Good morning ladies and gentlemen, didn't kind of commissioners court for Tuesday, February 15, 2011, his noun session. This morning, our invocation will begin by Dr. Bing Burton, his director of our health department, and our pledges will be led by Amy Phillips, director of human resources, will you please stand? Would you pray with me? We praise you, O God. We acknowledge you to be the Lord. We pray to you, O God, will you please stand? Would you pray with me? We praise you, O God. We acknowledge you to be the Lord. We thank you, Lord, for the blessings that you pour out in for your stead, fast love that endures to all generations. We thank you especially today for the blessings of liberty that we too often take for granted. We ask you, blessing today upon this meeting of the commissioners court and we pray that all that is said and done here would be pleasing to you. We ask your blessing upon our nation and all who serve it both at home and abroad. Pray your special protection upon those who stand in harm's way. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. 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. On Earth. Texas flag. I pray to leave it. On the safe and God. On any of this. Item one is for public input for items not listed on the agenda. If there's any member of the public that would like to address commissioners court, we ask that you please complete a public comment form there available on the side table over here. We'd be glad to hear from you. Want to remind everyone to please turn off your cell phones and pages. Members, we're going to first go to item 3a, which is approval of a resolution recognizing Steve Hibbens retirement. Steve Hibbens, I know you're here today, would you please come up to the podium? Good morning. Yeah. First, I'd like to read the resolution. The resolution honoring Steve Hibbens for 14 years service to Denton County. The Denton County Commission's Court, Denton County, Texas. In a regular session on the 15th day of February 2011, considered the following resolution. Whereas Steve Hibden was hired an April 17th, 1996 as heavy equipment operator, with Denton County Road and Ridge East Department. And whereas Steve Hibden, and most dedicated Denton County Road and Ridge East Department, and where Steve Hedden and most dedicated Denton County employee has provided the highest level of professionalism and quality work in hundreds of drainage projects throughout the unincorporated areas of Denton County. And where Steve Hedden's devotion to assisting and leading his co-workers is greatly appreciated and respected by his fellow colleagues of Road and Ridge East, and he will truly be missed by all. And now therefore, it be resolved Denton County Commissioner's Court, Denton County, Texas, this hereby extend to Steve Hibden, our sincere and grateful appreciation for his dedicated service to Denton County. We congratulate Steve on his well-earned retirement and extend our best wishes to him for continued success, happiness, and good health in the years to come. Diamond Open Court this 15th day of February 2011. Who wants to make the motion? I move for approval. Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Coleman. Seconded by Commissioner Eans. I'll in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed to say nay. Motion does carry unanimously. And congratulations, sir. Thank you. Could you like to say something? Well, I'll be getting more notes from you from now on my birthday. You have some family members here. Would you like to introduce them, sir? Okay. My daughter Cheryl. Her friend Allison. Hi, Allison. Her friend Susan and her sister Kay. Great. Glad to have you with us today on this special occasion. Well, thank you very much for your service to the county servant. We sincerely do. I hope that you have a wonderful retirement. Thank you. I'd like to say that, Mr. Hibbden, it's been a pleasure to have you work with me the past two years. And I wish you all the best in retirement. And please feel free to come by and visit any time you want. Thank you. Have a good one. That'll cost that'll cost you Commissioner. You the party to pay his barber over there. Just in case you are wondering. All right. What are you? I thought I'd turn it down. 3B is also a proof-of-a- a resolution recognizing every time and this is for Carl Williams and it's my understanding Carl couldn't be with us today right okay but we want to recognize him anyway this is a resolution honoring Carl butch Williams for eight years of service to Denton County and County Commissioners Court Denton County Texas during the regular session on the 15th day of February 2011 considered the following resolution. Whereas Carl Williams have the equipment operator returned on January 28, 2011 after completing eight years of exceptional service to didn't kind of road and bridge department. Carl has plans to enjoy his retirement years while spending quality time with his family and riding down many happy trails. Whereas Carl Wums was hired by Dent County on January 29, 2003 as a driver, equipment operator and was promoted to heavy equipment operator on July 7, 2004. Whereas Carl Wums, a devoted employee has provided an outstanding level of valuable service to the road and bridge department with this talent and willingness to tackle any project big or small regardless of the ever changing Texas weather conditions to satisfy the many residents of Den County precinct 4. And whereas during all the time the said service with the road and bridge department, Carl is faithfully and diligently carried out his duties and obligations and conducted himself in a responsible manner with vigilance for the safety and security of the entire department and always made himself available to assist co-workers. himself in a responsible manner with vigilance for the safety and security of the entire department and always made himself available to assist co-workers. Where is Carl Williams dedicated to the dedication to the Denton County Road and Bridge Department has been appreciated and respected by all. He has been dependable trustworthy and hard worker who will be greatly missed. Now, therefore, if it resolved, Denton County Commission Court, Denton County, Texas, does hereby extend to Carl Williams our sincere grateful appreciation for his dedicated service to didn't county. We congratulate Carl on his well-learned retirement and extend our best wishes to him for continued success and happiness and good health in the years to come. The chair will some move. Thank you. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Nane. Motion does carry unanimously. I'm not alone. I'm not alone. I'm not alone. All right. All right. Yeah. Get that sign. One to borrow. One to borrow. One to borrow. One to borrow. One to borrow. One to borrow. One to borrow. All right. Yeah. Get that sign went to Barbara for you got it? Okay. Thank you for coming. I would appreciate it. Okay. Let's go back to item two, which is the consent agenda members of the items on the consent agenda that you need to discuss or do we have a motion for approval? Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, second and by Commissioner Eans. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, sitting. Motion to scary. Consent agenda today consists of approval of order-making appointments, which is 2A. We have a demotion in the County clerk's office, a new hire under the copper canyon interlocal agreement for the sheriff's department and a promotion under copper canyon interlocal agreement for the sheriff's department. Promotion in road bridge west Arga and a new hire in juvenile probation services under juvenile detention. 2D is approval of the Inter-Defartmental Transfers, 2C is approval of payroll, 2D is approval renewal of BID-12071871, exterior lighting maintenance agreement for design electric division of facility solutions group, 2E E's approval award for the Strait Matter Road Colbert Construction Project. This is bid number 1, 2, 1, 0, 2, 0, 6, 7. Tickman, contract in LP for $402,897.50. This is budget line item 8574949050. Two F is approval of the building usage request from Wallace Campbell for the use of the courthouse on the square lawn. Thursday and Friday, March 10, 2011, from 5 to 10 pm in Saturday and Sunday, March 12th and 13th, 2011 from 2 to 10 p.m. for musical concerts. Five days approval of the bill report came from CSCD Community Corrections, TAIP, Shares Training Shares, Forfeiture, VIT, Interest, DA Check V and DA4, and Surecons are all presented for reporting purposes only. Good morning, James Welles. For Judge Commissioner, so I'd ask Court to prove the bills. As presented with the three deletions, I don't know that on separate page, that had various processing errors will be corrected the next time. It's all corrections I have. Any questions? Do we have a motion? Motion by Commissioner Marchin. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, sitting. Motion does carry. 6A is approval of specifications for RFQ 11102062 for material testing services for building construction and employment of the evaluation committee will call them that's voting. Good morning. This RFQ will establish material testing services for our upcoming building projects over the next five years. I do have a list of those anticipated projects on page 62 of your agenda packet. The evaluation committee that I'm recommending besides myself is Michael Tubiola, Bennett Howe, and Jennifer McClure. Thank you. Any questions from members of court? Do we have a motion? I move for approval. I'm glad that we got this process kicked off. Yeah. Motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Eads. Commissioner Mitchell, did you have a question? Thank you. We have a motion. The second one,, please say aye. Aye. Opposed say aye. Motion does carry. Faith, Beth, thank you for your hard work on this. I really appreciate it. 6B is approval of the evaluation committee's recommendation to rank CHA, Incorporated, is the most qualified firm for architectural services for the road and bridge east facility. This is RFQ 11102066. I move for approval. Second. Motion by Commissioner Coleman, second and by Commissioner Marchin. Other questions? Any none? On favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed to any? Motion to carry. 7A is approval of budget amendment request 100500 for a unit for the computer software for Sheriff's forfeiture fund in the amount of $2,515 and this should be noted this is for recording purposes only. Chair will move for approval. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, Sinene? Motion carries. 7V is approval of organizational goals, budget calendar, commissioners, court philosophy memo, budget priorities, and establishing tax revenue parameters for the budget officer to use when recommending a budget during the fiscal year 2011-2012 budget process. We'll call on Donna Stewart. Good morning, Judge and commissioners I it's hard to believe it's been a year and no and we're ready to stock this process in so pardon the tears if you see them here actually what we have in your packet today is information regarding the goals of the county the mission our purpose and our overall county wide goals. We're looking for approval today. There are no changes compared to what we've had in the past year. One thing I would like to present later on to the court is some short-term goals that we can tie to that with specific things that we want to accomplish during this process. So I'll be asking for your input over the next week or so on what your short-term goals would be that tie to our overall goals of the county. And this is something I'll put back on the agenda in a few weeks to give you a chance to think about that and study that. But what we're looking at today is approval of our goals, as well as the proposed calendar that's in your packet. It pretty much follows the same routine process that we always have where we start the kickoff here. Departments will start filling out their budget requests in early March. Submit them to us. We present a recommended budget to you in July, and we'll go all through the summer pretty much with budget workshops and adoption as proposed for September the 6th. This includes all the crucial dates that members of court would need to hold on your calendars to be here. Public hearings are listed here if necessary based on action taken regarding our tax rate. So we're looking for approval of that. And then on the following page you'll see a draft memorandum that we have prepared about the budget process so that we can let our department heads know what to expect this year. If you go to the second paragraph, you'll see that we have concerns again about the impact of the economic downturn, and we really expect this to be another very challenging year. I spoke with Judge Horn yesterday. She's been in communication with Joe Rogers at the appraisal district, and we are expecting property values to be declining again for both residential and commercial properties here in Denton County. And we also are expecting the new property on the role, which sometimes provides us some relief for our budget process to be low again this year as we experienced last year. We have talked in depth with our county auditor about our non-tax revenues. We are expecting at this point in the game those to be pretty much consistent with what we've seen. We don't see anything that could hurt us significantly or help us significantly for that matter. So we're going to be asking our departments to propose again another extremely conservative budget as they prepared that information for us. We're asking them to continue to maintain their current level of service provided to stretch their resources and become creative with efficiencies in their department and then also to avoid requesting new employees. That is so important so that we can maintain that and not lose any of our existing staff. That's a concern. We see the headlines every day about budget crosses across the county, across the different entities. And we have been fortunate here in Denton County, I will say, that we haven't had any massive like we've seen some of our counterparts. So in effort to not have to reduce staffing, we certainly expect our departments to hold the line again. I know they hear that and have heard that for years, but this year is just as important as we've had in the past. I think it's too early. It may, y'all may change what we have in the wording on this memo. I think it's too early to determine whether there would be any employee raises. We also have a list here on the second page of that memo of the challenges that we're facing and this is something we're going to need to be hashing out here if not today and then your future. If we do provide for any type of increase to county employees, each 1% amounts to about $825,000. So just so you know what that impact would be. Based on our capital improvement plan, we are scheduled to issue debt this year in the amount of a hundred million dollars which would have a seven million dollar impact on our budget. We do have to say that last part again that is a seven million dollar increase if we issue a hundred million dollars in debt. We do have some of our existing debt that will go off that totals about $300,000, so that net impact is $6.7 million. Before we go on, I did provide each of you a handout today, which is a copy of our Capital Improvement Plan and the projects that are slated for issuance in this upcoming year. So if you refer to the FY 2011 column, that's where you'll see we have just over $100 million schedule to issue. And again, these are voter approved debt projects. We also provided you with a debt service maturity schedule and it's just a point that I'd like to make you aware of is if you look at that schedule and you compare the 2012 and the 2013 debt service payments that we have, you'll see there'll be a 3.1 million dollar reduction in our debt service schedule, not this fiscal year, but the next. So if the court wants to consider not issuing debt in this fiscal year, like we had planned in post-conad a year, that would provide some relief to the proposed tax rate that we would be looking at. This food for thought with something that we're going to have to talk about. We're going to be calling a capital improvement committee meeting. There are some projects on here that I think we have concerns about delaying for any length of time such as jail expansion. We have some networking issues that we need to have funds for for the Loop 208 phase 2. That's in progress. So there are some things we're going to need to issue. If we hold off an issue that debt after October 1st, that's probably what we would propose to do, not delay everything, but by more than just six months or so. It would then in turn delay the whole capital improvement plan and additional year out for each project. So we're going to want to visit with all the parties involved with all these projects and see if that schedule would still be acceptable with what their needs are. We also are expecting an increase in our retirement plan premiums. We were told a couple years ago that we'll be expecting some increases on that just to recover from the losses that they received. And health insurance premiums, there's no doubt we're going to have to increase those premiums again this year. At a minimum, I believe, of $600 per year per employee. That impact is just under a million dollars. And I'm not sure that's going to be enough. We haven't had a chance to visit in great detail on the specifics of that and compare what we might be receiving in stop-loss coverage back. But we do expect that we're going to be required to put a significant amount of funds in our health insurance plan. As you know, we have a new district court that started January 1st, and I believe the new judge will be sworn in today. That deferred date starting that court in January is going to impact our next year's budget about $100,000. So you can see from that list of things that we anticipate, including our capital improvement plan, that's $8.2 million in increases. If the court chooses to implement the capital improvement plan as it stated, the cost will be an estimated $6.7 million, or it would cost 1.1 and a quarter to increase in the tax rate. And of course these are all listed out in that capital improvement plan that I handed you as well. The budget office will also be looking very closely at departments, performance and productivity measures. As we recommend a budget we have several tools in place where we can compare like departments which assists us with recommending staffing levels for some of those departments. So we'll be looking at everybody's measures as we prepare our budget. Again, I think this is going to be a difficult budget process. We're not expecting any help from tax funds. So I just wanted to make you aware of what our initial thoughts are on that. And then of course, we always like to have what the priorities of each member of the court are for the budget process. So I've provided just a sheet here for us to talk about what your priorities are for this next budget process. And with that open it up for discussion and if you'll have any questions or you want to make any adjustments to anything that I've proposed we'll be happy to to do that. Here's just more challenging every year down the down. Well, I'll just start off by saying I think it would be a good idea to issue the debt after October 1. I think we can do that without, hopefully, without too much of a delay. I think the planning for the sheriff's department is in early enough stages that by the time that needs additional funding to what we've already got in here will be ready to keep that process going. I see the sheriff back here with a weird look on his face and that is a priority for me, Sheriff. I will tell you that. But I think we're going to be able to keep that process going. Like I said, I think it's early enough in this planning stages that it's not going to impact what your needs are. I think that it's going to be slight. I think the plan would be for us to continue. We've got the architects on board. They're designing the facility. By the time it's ready to go out for bid, and you're ready to award, it's probably going to be after October 1st. And I think that's manageable. The other priority that I would just say is, I hope we can hold our tax rate to the calculated effect of rate. Budget time is not only difficult for us, but it's difficult for every citizen and their budgets at home too. So if we can possibly hold the line on taxes, that's very important to us and to all the citizens of the county. I would love to be able to tell the employees that they're going to get an increase this year, but I think the reality is that's probably not going to happen. I can't say that was certain at this point, but times are tough and we just have to ask everybody, like Bobbi always says, I know every year everybody works hard to find ways to do more with less but we have to do it more of that. And I don't mean to be on the pursuit of the good work, our county employees have always pitched in and tried to do the job of trying to do more with less and trying to be creative and trying to take advantage of technology rather than hiring more employees and always looking for ways to work more efficiently. But it's really necessary for everybody to do even more about commissioners who would like to turn you back you said it you know you know we're all hard times and every everyone's going through hard times not just accounting citizens cities are all going through hard time and I think as we all know that and the employees here in the elected officials and department here department heads here have done a good job in these past two or three years especially in cutting your budget and making sure they're doing more with less. And believe it or not, we're going to have to continue to do more with less and do more more with less or less or less. So we're going to have to really tighten the belt and just do a little more. And I appreciate everything that everyone's doing. But these are hard times. When hard times come, we always said hard times. You have to have hard measures. And so we can do it. We're in County. One of the best counties in the nation. And so let's just plan right now to do it. Plan to succeed. If we don't plan to succeed, we'll fail. So. Commissioners, anybody else? Kevin Chunin. I just like to add one thing, and that is obviously I'm watching things that are going on or legislative process very closely. And even though we have a bill that we did a supporting resolution for concerning unfunded mandates. There's things that still sneak up on you. They don't pass a law saying, okay, you've got to do this, but we're not going to pay for it. What happens is, for example, over in the jail, we have expenses that continue to grow, whether it be in jail health. We pay a lot of bills for medical care for prisoners, and with the jail getting full with more people, more health issues come up so your costs go up. So it's not only the rising cost of insurance for employees but it's the rising cost of health care for inmates in the jail. There's expenses that go up for the county that it's not really an unfunded mandate, but it certainly is an expense that goes up that we are responsible to take care of and that was just one example. But I'm certainly trying to watch things in the legislative process that as the state confronts their budget was that we don't get additional things put on us that we can't handle later. So that's also a big question mark in our memo to the department heads is we do not know what the legislative session is going to mean to them county. I mean there's lots of hidden costs so that's kind of an unknown that we always fear every two years. I was alerted about a bill yesterday and Judge that it's going to probably be debated on the floor today about our state schools, about the fact that when a student at the state school has a problem in the state school is wanting them to take a test or take a drug or something and a guardian says no or they don't have a guardian, then it goes to the probate court and the county or any county may be required to pay for the doctor's treatment and any other treatment. I did alert our senator Nelson on that and gave her the information and I got an email from Don Lee with Conference of Urban Counties yesterday evening that says Harris County told him this evening that this bill does not require anything new that other law requires this and they are already doing it so we don't know yet but I did alert the senator to be on the watch for that. Anybody else here to end? Okay. If you don't do it with that, if the court would like to take action on approving the goals, the calendar and the memo that goes to departments, now as far as issuing debt, is that something I kind of like to get input from everyone else on how they feel about that as well, is that something we still want to include on this memo right now during the process? I would like to include it now that we plan on issuing it after October 1. I'm not prepared to say I don't know what impact that it will have on any projects that have been committed. You know, not only do we, since we're in partnership with so many of our communities on some of their projects, you know, we've a time commitments based upon this existing calendar. And, you know, depending on what time or whatever it may impact their calendar, well it will impact their calendar. So I not. How about if we do it this way, if we stated in such a way that you know our objective would be to issue an after October 1, but if we'd like to get the Capitol committee together, just study this a little further so that we know whether or not we can make that commitment for sure. Right, I mean, I'm looking at one of my projects, it impacts the widening of 423. So I mean, and one becomes, that cart becomes before that horse. And so. I think it's important that each of you and one becomes that cart becomes before that horse. So. And I think it's important that each of you visit with John Polster and talk about your trip O.A. projects and make sure that delay won't get the decision. That's exactly what I like to do. So I'll be in communication with all of you by email and then we'll be calling on the CIP meeting to discuss it as well. I'm not prepared to make a decision on the bond debt issue. What I would like is an analysis of any and all older bond monies from previous issues that are not being used older bond monies from previous issues that are not being used and whether those can be reallocated to cover things that we have upcoming. For instance, the new road bridge facility. Those bonds were authorized almost ten years ago. We've been paying interest on those bonds. The previous commissioner picked that project up. Then, you know, kind of did a little work on it and then kind of pushed it to the side. And we've been paying interest on that. And I know we have previously issued bonds for which we are paying debt. And I much rather use those old bonds and maybe read those old funds and reallocate them to existing. No my point is is that I'm going to do the re and revenue bridge facility but I was told that those funds existed when I inquired about it and they've been sitting there for a long time and that we should have proactively used that money. If we have money for bonds that have been issued sitting in the bank for which we are paying interest, I would like to use those funds and reallocate those funds before we issue any new debt. I don't think it's a good idea for us to go. That's something that we look at as a excuse me. Well I think we need to get a better analysis because a lot of the discretionary funds that I've had are from old debt that we've been paying interest on for years. We've charged up our credit card and we haven't used the money. So I would like to see an analysis of that old debt and the money we currently have sitting before we even consider issuing any new debt. Councilor Capone from the committee will take that. Okay, so our motion stay needs to exclude comments concerning issuing of debt, but other than that, Donna needs approval of though we do need to be looking at this. I'll show you. The organization goals and the budget calendar and the basic philosophy memo so that she can get that process started with all the departments in the county. Well, if you want, we'll leave that as it stands for now knowing that subject to change once we've had our discussions. Okay. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner March and seconded by Commissioner Eans. Other questions or comments? Turn that on. Favorite please say aye. Aye. Aye. Oppositing. Motion carries. Thank you. 8A is discussion of revisions to the jury duty policy 3.16 We'll call it any Phillips. Thank you, Judge, and members of the court. As I said in my memo, this is an old policy. It's three old. I served us, I guess, well, for a long time, although when I read it, it was clear to me that it could use a little cleanup. But it hasn't been a problem until recently we've had a couple of issues come up and there was some discussion about how jury pay should be treated and whether it should be treated as time worked or not. This policy clearly says that it should be treated as time worked but since it was 22 years old and certainly under a different commissioners court and there was a lot of discussion among departments about it, I thought I should ask the commissioners court to clarify if that's their intent to continue that way. The second issue that was raised has not been an issue to my knowledge, I think, looking ahead and thinking about things that could come up. A question was asked about what if somebody was on a sequestered jury, and the need to possibly put a limit on the number of hours in a day that somebody could claim maybe equivalent to the number of hours they were scheduled to work that day or something like that. And so I would just open it up for the court's comments. Well, I see our treasures here too. Cindy, did you wish to chime in on any of this? You're watching. Okay. What I would like. Commissioner Marchand. Yeah, I would, what is the recommendation of what's your recommendation? I mean, you alluded to making it jive with our current policy that we have now with other things. Is that what your recommendation is? That's not necessarily my recommendation. That was something I wanted to point out to the court that was pointed out to me in discussion. I don't really see a compelling reason to change the way that it's stated in the policy. The policy says that it should be counted as homework and I do see it as being a little bit different than our other leaves. Most of the leaves that we have at the county are for the employees benefit, even bereavement leave really This is the only leave policy that I can think of that is really for the criminal justice system benefit. The, you know, it's a civil obligation. You don't have any choice and it doesn't really benefit. The leave itself does not benefit the employee. Now I don't want to overstate that you're not obligated to pay employees for jury pay. Most public entities do, the ones that I checked with do, but that's something that entities do, and in some private entities do. I don't know, I don't have any idea how many private entities. But it's something that we've always done and it's been counted as time worked. And I don't know if that's what you want to do it. I guess I don't see a compelling reason to change that. Let me ask you. You said that you, I mean this has recently caused controversy. Could you define to me what controversy is? Because, I mean, is it controversy? Because one department head thinks it's not the right way to handle it. Or is it multiple department heads? Or? I think we've had a couple of issues come up. And the first one I think was a disagreement between two officials about how it should be administered. The other one, I'm not so sure that I think in the end maybe wasn't such a big issue. I think there was a misunderstanding about the way the time was recorded. It was because they had a misunderstanding of what the policy said or how it was enforced. How the time was actually recorded. So it didn't really go to the policy. It went to how it was implemented. I think that's correct. I was interpreted to be implemented. I think that's correct. I think that. correct. I think that's correct. I think that. Amy is correct and I was one of the two officials that had a discrepancy with the interpretation of the policy. It was first first of all. First of all, when we manage time cards, we look for time cards that we call overinflated to where there's usage of benefit time included in time card when it's not necessary. Thus creating a situation where they're swapping one benefit for another or perhaps using one benefit to increase their comp balance. So in the process of managing overinflated time cards, we addressed a specific time card in this situation where jury duty was used, creating a full day, but it also created an accrual to Compton. Now the accrual to Compton was straight-time, but it was still because of the way this policy was interpreted as those hours being hours worked. It created an accrual where this employee worked over on other days allowing a benefit swap to a car. So the policy reference, jury duty and witness duty, kind of synonymous, and I interpreted witness jury duty as an employee acting in their official capacity, being called to serve as a witness on a jury trial. And I can certainly agree that those are hours worked. However, I disagree that when a employee is called for a board hour, a jury call selection, or even assigned to a jury duty, I don't know that I agree that that is hours worked. Then do you say that again? When an employee is called for just regular jury selection, here at the county versus testifying, OK? I think those are two separate classifications of assignments. Are servings at a third classification? No, I say jury selection as boardier or being assigned to a court and actually serving on a panel. I don't know that I agree that those should be counted as hours work. I definitely agree we should afford a benefit to the employee through jury duty, but I don't know that that assignment of jury hours should be classified as hours work. That would change the allocation of all the hours in the week and could create to where the employee could accrue comp time when you counted as hours worked versus benefit time off. There's a system in the chronology that allows you to separate the two. Sure. I mean, I can facilitate whichever the court's pleasure is, but they get paid but they don't agree with the hours. Right. Then that would just allocate the assignment of jury duty hours to benefit time off that would prevent them from over and plating a time card in a crewing comp time. I can, first of all, to the FSLA, we're only really supposed to compensate for actual time work. I mean, obviously I defer to the DA's office, but so I don't know why we would count it as times work. We would pay them for their eight-hour day. We compensate people as benefit time for that way all the time. And I think the confusion in the policy and the confusion is that led to disagreement is because in the beginning of the policy it very clearly says jury and witness time. It's very clear in the beginning of the policy. You know, I think number four in the policy, there's a typo or appears to be a typo because it says jury witness time. And there's no such thing as jury witness time. So we're guessing because this is 21, 22 years ago that it meant to say jury or witness time or jury slash witness time. And so these two different, these ways that this appears in this policy, I think caused a lot of confusion and disagreement about how the policy should be interpreted. You know, I noticed when I was reading it, it says I was vacation time. And I think that's what it's did is just a saying as a senior was saying, I was worked, not vacation time, but I was worked. And that's the course I'm going to add. Why do we need to say it's vacation time? Because then it does accrue, doesn't it, for benefits for comp time? I'm sorry, Commissioner. Where are you referring to that? I'm on page 98. I'm in the second paragraph. Okay. The example that I gave to the commissioners court. In the example that I gave to. Yeah. I was just trying to point out that this is the way we administer sick time, vacation time, and that kind of thing. We don't count them as ours worked, but jury time, we have counted as ours worked because the policy says that it should be counted as ours worked. But I think we should have a code on chronos that says, you know, jury time, I mean, hours for jury time rather than hours of work. So those benefits won't be accrued. And you know, I agree that, you know, the comp time benefits are inflated a lot of time and I don't know about anybody else, but I do look at those comp time hours and it's amazing. So I think we do need to count it as a jury time, pale, but not count it as a cruel of comp time. Mr. Reads. I think there's several different categories here, and I think you outlined that a little bit, but I think there's one. Definitely if you're a county employee and you're testified in a case, you're part of law enforcement or the medical examiner's office or something, then there's, if you're called to serve on a panel, like you talked about, then how do we classify if someone's going through divorce and they're taking time, they're going through the judicial system and they have a court appearance. Would that be vacation? They're vacation. That would be their personal vacation time. Okay, and if you're called to testify in a court case, maybe custody custody issue or something you're called to testify. How would it address that? It would still be your outline somewhere. It would still be the usage of your own personal accrued time if it was unrelated to your job role. If it was related to your official capacity as a county employee, then those are just hours worth. But if it was an appearance on behalf of a personal matter unrelated to your official capacity at the county, then you would be required to use a creed benefit time. If you're not in the jury box. Right. We're only talking about jury selection. I've got to clarify that. So that's okay. Anybody else? Amy, are you clear on what the car would like to do? If everybody agrees with Commissioner Mitchell, then I'm clear on that. Yes. Okay. We explained that then. Okay. Commissioner Mitchell said that certainly she wants to compensate people for time missed due to being on a jury. But if they work extra hours in that week, which would cause them to go over 40 hours, say, for a non-exempt employee, then they would not accrue comp time for those extra hours. The jury time would be reduced so that if somebody worked, somebody served on a jury for 12 hours and they worked, I'm trying to do the math and my head backwards and I'm getting ahead of myself, but they served 12 hours in the time that they worked the rest of the week, caused them to go over 40, that 12 hours would be reduced to 10 or something like that. It's what I understood you to say. Is that correct? Okay. I still have some clarification needed though. Are we to treat witness time that is in your job capacity, the same as jury time or differently than jury time? You're there in your official capacity. I think that's, yeah, it's work time. In my opinion, if they're acting their official capacity, then no pay coach should be used to identify when they're performing that official capacity. So it would just be part of their hours worked as recorded in the time card without identifying it separately. So really, a really, a really shouldn't be addressed in this policy at all. We're just talking about your selection. All we really need to do is delete section C4. And clean up a lot of typos and language. I wouldn't include. Okay. Then we're clear on that. I don't think we address the concern that Cindy had about a sequester jury and whether or not we need to place a maximum on the number of hours that somebody could use this jury time. My recommendation would be that it would be limited to the scheduled work week work number of work. Yeah, work week, not work hours. Okay. Okay. I think I see everybody's head shaking. Yes. So thank you. I can't. She's going to revise the policy and bring it back for the court so we don't really need to vote on this today. Okay. 8B is a workshop to discuss policy 3.1 attendance procedure E and Clement Weather or disaster in Lecaw and Aide again. We also have a public comment form here from Abigail Mattson who wanted to address us on 8B this year. Abigail would you like to speak first? Sure. I just wanted to say briefly that the modification of this attendance policy carries with it a latent dysfunction. If we allow for our staff not to be paid that show up on those days, it doesn't give them an incentive to come. Ratios drop down and kids are forcing their rooms. Now not only is that inhumane, it could be a liability and a danger not only to those children, but to the staff that work there. If a staff is by themselves and a child becomes imminent threat to themselves or others, and they have to deal with it all by themselves. Could be a huge disaster. For the record, Abigail works in a juvenile detention facility. So the ratios are, if we're on program, and that's a term for our facility, one staff for six children. If we don't meet those qualifications, then the kids are locked in their rooms all day, and it's one for 12. Not to mention if they're in their rooms, I'm always can feed them as baloney sandwiches. Morning, noon, and night. So you have a nutritional deficiency there as well. So it promotes laziness and it does not value work ethic. So I just wanted to say that I know some people are very upset about it. We all worry all the people that did show up because you're going to have people that come in because they just, they're hard workers and they show up. because you're going to have people that come in because they just their hard workers and they show up And you're going to have people that take advantage of the system and so I understand that it's difficult and it takes a lot of money to pay people double But it is something that is worth a lot So that's really all I wanted to say Thank you Amy did you I would like to call the court members here, but Amy did you want to say. Okay, thank you. Amy, did you, I would like to come and park members here, but Amy, did you want to say anything on this issue? No, I placed this issue at Commissioner Mitchell's request and I did have some departments call me with concerns that I encourage them to bring to the court because we've had a lot of discussion on this previously. Mr. Mitchell, I'm going to try to take a stab at this. And first I want to clarify my position is that I'm certainly not an insensitive person. I have very much compassion for all employees. I haven't always sit in this position. I have set in an employee position. In my other life, I was a an essential employee. I was a repair supervisor and when the roads and things were tough and other people were off work, of course they didn't get paid, we still had to come in. Me and my employees, you're having trouble hearing me. Back there, we still had to come in. So I think first, our first thing that we have to do is establish essential employees, who's essential. Now, having said that, you hire those employees and you have to let them know in the beginning if they're essential or not. And essential means just what it says that you have to be here no matter what. And then if you have to be here, even if the county is closed, then you have to be here. And it's up to I think our elected officials and our department has to let the old employees know when they're hired that, hey, county may close, but you've got to be here. So you need to make that choice whether you want to do that or not. Sometimes it's a hard decision because we don't have implement weather that often but it may happen. So that's the first thing I think we have to as a commission is called to establish is the central service. Then I think we have to think about, okay, do I really want to pay somebody double? Do I want to pay them? I realize that Some of us was off and I don't know about anybody else, but we all have computers that We can use now that we can do some work from home. Everybody can't do work from home But we certainly did some we answered phone, don't answer our phones. And we sent emails and we answered emails and we still contacted the citizens who had an issue or problem with something. We took care of those from our houses. Everybody didn't have that ability. But I think we have to think, do we really want to pay employees double? What can we do for them to provide some kind incentive that's not monetary? Is there anything that that department head or that elected official can do that's not monetary that can totally compensate their employees for being there. But the first thing we have to establish that is central employee and we have to decide who are the essential employees and do we want to pay them double. Now, I have more comments but I'll let the employees in the juvenile detention facility in the essential category? Certainly. The Court may remember when we talked about this a year ago, we asked departments who were essential and I sent that information to the Court. There were a lot of departments that had employees who were clearly essential. There were some that had some essential employees and some that might be essential given the situation. And there were others that we might not think of as essential who the week that that happens or something going on, and they have to work. And so it's not real clear in every instance who's essential, but certainly employees could be put on notice that they may be considered essential when that time comes. Thank you. Commissioner Ease, did you hear something in the van? And I think there was a question among the employees, but when a policy takes effect, and I believe there is a delay in posting the policy change, but I think it's important to know that that the policy, unless I'm wrong, you all correct me, legal, correct me, that if we vote on something, it takes effect upon adoption of the court. Am I correct, Mr. Fell? Okay. I share a lot of the sentiments with Commissioner Mitchell about this, about essential and not essential. And how do we compensate people. I think you know when on our road crews we may not need it everyone out but there are some guys who did come out and how do we compensate those guys accordingly when everybody else may not have come in because we didn't have an necessity for everyone to come in. I think there's a way we got to thank through that. I don't know the answer to think through that. How do we do that? I don't know the answer to that right now. The guys that came out, that they come out after their work hours, they came out after hours. So then they would have been compensated. But have they come doing the work hours? Okay. That's what I'm. Commissioner Collins. I have some comments. First of all, I went back and reviewed the video when we adopted the policy. And I think there were points made that said we needed to treat everybody this time. And I guess one of the points I made was, you know, although I think that's a good idea in principle. You know, we do have different classifications of employees. Road and bridge employees, if they work over 40 hours a week, they get compensated either comp time at a time and a half, not double time, but time and a half for anything over 40. Under 207K of the Fair Labor Standards, if you have somebody involved in law enforcement or fire, they are actually, and this is how we do it in Dyn County, on an 80-hour work week, they receive for our 81 through 86 only straight time. Our 87 to the 4th, forward, they receive time and a half comp time. That's the law, and that's how we compensate people. All that being equal. There is a distance incentive for people who are much more of an I mean you can't it's hard to to you know objectively assess degrees but I will tell you that for instance with the juvenile department or with the sheriff department in detention, we have to keep those inmates guarded. They have to safeguard the juveniles, OK? If you do not have somebody come in to relieve them, you will have somebody work a double shift, which will result in a greater compensatable liability to us than a vote as if we get somebody in who is subject to that 207K exception where we pay them straight time from hour 81 through 86. So while I agree with you Commissioner Mitchell in your previous comments about we really need to concentrate in treating all the employees the same. This is an instance where I don't... well, I understand, but this is an instance where we need to be very cogent of the fact that we have some people who are essential, but it's discretionary as to where they go out, and we have some people who are essential, they absolutely have to be there. Okay? And in order for us to avoid having people doing double shifts in our detention facilities, whether it's juvenile or detention, we need to be very cogent regarding this policy that makes it an incentive for people to show up. Otherwise, we will have a financial impact ended. Is it our responsibility to make sure people show up? Is it their responsibility? I will tell you this. If you have a detention officer, I understand that. All in to work and doesn't show up. I think the sheriff, given his discretion, needs to take appropriate action. Don't award those who are not. As we treat them in a different manner, okay? And if they, they took a note, they're supposed to show up when they can. Same with juvenile, all right? But on the other hand, we need also, considered, you know, the way their compensation is done, which is completely different to the rest of the employees. Commissioner Eams. I have my thing that it works. Those are some good points, Commissioner Coleman, and I'm not disagreeing with those, but I have a question for Cindy. Did last year, do I remember this correctly, that you brought forth a policy change or a revision or maybe through AME. I think you're advocating it though. I think it was the personnel policy committee. Okay. That when we had a closure, say for eight hours on a Tuesday, let's say you used Tuesday for example, for eight hours. For example, for eight hours. Your office would do a, what's it called, Inclimate Weather Code for eight hours, countywide, correct? My concerns a year ago were specifically addressed to word partial day closures. And how to allocate or award hours to employees who worked as essential staff, how to award under our previously applied policy, how to award hours for partial day closures. When we have full day closures, there's no discretion in how that's applied necessarily. It's a full day closure and under the old policy it was easy for me to administer, but when it was a partial day closure it became more problematic and that reason alone is why I had the policy reviewed last year. Of course the recommendation that the personal policy committee had which I supported was not the direction the court took, of course, but... And in my process a year ago when I had a partial day closure under the old policy, because the policy stated it was treated like a holiday, it was my recommendation that we set a policy that included standard hours. And we, I recommended and chose an eight to five because it's a parent that any action taken during the business day is going to occur between eight and five. Those gave me parameters for determining a constant amount of hours to award to employees. And that was what we had problems with in payroll and time cards. So that was the recommendation last year, but then I remember that there were concerns about the varied schedules that we have out there. What if somebody was scheduled to come in at six, but we had a delayed opening till 10. Some people would get four hours of inclement weather, others would only get two hours of inclement weather. That wasn't necessarily my problem, although I think it should be equal. My problem was more associated with identifying an amount of hours to award to the essential staff who didn't get to take off at all. And that's why I needed parameters built into the policy. So departments and myself would know how to compensate employees during these occurrences. That's a good point. And I didn't look at the tape of what our comments were last year. But I remember having a problem with, if it off hours employee 11 to love this seven shift at the jail. That's, that's, they don't work Tuesdays. But we closed on Tuesday and if you did a select all, give everybody eight hours and they don't, they're a jailer and they work Wednesday through whatever. And they're off Tuesday and they just got eight hours. That was my, and I think Commissioner Mitchell talks about that, the pain to double. And at one time that they weren't, they would not the administration of Mitchell talks about that, the pain to double. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. And it's funny. we can improve upon that language and appease the court and not being so liberal with that allocation but still meet the concerns and needs of our essential personnel who are required to work. I think we can add language that says that you only get implement weather hours if you are scheduled to work on that specific day. If it falls on your scheduled day off or if you're a flex employer or a shift employee and it falls on your natural day off, then no compensation or no credit for inclement weather shall occur. I think we can also improve upon the language that says that if the closure, for instance, if the judge declares a delayed closure at 10 a.m. in the morning, I think we can add language that says you only get credit for those inclement hours if your shift was affected. Therefore if you have a shift that comes in at 2 p.m. and works till 10 o'clock at night they won't receive a credit because the county was already open. I think we can improve the language to address some of your concerns. And although I totally agree with the comments made by Commissioner Coleman regarding the con time of cruelled in most cases any approval of con time in these cases would be straight time. So we'd be crediting straight time to the employees balance for them to take off at another time as permitted by their department. Cindy, you said something and I want to go back to this. You said if my shift didn't begin to two o'clock, then I didn't get paid if the county closed for 8 to 5. But that's the same situation that these essential employees ran if they come to work and the county is closed. And they don't get paid another time. No, I'm only talking about if the closure affects the shift that occurs during the closure. So for the scenario that I just said was a delayed opening till 10 a.m. And the employee wasn't required to show up till two. Then only those employees that had shifts affected in a 10 a.m. period then would be affected by an accrual possible of inclement weather to their account balance. If we shouldn't pay those employees, why should we pay the essential employee who showed up essential employee who showed up on serious central. Why should we pay them again if we're not going to pay these employees? I'm not. I'll say we're an impact. On full-dye closures, all employees, whether essential or non-essential, would receive equal consideration of inclement weather allocations. So no matter when their shift began on a full day closure, it would not be impacted negatively. I'm only talking about partial day closures and using that eight to five parameter to determine how many hours to award and only award those hours if their shift was impacted. That's right. But what would happen to the employee works 5 p.m. to midnight on a Tuesday closing all day closing? That was a long force. A recommendation that was given to me from one of the department's effect was for instance, let's say the county judge makes a decision to delay closure at 10 p.m. at the not prior to. And we all receive word that there's a two hour delay till 10 o'clock. Then any shift starting at midnight on the same day that a delayed closing would occur, that any shift from midnight up until 10 a.m. when the delayed opening started, would be impacted and receive recognition of inclement weather. Yes. I know it's tough because you know you got to bazillion different employees and a bazillion different situations. Would it be helpful for you to have two different policies for inclement weather when that applies to employees who work eight to five with a normal deal and then those who are listed as essential personnel and people who do shift work because the inequities in my opinion of result when you have the fellow who's working the 11 to seven shift at night or you might have somebody who works the three to 11 shift who holds over because his replacement doesn't show up due to inclement weather. I just didn't know if it would be cleaner for you, be cleaner for the employees to comprehend. Honestly, no. I mean, we've thoroughly discussed this, among my staff and with departments that have been affected by this potential change. It really doesn't matter if you're essential and non-essential. If you're required to work, you're required to work. It doesn't matter if you're essential and non-essential. If you're required to work, you're required to work. It doesn't matter if you're classified as one or another. I agree. And as far as me applying a policy, it really doesn't matter. I just need to know if they have to work, is it the court's discretion to compensate them in some form for coming into work? What about some comp time instead of paying those employees, maybe give them comp time? in some form for coming into work. What about some comp time instead of paying those employees, maybe give them comp time? Well, and that's a, a commission, that's exactly what would happen. That has never been an open discussion. It would just automatically be comp time. We only pay employees 80 hours every two weeks. Anything in excess of that is automatically a comp time if we want. I'm thinking as I'm going along. I mean I don't know that we've given maybe I will come time or we give them for our come time or give them some time to say is we do appreciate your coming. I think that's all the employees are asking for. They're only asking for recognition even if it's an accrual to count time. that's all they're asking for. The employees are asking to be treated fairly. And if the secretary gets to recognize time off or implement whether they want to be considered equal in that consideration, that they get to take time off at another point when their assistance isn't needed at the facility under emergency situations. They're just wanting to be treated. Everybody wants to be treated as fairly as possible. I can see that. I believe that the current policy is discriminatory. I can see that, but I still say that when we take jobs, we have to take in consideration what kind of job that is and whether I need to be here at all times or not. I still say we need to do that. Commissioner, I agree with you 100 percent but I know that our officials that are here wish that everybody had that same work ethic and it's a practical issue for them to get people to work when not everybody will make that same effort. And I think it's important that we recognize that while law enforcement, Commissioner Coleman, I agree with him, you know, it doesn't matter when it is. Those people, when that happens, those people have to go to the jail whatever day it is. But there are times of the year when other jobs require people to work too, and you can have very serious consequences if they don't show up like running an election or trying to get payroll out. And there are lots of things that are really critical to our employees into the county, into the citizens where people do have to work whether they're in a uniform or not. And that's the reason why I mean that I'm thinking that maybe we should do something, but now I'm not for paying people double. And I still say that when you take a job, you take that job with the knowledge that it has extenuating circumstances. I'm never going to say that different. I tell my children, I tell everybody I see. You took that job and you should have thought about what you were taking before you take that job. Having said that, is there something we can do to encourage people? I don't mind looking at that. And if it's some kind of comp time or something we can do, or something the elected officials can do to help that, I say, let's look at it. But let's not let people off the hook to say, okay, you know, We'll just pray you if you're not here. We need people need to take responsibility for what they do or what job they take. We all have choices. Don't get me out of my weapons zone. You get me out of my heaven zone. Mr. I honestly think we're all on board with what you just said. I should. I'm telling you don't get me out of my heaven zone. I know, but it's fine arguing with me because I'm like, Mr. Mitchell, aren't you? I said we're talking about why we can't. It's our duty to set the policy. We would recommend to the elected officials that look, you have an employee who you call in who doesn't show up you need to do something but we can't do that for them we can just set the policy for compensation but they're stuff or if they don't do something to them but we can't enforce that that's up to them all right and we cannot buy policy and force that like I said everybody don't follow policies anyway you I mean I'm in my happen modes so don't get me out of it all right well I would be all knowing back something it's yeah I would why would we be all knowing back something? I would recommend that we refer back to our original policy and improve it on the language to address the concerns that you've shared with us today and not overcompensating employees who are not worthy. We are only looking at compensating the employees who are making effort to get to their jobs and also making employees whole who are off for that day. So we're looking at resort going back to our original policy with improved language to address Commissioner Mitchell. Let me see for you concerns. I'm looking at the policy listed on the website. Is that the current policy that we are under that we talked about or is this the previous? The policy that's on the website right now is the policy that you approved on March 16th of 2010. However, we kind of got consensus, I think, among members, that because there were so many concerns in departments that we would delay implementation of that policy. So that policy has not really taken effect yet. OK. OK, back to the drawing board. I have a question. OK, Commissioner Cohen has a question. I would like to know if I noticed Ken Metcalfe is here and I know Sheriff Parkie is here and if they would like to give us some input I would welcome to have any advice they might offer to us regarding their departments if any I'm not saying you have to but Give me your opportunity. If you want your two cents, this is the time Thank you, Commissioner Thank you, Commissioner. First off, I'd say God bless Texas because this policy is only relevant for about this long. Thank you. So we're not talking about a huge major budgetary impact in my mind. I understand any impact is important. I agree with that. But this last two weeks have been somewhat unusual. And fortunately, I think we're somewhat immune to the global warming problem. But the impact it has on my office is about two thirds of my employees are essential. We have state mandated requirements of staffing levels in the jail. We have to have people there, period. If they have to stay over, they have to stay over. We have to know ahead of time when these people, we've got people coming in. So we have to make some arrangements prior to, when we see this, see it coming, and we get the message on high from the judge that this is the way we're going to be to find out, well, how many people we're gonna have and where they can be. I think it's important to give the message to the employees that we value their efforts. There's some people just can't get out. They people live on hills or down in valleys that can't get up hills. And they just can't, and it's just they can't make it. So the ones that do stay over and the ones that do come in, we had an employee that was injured in the parking lot, took a bad fall and essential employee coming in. I mean that dedication, they knew it was dangerous, they came in anyway. We need to get the message that the employees that we value their service and I think that this is a small thing to do and I believe that I have every confidence in Amy and in Ms. Brown and implementing the policies. I think that things don't happen without a reason. And I think that the fact that this did not get posted, I understand it may be the law of the land because it was passed in the court, but it didn't get posted. And that's what we're here talking about it. If that hadn't happened, we wouldn't be here talking about it. But I would like to let the employees know that we do value their service. And I think that there needs to be some type of compensation for income, whether, and I believe the recommendations have come out or make sense. And I believe that the employee will appreciate that. And that's where our assets lie. With the folks that are actually taking the chance, taking the risk to come in. And we all saw that two weeks ago. I know commission reads all it in his staff, and I saw it in my staff, and we all did. But our, our responsibility is somewhat, like I said, somewhat larger than most. We've got, like I said 2.30 to about 300. I mean, 330, 340 people of leave that are going to be considered essential services, not just long enforcement on the street, but the folks in the jail is well and dispatch services that help get the folks where they need to be. But I'd like to see some type of compensation for those and recognition for those. Again, fortunately the area of the world we live in, we're talking about ink but weather, we just don't have much. And I really feel that it's more important for the employees than it is. And the potential for negative budget impact is if we have people over and they have to work over time. And that has a much larger budget impact, I feel, than just having a policy to where they can have comp time that they may take much later on down the road. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. But, Scott. I'm fighting again. Yeah, I'll call again. The juvenile departments had the opportunity to talk with our staff, the sheriff's office, the treasurer's office, and appreciate the complexity of all this. We looked at all the different scenarios you would think about, well, what about this? And then, well, what about that? All the unintended consequences of what we're doing. So I think, you know, bottom line, we hope we can do more than just say, well, that's your job, do more than just a pound on the back. But do something that will not impact taxpayers either, some kind of compensation or personal bond that, you know, balances the needs of the taxpayer and the benefits of employees and the needs of managing these departments and there's essential duties that we have. your willingness to look at this. Hopefully we can do it without adverse effective taxpayers. Thank you. Danny Bromley, did you wish to contribute some more? Your whole department was out there the whole time. I think, Prince Jim. Yes. And also too. I mean, I'm going to say this is is partly my fault because whenever this policy was discussed and we were asked who's essential who's not. In my opinion, my guys are essential. But like the sheriff said, how many days or how many times do we have more than a day or a day and a half a bad weather. So what I think that I can do to help my guys with this issue is go back and take a look at who is really essential. Instead of telling all my guys you have to come in if it's bad weather, maybe I go back and look at, I only need my own call person, myself and my sister. But one of the things that just, I know everybody's talking about, you know, the problems that we had, one of my big issues was that, you know, our problems didn't start till after five o'clock. And I had my guys working around the clock you know so they're just I mean they didn't get nothing for that I understand that's the way it is but you know I if we could just look at that and like I said I will look at who I need to have as essential that has to be here you know I'd love to say they all are but You know like I said we've never had this many days a bad one Okay Hey me do you think you have enough direction? I do I'm Wondered though if Cindy might want to draft the policy because she was in the meeting yesterday with the officials and got a good feel for everybody's concerns. Sounds good to me. Thank you. Oh, Jodie? How about pay policy? One of the things that, you know, listening to what Treasurer's talking about is specifically addressing currently we make closures eight to five, 92 Friday. Not to add to the problem, but this brings up addressing closures 24 hours a day, seven days a week for nonessential employees working on Saturday. For example, the museum works on Saturday. There are nonessential, well some of them are not essential, I would guess. But that's an issue that I think the policy committee should look at as well. Rodenbridge has to come in on a Sunday night to put sand out of fixed roads. I don't know. So just something that we're looking at and think about bringing up so. And that's their discussion list. Okay we need to move on. Thank you everybody. Appreciate you being here in your input. We're going to come back to 8C. Let's move to 10A which is approval of accepting Burke Street into the County Maintenance System. This isn't Commissioner Pristinkton move for approval I can't the motion by commissioners common seconded by Commissioner Eads commissioners marching just just for educational purposes This street half of it is asphalt and disarray and Then the other is gravel so will it go all to gravel? Is that what we will maintain? You know, I'm not gonna second guess the judgment of Bruce and Bennett, but it would be my intention to not pave it at this point because the way I do it is we try and eat least keep it at the state it's in and if I mean we probably grabbed me from wrong minute more likely if every came down to it run a recycler over it and then just flexed. What I'm going to do on this particular road, the asphalt and concrete mixture at the first 625 foot of the road is in worst shape and the gravel is. Yeah. So until it works into the paving schedule, I recommended that that asphalt and concrete be removed. Yeah. Because it's the worst part. Okay. So what constituted us to be able to come in and do that was what we did earlier. Lastly. We're in accepting that roadway and the easements that are attached to the roadways. That correct? Correct. Last week the court accepted the right-of-way donation for this road. Right. So, if, for instance, a common one at UNI, you're everything about. Yes, I know. If they were to come in and give easement now it was always my understanding that they had to bring the roadway up to an acceptable level that the county was willing to accept. Under the revised policy in July 2009 the court said a minimum standard for a orphan road to be brought into the county. And this Burke Road meets that minimum standard. Yes sir. My far. Do you understand or do you recall what I'm talking about a sort of subdivision within mine? That would not meet a minimum standard? No sir. Because it does not have suitable sub base. Got it. Okay. So this does. That's why it's... Yes sir. Okay, I'm just trying to get the end... And then they would have to... In the revised policy in 2009, that was the main qualifier for is the subbase. We realize this surface might have been great shape or have problems, but what's the subbase? Yeah, and that's what I just... But basically, put it on a dirt road that you just had with. The one you're talking about is dirt. It's dirt. Okay. All right. All right. We have a motion and second. Is there any further comments or questions? Hearing none all in favor of the motion please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Cine. Motion carries 12 a is approval of the Joint Law Enforcement Operation Task Force obligation document between Dent County, Texas and the US Marshal's office. And for approval. We have a motion by Commissioner Ead, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Questions? All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, Sinene? Motion to carry. 12 b is approval of the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Pro Services between Dent County, Texas and the Texas I'm sorry and they didn't kind of transportation authority before approval. Motion by Commissioner Eanes. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Marchin. Questions or comments? I'll in favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, Sinene? Motionless, Carrie. Is there anything under 13 A.D.A. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I agree with you. I Mr. Coleman drafted legislation that would address an existing subdivision or subdivision In addition, it would address an a an existing special district for which the roads are maintained by the district But are not accepted for maintenance by the county right and and it models a law that says unaccepted Subdivisions basically kind of takes tracks the same statute just in search, special district. And so we're asking to change that particular that's our law. And then we have submitted that. Byrd Solomon. Byrd Solomon's office. And then I believe Myra Crino, Crown Over, has expressed interest in co-authoring that same legislation. Good. Keep it posted on it. 13B is discussion and approval over a district in within Dant and County based on the 2010 U.S. Census figures. We don't have those figures. I don't know other than your appointment, which is a next agenda item. That there's anything else to add on that issue today so we There's no action on 13b. We'll go to 13c which is approval of appointment of dr. Albert paying to the 2011 Redistricting Committee Where does he live? There's in Carrollton Carrollton Currently serves on our health advisory board This fulfills the only other category that we had. Thank you. We have a motion. By Commissioner Marchant, seconded by Commissioner Eads, further questions or comments. Very nice. They say aye. Aye. Aye. Post and in. Motion to carry 14 A is approval of renewal of number one to the contract for the 2011 didn't kind of employee service award event Between didn't county Texas and sunset trails incorporated DBA circle our ranch or western skies is recommended by the director of purchasing motion by commissioner Mitchell Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Coleman questions Second. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman, questions. On favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, Cine? Motion does carry. 13b is a provile checks, or size. Didn't Connie's option to renew the contract for the collection of DeWankant Court fines and fees assessed by the District County and Justice Courts of Didn't County, Texas between Didn't County and McCurray Vistalka, Bragg and Allen, PC. Motion by Commissioner Eads, back in the back, Commissioner Mitchell, question, go ahead. Okay, what year we end to renewal? Is that, did that come with a three year renewal or? I know after this term, there will be one renewal left. There will be one more, okay. Any other questions? You're in none all in favor, please say aye. Okay. Any other questions? No. You're in none all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed to the name? Motion is carried. 14C is approval of the 2011 interlocal agreement for professional services between the counties of Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Parker and the North Texas Totally Authority as members of the public employee benefit cooperative of North Texas P.D.C. with the North Central Texas Council of Governments is recommended by the director of Human Resources I move for a room. You have a motion by Commissioner Eid seconded by Commissioner Coleman Hearing no questions on favor please say aye aye opposed in Eane Motion does carry 14 days approval of the Microsoft Select Agreement between Microsoft and Dint and County Texas is recommended by Kevin Carr, Director of Technology Services. I move for approval. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Marchand. Any questions? Here none on favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed to any? Motion carries. 14D is approval of one. Except it's of donation indeed from Elde Alde I'm sorry Texas LLC to Denton County Texas for right away for the underwood road ad hickory Creek Bridge replacement project in two Grand Authority to proceed with closing and approval for the Denton County judge Design on necessary closing documents. This isn't commissioner precinct for Other bridge that we're replacing and we need to this right away. So I'll move for approval Decide on necessary closing documents. This is in Commissioner precinct for. Other bridge that we're replacing and we need this right away so I'll move for approval. Motion by Commissioner Eans. Second. Second by Commissioner Coleman. Hearing no questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, Cine? Motion carries 14F is acceptance of donation of windmill structure by the City of Denton. To Denton, kind of Texas approval gift agreement dated October 1, 2008. For approval. Mr. Mayor Commissioner Ead, seconded by Commissioner Marchion. Questions? I believe you have any comments. George, it was going to make. Okay. George, it was going to make a comment about the windmill and the barn from last week. I didn't realize she had comments. Morning. Morning. Um, Wayne and Melvigine Ryan, Bobby has the photos that he's supposed to be putting up. Wayne and Melvigine Ryan sold part of their property to Lake Forest Retirement Village for the expansion of their village. Lake Forest later sold 70 acres of that land to the city of Denton for a city park. This mid windmill was on the top of the ridge where the new playground is now in Lake Forest Park. City workers found remnants of a homestead and some outbuildings nearby and a large oak tree and a barn that still stood at the site. Our windmill is a dumpster and you oiled mill with an eight foot wheel and a 25 foot tower. It was patented in 1927, and we estimate it was constructed in the 1940s. The Historical Park Foundation and the Denton County Historical Commission have adopted a logo for the Historical Park for this women's milk to be part of the design. We have commissioners Marchant and Eads to thank for a highly visible iconic representation for the park. Perfect. Do you have the barn? Barn is this glorious. The structure. I just digson and his wife, Roxie Robertson, were married in January, 1977 at the Denton County Courthouse on the square. They lived in a rent house on Ida's father's farm in the Bethel community inside the present town of Highland Village until October of 1907, when they bought 50 acres on what is now called Waked in Road in Flower Mout. This is the birthplace of their five children. In 1928, they sold the original home place and bought 121 acres about 1 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 Dixon Lane in honor of the family for being their earliest settlers in the area. The Dixon's raised cattle, hogs, chickens, and turkeys, and produced a lot of produce. We don't know the date for this particular barn yet. Hopefully our restoration specialist will be able to determine that by examining the construction of the methods of install that were used. Through the efforts of Commissioner Andy Eads, the Louisville independent school district donated this barn to the County Historical Commission. Bill Mark was deconstructed the barn and it now resides on County property in road and bridge precinct 4 until it can be permanently reconstructed in the park. Those are the histories of the forest. As the barn in our barn. These are the last two of the structures and or buildings that we'll be bringing to you for a little while from you won't be hearing from me from now on you'll be hearing from Bill Coleman if any other structures are brought forth. So thank you for doing this. We're excited about it and we'll be raising the funds for it. Thank you, Georgia. And if I may, I just want to thank Commissioner Marchin. Again, the beauty of our court is we all can ship in and help out wherever our God-given talents are. And he was great to create that logo for us a couple years ago. Commissioner Mitchell and I were all with George and that committee meeting. We said, we need a new logo and I know just the right guy. So he gave him inspiration as far as the windmill which we're acquiring today and I'm excited that he did that. That is going to be a vertical element for the park. And we're excited about that. These new landmarks. Hey, we have a motion in this segment. We haven't voted yet. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Oppositing. Motion is carried unanimously. 14G is approval of one. Memorandum agreement for approaches right away in a waterline easement in the amount of $87,375 by Dent County, Texas from TNO Legacy, LTV, buying through Terry Button and I see button for the Copper Canyon Road Improvement Project, to grant authorization to proceed with closing and approval for the county judge assigned on necessary closing documents. And 3, direct the county auditorish award in the amount of the purchase price plus any fees with funding to come from Commissioner precinct for CIP funds. Covercannion road project auditor number 61, 73, 87, 90, 3, 0. Overture approval. Motion by Commissioner Ead, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Other questions? In members. Four y'all. Long years to make that motion. I'm in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Motion does carry. 14 H is approval of the on-system utility agreement from Ant energy, corporation for utility relocation work on the FM544 project with funding come from, I'm sorry, funding in the total amount of $819,542.19 as follows, $306,455.50 to come from Dan Cunning Commissioner, pressing to BSI or PFM544 capacity. This is Auditor 85746390902. 65,9609.32 to come from Denton Clinic Commissioner Pricing to Triple Four funds FM 544 capacity. Auditor 857399060 and $447, I'm sorry, $447,117,037, to come from Commissioner Denton County Judge Triple-8 FM 544 Funds. This is Auditor 8573999070. I'll make a motion to approve and I appreciate everyone's work on this creative financing. There you go. Motion made commission or march at the chair. We'll second the motion. Other questions? Any none? On favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed sitting. Motion is carried. Before we go into executive session, I want to remind everybody that our Tuesday, February 22nd meeting has been postponed to Wednesday, February 23rd. They're kind of different to be meeting on Wednesdays. I just wanted to remind everybody of that. So okay, item 15 is executive session on 15 days under Texas government code 551.072, deliberation regarding real property, close meeting to deliberate the value of real property or deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body negotiations with the third person regarding the value of the real property located and didn't kind of commissioneristine 4, 15C is an executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.074A personnel matters. Close meeting to deliberate the employment evaluation duties discipline or dismissal of the vehicle maintenance manager. With that, we are an executive session. the action today under 15b then no be no action under 15c the chair is going to make a motion for the termination of Salmores director and county vehicle maintenance manager second back in the by commissioner marchand on favor of the motion please say aye aye opposed a name motion does carry unanimously there's two items that I need to go back to commissioners. One is 8c which is approval of temporary salary adjustment for road and bridge west foreman. We had taken action to adjust this temporarily. I think that just went to in December, wasn't it? And I wish I would have caught that sooner, right? Really intended to, but anyway, I'd like to make a motion that we adjust the compensation and really not put a termination date on it because we're not sure how long we're going to need his services. So it's a temporary adjustment but it doesn't have a termination date. And what is your recommendation on that? Oh, it's on page 252 because I didn't see that. Okay. Is that your recommendation? What do you need to 52 per paper? That amount. That amount yes. Yes. All right. That's the motion. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed to say aye. Opposed to carry. And there's one other item I need to go back to and that is seven B. I'm sorry, seven. Yeah, seven B on the budget. I would like to put together a committee to study vehicle maintenance in that we or contract some of it out or you know I don't know maybe even turn it over to a road bridge and move people out to the road bridge but you know I want recommendations to come back and I believe we needed a valuation committee a bet if you would head that up we needed representative from the Sheriff's Department Lee Hall if you would head that up. We needed representative from the Sheriff's Department, Lee Howell, if you would let us know who you would like to serve on that evaluation committee, because certainly your interests need to be represented. That's just one. I suggest Danny Smith, who has been working in road bridge since he's certainly knowledgeable in the intricacies of what go on over there. Okay with Ron, don't it? Commissioner Marchand if you would. Okay with Ron being our representative, I don't know. Okay is anybody else that needs to be represented? I don't want to put any more on Donna but, James Wells. James isn't listening, but we'll send it to him via email, but he's on the committee too. I'm assuming that this is not in conjunction with the proposed budget. This is right now. This is not a, no, in other words, part of the budget process. Yeah, part of the budget process. And I'd like this committee to come back with a recommendation is to what would I do if I'd been doing it? It's not part of the future budget process. All right. All right. Right. It's a change that I think we need to make as soon as possible if we're going to make a change. And therefore, Amy do not post the position of manager of vehicle maintenance until we get a decision on this issue. Charge the committee to charge the community to come back with a recommendation by the end of May or something so we have a finality. Hopefully. Argate, do you all think that's so we could work if we do have a budget impact? I don't know how much we're going to take him to pull information together. I'll have by the end of March. Oh March, okay. Let's say we made a decision. I was just saying before we really crunched the numbers in June and July. You know, so. I think an initial report could be made quicker if you decide to issue an RFP or something else. Of course, that would take more time, but I think you'd get an initial report. Very quick. OK. It's the time to study it is right now. OK. I believe we've included a business. We're adjourned, everybody. Have a great day. I asked John, well, so probably need to get it done in the term of legal and because the pipe in our road by the way.