AFHOR HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 14, 2025 The Commissioners' Court of Houston County metinaregular, called meeting on. January: 14, 2025in person and viazoom, with the following members present, to wit: The Court Jim Lovell Gary Lovell Willie Kitchen Gene Stokes Jimmy Henderson Terri Meadows County Officials/Employees in person: James Angerstein' Kris Dyches Laura Goolsby Daisy Hernandez Carl. Johnson Sheila. Johnson Joel Martin Ryan Martin Kristina Massey Todd McConnell Mike McCreight Janis Omelina Jan Pigford Daphne Session Darrelyn Smith Red Smith - Brittanj. Womack Cunv/Olicial/mpibyses by Zoom: Missy D'Angelo Melissa Jeter Thomas Shafer Media: County Judge Commissioner, Precinct#1 Commissioner, Precinct#2 Commissioner, Precinct#3 Commissioner, Precinct#4 County Clerk Tax Assessor-Collector Insurance Coordinator District Clerk HCSO Admin Facilities Administrator Grants Administrator Bailiff Chief Deputy Sheriff County Attorney IT JP1 Treasurer Administrative Assistant to the County. Judge District Attorney Assistant toi the County Commissioners Constable Pct2 1stAssistant Auditor Assistant County Auditor County Auditor Investigator - DA Office Greg Ritchie (by Zoom) Messenger ABSENT PRESENT PRESENT PRESENT PRESENT PRESENT Visitors: Tim Allen (HCCWB), James Bond (Hodges Surveying), Ronnie Omelina (Citizen), Patrick McArthur (Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP), Sally Brannen (HCCW/B), Theresa Lair (HCCWB) Houston Countyo Commissioners Meeting January: 14, 2025 Page 10 of6 (1) Welcome, Invocation and Pledges: American Flag and the Texas Flag. Commissioner Kitchen called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Commissioner Henderson voiced the opening prayerfollowed by Commissioner Kitchen leading the Pledge to the (2) Recognitionand commentsfrom; guests. emomatenappoeon, withno deliberation and no action taken, except that the Court may discuss whethertoi include any matter ona (3) Considera approval ofp prior Commissioners Court minutes. Commissioner Henderson made a motion to approve the Commissioners Court minutes for December 23, 2024 and January2, 2025 withacorrection to. Jennefer Cruz salaryi int the. January 2, 2025 minutes (salary typed as $2,769.23 bi-weekly and correctedi to $1,769.23 bi-weekly). Commissioner Stokes seconded. future agenda for deliberation and/or action.) None Motion carried4to 0. (4) Considera powngludgetimemamemt. None (5) Consider payment of bills and expenses: a. Accounts payable b. Fundt transfers Ratify Salary expenses Commissioner: Stokes made ar motiont to pay all the bills and expenses for a. (Accounts payable), b. (Fund transfers), and C. (Ratify Salary expenses). The motion was seconded by CommisionerHenderzon. The Motion carried4 4to0. a. Communitys Service/Environmental Report (6) Receive information, announcements: and reports from County Departments: b. District Clerk Report County Clerk Report d. Tax Assessor Report Commissionerlovell made ar motion to receive as information the Community service/Ernvironmenta: Report, District Clerk Report, County Clerk Report, and Tax Assessor Report. Commissioner: Stokes seconded. Motion carried4to0. (7) Considerapproving: salaries for new and/or transfer employees. a. County Clerk's Office Senior Clerk 6month pay raise = Commisionerhenderon made ar motion approve 6month pay raise for Brittney' Watson, Full-time Senior Clerki int the County Clerk's Office, moving hers salary from $1,391.18b bi-weekly to $1,446.83 and continue the $18.46 cell phone allowance in Pay Grade 17€ effective 1/27/2025. Deputy Clerk/Tax Office to District Attorney's Victims Assistance Coordinator = Commissioner! Lovell made ar motion to approve the salary for Destini Mancilla, moving from the Tax Office to District Attorney's Office as Victim Assistance Coordinator/Grand. Jury Clerk at bi-weeklys salary of $1,469.56 (includes SB22 supplement of $161.71) in Pay Grade 17 effective 1/20/2025. Commissioner Precinct 2 Part Time R &BTruck Driver- - Commissionerl Kitchen made a motion to approve thel hourly pay of Oma Lou! Dromgoole, as R& BTruck Driver/CDL in Precinct Commissioner Lovell seconded. Motion carried 4to0. Henderson seconded. Motion carried 4to0. Houston County Commissioners Meeting January1 14, 2025 Page 2of6 2at$17.60 per hour plus cell phone allowance, inj pays grade: 17 effective 1/14/2025. d. Commissioners Assistant from Part-time to Full-time - Commissioner! Lovell made a motion to approve the full time bi-weekly salary of Darrelyn Smith, Commissioners Assistant, at $1,329.66 in Pay Grade 13, effective January14, 2025 moving from Part Time to Full Time. CommisionerHenderon seconded. Motion carried4to0. (8) Discuss and consider approving payment of compensatory, and vacation time for County employees andi necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Lovell made ar motion and Commissioner Stokes seconded to approve compensatory payment to Martha Jackson, HCSO/Jail Admin, int the amount of $1,026.80; Jaidan. Jones, Dispatcher, int the amount of $209.76; J'darius Pruitt, Dispatcher, int the amount of $209.76; Mike Molnes, Sr., HCSO/Investigator, int the amount of $4,917.53; Jerry Baker, HCSO, ini the amount of $587.48; RogerDickey,' HÇSO/Chief, int the amount of $1,171.60; Kristinal Massey, Assistant DA, int the amount of1,258.27; Angelo' Vela, HCSO/PTI Deputy, in the amount of $1,240.59; John Catoe, HCSO/Deputy, ini the amount of $3,765.22; Casey Bradshaw, HCSO/Bailiff, ini the amount of $999.58; Jennefer Cruz, HCSO/Dispatcher, in the amount of $3,784.80; and. Jeffery Dean, (9). Discuss and consider declaring received information as surplus inventory and approving transfers! between departments. Commissioner Henderson made ar motion and Commissioner Stokes seconded to declare received information as surplus inventory and approve transfers (10)Discuss and consider declaring salvage and surplus inventory from Sheriff's Office tol be sold. Aftersome discussiona about the inventonyCommisionerlovelsugested wel hold up until it (11)Discuss and consider approval of payment of $287.00t to TEEX for Telecommunicator Course for Jessi Cunningham to be paidi from Sheriff's Office forfeiture account and necessary budget amendments. Commissionerlovell made a motion to approve payment of $287.00to1 TEEXfor Telecommunicator Courset for Jessi Cunningham tol be paid from Sheriff's Office forfeiture account and necessarybudgetamendments.Commisionersokesseconded.Motioncaried. 4 (12)Discuss and omderependturetorksten Welisfromt the CountyAtome/sofice: to attend a victim'sa assistance coordinator training as required by the Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant. Commissioner Lovell made ar motion' to authorize expenditure for Kristen Wells from the County Attorney'soffice to attend avictim's assistance coordinator training as required! by the Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant. Commissioner Henderson: seconded. Motion carried4 (13)Discuss and considerapprovings Deep East Texas Council of CoesCanypMenNseg the Deep East Texas Legislative Reception and necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Henderson made a motion to approve Deep East Texas Council of Governments County sponsorship fort thel Deepl East" Texas Legislative Reception int the amount of $500.00 and necessary budgetamendments. Commissioner: Stokes seconded. Motion carried 4to0. Commissioner: Stokes seconded. Motion carried 4to0. HCSO/Deputy, in the amount of $3,430.09. Motion carried 4to0. between departments. Motion carried 4to0. is decided what to do with thisi inventory. No action taken. to0 to0. Houston County Commissioners Meeting January14,2025 Page 3 of6 (14)Discuss and consider appointment of board memberf for HC: Sick Pool Committee which is one full time employee who officesi inl Law Enforcement including Sheriff Department, Justice oft the Peace offices and all other outlying offices. Commissioner Lovell made al motion to appoint Ryan Martin, from the Sheriff's Office, as a member oft thel HC Sick Pool Committee. 15Considersubmiting nomination and adopting reolutonforarephement representative for the Houston County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Commissioner: Stokes made a motion to nominate Willie Kitcheni forareplacement representative fort the Houston County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Commissioner Henderson seconded. Willie Kitchen (16)Discuss and consider action to appoint ar new memberto the Houston County Child Welfare Board and swearing ini for new andi five reappointed members. Commissioner: Stokes nominatedTheresa Laira as a new memberto the HoustonCounty Child' Welfare Board and the re-appointment: of Sally Brannen, Tim Allen, Tami Bruner, Carole McQueen, and Cathy Minchew. Commissioner Henderson seconded. Motion carried4to! 0. Commissioner Kitchen (17)Discuss and consider adopting Resolution of Support for Adding Passing Lanes on Highway 19 South. Commissioner: Stokes made ar motion to adopta al Resolution of Supportf for Adding Passing Lanes on Highway 19 South. CommisionerMenderson seconded. Motion carried 4to (18)Discuss and consider action on a resolution with the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Divisioni fori thei implementation oft the improvements tot the Houston County Airport. Commissionerlovell made ar motion to adoptar resolution with the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation! Divisionfor thei implementationoft the improvements to the Houston (19)Discuss, considerand: authorize the Grant Administrator to apply and adopt Resolution fori the Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant Program FY: 20261 from the PublicSafety Office to equip peace officers with body armor. Commissioner Lovell made al motion to authorize the Grant Administrator to apply and adopt Resolution forthe Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant Program FY: 20261 from the Publics Safety Office to equip peace officers with bodya armor. (20)Discuss, consider and authorize the Grant Administrator to apply fort the Community Wildfire Defense Grantfromthe Governor'sOffice andi Texas Divisionof EmergencyManagementforthe purchase ofe equipment to implement af fire prevention program and to install a generatorat critical facilities. Commissioner: Henderson made ar motion to authorize the Grant Administratort to apply fort the CommunityWidfire Defense Grant from the Governor's Office and' Texas Division of Emergency Management for1 the purchase of equipment to implementa fire prevention program and toi install a generatora at critical facilities. Commissionerstokes Commissioner Henderson seconded. Motion carried 4to0. accepted the nomination. Motion carried 4to0. swore in Theresal Lair. 0. County Airport. Commissioner Stokes seconded. Motion carried 4to0. seconded. Motion carried 4to 0. Houston County Commissioners Meeting January14,2025 Page 4 of6 (21)Discuss and consider approving roof replacement for bank buildings and community room and paymenttromrecelved. quotesandneresaiybudgetamendmens. Commissioner Lovell made amotion to approve the bidi from 4L Construction to replace the roof for bank buildings and communityroom with necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Henderson seconded. (22)Discuss and consider the placement of a wall or other divider between the District Attorney's Office andi the spiral staircase to the firsti floor within the District Clerk's Office. There was discussion andi it was decided they would get pricing for a door rathert than putting up av wall. (23)Discuss and consider action on authorizing al lease purchase agreement with Citizens National Banki fort the purchase of 2024 Brazos 40 Pit Boss Belly Dumpi for Precinct: 2in an amount not to exceed: $38,000.00, collateralized with CD and necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Lovell made ar motion to authorize al lease purchase agreement with Citizens National Banki for the purchase of 2024 Brazos 40' Pit Boss Belly Dump for Precinct 2in an amountnot to exceed $38,000.00, collateralized with CD and necessary budget amendments. Commissioner: Stokes (24)Discuss and consider action on applying to renew the fuelstorage tank pollution liability insurance policy forthel Houston County Airport. Commissioner Stokes made an motion to apply to renew thet fuel storage tank pollution liabilityi insurance policyf for the Houston County (25)Discuss and consideraction on transferring license plates from standard to exempt fora2 2022 Ram (4696) underi the Sheriff Office. Commissioner! Lovell made a motion to approve transferring license plates from standard to exempt for a 2022 Ram (4696) under the Sheriff Office. Commissioner Henderson seconded. Motion carried 4to0. (26)Discuss and consider action on addendum toi financial software contract upgrade fort the County Treasurera and County Auditor Offices, and necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Lovell made ar motion to approve addendum to financial software contract upgrade fort the CountyTreasurer: and County Auditor Offices, andi necessary budget amendments. Commissioner Stokes seconded. Motion carried 4to0. (27)Discuss and consider action on a contract between Houston County and TDCJ-Eastham Community Work crewt to do upgradesandrepairs to the. Justice Center. Commissioner: Stokes made ar motion to receive as information a contract/agreement between Houston County and TDCJ-Eastham Community' Work crew to do upgrades and repairs tot the. Justice Center. (28)Discuss and consideraction on Orderto appoint. James Bond as thel Houston County Authorized Agent and Designated Representative for On-Site Sewage Faciities/Septic Systems int the Unincorporated. Areas of the County effective February 1, 2025. Commissionerlovel. made a motion approve an Order to appoint. James Bond as the Houston County Authorized Agent and Designated Representative for On-Site Sewage Facilities/Septic: Systems int the Unincorporated Areas of the Countye effective February 1, 2025. Commissioner Stokes Motion carried4to 0. The Facilities Administratori is to get prices. No other action taken. seconded. Motion carried 4to0. Airport. Commissioner Henderson seconded. Motion carried4 4to0. Commisione/Mendteron seconded. Motion carried 4to 0. seconded. Motion carried 4to0. Houston County Commissioners Meeting January14,2025 Page 5 of6 (29)Discuss and consideraction on extendingt the grantcontract: through March3 31, 2025 with Deep EastTexas Council of Governments and Houston County Aging Services for Home Delivered Meals to eligible cients and Senior Center Operations. Commissioner Henderson made a motion to approve extending the grant contract through March 31, 2025 with Deep East Texas Council of Governmentsand: Houston County Aging ServicesforHomel Delivered Meals toeligible clients and Senior Center Operations. Commissioner: Stokes seconded. Motion (30)Receive as information delinquent tax report from Patrick McArthur from Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott LLP, PatrickMicArthurwent over the tax report on delinquenttaxes with the Court. At the end of! his presentation Commissioner Kitchen said this reportwould (31)Adjourn. Commissioner Kitchen made a motion for the Commissioners Court Meetingt to Adjourn. Commissioner Lovell seconded. The motion carried by everyone rising and leaving carried4to0. be received asi information the meeting at: 10:02 a.m. JimLovell, County Judge Gary Lovell, Commissioner, Precinct #1 Willie Kitchen, Commissioner, Precinct #2 Gene Stokes, Commssone,Pednd#s Jimmy Henderson, Commissioner, Precinct #4 Attest: Date Approved: January: 28, 2025 Terril Meadows, County Clerk Houston CountyCommisioners' Meeting January14,2025 Page 60 of6