REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 15, 2019  Be it remembered on the 15th day of October 2019 at 10:02 o'clock A.M., there was Begun and Holden a Regular Meeting of the Commissioner's Court in the Courthouse, in the town of Farwell, with the following members present,  To-wit:  Charles Wilkins Kenny White Casey Russell Trey Ellis Sharon May Susie Spring Absent: Kirk Frye  Commissioner Pct. #2 Commissioner Pct. #3 Commissioner Pct. #4 Judge County Treasurer County Clerk  Commissioner Pct. #1  When the following was had and done, To-wit:  Call to Order 1. Prayer  Commissioner White led the Court in prayer to begin the meeting.  2. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Texas Flag The Court pledged their allegiance to the flags of the United States of America and the State of Texas.  3. Open Forum for Public Comments  No members of the public were in attendance.  4. Consider Supporting Cargill with Entry Access to the Cargill Plant  Scott Pohlman from Cargill was present to discuss this issue with the Commissioners. He reported on a meeting held with DOT last month that Judge Ellis and Commissioners Frye and Wilkins attended. Several different options were discussed, but the option that at present appears to be the best for all concerned is to have an elevated crossing at County Road 15 west of Cargill that crosses both Hwy 60 and the RR tracks. Commissioner Wilkins mentioned the fact that the Hwy. crossing at County Road 15 would still remain accessible for local equipment traffic  that would not fit on the elevated crossing.  1    This option would entail Cargill buying land for the Right of Way for the proposed ramps for the crossing and donating it to the County to give to the DOT for usage. There are several options for funding available from the State and also federal funds possibly accessible by BNSF railroad. Mr. Pohlman said Cargill is requesting support from the County in pursuing this effort. Judge Ellis made a motion for the County to support Cargill in the endeavor to obtain an overpass that would crossover at County Road 15 but still leave that intersection open for farm equipment.  Seconded by White, motion carried.  5. Read and Approve Minutes of the Previous Meeting  Motion by Wilkins, seconded by White to approve the Minutes from the September 23, 2019 Regular Meeting.  Motion passed.  6. Consider Approval and Payment of the Accounts Payable - Sharon May  Sharon May reported the Accounts Payable List for September 25th and 30th and October 3rd and 5th. Motion by Wilkins, seconded by Russell to approve Payment of the Accounts Payable. Motion carried. See attached.  7. Consider Treasurer's Report-Sharon May  Motion by White, seconded by Russell to approve the Treasurer's Payroll Report for September 30th and October 15th. Motion carried. See  attached.  8. Consider Resolution Casting Votes to Elect Directors to Serve on the Parmer  County Appraisal District Board for 2020/2021  Judge Ellis made the motion to split the 1505 votes between candidate Brenna Burch from Lazbuddie and Jeff Stillman from Bovina with 752 and 753 respectively, Wilkins seconded and the motion passed.  9. Consider Resolution to Adopt the ExpressVoting System for the November 5,  2019 Election  A motion was made by White, seconded by Russell to approve the Resolution to adopt the ExpressVoting System for the November 5, 2019 Special Election for Early Voting and Election Day Voting and all  subsequent elections. Motion carried.  2    10. Consider Workman's Compensation for Volunteer Fire Departments within  the County not Associated with a City  Upon motion by Judge Ellis, seconded by Wilkins to continue providing Workman's Compensation for the County Volunteer Fire Departments  not associated with a city the motion carried.  11. Consider Resolution for the 2020 Indigent Defense Grant Program  This grant program assists the county in the implementation and the improvement of the indigent criminal defense services for the county. Upon motion by White, seconded by Russell to approve this Resolution,  the motion passed.  12. Consider Any and All Matters Concerning the Parmer County Law A. Consider Acceptance of Donations to the National Night Out  Enforcement Center  Sheriff Geries reported that the National Night Out was a success. He reported a number of in kind donations for example, the bread, cups, t-shirts, bicycles, etc. He reported the following in monetary donations: Affordable Bail Bonds $200, Security State Bank $200, Hunan Restaurant $100, AIM bank $250, Friona Interbank $50. On motion by White, seconded by Russell to accept the monetary B. Consider Modification to Cell Phone Allocations with the Sheriff's The Sheriff explained a new state wide program, First Net a government sponsored backbone network for first responders consisting of a band 14 in the panhandle unavailable to civilians. AT&T has won the bid from the state and Sheriff Geries proposes ceasing the stipend paid to Deputies for their personal cell phone and purchasing through First Net cell phones for work related purposes only that would allow contact with dispatch and each other during He explained the cost would be offset by the stipend money, but would be an additional $7 per phone and $37 per month for dispatch to be able to equip the phones with a "push to talk" feature. Upon motion by Judge Ellis to allow the sheriff to implement this change for the Sheriff, his staff, the Judge and Emergency Manager, John Gurley, seconded by Russell, the motion carried.  donations, the motion passed.  Office  regular times and also at times of emergencies.  3    With no further business to come before the court, Commissioner White moved to adjourn. Commissioner Wilkins seconded and adjournment was called at  12:25 o'clock A.M.  Swws County  * 9  R CountpSudge  Sg    4