Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please, the court, I'd like to begin this morning with just a moment of silence. And we can each pray in our own way for everything that's gone on the past two weeks and the tragedy in all the lives that have been touched. And I've dealt with some of that and it's pretty tragic. So at the end of that minute, in honor of those officers and civilians how close was the prayer was break I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the Father, we come before you this morning with heavy hearts. Father, there is a tragedy that has occurred in our nation. Father, we're divided. But yet you created each and every one of us, Father, and we should be united. Father, I pray for peace. I pray for comfort for those families who have lost loved ones. I pray for those who had to deal with counseling, those who lost loved ones. I pray for those officers' families and the extended families and the officers who had to clean up father. I pray especially for Don who had to go and get the body cameras off of them. Those men and father. especially for Don who had to go and get the body cameras off them. Those of you who thought it. Father were all struggling. We feel the pain and we feel the hurt. God, I hope that this evil, that his hate that has invaded our country will be quashed. That we will see what it has done and that we will move forward in peace and in love and listening and dialogue to each and every person here. Father, you gave us two years and one mouth. Let us listen intently, Father. Let us be slow to speak and listen, Father, to our brothers, our fellow Americans. That's what's made this country great. That's what's made this country great. That's what's made us great. Father, we're grateful for this court, we're grateful for these people who serve, who serve in honor of you and in honor of the citizens of Benton County. We pray that you will be with them today as the matters come before this court that they will be with them today. As the matters come before this court, that they will make the decisions that you would have them make, Father. Bless them and keep them and above all God bless America. In Jesus' name with prayer. I'm going to go to the United States of America and to the Republic of which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas by pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God. One individual. Thank you gentlemen. Item one is for public input for items not listed on the agenda. There's any member of the public that would like to address commissioners court. The acid to please complete a public comment form on the veil bomb side table. I want to remind everyone to please turn off your cell phones, pages, any electronic device that might be disruptive. I have something that I want to share with you that we just learned about and there wasn't time to post this on the agenda, but this is an email from City of Denton, Lindsey Baker, who's the International Relations Public Information Officer. So, as a City of Denton is facilitating and per congressman Burgess and Commissioner Eads request AT&T it can wait texting and driving simulator event on Thursday July 14th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m The event will take place on the east side of the courthouse on the square in three parking spaces That would they will cone off early in the morning. They will need to access two of the electrical outlets on the square in three parking spaces that they will cone off early in the morning. They will need to access two of the electrical outlets on the corner where it will be staged. The Mercedes-Van simulator will be staged in the parking spots along with a tent and table setup. The City of Denton will provide one police officer to participate in the event with AT&T representatives. You are welcome to provide county presence if interested as we discuss this event. Well, it was originally planned with the Dallas Police Department, but due to recent events there, they had to cancel this, bring up the simulator and providing this opportunity. Please let us know if you have any questions and thank you for your help. Public is invited. And I'll let everybody know. Okay, we have one public comment formed. Mr. Willie Hedsmith. Mr. Hedsmith, good morning. Morning, Mr. Judge, I'm Willie to have to go to the next floor. I'm going to have to go to the next floor. I'm going to have to go to the next floor. I'm going to have to go to the next floor. I'm going to have to go to the next floor. I'm going to have to go to the next floor. Okay, Lily, I'll give you your three minutes. Thank you. Thank you. My phone. I want to thank the guys. They're the ones who I called and got on the right track. They were very, as I say, very frank. And they just told me like it was. And it was good. Now, what that did to me when I talked to these commissioners about how they saw me when I present my issues. What it did for me was that God was able to show me what I looked like as I told you. Now the events's happened in these last few days, I've had to reflect again on myself. And he told me the same kind of thing. He said, you have to do what you're supposed to do. You can't worry about what everybody else is doing. So with the commissioners, you make your decisions. You make them on what you think is right. I have to quit saying to you, it's wrong in that that's okay, but don't say you're wrong. Just your issue is different than mine. What would this, this, this situation has happened in Dallas in the last few days? I just had to regroup again. And let me just share with you where I determined all lives matter. Now I mean they just do. All lives matter, we have to, I have to quit pointing at yours don't or yours has got a problem and you, or your organization has one. And that's not the issue. Our lives matter. So that, that filters down to me saying then, okay, then what do I do? Well, be kind to one another. What it's hard sometimes. Some of y'all cut me off when I drive. I'm gonna see if I see that. And God said, he said, let it go. You're going to get there. Just let it go. My granddaughter blessed her heart, made all A's in one C. He said, quick, focus on on the C. Tell her you did good, thank goodness you made all the B's. It's so hard for me to do. In fact, I didn't. I focused on the bees. So hard for me to do. In fact, I didn't. I focused on the thing. So when that vein I want to talk to you about some concerns that I have and they're just my concerns. You vote your conscious which I know you're going to do. We just need to be kind to one another. So I think we ought to you're looking to work to have meetings in the evenings because more people can come. My thought. Secondly, you need to revisit that thought about not letting me show those videos because county business is I'm in the county and I have some business that should apply. That's my thought on those two issues. Now lastly, in closing, don't tell Cheryl that I said this. I know Teresa's here, she'll be telling her. These assistants, these assistants, they can't hold water, but anyway, I say don't tell. I don't need to say this ugly, but I don't know any of the way you say it. She shouldn't have yelled at me and threw back to me what I asked for and told me to get out of our office like that. They're y'all no sure. She's going to get me. No, she didn't do that. I just want to mention how you need assistance. Kate? Kate? Katie or Kate? Kate? Theresa and Cheryl, they're really neat people. And I think they need to be recognized sometimes, even though I give them a hard time. And thank you, Judge. Thank you, Alicia. All right, thank you, Willie. Members, I'd like to now go to agenda item 3A, which is approval of a resolution, recognizing Rebecca Bady's retirement and Rebecca come on up to the podium please. Good morning and you brought family members with you would you please introduce who you have with you. I have my daughter Kat and her son Gabriel. My daughter-in-law, Caitlin, my son Alan, and his son Victor, girlfriend Lisa, Alan, and Kat used to work at the jail also. Great, great. I've asked Commissioner Coleman to read your resolution. Thank you. Please join me in recognizing Officer Baty for her 18 years of service to Denton County. The Denton County Commissioner's Court during a regular session on the 12th day of July, 2016 considered the following. Whereas Officer Baty, detention officer to, began her career with the Sheriff's Office in February of 1998. And shall retire on July 12, 2016 after an 18th career with Ditton County and whereas during her service to Ditton County she received the level of field training officer T-close certified instructor, Master Jellor and was also sworn in as a deputy. In addition she continued her training to achieve the advanced knowledge of her job and whereas throughout her time time with the Denton County SO, she was highly respected for her ability to interact with other officers under a command. And whereas she faithfully and diligently discharged the duties and obligations of the offices entrusted to her and worked well with their co-workers and implemented the policies of the Sheriff's Office in an honorable and responsible manner. With diligence and diligence for safety and security of the families and citizens of Denton County. And whereas the citizens of Denton County are grateful to her for entering the call to service, for her commitment to duty and for the service she rendered during her law enforcement career with Denton County. Now therefore be it resolved that the Denton County Commission report that hereby recognizing extend to officer Badey are sincere and grateful appreciation for her service to Denton County Commissioner's Court does hereby recognize and extend to Officer Bailey, our sincere and grateful appreciation for her service to Denton County. We congratulate her on her well earned retirement, extend our best wishes for her continued success, happiness and good health in the years to come, and I so move. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Marchandt. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, singing. Motion does carry unanimously. Applause. And let's you like to say something. Well, we want to wish you a happy retirement. Thank you for your many years of service. And I'm so glad that your family members and friends can join you here today. Thank you for being here. Okay. Members, I'd like to jump to item 14B on the agenda. 14B is approval of a discussion of report from the Carriva South of Bragan Allen on the collection history for Denton County and approval of one exemption from bidding for a delinquent tax collection services pursuant to the Texas local government code Section 262.024A4 and two contract for the collection of del property touches between Denton County and Repair is out the Selka, Bragan Allen. I believe we have your PowerPoint set up, you know? Okay. Judge? Yes, go ahead. I don't know how you want to handle this. I, in deference to Andy. Andy wanted to table this so he could be here for this discussion. Okay, well he's got a presentation to do today just a history of how things are going basically and then we can vote on the other part next week if you want to. Okay, and I have some questions. All right. Yeah, if you'd like to come forward and make your presentation, we appreciate your I want to thank Judge Horn for allowing me to visit with the court this morning. For the record, my name is Gil Bragg and I am a partner in the law firm of a crew of a Selka Bragg and Allen in Round Rock, Texas. Since 1985, it has been the privilege of our firm, the Represent Denton County as your delinquent tax collection attorneys. And it's been my privilege to be the managing partner for Denton County, our program in Denton County for the past 31 years. As you know, we have a local staff that is located in the Marion-Jimhorn Government Center where I am assisted by more employees and my Denton Area manager is Brittany Lopez who is with me this morning and I think all of you know her. She has been with me for ten years and provides a wonderful leadership to the local staff. In 1985, the tax office was in the building on the Kinney Street that's now a parking lot. But when we were hired in 1985, one of the conditions of the contract was that we would have one employee on-site to provide assistance to taxpayers that came into the tax office. Today the tax office is in the Marion-Jimhorn Government Center, which is an excellent facility and where we have four employees. I wanted to mention to the court a recent change that has occurred. Tax collector Michelle French has rearranged facts she's doing lots of things in the tax office but one of the things that she did was she rearranged the location of her office and that resulted in the relocation of our office so we are in a little bit larger area very very nice and we're very excited about it we had the opportunity to kind of change up the way we are set up and with a little larger space and I got the ladies new furniture they were very very pleased after so many years of the old stuff to get the new stuff. Even though that, furnishing that room was part of the original contract. Several years ago, that was, there was a modification put in where we actually reimbursed the county for being in the tax office and having access to the records and so on and so forth. For that convenience we reimburse the county $2,500 a month. That's basically $30,000 a year and y'all can do the math as to what that has been over the years. But even though we've had changes over the years, one of the things that has not changed is our commitment to provide the very best delinquent tax collection services to Denton County and also the very best in legal advice as we provide general counsel services to tax collector, French and her staff. And speaking to that, some two and a half years ago, I added two of my partners, who because of previous commitments were unable to be here this morning, but I think you have probably met them. One is Matthew Tepper and the other is Craig Morgan and they are in Denton quite often as they continue not only what I do in the collection aspect of it, but providing advice to Mrs. French as the myriad questions that have multiplied over the years with some of the complexities of the come around with all kinds of issues when you are the tax collector for multiple jurisdictions and you have questions about tax rates calculation and effective tax rates and all those sorts of things that come along. We provide those services to the tax office. You're about to begin a season of meetings and hearings that will result in the adoption of a budget for the upcoming fiscal year and you will set the tax rate for the 2016 tax year. This morning I want to spend a few minutes reviewing your tax collection history. I'm going to show you the most recent five-year history of both current and the lengthment tax collection which paints an excellent picture of your ability to collect the taxes that are living. I have provided each one of you with a copy of my remarks which I can assure you I'm not going to read. With that is for your reference and also the charts that are presented will be there and you can just have that for your future reference and the conclusion of my remarks I'd be glad to answer any questions. If you'll look, you can either look at the charts I gave you, you can look at the screen, but we're starting with chart one and I'm gonna just kind of reveal this a little bit at a time so we won't be confused by there's a lot of numbers up here but I just want to take this step by step to understand the format that we're using. So we're going to be looking at the fiscal year on the left hand column, the next column is the tax year. So bringing that up to date, the most recent year there at the bottom that I have offset, the fiscal year 2016, the most recent tax year, the 2015 taxes were just turned over to our office for collection on July 1st. But if you look at what the levy has done each of those years, you can see the levy has increased from 142,000 all the way up to 183 million. And obviously that's the result of Denton being a growing and prosperous county. Now the tax office has until July the first following the tax year to collect those taxes on their own before they're turned over to us and then the next column shows what's actually collected. So you can see just from comparing those two columns that what's actually turned over to us for collection is a very, very small percentage of your original levy. In fact, you can see it looks to me like the tax office is trying to put us out of business because for the most recent, the current year tax that's down there at the bottom, that 2015 tax, the tax office actually collected 99.20% of the living before we ever got involved. And again, if you can look at the history, it has increased each year. But that remaining portion does need to be collected. And so what I have done in the next column is show what was remaining after one year of collection activity. And the next column shows that percentage. So we have gone anywhere from, if you look back, in 2010 tax year, the percentage of turnover collected during that first year was 73.49%. Obviously, the numbers changed due to various circumstances, but our most recent year, in June 30th of 2016, we had collected 77.70%. And I do want to stress that number has not been adjusted for anything. That's just the raw number that's on the tax roll. If you look at what the outstanding balance is just for the most recent five years, you can compare the fact that 7 million 622,000 was turned over to us to collect the balance of that is 894,000 meaning that we have collected 88 average of 88.27% of everything that's been turned over to us in the last five years. On top of that, of course, is your penalty an interest? These numbers are only base tax numbers. And you can see the current year for which we have no results because we just got them 11 days ago. Any questions on chart one before I go to chart two? Leave note. On chart two, really you have the basic information that I have just gone over, but I want you to focus at the far right hand column. All those things on chart two are basically the same as on chart one. But that last column there compares the total collections of taxes during your fiscal year and you compare that number to what the original levy was. Now when I say the total collection of taxes, the tax office collects things other than taxes. They collect fees for actually collecting for other jurisdictions. They collect tax certificate fees. They collect hot check fees. So there is money that comes into the tax office that's not tax money. I backed all that out. All you have here in this column that says total collections is tax money that's not tax money. I backed all that out. All you have here in this column that says total collections is tax money that comes in. So this is what you need to know for your budget discussions. You have a history and I could have gone back 15 years, but I figured you really didn't care to go back that far. But whatever your levy is, you're going to collect dollars, not the same dollars, because there's lots of things going on, lots of moving part, but your gross dollars collected at the end of your fiscal year will be more than what the original billing was. And so you can just look at even the current year that we don't even have a full year. Look with me down at the bottom line going across for your 2015 tax year. That shows that in October of 2015, your tax office actually mailed statements for 183,877,972 dollars. That was what the original tax billing was. And as at the end of June, nine months into your fiscal year, you had already collected 100% of that. You had collected $187,210,044. Again, not the same dollars which you had collected dollars, and they spend real good. So that's the point of that chart. Any questions on chart two? Moving on to chart three, not only are we emphasizing the current near collections, we continue to work on the delinquent collections. Because once we have done our initial contacting the taxpayers and giving them the opportunity to pay, then we have to deal with things like lawsuits and over 65 deferrals and pay out agreements and all that sort of thing, which is the actual business of what we do. And that does result in an overall reduction of the tax role and if you look at that chart 3 again we've got our basic tax years the this cumulative total is the July the first total including the current year that's everything that was delinquent for the current year so I want us to look at the last two years, the 2014 and the 2015. So if you look at what the total was on June 30th for the 2014 tax year, at the end of one year, that amount had dropped to 1,500,000. So basically the entire tax roll we were able to reduce by 57.86% in one year. And I'm going to show you a chart in just a second that shows you where those taxes are. If you go back to the first chart you don't have to but if you add the first chart you don't have to but if you add to that $1,550,000, $1,120,000, that is the amount of 2014 and prior years that remained a link went on June 30th of this year. If you add that $1,400,000 that I showed you on the first chart which is the current year turnover, that's where you get the bottom line, 3 million, 28,701. And then the reason there's no activity for those next two is because we just 11 days into the year. So the next two charts are going to show you how the tax role is distributed. If you go to chart 4, you basically have two aspirin tablets there to look at. The one at the top shows what was delinquent for 2014 and prior years as of June the 30th of 2015. That was $3,678,949. After a year of collection activity, you see 57.68 percent collected. What remained uncollected, very, very small percentages, some of it is about the red triangle there is what is suits and judgments that's actually stuff that's going on in the court. That blue section, 12% is over 65 deferrals. Then you have a little sliver of bankruptcy, a little sliver that's tied up in a praise all district litigation, homestead payment plans. That little section right here, when you hear me talk about over 65 deferral, bankruptcies, appraisal district litigation, and homestead payment plans, we are legally prohibited from going after those taxes. They are legally uncollectable as long as they remain in their category. Now obviously things happen and taxes will drop out of that category and they will fall into the next category which is that research and progress. If you take the amount that was paid in this most recent 12th month period, if you remove the green part of that aspirin tablet there, that circle, If you remove the green part of that aspirin tablet there, that circle, you get one million $550,000, $120. If you take the paid sale. So on June the 30th, that's what remained of the 2014 and prior years. And again, if you look at where those taxes are distributed between the over 65 bankruptcy, appraisal district litigation, and homestead payment plans, basically you're looking at 60 percent of that amount is legally uncollectable. People in those categories have legal protections from enforced collection. Now they can still voluntarily pay, and obviously obviously some people if you're in a bankruptcy plan There's there are going to be payments made, but we can't force them to pay more than what the bankruptcy court has allowed at that particular time I'm going to then go to chart five Which is the delinquency distribution as of June the 30th of 2016. If you add the most recent year that was turned over, the me the most significant thing is that 20% of your role right now is an over 65 deferrals, 20% of the delinquents. Then you have bankruptcy, appraisal district litigation, and homestead payment plan. So basically when you add all that together, you've basically got a third of your role that is uncollectable. And the rest of it, we will continue to work on and collect it for you. I'll be glad to answer any of your questions. The names of court have questions. Fine, did you have questions? It was well. It's more not for Mr. Bragg because I always have faith and trust that you knew what you were doing. I just want to ask about the process and hold up the government code that has to do with the idea of exemption and why a person is exempt and and and courted to that you did section 262 is that right 24 that we're using the number four a personal professional service is that correct that's correct and on this particular contract when is it up is it is it this this year yes it is up next month August the 31st August 30 and how long is that contract for that contract had an original Three month or three year term with the renewal for an additional three years and so we're at the very end of that for the tax contract So we're we're at renewal of the three years The end of the renewal So. No, right. We've already been in the end of the renewal. So six years from the original contract. When is the last time that we went out for a bid on these types of services? For the tax attorney, it has been since 2004. We did an RFP and we did go back and look at our records I don't know that we did one before then I'm not sure we may have done some my record I just remember that I've never done that since I've been yeah it's been a long time since we've done it on that one the length the length of the tax attorney, we've done several, starting in 2002, and then we did one in 2008 and one in 2013. I know this, this, this had come up when we were talking about our transportation consulting and about how many years that we had had Him on a personal service. I believe it was a personal service contract. Was he exempt under that? profession service professional service under the procurement code of procurement Exemptions under the government code. It was a different exemption because I had engineer in it. Got it. OK. And I'm doing this more for my education. Right. And I can do anything. Can you help me with understanding whenever we sign a new contract every three years, do the terms that contract change? Are they pretty static? They're pretty static because it is set by statute the services they provide. So unless the statute changes, we really don't have any changes. And we have done an amendment in the last few years due to a change. a few years due to a change. For example, if I may say that several years ago, the legislature passed a law that allowed for the early turnover of business personal property. The way our contract works, the fee is 20 percent, which is passed on to the taxpayer. So the county does not owe us any money. At the time that the tax payer pays his bill, you get the tax, the penalty and interest, then our fee is added on top of that. And we all have always, and I think it's part of the contract, but it certainly is part of the practice, if there is something that happens, for example, in bankruptcy, we don't always get our fee. If we don't get our fee, then we don't charge you the fee. So this is a net zero contract in the county. It cost you nothing. Not only does it not cost you anything, I pay you $2,500 a month for the privilege of actually doing the work. But what was added by the legislature was that that fee could be added, and again, sometimes this is a little bit of inside baseball stuff we talked about here, that fee can only be added after July 1st. And last there is a lawsuit, and that's a whole another issue. But what the legislature said was you can add it with 60 days after the delinquency date, the delinquency date being February the 1st, for business personal property if you have a contract that does that and if notices have been sent out. So several years ago, for example, and again to your point has the contract ever changed? Yes, that was a major change. So we now collect, starting, I think the tax office sends out notices in February on the business personal property and other personal property, but quite frankly, what you're looking at is the larger numbers of the business personal property. And then in in April we start working on those. Yeah, let me ask you this. Let's say, and again, this is for my information and because I know that, and I by no means am I speaking at all for Commissioner Eads. Please don't understand that that's not where it's coming from. But so what you're saying is that let's say the court went out for an RFP on this professional service that the statutes themselves limit the contract on what actually can be bid or can be the services that can be provided within the RFP. Am I saying that wrong? The statutes that govern tax collection in that process process that is our scope of work. That is the scope of that. So the fee itself is set by the state so they couldn't go maximum if they go below that. In other words if the state says. I don't think so. I don't think so. Can they to get the contract can they go anywhere below that? I'm gonna let James enter that because I really don't Leave it's up to 20% up to so it could fluctuate either we're Between I'm really need to check that for sure. Okay. I don't mind answering the question. No, yes. Certainly a firm could go below 20%. But again, I think I have emphasized the services that are provided and the fact that Denton County turns over to S. Fewer dollars every year and has consistently. So again, from the prospect of being a vendor, when I'm confronted, and I wouldn't think this would have applied to most anybody, when I am looking at the fact that I have declining sources of revenue, and I want to maintain the levels of service, it would not be proven for me to reduce my fee, particularly when it doesn't cost my client anything. Yeah, I understand that. But yeah, I can certainly, someone, you know, competing, you know, might come in to say, well, we'll do it for 19 percent or we'll do it for 18 percent, which would throw the tax office into a tizzy because everybody's charging 20 percent and then, you know, you'd have some jurisdictions. And that's not my point. We've got 20% of the tax payer. And that's not my point. It's close to the tax payer. Right, not 20% of the charge. Yeah, and that's not my point. And my questions are not directed as a criticism of you, or the company that you reflect. It's a general understanding on my part of how that process works. And or any other person's criticism of continually to renew a professional service year after year after year without going to an RFP and it begs to question a big question mark. Why, if they're, if they're, if the institution or your business is government, that means regulated by statute, regulated by law, what's the advantage to the county forever going out for another RFP if they're satisfied with what they have? The answer to that is none at all. Well of course you would say that but the here's this point that I don't want to get lost on on the court that when you're hiring attorney when you yourself when you go hire an attorney to represent, you pick out the person that you personally choose or that you are the most comfortable with, that you want to be your attorney. And even though this is a business and even though we are collecting dollars, there is an attorney-client relationship of a longstanding. And that confidence that when the tax collector or the chief deputy tax collector or anybody else in the tax office gets into a, I mean, let me just use the example because you were talking about the statute and the services and all that kind of stuff. But when you get things like you have cities and so on that they're gonna do PIDS, are they gonna have omitted taxes? You're gonna have sections of anxed part of a city that was left off of the appraisal district role, and all that gets dumped into the tax collector's lap. And then she's saying, what do I do with this? You know, I don't think this was covered in the last course that I went to. She's picking up the phone and she's calling my office and talking to either myself or Mr. Tepper or Mr. Morgan and saying, what is your advice to do that? And that is the sort of thing that you cannot shift out in an RFP process because everybody is going to come forth with letters of recommendation from you know they're going to bring 15 letters from their clients saying well we like our guy and I would hope that if I was in a competitive process that I would have the same thing from my client. Thank you and again sir that was by no means my line of questioning has anything to do with the criticism of you and your company because I think you've done a fine job. It's more of an education process for me to answer those questions that other people may pose to me of why differentiation. Like I had the same question about the, when we were talking about the issue with, ITS, ITS. And why we weren't doing that. I wanna know the difference. And that you said was because of engineering services that they provided was a different statute. The thing with exemptions is commissioners court or any government agency can make a decision on whether or not to issue an RFP, like on the professional services for engineers and architects, it cannot be done based on BIDS. You're competing the qualifications and the services they provide. Same with any of the other services that we've sent through Commissioner's Court. A lot of times they can be exempt but will do an RFP to compete, not just price but also qualifications, experience, methodology, all those other things. So it is a decision on how you want to move forward on that contract. On the two that are before you today, they are, as Mr. Bragg said, they are no county funds expended. The fees added to it. So when we look at 262 of the government code for county purchasing, we're not expending county funds. The professional service exemption that we're taking and that discretionary exemption covers us just to be sure, but technically we're not expending county funds over 50,000 that triggers the bidding requirement. It's a decision on how you want to contract. Great thanks. This is you know I hate to reflect back to when I was but when I was a county judge every time I sat in that seat it was progressive revelation and so it was only revealed to me as I needed it and so the question was asked and so I needed some clarification on it and I appreciate both of you giving that clarification but in difference to again like I said at the beginning, I know that Andy had some questions as well and in the difference to that, I would, you know, please ask the table to vote itself not to report. I mean, I think I can make a motion to approve the report without making a motion to go to the bed. I appreciate your questions. You know, Bob always gives me a hard time for having a long memory. But from what I understand, the tax contract, I don't believe it's been bid in like 30 years. And from what I understand. And let me correct that. I'm sorry. And I did tell you that earlier and then I said 2004. We've had difficulty finding in some of our records, our piece because it, you know, we've closed out files. But my staff has emailed me that we did one in 2004 in 1998. So we have done our piece for those. Okay. I apologize for that error. But I wanted to clarify the difference between this and our transportation consultant is that this is statutory and I don't want to disagree with Mr. Bragg because I know he's super sharp and I used to work with Richard one of the fellows who also does this or from what I understand the since it's statutory the fees are fixed and that that's why it was more available to be an RFP which is kind of what happened and in 2011 we bid the fees and funds and that was an RFP and then we switched over right state coast we had to be there well it was an RFP and then do the the process and you know there was conflicts between the commissioners for and staff recommendations. They then exempted it from the RFP and went to an RFQ. But the difference is there's not a statute governing transportation contracts. So to me I always thought that was a good, that was something I thought would be good to bed because there's a white law firm, there's a gazillion millions of them out there and you always want to see what you can get, see if you can get something bigger and better but the fees for tax collectors are regulated. And also I wanted to make a clarification, I'm sure Mr. Bragg agrees with this but your paying is $2,500 for rent, not a $2,500 kickback, right? Absolutely. You said you were paying us $2,500 for the right to collect taxes. No, that was... That was... What time? Yeah. So you're paying us $2,500 for rent, so that you can have an office over at the tax office. He says so. Well, and that's where the constituents can come to. And along with that, the long with that is the fact that we are hooked up to the system. When someone calls our office, and let me, again, the little bit of inside baseball, when somebody calls our office and is talking about county taxes, if they owe taxes to somebody we don't represent, we tell them that. You know, we say, okay, there's XYZ City or there's XYZ School District, you're going to owe you owe these county taxes, but you owe these also. And even though I'm not getting the pay to do that, I feel like it's only fair to the taxpayer to not blindside them because the county tax bill is off in this right at most. So they come in and pay ours and all of a sudden the way they get hit with gas. So that didn't that didn't that student of county government for a long time I know that there's several attorney general opinions and say that you can't rebate these back to the county. Well, we certainly aren't doing that. I just wanted to clarify that you weren't rebate fees back to the county. Well, we certainly aren't doing that. I just wanted to clarify that you weren't paying us for the right collection. No, no, I didn't. And I heard that you were paying rent in the office. Yes, Commissioner, I do acknowledge that I miss both the guy. I appreciate your counsel on that. I just was kind of in one hand. All right. Anyway, so let's put, okay. I don't have the questions concerning the report. Let's go ahead and approve the report and we'll hold the rest of it for next week and when Commissioner Eads is back. That okay? No, I didn't see that. Okay. I didn't see that. We have a public comment form here from Mark Burrows and Greg Sacco that wanted to address both. Now please come up to the mic. I did get it and I just didn't see it. Howdy folks. I appreciate being here and I also appreciate you moving it up to the front of the agenda very much so. And my points that I want to make And my points that I want to make primarily go to the ultimate question qualifications because I know you've gone to CURRQ also. My request would be that in the interest of transparency and to allow for those differences to be highlighted, it's fair and reasonable to go from time to time out to the market place. And that's what we would ask. We're a holy local firm that does tax. That's our primary business. We're the only one in this county that is local firm that does primarily tax. And so we would like to have that chance for you to shop local and keep the dollars local from one of the differences. But that's up for you to decide on your approach. And we've been doing it for, frankly, since 1982, since I became an attorney, I'm doing properties acts work. And so it's a very specialized business. There are very few attorneys that do it, as they're especially. And one happens to be here here so we'd request that you consider allowing us the chance to to say the local guides can do it. Okay. Members on 14 B you said you wanted to make a motion for the approval of the report. I will second that motion. Any further comments on the report? Here none. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Nene. Motion does carry. And we'll hold the rest of that for another posting. Does Andy also wish for 14C to be held for the fees and fines? Yes. Okay. So there'll be no action on the rest of 14 V or on 14 C today. We'll take that up. Okay. Thank you very much for being here. Let's go back all the way to item number two. Members item two is the consent agenda. Are there questions on the consent agenda? Do we have a motion for approval? Motion by Commissioner Marchant. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Cohn. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, say nay. Motion does carry. Consent agenda today consists of two a, which is approval of the ordermaking appointments. We have a promotion in the county clerk's office, a new hire in the district clerk's office, two new hires in the DA's office, promotion in the tax office, two new hires in the county jail, new hire in juvenile, post adjudication and one new hire in public health clinical. juvenile post adjudication and one new hire in public health clinical. 2B is approval of the Intra Department of Transistors, 2C is approval payroll. 2D is approval of specifications and authority to advertise for RFP 03162343 Medical Laboratory Services, jail medical public health, and appointment of the Valuation Committee to include the Laurel Pearl Wits, I guess it is. Deputy Director of juvenile probation, Juan Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Public Health, Doug Sanders, correctional health administrator. Two E is approval of specifications and authority to advertise for RP 03162342, Gen. Toral Services and Appointment of the Valuation Committee to include Stacey Dvorchef, Chief Deputy, Tax Office Larry Harbor, District Court Administrator, Chris Matheson, and Maintenance Project Coordinator, Public Facilities. Two F is approval of Budget Amendment Class 101 380 for various operating lie-down down, and various technology services budgets. In the amount of $38,401, 2G is approval of building use for custom, Octopia to use the Cortes on the square lawn on Friday, September 23, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. In Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for a family-friendly music festival with one stage, both phase on the East lawn. To H is approval of the film request by my Tupelo Entertainment, doing business as my entertainment, to film an episode of the travel channels Ghost Adventures at the Old Alton Bridge on July 16th through the 18th, 2016. That's interesting, isn't it? Kate, that's going to be shown that you were telling me if you would share that with us. Do you have an info handy? I'm going to be selling several different times in the agenda. Sorry to drop that on you. That's okay. Very different. I just thought it was interesting. It's too dull and dull. Oh, there's quite the ghost story. It's all lulled in the bridge. If you don't know the story. Yeah, this is the goat man at Old Brot mean. Yeah, at Old Brot and Bridge. Okay, so the episode synopsis is in this thrilling two-hour Halloween special. The Ghost Adventures crew hit the road in search of the darkest haunts in the most macabre settings. So they've chosen an old Alton Road as one of the bridges there. But it's currently the Ghost Adventures is currently the number one show on the travel channel and it has a potential of 97 million viewers in the US. And each episode airs 18 to 25 times. So this could have a lot of people. Sure, go ahead. You may be the goat man. They were talking with Cheryl about all the equipment and the various ghost things that they will bring into double for famous and more. They have any. We will have security down there. So everything that's really up and up. I just thought that was awfully interesting. Okay. Members item 3B is a everything. That's really good. The up and up. I just thought that was awfully interesting. Okay. Members, item 3B is approval of the County Judge to sign a certificate from early done higher education finance corporation education revenue bonds, responsive education solutions series 2015 A and 2015 B to approve the financing and the project is defined in the resolution solely for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of section 147 effort the internal revenue code Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman seconded by Commissioner Mitchell on favor please say aye Posting motion carries for a is public hearing The trunk can we do for see I've got constituents here from the Chair. Oh, sure, I'm sorry. 2C and 4C. You bet. We'll go to 4C, which is public hearing to discuss the proposed traffic regulation and special district within the boundaries of O-Point Water Control and improvement district number two, Wellington Trace, located in kind of Commissioner Pristin-Claude. Moved open the public hearing. Thank you. We have a motion to open the public hearing by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, please say nay. Motion goes carry. Some representatives here from all of the way. Yes. Good morning. Thank you for waiting. If you'd introduce yourself, please. Your honor, my name is Jonathan Pink. I'm with the law from the Crawford and Jordan and we represent Oak Point a lot of control improvement district number two Also in the core of the Susie-Shondale who is not only a resident of the district You could stand up Susie, but is also a member of our board of directors Okay, and then also we have John Clyber who is the district manager For the district. Okay. Thank you all for being here. Thank you for waiting and y'all are in favor this right? Yes? Yes, they're gone. OK, and this is off hill lane, and we'll get some traffic regulations down there, and that subdivision's going quite a bit. It remains stagnant for a while, but it's growing again. Yes, sir. That's correct. Anything else you want to say? I just appreciate the court entertaining this, and I'll say you, go ahead. Can I ask for a second? I, because I'm awful with it. Yeah, tell you. And I don't know how much the law has changed for the first time that we've worked on that. But you do have a, I think according to the law, you're to list the streets with the, I don't see that in here. I don't, those are in the item. The streets with the speed limits. Those are an item 14D, that's where we have the actual interloaf with the district.. Those are not in 14D. That's where we have the actual interloaf program with the district. I didn't even look at that. Okay. 14D. 14D. That's got has a list of all the streets and the different travel control devices that they want to place and where they want place. That's Perfect. That's perfect. Yeah, great. Okay. Are there any other questions or comments? No, I don't. Anyone in attendance who would like to address commissioners Court on this issue, either in favor of or oppose to the proposed. We'll be closed with public hearing. Thank you. We have a motion to close the public hearing by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Marchand. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, position 8. Motion does carry. Now we need a motion for approval. I would move to approve item 14D. Second. You mean 4C? 14D is the item approved. I beg you pardon, it's the severed posting. Yeah. The motion is being taken on 14D, which is approval of the interlocal cooperation again for traffic regulation and a special district. Within the boundaries of Oak Point Water Control and improvement district number two, Wellington Trace, located and didn't kind of commissioner precinctly. We have motion by commissioner Coleman. Seconded by commissioner Marchin. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. I'm going to be here in the second. Consider, discuss and or approve the reply of Ponderosa Valley Phase 2. Lots one R to our Block B, Replac Commissioner precinct 4. And need a motion to open the public hearing. Chairman. I'll second. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman. On favor please say aye. Aye, pose, aye. Me. Motion does carry. Is there anyone here to speak in favor of or opposed to the replat of Ponderosa Valley Phase 2? Lots one R, two R, a block B. Anyone here that would like to address commissioners card on this issue hearing none? Are there any questions and members of court? Move to approve. Well, anyway, that have closed our public hearing. I move that close. You know, which close the hearing. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Marchant Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell to close the public hearing. No, in favor, please say aye. Aye. I oppose any motion carries. Now you can make your move. I can make the motion approve the replay of the fond roads. That way. Now you can make your money. Make the motion approve the replay of the fundraiser that way. Thank you. I will motion for approval by Commissioner Marchant, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. I'll in favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Aye. No. Motion is carried. And the 4B is public hearing to discuss one approval of the Dent County clerk's records archive plan to approve of the continued collection of the $10 preservation and restoration fee by the county clerk We need a motion to go into a public hearing Motion by Commissioner Mitchell Seconded by Commissioner Marchant on favor. Please say aye aye Poe Cine motion is carried Good morning. Thank you for waiting At this time we are asking for the continued collection of the $10 records preservation fee. As you know, we are required to preserve the historical records and these fees are necessary in order to fund that preservation process. And to show you what we're doing. We brought with us the first I've seen in the first commissioner court it's a minute. And these are the original documents from 1875. That one's actually new. We just said that one this year. So those 1875 those are the first Commissioner Court Minute book that we have if they behave any better than we did Actually actually references them more than I do She might be able to better answer that We'll talk later. Wow. Interesting. You want to, I can't miss it. I can't miss it. I can't miss it. I can't miss it. That's cool. It's just a real relative. That film that covers it, that's special. The film for the paper doesn't. It's a story. Right. I made some really good news. It's in 500 years. So those are set for 500 years now. And on the back page, it tells you exactly what's been done to it so that anybody in the future can look at it and know where to proceed from there. Oh, wow. It's an interesting process. Okay, we're in a public hearing. Is there anyone in attendance? So I'd like to speak in favor of or oppose to the posting for being able to put it that way. Anyone in attendance that would like to address commissioners calling this issue. Did you have anything else to add to the? I don't. Thank you. Okay. Do we have a motion to close our public hearing? The motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Motion does carry. Do we have a motion for approval motion by Commissioner Mitchell second by Commissioner Coleman here are no questions or further comments on favor please say aye I pose in him motion does carry you're gonna give me back their book or you know if we lost you it is interesting look at $2.50 to build the cost of my I'm not running take it is heavy. Thank you for bringing that. Okay item 5A is approval of the bill report payments for CSCD, Community Collections, TAP shares, Training Shares, Provincia, VIT, Interest DHA, Check P&D, Fair Courage of Puns all presented for recording purposes only. We also have the auditor's monthly financial report for the month of May, which is presented for recording purposes only. Good morning, James Wells. Morning, Judge and commissioners. I asked approval bills with the one deletion noted on the separate page three, four additions. Also, and I would note that one of the additions for $1,650 is to increase the change fund for the county clerks' recording department and by approving this addition it would be your official action to prove that change fund to increase to which is a statutory requirement. Thank you. Are there any questions? Members of the Court? I will move for approval. Thank you. We have motion for approval by Commissioner Collin. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Marchant. Hearing no questions. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Clerk C. Nain. Motion is carried. Six A is approval to declare computer equipment listed in Exhibit A as surplus approval to transfer and sale agreement between Dantle County and Town of Hickory Creek for surplus computer equipment in the amount of $300. I shall make commissioner Mitchell seconded by commissioner Marchand all in favor. Please say aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. Motion is carried. 6B is approval of report on proceeds from surplus online auction. This is number 05162356 held in June 2016. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Coleman. On favor please say aye. Aye. Posting a motion carries. 7a is approval of budget manual quest 101 330. To transfer funds from appropriations, then central appraise the district to move to 88. Phase one, remodel expense, send them out to $10,000. Motion by Commissioner Marchant. Chair, we'll second the motion. Are there questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose, say name. Motion does carry. Seven B is approval of budget amendment quest 101-340 for court appointed attorney at $100,000 in court appointed attorney family at $60,000, including the transfer of funds from non-departmental and appropriated court order contingency for the 16th district court in the total amount of $160,000. Let's go ahead and take 7C with this. This is approval of budget of an request 101-350 for court appointed attorney, including the transfer of funds from non-departmental and appropriated court order contingency for the 157th, I'm sorry, 158th district court in the amount of $50,000. 7D is approval of budget amount of quest 101 360 for court appointed attorney at $75,000. And court appointed attorney family at $75,000, including the transfer of funds from non-department on appropriated court order to contingency for the 211th district court for a total of minimum of $150,000. And we'll take all three of those. The chair is going to move her approval. 7B, C, and D. Seconded by Commissioner Marchant. Are there questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, C and A. Motion carries. 7E is approval of budget by request 101-390 for juvenile meals, including the transfer. At $2,600 in the juvenile justice alternative education program. Unappropriated contingency fund for a total budget amendment request of $2,600. Aye for approval. Motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Hearing no questions on favor, please say aye. Aye, opposed any? Motion carries. Seven-half is approval. Budget and mail request. One-on-one, four-zero is early. The increased revenues now. It can extend its yours or Texas citizens. Commission Treatment Court grant at $24,492 in $1,999 some county criminal court number three veterans court expense line item for computer software maintenance in the total amount of $26,491. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Thank you. Negative by Commissioner Coleman. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, say name. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you I can't expect any amount of $466,552. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Okay. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman. Hearing the questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye, post in aid. Motion to carry. Senate H is approval of Budget Medal Quest 101-420 during Care Seven is now allocated expenditures for salary assistance benefits. In various operating and min done is our public health fiscal year 2017 cities readiness initiative grant in the amount of 110,606 dollars. So from that commissioner Mitchell's seconded by commissioner Marchen hearing no questions. All in favor please say aye. Aye, posting in. Motion carries. Seven aye is approval of budget amount of request 101-430 to increase revenues and allocate expenditures for a part-time sourdest benefits and various operating mind-owns for Texas Benham's Commission Treatment Court grant in the amount of $275,508. I'm going to be excused. I have to go. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Marchandt. Hearing the questions on favor, please say aye. Aye. Post-synane. Motion to carry. 7J is approval of budgeted in the quest 101-370 for statements of fact $10,000. Court appointed attorney $75,000 and court appointed attorney family at $10,000, court appointed attorney $75,000, and court appointed attorney family at $45,000, including the transfer of funds from non-departmental and unappropriated court ordered contingency for a 360 second district court in the total budget amendment request of $130,000. Motion by Commissioner Marchin. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman. My only favor please say aye. Aye. Posting a motion carries. 8 a is approval of the 2017 holiday schedule. Anybody questions or comments? Do we have a motion? To me. Motion by Commissioner Marchin. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell hearing the questions along the favor please say aye. Aye, aye, post, aye. Motion carries. AP is approval combining two part time deputy clerk one positions. The slot numbers are listed there for the tax office making one full time and full. I'm going to move for approval but this document says that you're coming then. I'd like to see that happen. Typo. A couple of coming two part time deputy clerk positions. I think it's Typo. Is it Typo? Yes. I try combining. All right. We have a motion for approval by Commissioner March and the chair will second emotion are there any questions that make sense Well, that's what it says. I mean During the non-favorites we say aye. Hi, opposed to the Emotion carries. Thank you all for waiting. 9 a is approval to accept amendment of contract 2016 0109 8-02 between Texas Department of State Health Services and Debt and County for the City's readiness initiative. This contract is being extended into fiscal year 2017. It begins 7 1 2015 and ends 6 30 2017. The total amount of contract is $221,212. This is fiscal year 2016 at $110,606 and fiscal year 2017 at $110,600. Should we? Motion by Commissioner Marchions, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell, other questions. Here none on favor please say aye. Aye opposed any? Motion is carried. 9B is approval to accept the amendment of contract 2016-001099-02 between Texas Department of State Health Services and Denton County for the hazards is public health preparedness. The contract has been extended into fiscal year 2017 and ends on 630 2017, not 217. The total amount of the contract is $933,104 fiscal year 2016 and $466,552 to 2017 for a total amendment of $466,552. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Marchant. Hearing no questions on favor, please say aye. Aye. Post, say name. Motion carries. Commissioner Marchant hearing the questions on favor please say aye aye Post-Cin 8.50 acres and Commissioner precinct one Approval Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Coleman seconded by Commissioner Marchant hearing the questions on favor please say aye Seconded by Commissioner Marchion. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose, aye. Motion carries. 10B is approved of a request to hold the public hearing on August 16th, 2016. At 9 a.m. for Pandarosa, states lot for our replat. This is in Commissioner precinct four. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Marchion. All in favor, please say aye. Aye, pose aye, aye. Motion is carried. 12 a.m. is approval of the updated law enforcement agency application for participation by the Denny County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support Office program. Motion by Commissioner Marchin. Chair, we'll second the motion. Other questions or comments? Your none. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Poussin. Aye. Motion is carried. 13 a is approved of the reappointment of Miss Jones Coper to the Child Protective Services Board. Chair, I'm so moved. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Podes say aye. Motion does carry. 13B is approval of the Certified Local Government Award of $2,050 for Peggy Riddle and Rosalind Chelan to attend the National Alliance for Preservation Commission's Forum 2016 Conference in Mobile, Alabama July 27th through the 31st, 2016. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Marchand. That sounds interesting. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Motion does carry it, pardon me? Yeah. Oh, yeah, it can be fun. OK, 13C is approval and nomination to the North Central Council of Government's Resource Conservation Council. I believe Cheryl forwarded the email from then. I don't have anybody either, but we told them at the earliest it would be next week before we could make any recommendation so please let Kate Theresa Will Cheryl is gone this week but six you know you're six from us that we know there's six total somewhere from small counties somewhere from large counties Really the meat we fit in the medium category and there's only one vacant seat and That person can come out of Denton Ellis Johnson Kaufman or Parker County, so Anyway, when we wanted to bring that to us attention And if you can come up with somebody let us know and we'll put it on the agenda next week and that still would work. We don't need any formal action on that since we don't have a nomination at this point. Okay. And let's see here. 14A is approval of a denim six to the agreement for architectural services between demkeny Texas and a con consulting group LLC for the demkeny Southwest Courthouse located in flower mountain Texas and the mountain ought to exceed $100,000 to establish a design allowance approved delegation authority to the construction project manager and director of purchasing. To approve design allowance authorization and compliance with 262.031b of the local government code with funding to come from 2000 times to two cuts of obligation. This is auditor line item 7353809020 and 2015 tax notes. Auditor line item 7253809060 is recommended by the Denton County Director of purchasing Beth Fleming in the Denton County Construction Manager, Duane Snyder. And are we redesigning that? No. Commissioner, what we've discovered on this project is that because it's been previously designed by someone else, we are running into lots of small change orders and design, and so anything that was included in the original contract is not included in this. What we're doing is asking for authorization to speed up the change order process for the small items. These are all will be under 25,000. We don't anticipate using this full amount. It's a contingency allowance set up like in our construction contract. We don't stop progress. Here are the questions or comments. Motion by Commissioner Marchand. Seconded by Commissioner Marchand. in our construction contract. We don't stop progress. Here are the questions or comments? If we're approval. Motion by Commissioner Marchant. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Posting in. Motion is carried. Okay, I think we've taken care of everything. Funny? I don't know. Okay, we did it. Now I have a great day. Be careful. It's hot out there. Drink a lot of water. Be safe. We're adjourned.