Commissioner's Court - Regular Meeting

OK, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance.

If everybody could please stay standing up, please, and remove your head here. If we could take a moment of silence right now for remembering everybody who lost their lives in the Twin Towers on 9-11 being 25 years today.

Thank you.

Line, agenda number two, public testimony. Is there anybody? None of the agenda. You may appear before the court at this time. Not being any, we will proceed to line item number three, previous minutes.

Motion to approve item as presented.

Second.

There's a motion and a second to approve the minutes from previous meeting. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Lightliner number four. Consent agenda. Consent agenda item will be voted upon in one vote and will not be discussed separately unless requested by county judge, commissioners, or a citizen.

Judge, commissioners, I have reviewed the budget amendments, and they are allowable budget amendments with y'all's approval.

Motion to approve item 4.1 is presented.

Second. There's a motion and a second. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Item number five, presentation. Line item 5.1, presentation by Halo Flight, Travis Pedersen on the update about Halo Flight's

Good morning, everyone. I'm Travis Patterson. I'm the CEO of Halo Flight. I have Wendy Greer, who most of you probably know, here with me today. Really, I just wanted to come by and thank you for your time and the support from Jim Wells County. We really do appreciate it. Year to date here in Alice, we've flown more than 300 patients out of this facility here with our aircraft that's right here in Alice. So next year is our 40th anniversary. We have a new aircraft coming and we're opening a new base in South Texas. Again, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say thank you for your time. Thank you for your support to Halo Flight. Just like you know, we founded in Fall Furious. We've been here for almost 40 years, and we're really happy to support Jim Wells County.

Okay.

If there's any questions I can answer, please just let me know, but we're happy to be here, and thank you for your support.

Thank you for the update.

Appreciate your service, Travis. Thank you. I appreciate it.

OK, line item number 6. Line item number 6.1, discuss, consider, and take action on a presentation by Real in recognizing September as Hunger Action Month.

Good morning.

Good morning. Board, commissioners, everyone. Can you state your name, please?

Yes, hi good morning, my name is Pam and on this i'm with the real want to thank you all for having us have with me savannah Molina she is our food pantry manager and our transportation director Martin or Nellis Martha we're all here. Thank you for taking the time and having us here, we want to thank you for putting this proclamation together. as Jim Wells County recognizes Hunger Action Month. Centro de Buen Provecho extends its sincere appreciation to Jim Wells County commissioners and court for its continued support, partnership, and commitment to the residents we collectively serve. Together, we are bringing nutritious food closer to the people who need it and strengthening food security throughout Jim Wells County. and rural South Texas. We're happy to announce that we have been doing this for three years already. It seems like we just started, right? And so we have really been breaking barriers and the numbers prove that. Next, I'm going to have Savannah Molina go ahead and share that amazing information with you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good morning. Thank you for this opportunity. We have done so much together and it's been amazing. We have served, for the past 18 months, we've served about 51,000 individuals in our area. And the impact of food insecurity is so, people need it so much nowadays. You've helped us grow from one place, now we have four places, and it's amazing. Yesterday we were in Orange Grove. We served 87 households. We had a lady come up walking with her baby in one arm asking for food and giving her that bag of food just brightened her life. You know, she was so happy, grateful. She even asked for an extra. We gave extra because she didn't know where she was going to be next week as well. So with y'all's help, giving back to the community has been amazing. The blessings you all give is great. You know, those families really need it, and they are very grateful for all this. We're partnering up with farmers to get farms to table now. With Noel's Dairy Farm, we started getting milk, so now families could get fresh milk. So getting with farmers are also helping our community, staying local. So thank you all so much for everything y'all do for us.

Thank you, Savannah.

You want to read the press confirmation? Or do you have it?

I don't have the confirmation.

Anyway, I don't know if I have it or not. You should have it. Point six. Here you go.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Friend. So this is a proclamation National Hunger Action Month for September 2026, whereas September is recognized as Hunger Action Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of hunger and food insecurity and encouraging communities to take action to ensure that individuals and families have access to nutritious food and essential resources. And whereas food insecurity can affect individuals of all ages and circumstances, including children, older adults, working families, individuals with disabilities, and others experiencing financial hardship or unexpected challenges. And whereas access to nutritious food is essential to the health, well-being, dignity, and stability of individuals and families and contributes to stronger, healthier communities throughout Jim Wales County. And whereas addressing hunger requires the continued cooperation of local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, volunteers, community partners, and residents working together to identify needs and connect individuals and families with available resources. And whereas Real Food Pantries, through its food pantry locations serving Jim Wells County, works to help individuals and families experiencing food insecurity by providing access to food hygiene items and other essential resources while connecting residents with additional community support and whereas hunger action month provides an opportunity to recognize the dedicated staff volunteers donors organization and community partners who contribute their time resources and compassion towards reducing hunger and strengthening the well-being of Jim Wells County residents. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Jim Wells County Commissioner's Court hereby recognizes September 2026 as Hunger Action Month in Jim Wells County, Texas, and encourages all residents, businesses, organizations, and community partners to increase awareness of food insecurity, support local hunger relief efforts, volunteer when possible, and work together towards a community where everyone has access to the food and resources it needs to thrive. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much for your presentation. Martin, can I ask you a question? Can you give us an update on your new facility?

Knowing you're going to ask me something. Yes, sir.

Yeah, can you give me an update on your new facility?

Absolutely. Before I move on to the facility, sir, let me just make one comment on the food insecurity. The numbers yesterday from Orange Grove, 87 households were served. 75 of those households were new households. They had never been registered in our system. That tells us that no matter how often we have food pantry deliveries, food pantries here in Alice, City Council Chambers, Not everyone who needs it is being able to travel to these locations, so our new approach, Sir, is also going into Community, so this is an indication of how much the need is and how it continues us about 83% of all those served yesterday we're completely new families being served in need. City Council Chambers, That is just a figure that is astounding. The food insecurity is great. But let me move to your question, sir. Our facility, as you know, on the 22nd, we're having our walkthrough on our maintenance facility. The northern part of our campus is advancing much faster. That's the maintenance facility, the wash bay and the fuel station. We're extending it to local communities, local elected officials to come and see this regional facility and how better serve them. We are about halfway through the entire project, and we're hoping completion towards October of 2,027. But if you once you go by there, you will not recognize what's going on. The facility is amazing. Good. You see how it is growing by leaps and bounds, and everything we're doing too. to bring it to its completion. It's getting closer and closer every day. We were just awarded an additional $3 million from the Texas Transportation Commission. We're waiting to confirm which, if any of the commissioners will be able to join us, but I hope you'll be able to join us. I know we've received some confirmations. Haven't received your confirmation yet, sir, but we hope you'll be able to be there on the 22nd with us. 23rd.

My apologies. I've been so busy. There you go. It's the 23rd. My apologies. Great.

Anything else?

That's it.

No.

I sure appreciate you guys very much.

I just want to say a few things about Real. I have attended numerous events in San Diego, Alice, and I'm very impressed and astounded that The look on people's faces when they attend the Centers for Food Resources, which health, medical or mental health. And, you know, you have all these people come together to offer these services to people and some are very free. You qualify, you get free medical. And I think the community really needs all that at this time. YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF NEED FOR HELP OUT THERE. NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.

NEW SPEAKER YOUR TRANSPORTATION IS EXCELLENT.

I think you're right ahead of my agenda because I was just about to roll in that that aspect of how we integrate mental health services, food pantry and transportation for residents in our communities that are not able to come to food pantry. They can contact us and we would be able to provide free transportation. My apologies, no cost transportation. City Council Chambers, To get to the food pantries and we're looking at next year, doing a food pantry delivery based on eligibility and criteria to be met, but we thank you also for how transportation plays a key role okay sure appreciate your presentation, thank you.

City Council Chambers, Yes. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you so much.

I'll be there. I appreciate you guys.

Thank you.

Motion to approve item number 6.1. Second the motion.

There's a motion and a second. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, same sign. Motion passes. And item number seven, resolution. 7.1, discuss, consider, and take action on a proposal resolution presented by a representative from Community Action Corporation of South Texas authorizing the County Grant Program 2027, Texas Department of Agricultural, Texas Feeding, Texas Food Delivery Grant Program.

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning. How are you?

Good.

Thank you. My name is .

We're a community action corporation in South Texas, and I wanted to give a quick little update about our organization.

Mayor Mrakas, Our organization and our services that we've provided Community action is a nonprofit organization, we have five service divisions within Jim wells county we provide our head start services our early childhood intervention services, we have a health Center here. Mayor Mrakas, We provide energy assistance and we have Community services. City Council Chambers, And in our Community services before I talk about our meals and wheels program we did receive funding for our veterans so we are now providing rental mortgage and utility assistance for our veterans here in jim was county. City Council Chambers, So if you all know of anybody who would be interested i'm going to leave these here for you, and please spread the word. The spots are limited. I think we only have 30 spots, but in Jim Willis County we already have six vets taken care of so Okay, so in our Meals on Wheels program in our congregate services and our home delivered meal services we've provided over 500 clients with services we've PROVIDED OVER 95,000 MEALS TO THESE CLIENTS. 13,000 OF THEM WERE FOR OUR CONGREGATE MEAL SERVICES AND OVER 81,000 WERE FOR OUR HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAMS AND THAT'S FOR JIM WELLS COUNTY ALONE. SO THAT'S A LITTLE UPDATE FROM OUR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AND THAT WAS FROM OCTOBER TO JULY SO WE STILL HAVE August and September before the year's up. So the reason why I'm here is actually to continue our collaboration with the Texas Feeding Texans program. It's a grant program with the Department of Agriculture. Community Action collaborates with Jim Wells County and with that we provide additional meals, home delivered meal services for our constituents.

Thank you so much.

Yeah. I make a motion to approve item .

Second.

Yeah, there's a motion and a second. All in favor, say an aye. Aye. All opposed, same sign. You have the resolution? Yes, sir. Can you read it?

Usually it's the judge. Great question, huh?

Okay, a resolution of the county of Jim wells county Texas certifies that the county has awarded a monetary grant to Community action corporation of South Texas and organization that provides home delivered meals to homebound persons in the county. Who are elderly or have a disability and certify that the county has approved the organization's accounting. system or fiscal agent. Whereas the organization intends to apply for grant funds from the Department of Agriculture to supplement and extend existing services for homebound persons in the county who are elderly and or disabled pursuant to the home delivered meal program. Whereas the program's rules require an applicant organization to receive a cash grant from the county in which the home delivered meal services are provided as a condition of eligible for program funding. And whereas the program rules further require the county to approve the organization's accounting system or fiscal agent in order for the organization to be eligible to receive the program grant funds. Be it resolved by the county, section one, The county hereby certifies that it has awarded a cash grant to the organization in the amount of $28,000 for the purpose of supporting home delivered meal services and satisfying the local grant requirement necessary for the organization's eligibility to apply for funding under the 2027 Home Delivered Meal Grant Program. The grant shall be paid And utilize during the period beginning in one January 2027 to 31 of December 2027 the county hereby certifies that the organization provides home delivered meals to homebound persons in the county who are elderly and or have a disability. The county hereby certifies that it has approved the organization's accounting system or fiscal agent, which meets applicable financial management systems required to set forth in the Texas grant management standards by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. And then that's where you sign it.

Okay, there was a motion and it passed. You will get your $28,000. Oh, wonderful. Anyway, you want to take your photo?

Oh, we don't need a photo. I'm cool.

Yeah, we need to take one.

Oh, we do? Okay.

Now, are we going to spend $28,000? Mary. Mary.

Martin, you all can join if you want.

Are you okay?

Come on.

Oh my goodness, look at this. Sorry. Can you balance that? I got you.

Ready, one, two, three.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now you're on record that you were here. Thank you. Okay. Line item 8, IT department. Line item 8.1, discuss, consider, take action to upgrade the new VTXI fiber internet service for eight county facilities in Orange Grove and Fremont.

Good morning, commissioners. My name is Robert Silva from Jim Rose County ID Department. I'm presenting you the proposal to upgrade the fiber internet for surrounding city because what's going on right now, right now the car contract, we have the bundle, which is the phone and internet. Now that we have switched to network, so we have to renew the contract just for the internet only. They have offered the speed. You look at the next page, you see the comparison, what we have currently with the new proposed quote contract, three years. Right now, some of the office has a low internet speed, like for instance, if you look at each location, some have 100 mag, some have 15 mag internet speed. The lowest one is in Orange Grove, which was a 25 mag. And we need definitely to upgrade it because our voice IP phone require high-speed internet for clarity and stability. So I'm requesting the commission record Permission to renew the three-year contract with FTS so that everybody can have the same earning speed. I have added one more location, which is PC4 Justice of the Peace Office in Piedmont. I could not add PG-6 bed ball and PG-3 in Santia because they don't offer fiber internet in that area. So I'm looking to find a way to get them fiber at this time. So right now, it's just for the location.

Robert, that elderly center is the Laughlin building?

Yeah, sure.

The elderly center is the Laughlin building, right? The elderly center in Prymont, it's the Loughlin building, right?

Yeah. Yeah. I include the senior center, number five senior center. And for the library, it's number seven. I also include yours, PG4, and PG3, and the other office. I mentioned on there. This is really important. We've got to have it upgraded because our card contract, we're still paying for the phone and internet. And we're going to do way with phone and start using just internet on the side. So another request is this. Is this okay? We could pay out of the non-departmental telephone. I had talked to about it. She said we could do that. However, each office will have to pay out of their budget and put it into the non-departmental. That was the question. We could do that. They will receive one bill for all of it, and then they can review the bill to each office, and they have to reverse it, and they go to the department.

Yeah, I mean, we can figure out those logistics.

Is the fairgrounds covered in all this? Is the fairgrounds covered?

No, because they don't have viper in that area. It's only for area that has viper. It's available. I know I try to get them one. So we're working on that. We're working on that.

Commissioners, I have a question for Ms. Lozano. Ma'am, when you go to Orange Grove, where do you, what building do you use? No, Orange Grove.

Oh, in Orange Grove?

It's right beside the, it's the commissioner's.

It's the one right in front of the commissioner's office.

So it's two separate buildings?

Uh-huh. It's two separate buildings.

So, OK. There's no way we could merge those?

It's on number one and four.

Well, I see two, five, and seven are all. Are you sure we're not duplicating stuff? How many buildings do we have in Orange Grove?

Because it's separate service per location. Because each facility have their own internet.

Okay.

So, like first I know like if you look at Orange Grove, you know, one building right next to each other or the other between is not ours, so it has to be separate.

So that's two. Where's the third one? Where is the third one in Orange Grove?

Third one is far out. It's Rota Bridge.

Oh, okay.

Okay. I have not included. I need to check with Commissioner Renan on that.

Yeah, that's okay. That's on 624, but out farther west. Got you. And there's no way we could do those two buildings.

You have to... Well, that's a thing because they have the old power source, separate power. And I don't know how you get that.

I think it is one building.

We're going to end up paying for two different networks and they're right next to each other.

I think it's one building. and this is the way to go to touch.

The JP's office, yeah.

Yeah, but I think it's one building. They just blocked off a section. It's two different departments, but it's one building.

Yeah, it just seems like a technicality to me, because they're probably close enough that you could even set up some kind of Wi-Fi system.

And split it.

Yeah.

Can we do like conduit on the phone? You could try that.

We only go once a week.

Well, but you need it. Yeah, my point is, Yeah, we could do one, pay for one, pay for one service instead of two, but whatever. Yeah, right, right. Yeah, right. That's the plan.

Robert, when does this ticket fit? When will it start?

I WANT TO REQUEST APPROVAL TO RENEW THE CONTRACT. THIS IS HOW IT'S STARTING RIGHT NOW. LIKE YOU ALL MENTIONED ABOUT THE TWO BUILDINGS, IF WE DECIDE TO GO WITH ONE, WE CAN RENEW THE QUALITY AND WE'LL CUT BACK NEXT COMMISSIONER COREY MEANING, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT EACH BUILDING HAVE THEIR OWN INTERNET BECAUSE ONE POWER GOES OUT, ONE IS STILL RUNNING, YOU KNOW.

SO LIKE THE LAFLIN BUILDING, WOULD YOU NEED ONE AT THE Hall and the one over here, the elderly? Well, I had one covered.

Well, we could do that, but I would recommend they each have their own internet, you know, because it's a property. Because in between, it's a private property, and we can't throw wire across.

Yeah, because last year, I had a presentation, and we didn't have service over in the hall area.

Unless we could do the underground conduit, we could do that. My question about that is, can we do it across a private property or around, like the paved road? Is it a road? It's a paved?

No, no. I'm talking about Plymouth. Oh, a Plymouth. Laughlin building. Which one? The Laughlin building.

Oh, the old church building? Yeah, because they're senior and senior, we will apply for other office. If you decided to expand more service office, we can include that in there.

Will it affect elections and stuff like that?

Now we have a JP included. We said four, Mary.

And they have the funding for it, right?

Cindy, you have?

I make a motion to approve item number 8.1 presented. Second.

There's a motion and a second. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye.

Motion passes.

OK. Thank you, Robert. Appreciate it. Item number nine, payrolls and bills. 9.1, discuss, consider, take action on payrolls and bills submitted by the county auditor with the exception of fund 52, 3, and 4.

I'll make a motion to approve the bills presented. Second.

There's a motion and a second. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Second signed by George. OK, the last item is line item number nine. Number 10, adjourn.

Nobody has anything? Nobody has anything? George.

I'd just like to remind the public that we're under a burn ban. Do not burn or you'll face consequences. Be determined by fire department.

Lance Brown, Jim Ross County Emergency Management. We do have prescribed burns, you know, for agricultural. There are certain circumstances that have to be made. If you think that you qualify, they can call me directly, 361-227-4812. We'll discuss it, and we'll get the proper paperwork filled out to protect their property and our county property. Thank you.

Thank you, Lance. Thank you, Lance. Thank you, sir. One more reminder to the public, please do not illegally dump out in the county roads. We appreciate your cooperation.

Motion to adjourn.

Second. There's a motion to adjourn. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you very much.