ANDREA CARDENAS AUSTIN COUNTY CLERK  265N. CHESLEYST, STE.7 BELLVILLE, TEXAS77418  PH: 979-227-3144 FAX: 979-865-0336  COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES  September 9, 2024 Austin County Commissioners Court met in the 2nd floor Courtroom  at the Austin County Courthouse with the following present:  Tim Lapham, County Judge Mark Lamp, Commissioner, Precinct 1 Bobby Rinn, Commissioner, Precinct 2 Leroy Cerny, Commissioner, Precinct 3 Chip Reed, Commissioner, Precinct 4 Kimberly Benjamin, Deputy Clerk  OPENING CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE  ROLL CALL AND CERTIFICATION OF QUORUM CONSIDERATION/ADOPTION OF. AGENDA  Remove #15 from agenda. Approve amended agenda. Order #24-243  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (4-0)  1. 9:00 AM - PUBLIC HEARING  a. Public Hearing on FY 2024-2025 Budget b. Public Hearing on FY 2024-2025 Tax Rate  9:02 a.m. Public Hearing opened.  No one chose to speak on Budget or Tax Rate. 9:03 a.m. Public Hearing closèd.  1    2. Petitions or Requests from the Public.  Kim Rinn (Tax Assessor-Colector) informed Court of Election Workshops being held  around County to educate public on voting process.  3. Consideration and action to adopt FY 2024-2025 Budget. Per. Judge Lapham, total General Fund budget is $24,535,410.  General Fund budget breakdown: Non-salary items - $9,949,831  Salary items  $14,585,579  Estimated revenue is $24,270,243 for a budget deficit of $265,167. This is based on a General Fund Tax Rate of 32205. Per Judge Lapham, used .32205 tax rate instead of Commissioner Lamp asked could homestead exemptions be put in. Per Judge Lapham, can next year. Deadline has passed for this year. This year over 65 exemptions are Commissioner Lamp asked what changes were made to Road and Bridge. Per Judge Lapham, Road and Bridge rates are 075 - F/M & Lateral and .077 - R& B Special. Per Commissioner Lamp, people call daily wanting roads rebuilt. Infrastructure is getting built, but at a slow rate. Costs for materials have increased. If Road and Bridge tax rates stay at .076 (F/M & Lateral) and .078 (R & B Special) and apply to Road and Bridge, it would help. Per Commissioner Reed, if tax rate stays the same will significantly raise funds. Only reason it was suggested was to be able to lower rate. Per Commissioner Lamp, Per Judge Lapham, increase this year to F/M Lateral account is 8.6% even with 1 cent lower rate. Lowered Road and Bridge and F/M Lateral rates .001 on each account. Can go back to .001 because General Fund is being lowered by .005. Road and Bridge tax rates can go back to original rate of .078 for Road and Bridge Special and .076 for F/M Lateral. Gives total rate of .517700 still lowers it by .003. Propose tax rate for General - .032205, F/M & Lateral -. .076, R&B Special- - .078, Debt Requirement-.04095 for a total  .32705. Allows Court to lower tax rate a little bit.  included.  infrastructure in our County is desperately needed.  tax rate of .5171. Approve 2024-2025 Budget. Order #24-244  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0).  2    4. Consideration and action to adopt FY 2024-2025 General, FM & Lateral, Road &  Bridge, and Debt Fund Tax Rates. Adopt FY 2024-2025 Tax Rate: General Fund rate F/M & Lateral rate = R&B Special Debt Requirement = Total Tax Rate Commissioner Lamp - Aye Commissioner Rinn = Aye Commissioner Cerny = Aye Commissioner Reed - Aye Order #24-245  32205 07600 .07800 .04095 .51700.  =  Motion to Adopt: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0)  5. Consideration and action to set salaries and allowances for county officials. Motion to Approve: Commissioner, Rinn, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (3-1).  Commissioner Lamp opposed. Order #24-246  Per Commissioner Rinn, thank you to Compensation Committee who worked hard. 6. Consideration and action to approve FY 2024-2025 clothing allowance for S.O. Motion to Approve: Commissioner Cerny, 2nd Commissioner Reed, passed (4-0).  plain clothed personnel.  Order #24-247  7. Consideration and action to approve FY 2024-2025 meal reimbursementlors.. Motion to Approve: Commissioner Cerny, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0) 8. Discussion regarding S.O. replacement vehicle and action as appropriate. Per Donald Darracq (Sheriff's Office), Sheriff's office request to trade in 2019 Ford F-150 VNEFEMIPAIRACIBO to purchase 2024 Ford Expedition. 2019 Ford F-150 is not dependable. Request Court to give Sheriff's Office authority to use 2019 Ford F-150 as trade-in against purchase of 2024 Ford Expedition. Quotes given for 2024 Ford  transport personnel. Orderi #24-248  3    Expedition with trade-in by Ryan Ford - $42,487.57, Cavender - $45,953.92, and Appel- Commissionerlamp asked ift the purchase is within budget. Per Donald Darracq (Sheriff's Office), have received quotes for financing. Welch Bank offered 5.25% plus $300 documentation fee to be paid in three annual payments. Government Capital is a little more than 6% with a $600 documentation fee. Vehicle will not need decals. It will be a Per Billy Doherty (County Auditor), asked if Ryan Ford is part of Buy Board. In the past, County has used Caldwell Ford because Ryan Ford has not been part of Buy Board. With cost over $50,000 to replace vehicle will need to go out for bids. Need to check Ryan Ford Per Don Darracq (Sheriff's Office), quote is usually good for 30 days. Can check quoters tos see if they are part of any Buy Boards. There is usually an $800 Buy Board fee. Per Commissioner Reed asked if one of the dealerships are part of Buy Board, does County have to purchase from dealership. Per Billy Doherty (County Auditor), yes. Per Judge Lapham, suspend discussion to give a moment to call Ryan at Ryan Ford.  $46,152. Request to use Ryan Ford bid.  civilian vehicle.  is part of a government purchase option.  Commissioner Lamp, may be able to lease it.  Will come back.  9. Discussion regarding the purchase of a haul trailer for Pct. 3 Road and Bridge Approve purchase of trailer from Trailer Place Star Truck Equipment for total of $29,950. Motion to Approve: Commissioner Cerny, 2nd Commissioner Reed, passed (4-0)  and action as appropriate.  Order #24-249  10. Open RFQ'S for Acquisition Services for GLO CDBG-MIT Sector 2 and Sector Bids received from State Side Right of Way Services, LLC, Pinnacle Consulting Management Group, Inc. and Texas Land and Right of Way Company, LLC. 11. Discussion regarding bids for Pct. 4 Building and action as appropriate. Award to Vacha Services, LLC for $149,068 to pay with previously received insurance Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0)  3 projects.  funds and Precinct 4 funds. Order# #24-250  4    12. Consideration: and action to approve an Interlocal Agreementbetween the City of Sealy and Austin County for the purpose of drainage easement Interlocal Agreement for Improvements Within a Drainage Easement is in addition to regular Interlocal Agreement between City of Sealy and Austin County. This is about Allen's Creek within easement boundaries City and County have. For Grant purposes need Agreement. Jesse Skinner (Assistant Criminal District Attorney) has reviewed and Approve Interlocal Agreement with City of Sealy and Austin County for the purpose of Motion to Approve: Commissioner. Reed, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (4-0) 13. Discussion regarding concrete crushing bids and action as appropriate.  improvements.  approved.  drainage easement improvements.  Order #24-251  Per Commissioner Reed, cost is too high.  Commissioner Lamp suggests to create a crew between Precincts, lease equipment and  have crew go to each Precinct to crush concrete. Reject all concrete crushing bids.  Motion to Reject: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner. Lamp, passed (4-0)  Order #24-252  14. Discussion and action to approve Drainage Plans for Three Bells Mission Per Jonathan Hopko (County Engineer), permit issued for private residential. It is a Commercial venture. Had to go to engineering firm, have calculations done to make sure there is no impact to adjacent residents. Received engineering reports and all is good.  Venue, Pct. 4.  Approve Drainage Plans for Three Bells Mission venue.  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Lamp, passed (4-0) 15. Discussion regarding Pct. 2 uniform contract and action as appropriate.  Order#24-253  *Agenda Item #15 removed from Agenda.  5    16. Discussion and action as appropriate regarding roof replacement on the  following Pct. 1 R&B Buildings: a. Storage building b. Maintenance shop  Per CommissionerLamp, need to go out for bids. Damage was caused by multiple storms Approve to solicit for bids for roof repair for main Maintenance shop and Storage building with bids due at noon on October 11, 2024 and open bids on October 14, 2024. Motion to Approve: CommissionerLamp, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0)  Bellville had. Received insurance funds to replace roofs.  Order #24-254  17. CONSENT AGENDA - Items listed are of routine nature and may be acted on in asingler motion unless requested otherwise by member of Commissioners  Court. a. b. C. d. e. f.  Consideration and action to accept a $30 special donation to Austin Consideration and action to accept a $500 special donation to Austin  County S.O. per Local Government Code 81.032. County EMS per Local Government Code 81.032.  Approval of Minutes: i. July 22, 2024  Consideration and action to approve FY 2024-2025 Texas Department of Agriculture, Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Consideration and action to accept a grant from the Office of the Governor in the amount of $15,400 to be used on rifle armor plates. Consideration and action as appropriate to declare the following i. EMS 2009 Ford Explore (VIN FMSKGARAHGB93857 iii. S.O. .2019 Ford F-150 (VIN FIEWIP4TKAC163S0  Program.  assets as surplus: ii. EMS Module Trailer  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Cerny, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0)  Order #24-255  18. Budgetary and Financial Claims action as appropriate.  a.  Payment of Claims  Add Apriss Insights LLC invoice received this morning. Need to pay now. Reimbursement Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Rinn, passed (4-0).  deadline is September 20, 2024.  Order #24-256  6    b. Fund Transfers $1,121.807.81 does include Apriss bill.  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (4-0).  Order #24-257 C.  Budget Amendments  Per Billy Doherty (County Auditor), no budget amendments. d. County Auditor's Review of finances  Per Billy Doherty (County Auditor), roughly $1.4 million remaining in Budget.  e.  County Treasurer's  i. Payroll and Escrow Report-0 09.06.2024  Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (4-0) 19. Written end-of-the month reports submitted by County Offices.  Order#24-258  a. b. C. d. e. f. g. h.  Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3 and Pct. 4- August 2024  County Court-. July 2024 Constable, Pct. 2 - August 2024 Constable, Pct. 4. -July 2024 Library - August 2024 OSSF - August 2024 Jail Population - August 2024 TxDMV - August 2024  Motion to Accept: Commissioner Cerny, 2nd Commissioner. Reed, passed (4-0).  Order #24-259  Courtr recessed at 10:15 a.m. 20. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. Legal Matter b. Real Estate Matter . Personnel Matter Court reconvened at 12:28 p.m.  A closed meeting will be held concerning the following items:  7    21. Action as appropriate on Executive Session.  No action. #8 continued.  Per Judge Lapham, has not heard back from Ryan Ford on whether or not they are part of Buy Board. Suggests approving purchase of vehicle from Ryan Ford at $42,487.57 providing they are a member of proper government purchasing. If not, will authorize Sheriff's Office to advertise for bids for vehicle and at next Court can decide where to pay Approve vehicle purchase from Ryan Ford for $42,487.57 if they are a member of an authorized government purchasing. Ift they are not, authorize Sherif's Office to advertise  from.  for bids.  Bids due 8:30 a.m. to County Judge's Office on September 23, 2024. Motion to Approve: Commissioner Reed, 2nd Commissioner Lamp, passed (4-0).  Order #24-260  22. Commissioners Court Inquiry.  Motion to Adjourn: Commissioner Lamp, 2nd Commissioner Cerny, passed (4-0).  Order #24-261  Court Adjourned at 12:32 p.m. COMMISSIONERS COURT  ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ON FILE WITH COUNTY CLERK. AS PROVIDED BY 1, Andrea Cardenas, Austin County Clerk, attest to the minutes of the  Commissioners Court proceedings for September 9, 2024.  Date: Suptemw 30,2024 WdMRI Andrea Cardenas, Austin County Clerk Clerk of Commissioners Court Austin County, Texas  By:  Kimberly Benjamin, Deputy Clerk  FILED 2024SEP30 PM :46 Brifevigoy COUNYCLERK MIEPMMCIERK  8