Oct 23, 2025 REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - Old

>> AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[4. Public Comments regarding the Agenda and Announcements.]

AND MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 4, PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND WE WILL START WITH ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER ONE, TEXAS EMPLOYEES INTRODUCTION, AMY, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE YOUR EMPLOYEES.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

SO, FOR OVER 100 YEARS EXTENSION HAS IMPROVED THE LIVES OF TEXAS BY DELIVERING INNOVATIVE SCIENCE- BASED SOLUTIONS AND EDUCATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT.

AND TODAY WE CONTINUE THAT LEGACY OF SERVICE BRINGING TOGETHER TRADITIONAL OUTREACH, MODERNIZED TOOLS, TO REACH TEXANS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.

SO REALLY QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF OUR IMPACTS WE HAD IN FY 25. ACCORDING TO OUR REPORTING SYSTEM BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1S T, 2024 AND I GUESS 31ST, 2025, AGRI LIFE EXTENSION REPORTED

[00:05:03]

22,962 ONE TO ONE CONTACTS. WE REPORTED 53,669 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN 962 EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS.

AND WE PROVIDED 52,810 EDUCATIONAL CONTACT HOURS. SO, FURTHER, OUR VOLUNTEER SUPPORT ENHANCES EXTENSION PROGRAMMING, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 1100 VOLUNTEERS WHOSE ESTIMATED AVERAGE HOURS ADDED UP TO A COLLECTIVE TOTAL OF 81,504. AND THAT PROVIDED AN IN KIND CONTRIBUTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY OF OVER $2. 8 MILLION.

SO I HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT INCLUDES NUMBERS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. AS WELL AS THE HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM SUCCESSES THAT WE HAD DURING OUR PROGRAM YEAR. AS YOU KNOW, TEXAS A&M, WE HAVE A STATE WIDE NETWORK OF EDUCATORS, TRAINED VOLUNTEERS AND COUNTY OFFICES AND WE'RE BUILDING A VERY STRONG NETWORK, A STRONG TEAM HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS. SO I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY SOME OF OUR NEW FOLKS. SO UNFORTUNATELY WE DID LOSE ONE OF OUR POSITIONS RECENTLY DUE TO THE FEDERAL CUT IN S.N.A.P. EDUCATION FUNDING.

HOWEVER, THE BRIGHT SIDE IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER THAT PERSON INTO AN OPEN POSITION THAT WE HAVE FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

SO I'M PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT CELESTE FEAST MADE THE TRANSITION TO OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENT POSITION CELESTE HAS A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER.

WE ALSO FILLED AN OPEN POSITION THAT WE HAD IN URBAN YOUTH ÷÷DEVELOPMENT WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHO PREVIOUSLY HELD A POSITION THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE S.N.A.P. DOLLARS, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO PRISCILLA AFORE JOINED OUR TEAM ON SEPTEMBER 15TH. SHE WORKED FOR EXTENSION FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS. SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN DIETITIAN AND DIETETICS FROM MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY IN MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE PRISCILLA. AND ROWDY, ROWDY SANDOVAL JOINED US ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AS THE COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

IN HIS ROLE HE'LL BE LEADING THE 4H AND YOUTH LIVESTOCK PROJECTS AS WELL AS CONDUCTING ADULT PROGRAMMING AND AGRICULTURE TOPICS.

ROWDY IS A GRADUATE OF TEXAS A &M UNIVERSITY.

AND WE ARE ALSO VERY EXCITED TO HAVE ROBERT PEREZ JOINING US.

HE JOINED US IN AUGUST 18TH AS A PART TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION. AS A RETIRED AG TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR HE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND HE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR TEAM IN MEANINGFUL AND UNIQUE WAYS.

STRONG FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN BUILT BY THOSE WHO WORKED IN FORT BEND COUNTY BEFORE US, AND THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION STRUCTURE IS -- THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE SMITH LIEBER ACT OF 1914 IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLEX EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.

AND TODAY WE CONTINUE TO DO THE IMPORTANT WORK IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND IN THE FUTURE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AND MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DO OUR PART IN MAKING FORT BEND COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, TO WORK, TO PLAY AND TO LEARN.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND THE GENEROSITY AS WELL AS THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU, AMY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> AT THIS TIME, I INVITE OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR CONNIE ALAMEDA. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND THIS IS THE DAY WE ARE GOING TO BE OBSERVING ON OCTOBER 28TH.

YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES. ACTUALLY OCTOBER 28TH IS NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY.

AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO INVITE SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS INCLUDING KAYLA ELWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE INITIATIVE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE CAN ALL RECALL THAT WE'RE 20 DIFFERENT AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY, INCLUDING MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE COMING TOGETHER AND WE'RE HOSTING AN EVENT AT OUR FAIRGROUNDS EXCLUSIVE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE HAVE OVER 35 PROVIDERS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT. IN ADDITION TO THE COUNTY

[00:10:01]

DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, EMS, FIRE MARSHAL, CONSTABLES DEPARTMENTS, WE HAD THE SUPPORT BEHIND THE BADGE FOR THIS. YOU'RE ALL HERE.

CONSTABLE, I KNOW -- SO, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED. THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

WE MEET MONTHLY. WE HAVE BEEN STARTING THIS WORK FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AND THE GREAT -- I MEAN, PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND IT IS, AGAIN, NOT ONLY A COUNTY DEPARTMENT, BUT WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH TO FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO, GREAT EVENT AND, AGAIN, RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS DO, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THEIR WELLNESS. I --

>> IT IS GOING TO BE ON -- YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT ON THE 28TH OR --

>> WE ARE. DO YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT?

>> YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

>> YES, THE EVENT IS ACTUALLY OCTOBER 28TH, IT IS AT OUR FAIRGROUNDS. IT IS EXCLUSIVE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE AGAIN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE, THAT -- WHERE THEY CAN GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. OF COURSE, COMMISSIONERS, YOU'RE INVITED, BUT IT IS NOT A PUBLIC EVENT. SO -- WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING?

>> YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE MIC.

>> AND I'LL ALSO MENTION THAT KAYLA, SOME OF YOU KNOW KAYLA ELWOOD, SHE WORKED WITH OUR SHER IVE'S OFFICE FOR 13 YEARS, SHE MOVED OVER TO CIT, SHE DID HER INTERNSHIP FOR HER PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING LICENSE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THEN THROUGH ARPA, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE HER A POSITION TO FOCUS ON FIRST RESPONDERS AND SHE'S DONE AMAZING WORK AND SHE'S PART OF VHS, BUT, AGAIN, WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. AT THIS TIME, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND WE ALL KNOW WITH ARE UNDER A BURN BAN IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK OUR FIRE MARSHAL AND HIS TEAM IS DOING IN FORT BEND COUNTY TO KEEP US SAFE. SO I WILL ASK JONATHAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. FIRE PREVENTION MONTH.

>> HELLO, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. THIS PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS. OFFICE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, WHEREAS FORT BEND COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE LIVES, HOMES AND PROPERTY OF EVERY RESIDENT AND VISITOR IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND WHERE AS FIRE CONTINUES TO POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE GROWING USE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES IN EVERYDAY DEVICES INTRODUCING NEW AND SERIOUS RISKS IN OUR HOMES AND WHEREAS AS LITHIUM ION BATTERIES POWER IN OF THE ITEMS WE RELY ON DAILY INCLUDING SMARTPHONES, LAPTOPS, E- BIKES, E- SCOOTERS, POWER TOOLS AND TOYS, AND WHEN DAMAGED, MISUSED OR IMPROPERLY CHARGED THEY CAN OVERHEAT, CATCH FIRE, OR EXPLODE AND WHEREAS PROPER DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES NOT ONLY PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO REDUCES FIRE RISK IN HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LANDFILLS AND WHEREAS FORT BEND COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY TEAMS ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FIRES AND SAVING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED I KP GEORGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 2025 AS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. THROUGHOUT FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, I URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY LEARNING AND PRACTICING FIRE SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. AT THIS TIME, IF IT IS OKAY WITH THE COURT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JUSTIN FOR A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE TAKE A PICTURE.

>> PLEASE COME FORWARD. OD AFTE COMMISSIONERS.

AS THE PROCLAMATION STATED, THIS CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR ISLITH LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. IT HAS COME INTO OUR LIVES NOW, FIRE CODES ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THESE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT KEEPS GOING ON.

BUT WE'RE STRIVING TO ENSURE THE LIFE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AS WELL AS EVERYBODY WITHIN THE NATION.

AS WE RECEIVED THE PROCLAMATION DAY FOR FIRE PREVENTION MONTH, I WANT TO DISCUSS AND SPEAK TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE. THIS OFFICE WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1985, WITH A CLEAR MISSION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY THROUGH FIRE

[00:15:04]

PREVENTION, INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. AT THAT TIME, FORT BEND COUNTY WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE, MUCH SMALLER, MORE RURAL, AND JUST BEGIN THE RAPID GROWTH THAT CONTINUES TODAY. AS A COUNTY HAS GROWN, SO HAS THIS OFFICE. OVER FOUR DECADES WE HAVE EVOLVED FROM A SMALL PREVENTION FOCUSED OPERATION TO A MODERN FULL SERVICE AGENCY SUPPORTING FAST GROWING AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY. OUR STAFF HAS GROWN FROM JUST TWO MEMBERS TO A STAFFING NOW OF 46. THE CALL VOLUME IN 1985 WAS LESS THAN 200.

WE'RE NOW A CALL VOLUME OF OVER 5,000.

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN THE EXPANSION OF OUR HAZMAT RESPONSE TEAM, WHAT BEGAN IN 2017 WITH ONE RESPONSE UNIT AND PART TIME COVERAGE HAS GROWN NOW TO 24/7/365 DAY COVERAGE, STAFFED BY THREE FULL TIME SHIFTS, FROM ONE UNIT TO A TYPE ONE HAZMAT TEAM WITH TWO SPECIALIZED RESPONSE UNITS AND THIRD UNIT ON THE WAY.

A DEDICATED FIRE FOAM TRUCK TO ENHANCE REGIONAL RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT THE COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONAL READINESS, AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.

TOGETHER WE MODERNIZED OUR TOOLS, STRENGTHENED PREVENTION, AND EXPANDED OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO ANY HAZARD THAT THREATENS OUR RESIDENTS.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD, OUR FOCUS REMAINS CLEAR, RISK- BASED PREVENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TO SERVE A GROWING POPULATION, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE TO MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES, TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, YOUR SUPPORT HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO EVERY STEP OF THIS PROGRESS.

TO OUR DEDICATED FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE TEAM, PAST AND PRESENT, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE BUILT THIS LEGACY. AND TO OUR PARTNERS ACROSS FORT BEND COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND COLLABORATION THAT MAKE OUR COUNTIES STRONGER.

40 YEARS AGO, THIS COUNTY MADE A PROMISE TO RESIDENTS TO PRIORITIZE FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY. TODAY WE HONOR THAT PROMISE AND RENEW IT FOR THE DECADES TO COME. I DO HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND SOME OF THE STAFF THAT WE'LL PASS OUT AND I HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TO TAKE PICTURES IF WE'RE READY. OR WHEN WE'RE READY.

>> ORANGE, NO PURPLE AND GOLD?

>> AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS, LET'S GET A PICTURE.

>> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> SORRY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE GET

[00:20:01]

THERE. >> GO AHEAD, FIRST.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FINISH IT AND COME BACK.

EITHER WAY IS FINE.

>> I THINK IT IS BETTER TO DO IT NOW.

JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, OR INFORM EVERYONE WE ARE EXPECTING SOME THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEKEND.

AND WE HAD A VERY BIG EVENT PLANNED.

THAT'S THE DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONUMENT. IT IS NOW BEEN RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 8TH AT 10:00 A.M. IN BATES ALLEN PARK.

WOULD LOVE YOU ALL TO COME, IF YOU INVITED FOLKS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY KNOW, DON'T GO OUT THERE, IT IS GOING TO BE VERY WET AND MUGGY.

AGAIN, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONUMENT AND PARK -- THE MONUMENT DEDICATION CEREMONY IS NOVEMBER 8TH AT 10:00 A.M. AT BATES ALLEN PARK. COME OUT ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST -- SORRY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, WE'LL BE AT THE FOUR CORNERS, COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW TRAILS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THERE AND WE HAVE SOME MURALS THAT THEY'RE FINISHING UP NOW.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ON ONE OF OUR ADULT TRICYCLES, WE WILL HAVE THOSE OUT AND WE'LL BE OFFICIALLY OPENING THE TRICYCLE LIBRARY THAT WE HAVE THERE.

THAT WILL BE NOVEMBER 1ST AT 10:00 A.M.

AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 4TH WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE BLACK COWBOY MUSEUM THAT WILL BE IN BATES ALLEN PARK IN KENDALEN TO AT 9:30 A.M. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME. TWO OTHER MOBILITY UPDATES, ON MONDAY, WE'RE ANTICIPATING SWITCHING TRAFFIC ON FRONT STREET. IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OVER THERE, YOU NOTICED WE HAVE COMPLETED POURING CONCRETE, NEW CONCRETE, ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE OF FRONT STREET, THE WEST SIDE OF FRONT STREET.

SO WE'LL BE SWITCHING TRAFFIC TO THAT ON MONDAY AS THEY WORK AND YOU WILL NOW GO INTOINTO CURVE WHERE THERE IS A SIGNAL LIGHT AT 762. THAT WILL BE THE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC FLOW UNTIL THEY FINISH THE VERY LAST POUR OF CONCRETE CONNECTING TO THE EXISTING ROUTE THAT YOU CURRENTLY USE ON FRONT STREET.

FRONT STREET TRAFFIC FLOW WILL BE CHANGING ON MONDAY AND WE ANTICIPATE BEING DONE, COMPLETELY DONE WITH THAT PROJECT BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

AND RANSOM ROAD IS OPEN TO ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE DOING SOME CLEANUP ON SITE THERE. AND FINISHING A SIDEWALK CONNECTING THE HOSPITAL TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES SO THEY'LL BE DONE WITH THAT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS HERE.

BUT, AGAIN, RANSOM ROAD IS FULLY OPEN TO ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC. THOSE ARE THE UPDATES WE HAVE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? JUST GO AHEAD AND CALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

>> THE FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS TEAM STEUBEN RAUCH.

>> THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TIM STEUBEN RAUCH.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SUGARLAND CULTURE ARTS FOUNDATION. I'VE BEEN A LIFE LONG BANKER HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ALSO A RESIDENT IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND AS A PRESIDENT OF THE SUGARLAND CULTURE ARTS FOUNDATION SUPPORTING AGENDA ITEM 19B, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO TAKE ACTION ON A BID TO PURCHASE THE LAKEVIEW AUDITORIUM FROM FORT BEND ISD. MANY OF YOU KNOW OUR AUDITORIUM, HISTORIC AUDITORIUM WITH A HISTORICAL MARKER IN OLD SUGARLAND. IT WAS BUILT IN 1917 AS PART OF THE SUGARLAND DISTRICT 17 AND AUDITORIUM BECAME A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS -- IT HELD HISTORIC EVENTS LIKE ROOFTOP DANCES, FESTIVALS, TALENT SHOWS, AND ACTUALLY SOLD WAR BONDS DURING WORLD WAR I. THEY WELCOMED THE SERVICE MEMBERS HOME FROM THE WAR.

AS ONE PERSON PUT IT, VERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN SUGARLAND IN THOSE DAYS HAPPENED IN THE AUDITORIUM.

THOSE ROOFTOP DANCES WERE SPECIAL AND IT WAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS INCORPORATED INTO FORT BEND ISD IN 1957, USED PERIODICALLY, BUT FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND APPROXIMATELY 2000 WHEN THE SUGARLAND CULTURE ARTS FOUNDATION STARTED RAISING MONEY AND CAPITAL TO IT, OUR GOAL WITH PATRONS FROM THIS COMMUNITY, FROM FORT BEND COUNTY, AND DONATIONS FROM GRANTS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, WE RAISED OVER $2 MILLION TO REBUILD AUDITORIUM, TO BE A USABLE FACILITY NOT ONLY FOR FORT BEND ISD, BUT THE CITY OF SUGARLAND AND THE SUGARLAND CULTURE ARTS FOUNDATION AND FORT BEND ISD, WE RENOVATED AND TURNED IT INTO A WORKING BUILDING. WE BROUGHT BACK -- WE BROUGHT

[00:25:02]

BACK THE AUDITORIUM AS A COMMUNITY GATHER, PLACE.

WE HOSTED THE ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL, ART EXHIBITS, OPERA IN THE HEIGHTS, PHOTO FEST, CONCERTS INCLUDING BILLY STRITCH WHO BILLY GAVE HIS FIRST PIANO RECITAL THERE AND HE'S NOW AN AWARD WINNING SONGWRITER AND NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER. BILLY CAME BACK AND GAVE A CONCERT TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS -- A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. SO, WE SHARE D -- WE ALSO SHARED THE SPACE WITH INSPIRATION STAGE, INSPIRATION STAGE IS THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED THEATER GROUP THAT TEACHES YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THIS COMMUNITY, THEATER AND ART, AND THESE FOLKS GO ON TO SCHOOLS AND NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED THEATER GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE HELD, AND PERFORMED AT OUR AUDITORIUM. WE HAD A 20- YEAR CONTRACT WITH FORT BEND ISD, THAT EXPIRED IN 2000, BY THAT TIME, COVID HAPPENED AND THE AUDITORIUM WENT DARK AND IT WAS UNUSED.

AND REMAINS UNUSED BY FORT BEND ISD TO THIS DAY.

WE FULLY SUPPORT MOVING THE AUDITORIUM TO AN ENTITY THAT WILL SUPPORT THE RICH HISTORY OF THE AUDITORIUM AND SAFE KEEP IT. WE HOPE FOR A SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, SUGARLAND CULTURE ARTS FOUNDATION CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND PROGRAM THE BUILDING, AND CONTINUE THE HERITAGE AND TRADITION TO ENHANCE OUR LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. IT IS A VACANT BUILDING, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO RESTORE AND KEEP IT GOING IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION THAT IT IS. SO IT IS 400 SEATS.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM OUR ORGANIZATION. AND OUTSIDE OUR ORGANIZATION, HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT IT AND WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF IT. BUT IN THE INTEREST OF YOUR TIME, UNLESS YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM MORE OF THEM, I'LL BE THE SPEAKER FOR IT. I DO WANT TO NOTE, RAMON GOMEZ, RAISE YOUR HAND, RAMON, RAMON WAS A -- HE'S WITH SUGARLAND HERITAGE FOUNDATION, BUT HE WAS A STUDENT THERE BACK IN THE DAY AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR AUDITORIUM FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND WE HOPE YOU SUPPORT THIS AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> PLEASE STAND UP.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VICKI KAUFFMAN ON AGENDA ITEM 18B.

>> THIS ISN'T WHAT I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR, BUT, YES, PLEASE DO TAKE CARE OF THE AUDITORIUM, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. HELLO AGAIN. I'M VICKI KAUFFMAN, A RESIDENT OF UNINCORPORATED FORT BEND COUNTY. FROM 1957 TO 1961 AND FROM 1999 TO THE PRESENT. OTHER THAN THAT, I'M NOBODY IN PARTICULAR. EXCEPT SOMEBODY WHO OBJECTS TO THINGS THAT I CONSIDER WRONG. I'M AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, YET HERE I AM.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, THESE REMARKS ARE ADDRESSED TO ONLY THREE- FIFTHS OF THIS COURT.

IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THIS REDISTRICTING IS APPARENTLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE. THOUGH I WOULD WELCOME SOME LAWSUITS. BUT IT IS ADDING INSULT TO INJURY TO ASK TAXPAYERS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR YOUR STORE BOUGHT LEGAL OPINION.

WE HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I REPEAT, ELECTED. THAT MEANS THAT THIS OPINION IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ME, A VOTER, AND TO ALL THE REST OF THE VOTERS IN FORT BEND COUNTY, NO MATTER HOW THEY CAST THEIR BALLOT, BECAUSE THE OUTCOME WAS AT THE CURRENT ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY IS CHARGED WITH PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE TO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, NOT YOUR STORE BOUGHT LAW FIRM THAT YOU'RE PAYING WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. MY MOM, WHO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TAUGHT ME TO FOLLOW THE RULES, OR TO BE COMPLETE ALSO TO CHANGE THEM IN THE CORRECT WAY, IF THEY WERE NOT FAIR, WOULD BE ASHAMED OF THREE- FIFTHS OF

[00:30:04]

THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, VERY ASHAMED OF TWO- FIFTHS OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND EXTREMELY ASHAMED OF ONE- FIFTH OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN OPINION FROM NOBODY IN PARTICULAR, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FAY BERKELEY ON AGENDA ITEM 5 AG.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 5AG.

DUE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ENGINEERS, THE SCHOOL IN FORT BEND ISD DECIDED TO ROUTE ALL EXITING CAR RIDER TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD, SECTION 22B ON THAT MAP. WHAT THEY FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY NEVER CAME IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND THERE IS STILL UNSOLD LOTS, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS FOR OUR ELEMENTARY- AGED CHILDREN TO WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, THE PORT-A-POTTIES, THE EXPOSED GAS PIPELINE AND THE PIT CREATED BY THE MUD, THEY'RE FORCED TO WALK IN THE STREET, BUT NOW THE SCHOOL HAS SENT 300 OR MORE CARS AT THEM WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL.

IF YOUR COUNTY ENGINEERS AND THUS THE COUNTY ARE INSISTENT THAT THIS IS THE SAFEST WAY FOR CARS TO GO THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE LEAST THE COUNTY COULD DO IS PROTECT OUR AREA UNDER A SCHOOL ZONE. INSTEAD, WHAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR MAP IS THE PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE THE SCHOOL GONE 200 FEET ON DISCOVERY LANE.

I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE NEW ROUTE IS, BUT THE MINUTE THAT PARENTS EXIT THE SCHOOL PROPERTY, THEY SEE AN END SCHOOL ZONE SIGN, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO GO UP TO 30 TO 35 MILES PER HOUR AND THEY CAN AND DO AND WE FILED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SPEEDING THAT IS HAPPENING, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU WILL -- IF YOU'RE INSISTENT THIS IS THE SAFEST WAY FOR OUR CARS TO GO, BUT IGNORING THE SAFETY TO OUR ELEMENTARY-AGED CHILDREN, TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL, THAT YOU MAKE OUR STREETS PART OF THE SCHOOL ZONE. THAT MEANS HOPEFULLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GETTING THEM TO REDRAW THIS TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN TO REMOVE THESE END SCHOOL ZONE SIGNS AND PROTECT UR OUR STREETS AND OUR CHILDREN.

COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE, I EMAILED THIS ABOUT -- I EMAILED YOU ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. AND THEN I THINK COMMISSIONER MCCOY, YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS AND THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FORUM, WE'RE HOPING YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND HELP DO THE RIGHT THING, TALK TO YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN MISSOURI CITY AND FORT BEND ISD BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE PUTTING OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES AT RISK. EIGHT YEARS AGO, LISA TORRE SMITH LOST HER LIFE TRYING TO WALK HER 6-YEAR- OLD KINDERGARTNER TO SCHOOL. WE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO PREVENT HISTORY FROM REPEATING ITSELF AND PREVENT THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO ANOTHER ONE OF OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GERALD SHANKS ON AGENDA ITEM 33.

>> GOOD EVENING. I WAS BORN IN SUGARLAND, TEXAS, NO LONGER EXISTS, THE HOSPITAL, I WAS RAISED IN BOOT, TEXAS, I ATTENDED SOME OF THE PARTIES THAT MISS BOOT USED TO GIVE.

I NEVER FELT THE WEIGHT OF OPPRESSION AS I DO NOW.

I FIND MYSELF MOVING BACK TO RICHMOND, TEXAS, TO FIND OUT I SEE A MULTIPLICITY ON COMMISSIONER COURT.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE RACIAL MAKEUP.

BUT IT IS DISGUSTING WHEN I HAVE TO COME IN HERE, AND ASK THAT YOU DO NOT TRY TO SUBVERT OR UNDERCUT OUR VOTE. I VOTED FOR YOU.

I HAD THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. EVEN THOUGH YOU CHANGED YOUR ALLEGIANCE, I STILL DON'T -- I'M NOT MAD AT YOU.

I HAVE NO REASON -- I FEEL IN MY HEART YOU SHOULD HAVE ANY REASON TO GET UPSET WITH ANYONE ON COMMISSIONER COURT, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FOR WHATEVER HER OPINION IS, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE

[00:35:02]

A RIGHT. AMEN? SO I'M AGAINST WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

THIS RESTRICTING, IT JUST UPSETS ME. I WENT SCHOOL IN ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE WORLD, LAMAR CONSOLIDATED. I WAS TOLD WHEN I LEFT THERE, REACH FOR THE STARS, REACH FOR THE MOON. IF YOU MISS, YOU'LL LAND AMONG THE STARS. I'M APPALLED AT WHAT I'M SEEING HERE TODAY, IN THE COUNTY THAT I WAS RAISED UP. MY GRANDFATHER BURIED OUT THERE IN BOOT, TEXAS, THE GOLF COURSE OUT THERE.

I SURE DO -- I'M AT A POINT WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO HAVE MY REMAINS TAKEN DOWN THERE TO THAT THAT GRAVEYARD BECAUSE OF WHAT I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KENNETH MURRAY, ALSO ON AGENDA ITEM 33.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HERE AS WELL TO SUPPORT PASTOR JARRELL SHANKS AS IT RELATES TO ADVOCATING FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL, ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

I AMBITIOUS KENNETH MURRAY, I LIVE IN SAVANNA PLANTATION AND LIVED THERE FOR A WHILE. I LIVED IN FORT BEND SINCE 2006.

AND I HAVE A DEEP, DEEP CONCERN THAT WHEN WE VOTE, OUR VOTE DON'T COUNT. IT IS ALMOST LIKE WE'RE GOING BACK TO 1865 THAT WHEN LAWS WERE MADE, WE FOLLOWED THE LAW, WE HAD HOPE THE LAW IS GOING TO BE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO HOW WE VOTED. AND THEN WHEN THINGS DON'T LINE UP THE WAY YOU THINK THEY OUGHT TO LINE UP, YOU CHANGE THE GAME SO YOU CAN GET YOUR WAY. THIS IS WRONG, PERIOD, FLAT OUT WRONG. TO SUBVERT THE VOTE OF THE CONSTITUENTS WHO VOTED FOR OUR ATTORNEY, WHO HAS REPRESENTED US WELL, NOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO CHANGE THE AGENDA, IF SHE HAD MENTAL ISSUES, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE THE AGENDA IF SHE HAD A FELONY.

I COULD UNDERSTAND THAT YOU COULD -- WOULD WANT TO CHANGE THE AGENDA IF SHE WAS JUST NOT QUALIFIED BUT SHE'S QUALIFIED, SHE'S BONA FIDE, THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO TAKE TAXPAYER MONEY AND SPEND IT UNNECESSARILY AS IT RELATES TO OUR ATTORNEY.

I'M HERE IT ADVOCATE FOR THE VOTER VOTERS I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR VOTERS RIGHTS. I'M HERE TO TELL ONE- FIFTH OF YOU ALL THAT THIS SMELLS OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND DON'T MEAN THE VOTERS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EMMA WITH AGENDA ITEM 18B AND 33.

>> I'M DRASTICALLY SHORTER, SO THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.

I'M ANNA AND DESPITE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES THIS MORNING, I'M HERE BECAUSE I AM TOO HERE IN DEFENSE OF OUR RESIDENTS, OUR VOTERS, THE BLACK LETTER LAW THAT PROVIDES THE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO OUR DULY ELECTED AND AT THE TIME UNOPPOSED COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IT IS HER JOB TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IT IS NOT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. IT IS BECAUSE THE TEXAS LAW SAYS SO. THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION SAYS SO. THE TEXAS STATUTES SAY SO. I'M NOT GOING TO READ FROM THE STATUTES AND WASTE TIME BECAUSE IF EACH OF YOU COMMISSIONERS, THE GOP THREE, CANNOT READ, THEN WE HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM, OKAY? AND, BY THE WAY, AS A PUBLIC CITIZEN, I DID DO AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST ON YOUR REDISTRICTING SCHEME, AND IT LOOKS LIKE BOBBY

[00:40:07]

EVERLY IS THE ONE DRIVING THE TRAIN HERE.

SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH TODAY, I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE "FORT BEND INDEPENDENT" WHICH IS VERY FRIENDLY WITH COMMISSIONER ANDY MEYERS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STORY HAS CHANGED AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WASN'T ILLEGAL, THE 2021 MAPS. THEY WEREN'T ILLEGAL.

BUT THEY WERE JUST UNFAIR. OKAY, SO YOU SEE HOW THE SCHEME IS TRICKLING DOWN? YOU SEE HOW UNFAIR IT IS TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE TAXPAYERS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY BECAUSE SOME GOP MAGA WHATEVER PARTISAN OPERATIVES, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR EVEN HERE LOCALLY, HAVE DECIDED TO TURN OUR COUNTY UPSIDE DOWN! FOR A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT'S RACIST WHAT YOU ARE ALL DOING. ALL THIS SMELLS TO HIGH HEAVEN.

ONE FORMER FORT BEND ISD TRUSTEE RICK GARCIA IS REFERRING TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, MR. MCCOY, AS A KID WHO NEEDS A MENTOR. THIS IS DISGUSTING! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL THIS HORRIBLE DIVISION AND HATRED AND NAME CALLING HAS STARTED BECAUSE OF AN ILL- BOTCHED PLAN FROM A FALSE CLAIM THAT OUR 2021 MAPS WERE ILLEGAL. AND NOW WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT.

WE KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS DULY ELECTED, AND BY LAW MUST STAND TO GIVE THE ADVICE. I AM AGAINST HIRING ANY OUTSIDE FIRM TO TELL ANY OF YOU ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HER JOB ENTAILS. THAT WILL BE A LAWSUIT.

OKAY. THAT WILL BE A LAWSUIT, AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AND BY NO MEANS SHOULD WE THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT UNPROFESSIONAL ATTORNEY THAT STOOD HERE LAST TIME AT COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND WAS SO EXTREMELY RUDE AND OFFENSIVE AND EVEN REFUSED TO GIVE HIS QUALIFICATIONS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THAT? WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE SUPPOSED TO USE OUR HARD- EARNED TAX MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT FIASCO? I SUGGEST YOU DIG IN YOUR POCKET AND PAY HIM.

WE OBJECT. AND GUESS WHO ALSO OBJECTS.

OUR DULY ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY.

ENOUGH! ENOUGH!

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAP PERNILLA ANTHONY ALSO ON AGENDA ITEM 3 .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M PAM ANTHONY.

MY HUSBAND DIED SATURDAY. BUT I FELT LIKE ITEM 33 WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET OUT OF MY HOME AND COME HERE TODAY. THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I HEARD ABOUT ITEM 33 WAS LOOK UP WHAT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S JOB WAS AND THIS IS FROM THE FROM THE FORTBENDCOUNTY. GOV WEBSITE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.

THE PICTURE AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, SHE'S EXTREMELY QUALIFIED IN THE JOB TO WHICH SHE HAS BEEN ELECTED. IF YOU TAKE YOUR TIME AND READ HER QUALIFICATIONS, WHAT PISSES ME OFF IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ATTACKED THIS WOMAN PERSONALLY.

IF YOU ATTACKED HER ON HER JOB, I WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

IN MY PREVIOUS JOB THAT I DID, I WAS ATTACKED PROFESSIONALLY.

YOU TAKE IT. BUT WHEN YOU ATTACK SOMEBODY PERSONALLY, I GOT A PROBLEM WITH IT. SO I'M SPEAKING TO EACH OF YOU PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED. FORGET THE POLITICS.

LET'S DO WHAT'S RIGHT. SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ELSE IS ON THIS PAGE THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM READING WHAT IT SAYS. IN GENERAL, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS TO DEFEND THE COUNTY IN ALL LAWSUITS, ISSUE CIVIL, LEGAL OPINIONS UPON REQUEST TO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, PREPARE AND REVIEW ALL CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY THE COUNTY. AND THEN IT HAS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER STUFF IN HERE.

ALSO, IT TALKS ABOUT SECTION 45. 179 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

WELL, I GOT TIME. I SAID, WHAT IS THIS CODE? SO, I LOOKED IT UP. IT IS FROM THE STATUTES THAT CAPITAL.TEXAS. GOV PAGE AND IT SAYS GOVERNMENT CODE TITLE

[00:45:05]

2 JUDICIAL BRANCH, SUBTITLE C PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS CHAPTER 45 COUNTY ATTORNEYS, SUBCHAPTER A GENERAL PROVISIONS, AND WHEN YOU GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LIST OF ALL OF THE COUNTIES, BUT AS YOU GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FORT BEND COUNTY, IT IS SECTION 45.179.

AND WHAT IT SAYS IS, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, IT IS THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND FORT BEND COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY IN ALL CIVIL MATTERS PERTAINING BEFORE THE COURTS IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND ANY OTHER COURTS IN WHICH THE STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY, OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS, HAVE MATTERS PENDING.

I AM GOING TO REQUEST THAT THE -- THAT YOU GUYS DO WHAT'S RIGHT. I ALSO LOOKED UP THE WORD WISDOM.

I HOPE YOU USE WISDOM, NOT JUST EARTHLY WISDOM, BUT BIBLICAL WISDOM. SOME OF YOU PRETEND YOU'RE CHRISTIANS, WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW THE BIBLE, ALL RIGHT? I'M FINISHING. GIVE ME A SECOND. GIVE ME SOME LIBERTY. I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

FORGET ABOUT THE PARTIES. DO WHAT'S RIGHT AS PEOPLE.

PRETEND THAT ALL OF US ARE KUN COLOR, GREEN.

IF YOU PRETEND THAT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUMITA ON

>> HELLO AGAIN. I WASN'T AS AWARE AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE EGREGIOUSNESS OF THE VOTING THAT IS GOING TO BE MADE TODAY. BUT BOTH AGENDA ITEM 18B AND 33 RELATE TO PAYING OUTSIDE LAW FIRMS FOR PRIOR WORK DONE AND THEN UPCOMING WORK DONE, MOST DISTURBINGLY ITEM 33 IS TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, NEW OUTSIDE COUNSEL, TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL, BRIDGET SMITH- LAWSON, IS COMPETENT, BASICALLY, AND IS WILLING TO -- IS DOING ANYTHING APPROPRIATELY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HER AUTHORITY, WHETHER OR NOT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE OVERSIGHT. I MAY BE MISSTATING, BUT THAT IS CLEAR THAT'S WHAT THE FEE FOR SERVICES AGREEMENT IS ABOUT.

TO ME, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, I'M JUST OUTRAGED BECAUSE -- AND DISGUSTED BECAUSE AT LEAST FOR ITEM 18B, WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY DOING IS YOU DISENFRANCHISED THE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTER AND NOW YOU'RE ASKING THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO PAY SOMEONE FOR THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT. THAT IS JUST DISGUSTING TO ME AND I AM GOING TO SUE YOU, IF YOU DO THIS, PERSONALLY, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT, ÷÷THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE ULTRAVIRIES DOCTRINE, AND I WILL BE SUING YOU PERSONALLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE DOCTRINE ALLOWS FOR UNAUTHORIZED ACTIONS THAT ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF YOUR PURVIEW.

AND MY SERVICES ARE FREE SINCE I AM AN ATTORNEY.

I DON'T PRACTICE IN TEXAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WILL BE MAKING SURE OF THAT AT LEAST, THAT'S MINIMALLY WHAT I CAN DO.

I'M WORKING ON . THE REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT, WHICH WILL HAPPEN. SO, YOU KNOW, ITEM 33B IS YOU JUST WANT TO INCREASE THE EGREGIOUSNESS OF THIS.

YOU'VE BEEN DOWNGRADING AND DOWNPLAYING AND PUTTING OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND THAT'S PRETTY DISGUSTING TO WATCH. BUT YET YOU VIEW AND PRIDE HER SERVICES WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING YOU OUT OF TROUBLE IN EVERY OTHER MATTER. SO, I REALLY HAVE TO WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR BRAINS AND HEADS AND REALLY QUESTION, LIKE, ARE THERE, LIKE, CIVILITY ISSUES HAPPENING. BUT IN ANY CASE, IT IS JUST WRONG, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST, AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING PROPOSING TO DO.

WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WE SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND WE WILL TAKE ACTION.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS CARMEN TURNER ON AGENDA ITEM 33.

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? IT TOOK A LOT FOR ME TO COME UP HERE TODAY.

AND I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AT ALL.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE REDISTRICTING, THIS SCOPE AND

[00:50:01]

EVERYTHING. AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO YOU. I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. I DID THE SAME THING YOU DID, WE RAN AT THE SAME TIME.

I WAS PUT HERE BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND TODAY I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND I WOULD THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS SAME SIDE OF THE ROOM WOULD FEEL THE WAY I FEEL BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF IT WAS HAPPENING TO ANY OF Y'ALL, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING. THIS OFFICE TURNED ME DOWN ALL THE TIME. BUT I STILL LOVE THEM.

I CAN'T GET NOTHING PAST MICHELLE TURNER.

I CAN'T GET NOTHING PAST DEMITRA AND I RESPECT WHAT YOU TELL ME AND I KEEP GOING.

YOU'LL SEND ME AN EMAIL. YOU'LL LET ME KNOW I'M ON TRACT. TO ARE THEM TO WALK ON HERE AND TRY TO PUT ANOTHER ATTORNEY IN HERE IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

IF YOU COME IT THAT TAX OFFICE, AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE WRONG, WHICH I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF MY NUMBERS BEING WRONG, I'VE BEEN BLASTED FOR THIS, I'VE BEEN BLASTED FOR THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I DID THE RIGHT THING.

I TOOK IT IN STRIDE AND I KEPT MOVING.

AND YOU CAN ASK PAM THAT SITS ON THIS SIDE OVER HERE, HAVE MY NUMBERS EVER BEEN WRONG? SHE'LL TELL YOU NO.

DO I DO WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO AS A TAX ASSESSOR, YES, I DO.

IF YOU ASK ME TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE LAW, I COME TO YOU FIRST, BRIDGETTE AND YOU TELL ME THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER ON WHAT I WANT, BUT YOU DON'T HEAR ME FUSSING ABOUT IT.

I ACCEPT IT AND KEEP ON MOVING. SO, I CAME HERE TODAY FOR THIS REASON.

I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY, COMMISSIONER.

YES, I DO. IN 2021, I WAS SITTING AROUND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T STAND UP FOR YOU THEN.

COMMISSIONER, YOU TOLD US 2 AND 2 ON A SWING VOTE.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. YOU WENT ON WITH IT.

WE WERE ALL WRONG. WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW -- I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOUR HOUSE WAS BEING MOVED OUT THE DISTRICT.

I FOLLOWED WHAT PEOPLE TOLD ME TO DO AND I WAS WRONG FOR THAT.

I'M TRYING TO RIGHT A WRONG, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT WHAT WE SAY.

AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THERE ARE DAYS THAT PAM DON'T WANT TO SEE ME COMING BECAUSE I BEG FOR EVERYTHING.

THERE IS DAYS THAT BRIDGE DON'T WANT TO SEE ME COMING.

DAYS YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME COMING. BUT SKI I ASK FOR IT, I DON'T GET IT AND I ACCEPT IT. I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THAT $300,000 YOU TALKING ABOUT, THAT COMES OUT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. WHEN YOU ADD AN EXTRA $10,000 OUT OF THAT, THAT COMES OUT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY IS, PLEASE RESPECT ME. I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

CUT THAT OFF. IF YOU TRY IT RESPECT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS REDISTRICTING? IT WAS 2- 2 AND A SWING.

YOU STILL WON AND YOU STILL -- STOP IT.

I'M GOING TO WALK OUT THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO NONE OF YOU ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM.

WE ALL FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WE SHOULDN'T BE. I USED TO BE WANT TO BE BURIED IN FORT BEND COUNTY LIKE YOU DID.

I DON'T. TAKE ME BACK TO COLLEGE STATION.

I'M NOT USED TO LIVING LIKE THIS.

AND I DON'T LIKE HOW WE LIVE RIGHT NOW.

WE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR EVERYBODY AROUND HERE AND I PRAY TO GOD Y'ALL DON'T DISRESPECT THIS WOMAN LIKE THIS.

I LOVE YOUR TEAM AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIAN ON AGENDA ITEM 5 AG.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AND I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT IS APPRECIATED. AND OFTEN DIFFICULT.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5AG.

WE -- AND I'M FOLLOWING MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER-IN- LAW, LAST NAME SEEMS FAMILIAR, MARIAN, WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW CONSTRUCTION AT 35 -- SORRY -- I THOUGHT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE SHAKEN UP HERE. 6535 DRAYTON HALL IN MISSOURI CITY. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T LIVE THERE FULL TIME. WE'RE STILL RUNNING A MISSION HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN MEXICO, BUT IT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE DREAM OF HAVING MANY YEARS STARTING IN TWO YEARS WHEN WE RETIRE OF WALKING MY TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, THE ONE AND A HALF BLOCKS OVER TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN WHAT IS SEEMINGLY A COMPLETELY UNTHOUGHT OUT REDIRECTING OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS THAT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE. UNDER THE CURRENT PROCESS, WHICH SENDS TRAFFIC OUT TO THE RIGHT ON TO A SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROAD, INSTEAD OF TO THE LEFT AS IT HAS BEEN EVER SINCE THAT

[00:55:03]

SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED OVER 20 YEARS AGO, IT -- TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THEY COME TO A SIGN THAT IS WITHIN HALF A BLOCK SAYING THAT THE SCHOOL ZONE HAS ENDED. WELL, LIKE MOST OF US, I DON'T EVEN BLAME THE PEOPLE, THEY THINK THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOW BACK OUT OF A SCHOOL ZONE AND REVERT BACK TO THE 35 MILES PER HOUR THAT THEY JUST CAME OUT OF WHEN THEY ENTERED THE SCHOOL ZONE. THEY ENTERED THE SCHOOL ZONE, DROPPED, NOW LEAVING THE SCHOOL DON'T, THEY THINK THAT MEANS THAT THEY REVERT.

AND THAT -- IT IS A TINY LITTLE -- AS MY DAUGHTER DESCRIBED, IT IS A TINY LITTLE STREET WITH CONSTRUCTION ON BOTH SIDES AND UNSOLD LOTS AND IT IS A MESS FRANKLY, BUT THAT'S -- AND THEY COMPLETELY LEAVE ALL CONTROLLED SCHOOL ZONE AREAS WITHIN HALF A BLOCK. I PERSONALLY WAS ALMOST T- BONED ON TUESDAY BY A SPEEDING FATHER WHO WAS TURNING LEFT BACK ON DISCOVERY LANE, AS HE'S TURNING LEFT, AS I'M COMING STRAIGHT, NEITHER OF US HAS STOP SIGNS OR ANYTHING, AND THAT -- WHAT IS CRAZY IS HIM TURNING LEFT PUTS HIM BACK TO WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD HE NOT BEEN SENT ON THAT FOUR BLOCK WILD GOOSE CHASE CIRCLE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY. I CAN ONLY BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE DIDN'T REALLY REVIEW THIS WELL BEFORE THEY CAME UP TO THIS DECISION. IT IS WASTED TIME.

IT IS WASTED -- WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS AND POLLUTION, IT IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE LESSON FOR OUR CHILDREN. I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS USELESS BUT NOT FREE INSTALLATION OF THE STOP SIGN, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK THE DROPOFF AND PICKUP PROCESS FOR OUR SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL. AS I KNOW, IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT IS A MATTER OF WHICH IF IT PRODUCES AN ACCIDENT.

IT ALMOST DID ON TUESDAY. BUT WITH CHILDREN AND PEDESTRIANS INVOLVED, IT MAY WELL BE A FATAL ONE.

SO, PLEASE, RETHINK THIS. THANK YOU.

>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JESSY MATTHEW ON AGENDA ITEMS 18B AND 33.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE AS A GOOD -- OF FORT BEND COUNTY, UNLIKE OUR COUNTY JUDGE. I AM ONCE AGAIN HERE FEELING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD BECAUSE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

YOU WASTED TAXPAYER MONEY ON YOUR REDISTRICTING AND NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO WASTE EVEN MORE MONEY BY HIRING AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY IS AND IS NOT ABLE TO DO. SHE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT HER JOB ENTAILS. MR. GEORGE, MEYERS AND MORALES, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY. BUT GUESS WHAT, IT IS NOT HER JOB TO MAKE YOU ALL HAPPY. IT IS HER JOB TO MAKE SURE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS DOING EVERYTHING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS TRIED TO DO.

THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE DETERMINES WHAT HER AUTHORITY IS. NOT YOU.

YOU ARE HELL BENT ON WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY AND BEING CORRUPT. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS COMPLETELY WRONG. I FEEL THE NEED TO DEFEND MRS. LAWSON BECAUSE AS A HUMAN BEING, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. ARE TRYING TO DO IS UNDERMINE AN INTELLIGENT AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN WHO YOU SEE AS A THREAT TO YOUR RACISM, MISOGYNY AND FASCISM.

SHE IS FULLY QUALIFIED TO DO HER JOB.

YOU ARE WRONG FOR WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ATTEMPT AND I BELIEVE IN A HIGHER POWER THAT WILL SEND YOU TO YOUR DOWNFALL IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU DON'T CORRECT YOUR ACTIONS NOW. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD TAKES CARE OF PEOPLE A LOT BETTER THAN PEOPLE DO. SO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT CORRUPT ACTION YOU TAKE, GOODWILL ALWAYS PREVAIL AGAINST EVIL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

>> WE WILL MOVE ON. COMMISSIONER, YOU WANTED TO LOOK INTO THAT ITEM.

>> YEAH. IF THERE IS AN ACTION, I WANT TO PULL 5AG FROM ANY ACTION ON TRAFFIC CONTROL, SO WE WILL

[5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1:00 p.m.: Conduct Public Hearings and take all appropriate action on the following matters:]

MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 5, PUBLIC HEARING, CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS 5, ENGINEERING PUBLIC HEARING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN. A, JORDAN RANCH SECTION 55 ,

[01:00:07]

PRECINCT 1, TAMARRON JORDAN RANCH BOULEVARD SECTION 13 STREET, DEDICATION PRECINCT 1, AND HARVEST GREEN SECTION 5 PRECINCT 1, AND D, HARVEST GREEN SECTION 58 PRECINCT 1 AND E RAYMOND FRANZ PARKWAY STREET DEDICATION PRECINCT 1, AND F AND THE 1824 AT AUSTIN POINT SECTION 3 PRE SINK 2.

AND ITEM G, DISCOVERY LANE, PRECINCT 2 AND H BELLAIRE BOULEVARD PRECINCT 4, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 5B, ENGINEERING HOLD PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING PLATS FOR A, HOLLY RIDGE SECTION 1, PRECINCT 4, HOLLY RIDGE, SECTION 3, PRECINCT 4, AND C, DYER LAKES SECTION 1, PRECINCT 4.

AND WE ALREADY HEARD FROM TWO PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TALK, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT -- THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IF YOU WANT -- IF ANYONE ELSE WANTED TO COME AND TALK ABOUT ANY OF THIS ITEM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT YOUR -- ANY ITEM OF YOUR INTEREST AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER HEARD ABOUT YOU -- WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, AND EVENTUALLY I BELIEVE WHEN WE TAKE ACTION, WE ARE GOING TO PULL THAT PARTICULAR ITEM FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OR FURTHER REVIEW.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEEING NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD, AND WE HAVEHAVE RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEMS, I WILL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT 5A AND 5B, YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR READY FOR ACTION?

>> JUDGE, I APPROVE ITEM 5A THROUGH H WITH THE EXCEPTION OF G, AND 5B, A, B AND C AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS COMMISSIONER RIGHTFULLY MENTIONED, 5A, A THROUGH H WITH THE EXCEPTION OF G AND B, A, B, C.

[ CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: ( 6 - 17 ) ]

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 6 THROUGH 17 AND, REMEMBER, WE TOOK ACTION ON ONE ITEM ALREADY, RIGHT?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY IN DISCUSSION.

>> IN DISCUSSION. OKAY.

I PRESENTED THE COURT CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 6 THROUGH 17, NOT AWARE OF ANY CHANGES.

>> MOVE APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION

[18. COUNTY JUDGE:]

AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE MOVE ON TO TO ITEM 18A, WE'LL TAKE ITEM ONE BY ONE, PRESENTED BY COUNTY TEXAS

OFFICE. >> APPROVE ITEM 18 A AS PRESENTED.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 18 B. I PRESENT TO THE COURT.

>> MOVE APPROVAL.

>> AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> YES. I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION, AGAIN, WE ARE -- OR MEMBERS OF THIS COURT ARE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE ACTION THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE LAW. AND WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WELL DOCUMENTED, GREAT TROVE OF DOCUMENTATION ON EXACTLY THAT.

I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SEND US SOME ITEMS YESTERDAY EVENING AS WELL. THAT I SPENT SOME TIME STUDYING MORE THAN I DID PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS REGARDING -- THIS ITEM IS REGARDING MAKING PAYMENT TO A LAW FIRM FOR LEGAL SERVICES THAT WERE NOT OBTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A FEW ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS THAT GIVE US GUIDANCE ON THIS AND I WOULD ALSO REMIND THE COURT THAT THERE IS A PENDING REQUEST FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION ON THIS MATTER. AND SUCH AN ACTION PRIOR TO THAT IS NOT PROPER. I WANT TO DRAW THE COURT'S ATTENTION TO A FEW ITEMS. I PRINTED OUT A FEW THINGS SO THAT IT IS IN FRONT OF US SO THAT AS I REFER TO IT, WE CAN ALL BE LOOKING AT THE SAME

[01:05:04]

PAGE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TAKING ONE AND PASSING IT DOWN. SO, THIS IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NUMBER GA-0074. THIS IS REGARDING, SORRY, THIS IS REGARDING THE AUTHORITY OF A BAIL BOND BORD TO HIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL OVER THE OBJECTION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND SO THIS -- THIS OPINION AT THE BEGINNING KIND OF LAYS OUT THE QUESTIONS THAT THE BAIL BOND BOARD WAS ASKING ABOUT THEIR LEGAL÷÷LEGAL TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND IT ASKS SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS LAWFUL FOR THEM TO HIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL OVER THE OBJECTION OF THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY AND ALSO IF IT WAS LAWFUL FOR EL PASO COUNTY AUDITOR TO PAY A CLAIM FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL FEES UNDER A CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS DIRECTLY MIRRORS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING, YOU CAN JUST -- WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

YOU CAN JUST EXCHANGE THE BAIL BOND BOARD FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THIS INSTANCE. I'LL DRAW YOU TO PAGE 2 OF THIS MEMO AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF IT, IT IS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER LEGAL CASE THAT WAS HELD BEFORE -- DECIDED BEFORE THE APPELLATE COURTS HERE, AND IT LAYS OUT THAT PERFORMING -- IT DEFINES WHAT THE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE BAIL BOND BOARD ARE AND CLEARLY ESTABLISHES THAT THE BAIL BOND BOARD IS A PROXY ESTABLISHED TO PERFORM COUNTY DUTIES. NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S DUTIES INCLUDE LEGAL COUNSEL, IN ADDRESSING THAT, IT CLEARLY STATES THAT SECTION 41.007 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE IMPOSES A DUTY TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE ON COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT CODE THAT DEFINES WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IT SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CODE IMPOSES A DUTY TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE ON A COUNTY ATTORNEY. IT FURTHER SAYS THAT -- IN ADDRESSING THIS, TO REPRESENT -- IT IS REFERRING TO THE STATUTE THAT CREATED THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT SAYS THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY IS FURTHER EXPLICITLY CHARGED BY GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 45.

1718 TO REPRESENT THE STATE EL PASO COUNTY AND THE OFFICIALS OF EL PASO COUNTY IN ALL CIVIL MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE COURTS OF EL PASO COUNTY AND OTHER COURTS IN WHICH THE STATE COUNTY, OR OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY HAVE MATTERS PENDING.

AND SO, THERE HAS BEEN A DISTINCTION MADE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF, WELL, THIS IS -- THIS ONLY PERTAINS TO LITIGATION. IF WE HAVE A MATTER BEFORE THE COURT, THE BAIL BONDS BOARD WAS REFERRING TO IN GENERAL ABOUT REPRESENTATION AS WELL AS OTHER ITEMS REGARDING THE LEGAL ADVICE AND HERE, AGAIN, IT USES THIS AS THE BASIS -- THE STATUTE THAT CREATED THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WHAT THAT MEANT.

SO IT IS EXPLAINING THAT TO US. IT SAYS IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED LAW IN TEXAS THAT AN OFFICER CANNOT BE OUSTED FROM HIS LEGAL DUTIES.

LEGAL DUTY IS TO REPRESENT AND PROVIDE ADVICE AND WE CANNOT USURP THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S AUTHORITY TO DO -- TO PERFORM THAT DUTY, WITHOUT THEIR EXPRESS CONSENT. IT FURTHER GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CASE, JONES VERSUS BELTMAN. THE SAN ANTONIO APPEALS COURT HELD THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAD THE DUTY TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE TO THE COUNT Y.

AND IT IS QUOTING THE OPINION HERE, THE RENDERING OF THE COURT. QUOTE, IT WAS THE DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ADVISE THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IN REGARD TO ALL COUNTY MATTERS. THERE COULD BE NO COUNTY MATTER ABOUT WHICH ADVICE WAS REQUIRED THAT WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED OR COVERED BY HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES AS COUNTY ATTORNEY, END QUOTE.

REDISTRICTING IS A COUNTY MATTER. AND THE TEXAS CIVIL COURT OF APPEALS HELD THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY -- THERE IS NO DISTINGUISHING OR THERE IS NO DISTINGUISHING ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE STATUTE CREATING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, IT IS ANOTHER CASE, REGARDING HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. HERE IT SAYS THAT IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION JM- 1281, THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COULD NOT APPOINT LAWYERS TO ADVICE

[01:10:02]

THE SHERIFF OR INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS ON THEIR LEGAL DUTIES, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH A STATUTE THAT GAVE THE POWER TO SELECT SUCH COUNSEL TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THE LAW AND IT QUOTES, COMPELS THE VARIOUS OFFICIALS OF A COUNTY TO OBTAIN REPRESENTATION IN ADVICE IN ALL LEGAL MATTERS FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HIM ALONE ABSENT -- AND THE EXCEPTION PROVIDED BY THE STATUTE IN QUESTION, END QUOTE.

AGAIN, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS THE ONLY ONE, AND IN THIS CASE, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TRIED TO PROVIDE OR CREATE A POSITION IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FOR A LAWYER, A LICENSED ATTORNEY, TO ADVISE THE SHERIFF. AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OBJECTED THAT, SAYING THAT WAS A USURPATION OF HIS AUTHORITY AND THE COURTS HELD IT WAS RIGHT.

IT WAS FURTHER LITIGATED AND THE APPELLATE COURT UPHELD THAT POINT, THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PROVIDE ADVICE OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THE COUNTY AND ONLY IN INSTANCES WHERE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EXPRESSLY SAYS THAT THEY'RE OKAY WITH -- IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, OUTSIDE COUNSEL BEING HIRED, CAN THAT OUTSIDE COUNSEL BE LEGALLY OBTAINED? IT FURTHER GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT GALVESTON COUNTY AND IT LAYS OUT, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS IS THE SECOND PARAGRAPH ON THE HANDOUT I GAVE YOU, THE FIRST ONE I GAVE YOU, IT SAYS THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S PRINCIPLE ROLE AND HE CLEARLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY CONSENTED TO THIS ARRANGEMENT FOR HANDLING THE COUNTY'S LEGAL AFFAIRS. AND SO THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE WAS NO COUNTY ATTORNEY, THERE WAS AN EFFORT BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO HIRE -- OR TO CREATE A LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT JUST ADVISED THE COURT, AND REPRESENTED THE COURT ON CERTAIN MATTERS.

AND THAT CASE, THE GALVESTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I'M OKAY WITH Y'ALL DOING THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S AN ARM THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE AND HE CONSENTED TO THAT.

AND SO IT FURTHER GOES ON TO SAY WHY THEY PULLED THAT INTO THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, IT SAYS UNLIKE GALVESTON COUNTY, CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, HOWEVER, THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY EXPLICITLY REFUSED TO CONSENT TO THE PROPOSAL THAT HE BE SUPERSEDED BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

IT FURTHER SAYS THERE IS NO -- THERE IS A FUNCTIONING EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO CANNOT BE DIVESTED OF HIS DUTIES AGAINST HIS WILL. AND IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE BOARD MAY NOT EMPLOY OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DUTY AS COUNTY AUDITOR, IT IS TALKING -- THIS WAS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND ADDRESSING THE COUNTY AUDITOR, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DUTY AS COUNTY AUD AUDITOR TO SEE TO THE PROPER EXPENDITURES OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN THE FUND YOU MAY NOT APPROVE PAYMENT OF A CLAIM FOR SUCH REPRESENTATION.

SO, THAT'S ONE. AND THERE IS A SUMMARY ON THE VERY LAST PAGE THAT LAYS IT OUT THAT THE BOARD MAY NOT SEEK OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE AUDITOR MAY NOT PAY ANY CLAIM FOR OUTSIDE REPRESENTATION.

THERE IS NO INHERENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IN THE DUAL ROLE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, IN COLLECTING BAIL BOND FEITURE AND I'M ALSO GOING TO -- I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING VERY KEY ABOUT -- TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S JURISDICTION AND THE STATUTE THAT CREATED IT AND THE FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S JURISDICTION. I'M POINTING YOU TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE -- OR TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE FIRST ONE THAT COMMISSIONER MEYERS IS HANDING OUT, SORRY, HOLD ON, THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S JOB.

IN GENERAL. THIS IS TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 41. 007, WHICH WAS REFERENCED IN THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION. IT SAYS OPINIONS TO COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICIALS AND IT SPECIFIES A DISTRICT OR COUNTY ATTORNEY ON REQUEST SHALL GIVE TO A COUNTY OR PRECINCT OFFICIAL OF HIS DISTRICT OR COUNTY A WRITTEN OPINION, WRITTEN ADVICE RELATING TO THE OFFICIAL DUTIES OF THAT OFFICIAL.

THAT WAS LAID OUT IN THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION. THE NEXT ONE IS TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 45.171. IT LAYS OUT -- THIS IS WHAT THE STATUTE THAT CREATED THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT READS IT IS A PRIMARY DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE EL PASO COUNTY OR HIS ASSISTANTS TO REPRESENT THE STATE EL PASO COUNTY AND THE OFFICIALS OF EL PASO COUNTY AND ALL CIVIL

[01:15:01]

MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE COURTS OF EL PASO COUNTY AND ANY OTHER COURTS IN WHICH THE STATE, THE COUNTY, OR THE OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY HAVE MATTERS PENDING. AND IT HAS A COUPLE OF OTHER SUBSECTIONS THAT LAY OUT SOME MORE SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND THEN I WANT TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 45.179. AND THIS IS THE STATUTE IN THE -- IN THE LAW THAT CREATED THE FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT READS, IT IS THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY AND FORT BEND COUNTY TO REPRESENT THE STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY AND ALL CIVIL MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE COURTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY AND ANY OTHER COURTS IN WHICH THE STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY, OR ANY -- OR THE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE MATTERS PENDING. IT IS THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE, JUST CHANGE THE COUNTY.

AND SO THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S BAIL BONDS BOARD HAS DIRECT EFFECT ON WHAT WE DO IN FORT BEND COUNTY, THE OPINION APPLIES HERE BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO ADVISE THEM BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MULTIPLE COURTS OF APPEALS CAME BACK AND SAID THAT IS INDEED NOT THE CASE.

YOU CANNOT SUPERSEDE ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL'S AUTHORITY.

I WANT TO POINT YOU TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT ADVICE VERSUS REPRESENTATION. I'M PASSING OUT ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION JM-1281. THIS IS -- THIS IS ADDRESSED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY. HE HAD SOUGHT AN OPINION ABOUT -- HE SOUGHT AN OPINION ABOUT THESE MATTERS AS WELL. SO IN THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION, IT IS REGARDING THE ABILITY OF THE COURT IT CREATE A POSITION TO BE FILLED BY A LICENSED ATTORNEY, TO BE APPOINTED OR EMPLOYED BY AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING LEGAL ADVICE.

IF YOU GO TO -- I WANT TO -- I COVERED SOME OF THIS, BUT IT SAYS THAT THE -- IT IS ADDRESSING WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAD THE ABILITY TO EMPLOY ANOTHER ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES. AND IF YOU GO TO THE SECOND PAGE OF THAT HANDOUT I GAVE YOU, IT IS, I THINK, LIKE THE THIRD PARAGRAPH DOWN, IT IS THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN HARRIS COUNTY OR HIS ASSISTANTS TO REPRESENT THE STATE, HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE OFFICIALS OF HARRIS COUNTY IN ALL CIVIL MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE COURTS.

SOUNDS LIKE THE EL PASO STATUTE, THE FORT BEND STATUTE, THE CASE HERE. IN -- ON THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE 3, IT IS THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, SAYS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHALL SELECT SPECIAL COUNSEL.

IT WAS A WHOLE DISPUTE OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSIONERS COULD EMPLOY OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND HAVE AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY WHO IS ACTUALLY ABLE TO ADVISE ON THINGS LIGHT RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION AND ALL OF THAT, IT SPELLS OUT THAT THE -- THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION IN AUSTIN THAT EXPLICITLY SPELLED OUT THAT IF YOU WANTED TO HIRE SPECIAL COUNSEL, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD THAT RIGHT TO HIRE SPECIAL COUNSEL, BUT ONLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAD THE ABILITY TO SELECT THAT COUNSEL.

SO, WE COULD TAKE AN ACTION THAT SAYS WE WANT TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO DO REDISTRICTING, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT ONLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS THE EXPRESS ABILITY TO SAY WHICH ATTORNEY THAT SHALL BE. WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT -- THE ABILITY TO DO THAT OURSELVES FOR ANY MATTERS.

AND AGAIN, I REFER YOU BACK TO THE PREVIOUS AG OPINION THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS NO DISTINCTION IN ANY MATTER THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY HAS ANY AUTHORITY OVER REGARDING LEGAL SERVICES, EXCEPT HER, IN ALL MATTERS IT SAYS EXPLICITLY.

IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 4, AGAIN, IT LAYS OUT THAT IN THE GOVERNMENT CODE THAT SPECIAL COUNSEL MUST BE NAMED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THAT SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT MUST BE ON TERMS, QUOTE, DEEMED PROPER, END QUOTE, BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THEN I WANT TO TURN YOU TO PAGE 5, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THIS DISTINCTION BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE.

AND HERE IT CLEARLY LAYS OUT AND IT SAYS THE COURT, IN THIS CASE ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OF SOMEBODY, A LAWYER, THAT THE COURT DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY DISTINCTION BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE AND IN OUR OPINION, IN THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY

[01:20:01]

GENERAL'S OFFICE, NO REASONABLE DISTINCTION CAN BE MADE.

THEY SAY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE THRUST OF ARTICLE 5, SECTION 21 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION WHICH REQUIRES A COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN ALL CASES, SECTION 45. 201 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH DECLARES IT TO BE THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE STATE, AND SECTION 41. 007 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH REQUIRES COUNTY ATTORNEY ON REQUEST TO GIVE -- TO GIVE A COUNTY OR PRECINCT OFFICIAL OF HIS DISTRICT OR COUNTY A WRITTEN OPINION OR WRITTEN ADVICE, END COAT, TAKEN TOGETHER IS TO COMPEL THE VARIOUS OFFICIALS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO OBTAIN REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE IN ALL LEGAL MATTERS FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY. AND SO, AGAIN, WE ARE -- THAT'S YET ANOTHER LEGAL CASE THAT CLEARLY LAYS OUT THE EXPRESS AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND IN SUMMARY IT SAYS, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY NOT APPROVE THE CREATION OF STAFF POSITIONS TO BE FILLED BY A COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE APPOINTED OR EMPLOYED BY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS OR THE SHERIFF FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVISING THOSE OFFICERS ON LEGAL MATTERS WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THE TERMS OF SECTION 81.

023 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

WHICH PROVIDES THAT SUCH SPECIAL COUNSEL BE NAMED AND HIS TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT SET BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. IT IS HERE.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO POINT YOU TO IS REGARDING THE AUDITOR'S PAYMENT AND SORRY, ONE POINT THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION, IT ACTUALLY IN THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION JM- 1281, IT ACTUALLY LAYS OUT THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO -- THERE WAS A LEGAL CASE WHERE THE COURT TRIED TO HIRE A SPECIAL -- I FORGET WHAT THEY CALL IT, BUT THE COURT -- THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TRIED TO HIRE A CLERK, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, A CLERK TO TAKE NOTES ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, THE COUNTY CLERK WHO HAS THAT STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO TAKE NOTES FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT OBJECTED, SAID YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THAT'S MY JOB.

AND IT WENT TO COURT AND THE COURT UPHELD THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CANNOT CHOOSE AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE OR OTHERWISE CHOOSE TO USURP ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL'S CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY IN ANY REGARD AND THAT IS, INDEED, IT WAS USED AS A BASIS TO SAY WE CANNOT ALSO DO THE SAME THING IN -- OBTAINING OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES OVER THE OBJECTION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

PREACHER WHAT IS YOUR POINT, MY LAST ONE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION GA- 0247, I'LL PASS OUT COPIES OF THIS, BUT I WILL NOT READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.

BUT THIS IS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION TO COMPEL THE AUDITOR TO ISSUE PAYMENT FOR A CONTRACT THAT WAS NOT LEGALLY OBTAINED, WHICH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TOLD US THIS CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN -- OR THE SERVICES HAVE NOT BEEN LEGALLY OBTAINED AND IT SAYS THIS IS TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IN HECTOR COUNTY. AND IT SAYS YOU ASK WHETHER A COUNTY AUDITOR MAY APPROVE A CLAIM FOR PAYMENT ON A CONTRACT THAT WAS NOT AWARDED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY PURCHASING ACT, AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

IF YOU TURN TO WHERE WE -- THE SECOND PAGE OF THIS, IT SAYS THAT THE COUNTY AUDITOR MAY NOT AUDIT OR APPROVE A CLAIM UNLESS THE CLAIM IS -- WAS INCURRED AS PROVIDED BY THE LAW. WHICH, AGAIN, I HAVE JUST SHARED, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS POINTED OUT THAT THESE LEGAL SERVICES WERE NOT OBTAINED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

AND SO THEREFORE THE COUNTY AUDITOR, AS IT SAYS HERE, QUOTE, THE COUNTY AUDITOR MAY NOT AUDIT OR APPROVE A CLAIM UNLESS A CLAIM WAS INCURRED AS PROVIDED BY THE LAW, END QUOTE. IT ALSO FURTHER GOES ON TO SAY ON PAGE 3 THAT IN ADDITION, QUOTE, A COUNTY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO VIOLATES THE ACT AND IS REFERRING TO THE PURCHASING ACT IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

THAT'S IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW THERE, IF YOU GO TO PAGE -- I THINK IT IS THE LAST PAGE, THE SUMMARY, IF THE AUDITOR DEEMS -- DETERMINES THAT THE COUNTY AWARDED A CONTRACT WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THE

[01:25:02]

PURCHASING ACT, SECTION 113. 065 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE PROHIBITS THE COUNTY AUDITOR FROM APROVING A CLAIM ON PAYMENT ON SUCH A CONTRACT. AND SO, AGAIN, THE COUNTY AUDITOR CANNOT.

ONE, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE ANY -- THIS ACTION THAT YOU'RE SEEKING TO TAKE HERE TODAY TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT. IT IS NOT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT. THE CONTRACT WAS NOT OBTAINED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE COUNTY AUDITOR DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO -- WHETHER OR NOT AN ACTION IS TAKEN HERE, THE COUNTY AUDITOR DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE -- OR TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT FOR SERVICE THAT, AGAIN, WAS NOT OBTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.

AND SO THIS ITEM NOT ONLY IS IMPROPER, BUT IT SHOULD BE OUTRIGHT PULLED FOR THAT REASON.

AND, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS ANY ADDITIONAL THING SHE WANTS TO ADD, BUT THIS HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF COURT AND ANY ACTION IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS IS -- DOES NOT COMPORT WITH THE LAW AT ALL.

AND I ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A PENDING ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION AT THE REQUEST OF THIS COURT ON THIS VERY MATTER AS WELL, AND TO ACT ON THIS PRIOR TO THAT BECAUSE WE THINK WE KNOW BEST WITHOUT ANY LEGAL DEGREES IS ALSO NOT PROPER.

>> YES, I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD AS THE LEGAL ADVISER TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, A COURT HAS ESTABLISHED BY TEXAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5 , SECTION 1, I WOULD LIKE TO ATTACH THE RESPONSE BRIEF THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH ALL COMMISSIONERS ON JULY 7TH, 2025 AT 4:39 P.M. AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.

WE ARE NOT CONFUSED. THE LAW IS THE LAW.

AND AS STATED, THANK YOUER COMMISSIONER DEXTER MCCOY AND I ASK THE COURT TABLE THIS MOTION AND LOOK AT THE STATUTES AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.

WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CLOSED SECTION DISCUSSION IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE THAT TO OCCUR FOR ANY OTHER LEGAL ADVICE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME ASSUMING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

ITEM. >> AND, AGAIN, I WOULD NOTE THE COUNTY AUDITOR DOES NOT HAVE -- BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION -- ANY AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY SUCH PAYMENTS.

[19. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 3:]

>> THE COUNTY AUDITOR HAVE BEEN ADVISED OFFLINE, THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEXT ITEM, AGENDA ITEM 19.

19 A ALREADY HAS BEEN ACTED, RIGHT?

>> APPROVAL OF 19 B AS

PRESENTED. >> YES.

>> AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON 19 B.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR?

[20. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4:]

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 20.

PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 4.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 20.

[21. AUDITOR:]

>> ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 21 A THROUGH C PRESENTED UNDER COUNTY AUDITOR.

>> I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF 21 A, B AND C AND I WITH LIKE THE COUNTY AUDITOR NOT A LOT OF DETAIL, BUT EXPLAIN WHAT THE $200 MILLION IS SO PEOPLE DON'T GET TOO UPSET THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GO SPEND $200 MILLION OF THEIR MONEY.

>> SO, COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM, I WITH LIKEN IT TO A ROUGHLY A LINE OF CREDIT, BASICALLY IT IS THE ABILITY OF A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO DRAW ON A CREDIT BALANCE AS NEEDS ARISE. SPECIFICALLY COMMERCIAL PAPER AS IT IS PRESENTED HERE. THIS WILL ONLY BE RELATED TO THE VOTED AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MOBILITY BONDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY APPROVED BY OUR VOTERS. I THINK WE HAVE JUST UNDER 900 MILLION OUTSTANDING, BUT UNISSUED.

AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED. LET'S SAY IT THAT WAY.

SO THIS LINE OF CREDIT WILL MORE OFTEN BE USED TO LET CONTRACTS WHEN WE RUN OUT OF THE BOND PROCEEDS WITH OUR CURRENT MOBILITY BOND ISSUE, YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHEN WE COME TO COURT FOR ADVANCED FUNDING RESOLUTIONS, THOSE ARE NECESSARY WHEN WE'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE OURSELVES FROM GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE, BEFORE WE ISSUE OUR NEXT ROUND OF BONDS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT BY DRAWING DOWN ON THE NOTE, IF WE HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENT AFTER THE BOND PROCEEDS ARE

[01:30:05]

EXHAUSTED. AND THE NOTE TERMS WILL BE 30, 60, 90 DAYS, THEY ARE EXTENDIBLE TO 270 DAYS, NINE MONTHS. HOWEVER, THAT WOULD NOT BE EFFICIENT FROM A COST STANDPOINT.

SO, MORE LIKELY WE WILL STAY WITHIN THE 90 DAY WINDOW, THE COURT WILL HAVE TO APPROVE EVERY USE OF THE FUNDS WITH REGARD TO THE DRAW.

AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL FOR US TO USE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR CAPITAL INITIATIVE AS AS RELATES TO OUR MOBILITY BOND PROGRAM.

>> WELL, MOBILITY AND --

>> THIS IS JUST MOBILITY TO START.

>> ARE WE GOING TO USE THE ADVANCED FUND AGREEMENT FOR PARKS?

>> WE ARE. SO WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE CRAWLING BEFORE WE WALK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I THOUGHT YOU HAD OVERSIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OTHERWISE --

>> DO WE ANTICIPATE, SO, ESSENTIALLY THIS IS LIKE OPENING ANOTHER LINE OF CREDIT. DO WE ANTICIPATE THIS HAS ANY IMPACT ON OUR BOND RATING?

>> OUR BOND RATINGS WERE ALL UPHELD.

WE'RE STILL AAA WITH FITCH, AND DOUBLE A PLUS WITH

MOODYS. >> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. WITH THAT, ASSUMING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES

[22. CONSTABLE, PCT. 1]

UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 22. PRESENTED BY CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 1.

>> AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 22, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[23. COUNTY ATTORNEY:]

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 23 PRESENTED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>> MOVE APPROVAL 23 AS

PRESENTED. >> SECOND.

>> BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT THIS ENTAILS?

>> TITLE VI PLAN IS NEEDED --

>> YOU ASKED ME TO BRIEF YOU, CORRECT? OKAY.

>> BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS.

>> THE TITLE VI PLAN IS A PLAN THAT MUST BE ADOPTED BY THE COURT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CERTAIN GRANT FUNDING. IT IS AVAILABLE PUBLICLY FOR EVERYONE TO VIEW INCLUDING THE COURT FOR AN OFFICIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING IN NOVEMBER, SO THIS IS JUST APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT THAT ALREADY HAS BEEN POSTED UNDER LEGAL NOTICES BY THE COUNTY CLERK.

SO IT IS JUST AN APPROVAL OF THE

DRAFT. >> RIGHT.

JUST SO THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE

DOING. >> IF YOU READ THE PLAN, IT IS PRETTY LENGTHY. BUT IT PRETTY MUCH SETS FORTH WHAT THE COUNTY -- HOW IT WOULD OPERATE AS TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED, LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND IT IS ACTUALLY AMENDED TO REFLECT SOME OF THE, I GUESS THE UPDATES FROM EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED PRIOR --

EARLIER IN THIS YEAR. >> SO IT WILL BE ON THE COUNTY

WEBSITE. >> YES,

SIR. >> AND THEY CAN PROVIDE THEIR

COMMENTS? >> YES,

SIR. >> WITH THAT, ASSUMING

[24. ENGINEERING:]

NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24.

A THROUGH G, PRESENTED BY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

>> I MOVE WE APPROVE 24 B THROUGH G AS PRESENTED.

AND PULL ITEM 24 A.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 24 B THROUGH G.

>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A.

>> B THROUGH G.

>> AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION?

[25. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT & PLANNING:]

HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 25. A THROUGH G.

>> A THROUGH C.

>> 25, A THROUGH G.

>> G.

>> A THROUGH G AS PRESENTED.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? >> JUDGE, BEFORE YOU PROCEED, THERE IS A CORRECTION TO 25 A.

IF YOU CAN GO TO THAT.

>> 25 A, OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE READ THAT? I'M SORRY, I JUST OVERLOOKED

THAT. >> THERE IS A CORRECTION, AND AGENDA ITEM 25 A, IT SHOULD READ TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF -- THE AMOUNT SHOULD BE $30,200 FOR THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED HOBBY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB REPAIRS PROJECT NUMBER P

[01:35:01]

108-24HOBBYB&G. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO --

>> I MOVE A THROUGH G AS

CORRECTED. >> A MOTION AND SECOND ON A THROUGH G WITH THE NOTED CORRECTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN

[26. GRANTS ADMINISTRATION:]

FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 26 A.

>> 26 A THROUGH G AS PRESENTED.

>> NO I WANTED TO TAKE 26 A SEPARATELY.

>> AND I PRESENT 26 A.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION --

>> WELL, I GUESS -- YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION? COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE?

>> YEAH, I'LL DO AS I'M TOLD. A, YEAH.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SECOND. >> YEAH, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT CLARIFICATION ONON ITEM, 26A. IF I COULD GET SARAH TO PLEASE COME FORWARD, YEAH. THE QUESTION HERE IS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE ACTUALLY HELP EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY TO RECEIVE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE. AND I ALWAYS WORKED HARD, I ALWAYS WORKED HARD. AND THANK YOU FOR ESPECIALLY THIS GRANT FOR THE BENEFIT OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. BUT THERE IS A SMALL IRREGULARITY WE IDENTIFIED AND I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. IF YOU WOULD PUT THAT FORM UP.

THIS ITEM WAS SUBMITTED FROM OUR OFFICE ON 26, 24 OF SEPTEMBER.

THAT FORM IS THERE. CAN YOU PUT THAT 24 APPROVED FORM?

>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ACTUALLY THE FORM IS SUBMITTED AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY A TXDOT GRANT AND THAT FORM WAS ALTERED LATER BY SOMEBODY FROM YOUR OFFICE. ON THE RECORD.

AND SO ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT -- IT SHOWS THAT THE GRANT WAS SUBMITTED ON SEPTEMBER 24TH AND THERE IS AN ALTERATION HAPPENED ADDING -- USUALLY IT IS -- USUALLY THE PERSON WHO RECEIVED THE GRANT IS THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

AND NOW YOUR OFFICE WENT AND ALTERED THAT SIGNATURE FORM AND ADDED, OF COURSE, YOUR -- ALSO AS A RECEIVER.

WHICH IS -- YOU COULD DO IT PERFECTLY.

THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE, OR THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION, THAT MEANS YOU ARE CHANGING THAT DOCUMENT. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT LOOKED LIKE. IF YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT.

>> I'M NOT SURE, JUDGE. I WAS HEAR TO SPEAK ON 26A, WHICH IS THE SUBCONTRACT FORM ON THE AGENDA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW?

>> IS THIS SOMETHING YOUR OFFICE SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PRIOR TO NOW?

>> SAY THAT AGAIN?

>> IS THIS SOMETHING -- A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT YOUR OFFICE SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEFORE THIS VERY MOMENT?

>> NO, NO.

>> WE JUST IDENTIFIED THERE IS AN ACTUAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED. THAT'S ALL.

I'M JUST BRINGING -- IS THE POINT IN

THIS. >> THE POINT THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT OKAY TO DO. AND THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO

SAY. >> SO WHY IS IT THAT YOU ARE -- SO, ONE, YOU'RE MAKING SOME SORT OF ALLEGATION HERE.

>> FIRST OFF.

>> AND SECONDLY IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE SIGNALING OUT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY. IF YOU HAD THE PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BEFORE NOW, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ON THE

AGENDA SINCE EARLY LAST -- >> YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT DURING THE AGENDA BRIEFING, RIGHT?

>> NO, SIR, THIS IS NEWS TO ME.

>> THIS IS NOT AT ALL A

DISCUSSION. >> WHATEVER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

>> I'M LETTING YOU KNOW, THIS DOCUMENT IS CHANGED.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

>> I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND IF YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION, IF YOU DON'T ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I UNDERSTAND

IT. >> YEAH, HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND/OR YOUR GRANTS MANAGER AND DISCUSS THAT AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

[01:40:02]

>> WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WE DON'T DECIDE FOR THAT

>> HAPPY TO DO SO.

DISCUSSION. >> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS CORE TO THE EFFORT TO OBTAIN THE GRANT?

>> SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> IS THIS CORE TO THE EFFORT TO OBTAIN THE GRANT?

>> I'M JUST BRINGING UP A

IRREGULARITY. >> WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK -- IF IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS ABOUT UPDATES MADE TO A GRANT APPLICATION, GRANT APPLICATION WHICH WE ARE TODAY HERE TO EITHER SUPPORT OR DENY, IS THAT --

>> NOT SUPPORT OR DENY, WASN'TED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, WE CAN MOVE IT ON THE SIDE AND CORRECT IT OR BRING IT BACK.

>> IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE OKAY WITH, THEN WHY THIS WHOLE CIRCUS OF DOING THIS IN COMMISSIONERS COURT WHEN THIS WAS SOMETHING

THAT -- >> BECAUSE THIS IS --

>> -- CALL ANOTHER DEPARTMENT

FOR. >> EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME. LET ME SPEAK. LET ME SPEAK.

LET ME SPEAK. LET ME SPEAK HERE, OKAY. AND I'M ASKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE GETTING UPSET ABOUT IT.

>> I'M NOT GETTING UPSET. I'M ASKING A VERY DIRECT

QUESTION. >> AND I SAID THIS, THIS IS AN INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THE TXDOT SIGNED BY MY OFFICE.

AND ON 24TH OF SEPTEMBER, AND THAT INFORMATION IS PULLED OUT AND CHANGED IT ON 26TH OF SEPTEMBER. IF YOU DON'T SEE THAT AS ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT, I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I ARE HAVE NO PROBLEM.

>> IS THERE SOME SORT OF SURREPTITIOUS THING THAT YOUR OFFICE WOULD DO TO A GRANT? WHAT WOULD BE THE REASONS WHY YOUR OFFICE MIGHT UPDATE A GRANT APPLICATION?

>> CORRECT ERRORS AND WHAT NOT. TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, RESPOND TO TEX DO XDOT QUESTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. I'M GENERALLY SPEAKING.

WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY ON 26A IS OUR NO REFUSAL TO THE GRANT.

IT WAS APPROVED OF UNANIMOUSLY IN COURT ON SEPTEMBER 23RD. THIS ITEM IT NOT TO APPROVE THE GRANT. IT ALREADY HAS BEEN DONE.

>> CAN I ASK OUR PERSON TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.

>> YOU'RE SAYING TYPICALLY A AN DATE WOULD BE MADE TO A GRANT APPLICATION TO ADD CLARIFICATION FOR QUESTIONS THAT TXDOT MIGHT HAVE OR ASK QUESTIONS.

>> IT COULD BE. IT COULD BE A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS, COMMISSIONER.

>> THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT ON BACKUP.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COURT

AWARE. >> THIS IS NOT THE

ITEM. >> ARE YOU SAYING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE ITEM THAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY?

>> WITH DUE RESPECT, WHAT THE JUDGE IS TALKING ABOUT IS NOT THIS ITEM.

>> THIS IS NOT 26A AS FILED ON FORT BEND COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ONLINE, ATTACHMENT UNDER 26 A, CAN'T FIND THIS DOCUMENT, SO I WOULD ASK US IF WE CANNOT FIND THIS DOCUMENT ONLINE, AS BACKUP, THAT WE REFRAIN FROM DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM AND REFER TO THE ITEMS THAT ARE ONLINE ACTUALLY FILED UNDER THIS ITEM.

>> OKAY. SO, CAN I -- OUR GRANT PERSON CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT IS OUR CONCERN.

>> CAN WE MEET AND GO OVER THAT AND DISCUSS THAT? IT IS NOT THIS ITEM AND SO -- I'M NOT PREPARED TO --

>> SO --

>> TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED FROM FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT A DOCUMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY NOTICED.

>> IT IS NOT UNDER 26 A AND STATED ON THIS AGENDA.

>> OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN -- CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE CONCERN?

>> SAMANTHA CAN EXPLAIN OR Y'ALL CAN'T DELIBERATE ON A DOCUMENT THAT HAS IN THE BEEN PROPERLY NOTICED. I WOULD ASK THE COURT TO DIRECT THIS ATTENTION TO THE ATTACHMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN UPLOADED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 26 A. THAT DOCUMENT ON THE SCREEN IS NOT PRESENT FOR ANY OF US TO SEE.

>> THIS IS NOT PRESENT?

>> IF YOU GO ON COMMISSIONERS COURT ONLINE, AGENDA FOR TODAY, ITEM 26 A, THIS DOCUMENT RIGHT HERE THAT IS ON THIS SCREEN IS NOT ONE OF THE 26 PAGES THAT --

>> WHAT IS IT THIS PAGE?

>> SO FOR CLARIFICATION, THE ITEM THAT THE D.A. 'S OFFICE SUBMITTED IS AN AGREEMENT TIED TO A GRANT WHERE THAT FORM STEMS FROM.

THAT FORM WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION ONCE UPON THIS ENTRY OF THIS ITEM. AND THAT ITEM -- THAT FORM IS NOT PART OF THE ITEM BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE THAT FORM.

HOWEVER, IT IS TIED INTO THAT AGREEMENT.

BUT I'LL LET SAMANTHA EXPLAIN. SHE HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON HOW THAT AND THAT FORM ON YOUR SCREEN IS TIED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

>> OKAY. CAN SAMANTHA EXPLAIN?

>> SHE CAN ADD IT AS BACKUP AFTER SHE

[01:45:01]

SPEAKS. >> PLEASE GO

AHEAD. >> HI, SO, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION, IT IS LIKE OLGA SAID, THE SCREEN SHOT THAT YOU CURRENTLY SEE ON THE SCREEN, IT IS REGARDING THE ORIGINAL ITEM THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE IN A PREVIOUS COURT MEETING. THEY ARE RELATED.

THE ITEM CURRENTLY ON THE AGENDA, ITEM A, IS AN AGREEMENT THAT IS RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL COURT ACTION. THE QUESTION BEING PROPOSED IS THAT WHEN THE ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY OUR OFFICE, TXDOT KICKED THEM BACK BECAUSE THEY NEEDED CORRECTIONS. WHEN IT WAS KICKED BACK, IT WAS NOT OUR OFFICE WHO, LIKE MOST OF THE TIME, WOULD GO IN AND UPDATE THE FORMS, IT WAS THE D.A. 'S OFFICE THAT DID GO IN AND UPDATE THE FORMS. HERE'S WHAT CHANGED.

THE ORIGINAL UPDATED, THE REVISED FORM ADDED D.A.

MIDDLE TON AS AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FORM.

AND THAT WAS DONE BY THE D.A. 'S OFFICE TO WHICH THE TXDOT DID EVENTUALLY ACCEPT IT.

SO THAT'S WHY IT ALL TIES IN

NOW. >> THAT CAN BE DONE.

YOU'RE NOT SAYING YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

ADD ANOTHER GRANT RECIPIENT OR WHATEVER THAT

IS. >> TXDOT DOES ALLOW FOR FORT BEND COUNTY ANY ENTITY APPLYING FOR A GRANT UP TO THREE SUBGRANTEES WHO CAN SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY IF IN THE INSTANCE YOU AS THE PRIMARY SIGNATORY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, OUR PRACTICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO JUST HAVE IT BE THE COUNTY JUDGE IN PRACTICE.

>> SO I WILL USE AS AN EXAMPLE, WE APPLIED FOR A TXDOT GRANT IN MY OFFICE, FOR TRAILS ALONG KEEGAN'S BAYOU. WHEN THAT GRANT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED, TXDOT HAD SOME MORE QUESTIONS AND NEEDED CLARIFICATION. MY OFFICE SUBMITTED THAT.

SO, IS IT THE SUGGESTION THAT WE NOW HAVE DONE SOMETHING IMPROPER BECAUSE THAT DID NOT FLOW THROUGH YOUR OFFICE?

>> NO SIR. ALL GRANTS DO BEGIN REVIEW WITHIN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THEY END REVIEW THROUGH ME BEFORE IT GOES TO COURT AS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR GRANTS. HOWEVER, WE DO WORK WITH STAFF.

I WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF ON THESE PROJECTS.

I'VE WORKED WITH WES AND TERRY BEFORE ON THE PROJECTS.

SO WE ARE WORKING TO GET EVERYONE ON TO THE SAME PROCESS. HOWEVER, WHEN TXDOT DOES COME BACK FOR CORRECTIONS, WHEN IT IS PRIMARILY JUST FOR THE SIGNATORY AUTHORIZED PORTION, WE JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS JUST JUDGE SIGNING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND NOT IF THERE IS ANOTHER SUBGRANTEE ADDED FOR ANY REASON, JUST THAT THE COURT IS AWARE OF IT.

>> OKAY, CAN I ADD THE TECHNICAL OF IT, THAT CAN BE DONE. YOU'RE NOT SAYING YOU CANNOT ADD ANOTHER SUBRECIPIENT. BUT WE'RE SAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROCESS, WE DID IT AND YOU COULD GET APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT OR OUR OFFICE OR EVEN FROM THE GRAND MANAGER CAN OFFER THAT.

SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING.

AND THE PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED.

THAT'S ALL THE CONVERSATION IS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT BETTER NEXT TIME.

>> YES, SIR. THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS. NO ONE HAS CONTACTED OUR OFFICE TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED. I'M STILL NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR.

I DO KNOW AND DO NOT DISPUTE THAT THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS THE ONLY BODY THAT CAN APPROVE RECEIVE AL OF THE GRANTS AND SIGN FOR THEM AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WAS DONE IN LATE SEPTEMBER. THE ITEM FOR TODAY IS FOR A SUBCONTRACT UNDER THE GRANT TO PAY A NURSE TO DRAW BLOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THIS COURT HAS AUTHORIZED THAT ACTION SIX YEARS RUNNING UNANIMOUSLY. BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A NURSE FALL ILL. WE HAD THAT HAPPEN AND FELL ILL AT 9:00 OR 10:00, WE HAD TO FIND SOMEONE ON THE POT.

>> >> I THINK IT IS TIME TO

VOTE. >> THIS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED SO MUCH DIFFERENTLY AND THIS IS MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING AND THERE WAS AN INSINUATION ABOUT ALTERING A

DOCUMENT. >> WE'RE HAPPY TO CORRECT ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG.

>> WE WILL RIGHT NOW I CALL FOR

A VOTE. >> CAN I DO MY MOTION AGAIN? A THROUGH --

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

[01:50:01]

>> A THROUGH G?

>> THERE IS SOME INEFFICIENCIESINEFFICIENCIES WITH C, PERRY, YOU WANT TO COME UP?

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN PULLED, COMMISSIONER.

>> IT HAS BEEN PULLED, YES, SIR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> A THROUGH G EXCEPTING C.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO A, --

>> 26.

>> A, B, D, E, F, G.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CAN I MOVE ON TO --

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? EXCUSE ME.

>> A, B --

>> I GOT THAT PART. BUT ORIGINALLY YOU SECONDED IT.

>> SO I THINK COMMISSIONER ROBERTS RULES, NEED TO RETRACT YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION, I NEED TO AGREE TO THAT RETRACTION AND THEN MAKE THE NEW MOTION.

>> I'LL STAY OUT OF IT.

>> I'M GOING TO RESTATE MY MOTION.

>> FIRST YOU HAVE TO RETRACT YOUR --

>> I RETRACT MY MOTION. AND THEN RESTATE MY

MOTION. >> I

CONCUR. >> APPROVAL OF ITEM 26 A, B, D, E, F, AND G AS PRESENTED.

>> THANK YOU. MOTION AND SECOND ON THESE ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF C, MOTION

[27. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:]

CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 27.

>> 27.

>> MOVE APPROVAL ON 27.

AS PRESENTED. >>

SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 27. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> YES. RENEE, CAN YOU COME UP AND TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

SO BACK IN THIS PAST LEGISLATION THEY PASSED BASICALLY A REGULATION WHERE THE PURCHASING OF -- THE SELLING OF -- IN -- OF ANIMALS, ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL OUT IN THE PARKING LOT, IN STREETS, ANY TYPE OF STORES, WHERE PEOPLE WERE GENERALLY GOING AND SELL THEIR ANIMALS, IT IS PROHIBITED NOW.

SO, THAT -- THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON, BIGGER PLACES, BUT WE FINALLY QUALIFIED THE LAST LEGISLATION. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

THE PURPOSE OF IT IS THAT PEOPLE THAT DO THE BACK DOOR BREEDING, A WHOLE BUNCH OF -- YOUR FRENCHIES, BIG BULLDOGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT PEOPLE OVERBREED THEIR ANIMALS AND UNFORTUNATELY AFTER THOSE ANIMALS ARE DONE, THEY'RE TOSSED IN THE STREETS AND COME TO THE SHELTER.

SO, WE'RE EXCITED. WE WILL BE WORKING PROBABLY ALONGSIDE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR A LOT OF THIS. HOPEFULLY WE JUST EDUCATE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO DO IT, BUT, YEAH, IT PASSED BACK IN SEPTEMBER, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. I KNOW WE HAD -- WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH STRAY ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES TAKING PLACE IN PLACES WHERE -- IT SHOULDN'T. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M GLAD YOUR TEAM WORKED ON IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOT ONLY THANK RENEE, AND HIS TEAM, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK ANTONE OUT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. HE WORKED VERY HARD ON GETTING THIS IN PLACE. SO, IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THE SESSION TO GET IT HERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY. WITHOUT HIM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE WE KEPT GOING BACK AND FORTH AND HOW WE WOULD WORD IT AND WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH THE RIGHT WAY.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> AND THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR?

[28. HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:]

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 28. PRESENTED BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGE .

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 28 AS

PRESENTED. >>

SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND ON ITEM 28,

[29. HUMAN RESOURCES:]

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 29, PRESENTED BY HUMAN RESOURCES.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 29 AS

PRESENTED. >> SECOND.

>> IS THIS -- IS OUR COUNTY TREASURER HERE?

[01:55:16]

HR? SHE WAS ILL.

>> WAS THERE A QUESTION ON THIS? I'M TRYING TO RECALL.

CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT WE'RE DOING?

>> WAS THIS AN ISSUE OF PAYING PEOPLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PAY?

>> NO, THAT'S NOT RELATING TO THAT

ITEM. >> CORRECTION, THANK YOU.

>> SO IT IS ALSO, HERE IT SAYS THIS IS ABOUT THE DURATION OF SEPTEMBER EMPLOYEE, HOW LONG YOU CAN WORK, USED TO BE THREE MONTHS, NOW THEY ARE INCREASING UP TO 12 MONTHS AND I THINK IT IS -- RIGHT? OKAY.

ASSUMING THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR?

[30. JUVENILE PROBATION & DETENTION:]

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 30, JUVENILE PROBATION AND DETENTION.

>> MOVE APPROVE.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 30, ANY

>> THIRD.

[31. PARKS & RECREATION:]

DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA NUMBER 31 A THROUGH F, PRESENTED BY PARK AND

RECREATION. >> F SHOULD BE PULLED.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED.

>> F, WITH THE EXCEPTION -- LET ME GO BACK AND SO ITEM 31 A THROUGH E.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 31 A THROUGH E AS PRESENTED.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

[32. PURCHASING:]

HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 32, A THROUGH T.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 32 A THROUGH T. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 33.

PRESENTED UNDER MISCELLANEOUS ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION?

>> JUDGE, IF I MAY? I WOULD LIKE TO LODGE MY OBJECTION TO ITEM 33 AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE, MY AUTHORITY HAS BEEN CLEARLY STATED TO THE COURT MANY TIMES HERE, VIA MEMOS AND EVEN SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT COMMISSIONER DEXTER MCCOY SHARED WITH THE COURT EARLIER, ESTABLISHED WITHOUT ANY QUESTION THE AUTHORITY OF THIS OFFICE TO SPEND $10,000 TO BASICALLY ASK FOR AN OPINION THAT ISIS BEEN PROVIDED, AND AN OPINION THAT IS ALSO PENDING FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO REVIEW, IT IS DUE POLITIC DUPLICITOUS, A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND IT INTERFERES WITH THE AUTHORITY OF UR OFFICE, WITHOUT GETTING INTO A DEBATE, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MY OBJECTION IS STATED ON THE RECORD AS TO THE HIRING OF ANY OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO CHECK THE AUTHORITY OF MY OFFICE. I HAVE BEEN PLACED HERE BY THE VOTERS. NOT BY JAY, GRAY, RANDELL AND ASSOCIATES, AND IT IS NOT THE DUTY OF THIS COURT TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO CHECK OR GRADE ME. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO THE VOTERS.

NOT TO THE COMMISSIONERS. A SEPARATE ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE COURT. AND YES, WE CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER, BUT COMMISSIONER MORALES, COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE, KP GEORGE, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONER MEYERS AND COMMISSIONER MCCOY, I AM STATING THIS VERY CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO SAY, NOTWITHSTANDING ALL THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT SAY THIS IS A BAD DECISION IF IT IS MADE, IT IS DUMB. IT IS DUMB.

IT IS ARROGANT AND DUMB. OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> OKAY. AT THIS TIME --

>> AND I WILL ALSO ADD, MY PREDECESSORS, MR. BUD CHILDRESS AND MR. RORY CORDES WERE NOT CONFUSED.

THIS IS MY SECOND TERM. THE ABILITY OF MY OFFICE TO PROVIDE THOROUGH LEGAL ADVICE TO REPRESENT CIVIL MATTERS, TO REPRESENT THIS COURT, TO PROVIDE GENERAL LEGAL ADVICE, TO EVERY DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS COUNTY UMBRELLA HAS BEEN UNCHANGED. THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAME SINCE ITS INCEPTION. WEAR WE'RE NOT CONFUSED, THANK YOU.

>> CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER WHY WE'RE LOOKING TO -- WHY YOU

[02:00:04]

ARE LOOKING TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM?

>> THIS WAS PUT UNDER MISCELLANEOUS AND NOT UNDER SOMEONE'S OFFICE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO WITH ANY OF THIS, BUT I'M CURIOUS, ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHO PUT THIS ON, I'M ASSUMING IT IS EITHER MY COLLEAGUE FROM PRECINCT 3 OR THE COUNTY JUDGE.

WHY ARE WE LOOKING TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM? WHAT IS THE POINT IN THIS

ACTION? >> COMMISSIONER MEYERS, YOU

WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING? >> BRIEFLY.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ATTORNEY S WHO DISAGREE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S DETERMINATION OF WHAT ALL HER AUTHORITY IS, AND ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LOOK FOR CLARIFICATION.

ALL WE WANT TO DO IS CLEAR IDEA, CLEAR INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE COURT'S AUTHORITY IS --

>> 4. 3 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED KEN PAXTON INTO OFFICE AND HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REVIEW THE OPINIONS REGARDING THE AUTHORITY OF OUR OFFICE AND THAT IS PENDING. DO NOT WASTE $10,000 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE ON.

THANK YOU. >> IF I COULD --

>> AND THAT'S -- SHE ASKED THE QUESTION, SO I ANSWERED THE

QUESTION. >> SO HELP ME --

>> LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION ONLY.

THERE IS DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS. WE HAVE MULTIPLE ATTORNEYS HAVE TOLD ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OPINIONS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES AND ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET CLARIFICATION OF IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CORRECT OR ALL THESE OTHER ATTORNEYS.

>> YOU ASKED GRADY RANDALL. YOU ASKED GRADY RANDALL.

>> I DID NOT.

>> THIS WAS ALL HERE ON THIS

CONTRACT. >> I DID NOT ASK GRADY RANDALL

ANYTHING. >> YOU'RE ASKING HIM, WITH THIS $10,000 CONTRACT.

>> ALL WE'RE ASKING HIM TO DO -- HE MAY COME BACK WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> IT IS DUMB.

>> PURSUANT --

>> WHAT AUTHORITY DOES HE HAVE?

>> HE'S AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY.

THAT'S IT.

>> ANY RANDOM JOE CAN OVERTHROW THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. THAT HE'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

PURSUANT TO -- BY REFUSING TO REQUEST ADVICE.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE COURT REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF THIS OFFICE. THIS OFFICE IS NOT BRAND-NEW.

I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF YOU ASKED MR. CORDES OR BUD CHILDRESS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

AND AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AGAIN, THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONSTRUCTIVE REMOVAL OF ME FROM OFFICE BY GOING AND FINDING ANY RANDOM ATTORNEY TO VERIFY AND CHECK WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DONE. THIS IS MY SECOND TERM.

NOT MY FIRST GO AROUND. AND TO BE QUITE CERTAIN, THERE IS 150 YEARS OF PRACTICE EXPERIENCE BETWEEN ME AND ALL MY CHIEFS AND EVERY BRIEF THAT WE PUT FORTH BEFORE THIS COURT HAS BEEN VETTED AND VETTED TWICE AND VETTED THREE TIMES FROM WHAT WE PROVIDE YOU, FROM WHAT WE PROVIDE THE AUDITOR, THE PURCHASING AGENT OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT ON ISSUES THAT ARE SO HIGHLY DEBATED AND HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS AS THIS.

I WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN FOR THE RECORD, I'VE SAT HERE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, FROM APRIL TO NOW, AND HAVE ENDURED INSULT AFTER INSULT, AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, THIS ACTION IS AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW, UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY OF THIS OFFICE THAT IS NOT AT QUESTION. WHETHER OR NOT YOU D IT FROM ANY OTHER LAWYER, THEY'RE NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE ADVICE OF THIS OFFICE STANDS AND TO THE EXTENT THERE HAS BEEN A QUESTION, WE HAVE SUBMITTED A RESPONSE BRIEF TO THE AG'S OFFICE, THE SAME TO YOU ALL, AND I'VE ALSO ACTUALLY ATTACHED IT AS BACKUP TO A PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ITEM ON THIS COURT'S AGENDA. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU ALL WITHDRAW ITEM 33 AS IT IS AGAINST THE LAW, AND AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. THANK YOU.

>> AND THIS IS THAT -- OKAY. YOU SAID YOU TALKED TO A NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS. AND THEY HAVE GIVEN CONFLICTING OPINIONS. WHO ARE THEY?

>> JOHN DAY HILL.

I'M ASKING. >> GO CHECK YOUR OWN AND LET'S HAVE THIS --

>> I HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO I WANT TO GET THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU SAID GAVE YOU A CONFLICTING OPINION.

AND YOU SAID JOHN DAY HILL. I KNOW WHO THAT IS.

[02:05:01]

GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE.

>> JOE NIXON.

>> JOE NIXON. OKAY.

AND THEY GAVE THIS OPINION IN WRITING?

>> THEY DID NOT. I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> WHO ELSE? I'M GETTING

THERE. >> I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD EVERYBODY. TALKED TO A NUMBER OF THEM.

>> WHY ARE YOU PAYING ONE OF THEM $10,000 AND NOT THE OTHERS?

>> BECAUSE I ALREADY SPOKE TO THEM.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO --

>> WHY ARE WE PAYING $10,000 TO GRADY RANDALL?

>> I'M LOOKING FOR -- WE'RE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR --

>> YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT OPINION.

>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION, HE MAY SIDE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, HE MAY NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WHY WOULD IT COST $10,000 TO GET THAT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS.

>> YOU STARTED IT. YOU CAN'T JUST PUT IT OUT THERE AND NOT DEFEND IT.

>> ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS CLARIFICATION.

PERIOD.

>> OKAY. OTHER THAN JOHN AND JOE, YOU SAID SOMEBODY -- SPELL THAT NAME?

>> OKAY. AND WHO ELSE?

>> BUT, COMMISSIONER YOU USE THIS ALL THE TIME.

WE'RE DONE WITH THAT. AND SO --

>> LET'S VOTE.

>> SO, I CALL THE VOTE.

>> AS PER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT -- TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE IF ANOTHER MEMBER HAS AN OBJECTION TO ENDING DEBATE WITHOUT A SECOND FROM ANOTHER MEMBER TO DO SO.

AND A MAJORITY VOTE OF THIS COURT IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

HE HAS LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AND HE'S ASKING THEM, IF YOU REFUSE TO ANSWER, YOU CAN SAY SO.

>> I ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS. I'VE ANSWERED HIS

QUESTIONS. >> AGAIN, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. I ALSO AM CURIOUS, COMMISSIONER, WHERE YOU HAVE READ OR FEEL YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS A MEMBER OF COURT, DESPITE THE THREE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS THAT I JUST PROVIDED AND THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS PROVIDED TO US MONTHS AGO, DESPITE WHAT IS CLEARLY LAID OUT IN CASE LAW WHERE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS COURT HAS THIS MUCH THAT IS ZERO FOR THE RECORD AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN ANY REGARD, WHERE YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL AUTHORITY

. >> I'M ASKING A

QUESTION. >> I'M THROUGH DEBATING THE ISSUE. I MADE IT CLEAR AS TO WHAT THE ATTEMPT IS. THE ATTEMPT IS TO CLARIFY WHAT THE COURT HAS, ON EVERYTHING FROM REDISTRICTING ON DOWN AND BY THE WAY, MY OPINION, THE STATUTE IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE -- THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS THE ONLY BODY THAT HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING, PERIOD. AND I THINK THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION IS --

>> AND I THINK IT IS A FAIR POINT --

>> LET'S GET --

>> THAT YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT THE COUNTY -- THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY -- THE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY OVER REDISTRICTING, HOWEVER, WE CAN PASS ANY MEMBER -- NO, NO, WE CAN PASS MAPS ALL WE WANT, BUT WE CAN NOT ADVISE OURSELVES OR SEEK OUTSIDE LEGAL OPINION ON SAID MATTERS. IF, SAY FOR INSTANCE, THIS COURT HAD DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO HIRE A DEMOGRAPHER, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, WE CAN HIRE ONE THAT DOES NOT INFRINGE ON ANY OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF ANY ELECTED MEMBER OF THIS COUNTY. WE COULD HAVE HIRED A DEMOGRAPHER ON THE MAPS THAT THE COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER.

IF WE WANTED TO HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP US TO DO ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED÷÷ TO REDISTRICTING, THAT'S FINE, EXCEPT FOR LEGAL. IF MORRIS' FIRM HAD BEEN ACQUIRED FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WERE NOT LEGAL IN NATURE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN -- THAT WOULD HAVE COMPORTED WITH THE LAW AND WOULD NOT HAVE A FRINGE ON -- INFRINGED ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S AUTHORITY. HOWEVER, WHILE -- WHAT YOU STATED ALSO SAYS THAT THE COUNTY CLERK CAN'T DO REDISTRICTING, IT SAYS THAT THE -- IT STATES -- IT MEANS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CANNOT DO REDISTRICTING, THE COURT IS THE ONLY ONE VESTED WITH THE POWER TO DO REDISTRICTING.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.

ALL OTHER PARTS OF REDISTRICTING, YEAH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. NO ONE ELSE HAS THAT, BUT US.

WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO OBTAIN OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES.

I CITED THAT IN THE HARRIS COUNTY SITUATION.

I CITED THAT IN THE GALVESTON COUNTY SITUATION.

IT IS ACTUALLY ON POINT. IT IS ON POINT.

>> NONE OF THEM ARE ON POINT WITH REGARD TO REDISTRICTING,

SIR. >> TAKE REDISTRICTING OUT.

YOU TOOK THAT UNLAWFUL ACTION. TAKE THIS ITEM NUMBER 33 -- TAKE

[02:10:05]

ITEM NUMBER 33 ALONE, YOU ARE SEEKING OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO ADVISE ON THIS COURT'S AUTHORITY. THAT IS OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REDISTRICTING, NOTHING. I LOOKED IN THIS DOCUMENT, ENGAGEMENT LETTER, THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REDISTRICTING.

WE DO NOT HAVE THAT POWER. WE DON'T.

I PRINTED ALL THESE OPINIONS OUT.

YOU HAVE NOT PRESENTED ANY OPINION THAT GIVES THIS PUBLIC THE TRUST THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW. THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE A FIGHT. THERE IS A PROCESS.

WE MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR AN OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT'S OUR OWN RECOURSE. IT DOES NOT SAY WE GET TO DO GET AN OPINION ABOUT WHETHER IT COUNTERS IT OR WHETHER IT COMPORTS WITH IT.

>> AND NOTHING THAT YOU CAN SAY OR DO THAT IS GOING TO MATTER WHATSOEVER.

WHATEVER HE SAYS. IT IS NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT IS PRINTED ON, OKAY. SO WHY ARE WE DOING IT? IT IS DUMB. IT IS DUMB.

YOU'RE THE TAXPAYER'S BEST FRIEND.

THIS IS DUMB. THAT'S $10,000, YOU MAY AS WELL GO OUTSIDE AND LIGHT IT ON FIRE. PULL THIS ITEM.

IT IS UNNECESSARY. IT IS DUMB.

I'M DISAPPOINTED YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH THAT. IT IS SELFISH, ARROGANT AND VINDICTIVE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU MADE YOUR POINT. >> WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE IS YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS TO SUE THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO PROVE THE POINT AS THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY DID TO PROVE ITS POINT. AND THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY PREVAILED IN A MATTER, JUST LIKE THIS, REGARDING LEGAL SERVICES IN THEIR RIGHT.

THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS SET THIS COUNTY ATTORNEY UP TO SUE HER OWN CLIENT.

AND THEN FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST HER, SHE'S CONFLICTED OUT AND SHE CAN'T REPRESENT US IN ANY MATTERS, A SHAME.

THAT IS A SHAME. THAT IS A SHAME.

YOU COULD VERY WELL WAIT FOR THE OPINION THAT LEGALLY WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK AND PURSUE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU'RE REFUSING TO. YOU'RE SHOPPING AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH THIS SORT OF ACTION IS FORT BEND COUNTY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. IF WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE WANTED AN OPINION ON, GIVE IT TO US.

IF YOU CAN PROVIDE US AN OPINION THAT COMPORTS WITH WHAT WE WANT IT TO SAY, COME $10,000, WE'RE UP TO ARE SALE. $60,000, WE'RE UP FOR SALE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT.

WE'RE BETTER. AND COMMISSIONER MORALES, I INVITE YOU AND BEG OF YOU TO RETRACT IT.

>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING?

>> PLEASE.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN CIVILCIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE. AND IF YOU READ THE LAW, ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THAT RIGHT.

CIVIL, WE DO NOT.

>> SIR --

>> BUT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT --

>> THE MINUTE YOU HIRE SOMEBODY, IT IS NOT ADMINISTRATIVE, IT IS LEGAL. IT IS LEGAL.

>> BUT IT IS --

>> IT IS LEGAL. YOU CAN HIRE ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU CAN HIRE ANYBODY ELSE. YOU HIRE FROM LEGAL SERVICES --

>> THIS IS FOR LEGAL SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS ON THE DOG GONE THING. FOR LEGAL SERVICES.

THAT'S NOT ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S LEGAL SERVICES.

LEGAL SERVICES. LEGAL SERVICES.

>> OKAY. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS HERE. IT IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE -- WHATEVER ITEM THAT WAS, FOR THE AUDITOR TO PAY THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY OF THIS COURT TO PAY THAT PERSON.

>> BUT IT WAS ILLEGALLY --

>> REDISTRICTING FROM ALL I'VE HEARD, REDISTRICTING IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE.

>> ADMINISTRATIVE LAW IS --

>> IVE LAW IS PART OF CIVIL LAW.

THAT IS A SECTION OF CIVIL LAW. BUT ALSO, AGAIN, THIS AG OPINION, JM 1281, LITERALLY LAYS THAT OUT.

AND IT SAYS IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER TO HARMONIZE THE PROVISIONS OF -- LET ME BACK UP. IN DRISCOLL, THE FIRMS INVOLVED WERE TO ASSIST THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY ANDAND COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THEIR DUTIES.

THIS IS PAGE FIVE. I DIDN'T READ THIS PART, ACTUALLY. I DID NOT.

AND THEN IT SAYS, IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER TO HARMONIZE THE PROVISIONS OF THE TWO ACTS. AT LEAST AS IT APPLIES HERE.

[02:15:03]

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS AUTHORIZED TO EMPLOY ATTORNEYS.

WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT. BUT IN ORDER TO DO SO, IT MUST COMPLY WITH THE RESTRICTIONS OF GOVERNMENT CODE 81. 023, WHICH LAYS OUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES OF THE VARIOUS OFFICERS OF A COUNTY. AND SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ATTORNEY. THERE IS -- THERE ARE LEGAL CASES THAT SPEAK TO THAT.

IN ANY REGARD, WHETHER REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION, LEGAL FUNCTIONS OR NOT, THIS IS ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES.

AND WE DO NOT HAVE -- WE CAN FEEL HOW WE WANT TO FEEL.

AND I INVITE YOU TO PROVIDE CASE LAW OR ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS THAT COMPORT WITH THAT. YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS REGARDING THE AGENDA ITEM 18B, RIGHT? THIS IS TO GET WHATEVER CLARIFICATION FOR AGENDA 18B. THAT CAN COME FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THERE IS A PENDING ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, A REQUEST ON

THAT. >> OKAY.

AT THIS TIME -- >> THAT SHOULD COME ANY MONTH

NOW. >> AT THIS POINT, I WILL CALL --

>> NO, I CAN FINISH --

>> I WILL ASK A MOTION.

>> I CAN FINISH MY THOUGHT.

>> I HAVE A MOTION TO --

>> COMMISSIONER MORALES OFFERED SOMETHING NEW IN THIS CONVERSATION AND I AM ALLOWED TO ENGAGE WITH HIM ON THAT FRONT.

SO, AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO -- WHERE IS THE BASIS THAT YOU'RE USING FOR THIS ACTION THAT GIVES US THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TODAY? AGAIN, THERE IS LACK OF CLARITY. PULL THE ITEM.

WAIT FOR THE AG'S OPINION AND LET THAT PROVIDE WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE NEED, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASONABLE THING TO DO, HOLD ON, RATHER THAN WASTE $10,000 OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT, ONE, WE DON'T -- THEY WILL NOT GET PAID, BECAUSE ONE, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EMPLOY AND WE DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION AND THAT'S FREE OF CHARGE TO

THE TAXPAYERS. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO END THIS DEBATE?

>> I'M SORRY --

>> AND A SECOND. SO I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES 3-2.

>> AND THE READOUT ON THIS MEETING WILL BE THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND WHATEVER, IF THIS DOESN'T MAKE THE AVERAGE RESIDENT MAD THAT WE ARE CREATING A PRECEDENCE HERE, BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH AN ELECTED OFFICER OF THIS COUNTY, THAT WE SOMEHOW ARE GOING TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO PUT THIS COUNTY AT FURTHER LIABILITY, AND TAKE -- TAKE THIS COUNTY THROUGH A CIRCUS OF A LEGAL CASE THAT WE -- THAT THEY ALREADY -- WE ALREADY HAVE A COURSE OF RECOURSE FOR.

AND THAT IS THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

>> AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OF YOU ON THE WITNESS STAND, BUT --

>> YOU'D BE DEAD MEAT ON A WITNESS STAND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE ARE CRIMINAL IMPLICATIONS TO PAYING FOR A SERVICE THAT IS NOT LEGALLY OBTAINED.

PERIOD. I READ THAT IN THE AG'S OPINION.

>> OKAY. WE ARE MOVING ON --

>> THAT IS A STATEMENT OF FACT.

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE ON THE

RECORD. >> STATEMENT OF FACT.

>> YOU'RE ON THE RECORD, PLEASE, LET'S MOVE ON. ITEM NUMBER -- ITEM NUMBER 34, I PRESENT THE COURT -- PRESENTED BY ROAD AND BRIDGES.

>> WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT.

>> ITEM NUMBER 34. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> THAT WOULD BE MOVE FOR

APPROVAL. >> YEAH.

>> PRECINCT 3, I'LL --

>> MAKE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND

IT. >> THIS IS 34?

>> 34, YES.

>> I GOT TO COMMENT IF YOU MAKE A MOTION.

>> YOU MADE THE MOTION.

>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MOVE

APPROVAL. >> OF ITEM 34?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER STREETS IN STAFFORD THAT I WAS JUST MADE AWARE THAT THE CITY WANTED TO DO.

>> MOTION AND SECOND.

AND IT WOULD BE REAL CONVENIENT IF THEY CAN ALL BE INCLUDED IN THIS ONE AGREEMENT.

>> I MET WITH THE STAFFORD LAST NIGHT AT THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE WENT OVER THIS AND WE HAVE ENTERED A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO BASICALLYBASICALLY DOWN AND RESURFACE THE STREETS.

>> BUT THEY WERE MORE STREETS THAN THIS, RIGHT? THERE WERE MORE STREETS IN STAFFORD BECAUSE I MET WITH THE CITY --

>> THEY DID NOT BRING THE ADDITIONAL ONES TO MY

ATTENTION. >> THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN YOUR PRECINCT. THERE ARE MORE STREETS THAT ARE IN PRECINCT 2, IN STAFFORD, THAT WERE ON THEIR LIST OF PROJECTS THEY WANTED TO DO. AND I'M SAYING --

>> YOU WANT IT CHANGED?

>> I'M ASKING THAT --

>> ADD THEM TO IT.

>> BUT I'M SAYING, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THOSE STREETS.

I WAS TOLD. AND YOU SAID NO, I'M --

[02:20:02]

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO HE

GO BACK. >> WERE THERE OTHER STREETS IN STAFFORD?

I'M WILLING TO GET ITTEN TO. >> LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> IF WE WANT TO AMEND THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>> DO YOU WANT TO BRING THIS BACK?

>> LET'S AMEND THE AGREEMENT AND BRING IT BACK AND INCLUDE THE -- I WANT TO DO --

>> DO YOU HAVE IT ON THE NOVEMBER 6TH AGENDA, I CAN HAVE THE OTHER STREETS.

>> LET'S TAKE IT DOWN AND WE'LL --

>> YOU WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION?

>> I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

>> THIS ITEM IS TABLED FOR NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT ITEM, 34.

>> THE CITY CAME TO ME ON THESE STREETS,

COMMISSIONER. >> I GOT YOU.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION --

>> I -- LET'S DO ALL WE CAN.

>> ITEM NUMBER -- AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 35 A, B, AND C BEING PULLED, RIGHT?

>> A SEPARATELY, PLEASE.

>> OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER 35 A.

>> OKAY. WE HAD THIS ITEM ON OCTOBER 9TH, AND WE ALL AGREED THAT WE WOULDWOULD A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT COMPENSATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND THE COMMITTEE WAS - - I CALLED THE BLUE ROOM COMMITTEE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS CAME OUT OF, I PULLED THE NAME OUT OF THE SKY, BUT I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. SO, SOME RESOURCES, THE CHAIR WILL BE NICOLE, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NORMAN WONG, DGET AND FINANCE, HAR ORATIO ROGERS, COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD BE YVONNE CAMPEONE. BOARD OF JUDGES, TONY WALLACE.

AND COUNSELOR'S OFFICE, CHAD NOBEL.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER B OR 35 B.

>> I MOVE APPROVAL OF B AS PRESENTED.

>> WANT TO DO C ALSO?

>> WE HAVE A MOTION ON 35 B. A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT B AND C?

>> B. IS THAT COMBINED?

>> B.

>> B, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 35D.

>> MOVE APPROVAL OF -- AS

PRESENTED. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER -- AGENDA NUMBER 36, 37 AND 38.

>> WITH THE TIME SENSITIVE BILLS TOTAL TOTALLING -- SUBMIT FOR COURT APPROVALS -- WITH ROUTINE DISPERSEMENT OF $6. 5 MILLION.

ITEM NUMBER 36, 37 AND 38. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> MOTION AND SECOND.

ALE OLGA, GO AHEAD AND READ ITEM NUMBER 39.

>> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE. DO WE

HAVE TO READ ALL THESE? >> WE DON'T HAVE TO.

>> FOR 39 A UNDER -- 39 IS MEET IN CLOSED SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING MATTERS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE A 551.

071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. UNDER THIS SECTION, THERE IS AGENDA ITEMS -- WE PUBLISHED, EXCUSE ME, AGENDA ITEMS 39 A 1 THROUGH 23.

HOWEVER, ALL ITEMS EXCEPT 39 A 3, 4, 5, 7 AND 8 HAVE BEEN PULLED.

>> OKAY, SO CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> ALL ITEMS EXCEPT 39 A 3, 4, 5, 7, AND 8 OUT OF THE 23 HAVE BEEN PULLED.

>> WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I CAN READ ONLY THOSE THAT ARE ACTIVE.

[02:25:04]

>> JUST READ THE CASE NUMBER.

>> GOT IT, OKAY. SO, FOR AGENDA NUMBER 39 A 3, CAUSE NUMBER 25- DCV 321565, 4 DOES NOT HAVE A CASE NUMBER, SO I WILL READ IT WITH YOUR PERMISSION, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS MICHAEL AND LORI POPE, BOWSER ROAD PROJECT NUMBER 20306, PARCEL R 38437, 26 PRECINCT 1. SORRY.

THAT WAS AGENDA ITEM 39 A 4. EXCUSE ME.

39 A 5 IS FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, VERSUS JAMIE LOERA AND MIRTA ORTIZ, EVER GREEN STREET SEGMENT PROJECT NUMBER 20122 X PARCEL 5, PRECINCT 2.

>> OKAY. NOW --

>> AT THIS TIME, THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT GENERAL MEETING IS IN RECESS FOR CLOSED SESSION.

NOW WE WILL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. IT IS TIME 3:26.

I CALL TO ORDER THIS FORT BEND COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, TODAY IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, 2025. I PRESENT THE COURT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2, MINUTES. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

>> MOTION AND SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.

ANY DISCUSSION. WHY IS THE -- 400,000 --

>> THERE IS NO PRECEDENCE. IT IS A NEW THING.

IT IS IMMATERIAL.

>> AN ITEM LIKE THIS WOULD NOT BE PRESENTED AGAIN.

IT IS UNIQUE.

>> GOOD. ASSUMING NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA NUMBER 4.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. DO I HAVE MOVE TO ADJOURN?

>> THIS IS ADJOURNED. WE NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE JOINT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FOR FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICTS NUMBER 6, 7, 9 AND 10. AND THIS IS TIME 3:28.

I CALL TO ORDER FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DIRECT NUMBERS 6, 7, 9 AND 10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. TODAY IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, 2025. AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

>> APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

5. >> MOVE FOR

APPROVAL. >>

SECOND. >> ISN'T THAT ONE YOU PULLED EARLIER?

>> NO. THAT WAS -- THAT WAS REGARDING ROAD PROJECT.