Remarks by Drew Engelke
139 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 6
- Play at 5:34:29
“And then the part-timers we discussed, right? There was a discussion, what, JP4 clerk marrying part-time to full-time, is that correct? Yes. Yes. And then what about tax assessor, was that also?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:34:52
“Right, JP4, JP1. Was there a tax assessor discussion like sometime yesterday when we talked about this with part-time clerk?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:35:11
“And then the part-time associate judge for magistrate?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:35:21
“Yeah, we just talked about it, trying to go back through the notes myself.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:36:56
“Well, that was out of commissary funds, right?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:38:43
“Okay. And that's out of his forfeiture. Mm-hmm.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:39:50
“So Constable Reyes couldn't be here, but he had just sent me a message relating to same situation, part-time deputy position, wanting to do the same consideration full-time. So here we go, that leapfrog effect that I talked about. But Precinct 2, of course, I'm going to support that. And I know the judge is sitting back here thinking, here we go.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:44:32
“So has there been a discussion, Commissioner, about Marion? Are they at a point where they can do their own city work? funding of a fire? I'm not understanding what you're saying. So the city of Marion, do they not have the capacity with their growth to support their own fire department? The city of Marion. Just a general question. The city of Marion... Because they have a police force, correct?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:45:48
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:47:19
“Okay. But again, it all had to come back to court. I guess my take is if there's a desperate need for it, then yes, that's up to the commissioner's court still. Even if you set aside $350,000, you still have to come to court to get approval. So above and beyond the contract, I don't know if I could support a separate fund for that, but going forward, of course, as needed, case by case, just like with any department. I mean, we went through how many budget amendments today? So that's kind of how I envision that working. Again, I'm not wanting to not fund volunteer fire departments. I don't…”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:48:32
“Right. So that's my point. you put it under the tax revenue, that 350 takes away from what we're trying to do, I guess, with public safety, with positions and what we're trying to do up here. That's just my take on it.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:50:09
“Right. It all started with that grant, if I remember correctly. New Berlin needed the money. Correct me if I'm wrong. It was over $200,000, if I remember correctly.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:50:28
“But I think that's how it started. Again, like you said, it's been a long day. My brain is mush. I'm going to dream about numbers tonight probably.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 5:57:12
“No, I said what I needed to, but you're correct. Again, we're in a tight spot. Back to the volunteer fire department discussion. Been involved with this for quite a while. So when we created GCFR, the idea was to help supplement the time that was missed for calls Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, right? When everybody works. Had that program established, it's working, we're building GCFR. And the idea at the time was the balance was supposed to shift more funding to our county department, less funding to the volunteers. Not that you're not important, but that shift hasn't happened yet. So I'm…”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:17:28
“Well, it's nice to hear that idea coming around again, because we used to have those meetings. And some of them got pretty heated back in the day. just because that's just the nature of humans and the way they are in that setting at times. But it's nice to hear that again. Partnerships, that's what we do. Chief Herrick back there, I mean, we've got to work together. And I think we're headed in the right direction. It's just been, unfortunately, baby steps. And the explosion of the population has put us even further behind, right? I would say like 75% to 80% are medical calls, I would think,…”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:18:17
“So that's important going forward, having that certification and what we need to do to help with that. So I can justify that as far as the training goes. If that's cost to help with, as Gary Chief had mentioned, you know, EMS for them, for the city of Seguin and their coverage, that service is being inundated and they're overwhelmed. So and we're seeing that in the county to any help with that definitely is appreciated and look forward to that partnership.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:18:53
“Moving forward we have to make a decision today as by statute and You can see what we're doing here so my main hesitation with even with the 500,000 last year Was there wasn't a plan it was just there so that's been my whole point you know cart before the horse now we're talking about meeting everybody has a plan and to meet, so that's a great thing. Chief Stry knows the history as well as I do, and we always come back together and work it out, and the important thing is the safety of the citizens of the county, and I do understand that, and so we just have to make the hard calls right now…”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:20:39
“I mean, if it was $250,000 or two, I'm just trying to... Again, and if it goes above and beyond that, you'd come back and you would more than likely get it. $250,000?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:20:57
“Three. Three. This is like a negotiation in front of everybody, right?”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:21:03
“But it's tax dollars. So... what about the other positions that we haven't discussed um thought we wanted to talk about fire rescue mr pender said they need at least three sheriff probably needs at least three deputies so would those be considered into the factor um paralegal like i don't know miss klein if you're kind of tallying this as we talk or not like how this would work financially as soon as you give me what you decided on i will calculate and i will run with it okay So I think what we have discussed already, Commissioner Ott's running a list here, and I don't know what additional…”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:22:55
“I haven't said, but she's still negotiating with me.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:23:00
“I haven't heard anything from the other side yet. Thank you.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:23:15
“And again, according to the court, if I'm not here starting next year during the fiscal year, those decisions are made without the judge and I, of course. But setting up a baseline, I'm not in disagreement with it.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:24:28
“Well, I'm trying to think of all the requests we've made, how much more we need to fill positions.”
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 6:25:45
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Commissioners Court · Sep 1, 2026