County Commission's Court for Tuesday, October 31st, this now session. This morning, an indication beginning by Michelle Franchard, Taxi-Sessor and her pledges to be led by Judigons' dollars are fire marshal will you please stand. I don't think that's the case. Okay. It's the light sign that's on. That should be better. All right. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this day. Thank you so much for all of the blessings that you have given us. We are so thankful that your mercies are new every day and that we can come to you on a daily basis and be able to find your love and your acceptance and all of the things that you so blessed with. Father, we pray that today, that as the commissioners court is deliberating, as the people are here to conduct the various points of business, we ask that you will give discernment and wisdom and guidance to everything that goes on today. In all this, we thank you so much for your love, and Jesus, thank you pray, amen. Please join me in the pledge, United States play. Our pledge is Jesus to the pledge of the United States flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all. And to the Texas flag, I I play with the leaders to read. Perfect. One state. I'm going to go on and end of it. Well, good morning, everyone. Happy Halloween. I think our trick of treaters are going to get a little wet tonight. OK. Item one is for public input. for items not listed on the agenda. We have people completing public comment forms as we speak I believe and we're taking five public speakers under item one and we're also taking five under the, what is it? 13B. Let's start with public comments. Number one is Mr. Dimarsh. Mr. Dimarsh, you're first tell you, Coleman, that I appreciate him taking the stand for the American history and heritage. I realized this was America that they colored, have a right to object to things that they feel like they're against. The same is what people have a right to speak about what they feel like should be, you know, heritage in the history for America. And that's about all I have to say. Right? Second public comment from I have is from Pat Stinson Swisher. Good morning. Good morning. Oh, really quick. One to speak in number one, just because I have to get to a class and besides that, this is only tangentially related to 13b. But it was to address a point to kind of give a counterpoint to what Commissioner Coleman laid out the last meeting, sir. And basically what you had said was that I guess our side or quote unquote or whatever people were trying to quote like sanitize history. But the most sanitized version of history is written on that statue. So at the very least, I think we can agree for if we want to fight sanitizing history to at the very least, up to the plaque. And I know you can't respond during public, or I'm number one, but I feel like that'd be a good compromise because we both have that same common interest. Because if you read the actual statue, it is the most sanitized version of the history despite what people like Mr. DeMarch would say and I think he left but I am still reeling from a comment he had made a few sessions back about how homosexuals were going to in the world and being part of that community, I was like, oh, that's news to me. They did not include me into that plan. But I also will just ask that you, when putting people on this commission, be careful if you're calling one side says this, the other side says this. If the other side is, the views expressed by Mr. DeMarsh, then the average that you get is going to be very, very skewed. Because I'm very accepting of Commissioner Coleman's opposing viewpoints. Because I feel like we can actually have a reasonable dialogue and get to a good compromise from there. But be aware of putting someone like Mr. Dormish on the question. Thank you. You know, I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Let's see here. I think the rest of the forms I have are under 13b. Let me just make sure. Yes, there. Okay. Members, I need to jump over to, hold on just a second here. Item 14A. Our tax assessor has some place she needs to get to, so we need to take this up. 14A is approval of the 2017-2018 agreement for a point of sale motor vehicle registration renewal between Dan County, Texas and a whole long list of various. I think there are grocery stores that are handling the vehicle registration renewal. Are there any questions on the side of the move? Do we have a motion? Yes, you do. We have a motion by Commissioner Marchant, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Hearing no questions all in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose, aye. Motion does carry. Let's also take item 14b, which is approval of the interlocal cooperation agreement between Denton County, Texas and Oak Point Water Control and Improvement District number four for tax year 2016 at the Learned Tax Collection as Recommended by the Denton County Tax Successor Collector In a motion for approval by Commissioner Marchant the chair will second the motion. Did you have a question? Do you have a comment? I just had a comment the reason why that says 2016 is because we were looking through our files and although we could find their part of the executed contract we could not find that it was wholly executed. So we wanted to ratify that contract and make sure we had everything copes out of it. We have a motion and a second are there further questions or comments? Hearing none all in favor please say aye aye post in aim motion just carry is that all you need at this time okay all right members item two is a consent agenda or are there items on the consent agenda you need to have some discussion on or do we have a motion we're prepared for them. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman seconded by Commissioner Marchant all in favor please say aye aye post in aim motion just carry consent agenda today consists of two A, which is approval of the order making appointments. We have a new hire and technology services, new hire in the district clerk's office, a rehire in the district attorney's office. Promotion in the budget department, two new hires in the county jail, one new hire and adult probation and one promotion of juvenile probation. 2B is approval into a departmental transfers, 2C is approval payroll, 2D is approval of building news request from outreach then. He is the court of sound the square lawn on Monday, November 20, 2017 from 7 to 9 p.m. I don't believe we have any of our retirees here today. We'll come back just in case somebody shows up. Let's go to 3D which is presentation from the little and police department to the Denton County Sheriff's Office and Denton County Emergency Services and recognition of their assistance after the loss of Detective Jerry Ronald Walker who died in the line of duty on January 17th, 2017. Good morning. Good morning, Judge. Commissioners, my colleague, Chief Orrentino, our Director of Public Safety. First off, I'd like to thank you for allowing us to come for the court today. We're here, though, to pay honor to Denton County for what they did for us. As you know, January 17th was incredibly tragic day in our community. It would not have been for our partners and our friends throughout Denton County. It would have been much, much worse situation. So at this time, we'd like to thank Sheriff Murphy and Director Gonzalez for their assistance from their agencies in that terrible time. Chief, we have two plaques we're gonna be doing. Are similar. Gentlemen, why don't you come up and receive these plaques? You all did the work, you need to get the plaques. I'm just gonna quickly read them, or just one, actually, they read the same. To the Denton County Sheriff's Department and the Denton County Emergency Services Services for your extraordinary service and incredible support to the men and women of the town a little long during our loss of Detective Jerry Walker badge number 633 and of work January 17th 2017 least sincerely thank you. Thank you very much gentlemen for being here and for the plaques. It was a heartbreaking day and I know these gentlemen were more than willing to step in and be of assistance. Sheriff? Yes, I just wanted to make a comment that Little Elm, Texas, I was one of the finest police departments in the country. And although Denton County is growing, the law enforcement community is still very small. And we have to rely on each other. And I know with one phone call, I can call the chief. He knows he can call me. We can call Jody. And we all work great together. Jerry was a friend, was a good officer. And he'll be missed and I just want to thank the chief and director for this presentation. It means a lot to me personally and to the sheriff's office. Thank you. Thank you so much, General. It's very kind of you. We appreciate it. Okay, I don't know that we need to take any action on that. Members, let's go ahead and we've got people that wish to speak on 13B. So let's not hold them up any longer. I have about four public comments here. Mr. Hudsworth here first. Do you wish to speak now, sir? Following Mr. Hudsworth will be Jessica Luther. Good morning, Mr. Hudsworth. I'm disappointed that you have limited the number of people who get to speak on either front, the beginning or the end. It's a democracy we live in. I can remember as a young kid being denied certain rights that others received. And it just doesn't sit well with me to be here standing before you in 2017 and the same limitations are being used to allow people who are citizens of this country and for sure me when I went fought and Vietnam and then I came back to the well how people treated me I didn't even understand I didn't know what I was going over there for and I certainly didn't understand why everybody was upset with me and Didn't honor what I did and I made a sacrifice four years of my young life doing that now here standing before you And the same kinds of things are taken place. For 18 years almost, I've been coming before Commissioner's Court. The first two or three were different than the ones from Five Ones. Five Ones is this limitation, this limitation, this manipulation that Delives and the the sin in me on goose chase and that's what's this you've done and you're still doing it today We have five citizens who have taken the time to come up here and speak to you properly and in order asking you to do something. We can't make you do anything. We're asking and you say by your decision the five of you are saying you don't get to speak. You don't get to speak. In order and respect, you still don't get to speak. You Vietnam veteran who fought and who endangered himself many times in that war that he didn't understand. You're saying to me and some of the others who are in order and talking to you, you're limiting out the five of you. Here's what you do when that happens. You vote. That's the American way. You vote. That's what you do. I guess that's what we'll have to do. It's a shame. You're seeing five of you get to speak. And you limit the time. That's not the American way. That's not the political process. I hope that would take place today. Mr. Hudsman. Yes. Aren't the speaking restrictions at the city of Denton more restrictive than what we have? Yes. Here's the difference. I haven't been there. I don't usually don't go to a city council meeting. But if you spoke into them like the way you speak to us right now at first at first but not you don't go do that every day over there no and I'm talking to you I'm talking to you differently than I talk to them and you at the beginning right now the deal is is that under the open meetings act we live in a representative democracy not a direct democracy we because we very generally have little input or citizen show up to our meetings have been very generous. Generally have very little restrictions on who can come and speak and what item. Much more generous than the city of Pintin. And you could probably classify the city of Dinton as probably a little more left-winging than this court. So I find it difficult for you to come up and criticize us on your ability to speak when you're more regulated at the city of Nitten from what I understand you attend all the time. So I wish you would stop directing the verito with us because we have listened patiently to you when you've made your comments for several years under public comment. It is basically common sense that you would allow a time limit to be on public comment. Otherwise, you would not allow people to get their work together and basically have a filibuster to stall the business of this court until you got your way. I applaud you that you have announced to run for public office because in a representative democracy, the way for you to ensure that you have your voice on this body is to be a member. That is what we do in America for the past 200 years is have a representative democracy. We are not a direct democracy. We do not have it where every person gets to have a voice. You elect your representative and they carry your voice to that body. So I applaud you in your service. I kind of don't agree with you where you equate our actions to disrespecting veterans. I think that's a false equivalency. But you know what's going on. This is your bully pulpit. You get your time. You come here. We listen to you. And you move on. I appreciate you coming. Don't necessarily agree with you. But I've got to object when you say you have a right to speak. If you look at the Open Meetings Act, you get to speak by our allowance of you doing it. If we wanted to, we wouldn't, we could not have an open comment period period. We could just move on. Some governmental entities don't have that. I think if you abuse the privilege, sometimes you're gonna lose it. Much like what happened at the city of Pinton. Is there a question in anywhere? No, it's an open comment, so I'm commenting on your comments. All right, then let me comment on your comments sir surely I say something Number one the problem I have with what you're doing is As opposed to what the city does to me and they do the the same thing. They want to go on with the meeting, and they, here's a difference. They have a set rule, and it's written, and they've been doing it for years, and they go by it. They follow it to the letter. But what you need to understand within a democracy, that we don't shoot the speakers and hang them and take them out of town and they never get seen again. We don't do that. Has that happened to you? Are you saying you were shot and run out of town? No. Okay. Thank you. Not yet. But we hear what we do in a democracy is those who have a concern and want to change something or make it different, we follow the rules. Now what I've done at the city, when they limit need of four minutes, is they have this rule that says, is they have this rule that says, if you sign up to talk about other areas, you get to speak again. So I sign up for every other area. It's a rule. And then I speak every one of those. I say, it must be on the subject matter. Well, I have a master's degree from University of North Texas. And one thing they taught me was how you can speak to things and say they're on subject. So I say the first word that's on the subject and I finish whatever I want to say after that I get around the rules. Here's what you do to me that object. So you just said you want to get around the rules but you're asking us to follow them. I want you to let if I find a loophole in the rules, don't change them on me right then. Change them later. That's OK for you to find a loophole to extend your speech and bog down the system. But if illegally, we can limit your speech that's on constitutional or undemocratic. No, you said it was constitution and democratic. I'm trying to understand what you're saying. It's okay for you to find a loophole to extend the meeting and disrupt the process. But if somebody attempts to regulate that, that's unfair. If as an elected body you do it improperly,ly than you got re-election consequences that come to you. Well, I would assert to you, Willie, that is not improper. A city, particularly like the city of Denton, has a charter and they can set their own rules. We, as a county government, are a subdivision of the state and we're subject to the Open Meeting Act. It is very clear what we can do under the Open Meetings Act. I would suggest that the AG has a very nice handbook that tells you what you can do under the Open Meetings Act. I would ask that you read it that way we can all be on the same page because I agree with you on one thing. We're a nation of laws, not man. You've assumed that I said don't do what you're legal to do because it is illegal I'm not saying that you go ahead and do it But you and the rest of the people who agree with you. I'm a state. I thought you were inferring. Okay We're doing let me speak I wait patiently for you. I thought you were inferring what we are doing is illegal And if so if that's not your intent I apologize. Oh, okay, but that's what I thought you were inferring what we are doing by limiting your speaking as illegal. No, I don't know that it's illegal. But I know there are consequences for you doing it that way politically. Okay. Well, I agree. That's what's wonderful about our country. If the voters don't like us, they can vote us out. Okay. The voters like you, they can pitch you in. That's what's called a representative democracy. That's and I think we you and I have a disagreement on what kind of government we live in. I think we live in a representative democracy. I think you think we live in a direct democracy. Representative democracy. What is what's the difference? You get to decide because of your airs. A representative democracy is you know, aka the better system, where representatives are elected to carry the voices of their citizens to the body. But you do have to tell, oh no, you should tell the truth. And if you don't, you should tell the truth. Yes, what? I think everybody should tell the truth. Don't you? Yes, I do. It's the, well, so that's, I don't understand your point. What? That I don't understand your point. As you keep interrupting me when I'm trying to make it. OK, well, I'm here. Second part of that, you should tell the truth. Now, if you haven't told the truth, then that is something penalty by law that we can speak to. And that's what we're looking to see. Yes, that's the one that we can speak to. And that's what we're looking to see. Yes, that's the one that we can file papers on and have legal representation to deal with the fact what you did, what you've done. It should lie to people, especially in this situation. It should lie. I think if you're sworn on your oath, which the commissioners court can do, they're processing YouTube, but I don't think anybody's been sworn. So you have to get where you're saying what we've done is illegal or unlawful. When I asked you to give me the permit to do something to that monument out there, I said, what do I do to get that permit? And I feel that those paper will, those papers and you took them as your representatives and all five of you said you never received, that you never received the permit. I guess I didn't understand the context which you were referring. Hey gentlemen, I mean, Commissioner Mitchell is asked to speak. I'm going to have to say something and Willie, if you'd like to say something else I'll call you, okay? All right. Mr. Hussby, the Open Meeting Act does not say that the Commissioners Court have to allow the citizens to speak. However, I disagree with that act, because I believe that as represented by the body, we should allow the citizens to speak. And we have been doing that for a number of years. And I know that you get hot burn because all of a sudden, there's one issue has come up. And we've decided that we're going to go by what the OpenMedia Act says. We're not going to do what we've been doing for 50 years. I served on the Louisville City Council for 10 years and for 10 years when the citizen had an opinion about something. I allowed them to come up and speak when I was mayor. And when I wasn't mayor, the mayor then allowed them to come up and speak. We did ask them if they were speaking on the same thing to allow spokesperson, sometimes they did, and sometimes they didn't. I know we're in the process of putting some rules together. Like you say, if we want people to abide by something, we've got to put it in writing. And I agree that that's what we're doing. I don't agree with the citizens not being allowed to speak. I don't agree with the citizens not being allowed to speak. I don't agree with the, uh, allowing just five citizens to speak. I don't agree with cutting people off, except when you go on and on and on. You need to have a set time and judge has really, has been good about allowing you three minutes. She does that because if you have so many people to speak, you'll never get through if you allow people to go on and on and on. But I do agree that every citizen in Den County has the right to come up to this court and speak about any issue that they need to speak about. Now, I don't agree with you coming up being mean, mean spirited, being ugly to individual commissioners of the judge. I don't agree with that. I agree with you being respectful to me and I'd be respectful to you. But the Open Meeting Act does allow the presiding officer to determine that how many people she's going to have speak. And I said she because I don't agree with it and how long that they're going to speak. And so we do have to follow the rules and we put those rules in process, then you need to follow the rules. Okay, one thing I'd like to say and then, Richard Hutz with a calling you. I need to refer back to the posted agenda item 13B, which says approval and or discussion of establishing the County Advisory Committee to discuss all solutions to determine a resolution involving the Confederate soldier statue appointment of committee members and in the appropriate action. So you and future speakers on 13b if you would make it germine to the posted agenda item Okay, I need to respond to I need to respond to our White House. Please go ahead. I really appreciate what you said. I think that is the way that you should treat citizens and to Commissioner Coleman. I think he has a point as well. When you see something is not the way you want it and you need to make a change. You make a change. But to my point in that changing, like the city did and does, they post it. And they give you time to adjust to it. And then they go up. They govern according to the rules that they've established. They talk about them. They discuss it with the other members. And unlike you, I'm hearing now, one person can decide that this is the way it's going to be done. And the rest of you don't have a say. You do have a say. You can go ahead. I don't mean to interrupt you, sir. But let me clarify what the reason for that is that the Ditton County Commission's Court and the County Judge sets this not only a presiding officer of the Court, but she is a legal officer of the Court. And herself is a magistrate within the county. Before, in the way the Constitution has set this court up, she has legal powers. In fact, there are many, many judges that are throughout the counties within the state of Texas that they're probate judges, and that they hear probate cases and we're fortunate enough in this county that we have a probate judge that the commission's court said we're not going to allow not allow with the judge said I'm going to relinquish that to another court law and so serving as a judge myself for so long. I, as an officer of the court, when I'm into courtroom, things go the way that I ask them to go that we should limit the amount of people speaking. I do believe that we should limit the time that they speak because we have to move on with our business and you should be able to say within three minutes what you're going to say how long it has been that I'd be talking? But understand the difference, that there is a difference. And even if we don't agree with her, she is the presiding judge, the legal presiding judge of this court, and has discretion on how she wants to run the court. And Mr. Hutz, but there's a comparing cities and counties is much different. For instance, the County Commission can put any item on the agenda There are several cities that you have to get an item on the agenda through the agenda committee There's an agenda committee that you have to get an item through to get it placed on the agenda So it's it's very difficult to say if I'm allowed to do something that the city or I'm regulated at the city that it's unfair that it happens like that at the county. My point is that it's kind of comparing dogs and cats. They have a charter we have state of law. You're the one that compared what the city does. Well, the county and so did our responding. The open meeting deck is applicable to both entities We're executive officers who have legislative authority City councilmen have zero executive authority and their peer legislative actors Hey, let's let mr. Hudsman speak and move on go ahead mr. Hudsman. Okay Mr. Marchant and Mr. Marchand and I do understand how the political process works from this standpoint. If you disagree with her, it's okay for you to do just like you did this morning and say the judge has decided that this is the way the court's going to be ran. That's okay, I'm understanding that. But what this, this appoints me is that you could also say the judge has decided, like you did this morning, but that's not the way I would possibly do it. That's all we need, sometimes. That's all we need sometimes. That's all we need. But to sit there and say nothing, then that puts you in the same boat with the person who's deciding it. And the only reason we're responding to you now, sir, is because we're not in the public opening statements where we cannot respond to that. You're not allowed to deliberate. Now we're on a certain agenda item where we both can talk with each other. In order to get your democratic views expressed, I would say like you've done with me once in the past, go ahead and call us. That's a good way to express your view as opposed to coming to the commissioners court meeting. If you want to call them and have a one-on-one conversation, that's fine. I call it generally try to call everybody back and make myself very accessible. I'm here Tuesdays and Thursday mornings. I talk to constituents about all sorts of stuff. Oh, I'm gonna follow up on that. Okay. It's posted on my office door. I going to follow up just because I think communication is what we need to do. I just I think that's the way you do it. So today again on the subject we I wouldn't notify that I was I needed a form to fill it out. I wrote and sent an email asking what's the process going to be. What concerns me is you've already done this. You've already decided evidently. Well then you've done something to get the people in who you are going to look at. You did that somewhere in between the last meeting in this one and none of my people who I would suggest to be on that committee were informed. I don't know who the other people are. Mr. Hudson. I'm still a betting candidate. I don't have anybody. I'm going to see you. Mr. Hudson's Boogie. We have a lot of different committees at the county. We have standard forms that were I asked my staff to email to you because I've already publicly said that my intention is to appoint you to the committee. Okay, and for that reason I had my staff go ahead and send you the forms. I have not at this point up until now, ask the other committee members if they wanted whoever they want to a point to also complete those forms. If for no other reason it's a good thing for them to do I believe so we get accurate information about addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, that's for our stuff. But as you know it addresses any conflict of interest now that I don't believe there's any conflict on the appointment for the committee that we're suggesting today but there might be on some other, so the kind of standard forms. But that's why you were sent the forms, because I've already publicly said that my intention is to appoint you. And so up until this point, I haven't even asked the other members if they agreed that we should have this committee, the appointees also complete the forms I happen to think they should just for informational purposes. Now I am ready to make my appointments. I don't know about the other members because I can't discuss it with them because that would be in violation of open meetings. Okay. So we're gonna talk about it, we need to talk about it here. If you've got something else you'd like to add, go ahead and add it. I've got about three other public comment forms here. People that would like to speak. I think that March and Coleman, although I don't agree with what they say sometimes to me and the public session. I think you're right. I need to come talk to you and the other people's have the, I just need to talk and I'm going to do that. So I'm going to take you at your word. I'm going to do what you say and I'm going to call you. Call your county commission that represents you. I'll give you Andy's cell phone. OK, good. He has it. And he lives in flower man. What's your address? I think it's will you know we've met multiple times. I think that's a good. Mr. Hesbeth, one more to your to your point or what you bring up. I am working on drafting some county policy concerning public speaking up until recent weeks that it really hasn't been an issue. But and drafting some county policy concerning public speaking up until recent weeks, it really hasn't been an issue, but you're right, there needs to be some policy in writing for everybody to know what to expect and how to follow. Miss City had to do the same thing when we started coming down there like we were doing that. That's just what you do. You'll be seeing that in the future. It's not quite ready to go yet. All right, thank you. Okay. You have a nice day. Thank you. All right, and I really think Andy should invite you to dinner. You should invite me. I said I really think Andy should invite you to dinner. Yeah, I think so too. To do yourself invited. Just a little through you next. Good morning. I apologize. I'm wearing my sunglasses in court. I left my regular glasses in the car in their prescription. So hopefully I can read this without sunglasses on. I'm going to do my best this morning to stay on topic. You've requested that. I do try very hard to do that. So I'm going to keep on that this morning. I do have to add one thing this morning. I want to thank you for allowing us to witness a little bit of, although I wouldn't call it standard court procedure, but allowing us to not just jump straight into the agenda item, You know, seeing that ceremony this morning, I think it's important for people to understand that you guys do more here than just sit here and implement policy all day. It's important that we see each other as human. That's what this is all about. You know, people feeling included in a understanding that we affect one another and that there are people who serve in this community to protect us and that your public servants. So I think that's important, so I want to thank you for that. So you know, it's obvious people feel disenfranchised. It's hard for people to move forward in a trusting and positive attitude when they feel oppressed. Several members of this court have asked in previous session that we start from a clean slate. That we trust this body not to make the same mistakes of commissioners in the past in dealing with this monument. I think that's fair. You don't wanna be forced to stand in the shadows of the mistakes of people before you. But I'd like to point out that that's a position of agreement between this body and the people and den who oppose this monument. Transparency in this monument committee with closed and open meetings that allow for public trust and confidence in that committee would be wise. And it would prove that you are willing to do something. Clear and established goals for this committee are essential, as well as the possible resolutions to be considered. That's crucial. These goals the possible resolutions to be considered. That's crucial. These goals and powers need to be bold and they need to be noble with inclusive resolutions, you know, resolutions that are not status quo because we've been there, we've done that. We need to answer the question, what exactly is this committee advising you on? That's the question. What is this committee advising you on? I hope that you will discuss these things today, openly. I think that if you did, if you answered those questions today, and moving forward and assigning your committee members openly and transparent, I think we would see a very different process moving forward in regards to participation from the public and the way that these proceedings go. I really do, and I would hope to see that. Thank you. I appreciate your time, and I hope that you will take something from what I said today. So what, John? Don't want to put you on the spot, but if we form a committee, is that going to be subject to the open meeting day? Since it's only a county advisory committee and recommendations that they make to the court are merely advisory it does not have to be subject to the Open Meeting Act that's a that's just the way it is. Same time you know if you decide to make it open to the public in... John, I think, or I don't know if it's last week or the week before, but at some point I did try to make it clear that this is a committee that's in an advisory position, they're not making decisions, they're making a recommendation to commissioners court, any recommendation they make to commissioners court would have to be approved by a commissioners court, and then depending on what that is, that may or may not need to go to Texas Historical Commission. But as a committee that's just an advisory body, my understanding that they are not subject to open meetings, they don't have to post meeting notices like we do, they don't have the same posting requirements as commissioners court does. But it doesn't also, they're not restricted from calling people in that they want to confer with. I spoke early on about the professor from the University of North Texas using him as a resource. He doesn't want to be on the committee, but he's making himself available as a resource. So this committee would be able to call anybody in that they'd like to speak to for informational purposes. So I think that clear early. call anybody in that they'd like to speak to for informational purposes. So I think I need that clear early. I just wanted to ask the DA's office, because I think there's people out there who think that we have an agenda, we want one way or the other, you know, our lawyer who is assigned to us by the DA has an objective opinion, he's well versed in the Open Meetings Act. That's where I got my information. You know, I'm Don John for many years. I even got to work for them at the DA's office back in the day. And so that's why I was thinking about it. I mean, it cleared that my primary objective on this committee was to address the accurate historical context for a new plaque. That is my, well, I think right here, I think people are concerned about the process and think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think that's a good question. I think agree with John that having a subject to open meetings is permissive. Frankly, when I appoint people to a committee, I don't tell them what to do. And I generally don't try to tell the committee how to do their process because if they're willing to do that, we need to let them go. You know, one of my colleagues. The committee could receive public input. Yeah, they could. The committee should. The committee thinks they want public input, more power to them. If they don't think they want more public input, that's fine too. It's basically what we're saying is it's up to them. Yeah, okay. They want to be subject to that. If you'd like to add another comment, I appreciate it. I just wanted to clarify, I didn't say anything about a legal requirement to do anything. I said, you've spoken in the past, I can three of you at least have very directly stated that you would like the mistakes. I believe that was your word Mr. Marchett. The mistakes of other commissioners or bodies before you to be held against you, that if we wanted to transmit that we should trust you to do something, I'm saying if you really want to show that that's the case. I'm not saying every meeting needs to be open. I understand if they want to get something done they need to be able to have sessions and get some work done. Have regular open meetings once a month. I don't know, figure it out. Talk about it. I didn't say anything about what you're legally required to do. I was talking about rebuilding trust and building confidence in your committee so that whatever is done as a result of that committee, everybody can say they know exactly what happened. And they know how that committee came to their decision. That was the suggestion that I made and I won't make any comments. Okay, Jennifer Lane. Can I talk to Jennifer? Jennifer, if you'll wait just a minute, do you want to make it coming in? Well, I can do it after she's done. Okay, go ahead, Jennifer. Thank you very much, Jennifer Lane, Dutton, Texas. I agree with the previous speaker that periodic open meetings should occur to develop trust with the community, you're allowed to do more than the minimum and it's usually a good idea. And I also would like to say that the tone taken in the mini lecture on representative democracy to Willie Hutzbeth was a little amusing to me because Willie is very aware as our many of us of the limits of representative democracy even though we vote and work to support it. Representative democracy for 250 years, one quarter of the population of this country had no representation whatsoever. At the time this statue was built, the Denton KKK and its supporters in the city drove African-American population out of their homes and at least about half of the cases out of town completely. So there was no representative democracy there when it was erected. Those who remained were subject to Jim Crow laws of which segregated drinking fountains of the symbol even to this day of daily humiliation. And the inability to vote is the essence of the Jim Crow laws. I would say this is not Jim Maine. Yeah, I think we need to commit. Open meetings to the public are very important in this case and you can determine whether or not they will be open. You'll be better off if you make periodic open committee meetings in terms of your trust with the public. I would like to be open to any questions that you have, but that is the key that Mr. Willie Hutsmith is on this committee, chairs it, and that a broad variety of people can be considered to serve on the committee, and that as far as also just as a minor point, I'd like you to use the term professor sparingly. It should be used when people actually are professors. Thank you. Any questions? Professor Candle-Wiz, Professor. How about a doctor if you have a doctorate? Doctorate's fine. I guess I'll have a doctorate. Professor is an academic rank. You all need to achieve. You all need to start calling me doctor. But I doubt that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Rice Goodman. Last speaker. Either Dr. Coleman or Mr. Coleman. Good morning. Hi. Good morning. Mine's pretty quick. I agree with what they kind of had to say that if it can be more open to the public that I'm trying this up so yeah, we can hear you sorry. That was a little bit short I was just saying I agree with him if it can be more open to the public all the better I'd like to see people of all Branks and everything in the committee as the committee members like you said would be supported and Supplanted with advice from others like historians, that they don't necessarily have to be historians themselves. So I see people from all branches and all things. People like me who I don't necessarily need to be on the committee, but people like me who see it as you can do something for everyone. You could restore the monument to its proper context with a plaque on either side, confederates who died and served. That used to be a white-only drinking fountain now it's not. And then as I know, we're mostly vacating this building for the new courthouse on 288, so I could see how we could put something inside a little bit more interpretation of the African-American achievements in our county. And we have a lot of space to do it once that happens. That's a lot to say. but I thought that was a good idea and it covers all bases and tells it all for everyone. Thank you. Okay, thank you for your time. All right. Commissioner Marchand has asked to speak. I have been working on an idea of committee guidelines that I would like to present to the commissioner's court and for discussion. I understand that they are not complete. They can be added to or taken away from, but at least it's a skeleton of guidelines that I believe and have run them by other people other than those that are on the court that seem somewhat inclusive of and germane to what we're talking about today. Okay. So if I can read those, all right, and I have a copy of for everybody else. Committee guidelines, the mission, first of all, the mission statement, which I believe is very, very important, is to appropriately preserve the Confederate soldier memorial as a historical artifact. To ensure that the recommendations from the Committee regarding preservation of the Memorial do not violate or conflict with the guidelines established by the Texas Historical Commission, the National Park Service and American Alliance of Museums, which the monument is currently recognized by all those organizations. And to follow state and local preservation laws and best practices for any recommendation. The membership is a chairman appointed by this commission's court. The members should be two appointed by each commissioner and the county judge for a total of ten members. Appointment of Peggy Rittle as a non-voting member, but from the Denton County Office of History and Culture as staff support. Discussion guidelines. Use historical resources provided by the county and other authoritative material to determine the correct historical record and context of the Confederate soldier memorial. Consider how best to preserve the Confederate soldier memorial in its current location or if necessary another location without destroying or affecting the physical condition of the memorial. Consider how best to educate the public using a plaque or any other historical markers on why the memorial was erected in 1918 and the historical motivators to erecting the memorial without rewriting history. And finally, the recommendation that we would, that I would seek from the committee was to recommend to the commission's court a viable and fiscally responsible plan on how to present this era in Denton County's history and the role of the Confederates, so there's memorial played and it continues to play in the county's history. And that I would offer to the court as a guideline or a beginning point of discussion. I like this, where did you come up with it? Did you? I made it up. OK. All right. I was just wondering if you pulled it off the other end or something. You just wrote it. No, I just wrote it. I think it's well written. I'm going to tell you I had a play drive. I just wrote it. I think it's a good story. Ron, we might find out we need to add something else, but I think it's a good story. I'm going to put the committee over as soon as possible. So I'm going to add out this. I've got a couple questions. The best for whoever you want to say. One, I like what you've presented here. I really do. But I still want to emphasize wording for a new plaque. Yeah, and that's on there. If you don't know, I'm on the deadline. And I think we say plaques instead of one plaque. I say consider how best to educate the public using a plaque. Or any other historical mark. That would be that sufficient. Is it really the National Park Service? No. Really? They have the what? I said I didn't think the national parks are. I mean it's not like they have jurisdiction over us. Although the Texas has door prohibition. It's a store of information. Yes, please come up to the microphone. The courthouse is included in the National Register of Historic Places which is under the Department of Interior National Park Service. And is the American Alliance of Museums is that a pretty common association? It is just an association that all museums abide by their standards. Kind of an accrediting agent. Yeah, it's an accreditation program. Okay. And something new every day. Yeah, and I would also make note that the city of Denton heavily relies upon our accreditation as well as the historical status of the square and everything on the square to get their certification and their historical designation as a city and municipality as well. The other question I have is determining a chairman for this committee by Commissioner's Court. Do you have commissioners' courts to determine the chairman or do you want the committee to decide who they want? The committee needs to determine it. We need to have a public election. So is it a consensus that that should be established by the committee itself? For me it is. I kind of think the committee should decide. If we're passing the bus, let's just go ahead and do it. Let's flip the conversation. Other than that, I think it's a great line. Commissioner Eads. I think it's great. I would hope that as we go through this process, I think that the committee will look at what our Office of History and Culture is currently doing to tell the African American experience here in Ditton County. I hope that pay you with giving overview. There's been a lot of allegations that have come forward through this public testimony about what the county has and has not done or the city has and has not done about historic preservation. And I think that we've taken great strides. I think we can be better. And I would hope that as the committee works, that they can put this memorial in context with its historical setting, but also be forward looking in how can we tell that story. Not only maybe in those interpretive panels that we might put adjacent to that memorial as an option, but other things on the square or in the museum here. We are about to have more exhibit space here. And so maybe that's part of the scope of services as they come back and this is part of a bigger, this is part of a bigger, interpretive process that we tell, not only during African-American history month, but routinely, and I think we do that here in our museum currently. And I think there's been some misinformation about that or some misunderstanding. And if the county staff needs to straighten that out, we're happy to do so. And maybe there's some future partnerships that we can work on together to tell that story of, as we have preserved not one, but in the process of preserving two Quaker Town houses that the county has taken that initiative. Also in partnership with the city of Eden, but the county has done that on county property. And I think that's been dismissed quite frankly. And so the county has taken efforts to help tell that story. It may be under told, maybe under told story, but hopefully this committee could make some recommendations for that as well. recommendations for that as well. And I would also recommend that to recommend these recommendations, these are not basically say how you do it, but I would ask that the committee would would to establish a public dialogue and a more of a formal stating rather than having a public meeting that maybe monthly or by monthly but certainly monthly that an agenda item will be placed upon our agenda where there is an update from the chairman of that committee on what's going on and it can be a posted agenda item that if anybody from the public that wanted to speak to that report was that they could speak to that report but that would be left up to the committee they wanted to do. How long do you think this committee is going to go? I don't know.. Hopefully not longer than a month or two. Oh, so I'm going to make a motion with the change of chairman appointed by the committee itself to accept these committee guidelines as guidelines that are put in place to help direct the soldier memorial committee. I would second it with the more information could be added. Yeah, guidelines could be added. Absolutely. You can amend it. I just don't want the scope to be expanded. Yeah, it's got to be narrow and scope. And that way the time limit will be narrow. My only thing is that perhaps we should, I'm worried if you have 10 members, if you have a chairman appointed by the commissioners court, and then 10 members, that makes 11. If you just have 10, you could have a tie vote of five to five or a split recommendation I don't know if you want to have I don't know can't believe I'm saying that's you want to have Judd Horn and point three people that way it makes it in the odd number We're be 11 instead of ten I personally think ten is fine I don't think they'll be that poor off if they do You don't think this thing will be polarizing No, I don't I think it'd be okay. You don't think I'll be split down the middle They can present my prayer, but everything they do is coming back to this body for a decision anywhere. So, you know, if they are split down the middle, they can present both points of view. And ultimately, we make a decision at that point. And again, these are guidelines. The committee might get in there and expand some of the guidelines as long as they keep us up to date that they're not going far afew or a few and that's why I think it's important that the chairman would give a report to the commissioners court on where they are, how many meetings they've had and not give us the direction they're going but at least some options that they may be looking at. Okay, we have a motion for acceptance of these committee guidelines with the amended portion about the chairman being appointed by commissioners. Court, sir, second to the motion. I think the commission and Mitchell use seconded the motion. I'm further discussion. Here none on favor. Please say aye. Aye, Opposed, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye last last last session that we said if you're interested in serving that you needed I did I know that I did that you need to go on the site for committees on our website and it has an application form that you can fill out. That's a problem for you contact age of the court she can help you I'm gonna go ahead today and Mr. Hutzwood has filled out the forms and so he's gonna be my first appointment I'll second that if you want that's a motion. Thank you Bobby Mitchell's seconded We're gonna vote on these I guess. We need to vote on it. We don't need to vote on it. That will be my appointment and I'll have another one for you. I'm going to go ahead and point the second person too because I have his paperwork and that's my Cochrane. Cochrane. I have paperwork on both of those gentlemen. I don't know how paperwork will mine, but I'll get paperwork. And you're going to get paperwork, so we'll be posting this again to get the other appointments. Okay. Thank you everybody. All right. Moving on to item 5A, which is approval of the bill report payments from CSCD Community Corrections TIP shares training shares forfeiture VIT interest and DA forfeiture funds are all presented for recording purposes only good morning James Wells Goring judge and commissioners. I'd ask approval the bills as presented with One addition and one deletion noted on separate page. That's all corrections I have. So moved. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose, aye. Motion is carried. 5B is approval of the Denton County Investment Report for the quarter ending September 30th, 2017. We have a motion by Commissioner Mitchell? Second. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman, hearing no questions on favor, please say aye. Aye, pose, aye, motion does carry. 5C is approval of the 2018 Dampen County Resolution for a participation in the state indigent defense grants program. No moved. Motion by Commissioner Coleman. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye, post, aye. Motion does carry. 7C is approval. Budget of the man request, one, I'm sorry, 1-0-0, 1-2-0 to reallocate county-wide ambulance funding in the amount of $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, $1,080,000. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose aye. Motion carries. 7B is approval of Budget Amendment Quest 100130 for radios and emergency services in the amount $11,696. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, say goodbye Commissioner Eads. On favor, please say aye. Aye, post, aye. Motion carries. 7C is approval of budget amount, cost 100140 for vehicle maintenance to transfer funds from shops. I can't get it out today. Shop supplies to shop tools and equipment in the amount of $6,000. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye, post, aye, name. Motion carries. 7D is approval. Budget of Madden request 1-0, 0150 to increase revenues. And roll over, unexpended funds from the fiscal year 2017 into fiscal year 2018 for various operating line-dynast for Texas Veterans Commission Treatment Court, the grant in the amount of $48,762. I'm going to approve. Motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. On favor, please say aye Aye post-cning motion to carry seven e is approval budget demand request 100160 for computer equipment in the jail health department in the matter 20,970 dollars motion by Commissioner Mitchell Seconded by Commissioner Eads hearing Here are no questions. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, post, aye. Motion carries. 8A is approval of Downgrade in slot number 25. This is contract administrator and facilities from the pay grade 11 to pay grade 10. Are there any questions on this issue? Do we have a motion? Motion by Commissioner Eads. Seconded by Commissioner Marchand here no questions all in favor please say aye aye post-cenaing motion carries we're going to take 10 a and b together 10 a is appropriate I'll ask if you could just hold those for a week oh you want them held both of them? Yes. Okay. No action on 10 A or B. 12 A is approval of the organized prime drug enforcement task force agreement for fiscal year 2018 for the use of the state or local overtime and authorized expense strategic initiative program. That's a mouthful. They have a motion by Commissioner Mitchell, back and then by Commissioner Eads. Hearing no questions on favor, please say aye. Aye. Madame Senailles. Motion does carry 13 a. As approval of the Interlocal Corporation of Grimmings for Public Safety Application Support and Maintenance with the Aubrey ISD Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, double-lope police department, Justin volunteer fire departmentlope police department, just to involuntary fire department, senior police department. The approval. Once you're met, Commissioner Marchin, seconded by Commissioner Eads, hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, C. N. Motion does carry. 14C is approval, resolution by Denny County, Texas, to consent to the transfer and resale a real property to the city of corn, Texas as requested by Denny and penance school district, the record owner of the property with that certain track, the real property to be sold described as lot 29b, it's 0.404, for acre lot. You have good backup on this and the necessity. I'm gonna move for approval. Thank you. Back in the by commissioner Coleman, are there any questions or comments? Here none on favor, please say aye. Aye, pose aye. Motion does carry. 14D is approval of acceptance of a quick claim deed from ABBA Bernice Jones to Denton County, Texas for Bernice Jones Road located in Denton County Commissioner for Prison 4. Motion by Commissioner Eads. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Hearing no questions, so on favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Post-signing. Motion to Security. We need to go back to our resolutions for We have some retirees Retires couldn't be with us today, but we still want to do it run you want to read that one And why should pass this one down to Andy okay three a is the provable resolution recognizing Chris Herod's retirement. You've got Chris Herod, right? Yes, okay. Whereas Chris Herod began his career as an adult probation officer and retire on October 31, 2017. After a continuous 18 years of dedicated service to Denton County Community Supervision and Corrections Division, and Horace Chris started his career with Denton County in 1993 and left for a short period of time. After his return, he was the backbone of a department's intake unit during most of his career and was always polite, respectful and professional. And Horace Chris was the first point of contact for thousands of defendants and was consistently recognized for his patients in thorough explanation of the conditions and procedures of probation, allowing probationers to begin their supervision on solid footing. And Horace Chris was known for his excellent service as he trained many new workers and what's the spokesperson and main problem solver for the intake unit and where as Chris Chris's devotion to assisting his co-workers was greatly appreciated and respected by his fellow colleagues of Denton County and he would be greatly missed. Now therefore be it resolved. The Denton County Commission's Court, Denton County does hereby extend to Chris Herd, our sincere and grateful appreciation for his dedicated service to Denton County. We congratulate Chris on his well-earned retirement, extend our best wishes to him for continued success, happiness and good health and years to come, made by a motion of myself. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Marchant, seconded by Commissioner Eads. On the favor of the say aye. Aye. I, post a name. Motion does carry unanimously. And we wish them a happy retirement. 3B is a proof of a resolution recognizing Yolanda Baker's retirement. Commissioner Mitchell. Whereas Yolanda Baker's retirement. Commissioner Mitchell. Whereas Yolanda Baker began her career with the DIN County District Attorney's Office on October 10, 2001, and she will retire on November 3, 2017, after 17 years of dedicated service with DIN County. Whereas doing her time with the District Attorney's Office, Yolanda was known for outstanding performance and professionalism and a willingness to stay late to help her couldn't team finish the day's work on behalf of the citizens of Den County. And whereas Yolanda always worked toward making the lives of her prosecutors easier by preparing all the cuts, paperwork ahead of time time and verified that they were correct. In doing so, Yolanda's effort ensured the smooth running of a felony court docket and jury trial. And whereas Yolanda's happy disposition and general can't hutt miss, always bright and her co-workers moved, and her early morning inspirational emails to the office will be missed. And whereas Yolanda's dedication and devotion to the DIN County District Attorney's Office and the citizen of DIN County is greatly appreciated. We wish her well in her retirement in California. And we hope she enjoys the time she will spend there with her family in her new condo. Now therefore, it'd be to resolve the DIN County Commissioner's Court. DIN County, Texas does hereby extend to Yolanda Baker, a sincere and grateful appreciation for her dedicated service to DIN County. We congratulate Yolanda on her well-earned retirement and extend our best wishes to her for continued success, happiness and good health in the years to come. Done and opened court this 31st day of October, by motion made by myself. Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, pose, aye, aye. Motion to scary unanimously. Retiring to a condo in California, then sound too bad, does it? Three C's are approval of a resolution recognizing Sue Birch's, I'm sorry, Sue Bush's retirement in Commissioner Eads. Thank you, judges. This is a resolution honoring Pamela Sue Bush for 13 years of service to Ditton County. The Ditton County Commission's Court, Ditton County, Texas, during a regular session on the 31st day of October 2017, considered the following resolution. Whereas Sue Bush, senior clerk in the Dittany County Tax Assessor Collector Office retired on October 13th, 2017, after 13 years of service. And whereas during this time, Sue faithfully discharged her duties including serving citizens in multiple office locations, working hard to provide diligent and consistent service, while assisting in a supervision of most of the locations. And whereas Sue sought to make the Texas Sector Collector Office a leader in providing excellent customer service, her sweet attitude and cons smile, along with her desire to the best for our citizens, will be missed. Whereas Sue plans to spend retirement with family, friends, traveling and taking well deserved time for rest and relaxation. It requires the staff and administrators of the Texas Asher Collector's Office are grateful to Sue for her commitment to public service during her career in junior but didn't county. Now therefore be resolved the Ditton County Commissioner's Court didn't county. Now therefore be it resolved, the didn't county commissioners court didn't county, Texas does hereby extend to Sue Bush, our sincere and grateful appreciation for her dedicated service to didn't county. We congratulate Sue on her well-owned retirement and extend our best wishes to her for continued success, happiness and good health in the years to come. Done an open court this 31st day of October upon a motion by myself. Second, thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Ead, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, post a name. Motion does carry unanimously. We wish all of our retirees happy retirement. Thank you very much for your service. Members, I don't have a need to go into executive session at 50 in the A. Do you need to just hang your hand? Okay, so there'll be no action on 15 A today. With that we're adjourned everybody have a great day. Be safe out there. It's Halloween. Look out for the goblin.