Commissioners Court - Regular Meeting

All right. Okay, I'd like to welcome everyone this morning to our regular commissioner's meeting. Here it is, the 11th of August, and we're in the annex as usual. We're going to begin with the invocation and the pledges to the flags. If you'd join me in staying, please.

Let's pray.

Lord, thank you for such a beautiful day. We pray for rain. Lord, thank you for our Coffin County commissioners, all our judges, our Coffin County employees, and our first responders. Lord, bless us today in doing your name what needs to be done. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Okay, anyone have any routine correspondence other than myself? Mike, if you'll come on up, please. I'll let you make the announcement.

Good morning. Good morning. Yes, we're petitioning the court for a burn ban. This year, Kauffman County has got higher numbers than most. We actually met our numbers that we were looking at for the burn ban this past Saturday. As we always go through, things are getting extremely dry. We've taken some extra steps in there that we've actually had the forestry service that are staging crews in this county for a faster response and better response to us. to meet our needs and stuff. So that's been something that's been very appreciative that we've had done there. But with our numbers, we're looking at 668 as of this morning and on the drought index. And the lowest part in there, we've met 600 in the county, and the top part of the county is right at 700. So we're pretty dry. We are extremely dry with the high winds that's coming. If it gets started, it's going to be a nightmare. Yes, sir. We were praying some of that rain would have come a little bit further over, but it didn't. Teased us. But hopefully we'll get something. But right now the forecast really doesn't have anything listed out that we're going to get any rain. And, of course, the big things from the National Weather Service that they've told us is that we may get some pop-up thunderstorms here and there. But as far as really anything looking forward, as anything moving through, there's nothing in the forecast that we see. So we respectfully submit that burn ban order for the 90-day duration. Hopefully we'll take that one. I think it's very well warranted.

So I need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. Mr. Phillips makes the motion. I have a second. I'll second. Mr. Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it very much. Okay. Number two, the consent agenda. We have three items. Y'all have time to look at those. need to accept the commissioner's court regular meetings for August the 4th of this year and approve the election order for November the 3rd of 2026 general and joint election in Kaufman County then approve and appoint I cannot pronounce this person's name it's beyond me and I've asked my staff to look at it so to the Norvell Children's Shelter is on the board of directors and I'm going to butcher this person's name so You all have seen it and have it. Karen, do you know how to pronounce that?

Yes, sir. It's D-A-S-H-A-L-I-N-T-U-B-B-I.

Thank you. There you go. So I need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. Commissioner Lane makes the motion to have a second. I'll second. Commissioner Crowell makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Number three is mine. Discuss, consider, and approve adoption of the sheriff and costable fees, including but not limited to writs, garnishments, sequestrations, attachments, executions, and possessions. So you guys want to come up and speak one at a time? We said it last time at $350. We're way below where we should be. We know that. And our concern is not for landlords. It's for the time and effort that you guys and your deputies have to be out on the street.

So go ahead, Commissioner. We agree. I have spoken with Constable Mayfield and Constable Woodall as well. We agree our fees are low. Absolutely. $350 will be A huge, massive hit. And the reason why I say this is because the majority of the individuals that are going to file this paperwork now, it doesn't matter whether it's a landlord, it's the plaintiff itself, they're going to start filing indigent. And that means that they can't pay. They can't pay to service the fee for us to serve that. And then that's going to require us to serve that paper without recovering any cost. Period. They have that right to do that, just like they have that right to file it under the court order itself. Majority of the counties adjacent to us, Rockwall County, $200 fees. Dallas County, to file it's $400, but to serve it is $90. So $200, we've been there a while, and we've discussed this. $275 would be a great impact, and that would be understandable and professional on the fee. And you can even take up the service fee on the civil process to $150. But $350, that's going to come back and bite us in the long run. I can just go ahead and say that now. We want to make sure that we serve this properly and professionally. And when we have individuals that come in that are probably already out of money anyway, And we know a lot of landlords, LLCs are buying the properties and renting them out, and they really don't care. But as the actual homeowners that live in our county that have these houses that probably haven't received rent for five months, so they're already down eight grand, and then we're going to hit them with almost another thousand dollars to serve it, we've got to be reasonable. And 275 would be reasonable. And that's my opinion. I know Constable Mayfield and I talked. Judge Tarnow and I talked. I know Judge Borden has mentioned as well. But the $350,000, we've got to make the right decision.

Well, I understand that. And we do want to do that. But we don't want to be left holding the bag. No, absolutely not. We've had $200,000 for 10 years.

So we're losing. $275,000 would be great.

Sheriff, you want to say something? Other constables want to?

Yeah, when the fee first come out, we had the conversation email. I did put it out. I did do the research. I sent you all the research. I also put it as being the price of 275, and then you all had it for court, and then I think they made a motion of 350. Like I said at the end of the day, the impact is not going to be that big. We just got to accept some of the costs that has went up from our personnel and everything else, so. We've got to pass that off a little bit. We've been eating it way too much, and we've got to offset it. I believe this is not a problem. I don't think if these people want to file indigent, they're going to have to file the paperwork to do that, and if they're doing that falsely, then they're going to wind up putting their self in trouble. So I don't think that's going to be as big of a problem as people think because they've got to file the right paperwork showing they're indigent, and if they're lying on that paperwork, then they can put their own self in trouble. So I think a fair price is $275, as I said from the very beginning, so. I would ask that we set it at 275.

Okay. So, questions, guys? No. No. 275 is good. 275. 275 is good. I want to make the motion then. I'll make the motion. Mr. Phillips makes the motion. I'll second. Roll second. 275. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any nays? No. Motion carries. Thank you. We'll amend what we did prior. Thank you, guys. Number four discussed considered and approved resolution of commissioners court of Coffman County Declaring a need for a housing authority to operate within the county pursuant to chapter 392 of the Texas local government code and if approved appoint commissioners for the County Housing Authority Board you we've been talking about this for some time and Especially in precinct to it's it's a bigger issue there than anywhere else. We have more developments with out-of-state and out-of-county owners, Section 8, and they're porting people in here without us any prior knowledge. Our DA has met with HUD, with our congressman. We're working on getting this established. It will take some time, like the federal government is. They don't move very fast. The cities of Crandall and Forney have offered... Renumeration to help two employees and then the developments in Forney has offered also to help with pay for the director for the first year. After that, then we'll be reimbursed by the federal government. So it won't be any cost to the county other than we'll provide office space. They'll be self-sufficient after that. And then both the cities have asked for an advisory board since they're paying into this. to have a seat at the table on an advisory board, and I think that's commendable because it affects their communities. It will not affect Terrell because they have their own housing authority for Section 8. Well, they just have a housing authority but not Section 8 vouchers. Maybank has one, too, but not for the Section 8. But still, they'll be countywide. There's a hole here, and we need to try and fill it. And so that's our purpose in doing this. And, you know, people are putting people here. There's more Section 8 vouchers in Coffman County, the seven-county area, than any other county. Other cities and counties are sticking them here without our knowledge. And some of them are getting, what, $5,800 a month? $6,800 a month for rent. They can rent a $2,000 house and live on the other $4,800. It's crazy what the government has done. But anyway, that's our intention. That's what we need to do. And so it's up to the court to talk about this. So any questions?

No, I think we definitely need control. I mean, our neighbor Dallas doesn't mind sending plenty of people out here. We have to put a stop to it. And that way it will regulate the amount of people we do receive on vouchers.

Well, it's a burden on the city. It's a burden on law enforcement. It's a terrible burden on the school systems, which affects everyone else because of our taxes. Yep, right. So, okay. If that's your intent or I intend to do this, then I need a motion to approve it. I'll make a motion. Mr. Lane makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Cole makes a second. Any further discussion?

No.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Ms. Lorena. Discuss and approve advertising for an online auction to sell county surplus property utilizing GovDeals. Good morning.

Good morning, Judge and Commissioners. So we are planning to have our auction go live October 1st or shortly after that. so that we could have the revenues hit fiscal year 2027. Okay. We're reaching out to departments currently and getting a list together so that we could get ready for that auction.

What are we going to do when we move to the old courthouse with the leftover? I know furniture did not do well at all last time. Matter of fact, we made more putting on the square on the street and taking donations than what the auction brought us.

We could do we could plan to do that again after a commission, you know after we move into the courthouse, okay?

It's an option So, all right any questions Need a motion to approve. I'll make a motion point. Mr. Phillips makes the motion have a second. I'll say Lane make second all in favor say aye Motion carries miss Lorena. Once again discuss and approve declaring a 2023 Leiboy 8515E serial number 389114 as surplus and authorizing the sale of surplus equipment to the City of Lancaster for a negotiated price of $80,000. Yes, ma'am.

So this is a 2023 Leiboy roller assigned to Precinct 3, and I'm asking the court to declare it surplus and authorize sale directly to City of Lancaster. Okay. Yes. I'll make a motion.

Mr. Lane makes the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Cole makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. Okay, Mr. Auditor, discuss light item and budget transfers.

Yes, sir. We do have a few budget cleanup items, and then we have a few additional revenues that we've received that we would like to increase the budget for, and we ask for the court's approval.

Y'all all got those last Thursday? Yep. Any questions?

No.

Need a motion to approve? I'll make a motion for you. Mr. Phillips makes the motion. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

Mr. Lane makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Most curious. Tell us, so everyone can hear, the cutoff date for ordering anything and having it in hand and paid for by the end of this month.

I don't have that date.

I think it's the 15th.

Okay.

Ordered by the 15th and must be received and paid for by the 31st.

Yes.

Of this month. Of this month. Yes.

For capital expenditures.

Capital purchases, yes. So, anyway, okay. I'm sorry, number eight. Okay. Claims for payment.

This week we just have accounts payable invoices, and mostly that is made up of county road expenditures, and we ask for the court's approval.

There again, y'all got those last week. Any questions? Need a motion? I'll make a motion. Mr. Lane makes the motion to have a second. I'll second. Mr. Crow makes a second. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Mr. Phillips makes a motion to adjourn. Do I have a second? I'll second. Mr. Crow makes a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen.