF A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER OR A SENIOR MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR THAT CAN WORK WITH ME TO SUPERVISE THE INVESTIGATIONS TEAM. I HAVE ASSUMED THAT ROLE SINCE THE RETIREMENT, AND THIS PERSON CAN SERVE AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER. WE WOULD BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A VERY SMALL COST OF APPROXIMATELY 4 TO $5000 FOR THAT POSITION TO BE RECLASSIFIED. WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE THAT IN SALARY, SAVINGS FROM THE REDUCTION OF THE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR. ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE IS SEEKING POTENTIALLY TO PROVIDE IS COLA FOR MEDICAL EXAMINERS THEMSELVES WHO WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE LAST C.O.L.A.. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS OVER THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF TEMPORARY DOCTORS THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN TO PERFORM TEMPORARY AUTOPSIES ON HALF OF THE OFFICE. IN FISCAL YEAR 22-23, THERE WAS 200 SEMI $3000 SPENT ON INAUDIBLE ] DOCTORS. THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ONLY $12,000 FOR FOUR DAYS OF COVERAGE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. AND WE THINK THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS AND REDUCTION. SO THERE IS THAT REQUEST FOR A COLA.AND WE ARE ALSO ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL OF INCREASING THE CREMATION PERMITTING FEES FOR THE OFFICE. THEY CURRENTLY SIT AT $65. WE ARE SEEKING TO RAISE THOSE TO THE ACTUAL COST OF PROVIDING THAT SERVICE, 10 $90.
AS WE HAVE PROGRESSED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS OFFICE AND THE RECONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE OPERATING SYSTEMS THERE, WE ARE FINDING THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING MORE CASES AND MORE CREMATION PERMITS. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I'M GOOD. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
ANYBODY? >> I THINK WE ARE GOOD. THANK
>> I THINK I TOLD YOU, SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE, WE WANT TO GET YOU UP NEXT. IF YOU WOULD COME UP NEXT. ARE Y'ALL HERE WITH THE COURT ADMINISTRATORS DEAL? Y'ALL HAVE A BUNCH MORE PEOPLE COMING , DON'T YOU? I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE MORE THIS MORNING. OKAY. I'LL GET BACK TO YOU THEN, NEXT. I'M SORRY I WENT AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. YOLANDA WILL BE
DOING THE PRESENTATION. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T HAVE MANY SALARY INCREASES. THE ONLY INCREASE THAT WE REALLY ARE REQUESTING IS IN OUR MATERIALS.
THE COST OF MATERIALS HAS GONE UP SUBSTANTIALLY. AND WE DID CUT OUR MATERIALS LAST YEAR. THAT REALLY DID HURT US THIS YEAR. WE ARE ASKING IF WE COULD PLEASE GET OUR MATERIAL FUNDING
BACK . >> THAT WAS $500,000 LAST YEAR.
>> EXCUSE ME? >> I THINK THAT WAS 500,000
LAST YEAR. >> ALMOST. I THINK IT WAS -- THAT WAS FOR OUR CAPITAL. FOR OUR MATERIALS, WE CUT DOWN -- I DON'T REALLY QUITE REMEMBER. BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED AT LEAST 400,000 THIS YEAR TO REPLENISH OUR STOCKPILES FOR OUR AGGREGATE ROCK. THAT IS AT LEAST 86, A TON. WE ARE USUALLY TRYING TO GET 5000 TWO REPLENISH OUR STOCKPILES, AND THERE'S AN ATTACHMENT THAT CAN SHOW YOU THE INCREASES IN OUR MATERIAL THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS. THAT HAS GONE UP SUBSTANTIALLY. WE ARE REQUESTING EXTRA FUNDING TO --
[02:10:02]
FOR THE DITCH CLEANING AND THE DRAINAGE. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE MATERIAL . MAYBE CONTRACT SERVICES TO HELP US TO DO THAT.>> YOUR TOTAL ASK FOR THIS DEPARTMENT?
>> THE TOTAL INCREASE FOR THIS DIFFERENT? THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU
ARE ASKING. >> FOR THE MATERIAL IS 400 -- 431,000 FOR THE INCREASE IN MATERIAL. AND THE NEXT BIGGEST INCREASE WILL BE OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY . WE ARE REQUESTING SEVERAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE REPLACED. TWO NEW PIECES OF EQUIPMENT FOR REPLACEMENT, WE DO NEED AN EXCAVATOR TO ASSIST US WITH ROADWAY WORK AND ANY SMALL PLUMBING THAT WILL BE USEFUL ALSO FOR TRENCHING INSTEAD OF RENTING ONE. WE COULD HAVE -- THAT IS GOING TO BE A MINI EXCAVATOR TO HELP US WITH THAT. WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF ONE WATER TRUCK THAT WAS TOTALED. IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND WE ARE DOWN THAT ONE WATER TRUCK. WE NEED IT TO BE REPLACED. AND TWO DUMP TRUCKS WILL BE -- WE WILL BE REPLACING AS SOME DUMP TRUCKS ARE NO LONGER FEASIBLE FOR REPAIRS. ONE IS A 2016 , AND THE OTHER IS A 2006 DUMP TRUCK. WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING A REPLACEMENT OF A BRUSH TRUCK. THIS TRUCK WILL HAVE AN ATTACHMENT THAT GRAPPLES WITH A HOOK THAT WILL HELP US TO BETTER CLEAN THE DRAINAGE AND THE DITCHES. WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THAT IN OUR FLEET, SO HAVING THIS BRUSH TRUCK WITH THIS EXTRA ATTACHMENT WILL REALLY HELP US TO DO THAT. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO TANDEM DUMP TRUCKS TO REPLACE A 2011 -- 2011 TANDEM DUMP TRUCKS. THESE ARE JUST -- WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONS, AND THE OTHER PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WILL BE TO REPLACE OLDER EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN REPAIRS OR IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, REALLY, SOME OF THE DUMP TRUCKS, THE PARTS ARE KIND OF REALLY HARD TO FIND THESE
DAYS. >> SOME OF THIS, I KNOW YOU GOT SOME ARPA MONEY TO BUY EQUIPMENT AND STUFF. THERE WERE SOME THINGS DONE THIS YEAR. IT WOULD MAYBE HELP IF WE KNEW WHAT YOU HAD, HOW MANY YOU HAD OF THOSE. BUCK WITH THE ARPA , WE HAVE PURCHASED ONE RECLAIM HER. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN OUR FLEET. ALL OF THAT, WE PURCHASED WITH THE ARPA FUNDING. THEY WERE DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE
NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. >> AND I GUESS WE HAVE THAT LIST IN THERE, THE EQUIPMENT, THE OTHER TRUCKS. HOW MANY DUMP TRUCKS YOU HAVE AND EVERYTHING. THAT IS KIND OF SOMETHING , I GUESS, TO BE ADDRESSED. I KNOW THE WATER TRUCK WAS DESTROYED.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER WATER TRUCKS?
>> WE HAVE TWO OLDER MODELS. ONE IS A 2011 AND ONE IS A 97.
WE ARE TRYING TO REPLACE A 2001 CURRENTLY. IT NEVER GOT DELIVERED, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO CANCEL THAT ORDER AND TRY TO GET IT -- THAT ORDER BACK , TO ORDER A NEW ONE.
>> HOW MUCH IS THAT? >> FOR A NEW ONE, FOR A WATER TRUCK, I HAVE AN ESTIMATED 180,000.
>> WE CAN GO TO SURPLUS AND GET A USED ONE, A GOOD ONE, BUT 180,000 -- IT MIGHT BE 30,000.
>> YES. I THINK THE THING WITH THAT IS THE OLDER THE MODEL, THE HARDER IT IS TO GET PARTS.
[02:15:10]
ONE ALREADY AND IT IS STILL WORKING.>> YES, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS CORRECT. THE MAIN THING ON THESE WATER TRUCKS IS THE WATER TRUCKS, SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE BAFFLES INSIDE THE TANKS, ESPECIALLY IF --
>> WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY HAVE.
>> I DON'T MIND GOING TO CHECK IF WE WANT TO GO.
>> THEY DON'T HAVE THE BAFFLES. SO YOU CAN HAVE MORE
OF AN ACCIDENT. >> PROBABLY YOU CAN GET IT FOR
$500. >> WE ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT
THEM, COMMISSIONER. >> YEAH. I WORK -- I'LL HELP
YOU ON THAT ONE. >> WE HAD A CONFERENCE RECENTLY A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE TALKED TO COLLEAGUES IN THE AREA THAT DO THE OLD PRECINCT ROAD SYSTEM REPAIRS AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING THE EQUIPMENT AND HIRING THE STAFF . EVERY DAY, I APPRECIATE YOU, JUAN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THE FACT THAT WE CAN TURN IT OVER TO YOU IS HELPFUL, BUT ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN JIM WELLS COUNTY SAID HE BOUGHT SOME RELIABLE EQUIPMENT AND HE IS FORCED TO BECAUSE OF HIS BUDGET. I'M NOT SAYING LIKE EVERYTHING, BUT PLEASE MAKE THAT A CONSIDERATION, AT LEAST, SO WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO SAVE MONEY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO BE BETTER SUITED FOR PROBABLY A USE PURCHASE THAN SOMETHING THAT SAYS, NO, IT IS MORE COST-EFFECTIVE TO BUY IT NEW BECAUSE WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO FIND HARD TO FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS OR COSTLY REPLACEMENT PARTS SO IT JUSTIFIES IT, BUT I THINK THAT WILL BE A HELPFUL MESSAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY OPTION HERE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED TO GIVE YOU THESE LARGE PURCHASES. BECAUSE WHEN WE CALL, YOU JUMP TO IT. YOU DON'T ASK THAT HOUSE AND LIVES. YOU JUST DO IT. IF YOU CAN FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND IT DOESN'T MEET THAT AND YOU COME BACK AND SAY, YEAH, THERE IS EQUIPMENT. WE CAN DO THAT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I HEARD IT FROM SEVERAL COLLEAGUES. I HEARD IT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO. THERE IS A MARKET OUT THERE AND IT IS EXACTLY WHAT COMMISSIONER GONZALES SAID, WHICH IS THROUGH
SURPLUS. >> THE DRAINAGE, AS WELL.
>> YES. THE DRAINAGE LOCALLY. >> SO THE TOTAL ASK FOR THIS DEPARTMENT WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW IS THE --
>> 1.5. >> 1.5. OKAY. MOVING ON 20121.
ENGINEERING. >> YEAH. I THINK WE ARE NOT
GOING TO DO ENGINEERING. >> NO INCREASE?
>> NO. >> AND 1570. THERE IS SOMETHING
IN HERE. >> THERE WAS SOMETHING.
SOFTWARE? >> PROBABLY FOR THE AUTO CAD.
>> INTO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
>> I'M SEEING 5719. FOR THE ESRI AND BLUE BEAM MAINTENANCE.
>> RIGHT. WE PURCHASED THE ESRI. THAT IS OUR GIS, AND THAT WENT UP SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE RENEWAL. THAT IS A NEED. WE NEED THAT RENEWAL. BLUE BEAM IS A NEW SOFTWARE THAT WE ACQUIRED
FOR THE ENGINEERING STAFF . >> THAT IS FOR REVIEWING DRAWINGS WHEN WE HAVE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS THAT SUBMIT TO A JUDGE AND WE MARKET UP INSTEAD OF MAKING COPIES.
YES MA'AM. >> NOW, THE 1570. WE HAVE MORE
PEOPLE COMING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. AND COMMISSIONERS. TERESA, I HAVE SOME --
>> THERE IS AN ASK OF 10 MILLION IN THIS DEPARTMENT. I HAVE A STRUGGLE HERE. WITH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
>> NO WONDER YOU DIDN'T GIVE IT
>> YEAH. THANK YOU, CONNIE. >>
[02:20:08]
>> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS ON THE FIRST ITEM -- I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS ONE.
>> YEAH. >> ON THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE OF 360,000. AND THEN, THE OTHER ONE IS JUST , WE HAD SOME THAT WANTED AN INCREASE OR ASKED FOR THAT AC DUCTS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PANELS AND THEN FOR PLUMBING AND DOORS. AND PARTS FOR THE JAIL. PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE SOME ITEMS FOR REMODELING AND PAINTING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT WE INCLUDED, AND THEN ALSO, TO REPLACE SOME OF THE LIGHTING AND TRASH REMOVAL. I THINK ON THE ROOF REPLACEMENT, THAT CAN BE TAKEN OUT. OH NO. THIS IS FOR ROB'S TOWN. WE HAVE AN ITEM IN THERE FOR ROB STONE FOR DOING ROOF REPLACEMENT. AND THEN ALSO, AT THE MACKENZIE,
DOING PARKING LOT REHAB. >> ARE THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? ARE THESE BASIC FUNCTIONS?
>> THESE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, JUDGE. SOME OF THESE ARE FOR THE ROOF OVER THERE . THE BUILDING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THEY HAVE WATER GOING INTO THE BUILDING WHEN WE HAVE RAIN EVENTS. THAT KING FOR
>> OKAY. YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AIR IS 10 MILLION? >> WHERE IS THAT?
>> YOU ASKING FOR $10 MILLION?
>> ON 1570. REPLACE ELECTRICAL PANEL. 1 MILLION FOR PLUMBING REHAB. I THOUGHT PLUMBING WAS GOING TO BE DONE IN THE OTHER.
OR IS THAT ANOTHER BUILDING? 1 MILLION FOR REMODELING AND RENOVATING, PAINTING. WHEN MILLION FOR FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT.
>> YOU ARE ASKING FOR $10 MILLION.
>> WITH A STRAIGHT FACE, Y'ALL ARE ASKING FOR $10 MILLION? SERIOUSLY? IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK?
>> WE PICKED THE NUMBERS . WE THREW EVERYTHING TOGETHER. THIS
IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT. >> WHERE WERE THESE REQUESTS WHEN WE HAD ALL OF THESE ARPA FUNDS. WE SPENT MONEY THAT MAYBE THESE KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE ASKED FOR. MAYBE COMMISSIONERS -- WE WOULD SPEND IT IN DIFFERENT PLACES. I'M NOT LAUGHING AT THIS. THIS ISN'T A REASONABLE REQUEST. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK, AND I USUALLY SIT PRETTY QUIETLY AT BUDGET HEARINGS UNTIL YOU COME INTO HERE WITH THINGS LIKE THIS THAT TICK ME OFF. IF THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, SOME OF THESE COULD'VE BEEN
ARPA REQUESTS. >> WE HAVE ASKED THIS BEFORE IN PREVIOUS BUDGET BEARDS. -- YEARS.
>> SOME OF THIS COULD BE ARPA FUNDS.
>> WERE ANY OF THESE REQUESTED AS ARPA FUNDING -- WERE ANY OF THESE REQUESTED AS ARPA FUNDED PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE
QUALIFIED FOR? >> I'M NOT SURE.
>> YOU SHOULD BE SURE, JUAN. YOU ARE MAKING THE REQUEST SO YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO REQUESTED IT. YOU SAY IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED BEFORE. WE HAD A BUNCH OF MONEY FOR ARPA FUNDS THAT WENT OUTSIDE THINGS THAT IN MY OPINION -- I'M GUILTY OF SOME OF IT. NOT A HUGE AMOUNT, BUT SOME, AND WE SHOULD'VE BEEN ASKING -- YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN COMING IN HERE, SAYING, HOLD ON, COMMISSIONERS POINT HOLD ON. RAISE MY HAND.
INAUDIBLE ] SPOKE NOT THAT I'M AWARE, COMMISSIONER.
>> JUAN, CAN I CONFIRM THAT THIS 10 MILLION IS ON TOP? YOU KEPT YOUR BASE BUDGET IN AND YOU ADDED ITEMIZED LISTS ON TOP OF IT. SO FOR 5620, YOU KEPT YOUR BUDGET -- EXCUSE ME --
[02:25:04]
2.225. I WILL GET IT RIGHT IN A SECOND. YOU KEPT IT, JUST LIKE TO .225 MILLION, AND THEN YOU ITEMIZED ON TOP OF THAT. SO IF YOU KEEP YOUR BASE BUDGET, THAT KEEPS EVERYTHING YOU ALREADY HAD THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THEN YOU ARE JUST ADDING YOUR INCREASES ON TOP OF THAT. YOU KEPT YOUR BASE BUDGET AND THEN YOU ITEMIZE EVERYTHING AGAIN. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT BE DUPLICATED. I WOULD NEED TO GETWITH YOU AND CONFIRM. >> I AM JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT IS 10 MILLION.
>> WELL, THE BASE BUDGET ANNUALLY -- LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
WAS 2.2 -- 2.225. >> YES. ALL THE INCREASES TO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE LISTED BACK HERE, I GUESS.
>> IN THE 2.225, IT INCLUDES LAST YEAR'S HAI ALLOCATION. IF YOU'RE RE-BUDGETING THE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT FOR HAI, PART OF THAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IT IS JUST
THE AMOUNT. >> OKAY. ON THE AHI, THE LAST YEAR THEY GOT APPROVED, 2022-2023, THE ALLOCATION THAT CAME TO US WAS ONLY 125,000. THE INCREASE FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW WAS 484 -- 74 SHORTAGE FOR THAT AHI.
SPOKE IS THAT CORRECT, TERESA?
>> THIS NEXT, THIS NEW YEAR, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUDGET CUT , THERE WAS NO
>> IT COULD BE BY THAT DEPARTMENT IS SHORT FUNDS
>> ARE YOU IN VECTOR CONTROL? HR? BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. >> I'M SORRY. VECTOR CONTROL.
WHAT'S THAT? >> IT SHOULD BE OKAY. YEAH. ON THE VECTOR CONTROL, WE DON'T HAVE AN INCREASE, BUT WE WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND REQUEST. WE DIDN'T GET THAT IN OUR BUDGET. WHAT WE HAD DONE WAS DELETED ONE OF THE JOBS -- REQUESTING TO DELETE ONE OF THE -- IT'S NOT IN YOUR INAUDIBLE ] , TO DELETE ONE OF THE POSITIONS, AND INCREASE , TO UPGRADE TO A FOREMAN ON VECTOR CONTROL AND TO ONE OF OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE MANAGERS DOING WORK OUTSIDE IN THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL ARE GIVEN RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THAT,
>> HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE WITH THAT?
>> ON THAT ONE, IT WAS GOING TO BE ZERO. RIGHT?
>> IF YOU DELETE THE -- >> BUT VECTOR CONTROL IS PAID
IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. >> WE HAVE TO MEET WITH THEM TO GET THE BUDGET APPROVED. THEY ARE ASKING FOR MORE ADDITIONAL.
I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR MORE.
>> CAN Y'ALL SUBMIT THE PERSONNEL FORMS?
>> YES. >> THERE IS 2500 FOR OVERTIME
HERE. >> WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS, I GUESS, REACH OUT TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO THAT TO INCREASE ONE OF OUR VECTOR TECHNICIANS AND INCREASE IT TO BE A FOREMAN , TO OVERSEE THE OTHER VECTOR
TECHNICIANS. >> WHAT IS THE INCREASE FOR
THAT? WHAT IS THE INCREASE? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT. I DON'T
HAVE THAT. >> YOU WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT ONE OF THOSE FORMS FOR REQUEST, AND WE WOULD BE THE ONES TO
VOTE ON IT AND REACH OUT. >> I GUESS THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE ASKING. DID WE SUBMIT ONE OF THOSE TO YOU?
>> IT'S JUST LIKE YOU SUBMITTED THE 10 MILLION REQUESTS. I'M LIKE, PLEASE DO.
>> WE HAVE MONEY ON THE OTHER ONE. WE CAN USE IT FROM THERE A
LITTLE BIT. >> VECTOR? THERE IS SOME MONEY IN THERE. THEY WANT TO CHANGE IT AROUND.
[02:30:08]
>> I'M GOING TO -- I'M SORRY, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> I HAVE THE HANDOUTS I SHOULD'VE GIVEN TO YOU
EARLIER. >> YOU CAN GIVE IT TO TERESA.
SHE WILL GIVE IT TO US LATER. >> MOVING ON TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, I BELIEVE YOU ALL ARE HERE NOW.
>> IT'S NOT $10 MILLION. IT CAN REMAIN STANDING.
>> IN 2020, NUECES COUNTY FACED OVERCROWDING JAIL ISSUES WITH INMATES NEEDING TO GO OUT OF COUNTY. STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT PUZZLE PIECES TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THOSE PIECES WAS APPLYING FOR AND ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION TO CREATE POSITIONS TO ASSIST DEFENDANTS WHO QUALIFY TO RECEIVE COUNSEL.
60% FOR THE SECOND YEAR. 40% FOR THE THIRD YEAR, AND 20% FOR THE FINAL YOUR, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY. WHILE THE EMPLOYEE REQUEST LOOKS LIKE 135,000 IN ADDITION TO THE COURT AND MINISTRATION BUDGET, THE REQUEST IS AN APPROXIMATE 35,000 INCREASE TO THE COUNTY'S OVERALL BUDGET SINCE WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING 80% OF THE EXPENSE. EXCUSE ME. WITH THE TRANSFER FROM THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATION. OUR EIGHT DISTRICT COURTS AND COURTS AT LOT UTILIZE THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COORDINATOR TO HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 500 MISDEMEANOR APARTMENTS MONTHLY IN 2024.
COUNTY COURT NUMBER FIVE, WHICH HANDLES JUVENILE CASELOADS USES A WILL THAT DOES NOT UTILIZE THE IDCS DUE TO THEIR 30 APARTMENTS PER MONTH. I PROVIDED YOU A BREAKDOWN OF PAPERWORK REVIEWED AND PAYMENTS MADE BY THE IDC SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE GRANT IN 2020. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART PROVIDED, THE NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH THE RIGHTS OF CRIME IN OUR COUNTY. THE IDCS ARRIVED AT WORK ABOUT 7:00 A.M.
EVERY MORNING TO ENSURE THAT DEFENDANTS ARE APPOINTED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF MATURATION FROM THE CITY DETENTION CENTER AND THE NUECES COUNTY COUNTY JAIL. THEY ARE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. ROBIN HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS AND SANDRA FOR 18. THEY HAVE HELD VARIOUS POSITIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND COURTS.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ASSET AS THEY HAVE ADDED OTHER TASKS TO ASSIST OUR COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS AND CONTINUING TO ENSURE DEFENDANTS RECEIVE FAIR AND ADEQUATE JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTY.
AS DISCUSSED IN MY BUDGET REQUEST, THE IDCS REVIEW EMAIL REQUESTS FROM INMATES THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON THE TABLETS ISSUED TO THEM, INCLUDING REQUESTING INFORMATION ON OUR CASES, ATTORNEYS, AND ATTORNEY COMPLAINTS. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTED TO THE BOARD OF JUDGES THAT THERE WERE 1097 EMAILS FROM DECEMBER 2023 THROUGH MAY 2024 REGARDING ATTORNEY ISSUES. BUT THESE ARE NOW BEING FILTERED BY THE IDCS AND ANSWERED OR FORWARDED TO ATTORNEYS FOR HANDLING. THIS HAS IMPROVED MEDICATIONS BETWEEN THE COURTS AND INMATES WHERE LOST PAPERWORK IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE. THEY HAVE TAKEN ON NOTIFYING ATTORNEYS WHEN CASES HAVE BEEN NO CHARGED BY THE DAS SINCE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC PORTAL. THEY AVERAGE 1000 PER MONTH. ATTORNEYS ARE ABLE TO CLOSE THE CASE IN A TIMELY MANNER. IF THE IDC POSITIONS DO NOT CONTINUE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OPPONENTS WILL FALL BACK ON MAGISTRATE COURTS. THERE IS A GREATER CHANCE OF DEFENDANTS SITTING IN JAIL FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME, POTENTIALLY COSTING THE COUNTY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THE SOONER A DEFENDANT IS REPRESENTED, THE SOONER HE IS ABLE TO BE RELEASED OR HAVE HIS CASE REMOVED OR DISPOSED. IF ONE DEFENDANT FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS COMMIT COSTS THE COUNTY APPROXIMATELY $80 PER DAY WHICH EQUALS $2400 PER MONTH. IF 10 DEFENDANTS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, THAT INCLUDES $24,000 PER MONTH AND IF THAT HAPPENS MONTHLY, IT IS 284,000 PER YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS WHERE THE IDCS ARE GOING THROUGH THE JEALOUS LOOKING FOR INMATES NEEDING REPRESENTATION AND FOUND OTHERS NEEDING HEARINGS, BONDS, OR TO BE RELEASED. THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY NET TO ENSURE THAT RIGHTS ARE NOT VIOLATED. THE IDC POSITIONS KEEP A SYSTEM OF COURT UPON US. THE IDCS NOTIFY DEFENDANTS. IF THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL, THE DEFENDANTS ARE NOTIFIED BY THEIR ATTORNEY WHEN THE CALL TO VERIFY THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. IF THEY DID NOT REQUEST ONE, THE IDCS FOLLOW-UP . PREVIOUSLY IN PERSON BUT NOW USES WHAT IS --
[02:35:05]
UTILIZING THE EMAIL SYSTEM. ALSO ATTACHED IN YOUR FOLDERS IS A REPORT OF JUDGES RESOLUTION WHEN THEY MET THIS MONTH , THERE WAS ALSO A BAR ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE WHO VOICED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE HARD WORK THESE LADIES DO AND HOW HELPFUL THEY HAVE BEEN TO THE ATTORNEYS ON THE COURT APPOINTMENT WHEELS. IT ALSO INCLUDED A BOARD OF RESOLUTION -- A RESOLUTION FROM THE BAR ASSOCIATION SUPPORTING THE CONTINUATION OF THESE POSITIONS.>> I ASSUME THESE POSITIONS ARE ALREADY IN OUR BUDGET BOOK FROM LAST YEAR. THEY ARE NOT ITEMIZED OUT AS A GRANT SINCE WE PAY FOR THOSE. WE ARE PAYING A MATCH. ARE THEY INCLUDED IN
THIS? >> THEY ARE NOT PART OF THIS
DEPARTMENT YET. >> NOT PART OF THIS THE PERMIT YET. AND YOU ARE SAYING THIS NEXT YEAR, IT WOULD BE LIKE 35,000 INCREASE AND THEN AFTER THAT, WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST IT WOULD BE? FOR THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING YEAR?
>> THIS IS THE NEXT YEAR. >> THIS IS THE NEXT YEAR. THEY
ARE STILL ON THAT PART OF IT. >> OKAY. THAT IS ALL.
>> MY OTHER ASK WAS -- YES MA'AM. MY OTHER ASK WAS 10% SALARY INCREASE FOR OUR COURT INTERPRETER. THAT ALSO WAS DISCUSSED AT THE BOARD OF JUDGES AND WITH THE COURT STAFF, SO I WASN'T SURE, BUT BECAUSE HE IS UNDER ME, IT IS
INCLUDED IN MY PERSONNEL. >> WHAT ARE Y'ALL ASKING?
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE? >> TOTAL ASK.
>> 43,500 INCREASE. BUT IF WE ARE INCLUDING THE TOTAL, IT WOULD BE 143, 5000 -- 143,500. BUT NEW MONEY IS 43,500.
>> SO THE TRANSFER THAT GOES FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE GRANT WILL BE DECREASED, AND THE POSITIONS WOULD BE ADDED, AND SO THE NET CHANGE, THE ADDITIONAL COST TO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECAUSE THE TRANSFER IS GOING TO GO DOWN, BUT THE POSITIONS ARE GOING TO GO UP SO THE NET CHANGES THE 35,000 THAT SHE IS REQUESTING.
>> I KNOW Y'ALL ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO THE PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS , ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE BEEN HERE OR ARE PRESENTING OR ARE WATCHING THIS BUDGET PROCESS TODAY, AND ALL I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE IS CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS. MONITOR THIS, DON'T JUST ASSUME BECAUSE YOU CAME A PRESENTER TODAY THAT WE REMEMBER ALL THESE DETAILS BECAUSE I ALWAYS WARN EVERYONE, IT GETS FAST AND FURIOUS IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES OF OUR FINAL BUDGET VOTE , WHERE THERE ARE MOTIONS AND COUNTER MOTIONS THAT ARE MADE, AND SOME THINGS CAN BE OVERLOOKED, AND EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE A PRIORITY TO US, WE AS A COURT ARE TRYING TO MAKE ALL THESE ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN REASON BASED ON WHAT WE ARE PRESENTED FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, OUR AUDITOR AND EVERYONE ELSE. MONITORING THIS BY ZOOM IS HELPFUL, I KNOW EVERYONE IS BUSY. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DEVOTE TIME SITTING HERE. BUT AT LEAST FOLLOW ALONG SO YOU CAN GIVE SOME INPUT BECAUSE THESE ARE PRIORITIES, I THINK, TO ALL OF US. WE HAVE ALL BEEN HERE AS A COURT TO SUPPORT THIS OFFICE, AND REQUEST HAVE BEEN MADE, AND TO HONOR THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, AND THE JUDGES ALL AGREE AND SUPPORT THIS. TO ME, I TAKE NOTICE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING IS AS IMPORTANT AS THIS. SO JUST AS A REMINDER TO YOU, AS MUCH AS IT IS A REMINDER TO US -- WE KNOW IT IS ALWAYS A BIGGER ASK THAN WHAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH. IF I CAN AT LEAST GET THIS ONE ADDED, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE INPUT UP UNTIL THE END. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE ALL THE TIME. JUST AS A REMINDER BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT TO TAKE IN, AND YOU HAVE HEARD THOSE NUMBERS ALREADY BEING THROWN OUT, AND THEY ARE ALL LEGITIMATE ASKS. THESE ARE JUST THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETS THAT WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF VALUATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. LIKE I SAID, JUST A HELPFUL REMINDER AS WE MOVE ALONG IN THE NEXT MONTH OR
[02:40:08]
TWO. >> AT LEAST YOU FOLLOW THE $10 MILLION ASK. THAT IS WHERE I WOULD WANT TO BE. GREAT POINTS,
COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CRYSTAL , I THINK CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5 IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE TODAY. I GOT A MESSAGE, SO MOVING ON. THEY HAD AN EMERGENCY AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WE ARE MOVING ONTO
THE COUNTY LIBRARY. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING HERE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MISS GARZA. A FEW THINGS WE ARE MISSING FROM OUR DEPARTMENT. AN INCREASE IN PERSONAL. WE WANT TO DO A FOUR-YEAR INCREASE FOR ARMED GUARD. THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE. I NOTE COMMISSIONER MAREZ GAVE THAT TWO YEARS AGO.
SO WE CAN HAVE A FULL-TIME GUARD THERE , DUE TO THE INCREASE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO INAUDIBLE ] THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND SECURE OUR PATRONS AT THE
LIBRARY. >> YOU SAID HE GAVE IT TO YOU
BEFORE. >> IT WAS DURING -- TWO YEARS AGO. IT WAS AFTER THAT INCIDENT. SO YES. SO THANK YOU.
LINE FOR THE COUNTY LIBRARIAN FOR EMERGENCY AND WORKLOAD CRITERIA. AND AN INCREASE IN SUPPLIES FOR $1000 FROM THAT.
AT SEA. -- LET'S SEE. AN INCREASE FOR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE DUE TO AN INCREASE IN SOFTWARE. AN INCREASE FOR BOOKS. THAT IS $5000 FOR THEN FOR OUR OTHER PERSONNEL, WE INCREASED PERSONNEL, TWO GROUP PAY STEPS. AND WE ALSO WANT TO INCREASE OR ELIMINATE OUR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE POSITION, AND THEN ADD A NEW LIBRARY CLERK TO THE KEY FAMILY LIBRARY.
>> AND ON THIS PERSONNEL, IT DOESN'T LIST THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. >> NO. BECAUSE IT IS CONTRACT
>> SO THE TOTAL ASK FROM THE COUNTY LIBRARY IS 16,000 --
16,068 . >> AND THEN I NOTE YOU WILL SEE ALL -- IF IT'S IN YOUR BUDGET PACKET, STATS WE ADDED ON THERE TO SECURE WHAT WE OFFERED TO OUR PATIENTS -- PATRONS AND THE PUBLIC. ALSO THE INFO GRAPHIC AND I KNOW I EMAILED MONTHLY STATISTICS WE HAVE FOR THE LIBRARY AND UPCOMING PROJECTS.
87 FIVE . >> THAT'S THE TOTAL? THAT'S
WHAT THE CONTRACT DID? >> THE POSITIONS.
>> AND THE LAW LIBRARY, 015 THROUGH -- LET ME GET MY --
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HERE.
>> OKAY. THAT ONE IS A SPECIAL LIBRARY FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE PERFORMING LEGAL RESEARCH AND HELPS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING SELF REPRESENTED AND RESIDENTS THAT FIND THE LIBRARY USEFUL RESOURCE WHEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH. IT IS USED BY LAWYERS, PARALEGALS, JUDGES, AND MORE. IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE UP THERE, WE DO PROVIDE PROPOSED ADOPTION RELATIONS, CASE OPINIONS, BOOKS ABOUT LAW, LEGISLATIVE HISTORY MATERIALS AND LEGAL ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND MORE. WE ALSO HELP USERS HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE. THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY TO NAVIGATE THAT COLLECTION. FIND REFORMS AND DIRECT USERS TO RESEARCH STRATEGIES.
[02:45:02]
BELIEVE SHE REQUESTED AN INCREASE IN THE WESTLAW. SHE REQUESTED AN INCREASE IN SUPPLIES OF 600. THE INAUDIBLE ] FOR 2400. THAT IS DUE TO THE INTERNET AND FOR A MANDATED COMBINED CONTRACT. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN LEGAL BOOKS AND BACK PRINTS OF 79,000, AND PRINTING SERVICESOF 5445. >> ALL FOR THE LAW LIBRARY
UPSTAIRS. >> YES. SHE IS JUST BY HERSELF, SO AN INCREASE IN A PAY GROUP STEPPED THERE ON THE PERSONNEL.
>> TOTAL INCREASE, 148 654. >> FOR UPSTAIRS?
>> FOR THE WHOLE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
>> FOR THE LAW LIBRARY. >> AND I THOUGHT WE DECREASED IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD THOSE STATIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE THAT WE DIDN'T NEED SO MANY DIFFERENT SUBSCRIPTIONS. IS THERE A BIGGER NEED NOW?
>> THERE IS SOME NEED. >> I GO PAST THERE. I GO UP THERE OCCASIONALLY. SO THERE ARE SOME QUICK STEPS THAT I HAVE HERE. I CAN MAKE COPIES FOR Y'ALL COME AND GIVE IT TO TERESA, SO THE FOUR-YEAR TOTALS, THERE'S BEEN 22,000 PEOPLE ATTENDING.
>> YOUR TOTAL? >> PEOPLE FOR FOUR YEARS. YES.
LEGAL FORM DOWNLOADS. 1000. THAT IS JUST FROM TEXTURE, THE LEGAL FORM DOWNLOADS. PERSONNEL ASSISTANCE, JUST WITH HER RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THERE. IT WAS 13,000 THAT SHE'S HELPED, AND LEGAL DOCUMENTATION, 3600 , FROM 20 TO 40 AGES.
] 5700. SO, THERE'S BEEN SOME PEOPLE GOING UP THERE. IN THE INFO GRAPHIC I GAVE YOU FROM THE COUNTY, LIBRARY, YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH INCREASE TO CIRCULATION UP THERE THAT SHE GETS. WE DID GET PEOPLE UP THERE , SO YOU WILL SEE THERE ON THE INFO GRAPHIC ON THE LIBRARY FOR FISCAL YEAR. LEGAL DOCUMENTATION IS ABOUT 25 HUNDRED PEOPLE.
>> AND WHILE YOU'RE HERE BEFORE YOU RUN OFF, I WANT TO TAKE THIS POINT IN TIME TO POINT OUT AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. IN ABSENCE. IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME DOING THIS BEFORE US, AS WELL.
AND TO NOTE I DIDN'T SEE AN INCREASE IN YOUR OWN SALARY OR
ANYTHING. >> I THINK I JUST PUT FOR ALL PERSONNEL FOR THE COUNTY LIBRARY FOR TWO GROUP STEPS FOR
EVERYBODY. >> I NOTE WE HAD DISCUSSED -- AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED LATER. BY THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE BOARD THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FUND SET ASIDE FOR ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE OUT FOR THIS LENGTH OF TIME, AND YOU ARE DOING THAT JOB, PLUS YOUR OLD JOB, AND NOT BEING FULLY COMPENSATED FOR IT, AND YOU HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TREMENDOUSLY. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU WERE THERE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, SO WE HOPE TO MAYBE WORK ON SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND HELP YOU TO BECOME DOUGH SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHILE YOU'RE DOING
A JOB THAT IS NOT YOURS. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY COWORKERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALSO STEPPED UP, AS WELL.
>> EVERYBODY OVER THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> DEE, YOU ARE HERE. EMERGENCY SERVICES. DO YOU WANT TO DO YOURS NOW? ARE YOU READY? I'M SORRY. YOU ARE HERE, SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO A LITTLE EARLY SO I CAN GET SOME OTHER PAPERWORK DONE. SO 5100. THAT IS BASICALLY THE FIRE CALLS, AND IT ALSO INCLUDED THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET CONTRACTED WITH CHIEF CLACK. THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE WORKED OUT VERY WELL.
WE HAD SOME BARRIERS, AND HAVE CHOSEN TO FOREGO IT AT THE
[02:50:04]
MOMENT. FOR THAT BUDGET, IT WAS AT 122,494. WE WOULD LIKE TO DECREASE THAT BY 20 5K BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE HAD SET ASIDE TO PAY EVERY YEAR WHEN WE CONTRACTED THE FIRE MARSHAL. SO THAT BUDGET WOULD GO DOWN TO 90 9494. ON THE 5105, BASICALLY,IT IS A WASH FOR MOST OF IT. >> YOU ARE WANTING TO UTILIZE
>> YOU ARE SAYING GO AWAY. >> I WILL GET THERE. BUT THE 5105, WE REDUCE THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRED 500. WE REDUCED THE OTHER SERVICES AND CHARGES BY 6000. THAT WAS JUST BASED ON WHAT WE WERE SEEING AND WHAT WE WERE SPENDING OVER TIME. WE WEREN'T USING THAT MUCH. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING RID OF IT, WE DID NEED TO ADDITIONALLY BRING 2000 TO TRAVEL, 4500 TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES , SOMEHOW, WHEN MY BUDGET AND THE RISK-MANAGEMENT BUDGET ROLLED IN TOGETHER, SOMEHOW, MY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WENT AWAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT BACK IN, AND THAT IS WHY THAT IS 4500 INSTEAD OF 3500. WE WANT AN ADDITIONAL 1000 RETURNED OR ASKING, BUT IT IS ALL A WASH. WE JUST MOVE MONEY AROUND. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? OKAY.
>> YOU ARE JUST MOVING. IT DIDN'T GET PUT IN LAST YEAR, SO IT'S NOT. YOU ARE ASKING FOR THAT MONEY TO BE PUT BACK
IN THERE. >> YES. BUT IT SHOULD'VE NEVER BEEN TAKEN. I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE WHEN EVERYTHING GOT ROLLED OVER WITH WORKDAY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I THINK IT
JUST DISAPPEARED. >> IF YOU CAN GIVE US THE BUDGET CUTS WE HAD ACROSS-THE-BOARD --
>> YOU ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SPEC.
>> IT WASN'T CUT FROM MY BUDGET BECAUSE OF IT WAS, NO ONE TOLD US IT WAS CUT. WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR, IT WAS THERE. YOU ARE GOING TO ZERO ME OUT ON
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES? >> YOU CUT PEOPLE LAST YEAR .
ON TOP OF THAT, WE -- SPOKE IF YOU TOOK 3500 FROM MY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, YOU ZEROED ME OUT.
>> IT WAS THE RISK MANAGEMENT. RISK MANAGEMENT REDUCED HIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND IN THAT REDUCED PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES, AND MOVED OVER TO. >> ALL YOU DID WAS MOVE OVER THE AED. YOU TOOK AWAY MINE, TOO.
>> THE AED, THAT IS WHAT YOU USE IT FOR. HE WAS REQUIRED TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THAT. YES. YES POINT
>> THERE WERE SOME MISTAKES IN MY BUDGET THAT WE JUST FIXED WITH THE BUDGET CHANGE ORDER BECAUSE WHEN IT ROLLED OVER, AND ROLLED OVER WRONG. THEY HEADED IN ONE PLACE AND THEY HEADED IN ANOTHER, SO WE FIXED THAT. SO FOR CONTINGENCY FUNDS, TYPICALLY, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN 20 5K FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS PRIOR TO ME COMING ON BOARD LAST YEAR I TOOK A $10,000 CUT IN THAT CONTINGENCY FUND. THAT CONTINGENCY FUND -- EXCUSE ME -- IS FOR BASICALLY DISASTERS. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY YEAR . WE'VE ALREADY HAD THREE STORMS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND JULY, AND WE ARE PREDICTED AT 89% CHANCE THAT WE WILL GET A HIT THIS YEAR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BUMP THAT BACK UP TO AT LEAST 15 K BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S AT 10. AND THEN MY BIGGEST ASK IS I DID TAKE A PRETTY GOOD CUT LAST YEAR WITH MY POSITIONS. BEING IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE NOW FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I NEED ANOTHER PERSON. TWO OF US CAN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. I AM ASKING FOR ANOTHER POSITION OF AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST. IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR PACKET, I ALSO DID A JOB ASSESSMENT, SO BASICALLY, WHAT I DID IS I TOOK THE JOB OVERVIEW. I GAVE ALL THE DROP ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS THAT THIS PERSON WOULD BE DOING, HOW MUCH PART OF THE DAY THEY WOULD BE DOING SO YOU COULD SEE EXACTLY WHERE THIS JOB IS COMING FROM. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT GETTING DONE VERY WELL BECAUSE BETWEEN KATHY AND MYSELF, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY TO GET ALL THIS DONE. THERE'S A LOT OF MONITORING WE DO. A LOT OF
[02:55:02]
PREPAREDNESS WE DO. A LOT OF FILES AND COMPLIANCE THINGS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. THIS PERSON WOULD BE MAINLY MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLANNING. THEY WOULD HELP WITH DOCUMENTING AND TRACKING ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR COMPLIANCE, REIMBURSEMENT AND REPORTING.THEY WOULD HELP MANAGE OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS, DRILLS TO PREPARE THE COUNTY STAFF FOR TRAINING, MAINTAIN ICS RECORDS.
TRACKING THE WEB USERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE COUNTY.
THEY WOULD HELP OUT WITH THE CB REENTRY CAMP PROGRAM. WE HAVE OVER 100 INDUSTRIES THAT RACE TO GET THESE REENTRY FORMS IN AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN HURRICANE SEASON IS COMING UP.
THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GET THOSE RECORDS PUT TOGETHER AND SIGNED AND SENT BACK OUT. WE ARE LACKING IN OUR OUTREACH AND OUR PRESENTATIONS AND OUR MEETINGS AND GETTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING PEOPLE GET PREPARED FOR THESE THINGS.
WE NEED HELP IN MANAGING THE MOUS. I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THEM AND WE ARE HAVING TO RACE TO GET SOME OF THEM BEFORE THIS HURRICANE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY EXPIRED IN 2018.
>> SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR ONE MORE POSITION.
>> YES SIR. ONE POSITION. >> HOW MUCH WAS IT? WHAT WAS
THE AMOUNT? >> THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE POSITION WOULD BE $55,475 AND SOME CHANGE . THAT INCLUDES THE
BENEFITS. >> IT WOULD BE A STEP ONE , 23.
AND PART OF THE REASON IS, THE BASE PAY WOULD BE 45,427, IT'S A LITTLE OVER 10,000 IN ESTIMATED BENEFITS. BUT I'M HOPING THAT THE 25,000 THAT I HAD IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL CONTRACT COULD HELP OFFSET THAT COST SO IT WOULD BRING IT CLOSER TO ABOUT 30,000 FOR NEXT YEAR. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD GO BACK UP TO THE 55 THE FOLLOWING YEAR . BUT WE REALLY NEED THIS POSITION. I'M, YOU KNOW. THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US , AND WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- SPOKE
TWO OR THREE? >> THERE ARE TWO. MYSELF AND
FUNDED. >> IT WAS MOVED INTO EMERGENCY BUT STILL UNDER RISK MANAGEMENT. TIMOTHY AND HIS STAFF STILL DO ALL THE INSURANCE AND BILLINGS AND ASSESSMENTS. THEY DON'T DO --
>> I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU FOR THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE ASKED THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY TO GIVE A TASK LIST TO ME. THEY HAVE A BULLETED ON A DAILY BASIS FOR THE LAST YEAR, WHAT THEY ARE DOING. SO I WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ARE DOING. THEY HAVE A FULL PLATE. THEY ARE DOING WORKMEN'S COMP. THEY ARE DOING ALL THE STUFF WITH THE INSURANCE. I WILL GIVE YOU A COPY. I HAVE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF THAT FOR A YEAR. YOU KNOW, RISK MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REALLY AREN'T THE SAME. AND IT IS HARD FOR ME TO ASK THEM TO DO THINGS THAT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO DO. I NEED AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, A PLANNER. I NEED SOMEBODY THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS IT TO DO THIS, TO MANAGE IT. WE'VE GOT BLACK HOLES THAT WE ARE FALLING
THROUGH. >> BUT CAN THEY GET TRAINED OR
CAN ONE OF THEM GET TRAINED? >> ARE THEY TRAINED IN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT? >> THEY HAVE TAKEN THE ICS 300.
THEY HAVE TAKEN THE ONLINE FEMA THINGS. THEY HELP OUT TREMENDOUSLY DURING EMERGENCIES BUT FROM A DAY-TO-DAY STANDPOINT, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS THAT THEY ARE TAKING
CARE OF. >> AND THAT IS THREE PEOPLE?
>> TIMOTHY HAS ANDREA. HE ONLY HAS ONE.
>> OKAY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE, D -- ?
>> SINCE I'M UP HERE, I'LL MENTION IT. THIS ISN'T ME PERSONALLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE TRAVELING, THE MILEAGE, AND FOOD PER DIEM FOR EMPLOYEES.
NOT SO MUCH MYSELF, BUT ALL -- WELCOME ANYBODY THAT DOES TRAVEL MILEAGE. WE ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THIS STUFF.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO TO FT. WORTH OR AUSTIN. THE HOTELS THEIR COST MORE THAN THEY COST IN CORPUS CHRISTI. SAME THING
[03:00:01]
FOR MILEAGE. I THINK FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AT LIKE $.57 A MILE AND WE ARE SPLIT $.47 A MILE AND THE GAS PRICES HAVE NOT GONE DOWN SINCE, EITHER. FOOD PER DIEM. WE ARE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES $60 FOR EACH MEAL. YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY A HAPPY MEAL FOR $16 ANYMORE. I THINK IF YOU FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THERE IS PER DIEM. IT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO FT. WORTH, THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD SPEND ON A HOTEL FOR GOVERNMENT. THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR MEALS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. JUST CONSIDER IT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. LASTLY, WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COMMISSIONER CHESNEY WAS SAYING. WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO TO KEEP THE GOOD EMPLOYEES WE HAVE AND KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING US. YOU KNOW, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT, WE, AS DIRECTORS, HAD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GOT EVERY YEAR THAT WE COULD USE TO THANK OR INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. IT WAS BASED ON MERITOCRACY. NOT EVERYBODY GETS IT. BUT WHAT IT DID WAS IT ALLOWED US TO GIVE SOMETHING TO THOSE THAT WERE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE, AND HOPEFULLY, ALSO, INCENTIVIZE THOSE THAT SAW IT HAPPENING, THAT THEY WOULD KIND OF STEP UP TO THE PLATE, AS WELL. WE CAN'T PAY OUR EMPLOYEES A LOT MORE, BUT IF WE PUT ASIDE MONEY EVERY YEAR, THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS COULD USE TO THANK EMPLOYEES, I THINK IT WOULD HELP MORALE QUITE A BIT. JUST A THOUGHT. SOOTHER THAN THAT, I AM DONE. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. >> ON MY LIST, WE HAVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND ANIMAL SERVICES.
I THINK SCOTT IS COMING. SCOTT CROSSES COMING FOR PARKS, AS WELL. I'M SORRY. ARE YOU THERE?
>> I AM OUT OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I KNOW YOU ASKED US TO COME UP EARLIER.
>> OKAY. THAT'S FINE. WE WILL DO IT AFTER LUNCH. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I.T., ALSO. >> THEY ARE SKIPPING, AREN'T
>> I JUST ASKED PEYTON TO CHECK AND SEE.
>> AND JUVENILE PROBATION DID YOU SAY? JUVENILE PROBATION.
>> PROBATION, THE DISTRICT CLERK AND I.T., THEY ALL HAD
NET ZERO. >> OKAY. SO WE ARE WAITING ON COASTAL PARKS. YOU SAID HE'S ON HIS WAY? AND THEN WE WILL DO
DISTRICT. >> COUNTY ATTORNEY AND ANIMAL SERVICES IS DOING THE CLINIC, SO SHE IS GOING TO ZOOM. SHE WANTED AS LATE AS POSSIBLE. COUNSEL FIVE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
THEY HAD SOMETHING COME UP. CRYSTAL PARK -- IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS AVAILABLE. FOUR REMAINING. OKAY. I AM GOING TO TAKE A SMALL BREAK. DOES ANYONE NEED A
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU ON OUR REQUEST AND ELABORATE WHY OUR REQUEST FALLS WITHIN THE PERSONNEL MANUAL PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. I BELIEVE IT IS AT A HIGH LEVEL AND PROTECTS THE COUNTY IN A BROAD AREA. NOT ONLY THE PARTS THAT YOU ALL SEE ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY MORE ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. THAT WE WILL GET INTO LATER. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THESE CHANGES DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AS IS PROVIDED IN THE PERSONNEL MANUAL, WHILE WE HAVE WATCHED OTHER OFFICES COME IN DURING AND OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WITH SUCCESS, WE ARE AND HAVE CHOSEN TO HONOR THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THOSE REQUESTS THAT THAT BE DONE, YOU
[03:05:01]
KNOW, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, I KNOW DURING THOSE MEETINGS, YOU HAVE SAID RIGHTLY EACH TIME THAT IF WE DO THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL BE IN HERE ASKING THE COURT TO HONOR ITS PERSONNEL , THEN DO THE SAME. DO I NEED TO PAUSE, CONNIE?>> I CAN HEAR HER. >> I CAN HEAR HER, BUT YOU
CAN'T? >> DOES THIS WORK BETTER? IS THIS BETTER? YES. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY. WE ARE KEEPING THAT APPOINTMENT WITH THE COURT NOTICE AND LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT ASK FOR ANY INCREASES. WE DID DO AS REQUESTED AND DECREASED OUR BUDGET . WE GOT RID OF TRAVEL, CAR ALLOWANCES, AND AS THE SHERIFF TALKED ABOUT, AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ, HE SHOWED YOU THAT HE HAS SKIN IN THE GAME. WELL, TRAVEL TO CONFERENCES IS IMPORTANT TO OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTAINING. WE HAVE USED STATE FUNDS, THE STATE SUPPLEMENT FOR THAT. WE ARE MEETING THAT REQUEST WITH THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US. SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS GIVE A LITTLE OUTLINE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES FROM THE PERSONNEL MANUAL. WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE HERE? WHAT ARE THE RULES PROMULGATED BY THE COURT? AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW IT UP WITH THE NUMBERS.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS IN THIS CASE AS WE WILL TREATED, I GUESS, AND THEN FINALLY, WE WILL GET INTO A REMINDER FOR THE COURT -- AND YOU HAVE HEARD THIS CLEARLY. WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE DO, AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE ? HOW ARE WE GOING TO APPLY THE RULES TO THE FACTS AS WE FIND THEM? SO THE GROUND RULES WERE CREATED BY THE COURT. I'LL GET THAT UP FOR YOU. BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THEM, I GUESS, IF I NEED TO, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM ON A PRINTOUT SOON IF YOU DON'T ALREADY .3 .19 OF THE PERSONNEL MANUAL DESCRIBES HOW THE COURT EXPECTS TO DECIDE HOW PAY GROUPS ARE APPLIED, HOW SALARIES ARE ANALYZED. AND IT WON'T TAKE YOU LONG TO SEE. THE SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE JOB, WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT. WE SUPERVISE ONE OR MORE OTHER ATTORNEYS IN SOME CASES, BUT STAFF MEMBERS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR TASKS. THE PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB. I MEAN, COME ON. EVERY COMMISSIONERS COURT, YOUR HANDLING SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF 1 TO 2, MAYBE MORE ATTORNEYS IN OUR OFFICE.
SO WE SCORE VERY HIGH ON THAT. THE LOCAL JOB MARKETS, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, LIKE TIM SAID, HE HAS DONE A SALARY EVALUATION FOR ZONE REQUEST. ALL WE NEEDED TO DO WAS LOOK ACROSS THE HALL. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF WE LOOK FURTHER THAN THE NUMBERS WOULD BE EVEN MORE BLOATED THAN THEY ARE. THE REQUIRED TRAINING SKILLS, TEST SKILLS, EDUCATION, ALONG WITH -- AND I GUESS, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT -- ARE WE -- OKAY.
GOOD. OKAY. I JUST WASN'T SURE. SO TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE. 152 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN OUR OFFICE. NO OTHER OFFICE HAS THAT. NO OTHER LEGAL OFFICE HAS THAT IN OUR COUNTY. THE VAST MAJORITY OF US HAVE OVER NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. SO WHAT YOU ARE GETTING IN OUR OFFICE IS THAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION OF THE COUNTY. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, AND IT, YOU KNOW, IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT THAT IS OUR JOB. WE ARE NOT HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR. THE HAZARDS OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE JOB. THAT PRETTY MUCH HAS PASSED. WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE NOW. THE STRESS FACTOR , THAT IS NOT JUST FOR THE ATTORNEYS, THAT IS FOR THE STAFF, ALSO. THERE IS A THING CALLED SECONDARY TRAUMA THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF.
COMMISSIONER MAREZ, YOU PROBABLY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE.
ALSO COMMISSIONER CHESNEY. WHEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY, WHAT YOU DO WITH PEOPLE AND HOLD THEIR HANDS AND SERVE THEM THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT PARTS OF THEIR LIVES, WHEN A WOMAN IS DESCRIBING BEING PUNCHED AND BEATEN WHILE SHE IS HOLDING HER BABY IN HER ARMS, THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE OUR STAFF MEMBERS SERVE THOSE PEOPLEDAY O STAFF. THE ATTORNEY TAKES THEM TO COURT AND TALKS WITH THEM. THIS IS RIGHT ON THAT LIST.
THIS IS NOT A LIST WE CREATED, COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS A COURT
[03:10:03]
DOCUMENT CREATED BY THE COURT WHEN THEY SAID TO THE EMPLOYEES, THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO EVALUATE YOUR JOBS.AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT LIST AND I'M SEEING STRESS FACTORS ON THE LIST. THE SECOND PART -- SECOND IMPORTANT PART OF THE GROUND RULES AND OUR PARAMETERS HERE, AND I'M GOING TO READ 3.21 TWO YOU VERBATIM. IF IT DETERMINES THAT PAST SALARY PRACTICES HAVE RESULTED IN PAYMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE AT AN -- IN BOLD HERE -- EQUITABLY LOW RATE COMPARED TO OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE SAME CLASS, IT MAY RAISE THE SALARY OF SUCH EMPLOYEE TO A LEVEL OF THE MOST EQUITABLE. THE SAME CLASS. WHAT DO I MEAN THERE? I MEAN, AN ATTORNEY WHO CAN WORK IN ONE OFFICE AND THEN WALK ACROSS THE HALL, AND LEARN A DIFFERENT FLAVOR OF THE SAME BASIC JOB, THAT IS A JOB CLASS. A CLERK WHO CAN BE IN ONE OFFICE AND GO TO ANOTHER OFFICE WITHIN THE COUNTY, LEARN THE PROCEDURES OF THAT NEW OFFICE . THAT IS THE SAME CLASS. FOR AN OFFICE MANAGER WHO IN ONE OFFICE IS LABELED OFFICE MANAGER AND GETS FIVE PAY GROUPS OF THE MANAGER, I'M GOING TO SAY THOSE ARE THE SAME CLASS. AND THEY NEED TO BE EVALUATED ALONG THE LIST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS PROMULGATED IN THE PERSONNEL MANUAL. I'M SORRY IT IS CUTTING IN AND OUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. OKAY. SO. WHO ARE OUR COUNTERPARTS? I'VE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THAT. THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WANT TO INCLUDE IN THIS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. NOW. RIGHT NOW, THIS YEAR, I DON'T BELIEVE THE COUNTY IS FUNDING ANY OF THAT OFFICE, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT MAY BE IN THE COMING YEAR. I DO WANT TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN A COMPARISON BECAUSE THEY ALSO FOLLOW OUR PAY GROUP DESCRIPTIONS AND FORMAT. I AM INCLUDING THEM FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR OUR OFFICE DO NOT COME EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE COURT. AND I KNOW IN THE PAST, I'M JUST ASKING -- I WANT THE COURT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT -- IT COMES FROM THE OTHER SOURCES LIKE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT PAYING FOR ONE POSITION. CPS PAYS US A CERTAIN AMOUNT. WE THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE FOR WHAT THEY RECEIVE, FOR WHAT WE DO FOR THEM. AND THEN, WHILE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT HAS FOR TWO YEARS PROVIDED A SUPPLEMENT, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT OR EXPECTATION THAT THAT HAPPENS AGAIN. SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT IT MIGHT, BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN COUNT ON.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. BEFORE YOU MOVE ON. I KNOW YOU SAID WE HAVE BEEN ACROSS THE AISLE IN THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS DON'T GET THESE SUPPLEMENTS, HOW DOES
THAT KEEP EVERYTHING EQUAL? >> THEY GET DIFFERENT SUPPLEMENTS, JUDGE BRITT WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE DID FINALLY GET IT. THEY GET SUPPLEMENTS, ALSO.
>> BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM AS EMPLOYEES USE TO?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE.
>> SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ALL THIS HAVE TO BE LEVEL, THEN WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE RULES, AND WE CAN'T GET INTO THAT PART OF ELECTED -- OPPORTUNITY, OR WE ARE PAYING ONE ATTORNEY A DIFFERENT PAY THAN WE ARE PAYING ANOTHER ATTORNEY BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLEMENTS, AND BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE YOUR EMPLOYEES THIS, THE NEXT PERSON THAT GETS ELECTED AND THAT OFFICE -- AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, THEN THE COUNTY STILL HAS -- SO I'M TRYING TO -- I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST THINK THIS NEEDS CLARIFICATION BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT
ACROSS THE BOARD FAIR. >> AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS IN ORDER TO GET THAT FURNACE, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT EACH PAY GROUP IS , APPLES TO APPLES, WITHOUT THE SUPPLEMENT IN EACH OFFICE. AND THAT'S WHY. BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT ELECTED IS GOING TO DO. AND THE TRUTH IS, FOR YEARS, OUR OFFICE HAS USED THE SUPPLEMENT. IN ORDER TO COVER THE GAP THAT I WILL SHOW YOU IN VISUAL FORM. BUT THE GAP HAS BECOME SO BIG THAT THE 1325 IS NO LONGER GOING TO COVER IT, AND SO WE ARE HERE , AS WE HAVE BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, TO SAY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER THAT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME. I HAVE ATTORNEY 2'S DOING HIGH-LEVEL WORK, AND THE REASON WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT
[03:15:02]
1325 TO MAKE THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEIR JOB PAY GROUP IS NOT ADEQUATE , AND INEQUITABLE, THE PAY THAT THEY TAKE HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY HAS DONE SOMEWHAT TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO, IS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PAY GROUP IS DONE EQUITABLY AND FAIRLY, AS PER THIS EIGHT THINGS IN THE PERSONNEL MANUAL, RECOGNIZE --
>> THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU SAID THIS COURT HAS TO FOLLOW, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE YOUR EMPLOYEES SHOW UP TO WORK OR HAVE THE TIME SCHEDULE OR ANYTHING ELSE, THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WE DO, AND YOU ARE STATING, BECAUSE OF THIS, WE CANNOT ALLOW DIFFERENT PAY SCALES IN DIFFERENT APARTMENTS -- DEPARTMENTS.
>> I'M SAYING YOU HAVE TO PERFORM THE ANALYSIS THAT HAS BEEN PROMULGATED. NOW, THAT GOES INTO THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF EACH DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE THIS COUNTY, BY THE LAST CENSUS AND BY THE LATEST EVEN PROJECTIONS, THE STATUTE IS THAT AFTER 355,000 PEOPLE, THE COURT CAN DO , YOU KNOW, HOURS OF THIS AND THAT. THE COURT HAS MADE NO FINDINGS, AND WOULD HAVE TO DO SO UPON RELIABLE, VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE, THAT IT WOULD HAVE 355. BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN ORDER TO GIVE YOURSELVES MORE POWER. YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT, IF YOU'RE DOING A REDISTRICTING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WITH THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE COURT BEING -- 'S BUT YOU CAN DO IT IF IT IS A
LEGITIMATE FINDING. >> IF IT IS A LEGITIMATE FINDING, THERE'S A LITTLE FUZZY PART. IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING, IN ORDER TO GIVE YOURSELF MORE POWER, YOU WOULD
NEED THAT MUCH MORE. >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
POWER WE GET BY IT. >> THE 355 IS THE SPECIFIC THINK SHE WAS REFERENCING, GIVEN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT MAKING ELECTEDS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS -- NOT THE PERMIT HAS -- OFFICES BEING OPEN CERTAIN SPECIFIC MATTERS.
>> MY INTENT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE.
>> IT IS JUST A UNIVERSAL THING. IF WE'VE GOT TO MAKE EVERYTHING ELSE SO FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD, THE HOURS SHOULD BE
THE SAME, AS WELL. >> AND THAT IS A GREAT THING FOR THE COUNTY, BUT, AS FAR AS THAT STATUTORY PRIVILEGE GIVEN TO THE COURT, IT IS GIVEN TO THE COURT SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THEY FIT WITHIN THAT STATUTE AND WE JUST DON'T FIT IN THAT AT THIS TIME. BUT, SO. FINALLY, THE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY HAVE CHAPTER 59 FORFEITURES. THEY DO DISTRIBUTE THOSE SUPPLEMENTS. THAT IS WHY, AN EFFORT TO HAVE THE APPLES TO APPLES DISCUSSION, I WAS HOPING TO TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS ON EACH
SIDE OUT OF THE DISCUSSION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY HAVE SUPPLEMENTS IN THE OTHER THE PERMITS, TOO.
>> IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THOSE NUMBERS, BUT WE FINALLY DID, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BACKWARDS ENGINEER -- AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE GIVEN, AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY HAVE SUPPLEMENTS.
BECAUSE I THINK , AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO REMEMBER BETTER THAN ME, OF THE SUPPLEMENTS RECEIVED, I THINK OUR OFFICE HAS MAYBE 10,000? ABOUT 10,000 MORE IN SUPPLEMENTS. WE ARE NOT THAT FAR OFF IN SUPPLEMENTS. BUT WE ARE FAR OFF IN THE PAY GRADES. PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. I THINK WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH. >> IS THAT CHART SUPPOSED TO
MOVE? >> ALMOST. WE ARE IN THE NUMBER BEFORE WE GET TO THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. SO, PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND PART OF WHAT YOU SEE THIS MORNING IS PEOPLE COMING IN AND SAYING, HEY, I HAVE 57 EMPTY SLOTS. I WILL GET RID OF TWO TO DO THIS OTHER FUNCTION, OR I WILL GET RID OF ONE HIGHER PAY AND DO THIS AND THAT. WE ARE NOT IN THAT POSITION. OKAY. WE ARE FULLY STAFFED, EXCEPT FOR THE ARPA POSITION, WHICH WE ARE HAVING A STRUGGLE TO GET POSTED, BUT I THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON. I'M HOPEFUL. IF IT'S NOT FILLED BY THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, THEN THAT GOES AWAY.
>> NOVEMBER POINT MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.
>> SO NOT COUNTING THAT ARPA POSITION, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO SAY, WE HAVE AN EMPTY SLOT. TAKE THAT OUT AND SPREAD OUT THE WEALTH. BUT, THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS NOT
[03:20:02]
JUST, OH WELL. YOU KNOW. TOO BAD. IT SUCKS TO HAVE A SMALL OFFICE. WE ARE GOING TO FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. THE COURT STILL HAS THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PERFORMING THE ANALYSIS AND THE LISTENING TO THE ELECTEDS. NOW, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN AND PERFORM THE ANALYSIS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY ELECTED GETS TO COME IN AND SAY, THIS IS OUR BUDGET, AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT. SO THIS IS US MAKING OUR CASEIN THE FRAMEWORK PROVIDED. >> AND WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE AS FAR AS JUST TO GET, ASSUMING, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT THAT WE 100% AGREED WITH YOUR ANALYSIS OF CLARK VERSUS CLARK, LEGAL VERSUS LEGAL. WITHOUT GETTING INTO THAT FOR NOW, WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE ASK TO GET YOUR LAWYERS AND CLERKS UP TO THE SAME LEVEL AS OTHER LAWYERS AND CLERKS, BECAUSE THE ARGUMENT MADE BEFORE, BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS MORE CASES, IS NOT COMPELLING TO ME BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THE CASES THAT Y'ALL HANDLE IS ABSOLUTELY COMPELLING BECAUSE , I MEAN, IT IS HUGE. RIGHT? I THINK YOU COULD ARGUE THAT ONE BOTH WAYS. SO LET'S KEEP THAT OFF THE TABLE. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A MATCH BETWEEN THE DA AND THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY. >> WE CAN GO TO OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS. YOU COULD GO ALL DAY LONG.
>> AND WE ARE NOT HERE TO DISPARAGE ANY OTHER ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AT ALL IN ANY WAY. >> SO THE BOTTOM LINE ON THAT
ONE. >> THE BOTTOM LINE, TO BRING IT ACTUALLY WITHIN IS 350, APPROXIMATELY, THOUSAND DOLLARS. WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR THAT. WE HAVE BIDS TO BRING IT PARTIALLY THE WAY THERE THIS YEAR, AND IN HOPES OF BRINGING IT THE REST OF THE WAY THERE, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR OFFICES THE FOLLOWING YEAR, TO DO IT THIS YEAR, WE ARE ASKING FOR $258. 258, 251.56.
>> HE SAID YES, SO YES. >> OKAY.
>> CAN YOU GO TO THE TRIANGLES? I THINK WE CAN SKIP TO THAT ONE. OKAY. SO, TO SHOW YOU VISUALLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I THINK CISCO IS GOING TO STEP IN AND DESCRIBE IT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, COURT. WHAT I HAVE UP HERE IS A GRAPH WHERE IT LOOKS KIND OF COMPLICATED, BUT IT ISN'T THAT DIFFICULT TO READ. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE BLUE SECTIONS ONLY. THAT'S THE TRIANGLE SHADED IN. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS PUT ALL THE POSITIONS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER FROM 34 ALL THE WAY UP TO -- I CAN'T SEE RIGHT NOW. 48, MAY BE, AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU SEE THE BLUE SECTION, WHERE IT SHOWS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS FIVE PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY THE LITTLE BLUE MARK IS REALLY HI THERE. THEN YOU GO DOWN TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS 35, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THERE. AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY CAN SEE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT THAT'S NOT TOO IMPOTENT. THE MOST IMPOTENT PART IS THE SHAPES AND THE COLORS THAT ARE THERE. SO WE SEE THE SHAPES AND THE COLORS. WE SEE THAT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN BLUE DISH THAT IS ALL WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A GAP. THERE IS A HOLE RIGHT THERE FROM 38, 39, 40, 41 POINT WE HAVE ZERO POSITIONS ARE THERE, WHAT IS BEING HIGHLIGHTED. THERE IS NOTHING THERE FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE END OF THE GRAPH, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE OTHER POSITIONS THAT OFFICES HAVE, AND THERE IS A GAP, TOO. YOU HAVE THAT AREA RIGHT THERE. WHAT YOU SEE IS, YOU HAVE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, OR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE CATEGORIZED AT APPROXIMATELY 47'S OR HIGHER, OR HIGHER, AND OUR SITUATION, WELL WE HAVE THE LITTLE BLUE TRIANGLE IN THE MIDDLE, THAT IS BECAUSE IT INCLUDES OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, AS WELL, SO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS THERE ARE NOT ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND WE HAVE THE FIRST ASSISTANT THERE, WHICH IS NEXT TO IT. NEXT IT IS A GREEN JUNGLE, BUT WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT YET, SO THE KEY TAKEAWAYS, TWO KEY TAKEAWAYS, OUR GRAPH IS BOTTOM HEAVY. WE HAVE THE TRIANGLE IS REALLY BIG ON THE BOTTOM. AND THERE IS A WHOLE. THERE IS A GAP. THAT IS THE MAIN IDEAS BETWEEN THE BLUE. IF WE LOOK AT THE RED NOW, THE RED IS -- ARE THE NUMBERS FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND YOU SEE THAT IT IS EQUALLY DIVIDED. THERE IS NO GAP THERE. WE HAVE ON THE UPPER END, WE ALSO HAVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER. THERE IS NO GAP IN THE MIDDLE. AND THEN, WITH THE GREEN SECTION, YOU SEE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS IN THE GAP, THEY HAVE SEVERAL POSITIONS THERE THAT PHILIP THE GAP, AND THEN YOU HAVE MORE ON THE UPPER END, AS WELL. SO WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THAT THERE ARE GAPS. EARLIER, IT WAS
[03:25:01]
MENTIONED. YES, THERE ARE SUPPLEMENTS, BUT SUPPLEMENTS HELP A LITTLE BIT. TO HELP FILL IN THOSE GAPS THAT ARE THERE.THOSE SUPPLEMENTS ARE HELPFUL. TO GET SOME OF THOSE INTO THOSE RIGHT NOW, BUT NOT ENTIRELY, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THIS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE MAKING THIS ASK HERE.
>> AND COMPARATIVELY, IN THE DEPARTMENTS, AND JUST FOR FUN, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEPARTMENT, VERSUS
Y'ALL'S. >> WE HAVE NORMALIZED -- WE
HAVE NORMALIZED THE CHARTS. >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT WE HAVE ALSO DONE IS, IT NORMALIZES IT. IT DOES IT BY PERCENTAGES SO YOU CAN COMPARE THE PERCENTAGE OF DISTRIBUTION, SO BASICALLY, IT IS HR THAT IS TRACKING CLOSE TO THAT ONE.
LET'S SEE. AND IT'S -- WHERE IS THAT? OKAY. THIS PART HAS TWO PARTS. IT'S THE FIRST ONE AND THE SECOND ONE. THE FIRST ONE HERE ON THE LEFT, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. YOU CAN SEE THE GAPS THERE. THAT IS BASED ON PERCENTAGES. IN OUR OFFICE, 45% ARE THE ATTORNEY THREE IS A YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER POSITION THERE. THE ASK THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS GOING TO ASK FOR IN A LITTLE BIT, DOES WHAT IT DOES -- YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE SECOND DIAGRAM. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY THEIR -- THERE ARE TWO TAKEAWAYS. THE TRIANGLES ARE MORE LINED UP NOW. WE STILL HAVE A GAP. THERE ARE STILL TWO GAPS THERE. THAT IS WHAT THE SUPPLEMENTS ARE CURRENTLY DOING. THE ANIMATIONS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING BECAUSE THIS IS AN ANIMATION THAT WOULD SHOW THE SHIFT OF THAT THICK TRIANGLE RIGHT THERE. AND OF THE ANIMATIONS WORKED, YOU WOULD SEE THE SHIFT GOING OVER A LITTLE BIT THAT WAY. WHERE CONNIE IS POINTING RIGHT NOW. WE SHIFTED THE POSITIONS THAT WE. WE HAVE THE GAP. THAT IS WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTS ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE ARE STILL GAPS. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN ADDITION TO THAT. THIS IS THE ONE-TO-ONE COMPARISON HERE.
>> IT INCLUDES THE TWO ATTORNEYS POSITIONS. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WOULD BE THE 258 THAT ARE THERE NOW. DOES THAT
MAKE SENSE? >> WHICH LEVEL ATTORNEYS ARE YOU ASKING FOR? WHAT ARE THE NEW POSITIONS?
>> SPOKE LOW-LEVEL. >> OKAY. BUT WE STILL NEED -- I STILL VALUE VERY MUCH HAVING A PROGRESSION. SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE ENTRY-LEVEL FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE UP TO THE OFFICE. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ALL OF OUR ATTORNEYS TO BE MOVED UP.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I JUMP BACK IN. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT FOR THE ONES THAT CISCO WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW MY SALARY IS THIS OR THAT -- I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE COURT TO DO ANYTHING REGARDING MY PERSONAL SALARY. THAT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE SUPPLEMENT IF NEEDED. SO YES. THAT'S NOT -- I'M NOT HERE ASKING FOR THAT FOR MYSELF.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER MEETING THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE APPLIED MORE TO YOURS TO RELIEVE THE COUNTY'S BURDEN SO WE CAN DO IT FOR OTHERS? BECAUSE ANY EVENT YOU AREN'T HERE THE NEXT TIME, ANOTHER OFFICER OR COUNTY ATTORNEY MIGHT NOT WISH TO DO
THOSE SAME THINGS . >> THAT IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS NOT A FULL THING. THE WHOLE THING CANNOT GO . SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF INTRICACY IN THAT ONE. BUT THAT IS TOTALLY OKAY
TO TALK ABOUT . >> PLUS, IF WE GET ONE REQUEST FOR ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL, HERE COMES THE REST OF THEM, TOO. IT IS THE SAME ARGUMENT I MADE ON THAT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN INCREASE ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL AND NOT ALL OF THEM.
>> AND THAT'S WHY I WAS POINTING OUT THAT I'M NOT
MAKING THAT REQUEST. >> I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.
>> IN CASE ANYONE IS LISTENING -- DON'T CALL.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THE WHOLE THINGS.
LET'S SEE WHAT ALL WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH OF IT. GO AHEAD.
>> OH, YES. >> WE HAVE A SECOND CHART SIMILAR TO THIS ONE. THIS CURRENT ONE THAT WE HAVE UP UP
[03:30:04]
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
YOU HAVE THINGS? >> SO, THAT IS 250,
>> SO WHY DO YOU HAVE A POLICY? BECAUSE IT GIVES EVERYBODY A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT, THE RULES YOU WORK BY IN THE ROLES THAT YOU PLAY BY. IT SHOWS EQUITY AND FAIRNESS.
YOU HAVE A SET OF RULES. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO FOLLOW THEM. THE SET OF RULES LIKE THAT ALSO SHOWS WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE COUNTY, SAY THEY CAN TO THE COUNTY, WANTING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS OR THAT WAY THAT THEY WERE TREATED, THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE A POLICY FOR THAT, AND WE FOLLOW IT, AND THAT IS , PER SE, THE BEGINNING OF EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TREATED FAIRLY BECAUSE THE COLLIE -- COUNTY HAS FOLLOWED POLICIES WITH YOU REGARDING THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU SEE THE CHART. I THINK WE COULD TALK TO YOU ALL DAY LONG ABOUT THE STRESSES, THE NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO ASK NICOLE TO GO INTO ON THE CPS CASES BECAUSE THAT IS ONE THING YOU DON'T EVER SEE US DO. AND NICOLE, CAN YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE CHANGES COMING UP THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS?
>> AS THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPRESENTS THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND ALL EXIGENT AND REMOVALS EXCLUSIVELY. IF A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME, BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, WE TAKE CARE OF IT. WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY THAT SPECIALIZES IN THAT. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASES IN THESE CASES DUE TO DIFFERING FACTORS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY, BUT INCLUDING POPULATION GROWTH. OVER THE TIME THAT COUNTY COURT 5 HAS HAD EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER CHILD WELFARE CASES, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ATTORNEYS WORKING IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THESE CASES. THE AMOUNT OF CASES HAS INCREASED GREATLY, BUT THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS HANDLING THEM HAVEN'T. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECOGNIZED THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. YOU HAVE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF JUDGES THAT HANDLE THE CHILD WELFARE CASES. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY KNOWS THIS WORLD WELL. YOU HAVE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF CLERKS IN THE OFFICE IF YOU TALKED TO MISS LORENZEN, SHE WILL EXPLAIN THAT THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY CREATE THAT SECTION THE SECOND PORT POSITION AT COUNTY 52 HANDLE ALL OF THE FILINGS. HE WAS DOING THOSE FILINGS? THAT IS US. AND SO, THE RESOURCES THAT IT TAKES TO DO AN EFFECTIVE AND ADEQUATE JOB, WE NEED MORE. THE LAW HAS ALSO CHANGED TO PUT US IN A PREDICAMENT WHERE THE CASES TAKE A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEY HAVE BECOME MORE ADVERSARIAL. PEOPLE -- RESPONDENTS ARE GETTING ATTORNEYS EARLIER IN THE PROCESS. AND THE CASES NOW TAKE LONGER BECAUSE THEY ARE AFFORDED WITH A 401 EXTENSION
[03:35:05]
FOR CERTAIN FACTORS, AND SO WELL CASES USED TO TAKE A YEAR TO A YEAR AND HALF ON AVERAGE, THEY ARE TAKING MUCH LONGER.AND SO, THAT IS CAUSING MORE CASES -- MORE HEARINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE ON A DAILY BASIS BY OUR ATTORNEY. WE HANDLE OVER 1500 HEARINGS ON CPS CASES YEAR, AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE, WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR AN ADVERSARIAL HEARING. WE HAVE TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR WITNESSES ARE PREPARED FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS, AND SO, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NOT SEE IN THE FRONT, IN FRONT OF YOU EVERY DAY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING
>> OKAY. AND THEN AS FAR AS SPECIFIC NUMBERS, DID YOU WANT
TO GO INTO SOME OF THEM? >> SO I TALKED ABOUT OUR BUDGET NOT PAID IN THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT PAYS TOWARD THE ATTORNEY. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE $50,000 SUPPLEMENT. THAT IS NOT A GUARANTEED NUMBER. DFPS $98,000 FOR WHAT THEY GET THAT THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS A LOT MORE OF THAT . PERSECUTION AND LONGEVITY PAY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT , YES, THAT WE GET, BUT THAT IS REMOVED FROM THE CALCULATION IN PART, LIKE THE OTHER SUPPLEMENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO APPLES AND APPLES. AND THEN, FINALLY, THE NPO IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE THAT IS SPREAD OUT BETWEEN THE WORK THAT THE AUDITOR DOES FOR THEM, AS WELL AS THE LEGAL WORK WE PROVIDE TO THEM. ANYTHING ELSE? AND AT THE END, THERE IS THE SHEET. THAT SHOWS YOU THE TWO NEW ATTORNEYS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING, AND ALL THE DELETIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN TRY TO ANSWER?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW BIG IS YOUR LAW FIRM? HAVE YOU
ALREADY STATED THAT? >> WE HAVE 11 ATTORNEYS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND THEN RIGHT NOW, ON STAFF,. SIX? SIX IF YOU DON'T COUNT THE INTERNS. WE USE INTERNS AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE, CONSTANTLY. >> INTERNS ARE FREE, BY THE
>> GOOD. >> AND THEN, I KNOW YOU DID REFERENCE THE BEGINNING COMPARABLE IN-HOUSE TO OTHER SIMILAR POSITIONS OR DEPARTMENTS. YOU OFFERED SIMILAR FUNCTION, LEGAL BASED FUNCTIONING. Y'ALL ARE ON THE CIVIL SIDE. AND THEN, I'VE ALWAYS CALLED YOU A LAW FIRM. I KNOW OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAVE AND DO. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO CONSIDER. NOT ONLY IN-HOUSE, BUT OUTSIDE, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE ASKED YOUR ATTORNEYS MANY TIMES, WHO ARE NEWER , WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE EXPERIENCE OR THE APPEAL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO THAT THEY ARE GOING UP AGAINST SEASONED ATTORNEYS, AND MANY TIMES HOLD THEIR GROUND.
WUR LEARNED SOME QUICK LESSONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE FOR THE NEXT
TIME. >> AND WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL THREE YEARS. I CAN'T DISCUSS MANY TIMES THE SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO PUT THE COUNTY IN A BAD POSITION, BUT I ASK YOU TO RECALL THE BENEFITS THAT THE COUNTY HAS SEEN FROM OUR OFFICE.
>> JENNY, ARE THERE ATTORNEYS THAT WORK OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE
TO SUPPLEMENT THE SALARY? >> DO YOU MEAN, DO MY ATTORNEYS
DO OUTSIDE WORK SOMETIMES? >> YES. MY POSITION IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE OFFICE THAT IS PRECLUDED FROM DOING ANY OTHER TYPE OF LEGAL WORK. THESE TWO, ALSO, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T DO IS USE COUNTY RESOURCES TO DO ANY OF THAT.
>> BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WORK OUTSIDE.
>> QUESTION. WHAT HAS YOUR BUDGET DONE AS FAR AS OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH THESE? WHERE IS THAT GOING? UP, DOWN, MIDDLE?
>> WELL, WE INHERITED A LOT OF THOSE. WE HAVE ENDEAVORED TO USE FEWER OUTSIDE COUNSEL. WE ONLY SEND THEM OUT IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF CONFLICT. WE HAVE STRETCHED AND STRETCHED AND
[03:40:02]
STRETCHED TO NOT GO TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE OVERBOOKED. NOW, AS FAR AS NUMBERS, I DON'T KNOW. CAN YOUANSWER THAT AS FAR AS -- >> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE INSURANCE, THEY REQUIRE US TO GO WITH THE COUNSEL OF THEIR CHOOSING, AND SO IN SOME CASES, WHERE WE ARE GOING THROUGH ATTACK OR SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO USE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS, DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUT IN GENERAL, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY LOOK AT YEAR-TO-YEAR LIKE THAT BECAUSE SOME CASES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A CASE, I WON'T GO INTO THE SPECIFICS. WE HAD A CASE THAT RECENTLY -- IT WAS AN INCIDENT FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FEDERAL COURT RAMPED UP, IT'S THIS YEAR THAT HAS TAKEN THE BULK OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS FOR LEGAL FEES BECAUSE OF HOW DEPOSITIONS HAVE WORKED AND HOW THE DISCOVERY PROCESS HAS GONE.
BUT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY CASES WE HAVE, THAT HASN'T NECESSARILY -- HOW MANY CASES WE ARE SENDING OUT TO COUNSEL,
THAT HASN'T INCREASED. >> I GUESS I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE IS A LITTLE HARDER FOR ME. I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS ONE BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE PUT OURSELVES IN A BIT OF A BOX WITH THE PAY SCALES. I'M NOT DENYING THAT AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO, WITH $258,000 OF THE TOP COME EITHER. I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S WAYS THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN, MAYBE IF YOU'RE ADDING, IF YOU'RE SUGGESTING ADDING A COUPLE OF ATTORNEYS, AND RAISING -- IS ONE OF THE AREAS TILL LOOK AT OUTSIDE OF COUNSEL BUDGET BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR THAT THAT WE GIVE YOU EACH YEAR, OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU DO?
>> WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT ACCOUNT. THAT IS NOT AN ACCOUNT THAT WE SAY, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING OTHER THAN HERE ARE THE BILLS.
I THINK CONSULTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> OR DO WE BUDGET FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL?
>> IS IT A LINE ITEM THAT WE DO? WE JUST DO IT FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY? WE DO IT? IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE. IT'S GOT TO BE A LINE ITEM SOMEWHERE PRACTICE BUT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
COUNTY BUDGET. >> IT IS BUDGETED.
>> AND WE BUDGET IT. >> BUT WE SET THAT BUDGET. DOES SOMEONE KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS RIGHT NOW?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT. >> THAT ACCOUNT, THAT COVERS -- SOME OF THAT IS OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND SOME OF THAT IS OUT OF OUR
CONTROL. >> I DON'T KNOW. DO APPOINTED ATTORNEYS GO INTO THAT? DOES THAT GO INTO THE APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ALSO? THAT IS A DIFFERENT LINE BECAUSE THEY HAVE IN THEIR OWN. RIGHT. WHO WOULD BE TAKING FROM OUTSIDE COUNSEL MORE THAN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? IT'S NOT THE JUDGES.
APPOINTMENTS. COME IN, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOESN'T DO THAT A LOT. WHO WOULD DO THAT?
>> THAT IS BASICALLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>> I MEAN, I WOULD THINK. WHAT YOU ARE PAYING YEAR TO DATE.
>> THAT WOULD BE WHERE I WOULD MAYBE , AS WE ARE LOOKING, SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO CUT BACK ON THE OUTSIDE. TO CUT BACK ON THAT BUDGET AND PUT SOME OF THAT TOWARDS THOSE RACES AND THOSE POSITIONS. JUST A SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT WILL WORK. >> THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE THE CONSULTANTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE BOND COUNSEL. THOSE ARE
IMPORTANT THINGS . >> I'M JUST SAYING, TAKE A LOOK AT IT BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE COME TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A BIG ASK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE DONE THIS TO OURSELVES WITH SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE WITH, YOU KNOW, DURING THE YEAR, WITH PEOPLE ASKING TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT PUT Y'ALL AT A DISPARITY.
>> AND IF IT HELPS, JUST LIKE THE SHERIFF WAS TALKING ABOUT, IF WE CAN LOOK AT ONE NEW ATTORNEY THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND ASK FOR A NEW ATTORNEY IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND IF WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP, CLOSE THAT GAP FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS KEEPING THOSE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE DOING WHAT THE COUNTY NEEDS THEM TO DO. I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND ONE OF THE TWO ATTORNEYS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR, IF POSSIBLE.
>> HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE FOR OUR PUP THAT YOU BUDGETED FOR THE ARPA LAWYER? HOW MUCH PER YEAR?
>> IT WAS AN ATTORNEY. YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?
>> IT WAS LIKE 170 THAT WAS BUDGETED.
>> I THINK IT WAS THREE YEARS, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN MORE THAN
[03:45:01]
>> THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME LEFT TO FILL. WE DIDN'T NEED
AS MUCH. >> ALL 25 AND ALL OF 26. OUR CALENDAR YEAR, OCTOBER. WE'VE GOT TWO MORE BUDGET CYCLES.
THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THAT CAN BE EITHER USED FOR ARPA OR YOU COULD COME BACK AND ASK THAT. IT WOULD BE A KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING I'VE NOT BEEN FOR, BUT WE HAVE DISPARITY ISSUES IN YOUR OFFICE THAT THIS COURT INADVERTENTLY HAS CREATED -- HELP CREATE. WE ARE DOING IT WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, BUT IT'S CAUSED WHAT IT'S CAUSED.
MAYBE YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE ARPA FUNDS AND WE NEED TO MAYBE MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THAT THAT I DON'T LOVE AND I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY AGAINST. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS ONE.
>> THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE ARPA ATTORNEY COULD BE DOING, AND SO WE HAVE ASKED FOR THE CPS BECAUSE WE CAN CLEARLY TIE SOME OF THE BACKLOG TO THAT .
>> WE CAN USE ARPA FUNDS. >> WE CAN USE ARPA FUNDS FOR EMPLOYEES. FOR FILLING SPOTS. WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR THREE YEARS. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO FIND A
POSITION LIKE THAT. RIGHT? >> IT WOULD BE HARD BECAUSE OF
THE TEMPORARY NATURE. >> CORRECT, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE THAT I'M SUGGESTING THIS, BUT WE'VE ALSO HELP PUT YOU IN THIS POSITION, AND SO THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO. YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT, AND I KNOW THAT IS TEMPORARY, AND THAT WOULD KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE RAISES DOWN THE ROAD, BUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FILL A POSITION THAT YOU HAD A HARD TIME FILLING. MAYBE YOU LOOK AT THOSE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO YOUR OFFICE IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAT AT LEAST I WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT. COMMISSIONER GONZALES IS
LOOKING AT POSSIBLY -- >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE
PERSON. >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE
>> THE TWO NEW POSITIONS IS $191,000 INCLUDING BENEFITS. IF WE REDUCE THAT ONLY ONE NEW POSITION, THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 95 508. SO THE TOTAL INCLUDING OTHER REQUESTS, THIS WOULD BE 162 744, VERSUS THE 258 JUST FYI.
>> I'M SAYING, I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT WE ARE ALSO IN THIS TO HELP YOU. AND I THINK, WITHOUT A DOUBT, I CAN SAY TO QUIZZICALLY, YOUR ATTORNEYS , WHAT OTHER ATTORNEYS AND CLERKS IN THIS COUNTY NEED TO MAKE DOSE THAT IS THE CHALLENGE BUT I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR CHALLENGE IN ANYWAY. JUST LIKE I WOULD DISAGREE THAT A GROUNDS KEEPER IN ONE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO MAKE THE SAME AND A CLERK IN ONE POINT IN THE DISTRICT CLERK NEEDS TO MAKE AS THE DOSE THE SAME AS THE COUNTY CLERK. IT IS THE SAME CONCEPT. WE ARE OUT OF LINE IN YOUR OFFICE. I GET THAT
POINT >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
ANYTHING FURTHER? >> WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> WHAT WAS THE BALANCE OF THE COUNCIL?
>> I AM WRITING IT RIGHT NOW. >> SO THE CURRENT YEAR, WAS 278. ALMOST 300,000 YEAR TO DATE FOR WHAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED FOR PAYMENT, I'M TRYING TO RUN LAST YEAR'S AND WE HAVE THE REPORT RIGHT NOW. JUST A SECOND.
>> THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN
THERE? >> THE BUDGET WASN'T BITE LINE
ITEM. >> IT WAS JUST WHATEVER WE HAVE
TO PAY. >> WE DON'T BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE JUST TAKE IT OUT. >> LAST YEAR, WE PAID
>> THANK YOU. >> COASTAL PARKS, I THINK YOU
ARE UP. >> YES SIR. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH. I THINK OUR LUNCH IS HERE, BUT THEY CAME FROM THE ISLAND. I DON'T WANT THEM TO WAIT.
>> THANK YOU. I TRIED TO GET HERE AS QUICK AS I COULD.
>> YOU DID AND THEN WE MADE YOU WAIT. I'M SORRY.
>> NO PROBLEM. SO FIRST, I'M GOING TO GO INTO SOME PERSONNEL STUFF, AND THEN I WILL GO DEPARTMENT 80, 181, 182, AND THEN I WILL GET INTO REVENUE UPDATES FOR YOU TO WRAP IT UP.
SO IN MY BUDGET, I DID REQUEST THAT RECLASSIFIED TWO POSITIONS. ONE FROM SENIOR CLERK TO SENIOR CLERK 2. AND ONE FROM EIGHT SENIOR ACCOUNTING -- SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT TO SENIOR ACCOUNTING 2 IS ALL I MADE A REQUEST FOR, AND PERSONNEL CHANGES. THE OTHER THING IN PERSONNEL CHANGES THAT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH , AND I NOTE THAT
[03:50:09]
LISA, TERESA, DALE, I NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS, TOO. THE SEASONAL TEMPS. I HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR 12 YEARS AND 40 HOURS PER WEEK FOLLOWING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND OUR ROLES. FOR WHATEVER REASON, I HAVE A HANGUP THIS YEAR GETTING THEM BACK, SO WE WILL PRESENT THIS IN A BUDGET WORKSHOP MANY YEARS AGO. IT DIDN'T COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID WITH JUDGE NEIL.>> IT WAS A TEMPORARY POSITION. YOU ADVERTISED IT AS A TEMPORARY POSITION. IT HAS RAN AS SEASONAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. IT IS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE. IT IS A TEMPORARY POSITION. IT IS NOT A BUDGETED POSITION, SO IT HAS NEVER BEEN
-- YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE -- >> BUT THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE
NOT LETTING HIM DO IT AT HR. >> THAT WOULD BE AN HR ISSUE.
>> IT IS A BUDGET ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, HE DOESN'T PUT IT IN HIS BUDGET, SO IT IS A BUDGET ISSUE.
>> I DO BUDGET -- YOU EITHER HAVE TO --
>> IT IS ALREADY BUDGETED. >> IT IS BUDGETED. THEY ARE NOT
LETTING HIM ADVERTISE. >> IT IS A BUDGET ISSUE BECAUSE HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE IT IN THE BUDGET IF HE IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. HE'S GOING TO MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT IS WHY IT IS A BUDGET ISSUE. IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED WITH HR BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE ARE
CHANGING IT. >> ANYHOW, I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND THEN THERE IS ONE OTHER ITEM.
I'M NOT REQUESTING THIS. I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE LOOKED INTO. THERE'S ONLY A $.15 AN HOUR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PARKS AND BEACH WORKER 1 AND A PARKS AND BEACH WORKER 2. I HAVE A 2, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE OFF THERE IF IT IS JUST $.15 PER
HOUR. >> THAT IS THE RESULT OF A PAY SCHEDULE CHANGE THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS BACK.
COMMISSIONERS, COURT WORKED WITH OUR PREVIOUS HR DIRECTOR, AND , AND ORIGINALLY, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THERE WOULD BE FIVE DIFFERENT PAY GROUPS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. DALE WENT IN AND HE HAD TO TRY TO WORK THE SAME MAGIC WITH THE NUMBERS, USING THE SAME -- WE HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY. BUT STILL BE ABLE TO KEEP STEPS AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CURRENT PAY SCHEDULE, WE LOST -- IT USED TO BE 5% BETWEEN AND 2.5% OVER. WHENEVER THE CHANGE IN PAY SCHEDULE HAPPENED, WE LOST ALL OF THAT. IN ORDER TO
GIVE PEOPLE DOSE >> SO WE ARE STUCK.
>> THE PAY SCHEDULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REVAMPED TO GO BACK TO PREVIOUS -- SPOKE NOT LOOKING FOR ALL THAT KIND OF MESS. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I HAD MY LEVEL TO WORKER ASK ME, IS THAT ALL I ASPIRE TO IS $.15 MORE PER HOUR? I SAID I'LL BRING IT UP. THAT'S ALL I CAN DO. ANYHOW.
SO. DESPITE YOU COULD PROPOSE TO RECLASSIFY LEVEL 2. AND IF THERE IS ANY OTHER WORKER LEVELED 2, THEY WOULD GET THE
SAME. >> I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT THIS YEAR. I HAVE THE TWO REQUESTS I WANTED TO MAKE, SO I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY IMPACTS MINIMUM. SO GOING INTO 180, THAT IS WHAT I CONSIDER MY MAIN OPERATING ACCOUNT. SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, THESE TWO THINGS, THESE PERSONAL REQUESTS , AFFECT 180, AND ALSO, I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN CAPITAL OUTLAY. CAN YOU GET THOSE THINGS? I HAVE ONE HANDOUT I WANT TO GIVE Y'ALL. IT IS CONCERNING VEHICLES. I WANT Y'ALL TO SEE THIS FIRSTHAND. MY TOTAL VEHICLES I'M ALLOTTED IN MY POOL, I'VE GOT SIX THAT DON'T EVEN RUN.
YOU CAN'T EVEN TOE THEM TO A JUNKYARD. YOU HAVE TO TRAILER THEM. AND SO, I'M MAKING A REQUEST FOR 30 2K IN CAPITAL OUTLAY, IN ADDITION TO WHAT MY BASELINE ALREADY IS WITH MY CUTS THAT I MADE LAST YEAR, AND THANK YOU, DALE, FOR NOT LETTING ME GO SO FAR AS TO COMPLETELY WIPE OUT CAPITAL OUTLAY LAST YEAR. I WAS GOING TO. BUT ANYHOW, SO, ACCORDING TO MICHAEL, WITH THE LEASE PROGRAM, THE TOTAL IMPACT TO REPLACE FOUR OF THOSE SIX VEHICLES, WOULD BE $32,000 .8 GRANT OF PEACE. I CAN'T EVEN BUY A BRAND-NEW TRUCK FOR THAT AMOUNT, SO MY TOTAL ASK FOR YOU GUYS, AND DEPARTMENT 180, IS ONLY $37,033.63. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR IN DEPARTMENT 180 WITH EVERYTHING I'VE LISTED COMBINED. AND I DID MAKE MY CUTS LAST YEAR, I MADE 15.3 -- 15.34% CUTS LAST YEAR TO GET TO THE PERCENTAGES THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING FOR BETWEEN 15 AND 20. THAT IS WHERE WE ENDED UP AT, HALFWAY IN BETWEEN ON MY LINE ITEMS. SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. 180, 181, I'M
[03:55:02]
NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING TO CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO REMAIN JUST AS IT IS, INCLUDING THE CONTINGENCY THAT IS IN THERE. THE CONTINGENCY IS NICE TO KEEP THEIR BECAUSE WE WORK HARD BECAUSE EVERY CELL I HAVE OF AN RV SPOT, THERE IS A PERCENTAGE THAT GOES INTO 181, WHICH IS CONSIDERED COASTAL PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT. SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS DON'T GO AWAY IN THAT ONE 81, SO AS WE BUILD UP THAT FUND BALANCE, WE'VE GOT THAT FUND BALANCE IN 180 WANT TO BE A LITTLE USED TOWARD SOMETHING. MIND YOU, IT HAS BEEN HIT HARD WITH SOME OF THE CUTS WE HAVE, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO WORK AT BUILDING IT BACK UP AGAIN. AND IN 182, THAT WAS THE PEER ACCOUNT. WE ESTABLISHED THAT MANY YEARS AGO. WE TOOK OVER OPERATION OF THE PEER, AND I SAT DOWN WITH DALE AND LISA AND WE DECIDED WE WEREN'T GOING TO CARRY A FUND BALANCE AND THERE. SO ANYTHING I MADE IN 182, THAT FUND BALANCE WILL ROLL OVER INTO ONE 81 TO FURTHER REDUCE MY REQUEST FOR THE GENERAL FUND. AND IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I JUST WANTTO POINT THIS OUT. >> WAIT A MINUTE. ONE 81 IS
WHAT? >> 180 IS MY OPERATING .181 IS THE PARK IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT AND 182 WAS THE PEER.
>> IT IS STILL CLOSER TO THE PARKS.
>> 181 ROLLS OVER INTO THE PARKS.
>> ANY REVENUE I MAKE OUT OF -- COMMISSIONER, I WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION IN JUST A SECOND. I'M GOING TO MOVE TOWARDS THE REVENUE. I THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. SO THE PARTICULAR THING ABOUT IT IS WE TOOK ABOUT 60 8K OUT OF 180 TWO FUND THAT START UP OF THAT OPERATION ON THAT PIER. THAT PIER MADE ENOUGH GROSS REVENUE TO WHERE IT OFFSET THAT INITIAL INVESTMENT. IT COVERED THE OPERATIONAL COST FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IT WOULDN'T HIT US 230 5K. THAT WAS THE FUND BALANCE WE WERE DONE WITH DALE AND LISA NOT TO KEEP IT 182. IT WOULD ROLL OVER AS PART OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO REDUCE MY DEPENDENCY ON THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT PEER, OTHER THAN THAT ONE TIME IN 2013, THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANOTHER TEXT DOLLAR PUT INTO IT. IT HAS PAID FOR ITSELF. IT'S BEEN ALL REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS IT. SO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DID HERE, I PUT IN SOME MONEY IN ONE 82, THE REQUEST, IF, BY CHANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PIER BUILT AND ABLE TO OPERATE NEXT YEAR, I NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO HAVE IT SO YOU CAN RUN BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT, BUT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. LET'S SAY WE GET NOTICE OF PROCEEDING IN AUGUST, AND WE ARE READY TO OPEN UP IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR. YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENSES, BUT IT DOES DO REALLY WELL. IT
MAKES A LOT OF MONEY. >> REVENUE.
>> WAS THAT A GATE FEE OR WAS THAT ALSO WITH THE RESTAURANT?
>> THAT WASN'T THE RESTAURANT. THAT WAS JUST US.
>> THAT WAS GATE FEE, BAIT, TACKLE, SNACKS, ALL THAT STUFF.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT YET, JUST A FOLLOW-UP, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THE PARKS BOARD WOULD CONSIDER WHEN THEY PUT OUT THEIR RFP FOR THE RESTAURANT, PUT OUT THE RFP TO RUN THE ENTIRE PIER. WE PASSED THE GOLF COURSES TO THE OUTSIDE VENDOR AND LET THEM RUN THE OUTSIDE VENDOR AND THE CITY GOT CHECKED, RIGHT? AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD PARTNERSHIP FOR A LONG TIME. THAT IS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WHAT HE IS SAYING IS HE IS NOT SURE IF HE HAS TO RUN IT WITH STAFF OR IF THIS NEW RFP IS GOING TO COME FORWARD. THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE, THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD COME RUN IT, TAKE ALL THE LIABILITY EXPOSURE AND RUN THE RESTAURANT, THE PEER, THE WHOLE THING. BUT THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. HOPEFULLY THAT IS WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED.
>> THAT WOULD BE AWESOME IF WE COULD GET THERE.
>> I'M GOING TO GET OVER TO REVENUE. JUST SO YOU KNOW, FROM OCTOBER 1 OF 2022 TO 7/22/23, ALL OF OUR REVENUES, AS FAR AS THE YOUR TO DATE, THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE AT 948,147.41. WE ARE AT
[04:00:08]
$78,000 AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. WE GOT JUST SHY OF $1 MILLION IN EACH PART STICKER FUNDS THIS YEAR.SO YOU'VE GOT SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE. I STILL HAVE -- I HAVE STILL GOT ALL OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO GO , AND THEY ARE VERY BUSY MONTHS, AND SO, YOU ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OVER $2 MILLION IN REVENUE THAT COMES IN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW DYLAN AND LISA WORKED THEIR MAGIC, BUT ALL THAT MONEY GOES TOWARDS OFFSETTING, YOU KNOW, MORE FOR ME ON THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT. WE GET BOB HALL PIER BACK. WE ARE GOING TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THE SIZE OF THESE PERKS. THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE REVENUE FOR US. THAT COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL FOR US. OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE -- WE WERE NEVER PART OF THE C.I.P. PLAN. OUTSIDE OF FUNDING SOURCES FOR BOB HALL PIER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, GRANT FUNDED, WE GOT THE MONEY SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BOTHER ASKING Y'ALL FOR IT. THAT'S A GOOD THING. ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW IT'S LUNCHTIME AND Y'ALL ARE READY TO GET OUT OF HERE.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? >> JUST AN UPDATE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SMELLING THIS GAS SMELL, JUAN IS OUTSIDE. THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE HIT A GAS LINE. THEY ARE SAYING WE ARE FINE STAYING HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE CITY GAS
PEOPLE COMING . >> YOU CAN USE THAT INSTEAD OF
OXYGEN. >> THAT IS 20 MINUTES. I DID
PRETTY GOOD FOR EITHER. >> YOU DID FAST. I'M SORRY I WAS OUT FOR HALF A MINUTE. HE IS GOING TO LET ME KNOW IF ANY OF THAT CHANGES, AND HE IS CALLING -- WE ARE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TWO OTHER PEOPLE -- THEY ARE AFTER LUNCH BUT I THINK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL 1:30. SO IT IS 12:20.
>> WHAT DO WE HAVE LEFT? THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND WHAT?
>> ANIMAL SERVICES, AND WE CAN MAYBE CHECK WITH CONSTABLE AND SEE IF THEY WANT -- IF HE IS AVAILABLE, SINCE WE DID LATER.
>> WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AT 1:30 AND FINISH THOSE TWO OR THREE TO PERMITS? AND EVERYONE KNOWS TO COME AFTER? PERFECT.
>> THE ANIMAL SERVICES MAY BE A ZOOM -- HER JOIN TH
>> IT IS 1:38 AND IT IS MONDAY, JULY 22ND. WE ARE BACK FROM BREAK, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY , YOU ARE UP. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? I FEEL VERY FAR AWAY FROM YOU. UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, THAT MAY BE BEST. I WAS HERE IN THE 90S, 1994 . A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT IN A BIG WAY IS THE AMOUNT OF JUVENILE CRIME THAT WE'VE GOT THAT IS VIOLENT. KIDS WITH GUNS. WE ARE GETTING NEW MURDER CASES AND I ANTICIPATE AT SOME POINT NEEDING MORE HELP THERE.
IT WON'T BE ON THIS BUDGET, SUPPLEMENTING STUFF OVER THERE WITH EXPERIENCED LAWYERS DOING CERTIFICATIONS. BUT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF MERGER CASES THAT ARE COMING UP THERE. THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE I WAS HERE IN THE 90S. THE NUMBER OF STOLEN CARS BY JUVENILES , OUR TASK FORCE HAD A MEETING WITH US AND TOLD US THAT THE KIDS IN HYUNDAI'S ARE BEING STOLEN THROUGH A TIKTOK METHOD THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ON TIKTOK WHERE YOU CAN USE A THUMB DRIVE AFTER YOU GET THE COLLAR OFF THE CAR AND ANTITHEFT STUFF DISABLED, YOU CAN STICK IT IN THE KEY SLOT AND STARTED. A 15-YEAR-OLD IS CREDITED WITH HAVING STOLEN OVER 15 CARS. THEY USUALLY JOYRIDE THEM AND THEN DESTROY THEM. I REACHED OUT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES FOR THE JUVENILE, ABLE TO PRESENT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS JUST A BOTTOM-LINE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN DAMAGES IF YOU DO THE VERY LEAST, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THESE CARS IS STOLEN. BUT WE ARE GOING AFTER THAT HARD. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A PRESIDENT -- PRECEDENT ON SOME OF THESE CASES. PISTOLS AND
[04:05:09]
LONG GUNS ON THESE STREETS. THEY ARE GOING OUT AND PULLING DOORS. BREAKING INTO CARS. PEOPLE THAT LEAVE THEIR PISTOLS IN THE GLOVE BOX OR THE CONSOLE, A LOT OF THEM WON'T REPORT IT BECAUSE THEY FEEL STUPID, BUT THOSE GUNS ARE GETTING OUT ONTO THE STREET. THEY ARE PUTTING CLIPS OR MAGAZINES SO THAT THEY WILL SHOOT NOT JUST A REGULAR MAGAZINE, BUT UP TO 45 ROUNDS WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOAD. SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TO CUT EXPENSES FOR THE COUNTY. THE INTERDICTION UNIT IS GONE. THAT WAS A CONFLICT. IT WAS ANOTHER CONFLICT FOR ME TO BE PROSECUTING CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT IN BY PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR ME. MY PHILOSOPHY IS -- I THINK THE ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IS THAT POLICE OFFICERS CATCH THEM. WE COOK THEM. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE GONE TO. THAT HAS MADE FOR SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS. A LOT WHAT I ASK FOR IS GOING TO BE OFFSET BY THOSE SAVINGS. WE HAVE TRANSPORTED VEHICLES. WE HAVE OUR GAS REQUEST BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THOSE UNITS OUT TRYING TO DO INTERDICTION SPREAD AUXILIARY COURT, WE MEET SAVINGS THERE FOR THE COUNTY. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE RAN INTO WITH AUXILIARY COURT IS IT IS A GRANT AND IT IS DONE SO THAT -- IT IS DONE -- THEY WANT THE PROSECUTOR AT A HIGH LEVEL. I THINK AT FIVE OR SIX -- THAT PERSON HAS TO APPLY FOR IT. WE HAD ETHICAL PROBLEMS WITH THAT BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE A LAWYER THAT IS ACTUALLY FUNDED BY THE GRANT, AND I WAS UNSURE AND I COULDN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM ANYBODY ON WHETHER I COULD PUT HIM BACK ON THE LINE WHEN HE WASN'T AT THE AUXILIARY COURT BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING AN AUXILIARY COURT EVERY TWO WEEKS. WE CHANGED THE MODALITY OF OPERATIONS IN AUXILIARY COURT BY GETTING RID OF THE HIGH-PROFILE CASES , THE MURDER CASES, THE CASES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TRIED AS AN OLD CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER, I CAN TELL YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO TRIAL. YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENT AND TRY TO FIND THAT CASE THAT IS A DOCKET BLOCKER THAT IS GOING TO GO TO TRIAL. IF YOU ARE BEHIND IT, AND YOUR GUY IS NOT IN JAIL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO. BY PUTTING LOW CASES WITH A LOT OF CUP WITNESSES, NO VICTIMS ON IT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THAT DOCUMENT. THE SAVINGS ARE PRETTY HIGH PER MONTH. IF WE GET IT DOWN TO 75%, OR A LITTLE ABOUT THAT -- JUST USING THAT AS A MODEL, I THINK WE ARE SAVING OVER $500,000 A MONTH, JUST BY KEEPING THAT . THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS TO THAT. WE ARE NOT TAKING FULL CREDIT FOR IT, BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE DOING IS BECAUSE I CAN'T GET A LAWYER AND JUST HAVE HIM WORK ONLY ON THOSE KINDS OF CASES FOR THAT DOCKET AND FINDING PEOPLE IS HARD, AND FINDING SOMEONE THAT IS ONLY GOING TO WORK FOR A YEAR, I CAN ONLY GUARANTEE HIM A POSITION FOR A YEAR , IS HEART. SO WHAT I WOULD RATHER DO, IF THERE WAS SOME WAY FOR THAT TO BE IN MY BUDGET -- MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE IF THEY WILL JUST GIVE ME THAT TO PAY TO GO INTO MY GENERAL BUDGET, THEN WE ARE HAPPY TO KEEP FUNDING IT. WE ARE HAPPY TO KEEP FUNDING IT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT IS GOOD FOR OUR COUNTY. IT IS GOOD FOR OUR JAIL. IT MAKES HER OFFICERS AND CORRECTIONS PEOPLE OVER THERE SAFER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF MORE PEOPLE. I HAVE BROUGHT IN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS, SOME RETIREES THAT SAID, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU PAY ME. GIVE ME A SPOT. I'M SITTING AT HOME NOT DOING ANYTHING. HE IS DOING A FABULOUS JOB. HE DIDN'T ASK FOR A HIGH-PAYING SPOT. HE SAID, GIVE ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT.THAT MADE IT A HAPPY PLACE, AND WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TURNOVER. MOST OF THAT WAS ALREADY PLANNED BEFORE I GOT THERE. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A GOOD, HARD-WORKING YOUNG GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING UP TO BUY HOUSES. THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED. THEY WANT TO STAY IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY THERE AND WORK IN MY OFFICE.
OKAY. GO BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE, IF YOU WOULD. OKAY.
[04:10:03]
SECOND. THIS IS A GOOD QUOTE FROM RONALD REAGAN. WITHOUT RESPECT FOR THE LAW, THE BEST LOSS CAN'T BE EFFECTIVE.WITHOUT RESPECT FOR THE LAW, ENFORCEMENT CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT. THAT IS VERY, VERY TRUE. NEXT SLIDE. GENERALLY, IN THE BUDGET, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A LOT. BASICALLY THE SAME THING WE'VE REQUESTED LESS MONEY AND GAS. WE HAVE ASKED FOR A SLIGHT INCREASE TO CHILD RELATED EXPENSES BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A LOT MORE JURY TRIALS AND MORE TIME IN COURT. MORE STUFF.
THUMB DRIVES, PAPER, THAT KIND OF THING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE ASKED ONE PERSONNEL HAD POSITION THAT WAS ALREADY THERE, AND I THINK IT IS STILL ACTUALLY ON OUR BOOKS. IS THAT
>> IT IS THERE. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS FOR IT TO BE RE-UPPED . YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, YOU CAN SEE THE OFFICER TRAINING. BASICALLY, A LOFT -- OFFICE MANAGER TO DO THE BUDGETARY THINGS. I'M NOT A NUMBERS GUY. NUMBERS MAKE ME WANT TO THROW MYSELF OFF OF SOMETHING HIGH AND HIT
SOMETHING HARD. >> THIS IS ONE OF YOUR OPEN POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FILL? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU
SAID IT'S ALREADY THERE. SO. >>
>> YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE MIC. >> YEAH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LANE OF THE LAWYERS PRACTICING DOWN THERE. THAT POSITION , WELL, ATLANTA VACANT, SO I THINK WE ELIMINATED THE POSITION, I THINK. MICHELLE ABSORBED A LOT OF THOSE ROLLS. THAT IS HOW WE
KIND OF GOT RID OF IT POINT >> SO IT WAS ELIMINATED. SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.
>> THAT IS ALL I WAS ASKING. THANK YOU.
>> MANAGE THE JAIL, MONITOR THE NUMBER. IF THE JAIL CALLS US AND SAYS, WE NEED PEOPLE OUT OF HERE, THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME LOW-LEVEL FEES. WE WANT TO GET THEM ONTO WHERE THEY CAN BE IN THE PROGRAM OR ON PROBATION.
WE WILL DO THAT IF WE NEED TO. WE WANT TO -- THAT PERSON WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT PROFILE CASELOAD, AND IT WOULD ALLOW ME AND MIKE GORDON, MY FIRST ASSISTANT TO ABSORB SOME OF THESE LAWYERS -- LARGE CASES. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR 35 YEARS, TRYING SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES, AND THAT IS WHAT I'M MOST COMFORTABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO IT AS SOON AS I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE POLITICAL PROGRAM, AND TO GET BACK TO WORKING. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ARE REQUESTING AN OVERALL PAY INCREASE FOR ATTORNEYS BY TWO PROFESSIONAL GRADES. THAT WOULD EQUATE TO A THREE DOLLAR PER HOUR INCREASE ON AVERAGE. IT WOULD MAKE THE STARTING MISDEMEANOR PAY, WHICH IS REALLY ABYSMALLY LOW COMPARED TO MOST IN THE COUNTY DA OFFICE, TICKET TO A STARTING SALARY OF 74,004 43 FROM WHERE IT IS NOW. STARTING FELONIES SALARY, AND THIS IS LOW, BUT IT WOULD GO TO 82,160 . SO IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO START DOING THAT. WE HAVE TO GET THEM UP TO A LEVEL WHERE WE ARE NOT JUST TRAINING THEM AND SENDING THEM ON, WHERE THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY AND THEY ARE ALREADY TRAINED UP. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. THERE IS NO PROSECUTOR ASSIGNED TO IT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A PAYMENT IN IT. THAT PAYMENT COULDN'T BE
[04:15:06]
GIVEN TO US. I GUESS I COULD'VE STOMPED MY FOOT AND SAID, WELL, GOOD LUCK. FIND YOU A PROSECUTOR IF YOU CAN, BUT I'M NOT PLAYING THAT WAY. WE NEED IT. IT'S DOING GOOD THINGS FOR US. WE WILL SCRAMBLE AROUND AND FILL IT ON AN AD HOC BASIS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR THE COUNTY. WE ARE MOVING ALL OF THE FELONY CASES, SO WHAT WE ARE DOING, AGAIN, IS JUST TRYING TO GET THE 33 CASES, THE NON-VICTIM CASES. THE CASES WHERE IF THEY SEE , AS A DEFENSE LAWYER, IF YOU SEE ALL THE CASES ARE LOWER-LEVEL FELONIES, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU'LL GET STUCK IN TRIAL AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT READY. YOU ARE GOING TO WORK THAT CASE OUT IF THE OFFER IS ANYWHERE NEAR REASONABLE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO TRIAL.AND I THINK THE REST OF IT IS THE CALCULATIONS THAT I GAVE YOU. IT IS THERE IN MORE DETAIL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUOTE FROM ROBERT KENNEDY, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL. EVERY SOCIETY GETS THE KIND OF CRIMINAL IT DESERVES.
WHAT IS EQUALLY TRUE IS EVERY COMMUNITY GETS THE KIND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IT INSISTS ON, AND I WOULD -- FOR.ADD, AND PAYS.
FOUR. WE HAVE TO RETAIN OUR PROSECUTORS. IF I DO NOTHING ELSE HERE FOR NUECES COUNTY, IT'S GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SEE IF I HAVE TO GET A GOFUNDME PAGE , TO KEEP THESE YOUNG, DEDICATED PROSECUTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, GET THEM INVESTED IN IT. GET THE POLICE OFFICERS TO KNOW THEM AND TRUST THEM BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF YEARS. JUST GIVEN MY AGE, SO, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THIS OVER, AND I WANTED TO BE IN GOOD, CAPABLE HANDS WITH A LONG TRADITION OF GOOD PROSECUTIONS, SO. THAT IS MY PRESENTATION TO Y'ALL. I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY
QUESTIONS. >> HOW MANY LAWYERS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR OFFICE? HOW MANY EMPLOYEES?
>> I HAVE A TOTAL OF 58 PEOPLE. 45 OF WHICH, IF I HAVE A FULL COMPLEMENT OF LAWYERS, MEANING TWO PROSECUTORS IN EACH DISTRICT COURT AND IN EACH MISDEMEANOR COURT AND INCLUDING MY APPELLATE SECTION. AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A CHILD VICTIM ADVOCACY SECTION WITH TWO LAWYERS AND IT . THEY SPECIALIZE IN THAT CASELOAD. SO WE'VE GOT 31 LAWYERS. WE ARE 12 SHORT. MY TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THAT I'M 12 SHORT IS 58 PEOPLE. THAT'S INCLUDING STAFF.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE 70. >> IT IS 12 SHORT. YES 58.
>> YOU HAVE A BUDGET OF 71 POSITIONS AS OF THE 23-24
>> THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE HIM. YES.
>> THAT WOULD BE 70. >> AHEAD. ARE YOU INCLUDING YOURSELF IN THE 50?
>> WE ARE SUBTRACTING THE VACANCIES.
>> IT IS 50. >> YOU SAID YOU HAD 58 WITH 12
VACANCIES. >> 58 IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE. -12 LAWYERS. THE TURNOVER IS SLOW FOR THEM TO TRICKLE . AS ALWAYS, WHEN YOU HAVE OPERATIONS THIS BIG, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME TURNOVER. AND I THINK THAT THE , YOU KNOW, WHEN I WALKED IN, I TOLD HIM I'M NOT A YELLER. I'M NOT GOING TO YELL AT YOU. NO ONE IS GOING TO YELL AT YOU. IF SOMEONE DOES, LET US KNOW. WE WILL STOP IT. WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH AND TAKE A PROACTIVE WAY OF MAKING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE GROW FOR EVERYONE IN MY OFFICE.
ARE OLDER THAN ME. BUT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT A TEACHING
[04:20:05]
OPERATION, AND A TRAINING OPERATION , BUT WE WANT IT TO BE A FAMILY-STYLE OPERATION WHERE THEY STAY , AND THEY STAY IN NUECES COUNTY BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS ARE GROWING, AND WE SHOULD'VE HAD THE NUMBERS. I THINK WE HAD 44 MURDERERS -- IN 2022, THERE WERE 44 MURDERERS. I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER . WHEN I WAS HERE IN THE 90S, WE HAD A YEAR WHERE WE HAD 30. WE HAD A FULL COMPLEMENT OF LETTERS. WE HAD 30 IN ONE YEAR, AND EVERYBODY SAID, OH MY GOD. . THAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE'VE EVER HAD. I CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS OF VIOLENT CRIME INCREASES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A DAY DOESN'T GO BY -- A WEEK DOESN'T GO BY WHERE I DON'T HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER KILLING.>> HOW ARE YOUR ATTORNEYS PAID COMPARABLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY? WE HEARD THIS MORNING THAT APPARENTLY, SOME ARE UNDERPAID. WE HAVE PASSED OVER -- I MEAN, IF IT'S THE SAME LEVEL OF ATTORNEYS, HOW ARE YOURS MAKING SO MUCH MORE? ARE
YOURS PAID MORE? >> WELL, IF THEY ARE, I CAN JUSTIFY IT VERY EASILY. WE EAT, BREATHE, SLEEP, AND DRINK THESE CASES. WE GO HOME AT NIGHT AND WE DREAM ABOUT THEM. AND YOU DON'T SLEEP WELL. IF YOU'RE IN TRIAL, I CAN TELL YOU. IT IS TROUBLED SLEEP. YOU GO UP AND GET UP AGAIN BECAUSE YOUR ADRENALINE NEVER STOPS. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE'S FAMILIES THAT YOU HAVE WAITING FOR YOU TO BRING THEM JUSTICE IS A HEAVY WEIGHT TO BEAR. DEALING WITH ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN WRONGED, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CALL AND SAY, HEY, BUT WHAT ABOUT MY CASE? WHAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MY SITUATION? WHEN YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF THE CRIME, THERE IS NO CASE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS, WHETHER IT IS A THEFT, WHETHER IT IS A MURDER. BUT IN THE DEATH CASES -- I HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF LAWYERS THAT CAN
HANDLE THIS. >> HAVE YOU STUDIED YOUR PRICES, YOUR SALARIES -- ARE THEY COMPARABLE TO OTHERS? ARE YOURS PAID MORE THAN OTHERS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS?
>> I HAVE NOT STUDIED THAT. >> IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING. I WAS WONDERING HOW THEY GOT TO THAT
LEVEL. >> WELL, JUDGE, THE OTHER ANSWER IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORM OUT CASES
TO OTHER ENTITIES . >> YOU HAVE TO COVER
EVERYTHING. >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAVE TO COVER IT ALL OCCASIONALLY, JUST TO BE FAIR. THERE IS A CASE THAT CAME UP RECENTLY WHERE BECAUSE OF MY LACK OF RESOURCES AND BEING UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED, WE HAD TO HAND OFF A CASE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS A LARGE FORFEITURE CASE INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY, WHICH THE COUNTY HAS BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR. EXCUSE ME.
UNDER MY CARE. WE HAVE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE CLAIM -- WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT WHILE IT'S UNDER THAT PROCESS , FORFEITURE. AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF OR THE PEOPLE TO DO THAT, SO WE CALLED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND GRACIOUSLY, THEY STEPPED IN.
THEY HAVE A UNIT THAT IS A CHILD TRAFFICKING UNIT THAT ONE OF OUR FORMER PROSECUTORS IS IN, AND SHE HELPS US AND OCCASIONALLY COMES TO US AND ASKS US IF THEY CAN TAKE OVER THE CASE THAT FITS THE CRITERIA FOR THAT TRAFFICKING UNIT.
>> AND THAT DOESN'T COST US ? WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES
THAT. >> THAT DOESN'T COST US A DIME. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM A HANDFUL OF TIMES JUST TO GET THEIR ADVICE AND MAYBE TRY AND GET THEM TO LOOK AT SOME CASES. WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE FEDS. WE HAD ATF COME DOWN AND LOOK FOR A PROJECTILE FOR US WITH A DOG FROM SAN ANTONIO AND THEY DID THAT AT NO COST TO US, BUT BECAUSE WE ASKED, AND WE HAVE REBUILT THOSE BRIDGES, TOO, SO, AS FAR AS A HEAD-TO-HEAD LAWYER PERSONALITY, I WANT THEM ALL TO GET PAID FOR THEIR WORK, BUT I DO MAINTAIN THAT ANYONE THAT IS HANDLING THE KINDS OF CASES WE ARE HANDLING WITH THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE, THERE IS A LITTLE PTSD YOU GET AFTER DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. YOU CAN COMPARTMENTALIZE AND HE LEARNED TO TRY TO PUT IT AWAY, BUT WE DRIVE DOWN A STREET AND SAY,
[04:25:03]
THAT'S WHERE SPEEDY GOT KILLED AND THAT'S WHERE THE MORALES CASE HAPPENED. WHERE THAT PERSON WAS KILLED. AND I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THIS TOWN WITHOUT SEEING A TREE OR A CORNER THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED. AND IT'S ALWAYS THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING OVER MONEY OR FIGHTING OVER THAT KIND OF THING . IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD IF YOU DO GOOD. IF YOU DON'T, YOU SAY, OH WELL. I'M SAVING THE COUNTY MONEY, AND PUTTING UP WITH THE BAD GUYS. WE HAD SEVERAL BIG LICKS OF 75, 45 . WE ARE WORKING OUT CASES, 25 AND 30 YEARS, WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO GO TO TRIAL. SO I'VE GOT, LIKE I SAID, SOME GREAT , EXPERIENCED LAWYERS. BUT I'M WEARING THEM OUT. I MEAN, I'M WEARING THEM OUT, AND SOME OF THEM, ARE GETTING UP THERE IN AGE. I DON'T WANT TO KILL THEM. BUT THIS JOB IS TOUGH, AND WITHOUT THEM, THIS COUNTYWOULD BE IN BAD, BAD SHAPE. >> HEY, JIMMY, THERE ARE SO MANY LAWYERS COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CAN'T FIND A JOB. HOW DO WE GO RECRUIT MORE SOME OF THOSE PLACES TO FILL THOSE 12 SLOTS? I GET IT. WE CAN ARGUE THE PAY ALL DAY LONG. YOU'RE NOT THE LOWEST PAYING COUNTY IN TEXAS.
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND PEOPLE HAVE SPOTS. WORK -- HOW CAN WE HELP YOU BETTER TO GET THOSE SPOTS FILLED IN THE FIRST PLACE? YOU ARE WEARING THEM OUT BECAUSE YOU ARE 12 SHORT. YOU SAY, WE ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH. I GET IT. THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WITH $200,000 OF LAW SCHOOL. .
>> ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT , COMMISSIONER, IS -- AND JUDGE MCCOY OVER AT JUVENILE IS WILLING TO -- I'M TRYING TO SET UP A TIME FOR HIM TO COME OVER AND GIVE A LECTURE OR TEACH ON THE PROGRAM THAT IS THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM. BUT IT FORGIVES -- FOR PUBLIC SERVICE -- AFTER 10 YEARS, YOU CAN GET AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY FORGIVEN .
>> IT IS A BIG DEAL. I HAVE A BUDDY OF MINE THAT WAS A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS AT TEXAS TECH -- PUDDING OR WHATEVER -- THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. HE WORKED FOR THE DA FOR 10 YEARS AND GOT GREAT EXPERIENCE AND NOW HE IS OFF DOING HIS OWN THING AND GOT A TON OF -- I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. AND GOT A TON OF DEBT RELIEVED. LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING. IT IS ON OUR LIST TO DO. I TALKED TO JUDGE MCCOY ABOUT THAT, AND HE CAME AND DID IT , BUT WE WERE BUSY IN COURT. I'M TRYING TO GET THAT SET UP
AGAIN. >> I DID GET A PHONE CALL . HE SAID A LOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE -- THEY ARE KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, AFTER SOME OF THE SOCIAL UPHEAVAL THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS, THEY ARE LEANING TO THE OTHER SIDE. THEY WANT TO GO BEAT CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS. THEY WANT TO GO DO STUFF WITH THE ACLU. THEY FEEL CALLED TO THAT SIDE OF THE THING, RATHER THAN BEING A MEAN OLD PROSECUTOR. WE ARE FINDING THAT NATIONWIDE TREND OF YOUNG LAWYERS .
>> IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAVE GETTING GOOD QUALITY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE ON ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THE SAME THING, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN BEAT UP ON. IT'S A SHAME
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GONE TO. >> I SPENT 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE TALKING TO HIM. I READ A SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE HE DID.
I NEED TO LOOK IT UP AND READ THE REST OF IT. BUT WE DID COMPARE IT TO THE COUNTIES AROUND US. OKAY. CLAYBURGH .
I'M SORRY? GALVESTON IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE OF THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE, AND WE TRY TO DO APPLES TO APPLES, BUT WE ARE UNDERPAID COMPARED TO THOSE COUNTIES. WE HAVE LOST A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO THAT COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY THAT HAS GONE IN OVER THERE. THEY ARE GIVING CARS AND PISTOLS AND A GAS CARD TO THEIR PROSECUTORS, AND FUNNY ENOUGH, WE ARE DRIVING OVER FROM NUECES COUNTY TO GO WORK FOR THEM. AND
[04:30:03]
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WOULD PREFER TO WORK HERE. I THINK THEY WOULD LOVE TO WORK HERE, THAT THEY HAVE LESS CASES, LESS VIOLENT CASES, AND THEY ARE GETTING PAID MORE, AND THEY GOT A CAR. WHY IN THE HECK WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK AT NUECESCOUNTY AND WORK THIS HARD? >> YOU GET TO WORK FOR JIMMY GRANBERRY, RIGHT? THAT'S THE CULTURE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. I'M NOT SURE I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TRUST THE CULTURE YET. I UNDERSTAND. I'M GOING TO MY FIRST TCDAA SEMINAR IN AUSTIN.
IT IS A MANAGEMENT SEMINAR. IF I CAN FIND THAT PERSON FOR A SECOND ASSISTANT, I WOULD SUBSTITUTE THEM IN FOR ME AND LET THEM GO, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I'VE GOT AND SHE, WHO WAS MY PARALEGAL FOR 15 YEARS. I BROUGHT HER WITH ME WHEN I CAME OVER HERE . ANGIE HAS BEEN PITCHING IN EVERYWHERE. SHE IS A BRILLIANT PARALEGAL. I WOULD LIKE TO GROW OUR PARALEGAL PRESENCE IN THE OFFICE BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE CHEAPER THAN LAWYERS, BUT THEY CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT LAWYERS CAN'T DO. PREPARE FOR TRIAL. MAKE TRIAL NOTEBOOKS. I AM COMPUTER ILLITERATE. I OWNED UP TO THAT. I'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY DOING WHAT THIS WONDERFUL PERSON IS DOING FOR ME. WITH THIS PRESENTATION. ODYSSEY IS A MYSTERY TO ME.
I'M STILL LEARNING IT. BUT ANGIE CAN CLIMB THOSE WALLS AND HAS BEEN SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE AND IS DOING IT NOW. SHE IS A MASTER AT EVALUATING CASES. I CALL HER MY 13TH JUROR BECAUSE SHE CAN LOOK AT A CASE AND TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN. SHE IS GETTING SOME OF MY LESSER ORGANIZED BUT GOOD TRIAL LAWYERS ORGANIZED FOR THESE CASES. WE DID USE A GRANT THIS YEAR. WE BROUGHT THE COMMENTS BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE PANASONIC SYSTEM THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BOUGHT . THEY ARE GETTING AN UPGRADE, BUT WE ARE BUYING TWO WHAT I CALL GAMING COMPUTERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE ABILITY TO HANDLE THE VIDEO. THAT IS THE OTHER CHANGE I MENTIONED. THERE IS VIDEO ON EVERYTHING. WHEN I WAS HERE, THERE WAS MAYBE A DASH CAM. NOW, EVERY OFFICER HAS A BODY CAMERA AND EVERY HOUSE HAS A RING DOORBELL, AND THE NUMBER OF CASES WE GET WITH A RING DOORBELL CAMERA, WE HAVE ONE OF THEM THAT OCCURRED ON THE STREETS WHERE IT'S ALL ON RING CAMERA. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO PURSE THAT OUT. WE HAD THREE SITTINGS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHO WAS WHO, WHERE THE FIRST FELONY OCCURRED, AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO CHARGE IT. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON THIS CASE COMING UP NEXT WEEK. WE HAVE COME UP WITH AN OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTION. WE BELIEVE, ON HOW TO CHARGE IT AND STILL HAVE IT CHARGED AS A FIRST OR SECOND DEGREE FELONY. I'VE GOT A PROSECUTOR WITH AN MBA. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH AN MBA WHO IS UP HAVING HER BABY, AND WE ARE HURT WITHOUT HER. SHE IS CALMING AND SOOTHING TO EVERYBODY. AND ONE HECK OF A TRIAL LAWYER. AND SO, I'M TRYING TO TREAT THEM WELL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CORPUS CHRISTI IS THE PLACE THEY WANT TO RAISE THOSE BABIES. I WANT IT TO BE SAFE ENOUGH FOR THEM
TO RAISE THOSE BABIES. >> YOUR BASIC ASK IS ABOUT 175?
>> IT IT IS NOT INCLUDED HERE.
>> IT WAS ON A SLIDE. >> HE DID THE RESEARCH.
[04:35:07]
>> FIRST, LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING INCLUDED.
>> SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING INCLUDED. WE RECENTLY PUT IT IN THERE WHEN WE DID THE APPLICATIONS FOR BUDGETS. ALL WE GOT WAS OUR GENERAL BUDGET.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY PERSONNEL OR PREVIOUS EXPENSES WITH REGARD TO PERSONNEL. WE ASKED AND SAID, HEY, PUT THE REQUEST IN THROUGH THIS PERSONNEL REQUEST CHANGE FORM. WE DID THAT I THINK ON FRIDAY OF LAST FRIDAY. WE WERE TRYING TO GAUGE HOW TO DO IT. WE HAVE 41 LAWYERS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WE DID IT FOR THE ATTORNEYS WHICH INCLUDES THE ATTORNEY AND FELONY. WHAT WE DID IS WE REQUESTED EACH POSITION, SO IT IS A MISDEMEANOR 1 TO BE RECLASSIFIED ON TWO PAY GRADES.
IT IS 33, I BELIEVE. >> TWO PAY GRADES?
>> YEAH, TOO. >> WHAT IS THAT TOTAL EXPENSE?
>> YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO LIST ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS.
>> WHICH I BELIEVE WE DID ON FRIDAY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT GOT SUBMITTED TO YOU VIA EMAIL. THAT'S WHEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS.
ALL I DID WITH REGARDS TO CALCULATING OUT THAT 350 WAS LOOK AT THE BOTTOM AMOUNT, WHICH WAS A TWO DOLLAR INCREASE, AND THE TOP AMOUNT, WHICH IS LIKE A FOUR DOLLAR INCREASE AND I SAID, IT SHOULD BE AROUND $4.50 -- I CAN DO THE MATH FOR YOU DIRECTLY, BUT I LOOKED AT EACH OF THE PAY SALARY INCREASES. EACH OF THEM LOOKED TO BE ABOUT 6 TO 7000.
SO 350รท2.7 DOSE THAT IS NINE FOR THE YEAR. I TRIED TO GO OVER WHAT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I WAS TRYING NOT TO
UNDERESTIMATE. >> WHERE IS THAT EMAIL COMING
FROM? >> IT SHOULD BE COMING FROM VICKI FLOREZ. VICTORIA FLOREZ. IF I NEED TO, I CAN RESUBMIT IT. I DON'T MIND DOING THAT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A BUDGET WORKSHOP WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING THINGS AND YOU WILL GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO MAKE A DECISION.
>> WE WILL DO IT OUT HERE. THE VOTE WILL BE OUT HERE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. VERIFYING AND COMPARING.
>> YEAH. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND RESENDING
IT. >> I WILL. AND ON DOING WITH THAT, I'M TRYING TO BRING US TO WHERE OTHER COUNTIES ARE BEING PAID. IT WAS PRETTY EASY TO FIND THAT LIST OF PLACES TO APPLY BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THOSE PLACES. I HAVE BEEN HERE THREE YEARS -- 3 1/2 NOW. AND PRIOR TO THIS ADMINISTRATION, I WAS THINKING ABOUT MOVING ON, AND I JUST WENT DOWN THE LIST.
AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, ET CETERA. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO FIND PAY INCREASE AS A PROSECUTOR. THEY LOVE NUECES COUNTY PROSECUTORS.
WE ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND OTHER PLACES BECAUSE WE ARE WELL-TRAINED. WE WORK WELL, AND WE LIKE WORKING. WE GO ANYWHERE ELSE, WE WERE QUITE HARDER THAN THE PROSECUTORS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE BECAUSE WE ARE USED TO WORKING. SORRY FOR GIVING YOU TOO MUCH OF MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION. THAT'S KIND
OF WHERE I'M AT. >> WE HEAR FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT WE KNOW WE ARE NOT THE THE BEST THING.
>> GOOD NEWS IS I'M LOOKING TO STAY IN THE LONG RUN, SO WHATEVER YOU DO, I'M HERE TO STAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD ADD THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER PROSECUTOR WHO DID JUST BUY A HOUSE AND WE JUST GOT HIM BACK FROM ANOTHER COUNTY. SO WE ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY IN TEXAS. WE HAVE ALL THE WATER SPORTS. THE WIND SURFING, THE KITE SURFING, THE BEACH. YOU ALMOST HAVE TO WORK PRETTY HARD TO DRIVE AWAY. AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN GET THE SALARIES AT LEASE STARTED IN THE RIGHT WAY, AND THEN CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU ALL REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO KEEP DOING THESE THINGS AND SAVING THE COUNTY MONEY AND WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND WORKING WITH THIS COURT TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL THE CITIZENS TO LIVE, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT. AND I'M STILL TRYING TO GET MY ARMS AROUND THE OFFICE. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET CONTROL OF MY ACCOUNTS FOR MY OFFICE. I REQUESTED THAT THROUGH EMAIL A COUPLE OF TIMES. I'VE TALKED TO THE SHERIFF. HE GETS HIS. MY STRUGGLE ON THIS IS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BUDGET -- HOW TO BALANCE MY CHECKBOOK IF I DON'T HAVE A CHECKBOOK AND IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY TRUE NUMBERS ARE, AND SO, I NEED THAT, AND I AM REOPENING THAT REQUEST THAT MY ACCOUNTS BE GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE I'M THE GUY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT
[04:40:03]
IN A SMALL ROOM IF IT GOES AWRY.>> YOU HAVE ASKED FOR THAT BEFORE. I THINK I WAS IN THE ROOM WHEN HE ASKED FOR THAT. I KNOW ORIGINALLY IT DID GO DIRECTLY TO YOU, BUT SOMEONE IN THEIR PREVIOUS YOU -- TO YOU DID NOT WANT TO MESS WITH RECONCILING AND THE AUDIT THAT GOES ON. SO HE'S ASKING FOR IT TO GO BACK TO HIM.
>> YES MA'AM. AND DALE HAS BEEN OUT OF THE OFFICE. THAT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR. I DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. >> YES.
>> THIS WAS A LONG TIME. THIS IS WHEN HE FIRST CAME ON. HE ASKED FOR THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
>> AND I AM THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT A NUMBERS GUY. I'M GOING TO WANT ASSISTANCE FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE SMARTER AND BETTER IN TUNE, THAT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET -- WHEN I WALKED IN HERE, THEY TOLD ME I WAS $25,000 IN THE RED IN MY CHAPTER 59 ACCOUNT, WHICH IS MY TROUBLE ACCOUNT. AND I WAS TOLD THAT SEVERAL MEETINGS RUNNING -- UNTIL I THREW MY HANDS IN THE AIR.
>> I CAN GET YOU THOSE BANK ACCOUNT BALANCES IMMEDIATELY.
THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. >> WE HAVE ASKED FOR THEM. FROM
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AS WELL. >> IT WAS GIVING HIM THE
CHECKBOOK. >> KNOW. BEFORE POINT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR THE CHECKBOOK UNTIL WE DIDN'T GET THOSE BALANCES. WE ASKED FOR THE BALANCES. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT SHE HAS FOR HER BALANCES AND STILL
HASN'T GOTTEN. >> I DID GET AN EMAIL ON THOSE
PRETTY RECENTLY. >> YES. VERY MUCH SEPARATED THAT IS NOT WHAT HE ASKED FOR ORIGINALLY.
>> I'M SORRY. OKAY. >> I WAS IN THERE IN THOSE MEETINGS, SO I KNOW THAT FOR EFFECT.
>> GETTING THE CHECKBOOK WAS ONE THAT I DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO BE ABLE TO DO. >> AT FIRST, ALL HE WANTED WAS THE XL SPREADSHEET. WHAT CAME IN, WHAT WENT OUT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ASKED FOR. IN VERMONT, NEITHER ONE OF THEM GOT A RESPONSE.
>> LISA, DID YOU SAY THAT DALE HAS TO BE THERE TO DO THAT?
>> TO GET SOMEBODY A CHECKBOOK FROM -- I DON'T HAVE THAT. TO CLOSE OUT AN ACCOUNT THAT IS A NUECES COUNTY ACCOUNT AND REOPEN A SEPARATE ACCOUNT THAT IS NO LONGER ONE THAT IS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR, BUT IS A SEPARATELY MANAGED ACCOUNT, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ACCESS
TO. >> YOU WANT IT JUST LIKE THE
SHERIFF HAS HIS. >> AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I
HAVE ACCESS TO. >> SO WHO HAS ACCESS?
>> I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S GOING TO BE , CROSSED WITH DALE'S SIGNATURE AND ACTION FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE -- EVEN WHEN HE IS OUT OF THE OFFICE, I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE A CHECKING ACCOUNT THAT CROSSED BANK.
>> I WAS THINKING, AS MUCH AS DALE HAS BEEN OUT WITH HIS SICKNESS, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE OR NOT.
>> THAT'S A GOOD THING TO CHECK ON POINT
>> I GUESS I LEARNED SOMETHING. I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF FOR 35 YEARS. I HAD MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS. I DIDN'T HAVE IT ALL IN ONE ACCOUNT. ETHICALLY, I COULDN'T DO THAT.
I'VE LEARNED THAT IT IS IN A BIG COUNTY ACCOUNT, WHICH IS A PROBLEM WITH MY CHAPTER 59 FOLKS BECAUSE THAT IS MONEY THAT IS -- HAS GOT A LOT OF ATTORNEYS INDICTED FOR MISUSE OF. IF IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY STRICT GUIDELINES. AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
ENFORCES THAT. >> I WILL HAVE IT FOR YOU BY
THE END OF BUSINESS. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, FOLKS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> APPRECIATE YELPING HERE.
YES. ANIMAL SERVICES. YOU ARE OUR LAST ONE OF THE DAY.
>> AND I WILL TRY TO MAKE IT QUICK FOR Y'ALL. I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO PRESENTATIONS ALL DAY. AND WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH -- IT LOOKS LIKE I'M ASKING FOR A LOT. I'M STARTING AT A SLIM POINT, AS IS. I KNOW YOU HAVE
[04:45:20]
HEARD ALL DAY LONG THAT WE NEED PAY RAISES AND RETENTION. WE ARE BLOWING OUR OVERTIME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE NOT RETAINING PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HIRE FOR AN MT POSITION. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ANIMAL SHELTER. THEY ARE PAID SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN OURS ARE. WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, BUT THEY HAVE WITH PEOPLE MOVING INTO DIFFERENT JOBS. SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD I THINK WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE , IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN IMPLEMENT RIGHT AWAY. I AM REQUESTING FOR RECLASSIFICATION OF MY OFFICERS TO GO UP TWO GRADES. I HAVE TWO OFFICERS. I HAVE ONE ACO 2. THE ACO 2 WOULD BE 17 TO 19. OUR ANIMAL SERVICES CLERK IS ANOTHER PER -- POSITION I'M REQUESTING A RECLASSIFICATION UPGRADE. THAT ONE IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE A REALLY BIG JUMP. IT'S REALLY NOT. I THINK IT BROKE DOWN TO ABOUT $2000 A YEAR. THAT IS FROM 13 TO 17. EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THERE, WE ARE VERY SMALL INCREMENTS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A RAISE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING TO TRY TO CUT BACK ON COST A LITTLE BIT IS TO MOVE OUR FULL-TIME KENNEL TECH TO PART-TIME OR EVEN A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE. AND IN PLACE OF THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD A PLACEMENT COORDINATOR, SO RIGHT NOW, I'M DOING ALL THE PLACEMENT OF OUR ANIMALS. I DO ALL THE RESCUE FORMATION, ALL OF THE ADOPTIONS, AND FROM OCTOBER 1 UNTIL TODAY, WE HAVE IMPOUNDED 498 ANIMALS. I CAN BE WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR FOR PERSONNEL, WHICH, IT IS A LOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE DEPARTMENT. WE HAD $2500 ALLOCATED FOR DOG FOOD THIS PAST YEAR. WE SPENT WAY MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WITH INFLATION, AND WE HAD A DECREASE IN DONATIONS, WHICH WE REALLY CANNOT RELY ON DONATIONS REGARDLESS. IT IS GREAT WHEN WE CAN GET THEM, BUT WE CAN'T RELY ON THEM. SO I'M ASKING FOR A $5000 INCREASE ON THAT WITH THE PLAN OF HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO POTENTIALLY GO OUT FOR BID AND GET A CONTRACT TO GET , CHEAPER DOG FOOD BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE BUYING FROM TRACTOR SUPPLY, SO WE ARE NOT GETTING A WHOLESALE PRICE. WE HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR $10,000 THAT WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS VETTING. THAT IS AIMED TOWARDS CRIMINAL CASES. OUR ACOS SHOULD BE AIMING AT CRIMINAL CASES. WITHOUT HAVING VETTING, IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. OUR PARTNERS ARE WILLING TO HELP US WITH THAT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO ASK FOR THAT 10,000 THIS YEAR. AND IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS?>> I DON'T THINK SO. >> ALREADY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GLAD I CAN MAKE IT QUICK.
>> HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR STAFF?
>> WE HAVE TWO REGULAR ACOS, EIGHT ACO 2, A CLERK, AN MT KENNEL TECH POSITION, AND MYSELF AS THE MANAGER. SO IT'S
A TOTAL OF SIX. >> ONE OPEN POINT
>> AND THAT IS A VACANCY? THAT'S NOT A FROZEN POSITION.
IT IS A VACANCY. >> CORRECT. WE TRIED POSTING FOR IT A COUPLE OF TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS.
>> EXCUSE ME. DO YOU FOLLOW UP WHEN THERE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT DOGS BEING A NUISANCE AND A NEIGHBORHOOD? I HAD A CALL RECENTLY LAST WEEK. THE LADY SAID THERE IS A DOG THAT COMES FROM A HOUSE DOWN THE STREET AND MESSES WITH HER DOG, AND
[04:50:01]
SHE CALLS THE DOG POUND. WE SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T CATCH IT.DO Y'ALL FOLLOW UP WITH ANYTHING?
>> WE DO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE THINGS. IT'S GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON THE SITUATION. I BELIEVE THE ONE YOU ARE REFERRING TO DOES HAVE AN OWNER. SOMETIMES, WE CAN'T CATCH DOGS. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO JUST MAKE THEM GO IN A TRAP.
THEY GET LOTS ABOUT TRAPPING. SO DEPENDING ON THE DOG, THAT BECOMES A TRICKY SITUATION. WE DO CONTINUALLY TRY TO GO OUT AND ADDRESS THE SITUATION, BUT WHEN WE HAVE OWNED DOGS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS ENFORCEMENT. WE CAN GIVE TICKETS FOR THE DOG RUNNING AT LARGE. WE CAN DEAL WITH THE OWNERS NOT COMPLYING WITH US. WITH THAT SITUATION, IT IS GOING TO BE INTERFERENCE WITH THEIR JOB DUTIES, AND THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, SO WE DO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WORKING ON IS I'D LIKE TO GET ALL OF OUR OFFICERS TRAINED IN DANGEROUS DOG INVESTIGATIONS TO DEEM DOGS DANGEROUS IF IT IS SUITABLE SO THAT IF WE HAVE OWNED ANIMALS THAT ARE CONTINUALLY A PROBLEM LIKE THAT AND WE THINK THAT THEY MAY CAUSE BODILY HARM TO SOMEONE, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE GOING TO GO TAKE THEIR ANIMAL AND EUTHANIZE IT, WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE OWNERS, AND OUTLINES CERTAIN GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH TO KEEP THEIR DOG AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.
INAUDIBLE ] MIGHT HAVE 30 DOGS. WHAT IS THE PROCESS -- WHAT DOES THAT DO WITH THE DOGS OTHER THAN FEED THEM AND WASH THEM? IS THERE -- WE DON'T DO LIKE -- STUFF AS FAR AS RABIES OR SHOTS OR, I GUESS, IT HAS TO BE DONE BY A DOCTOR OR A
VETERINARIAN? >> NO. MICROCHIPS, WE CAN DO.
WE DON'T HAVE MICROCHIPS. WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY THEM. WE DO GET VACCINATIONS. WE CANNOT VACCINATE FOR RABIES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A VET, BUT WITH THE HPP, THOSE ANIMALS ARE IN OUR CUSTODY. WE ARE ABLE TO VACCINATE THEM ON INTAKE WHICH WE DO TO TRY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASES.
>> SO IF YOU GO LIKE WE ARE HAVING TODAY, THIS WEEK, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT -- A VETERINARIAN, AND PEOPLE BRING A DOG AND THEY DON'T HAVE A VETERINARIAN, BUT THEY CAN GIVE SHOTS. NOT FOR RABIES BUT FOR OTHER SHOTS. WOULD THAT BE
OKAY? >> SO THAT IS SOMETHING I'M KIND OF RUNNING UP THE CHAIN RIGHT NOW. WE ARE GETTING MIXED RESULTS ON. SEVERAL VETERINARIANS SAID YES. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A FINAL DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM AN ACTUAL ATTORNEY WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH THE STATE BOARD FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE TO GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER BECAUSE IT
HAS BEEN SPLIT. >> OKAY I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE ON TOP OF THE PROBLEM. I KNOW Y'ALL HANDLE IT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE DO THAT AT THE KENNEL OR NOT. AT THE KENNEL, THERE ARE DOGS. THEY ARE AT THE KENNEL. THEY ARE ABLE TO GIVE
SHOTS OTHER THAN RABIES. >> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP AS A QUESTION. IT IS CONSIDERED DIFFERENT. A LOT OF THE VETERINARIANS ARE SAYING IT IS OKAY, BUT THE FEW THAT HAVE SAID NO AND HAVE SUGGESTED TALKING TO THE STATE BOARD HAVE SOME REALLY LEGITIMATE POINTS ABOUT RELIABILITY WITH IT . SO LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER BACK TO THE ACTUAL ATTORNEY THAT DEALS WITH THAT.
>> PUT A HOLD ON IT, RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> THANKS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I DON'T THINK SO. THANK
>> THANKS FOR YOUR WORK OUT THERE.
>> DALE, YOU CAME IN. I KNOW WE ALREADY HAD YOU AT THE BOTTOM.
AT ZERO. >> OKAY. YOU ARE HERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO CATCH US BEFORE WE LEFT. IT IS TO: 30.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.