Great to be here and welcome so many of our guests with us and those at home watching. Thank you all for tuning in to a very special day every two years here at the courthouse as we induct our new office holders for our new terms. But before we get started on that celebratory moment, so I would like to on behalf of the Ditton County Commissioners Court, I'd like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed recently at age 100. As the oldest living former president at 39th President of the United States, I was honored to have met President Carter and his wife Rosalind after a Bible study at the Maranatha Baptist Church and planes to Georgia many ago. Known as a nation Sunday school teacher, President Carter was also known for his extensive humanitarian work, especially with habitat for humanity. In 1982, the former president as well founded the Carter Center, which was committed to human rights and alleviating suffering around the world. And also today our hearts here in Dutton County go out to the victims of today's senseless tragedy in New Orleans in which 10 people were killed and 30 more injured. Please join us in praying for the victims and their families and those first responders. At this time, I'd like to welcome Commissioner Mitchell to lead us in our invocation. And our pledges will be followed by Judge Jim Johnson. If you'll please stand. Good afternoon. First of all, I urge you that supplication prayers and a session and thanks for giving, be made for all people for kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. O gracious Father, Lord, we thank You for this day. This is the day that the Lord has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We come before you, Lord, at the beginning of this new year, thanking you for all that you've done for us in 2024. Lifting you up, Lord, we'll full of gratitude and hope. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to serve your people, each and every one of us, Lord. We give you all glory and all unimpraised as Lord. Lord, you're worthy to be praise Lord. Thank you for being a good God, a kind God, loving, making ways when we don't see no way, opening doors that have been closing our face. Lord, we thank you and we thank you and we thank you. Because you are better and better and a heavy load, share your water and dry places, food and starving land. Lord, you are promised keeper. You are way maker, and as we began this meeting, Lord, in the dawn of this New Year, we come together in humility, Lord, and gratitude. Seek in your presence, Lord, we acknowledge the weight of responsibility that's on each and every one of our shoulders, Lord. Because you may not be elected official, but you are responsible for some things, Lord, for your home, your children, your friend, your job, Lord. Lord, we lift every person up in this courtroom, Lord. We ask if you enlarge their resources. You know what they need and how they need Lord. Lord, we're leaning on, depend on you, Lord. In times like these Lord, when death is all around the county, all around the nation, all around the world Lord. Who's side are we leaning on? Leaning on the Lord side. Who's side are we praying on? Pray on the Lord side. Who's side are we fasting on? Fasting on the Lord side. Lord will all the challenges and opportunities that come Lord in this new season Lord. I pray for courage for each and every one of us Lord. I pray for wisdom Lord, discernment, and perseverance Lord to pursue what is right Lord. Help us to remain mindful Lord of those who we serve. Lord we give you and in praise today, Lord. Let this be a new year, a season of renewal. Shake the baggage off that you had in 2024. Step into the new year with a purpose Lord in the name of Jesus. We thank you for discerning and as we deliberate over matters, Lord. Equip each and every one of us to tackle issues with innovative ideas. Stats fast commitment. Remind us of the needs of those who rely on our decision. Bless the work that we do and throughout this year, Lord. Protect our families and each and everyone. Lord, I thank you, Lord. And today, when I prayed my last prayer, when I made my last vote, Lord, I want You to say, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few things. Come on up and I'll make You rule over many. I give You glory and honor today, Lord Jesus. Thank You for this election, Lord Jesus. Thank You for each and every person in this courtroom that has been reelected or first elected Lord. I ask if you build them up Lord, whether torn down, remind them that they're doing God's work, not their will, but let your will be done Lord. Let us go in and among your people Lord, or call into how you would go in. Make us know Lord Jesus that you are good, kind, loving God. You sit high, but you look low, and you're still in control. It doesn't matter who's in this office, right here, Lord. Doesn't matter who's in the White House Lord. You are still in control. In every knee, shell, bow, every tongue, shell, confess that you are Lord. And we give you all glory. We give you all on in praises this afternoon, let everything be done decent and in order according to your will, Lord. Thank God, amen. Amen. All right, church, Johnson. All right. You will remain standing. Amen. Happy New Year. Join me in pledging our allegiance to this shining city on the hill, this wonderful nation that we are blessed to live in, the United States of America. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And our great state, honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one indivisible. Very good. What is that? What's your oxygen tank? I don't know what that is. Resurculated. Well, thank you, Commissioner Mitchell. Thank you, Judge, for your participation. In other business, I'd like to let everybody know that Texas leads 14 to 3 in a second quarter. So, all right. We will go, let's go ahead and do item two. Members, are there any items you'd like to pull out the Consent Agendary of a Motion to Improvement as presented? Moved to a proof? We'll motion by Commissioner Williams, second by Commissioner Fowler, can there any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries your name. So our Consent of the day consists of item two A's approval of order making of warmments and item two B which is approval of payroll. Let's go to item five a approval of bill report. Pay much from CSD community corrections, TAIP, Sheriff's Training, Sheriff's Forfeiture, VIT interest and DA for funds represented for recording purposes only. Do we have a motion for approval? Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, second by Commissioner Williams. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries your name. So we have no action under 7a and 8a. Let's go ahead and go to 13a, which is the ceremony to administer the oath of office to the following elected officials who were elected on November of the fifth, 2024, number one, Judge Sherry Shipman District Judge of 16 Judicial District Court number two Karen Alexander District Judge of 393 Judicial District Court number three Jim Johnson District Judge of 431st Judicial District Court number four Tiffany Hartling District Judge of 4 and 62nd Judicial District Court number 5 4, Tiffany Hartling. District Judge the 460st Second, Judicial District Court, number 5 Lee and Breeding. District Judge the 460st Second, Judicial District Court, number 6, Tracy Murphy. Our sheriff, number 7, Dawnway, County Texas Heser, collection, number 8, Ryan Williams County Commission of Precinct 1, number 9, Bobby Mitchell, County Commission of Precinct 3, number 10, Johnny Hammond's Constable Precinct 1, number 11. Michael Truett, Constable Precinct Three, number 10, Johnny Hammond's, Constable Precinct One, number 11. Michael Truitt, Constable Precinct Two, number 12, Danny Fletcher, Constable Precinct Four, 13, Richard Boccus, Constable Precinct Six, and any appropriate action. Okay, so I will go ahead and we will go ahead and do the oaths down here. I'll call the office holder up and they and their family can come up here if they choose to have other guests with them. They're welcome to. We'll administer the oath and then you'll have a minute after we conclude your oath to express any comments that you may want to do. And then we'll step forward right here and take a quick picture with the county's cameras. That sound good or if your personal camera will have it taken with your personal camera as well. All right. So let's have our first one which is Judge Karen Alexander. Usually having to walk up or you. I know, right. You would like to, would you like a Bible? Oh, yeah, that'd be great. Well, I used. Okay. If you're welcome to use a Bible if you so desire, you don't have to, it's welcome. I, Karen Alexander. I, Karen Alexander. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will faithfully execute the duties. That I will faithfully execute the duties. The office of district judge. Of the office of district judge. Of the 339 judicial district court. Of the 393rd judicial district District Court, for Denton County, Texas, of the State of Texas, of the State of Texas, and what are the best of my ability? And what are the best of my ability? Preserve, protect, and defend. Preserve, protect, and defend. The Constitution and laws. The Constitution and laws. Of the United States. Of the United States. And of the state. end of this stage. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Just incredibly blessed. Thank you. All right. Let's say I'm pretty good. Thank you. All right, Judge Johnson. All right, Judge Johnson. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon. Hi, Jim Johnson. Hi, Jim Johnson. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That will faithfully execute the duties. That I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of district judge of the 431st Judicial District Court of the 431st Judicial District Court for did in county Texas, the state of Texas, and will to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect and defend. Preserve, protect and defend. The Constitution and laws. The Constitution and laws. Of the United States. Of the United States. And of this state. And of this great state. So help me guide. So help me guide. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Those that know me know that half of me is missing today. I'm rarely in public or anyone else without my wife, Pam. We've been out in the panhandle this last week in her 90 year old father passed, and only 19 hours in advance, his wife predice deceased him. So we're dealing with two separate medical emergencies and so she couldn't be here. I wanted to be here. Plus we have great-sized services in a couple of days and it's really cold so I came back together warm clothes and I'm heading back after this. I ask that you keep us in our prayers although although we're comforted by their faith. It's still hard, so please appreciate your prayers. I want to express my thanks to the voters, to the precinct chairs who were supportive of me. I see Lincoln cabinet members who exist only to support elected officials. I thank y'all, and especially thank you, Commissioner Eads, Commissioner Williams, Falconerner, Edmonds and Mitchell for all you do for the judiciary in Ditton County. I'm going just 15 seconds more maybe but my court is a specialty civil law court where you do only civil law and Ditton County is growing, the court system is growing and the commissioners have committed to build a specialty district court just across the street in a very cost efficient manner that will house our civil litigation. In my first term of office, 2064 citizens went through my courtroom to serve on juries. And so we have a lot of contact with the citizens. I thank y'all. I want you all to know that the courts, you see all these judges, all of our courts are open to the public. Come visit us. Come see, come talk. I'll give you a backstage tour. And if you don't come voluntarily, well, maybe we'll send you a summons and we'll see you on a jury. Thank y'all very much. Appreciate y'all. Thank you. And sorry about Charles Laws. All right, Judge Hartley. Hello. Okay, go right over the head. This Bible that many are using, it was my great grandmothers. There were early settlers here to the county. So in Dallas, before Lake Dallas was Lake Dallas. So anyway, I, Tiffany Hartling. I, Tiffany Hartling. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. I will faithfully execute. That I will faithfully execute. The duties of the office. The duties of the office. Of district judge. Of district judge. of the 442nd Judicial District Court, of the 442nd Judicial District Court, for Denton County Texas, of the State of Texas, of the State of Texas, and to the best of my ability, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend, preserve, protect and defend, the Constitution and laws, of the United States, States of the United States and of this state and of this great state of Texas so help me God so help me God congratulations. Thank you. I'm just very honored pleased and blessed to be able to serve the citizens of Denton County on my upcoming third term. So I'm very honored and proud to be here and thank you everyone. pleased and blessed to be able to serve the citizens of Denton County on my upcoming third term. So I'm very honored and proud to be here and thank you everyone for being here and supporting me. I'm going to be a big fan of yours. I'm going to be a big fan of yours. There you go. Judge Breeding. Is she is? We'll put you at your battle. Let's know this old is sad, but almost. I've got this one to take your soul, so. I like it. It's vintage. It is. It's vintage. All right, here we go. Leanne Breeding. I'd Leanne Breeding. Do solemnly swear. breeding I'd Leanne breeding do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that will faithfully execute that I will faithfully Execute the duties of the office the duties of the office of district judge of district judge of the 460 second judicial district court of the 460 second judicial district court for didn't county Texas for didn't county Texas of the state of Texas of the state of Texas and will to the best of my ability and will to the best of my ability preserve protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and of the state and of the great state of Texas. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. Okay, I'm not going to take very much time but I do want to introduce some my family members that are here. First of all, my husband who held the Bible, Rick Moore used to work in the county. Some of you may know him. Uh, in addition, start with we always go in birth order. So my sister Amy and her husband Mike, they're here from Cyprus, Texas, and my other sister, Lisa, and her husband, Kevin, who are here from Wake Forest, North Carolina. The one that lives in Illinois is home with one of her children who had to have his tonsils removed right before Christmas. So thank you all for being here. Happy New Year and here's to a great season in the state of Texas and in Denton County. You want us in front? Yes, over here. No, thank you. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. Here's our very own sheriff, Tracy Murphy. And guests, y'all come join us. All right. All right. All right. Here we go. I, Tracy Murphy, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of sheriff for didn county Texas of the state of Texas and will to the best of with my ability. Preserve, protect, and defend. Preserve, protect protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the state of the great state of Texas so help me God congratulations Thank you guys for coming out and supporting everyone. I wanted to introduce my family, my beautiful wife, Stacey. Yes, I'm very aware. I'll kick my coverage. I don't need to hear that anymore. Thank you. Four of our seven kids. We have Connor and Colin and Kaden. I love Emma was short behind her. Our other daughter is Morgan Mason. Kenzie couldn't be here today, but I'm very blessed to have this family. I'm very blessed to be able to serve the people of Ditton County. And I want to thank them for an opportunity to do my very best to keep you guys safe. Thank and Judge Alexander is going to administer the duties. I don't weigh do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute that I will faithfully execute The duties of the office the duties of the office of tax assessor collector of tax assessor collector For Denton County Texas for Denton County Texas of the state of Texas of the state of Texas and We'll do the best of my ability and we'll do the best of my ability to preserve protect and defend to preserve protect and defend the Constitution the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the laws of the United States and the state and this state so help me God so help me God I'll introduce my husband I my our children are streaming and watching lives and if I name them the Texas and Arizona game would be over. So I thank everybody, all the people that have helped me get elected, Mark Moffett especially, so gifted me that I didn't see. And Michelle French, I just want to say thank you so much. Honourable Michelle French, 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. most when she read ginger Our talk about this last night Ginger shows our most chained her county employee when she retired last night at 1159 So she was her yeah, give her a big hand All right commissioner Williams Amber and my family. They are. They are. Part of the minute anyway. Some of them. You're immediate. Hey you. The commissioners have not won but two oaths. So, yes. I don't recall that. Four years. It's okay. All right, we'll go for it. Okay. I, Ryan Williams. I, Ryan Williams. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That will faithfully execute. That I will faithfully execute. The duties of the office. The duties of the office. Of county commissioner precinct one. of the state of Texas. And with the best of my ability. And with the best of my ability. Preserve. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be able to do that. I'm going to be I, Ryan Williams. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will not be interested. That I will not be interested. Directly or indirectly. Directly or indirectly. In a contract with, in a contract with, or claim against the county. Or claim against the county. Except such contracts. Except such contracts. Or claims. Or claims. As are expressly authorized. that are expressly authorized by law by law and accept such contracts or claims or claims as are expressly authorized that are expressly authorized by law by law and accept such warrants and accept such warrants as may issue as may issue to me as fees of office to me as fees of office so help me God so help me God congratulations oh my god what a weirdo Oh, man. Well, yeah. So help me go. Congratulations. Oh my god. What a weirdo. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. That was good. Well, first off, I want to thank my gorgeous wife. Obviously, without our husbands or wife, when we're in these kind of positions and run for office, it's a lot of stress on our family quite frankly. So I really appreciate that. And then my wonderful son, we were very fortunate. I'm very fortunate. There's just three of us. We stake very close together. And I love them more than anything. I also want to thank the support of my co-workers, the judge and the other commissioners. And then anybody and everybody else in this county, this is actually a really wonderful place to I've got I've got to know a lot of the Administrator administration and a lot of the employees and obviously they have the elected officials and I'm proud to work and Represent in County. So thank you again to the voters that allowed me this opportunity to do for more years. So thank you so much I know best one. Come on back here hide now. Do you mind using my you don't mind, sorry, Miss Mitchell, you're coming down to anyone else to get here. Miss Mitchell, you're coming down next anyway. I would have said ladies first, but I didn't control the way this thing works today. Look at how gorgeous she does. I mean does she not? She'll always makes us look bad around here. I know. I know. I want and I, nobody ever comes to our side. You just watch. When there's pictures, it's just Kevin and I over here by ourselves. Everybody always migrates to the ladies since I haven't figured out why. Thank you. Appreciate it. Nexus Commissioner Mitchell. There you go. My family, come on up. And the family. Come around this way. Yeah, come going to use Bible, Bobby. You're going to do it. Okay. All right. All right. Here we go. I, Bobby Mitchell. I, Bobby Mitchell. Do solemnly swear. solemnly swear. That I will faithfully execute. That I will faithfully execute. The duties of the office. The duties of the office. Of county commissioner precinct three. Of county commissioner precinct three. Of Ditton County. Of Ditton County. Of the state of Texas. Of the state of Texas. and will to the best of my ability. And will to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect and defend. Preserve, protect and defend. The Constitution and laws. The Constitution and laws to the best of my ability preserve protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and of this state And of this state so help me God. So help me God. All right and I Bobby Mitchell. I Bobby Mitchell. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear that I will not be interested. that I will not be interested. Directly or indirectly? Directly or indirectly? In a contract? In a contract? With or claim against. With or claim against. The county. The county. Except such contracts. Except such contracts. Or claims. Or claims. As are expressly. Or as are expressly. Authorize my law. Authorize my law. And accept such warrants. And accept such warrants. As may issue. As may issue. To me as fees. To me as fees. Of office. Of office. So help me guide. So help me guide. Congratulations. Good evening. Introduce my family, my husband Fred, my son, Darren, my daughter-in-law, Tonya, my daughter Cynthia. I want to say to the voters, thank you so much for reelecting me again. I won't tell you how many times, but for all of those times I want to thank you. I appreciate what you've done for me. We cannot do our job without our voters and with the citizens of Din County coming out to help. Then I want to thank you for being here. You could be doing anything else. I know some of you are busy this is New Year's Day and you could be doing home, eating you black, at ease and whatever. But you came here to help us support us. And we thank you so much. And so thank you and be blessed. Hi, Leighen. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. help us support us and we thank you so much and so thank you and be blessed. Hi, gospel hammons. Texas still leaves 17 to three. Okay. Hi. It's a block. All right. I don't want to do this at the park. I don't want to do this at the park. I don't want to do this at the park. All right. Good afternoon. Okay. Johnny Hammons Jr. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. I will faithfully execute the duties. I will faithfully execute the duties. Of the office of Constable precinct one. Of the office of Constable Precinct One, for Ditton County, Texas, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the Great State of Texas. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. I'll be really quick. I just wanted to introduce my wife Shelley Hammons and my mom Mary Hammons. These are the two most important women in my life. And I'll tell you they have been my number one supporters and they believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. So I want to thank them. And it's been such an honor and a privilege to be reelected. I'm serving in the office of the town that I was born in, I was raised in, and this has always been my precinct, and it is so humbling and I am just so honored. Thank you all. Okay. Okay, constable, true it. I'm going to give a shout out to our state reps elect is with us today. Hello, Mr. Little. good to see you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being here. How are you doing? I am doing great. Happy New Year. Happy New Year to you. Here we go. I, Michael Truitt. I, Michael Truitt. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. I will faithfully execute the duties. But I will faithfully execute the duties. Of the office of Constable precinct two. Of the office of Constable precinct two. Didn't county Texas? Of the state of Texas. Of the state of Texas. And will to the best of my ability. And will to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect and defend. Preserve, protect and defend. Constitutional laws, the Constitutional laws of this great state of Texas and of the United States. United States. Oh, how have almost got it So help me God help me God congratulations I'd like to thank all of y'all for being here. I'd like to introduce my family, my lovely wife, which I couldn't do any of this. Melinda, my older brother, Richard, and my sister, Tanya. And this is the seventh time I've taken this oath for Ditton County, and it is a great honor to be part of the Ditton County family. I've been here since 1993, working for Dittonon County and it has been a pleasure all of those years. Thank you very much. I'm going to give you a big hand. the official. All right, and next is Council of Boccus. I'm going to go to the office. Thank you, sir. Hi. Hi, Richard Valkas. I'm Richard Valkas. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. I will faithfully execute the duties. I will faithfully execute the duties of the Office of Constable precinct six of of the Office of Constable Precinct 6 for Ditton County, Texas for Ditton County, Texas of the State of Texas and will to the best of my ability and will to the best of my ability preserve protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and of of this state and of this state, so help me guys, so help me, congratulations. Thank you. Thank you Yeah, I'd like to introduce my wife. This is my wife Leslie We just celebrated our 35th anniversary in November So we've been together for a long time and of course I couldn't be up here standing in front of all y'all or doing what I'm doing without her support. We have a daughter, unfortunately, who couldn't attend. She's in Colorado with her husband. I would just like to say how honored I am and how blessed I feel to serve it in county and all of you. God bless, thank you very much. Thank you. All right, I want to take a moment and just echo some of the sentiments that many of the office holders express, which was thank you to the voters for being involved in the process and for elect electing us, I want to thank the party officials for all their efforts as well. And our wonderful county staff for all they do is support the office holders. We have so many people in our Ditton County family, about 2,000 people in our Ditton County work family. And I call it a family for a reason because that's really truly what it is if you've been around this organization for any time at all. You realize that it truly is a very much a family environment. So I want to wish all those new office holders and those returning the very best and I commit that the commissioners' corporate continue to work with y'all. So here we know whether items, members, you don't want to say anything under 17 community updates. You don't want to do anything to that, okay? All right, Henry. Go right ahead. One thing, I'm sorry, Judge. Yes, I failed miserably on one thing. I have to say how great of a job and how lucky I am to have Capricia working for me in my office. At the end of the day, I know all of you elected officials realized that persons that work so hard for us and around us, that's really who makes up. I have to have Capricia working for me in my office. At the end of the day, I know all of you elected officials realize the persons that work so hard for us and around us. That's really who makes us look so good most of the time. And I do want to say thank you so much. She's done an unbelievable job, and I'm very fortunate to have her. So thank you, judge. And I believe Commissioner Mitchell wants to say something. Thank you, Ryan. April, would you stand up? Yeah, both of you stand up back there. Both of you stand up. Both of you stand up. Sorry, thank you for the high check. That's Miss April and then that's Miss Capricio. April, I want to thank you for the job that you do for me in my office and all the citizens here in Den County. I'm certainly appreciate you and I'm sorry that I forgot to call your name because with that you as Ryan said Yeah, all of this is don't work with that administer Thank you very much. Yeah, no Absolutely. Thank you judge. Sorry And as we as we adjourn today, I would just like to remind everybody the commissioner's court is hosting the light reception in our 2020 ride across the hall here Happy New Year. It was gonna be a prosperous. I wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2025 and I want to take a moment of I wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2025. And I want to take a moment of privilege in which my son, Happy Birthday. It was born on Y2K, 2020, so happy birthday son, happy 25th. We are adjourned.