Commissioners Court - Regular Meeting

Okay, I'd like to begin this morning with a regular meeting, welcome everyone here that's here today. A regular meeting here this August the 4th, the year is really going by awfully quick. We're going to begin as usual with the invocation and the pledges, if you'd join me and stand please.

Let's pray. Lord, watch over us. Lord, thank you for a beautiful day. We pray for some rain. So we don't have to go to a burn band, we pray. But help us today in court. Do what's right in your eyes. And also with our budget, make the right decisions. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. You're welcome. Does anyone have any routine correspondence this morning? I have one item that we received after they did a follow-up with our Texas Indian Defense Commission, came in and looked over all the records, and we got a letter of congratulations on their dedication in improving all their practices. They didn't have any findings for us, so that's always good news, and we appreciate Lisa and Beatrice for all the work that they do. So we move on here then to the consent agenda. We have the five items. Y'all have had time to look at those. Any questions, comments, changes? No. I'll make a motion. You have a motion. Commissioner Phillips, do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Number three, Mr. Tommy Riggs. Discuss, consider, and approve the General Services Agreement with National Enrollment Partners. Morning, Tommy. Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners, as well. We're asking for your approval on this General Service Agreement. We have been doing business with National Enrollment Partners, NEP, for a number of years now. The main function that they provide is they provide the software system that manages our employee benefits, and then as employees come and go, they update various vendors, and so that's the main service that they provide. They get commissions from people that they connect us to, and so there's not direct funds for the most part paid directly to them. This is an update of an agreement that has been in place. There are some adjustments because we're adding the flexible spending accounts and they are going to be handling the transition of funds for those. But, again, it's an update on the agreement, and by and large they've done a good job for us.

Okay. You've done an excellent job for us too, and a lot of things going on, a lot of moving parts and everything, and you'll make the enrollment much easier than in the past. People will know more of what they're getting and not getting, which is very beneficial. So thank you for that.

Well, it made it really simple for me not to do anything. But I'm not changing anything, so it's really nice.

We're hoping to accommodate employees that have things set and just don't need a regular meeting and those that want to meet at home with their spouse or significant other to where they can talk about their benefits and the people that want to meet with an enroller, then they're going to have that opportunity.

They have every opportunity in the world to do what they want.

They won't.

They feel comfortable with. Yep.

Okay.

So that's what we're working towards. And they've been cooperative with us in adjusting their systems for that. Because they would ideally like to have every employee sit down with a person every year. That's how they make sales. I know it. Yeah, exactly. Nice. Okay.

All right. Any questions for Tom? No. I need a motion to approve then. I'll make a motion. Mr. Lane makes a motion. I have a second. I'll second. Mr. Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

I'm not as good looking to see you as you are. I second it. He said Crowe seconded it.

Y'all talk about that later. Is it Tommy? It's Tommy. Tommy. Tommy. They just look alike. I'm sorry. Okay, let's not even go into that one. We're going to move on. Number four, Ms. Shannon. Discuss, consider, and approve the replan of lots 7-18 of block 72, lots 8-17 of block 71, and portion of lots 7 and 18, block 71, in the original town of Lawrence, located on FM 1392 in Precinct 3. Good morning, Ms. Shannon. I mean...

Shannon's out.

Don't even quit changing on me.

Shannon had a family emergency, so she's not here. You get me. Sorry. There you go. Okay. You guys remember the original town of Lawrence was made up of teeny tiny little lots, so they're all being merged in this to make one lot of 2.6 acres, and that will correct and be recorded in the official public record. Okay. I've been working on Lawrence for quite a few years now.

Every time I turn around... We've got something on Lawrence in here. Yeah, I mean, and it's so small right there. I guess they were subdividing all that, and it didn't take place.

Yeah, there's been some... We're trying to correct it out there.

We're finally getting it fixed.

Yes. That's right. All right, Commissioner, I want to make a motion. Okay, Commissioner Lane makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Commissioner Moore makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay, one more time, Monique. Discuss, consider, and approve the final plat for revision valley located on Ken Road 121 and 122 in Precinct 1. Yes, ma'am.

So it started off as 25 acres. They were splitting it into seven lots. They range between 1.7 and 4.1, and so they went through the platting process, and they are approved to move forward if you want to approve them.

Any questions?

I'll make a motion.

Commissioner Crowell makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Commissioner Phillips makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay, Sheriff Beavers. Discuss, consider, and accept Coffman County Sheriff's Office quarterly report for months April to June of 2026. Good morning, Sheriff.

Good morning. Y'all kind of see the report I sent it out to you. You can see that our... All our property crimes and what we're covering, it is really up. Looks like we'll probably hit a little over $6 million if we keep on the pass that we're doing now. All our numbers, our investigation is going up. So you kind of see the trend of moving up the jail population. You can see we're holding more state prisoners. That's a variancy that we're playing with. I have a jail commission meeting tomorrow. We're talking about the state, which I call the judge. I was kind of unhappy with the state. They decided that their inmates, once they are sentenced to TDC, if they are wheelchair-bound, that we have to give them a wheelchair. I've got a problem with that. So I'm working with the jail commission and everything else. I provide them the wheelchair we need. They just need to have a wheelchair on the end when I deliver them. So I can't see us as taxpayers for the county buying wheelchairs to send to TDC.

That's a terrible burden to put on the taxpayers.

Yeah. I mean, we get enough on Friday to Monday. So that's kind of the stuff we're dealing with right now. But overall, you can see our report. As far as all of our civil stuff and stuff, the money's running about the same, a little more. So if you all have any questions, I'm here to answer.

Any questions for the sheriff? No. Do I need a motion? I'll make a motion. Mr. Crow makes the motion to have a second. I'll second. Mr. Phillips makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Constable Johnson. Thank you, Sheriff. Discuss, consider, and approve the deputation of Weldon R. Paul, Jr. as a deputy constable with Coffman County Precinct 2 Commissioner's Office to fill a vacant patrol contract position.

Morning. Morning, Judge. Morning, Commissioners. Yes, sir. Mr. Paul is 19 years Master Peace Officer license. He comes to us from the Marshal's office. And after a careful background and interview, we think he'd be a great asset to the department.

Any questions? I'll make a motion. Mr. Phelps makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second.

He beat me, sir.

He beat you? Mr. Crowe, they made a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Constable Johnson once again discussed and approved Deputy Weldon R. Paul Jr. to fill a vacant patrol contract position in Department 192, Mud 5, position number 4404017 with the Copeland County Precinct 2 Constable's Office.

Yes, sir. This position has already been created, passed, and funded. He will be going into a vacant position that is currently available. Okay. Any questions?

No. Need a motion? I'll make a motion. Commissioner Phillips makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Commissioner Moore makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. J.J., you bet. OK, I don't see Judge Rich will not able to be here this morning, so number 9 discuss considering approve the transferring the position of mental health care coordinator from NTBHA to a Coffman County employee position effective September the worst 2026. As you know, we're moving from Nipah to Lakes Regional. Jennifer is the employee that's been there and she will continue on with us. State budget is September 1, not October 1 like ours. So we'll be picking her up as an employee effective that date. Overall, it will save us money from what we're paying one contract to the other. So it's a policy for the county, and we're keeping a qualified employee at the same time. All right. So any questions? No questions. Need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. Mr. Lane makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Number 10, discuss, consider, and approve signing quick claim deed to transfer Kauffman County's interest in property that is held in trust for entities resulting from a tax sale to the CDF camp for the CD project. And we have Richard Bland here this morning going to share information with us about this.

Judge, commissioners, this is a fairly simple process. We took judgment and offered these two properties for sale some time ago. It's been a while back. They've been sitting on the struck off list, which means that nobody's come forward and wanted to purchase those properties. The city of Kemp has come and expressed interest on it. It backs right up to their city park. I'm not sure if the ideal is to expand it or build a parking lot or what, but what the trade on it is, the consideration for it, like any other contract, is public good. It's just a matter of all the other entities have signed over their interest in it. Since y'all are the trustees, the holders for everyone else, y'all are the last ones we're asking to sign it. Okay. I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions? No.

Again, regular piece of property, no one want it except for the city. That's a pretty good use. Good use, that's right. Any questions for Richard while he's here? I need a motion to approve. I'll make the motion. Mr. Warren makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Lane makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you, Richard. Be safe.

Thank you.

Number 11, discuss and consider accepting the proposed budget for FY26-2027. We talked about this last week with all of our additions, deletions. This is just proposed. You all had time to look at this. Here's what we will do next before we vote on this. On the 6th, hopefully we can post the rate to the website if we have all the information, which we can do. August the 7th, if there's any grievances on any pay of elected officials, that's the drop-dead date on that. The 11th, we will send a legal notice for elected officials and salaries to the paper, which is required. Then August the 25th, we hope to do a final adoption of the budget. So that's the schedule. So do I have any comments on accepting the proposed budget that we talked about last week? Everybody's good? I need a motion to approve it. I'll make the motion. Mr. Crow makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Phillips makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Number 12, discuss considering a public hearing date of August 25, 2026 for the proposed budget for 2026-27 and adopting the budget after the public hearing. I think we just went over that. So any questions there?

No.

Need a motion? I'll make a motion. Ms. Phillips makes the motion. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

Mr. Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Number 13 is just a duplicate, so we'll skip to 14. Mr. Auditor, consider line item and budget transfers.

Yes, sir. We do have a few routine line item transfers and a few budget amendments that we asked for the court's approval.

Okay. You got these last week. Had time to look at them. Any questions? Not need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. I'll second. All right. Commissioner Phelps makes a motion. Commissioner Moore made a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Number 15, consider claims for payment. Miss Auditor.

So this week we do have accounts payable invoices, mostly made up of road bond expenditures and county road expenditures. And then we also have juror payments, and we also have a regular payroll. And we ask for the court's approval to pay those.

There again, you got these the same time last week. Any questions? Corrections? Need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. Mr. Lane makes the motion to have a second. I'll second. Mr. Moore makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Time to adjourn. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Mr. Phillips makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Crow makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you.