Remarks by Michelle Gutierrez Cohen
70 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 3
- Play at 1:32:34
“My precinct is 35 square miles, so it's the smallest one geographically. Within that precinct, there are probably about 15 to 17 schools squeezed into that space. And I have firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have schools on what is barely a two-lane road. And my My fear for this project is, you know, yes, judge, you may not be getting any positive feedback about those who are for, but I guarantee you when that school is built, those parents are going to start calling because they call me now about our schools and how terrible our roads are unsafe and kids getting hit, you know,…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:06:19
“For me, I just believe that it is important for everyone to be presented with the bare bones of the budget, what it looks like with no tax rate. So I have more of an appetite for a small tax increase to help cover a lot of the programs that are going to help us move forward in Hays County. A lot of the initiatives that our departments are spearheading that they want to be able to see, we have to prepare for the future. And so I truly want to hold my comments for that for the workshop. I don't want to dive into anything at the moment, just me personally, until everyone sees what the budget…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:10:06
“I know, but don't we need to be in workshop to have these discussions? Because I think we need to see the whole budget first before we start saying that we need to freeze everything, is my thought.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:30:19
“And I just want to add, I'm more interested in prevention and reform versus expansion, honestly. Not a way to generate revenue for the county, right? So my hope is that the court truly invests in those resources than the other suggested, is my thought.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:37:00
“MATTHEW IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEM.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:41:11
“Okay, thank you. Matthew, how much revenue do you estimate that we might receive within the fiscal year?”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 3:47:06
“Well, first, I want to congratulate you, Scott, on your first budget presentation.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 3:47:17
“Yeah. This is the way to, you know, this is going right out the gate with the fire. So I appreciate the work of not only you, but, you know, Candice and all the staff that put this together. Scott, thank you for having those conversations.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 3:48:22
“Thank you so much. You know, I think this was very important for us to see, you know, what a no tax rate would look like. Right. So we needed a baseline to start from. Right. And so it is it is hard. It is gut wrenching. But it's important. We needed to see the big vision here of what this looks like for everybody. I think what makes this budget year a little different is that we actually have a strategic plan to be our county's moral compass for the next three to five years. And I've always felt we haven't had that kind of a mechanism in place to help with some of these decisions. Um, so I…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 12:27
“Well, just congratulations to all the retirees. And, and, um, I told Jeff this at his retirement party on Friday, just that he will be deeply missed. He's been such an asset to the County. I've, I've never met someone more dedicated. to serving the county and the people and his fellow colleagues. He's definitely someone that I definitely admire his leadership over the county. And I mean, I may spend a little bit of time around Jeff, but he's just been wonderful and I wish him all the best.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 18:58
“COMMISSIONER COHEN? Well, thank you all for all the work, and I want to thank all the individuals that work in these spaces. Your work often goes unseen, but it plays a vital role in keeping our community safe while giving individuals an opportunity to rebuild their lives. And so it's just the work that you all do. I greatly appreciate it every day, what you all do. So thank you very much. Commissioner Hammer.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 34:54
“Well, thank you, Matthew, for the update. It's amazing to see those numbers. The immunization vaccine is something that's very close to my heart. And, you know, I'm thankful that we were able to provide the mobile vaccine. And I was just thinking when you were talking about it, that it was Commissioner Smith and Commissioner Schell that allocated ARPA funding to my office to be able to, you know, try and do some work, you know, as a new commissioner and then having Commissioner Inglesby joined me in that effort to get that mobile van. And, you know, when I think back to COVID, you know, if we…”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 52:38
“So we don't have an ALPR policy right now. That's correct. Okay. So I'm thinking, you know, if we had an ALPR policy and we had within that policy there was some oversight mechanisms, there was a section where, you know, we agree that Motorola is a preferred vendor versus Flock. I mean, the issues with Flock is that we didn't trust that technology and the behaviors of the company. If we had an ALPR policy where it had some real teeth on oversight and approved vendors, I think these kinds of situations would be easier for us to decide, right? And so I'm, that's kind of where my head is, Chief,…”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 1:41:23
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 1:42:13
“And when these appointments are considered, what's the process to invite other folks who may be interested in joining the board. Does that happen within the organization?”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 1:43:40
“Okay. Okay, that's all I have to say. Commissioner Henry.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 2:35:54
“Commissioner Cohen. No, just thank you for the diligent contract management of these individuals. services and I'm think I'll keep an eye on that and having to You know adjust when necessary and nothing really great on staying on top of that.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 3:04:18
“No, I think that, I mean, I fully support this initiative. I think it's important for us to understand what, what other counties are doing and what initiatives or ideas that they're implementing that we haven't thought of yet. And so if we're looking to have this really robust criminal justice reform plan of the future for Hays County, then I think this is part of that contribution to that for us to explore what other counties are doing and have more of a regional impact into this growing area. So I fully support it.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 3:22:33
“Thank you, Judge. Motion to authorize the submission of a counteroffer to landowners regarding PARCEL 27 LOCATED AT OR NEAR FM 2001 IN RELATION TO THE FM 2001 GAP SAFETY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN PRECINCT 2 AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026
- Play at 3:22:59
“YES. AND THEN? THANK YOU, JUDGE. THIS IS REGARDS TO M4, MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR and the Director of Facilities and Resource Management to obtain an appraisal on real property located in Precinct 2 at or near 500 FM 150 East in Kyle, Texas. Authorize the Director of Facilities and Resource Management or County Administrator to execute any related proposals in order to obtain an appraisal and authorize a waiver of the county's purchasing policy of obtaining three quotes for obtaining such an appraisal.”
Commissioners Court · Jul 28, 2026