I turned Okay. All right. >> Good morning. Welcome to the Tuesday, March 10th, 2025 Taran County Commissioner's Court meeting. I now call the meeting to order. >> Tim O'Hare, County Judge. >> Present. >> Rodri Miles, Jr., Commissioner Precinct One, >> here.
>> Alisa Simmons, Commissioner Precinct 2, >> here. >> Matt Krauss, Commissioner Precinct 3, >> here. Manny Ramirez, commissioner, precinct 4 here. >> Constitutes a quorum. >> All right. Thank you. Today's invocation will be led by Armando Perez, um, from Eagle Mountain Church,
president of War Room Nations Ministries. Please rise for the invocation and pledges of allegiance. >> Thank you, your honor. It truly is an honor to be here. On behalf of myself, my wife Kim, and our church, Eagle Mountain Church, again, we support you.
We support all the judges, the leadership and city officials of Tarant County. It truly is an honor. Thank you. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather here today. We acknowledge that wisdom, justice, and
true leadership ultimately come from you. I pray for every leader in this room today. Grant them clarity, integrity, and the courage to pursue what is right for the people that they serve. We lift up Fort Worth and all of Tarant County. May your peace rest upon
our communities. Your protection be our first o our first responders and public servants. And your guidance lead those entrusted with responsibility. Lord, let righteousness guide every decision made in this place. May the work done here today strengthen families, bring unity
to our community, and promote justice for all. And we ask that your light would shine over this city, over this county, bringing hope where there is discouragement and wisdom, where there is difficult decisions. We commit this meeting to you. Thank you
for prosperity, direction, and peace in the holy name of Jesus. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> And now to the Texas flag. >> Honor flag. I aliance to thee Texas. One
state one and indivisible. >> Thank you. You may be seated. All right. Our county administrator has a handful of agenda announcements. Good morning. Happy Tuesday. A couple of announcements this morning. Uh we have
two items which are being withdrawn completely from the agenda. Uh those items are A3 under the administrator section and then also under briefing item three is being removed or withdrawn completely from the
agenda. Uh and then we have five items which are being pulled from the uh from uh the consent agenda for individual action consideration. Those items are C1, E2,
H1, K1, and 012. >> All right. Thanks, sir. >> Thank you. >> All right. Do we have any Commissioner's Court announcements? >> Yes.
>> Yes, I do. I would just like to announce that this past Saturday we had our 12th annual uh healthy lives matter prostate education and screening event and we were able to screen a total of 233 men
>> uh 78 new patients >> and the others are all returning. It was an amazing time, a great event. We had the Mavs maniacs on site and the Mavs cheerleaders which is always a treat. Um and then we had Delino Deields Jr. Texas
Ranger Gray there signing autographs and hanging out with us. Um the dialogue was rich. It was encouraging. Uh men left feeling empowered, encouraged, and excited about next year. uh of those uh
233 screenings, we had 17 abnormal results and seven borderline, >> which sends the message that the work that we're doing is important and that we're saving lives. And so I want to thank all of the uh families and the men
that came out and joined us at the Monreef Cancer Institute. I want to give a special shout out to the staff at the Monreef Cancer Institute. They are rock stars, phenomenal, great support team. I want to also thank the uh students from Taran County College, Trinity River
campus, their allied health campus who came out and volunteered and gave our residents first class service from the beginning until the end. The last shout out I'll make about that was shout out to the Potter House Fort Worth who had the most men to come and to get
screened. Uh we do a commissioners challenge every year where we have a big trophy and you put your name plate on the church that has the most men to come out and so the trophy will go back to the potter's house for yet another year. So shout out to the potter's house of Fort Worth. Uh the next thing I would
like to say is we have a group of curious fantastic students who are here from Crowley Independent School District March to the polls. They're a student voter empowerment organization. The uh 504C is jam-packed with kids, and
I'm excited because they're curious, they're passionate, they're interested, and they love their community. And on a special note, my baby girl just so happens to be one of those students. Oh, so I got to hug her and kiss her this morning. I'm excited uh to have those
students in the room. They're viewing Commissioner's Court, and they're getting a taste of how we govern on the local level. Great. So, I'm excited about having those students with us. Uh, and I'm looking forward to hearing feedback from them on their experience today. Thank you. >> Great job.
>> Good job. Good job. All right. So, I want to invite everybody out to the Arlington Subcourthouse this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for my third annual kidney screening and uh wellness
fair. Uh, like I said, this is the third year I've had it. Um, what we do is screen people uh for chronic kidney disease. You've heard me say before perhaps that I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease uh not too long
ago caught me off guard. Didn't have a symptom, didn't any anything like that. And so I just happened to have a good internist who uh caught my creatinin levels and she got me to a nephrologist and um so I'm good but I have it and so
uh there are probably others who didn't know that they might have uh chronic kidney disease. Um so I have been screening folks. This is our third year and so you're welcome to come out uh from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We have uh
the free kidney disease screenings. We have free uh breast cancer screenings. We have free educational sessions. Lots of nefrologists and doctors will be there. Um and we have free lunch. So please sign up on Eventbrite by
searching kidney wellness and health expo. the if you go to Eventbrite, you'll see it. It's orange and black branding. March is National Kidney um awareness month. And so we partner with the Dallas uh kidney the Kidney
Foundation. So hope to see you there. Uh also uh we have coming up on April 18th our free community shred day. this one. Um, the the first time we had this, it was a a a roaring success. We did it the
same day at the Arlington Subcourthouse and the Mansville Subcourthouse. So, this year we're just doing it at the m this month we're just doing it at the um Mansville Subcourthouse. It's actually April 18th uh from 9:00 a.m.
until um so but that's at the Mansville Subcourthouse on April 18th. You can bring your documents that need to be shredded. We'll be out there uh getting that stuff out of your cars and into the shredder. My sorority is partnering with
me uh on that event. So, we hope to see you there. Um that's all I have. >> Yeah. I've got uh wanted to say a happy uh belated birthday to Texas. you know, we celebrated our 190th birthday uh just last week and I think we're all grateful
for the state that we call home. Um also wanted to uh it's a very special day in our house as our daughter Gracie. Uh it's her birthday today. So just wanted to say happy birthday Gracie. Hope you're having a good day. Look forward to celebrating with you later. Um and I I try to stay away from anything contentious or divisive or negative in
these announcements, but I feel like I really need to bring this up. Uh, Commissioner Miles, you had something happen this weekend that you did not divulge to the uh to the congregation, to the to the audience here, and uh I think it's worth mentioning. So, I'm
really disappointed you did not feel the need to be uh forthcoming and transparent with this body. Uh would you like to amend that now and uh tell us what you did this weekend? >> I'm going to get you. >> You're in trouble.
This weekend I had the privilege of being inducted into the class of 2026 um hall of fame for my fraternity Alph Alpha Fraternity Incorporated the southwestern region.
>> Awesome. for my advocacy and my service to community and my support of the fraternity and upholding our aims which are manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. I'm a proud member. I'm in my 33rd year
of service in the fraternity and it does my heart no greater joy than to be able to serve people. Uh, I told Commissioner Krauss that I was nominated. Uh, and he was like, "Oh, okay. When you going to wear your gold jacket?" I was like, "No,
I'm not wearing gold." I don't really care for spotlight or recognition because that's not why I do what I do. I serve people because that's the way I was raised. And it's my desire
to leave every place and space that I'm in better than where I found it. So, I'm humbled and grateful to my fraternal organization for the recognition. And it still really hadn't sunk in yet, but yeah, I'm a Hall of Famer. So, >> that's
Yeah, >> it's a really cool deal. It's a huge accomplishment. So, congratulations. And I want to make sure you start signing all the resolutions with HOA underneath it. So >> HOF26. Congrats. >> All right. Is that it for you? >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. So, two things uh here from me. Number one, employee appreciation day is April 17th. So, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. We hope everyone can make it out. And we're serving them what this year for food.
>> Hot dogs. >> Hot dogs. Food trucks. >> Food trucks. Oh, food. Good. Food trucks. Okay. So, April 17th, 12 to 2:30 on the courthouse lawn. And then on May 7th, we're having our National Day of Prayer lunchon at the Hurst Conference
Center from 11:30 to 1. Uh our keynote speaker this year will be uh US Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins. So, we're looking forward to that day celebrating our nation's National Day of Prayer here in Tarant County. >> Judge, I have one other announcement I
see here. I just want everybody to know that even though it's raining outside, it goes down tonight at the Wilkinson Grind convent uh sports complex, North Crowley High School will be playing the Duncanville High School basketball team
tonight >> to see who goes to the UIL state championship. >> The stadium is sold out. If you can catch it on TV, I'm telling you, it's going to be a sight. You don't want to miss it. >> That'll be a good one. All right. Next
up, we have public comment under the new program for proclamations, resolutions, and presentations. And there it is. Okay, you found it. Uh, I know there's at least one person on this
that sign that I believe intended to sign up for agenda public comment or general public comments. There may be others. So, I'm going to call your names. If you if your intent is to speak
on one of these nine proclamations, resolutions, or presentations, please come forward and speak. If that is not your intent, because you can't do general public comment during these, you can't talk about an agenda item other than those
nine. If that's not your intent, just pass say regular public comment and then I'll make a note of it and I'll call you first when we get to that section which probably about an hour away if I were to
guess. So, the first one I have is Dolores Phillips. Miss Phillips, I don't think I just saw you walk in. I thought I did. Did she just walk out? Where is she? Well, where is she? Miss Phillips, did
you intend to talk about a proclamation or general comments? >> General comments. >> Okay, I will call you in a little while. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But I did want to speak on one of the proclamations for the Tarant County um assistance for HUD.
>> Okay. I >> So, what's the difference? >> I don't think that's a proclamation. >> I >> Yeah. So, I'll call you here in a little bit. >> Thank you. Okay. Yeah. Uh the next one, >> Judge O'Hare, I was out and I did I didn't hear you. I just >> You're you're okay. Well, I'll call you
at the regular public speaking. Um Bishop Kirkland, are you wanting to speak? >> Speak one or the other. >> You can you can speak both. Do you want to speak on a proclamation? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay, you're up. And then after Bishop
Kirkland, Jolen Patenza. >> Uh thank you, Judge. uh Hicks for being a fair uh jurist. Thank you for inspiring my seven daughters to be black, beautiful, brilliant, bold, and brave. >> You are a matriarch of our village from
Odessa, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas. Judge Hicks, what um what do you know about North Philly, German Town? I too lived in the city of brotherly love. Thank you for sharing your love with me.
Your legacy is strong as the shoulders that you stand on. Your mom, the educator. Your grandfather, the barber and the real investor. Your uncle, uh, attorney JW Durham, who walked
alongside Justice Thurood, Marshall. Thank you for being a bright light that shine. You shine so bright and so brilliant till you blind our eyes but not our vision. The world had Harriet Tubman, Dr. Maya Angelo, Shirley Chisum,
Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wales, Sojourn the Truth, Mary Bethun Cookman, Dorothy Heis, Katherine Johnson, May Jimmerson, Madame CJ Wson, Bessie Coleman, but Funky Town,
we had our judge Hicks and we thank you for your call and accepting that call to be a light in our village. I was speaking to a past judge who referred to her as Mary Ellen and I said to that judge, "We don't do that. She is a
matriarch. She is Judge Hicks. Thank you, juristics, for being a bright, brilliant, resilient light for the women in our village." >> All right. Is Joe Lynn Patenza here? Do we have a spillover room?
>> Yes, sir, we do. >> Okay. All right. I'll try that one at the end. Angela Kirkpatrick. Is Miss Kirkpatrick here? Okay. Aloo. I think all these people meant to sign
up on the regular one. Uh Alaloo. Laura Oakley. Mike Oakley. Okay. So, what I'm going to do now is I'm going to go to employee. Well,
here are the names. If you are in the spillover room, Jolen Patenza, Angela Kirk, Pat Kilpatrick, I'm sorry. Aloo, Laura Oakley, Mike Oakley. Since I don't see any in the room, nobody said they're
coming. Uh, Miss Phillips, you'll be first when we get to the agenda public comment section. So, now we will move to employee recognition. Okay. Well, as always, we are grateful for all
of our employees and we have quite a few 30-year employees today. Several 25 and 135. So, I'll start the way we normally do by asking you to stand as I call your name. And we'll start as usual with the
five-year employees. Elizabeth Aguilar, Lisa Allen, Vonte Beard, Vivian Bice, Donald Carter Jr., Santos Castanada,
Vera Chin. Hi Ver Sean Clintonan, Damen Garcia, Leah Gomez, Casey Gonzalez, Jeffrey Lang,
Matthew Reed, Michael Shepard, Omar Smith, Pedro Sosa, Onisha Stevenson, Tristan Tyler,
Noel Wilson Jr. and Daisy Zamora. Hi. Well, thank you all for your five years with Tarant County. All right. Now, for our tenure employees, Sharon Anderson,
Aaron Bailey, Richard D. Roach, Miriam Garza, Brittany Holder, Nathan Martin, Victor Maguire,
Huey Wyn, Elaine Silva, John Tipton Jr. Is it Isis Tjo Elizabeth Underwood? Thank all of you for 10 years with
Tarant County. We appreciate you. All right. Now, for our 15-year employees, historically, I guess we've done a lot of hiring in March. It's pretty long list here today. Um 15-year employees. Corey Baldderas. Hi
Polar Frasier. Is Polar here? Can anybody tell me the famous person who had a wife named Polar? >> Uh you know you know >> does he? >> Okay. Okay. There's one. Um that's which
one was that? No, never mind. Uh all right. Lisa Mckame Mataya. Where's Lisa? Michael Pard, and Brenda Ramirez. Well, we always have one group that doesn't show up. This year, it's the 15.
So, thank y'all for 15 years. If you're listening, we appreciate you. All right. Now, for our 20-year employees, two decades, please stand as I call your name. Pamela Jenkins, Horatio White,
Nicholas DS, Barry Hancock, Bruce Shelby, Daniel Velasquez, Walter Turnbo, how are you, sir? And Stephanie Rhodess
Ree. Hi. Thank you all for two decades. We appreciate you. All right. Now we move to our 25year employees. Is it Mike Falconee? Mike, how are you,
sir? It's Falconee, right? Not Falcone. >> Falconee. Great. And you're an IT senior IT resource manager. Been with us 25 years. Born in Chicago, Illinois. Are you a Bears fan? What do you think about that move to Indiana?
>> Yeah. Um, Trinity High School graduate. Uh, went to college, Columbia College, two boys. Um, something he he enjoys that nobody knows about him. He enjoys yard work. Don't tell his wife. Okay. I think we may have
just exposed it. Um, he likes to spend time with family and friends, attend his son's soccer events. Oldest plays club soccer at Texas A&M. youngest plays club soccer for FC Dallas and his high school team. Were you a soccer player? >> Yeah. Um other job titles with the
county, he's had eight different positions in Tarant County IT from entry level to senior management. Several several memorable moments. Um he thoroughly enjoyed the successful completion of a team project where teamwork and collaboration are required and they
have that regularly there. his uh the IT department has some amazing staff that are a pleasure to work with and uh he enjoys the opportunity to partner with the various departments within Tarant County leveraging technology to provide as many efficiencies to their business processes as possible. And Mike, thank you very much for your 25 years of
service to Tarant County. We appreciate you. Okay, we also have celebrating 25 three year people celebrating 25 years with the sheriff's office is Celeste High Totower here. Well, Celeste, wherever you are, thank you for 25 years, a quarter of a
century. Let's give her a round of applause. How about Clarence Haynes? Is Clarence here? All right, Clarence also 25 years with the sheriff's office. Thank you, Clarence, for your service. Let's give him a round of applause. And last of the 25 year sheriff's office
anniversaries, uh, not attending today, Ernest Miles. So, Ernest, thank you for your 25 years of keeping us safe here in Tar County. All right, I think this may be a record. This is five 30-year anniversaries we're celebrating today. So, the first is
Jenny Hoop. Uh Jenny, how you doing? Jenny, she is a unit supervisor and staff development and training coordinator born in Grand Prairie, Texas. Uh South Grand Prairie High School graduates in psychology and a mers in criminal
justice. Uh one daughter, two grandchildren. Uh she in fact no one knows about her. She has lived in the same house, had the same husband and worked at the same job for 30 years. I bet everybody does know that about you. So um what she likes to
do for fun, participate in birthday party parades for kids and her pink tie-dye jeep as a part of a group called DFW birthday parades. That sounds pretty cool. Um, other job titles you've had with the county.
That's an interesting way to title that. Sex offender officer, um, court officer and assistant supervisor. And Jenny has been a unit supervisor for 24 years. So, we are very grateful for you for three decades of
service to Taran County. Next we have Bernice Mack. Oh, hi Bernice. How are you? Now you you you're way too young to have been here 30 years. Uh in juvenile services, job title assistant director, field services
with Tarant County Juvenile Services. Birthplace FAR Texas. uh high school. Went to Stevenville High School, home of the 2025 UIL 4A Division 1 Football State Champions. Yes. Um went
to uh Charlton State. Stayed close to home. Yeah. Uh bachelors of science and criminal justice and a master of science and criminal justice. Both from Charlton State. Uh she has three children, Jaylen, Bryland, Isabella. Uh and they have shared her with this calling their
entire lives. Many mornings they were the first to be dropped off at school and the last to be picked up. They grew up understanding that sometimes their mom was helping other kids find the support and stability every child deserves. Well, I'm sure that was a great example to them and still is today. In fact, no one knows about her,
not widely known, but she loves college basketball and March Madness. And every year she still fills out her bracket the oldfashioned way on paper. All right. Is there is there a juvenile services bracket?
>> No. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't ask about money. That uh Yeah, I'm not going to ask that. Um she doesn't have a long list of hobbies, but she enjoys spending time with her husband of 31 years, Kevin, her kids, and her dogs reading
and staying active. She enjoys reading about juvenile justice research and she's grateful that she genuinely loves the work she does. >> Other job title she's had with the county in 1996. She began her career with Taran County as a court clerk for Judge Manuel Valdez. She later joined
the juvenile department as a probation officer aid, was promoted to probation officer, serving in both field supervision and court intake and over the years advanced to supervisor, senior casework supervisor, and ultimately her current role in leadership. her most memorable moment.
Nothing has meant more to her than her years as a field probation officer serving youth and families in the community. Serving youth as a probation officer gave her a firsthand understanding of the serious adversities many young people face. And it is from them that she has learned what resilience truly looks like. Uh she will
always be grateful for the responsibilities God has trusted uh her with along the way. To serve her community is more than a calling. It is a civic duty and it has been the greatest honor of my career. What she likes the most, she value, she
most values witnessing the daily, often unseen work probation officers and supervisors put in to create opportunities for youth. For many youth, probation officers become the consistent adult presence in their lives when stability and guidance are needed most. The positive outcomes we see are built
on their belief that a young person can do better. You can't do this job unless you truly believe in kids. There are too many challenges, too many hard days, and too many unseen pressures to sustain anyone otherwise. Yet, they continue to show up every day committed to helping
young people find a better path. Well, we are truly lucky to have you. Thank you for submitting this and thank you for three decades, Bernice. We appreciate you. And Charlton State beat Army, right? Yeah. All right. Next, we have
Lisa. Is it Kissle? >> Kissle. Did I get it right? >> Yeah. Okay. 30 years. Um, she is an administrative assistant in the victim's unit. Born in Lakew Worth, went to high school at AEL High School, went to TCC,
and has two kids, one son, one daughter. She loves to watch her grandkids play sports and other job titles she's had with the county. Uh, secretary for Edison Youth Center, secretary for the supervisor of the juvenile detention
center, juvenile court clerk's assistant, assistant to the juvenile court coordinator and administrative assistant for the operations support unit at juvenile. And I think everyone up here on this dis and everyone in this audience knows that you can't do the work without good people to support you.
and you've obviously done a great job over 30 years. So, thank you, Lisa, for your three decades of service TO All right. Next, we have Bobby Jackson. Hi, Bobby. Um, assistant manager, district clerk, civil section, also 30 years. Born in
Oakland, California, and went to high school at Argonaut High School. Was that in Oakland? >> Uh, no, it's in California. Okay, got it. Um, she is fortunate and grateful that Mr. Wilder does not require a college degree and she has worked her
way up from an entry- level position to the assistant manager role she currently holds. Um, her husband and her have an amazing daughter who has blessed them with a wonderful son-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. In fact, no one knows about her. She
competed in speech contests and horse judging events as a teenager and won a horse as a prize in one of the competitions. >> That's pretty cool. >> That's better meets a goldfish. >> So, what she likes to do for fun, she
enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and her family, as well as traveling, reading, and crafting. Where's Where's your favorite place you've ever been? >> Oh, okay. Cool. Uh other job titles she's had with the county. In 96 she started out in the district attorney's hot check department
as a bookkeeper. In 99 she moved to the district clerk's office and she served as a court clerk, passport clerk, passport manager, and an assistant manager in both the family and civil sections. Most memorable moment, many memorable moments through the years, but one that really sticks out was the night the
tornado hit downtown Fort Worth in 2000. Willie Ibara, who is also being recognized today for 30 years, uh, and Bobby were working a passport group for the Texas Girls Choir. After the event, it took her nearly two hours to get home. She had to make multiple detours around fallen trees and all kinds of
other debris. >> And this was, of course, before we all had cell phones and GPS things in our car, so she couldn't even let her husband know what was going on. Quite an eventful evening, I'm sure. What she likes the most, she was a single mom when she came to work for the county. She is appreciative of the career and
life that working for the county has allowed her to build. She's met some of her best friends while working here, has grown personally and professionally, and she's proud of the work that she continues to do for the district clerk's office and for Tarant County. And Bobby, we are proud of you. Thank you for your
30 years of service to Tarant County. >> All right. And Willie Ibara, how you doing, Willie? How are you? >> Good. Good. Also 30 years with Tarant County >> and born in Bridgeport and let's see, you are with the district clerk's office. Also, what's your title?
>> Assistant manager civil. >> Okay. Assistant manager civil. And you born in Bridgeport, graduated from Pascal High School, went to college at UTA. You have two daughters. Uh you played baseball in high school, and what you like to do for fun is play
golf. Uh other job titles he's had with the county, he's worked in every department of the district clerk's office. DC records clerk, DC tax clerk, DC civil clerk, DC passport office manager, DC criminal collections clerk, DC civil, family floor supervisor, DC
civil family assistant manager and roommate of Tom Wilder. No, the most memorable moment was the first time Oh, that means multiple times. Is that what that means? The first time you won the coveted Tarant County golf tournament.
>> How many times have you won it? >> Twice. >> All right. >> Okay. Are you What's your handicap? >> Uh 13. >> Okay. Uh what >> what uh what he likes the most? His job has given him the ability to buy three homes and comfortably raise a family
during his tenure. Willie, thank you for three decades. We appreciate you very much. And last um unable to attend today but a 35 year anniversary here um James Skiffington who is the chief deputy in
precinct 6 constable's office and uh he was born in Fort Worth at Carsville Air Force Base went to high school at Western Hills High School uh went to college at TCC uh one daughter and two sons uh what he likes to do for fun is spend time on the patio with his wife in the
morning drinking coffee. >> Sometimes it's the simple things, right? >> Um other job titles he's had with the county corrections officer, deputy sheriff, uh sergeant both in confinement and operations. Um his time working at the sheriff's
training academy has been very memorable because he's worked along worked alongside so many good people. and what he likes the most. Uh, watching the kids, his kids smile at Easter, Christmas, and their birthdays. And we're sorry you couldn't be with us
today, but uh, Deputy Skiffington, thank you for 35 years of service to Tarant County. Let's give him a big round of applause. All right, I will move to receive and file the employee recognition. Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second.
Uh, please cast your votes. All right, Pat, this is new. Passes unanimously. And, uh, another big round of applause for all of our employees, those celebrating anniversaries or not. And you are all excused for, if you choose to be, for a reception in your
honor, on the fourth floor. Proclamations. Okay, for our next uh resolution, it's a memorial resolution in remembrance of the honorable Gina Michelle Bivvens, Commissioner
Miles. Thank you, Judge. Whereas the family and friends of the Honorable Gina Michelle Bivvens were deeply saddened by her death on Monday, February 9th, 2026. And whereas the passing of Gina Bivvens
took from our community an outstanding civic leader, >> visionary. >> And let's wait. >> Is that That's not >> It's just too noisy. >> All right, we'll try it again.
Whereas the family and friends of the Honorable Gina Michelle Bivvens were deeply saddened by her death on Monday, February 9th, 2026. And whereas the passing of Gina Bivvens took from our community an outstanding
civic leader, visionary, fighter, and champion of minority, youth, and women's rights in Tarant County. And whereas Gina Bivvens was born in Fort Worth, Texas, graduated from Paul
Lawrence Dumbar High School in 1973, received a bachelor's degree from Texas Wesleyan College and a bachelor's degree in broadcast media from North Texas State University. And whereas Gina Bivvens worked at KK
DAM Soul 73 radio as a news anchor, KBOX KME and KRLDAM News Radio in Dallas as an assignment editor and later served as bureau chief
for Dallas's Fox 4 News. And whereas Gina Bivven's corporate career included serving as a spokesperson and municipal liaison for Encore Electric, public information office, public information manager for the city of San Antonio,
where she led crisis communications and launched Texas's first municipal cable access television program. And whereas Gina Bivven's storied career in communications would have a profound impact on the surrounding community. And
in addition to her public service, she served as president and executive director of North Texas lead, a nonprofit established by eight Fort Worth CEOs to advance the careers of college degree professionals.
And whereas Gina Bivven served for 12 years as the representative of Fort Worth City Council District 5, being elected in 2013 through 2025. She earned a reputation for championing communitydriven growth and equitable
economic development. And in 2021, Mayor Maddie Parker appointed Bivvens as Mayor Pro Tim, honoring her as the dean of the council. And whereas Gina Bivvens will forever be remembered for her warmth,
generosity, and unwavering dedication as she touched many lives through her kindness and compassionate spirit. And whereas the Honorable Gina Michelle Bivvens leaves a legacy of love as she
is survived by her beloved mother, Betty Joyce Bivven. brothers Reverend Wayan Bivven Senior and Charles Baker Jr., Sister Melanie Shereice Bivvens, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Taran County, pay tribute to the memory of a beloved and honorable woman, recognize the contributions she has made to the people of Taran County, and extend our
deepest sympathy to the members of her family, her many colleagues, and friends for their great loss. and witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be affixed this tth day of March, 2026. And
this is for ratification only. >> Move for approval. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second to ratify this memorial resolution. Any discussion? >> All right, please cast your vote. >> I'll share a fond memory. passes
unanimously >> of the Honorable Gina Bivvens. I recall it was I was I had just started working for Commissioner Brooks and we were at an event. It was a a a gathering and I was
in line waiting to be served or something. And I'll never forget her pulling me to the side. This was my first encounter with her. her pulling me to the side because I brought greetings on behalf of the commissioner and she
got me together. She corrected my approach, my stance, the way I presented myself and said, "Remember, you are not just representing Roy. You're representing all of us. So, do it with excellence."
>> I'll never forget that. And I'll never forget that amazing woman and all of the things that she taught me. She taught me how to be a professional in local government and I'm forever grateful to her. >> Thank you. >> Awesome.
Okay. Now we move to a congratulatory resolution recognizing Trinity Valley School girls wrestling program, girls field hockey program, and girls soccer program. Commissioner Miles, >> thank you. Judge,
are they in here? Are they There they are. There are those superstars. Whereas the Trinity Valley School continues to enhance students cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being through selected athletic
activities and to inspire extraordinary students to become competent, competitive, and character-based athletes. And whereas Trinity Valley School and its athletics program has demonstrated exceptional skill,
discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship throughout the 2526 season. And whereas Trinity Valley School girls wrestling program won the 25 the 2025 2026 Texas Prep State
Wrestling Championships in the 120 pound girls division. reflecting the strength of their preparation, resilience, and competitive spirit. And whereas through hard work, dedication, and a steadfast
commitment to excellence, the Trinity Valley School girls field hockey program earned the distinguished title of 2025 2026 3A state champions. And whereas the Trinity Valley School girls soccer
program likewise exhibited outstanding athletic performance, unity, and determination by winning the 2025 2026 3A state championship. And whereas these championship victories
are a testament to the leadership and dedication of the coaches, the unwavering support of families and faculty, and the commitment of the student athletes to academic and athletic excellence. And whereas the accomplishments of the Trinity Valley
School's athletic program bring great pride and distinction and serve as an inspiration to fellow students and the broader Taran County community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant
County, do hereby congratulate Trinity Valley School and its athletics program for demonstrating the fundamentals of sportsmanship, teamwork, character, and leadership, and for promoting self-respect through a comprehensive
sports program in the Tarant County community. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this 10th day of March, 2026. Can we give these phenomenal scholars and athletes a
huge round of applause? I move approval. >> Second, >> you know, I'm going to get that right one of these days. >> Me, too. I move approval of this resolution. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the resolution. Please cast
your vote. >> Passes unanimously. Today we have with us Brandon Palomo or Aaron McNab, Coach Jacob Perez, Junior Karen Blackwell, Coach Claire
Pierce, Junior Audrey Dean, Senior Maddie Growl, Senior Charlotte Goldman, Senior Isabelle Gonzalez, Senior Claire Mcnite,
Junior Kristen Mallister, please come forward. >> This is a triple threat team, y'all. >> Hi. >> Um, I'm speaking on behalf I love it though. I love it. >> Initiative. >> I love it. >> I don't need a mic. >> I told you they were impressive.
>> Yeah, that's right. Maybe we should buy smaller podium. >> Maybe we should buy a smaller podium. >> Do that renovation. All right. Now, I'm speaking on behalf of the Triny Valley School Field Hockey
Team. We're proud to say that we won our third in a row championship this season. And not only did we bring home a third trophy, but we went undefeated in conference play this season. And it has truly been a blessing to be able to
represent Trinity Valley School. So, thank you all for having us and for recognizing us and celebrating with us. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> And in addition, on behalf of the girls Trinity Valley soccer team, we're really grateful to be here. Um, we're
celebrating a fourth consecutive SPC 3A victory this year. So, >> we're really excited about that. Uh, we went 13-2 this season, scoring 90 goals and only having 19 scored against. >> Wow. So, we're also honored to do that.
But thank you so much for having us and taking time out of y'all's day to recognize us. >> Let's give it up for the coach and the athletic director and staff. Come on, let's give it up for them. They're standing in the back trying to be shy. >> That's uh that's six goals a game.
That's a lot of goals in soccer. Uh, okay. The next uh item is certificates of recognition for the 202526 Arlington ISD Richard Green Scholar for Academic Achievement and Exemplifying Leadership Through Service, Commissioner Simmons.
>> Thank you, sir. Um, so I have certificates of recognition for uh an outstanding cohort of seniors in the Arlington Independent School
District. This is the third year that I have had the pleasure of working with the Richard Green Scholars. So, the Richard Green Scholars uh program recognizes one student at each Arlington
ISD high school. The student receives $10,000 to help with college cost. During their senior year, students complete community service programs with local government entities. And so they they start off with the county by
stopping by my office and spending hours uh with me. Um I learn about them. They learn about me and county government. We sit down and watch commissioners court meetings. Uh they've seen it all.
>> Uh and so they have lots of questions. I can't remember if this year did they visit the budget office. Helen, >> it's coming. >> It's coming. >> Oh, it's come. It's it's it's scheduled. So, they'll go visit the budget office, elections, uh has spent time with um the
Richard Green scholars over the years. Um these are outstanding outstanding students. Um we've u become friends on LinkedIn. They text uh so it's a it's they have access to me and I have access
to them. Um I got your text message Josh uh a week or so ago. So, uh, fantastic students, fantastic program. And I want to say many, many thanks and much respect to their,
um, sponsor, our teacher is Alice. Oh, there you're not over there. You're there. And are you Did you tell me you're retiring? >> Boo. >> Oh, wow. >> Yes. And so she she has been a stalworth
with the Richard Green Scholars program and I just want to thank you for exposing me and my staff to them. I've known about the program for decades because my children went through um AISD. So and Richard Green is a former mayor of Arlington, a fantastic program.
So I have some certificates for each of them. uh certificate of recognition presented to each student in recognition of being a 202526 Arlington Independent School District Richard Green Scholar for academic
achievement and exemplifying leadership through service at their respective high schools and all of us have signed it. And so I will call them up uh one by one and you can just make your way up here.
Uh, Annayia Butler is a senior at Arlington High School and Annayia plans to major in biology and become a pediatrician. Next is Desiree Garcia. She is a senior
at James Buouie High School. She plans to earn a bachelor's in mechanical engineering at Charlton State. Richard Suell is a senior at Lamar High School and ranks 22 in a class of 575.
Richard plans to attend UT Austin or Texas A&M and major in AI engineering. Josh Lugo is a senior at Martin High School and the president of the choir. He plans to major in business management
and theology and plans to attend Notre Dame, North Carolina State or Boston College. And Nusat Jose is a senior at Sam Houston High School. He plans to attend
UTA, TCU, or Texas Tech. >> Um she where she uh will major in science. And Theo Campbell is a senior at Sigin High School and an intern at Loheed Martin. He plans to either attend
UT Arlington or UT Austin where he will study mechanical engineering. Let's congratulate all of these scholars. motion. Yeah, >> I move approval. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second
on this item. >> Please cast your votes. >> All right, passes unanimously. >> That's awesome. Thank you all for being here. >> Thanks, guys. On behalf of the Texas Rangers Richard
Green Scholar Foundation program, I'm just thrilled to be here. I took over the program during COVID and so that was very interesting and the precinct 2 commissioner's office was instrumental. Um, Commissioner Simmons especially, I want to thank you and your team for connecting us with elections and budget.
Those are some really exciting and interesting. Um, I've a lifelong Tarant County resident and I've learned something new every time that we've come. So, I'm happy to present my last group because I, as Miss Simmons said, 33 years, I'm hanging it up to do
something different. Um, and I bring you three future engineers, doctor, nurse, politician one day maybe. Um, so we've had a good time and Miss Simmons, we just appreciate you and all that you do for for us because we couldn't be make the connections without you. So, thank
you. >> Thank you. Enjoy retirement. >> All right. The next item on the agenda is a congratulatory resolution recognizing the League of United Latin American Citizens District 21 of Tarant County on its service as host of the 2026 LUAC National Convention and in
celebration of Caesar Chavez Day. Commissioner Simmons. >> Thank you, sir. Each year I recognize an organization that upholds the legacy of Cesar Chavez, whose legacy we honor on March 31st. This year, I'm proudly
recognizing the League of United Latin American Citizens, District 21, which includes Taran County. District 21 will bring the 2026 LUAC National Convention to Tarant County this summer. And the
resolution reads, I'm going to try to do it from up here. Whereas the League of United Latin American Citizens was founded in 1929 and remains the nation's oldest and
largest Latino civil rights organization dedicated to advancing equality, educational opportunity, economic empowerment, civic engagement, and justice for Hispanic Americans. hand. Whereas LUAC District 21 of Taran County
and its 23 individual councils has upheld this mission through decades of tireless advocacy and community service that has strengthened families and elevated voices across our county. And whereas the observance of Cesar Chavez
Day honors the life and lasting legacy of Cesar Chavez, whose commitment to non-violent protest, workers rights, dignity, and social justice transformed the labor movement and inspired generations to stand for fairness and
human rights. Whereas the principles championed by Cesar Chavez which include respect for humanity, human dignity, sacrifice for justice and unwavering faith in the power of community mirror
the values lived daily by LUAC District 21 and its councils in Taran County. And whereas through voter education initiatives, citizenship workshops, youth councils, health fairs, small business advocacy, and public policy
engagement, LUAC District 21 and its 23 councils continue the proud tradition of civic participation and empowerment that leaders like Cesar Chavez helped advance. Whereas on June 17th through the 26,
2026, LULAC District 21 will host the 2026 LUAC National Convention in Fort Worth. And this election as host reflects its exemp exemplary leadership and showcases Tarant County as a place where diversity is celebrated, dialogue
is encouraged, and opportunity is pursued for all. And whereas hosting this national gathering further honors the spirit of unity and collective progress embodied by Cesor Chavez and reinforced through LUAC's historic and
ongoing work. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Taran County, do hereby congratulate LUAC District 21 of Taran County on its selection as host of the 2026 LUAC National Convention and join in celebration with them of Cesar Chavez
Day. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause the seal of Tarant County to be affixed this 10th day of March, 2026. I move approval. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Please cast your votes.
>> I don't have a list of who all is joining us. I see Jonah >> Cardosa 302 abstensions. >> Thank you, sir. Sorry about that. If you all will come on down, let's present this uh resolution. Good morning. My name is Joanna Cardardoza and I'm the district director
for LUAC District 21 and I'm here on behalf of our LUAC members. I would like to introduce our past uh district director, Salv Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Sal Salvador Curio, and one of our LUAC presidents, Marta Delgado. Um, I would like to express my gratitude
to Commissioner Lisa Simmons for this resolution to be on behalf of our members. LUAC members strive to better our communities every day by advocating for critical resources to address issues such as health disparities and food insecurity to close the educational
opportunity gap in our community schools by mentoring students and distributing books to encourage reading. We help our communities address complex issues such as housing complaints, guidance on navigating their ch child's education system, and encourage civic engagement
in our local elections to name a few. We have had the honor of welcoming Commissioner Simmons and Ramirez to one of our monthly Terreso and Manudo breakfast to provide updates to our community on issues important to us. LULAC's National Convention will be in
Fort Worth this year, kicking off with a welcome reception on June 17th. And LULAC District 21 looks forward to hosting 5,000 attendees from across the nation. Once again, thank you and we really truly appreciate this recognition. Thank Thank you.
Next up, we have a resolution recognizing ASESTA Star, World Mission Society, Church of God, Texas, and 14 North North Texas youth for graffiti removal in Arlington, Texas. Commissioner Simmons. >> Yes. Unfortunately,
uh, the 14 students of the World Mission Society Church of God are on spring break and could not be present today. We are recognizing these students for the thousands of hours they contributed to removing graffiti from a long and
neglected area of Arlington. I will read the resolution and they'll receive it and their certificates of merit at a later date. Whereas Taran County is home to
dedicated youth who actively contribute to the safety, beauty, and well-being of our local neighborhoods. And whereas on November 9th, 2025, 14 middle and high school student volunteers from Aces Stars save the
earth from A to Z. and the World Mission Society Church of God, Texas partnered with the city of Arlington's public works storm water management team for a significant community service project. And whereas these diligent young
volunteers dedicated more than 5,000 hours of time removing graffiti and litter along New York Avenue near Mayfield Road in Arlington, directly addressing issues of vandalism and
environmental care in precinct 2. And whereas these middle and high school students learned character by beautifying parks and restoring the environment and learned leadership by collaborating with local government, schools, and community organizations.
They learned such selfless acts often foster um a sense of civic pride, reduce crime through urban beautifification, and inspire others to take ownership of their community. And whereas the service demonstrated by Asus Star and the World
Mission Society Church of God exemplify the spirit of community partnership that is important for cities and counties to grow and thrive. Now therefore, be it resolved that we the Commissioner's Court of Taran County do hereby celebrate these students for their hard
work and dedication to making Taran County a cleaner and safer place for all residents. And we commend ASA star in the World Mission Society, Church of God, Texas, for leading these young people to serve and to successfully complete the New York Avenue graffiti
removal project. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause the seal of Tarant County to be affixed this 10th day of March, 2026. I move approval. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second.
Please cast your votes. passes unanimously. >> Thank you. >> That's it. No presentation. >> No. >> Okay. All right. Next, we have a resolution celebrating Women's History Month and honoring Judge Mary Ellen
Whitlock Hicks, Commissioner Simmons. >> Thank you very much. Um, is Judge Hicks here yet, Albert? Okay, we're just gonna move on. Today is her birthday, by the way, so she may be celebrating. Um, but all right, so as we
observe Women's History Month, I'm pleased to honor Judge Mary Ellen Whitlock Hicks, whose career reflects a deep commitment to justice, public service, and expanding opportunities for others. Her service stands as a reminder
to all of us that the progress we celebrate during Women's History Month was built by women who chose to lead and to open doors for those who follow. Today, we honor Judge Hicks, not only for her professional accomplishments,
but also the example she sets for future generations of women in law, public service, and leadership. Um, Judge Hicks is one of my biggest role models. Um we are
often compared um in personality uh in language and speech and how we communicate and how we fight and how we stand up for the disenfranchised. Um I love that woman. I respect her and
um so I I felt like on women's during women's history month uh there was no better person to honor. So here is the resolution. Whereas Women's History Month honors the
successes and sacrifices of US women and the recognition traces its roots to 1909 when New York City recognized the nation's first women's day celebration. And whereas the honorable judge Marie
Ellen Whitlock Hicks has devoted her distinguished legal career to the pursuit of justice and equality and to the faithful application of the law and she has left an indelible mark on Tarant
County, the state of Texas and the legal profession. And whereas in 1974, Judge Hicks became the first first licensed African-American woman attorney
in Tarant County and the first woman ever to serve as a municipal court judge and chief municipal court judge for the city of Fort Worth. And whereas Judge Hicks is a pioneering Texas jurist who became the first
African-American and first woman to serve as a justice on the Texas Second Court of Appeals appointed by Governor Anne Richards in 1992. And whereas throughout her career, Judge Hicks differentiated herself as a mentor
and a champion for younger lawyers. and she continues to inspire generations of attorneys to uphold justice, advance equity, serve their communities, and to become future law leaders themselves.
Now there therefore be it resolved that the Taran County Commissioner's Court hereby recognizes Women's History Month and celebrates Judge Mary Ellen Whitlock Hicks for her groundbreaking achievements, community service, and lasting contributions to the legal
community here in Tarant County. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause the seal of Tarant County to be a fixed this 10th day of March, 2026. I move approval. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second.
Please cast your votes. >> All right, passes unanimously. >> Thank you. >> Okay, now we go to a proclamation recognizing Audrey Harrison and proclaiming Audrey's popcorn day. Commissioner Krauss. >> Thank you, Judge. I'm going to read this
proclamation and then add a little bit uh to it. But um whereas Audrey Harrison, founder and owner of Audrey's Popcorn, has distinguished herself as an exemplary entrepreneur whose dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence have made her business a beloved staple
in Tarant County. And whereas Audrey's Popcorn has grown from a small local venture into a thriving enterprise known for its exceptional quality, innovative flavors, and warm community- centered service, reflecting the very best of Tarant County small business spirit. And
whereas Audrey Harrison has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting her community by contributing to local events, youth programs, nonprofit initiatives, and charitable causes, embodying the values of generosity, service, and civic pride. And whereas her leadership and
entrepreneurial success serve as an inspiration to fellow business owners, young people, and all who aspire to build something meaningful through hard work, perseverance, and vision. And whereas Aubry uh Audrey's popcorn has become more than a business, it is a source of joy, connection, and local
pride, enriching the cultural and economic vitality of Tarant County. And whereas the Tarant County Commissioner's Court recognizes the importance of celebrating individuals whose contributions strengthen our communities and reflect the values that make Tarant County a remarkable place to live, work,
and serve. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Tarant County Commissioner's Court, acting through Commissioner Matt Krauss, does hereby honor Audrey Harrison for her outstanding achievements, her entrepreneurial excellence, and her meaningful contributions to the people of Tarant County. I think we can all
agree that that is very impressive. What that resolution did not say is that Audrey is 12 years old. And so, uh, everything we just read is a 12-year-old and she's been running this business for about seven years now, since she was 5 years old and has built this up into something, uh, unbelievable. And, uh, if
you go to DFW airport, if you're there for a a delay, a delayed flight, a long, and you need a snack, you can go into many of the shops in DFW airport and get Audrey's popcorn. So, next time you're on a flight, need something to snack on, look for one of the vendors selling Audrey's popcorn. Uh she's only growing.
It's incredible the work that she's done while she's still a student. She's missing school today, so I know she wants me to drag this out as long as possible, but um she she's an inspiration. Again, started her business at 5 years old, now at 12 years old, the CEO and founder. We have also with us
today Jeff and Tara Harrison uh who are uh Audrey's parents. And uh you can only imagine without their support, unwavering support, Audrey would not be what she's doing. But I met her a few weeks ago and we were so impressed by her in our office. We thought Tarant County needs to know about her. We need to celebrate her and appreciate the work
that she's done. So Audrey, let's come down and and celebrate you for all your achievements. A it is come get a picture. Hand me your phone.
I think Audrey wants to say something. >> Let me tell y'all a story. It's 2023. I'm 9 years old in front of my grandparents house in Great Vine. Selling the best popcorn. Tremendous popcorn. Probably the best popcorn in history, believe me. Police officer
drives by, turns around, stops in front of me, and asks, "Do you have a permit?" I was scared, worried that I was doing something wrong. I could see the jail door slamming shut in front of my face. It was a strange feeling because I've had so many wonderful experiences with
cops before and none have ever tried to shut me down. I didn't know what to do. The next day, my dad called the permanent office and they asked, "Are you Audrey's dad?" No need to worry. I already talked to the chief of police and you are good.
The reason we're good is because Commissioner Krauss created HB234, also known as the lemonade stand law in 2019. This provided me the freedom, nobody loves freedom more than Texans. Everybody knows that. To build Audrey's
popcorn into a business successful enough to get this proclamation. Thank you for this award, the beautiful plaque, and for making Tarant County the safest, boldest, strongest, pro business county in the world to be able to pursue
the American dream. I want to give each commissioner and judge O'Hare a box of the world's best gourmet popcorn, Audrey's popcorn. >> Now we're talking. >> Yeah. >> Now, now, now before we do that, let's vote. So, I don't want to see it seemed like there was any influence before uh
but but I make a motion to approve this uh proclamation. >> Second. >> I think we all have to abstain now. >> We have a we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. All right. passes unanimously. >> Thank you so much, Audrey.
>> Thank you. It really is really good popcorn. Thank you. >> Look at that. >> Thank you. Nice branding. >> Very cool. >> That's 5-year-old Audrey on the box. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. That's uh that's amazing. Very cool. Let's give her another round. >> GREAT JOB, AUDREY. AND I ALSO I want to thank Commissioner Krauss. He has agreed to buy a box for every single person who is recognized next month for employee recognition.
Thank you Commissioner Krauss for doing that. All right. Next up, number nine, a proclamation recognizing Captain Chris Cassidy, United States Navy retired and proclaiming Chris Cassidy Day. Commissioner Krauss. >> Thank you. Uh I'm I'm very honored to uh
bring this last proclamation for me today. Um you know, I one time I met Chad Hinnings. I know he's a mutual friend of some of ours and uh he won the Super Bowl. He flew fighter jets and I thought that's about the coolest guy you are ever going to meet. I don't know how anybody does anything better than
winning Super Bowls with the Cowboys and flying fighter jets. And then a couple of years ago, I got introduced to Chris Cassidy. and uh he's one of three individuals in America's history that was both a Navy Seal and a NASA astronaut. And so the uh work, dedication, and commitment to service in
our country that he's shown us time and again uh by serving us in various capacities uh I thought needed to be honored. And not only was he a Navy Seal, not only was a NASA astronaut, but he came when the National Medal of Honor Museum was just getting off to make sure it got built, got built correctly, got
built on time, got built under budget, and uh was the worldass professional uh museum that we needed to showcase the best of the best in our military. And so, he has given so much to Tarant County. He's now uh uh moved on from that post. We don't know what he's doing
next. And so, I didn't know how long he might be in Tarant County. And so before he got away or before he was called to another uh post for service, I wanted to make sure that he knew that Tarant County appreciated all that he has done, all of his service, all of the time, effort that he's put into making our county better, making our country
better, uh and really making our world better. And uh he's a hero in my book uh and in the countless ways that he served us. We have his wife Peggy here as well today who is very uh accomplished in her own right. You look at her resume, it is very uh accomplished. And so we're
honored to have you both here today. Thank you for what y'all done for Tarant County. And so I'm going to read this uh proclamation and then I'll um I'll give it to you. But uh again, we just wanted to thank y'all for what y'all have done for us. Whereas Captain Chris Cassidy,
United States Navy retired, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and raised in Arlington, Texas, where he graduated from Highland Park High School and went on to become one of the nation's most distinguished military officers and astronauts. And whereas Chris Cassidy served with exceptional valor is a US
Navy Seal, completing multiple deployments in Afghanistan and the Mediterranean, earning the Bronze Star with valor and the presidential unit citation and demonstrating unwavering courage in defense of the United States. And whereas Chris Cassidy was selected
by NASA as an astronaut, beginning a remarkable career that would place him among the most accomplished space explorers of his generation. And whereas Captain Cassidy flew on three space missions, the STS 127, Expedition 35,
and Expedition 63, accumulating 378 days in space, conducting 10 space walks and contributing significantly significantly to scientific research, international cooperation, and the advancement of human space flight. And whereas during
his service on the International Space Station, Chris Cassidy held key leadership roles, including chief of the astronaut office and commander of the ISS, exemplifying professionalism, teamwork, and dedication to the mission of exploration. And whereas Chris Cassidy has remained deeply committed to
public service and education, inspiring students across Texas and the nation through his work with the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, STEM outreach, and his continued advocacy for character, leadership, and civic responsibility. And whereas in his role
as president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, Chris Cassidy provided transformative leadership in bringing the National Medal of Honor Museum and Memorial to life in Arlington, helping guide the nearly $300 million project from concept to construction, elevating national
awareness, and championing a mission that preserves the stories of America's greatest heroes while inspiring future generations. And whereas the Commissioner's Court of Tarant County proudly recognizes Chris Cassidy as an outstanding son uh whose uh as someone whose achievements reflect the highest
ideals of service, exploration, and human potential. And whereas his legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, military service members, and young Texans who dare to dream boldly and reach for the stars. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Tarant County Commissioner's
Court does hereby proclaim March 10th, 2026 as Chris Cassidy Day in Tarant County, Texas, and encourage all residents to join in honoring his extraordinary impact on Taran County, the state of Texas, and the United States of America. I move for adoption.
>> Thank you, Megan. Did you bring any food? judge and members of the court. Wow. Thank you very much. And and space popcorn is coming at you next next week. No, it it's all with a great deal of humility to be recognized in this fashion because as everything in life is
a team sport truly exemplified this morning. We had 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 year employees of Tar Tarant County. We have folks that are leading the future leaders of of Tarant County and great team um teamwork and young scholar
athletes that we recognize. All of that is possible because people coming together to accomplish a mission. No matter what the mission is, flying in space, building a museum, um it doesn't matter. It's all about bringing people and aligning visions, aligning team
efforts to get something done. and um I served the nation as a military officer as a team member for all the citizens of the United States and it's great u honor and privilege to now be in Taran County. It says here that I was uh graduated
from Arlington, raised in Arlington. Now I I'm I live I've been here long enough to know I wish I was raised in Arlington, Texas. I grew up in in in uh York, Maine, small town in Maine, high school there, but we got to Texas as fast as we could. We lived in in Houston for about 20 years. But no, don't worry.
We have no longer have any Jose Altuve or JJ Watt jerseys. We're full-on Texas Rangers. And our son works for the Rangers organization. Judge, commissioners, so honored to be here today. Thank you very much for this honor. I truly appreciate it. >> Thank you.
All right. And that did pass unanimously. So we are now going into recess. The time is 11:27. >> Sir, >> before we go into recess, the uh student voter empowerment club was able to come into inside the court and I just want
them to stand so that the court can see him and acknowledge him. the Crowley ISD student voter empowerment. And y'all see that little small one right over there in the corner? Wave, baby. That's mine right there.
>> That's great. All right, it is the time is 11:28. We will reconvene at 11:40. We are now in recess. Okay. What are we on here? >> That's funny. It's actually really good. She does a
good job. All right, I'm going to start. All right, we are back from recess. We are now to the agenda public comment section. Just to make things perfectly clear,
the new decorum policy passed allows a speaker up to three minutes the entire meeting or if it drops down depending on the numbers to two minutes or one minute. Bishop Kirkland asked could I do both? I
said yes because you can. What I did not clarify and perhaps should have was whatever time you spend talking in a proclamation is time away from the regular one. So for this meeting I will give you your full two minutes but everybody knows moving forward it's a
combined time limit and that's clear in section 1 a I in the policy. So with that, first up is Dolores Phillips and then Jimmy Blackwell.
Dolores Phillips, you do have handouts. It's 11 pages. Thank y'all for allowing me to speak. And I want to state for the record, I'm not homicidal. I'm not suicidal. I'm not valid. Never have been, never will be. Judge O'Hare on
page five, you s you signed the order for recusal for Judge Kernut in this fabricated uh eviction. And you signed the recusal order on June 25th,
uh June 18th, 2025. I'm sorry. And I'm speaking in humility because at the core this is about a probate estate matter before it was an estate matter. Keep in mind Dallas County 2545th
court DF-92-11850. Keep that in mind. My dad, he's the only man I know. I never been so serious in my life. It's not a threat. It's ser I'm I'm I'M AS HUMBLE AS I CAN BE. He pleaded with
me to not leave him. But at the core is his estate before it was an estate. WHEN THEY RAN UP IN THAT APARTMENT with no money's owed, no lease violations. They took bonders exhibits for probate matter
P-19707. Honorable Judge O'Hare, he was my father. I do the same thing FOR YOU. WE KNOCKING ON DOORS. I'M GOING TO THE FBI AGAIN. United States Department of Justice. I'm asking YOU TO INVESTIGATE WHY THEY STOLE MY EXHIBITS while I was
at Delta Hay Law Library pertaining to this fabricated evictions unconstitutional rid of POSSESSION WHERE THEY OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE AND STOLE EXHIBITS FROM MY DAD'S ESTATE BEFORE THEY WAS ESTATES AND HIS demise before
his time was for his money. We knocking on doors. Thank you, Judge O'Hare. >> Thank you. All right, following Mr. Blackwell, we have Katherine Godby. But Judge O'Hara, isn't it a little hypocritical that the
party that constantly whine and cry and pout like a spoiled 2year-old brat about election being stolen or rigged is the same party that's doing the stem. It is evident that you mega knights are willing to do whatever it takes to
satisfy your insatiable lust to remain in power. >> We can start with the voter suppression where ridiculous laws are implemented to make voting more difficult. Next, the racially motivated gerrymanding of precincts. And let's not leave out the
state. What about bomb rushing and confiscating water ballots in Georgia? And let's not forget the attempted bribe in Minnesota. Remember, if you hand over your vote of ballots, we will remove ICE. How can a government go all the way
to Venezuela, arrest who they perceive as an illegitimate president because of his quoting interference, and not arrest the criminals who interfere in elections in this country. Somebody from this country should be
occupying sales to the left and to the right of Madero. What difference does it make what country you commit the crime in? But it appears that in the United States of America, you can get away with this kind of garbage. But you see it in other
country that want to prosecute legitimate presidents. It is hypocritical. And hypocritical is only passed and practiced by hypocrites. Where do you stand?
Hypocrites. >> Next we have Katherine Godby. Then Buff Kaiser. >> Sean Ferio is 26 years old. He has ID. He has the mental capacity of a 6 to8 year old boy. He's been in the Tarant
County jail for over a year. This is cruel, brutal behavior on our part. Who are we as human beings to do this? He is in bad shape. His mother is very concerned. We are very concerned for his well-being. Commissioner
Ramirez, his mother lives in your precinct. I hope that you will use your power for good. All the commissioners, Phil Sorrels, JPS, Sheriff Wayburn, Shannon Herclots, and especially MHMR, you all bear
responsibility and have the power to help this young man. I hope you will. Now, for the Tarant County Jail, we've had some recent feedback on the conditions there. These detainees tell
us they report not being allowed to shower regularly, not being allowed the diet they require for medical conditions or religious reasons. They complain of not receiving their medications in a timely manner. And for the sheriff's
quote, best and cleanest jail in Texas, why are there rats running around in these jail cells? As for the decline in the number of jail deaths, I read the press release on Facebook from the sheriff's office and I
just want to point out one thing. It says that the sheriff's office is committed to transparency. If that is so, then why will Shannon Herclots not meet with us and we have stopped submitting FOYA requests? because we only had a they
only had a million reasons to give us for not providing any information to us. This is my file on the number of jail deaths since Sheriff Wurn was >> Mr. Kaiser. It's now your turn. Following Mr. Kaiser's Alan Lob.
Hello, I'm Buff Kaiser, resident of Fort Worth, and it is positive to hear that Tarant County is considering handmarked ballots, scanners, and tabulators so popular with Democrats and
Republicans alike in Denton and Colin counties. And we want to eliminate our 9,000 plus duplicate voter registrations like Denton did so effectively in 2024.
In addition to considering the use of Denton's equipment, another option is um simplified color-coded ballots uh that facilitate hand counting with results within hours as as has been done
for scores of years throughout Europe and interesting enough in New Hampshire. They've been doing this for decades. In the meantime, we're continuing to hear of numerous equipment failures which will be described to you later today, including duo paper jams because
of inadequate cleaning and multiple ballot stocks. Also, controllers are switching parties with Republicans receiving Democratic ballots and vice versa. With these and the December and January logic and accuracy test failures and
continuous lacks chain of custody and absentee ballot issues, we ask if Clint Ludwig and Troy Hav could appear next month to report on their key performance indicators so we can see how they monitor our election performance and
tell us what they're doing about these issues. I have brought with me handouts for you describing how hand counting has been made to work so well in Europe and New Hampshire. And I also have again the details of our logic and accuracy test
failures. One copy for each of you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Following Mr. Lobal, we have Mindy Tacket. >> We speak with one voice because of your attempts to silence us. This county has already paid out over $3 million in
settlements of lawsuits brought by the family members of people who've died while in custody at our Tarant County jail. And that's just the cases that have been settled so far. We cannot afford this
sheriff and his jail team. Imagine what we could have done with that mo money instead of fighting law suits. In his letter from the Birmingham jail, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King wrote, "We know through painful
experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed. We speak with one voice, especially for those whose voices have been silenced as they've died in the Tarant County Jail.
Dean Stewart, Jose Rivera, Javvante Meyers, Jason Martin, Abdullah Muhammad, Delena Price, Andre Wilson, Dale Thompson, Rory Johnson, Kenny Craraven.
Do you have anything else? >> It's my time. >> It's not your time to stand. It's public comments. You can speak or you can sit down. Whichever. >> I have 26 more seconds. >> Are you going to speak? Yes or no? Are you going to speak? >> I can spend some more time talking, but speak or sit down. >> I was hoping we could spend some time
just reflecting on the number of deaths that have happened in the Tarant County Jail. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Following Miss Tacket, we have Charles Bills. We speak with one voice because of your attempts to silence us. In his letter
from Birmingham jail, MLK wrote, "In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All people are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one
directly affects all indirectly. We speak with one voice, especially for those whose voices have been silenced as they died in the Tarant County Jail. Billy Freeland, Robert Renfro,
Clinton Simpson, Jennifer Espinosa, Derek Wyn, Shante Bratis, Robert Miller, Jackson Murphy,
Ricky Farmer, and Willie Good. And I just wanted to add um Manny, you've tried to in the last few days distance yourself, sound more moderate,
talk about taking down the temperature, and you clearly want to unhitch your wagon from the antics of these two. That's not a wagon you're going to be able to unhitch, friend. >> Following Charles Bills, we have Reed Bills.
I wanted to disagree with the earlier speaker. We definitely need to continue using the machines for voting. I think when Clint Lwood comes up and talks about his audit he did, you know, they're going to show that the machines worked flawlessly and hand counting is
not flawless. Also, uh want to reiterate that the uh our uh prosecutor uh our district attorney is still prosecuting an unwinable case against Crystal Mason and has also failed to uh uh close the
case against Cy Campbell. Thank you. >> Following Miss Bills, we have Chris Wood. hiring First Liberty Institute attorneys to represent the county to respond to the complaint filed by Freedom from Religion Foundation regarding unlawful
the unlawful act of placing relig a religious icon on county property is an insult to the non-Christian residents of the county just because it pro bono does not make the hiring right or legal.
In fact, this organization's willingness to work without pay suggests they are using Tarant County to further their agenda. Such beneficence is highly suspect. I also ask again for a description of
exactly how the renovated Cold Springs facility will be used. Will it be a mental health treatment center, a holding place for inmates awaiting transfer to TDC, or an ICE detention center? A large
amount of tax dollars are funding the renovations, and it's time for those paying the bill to be informed as to what they are paying for. Following Miss Wood, we have Belinda Aligier.
>> I'm Chris Wood. Career criminals succeed when governments develop blind spots. When oversight weakens, exploitation follows. Tarant County has a blind spot and criminals know it. Since 2017,
dozens of people have died while in custody at the Tarant County Jail. These deaths are attributed to a wide range of causes which makes them easy to explain away and to stop talking about altogether. In February, this court
adopted rules restricting discussion of in custody jail deaths. Commissioners may not request public briefings on these deaths until the statute of limitations has passed. This means the most serious failures in our jail system
cannot be openly discussed. This is not transparency. This is delayed silence. The jail becomes a place where harm can hide. Patterns go unexamined. Warning signs go unspoken.
Responsibility blurs. And those who recognize these gaps know how to exploit them. I am aware of credible discussions and documented concerns showing that incarceration can be misused to make people disappear from public view. When
oversight is limited, jail stops being a place of detention and becomes a place where accountability ends. This court has made the Tarant County Jail more attractive to bad actors who rely on secrecy. Criminals do not see caution.
They see opportunity. Public discussion is not a legal liability. It is a safeguard. Transparency does not create risk. It exposes it before it becomes fatal. Please reverse the restriction on public
briefings related to incustody deaths. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> F following is Miss Aligier here. Okay. Then we have Bob Willoughby. Did I pronounce that correctly?
>> Yes sir. The French way is Aliger but um the American way would be alliger >> as we do. Um, first of all, thank you so much for listening and um I do ask um just a request more out of duty than it
is a favor if you could please um later read a very small snippet section of what the election poll judge has in relation to the election poll watcher that would help me out with this story.
So if you can just do that afterwards, I would appreciate it. It's less than a page on the relationship of both of the duties. So upon returning to Morningside Elementary, um I arrived at around 300 p.m. and this
was the second time that I arrived at Morningside Elementary for poll watching. Okay. I identified the election judge because in the morning when I initially went, the election judge was not there.
However, the election judge um assistant was. Okay. So when I arrived there the second time, I identified the election judge as I had not met her before earlier that day.
Once I introduced myself and I provided uh the documents that every poll watcher uh gives to the election judge which is the certificate of appointment and it has an oath. And then the other um certificate is the certificate of
completion as my right to be there as a poll watcher. And um so she asked me for my name. Uh it was very condescending, very confrontational. She got up from her chair and she came
nose tonose at me and when she came nose tonose towards me and she was extremely loud when she began to talk and she began to accuse me of taking pictures. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Following Mr. Willoughby, we have Janet Matter. Well, hello there. Um, first off, I'm more about the system is what I am than fixing issues. We got a broken system because the city it's hard to fix issues with a broken system. So, I do
appreciate whoever initiate moving the comment meeting to the top of the uh the agenda here. This something I asked the judge that I asked before to do that and they did it. I wish city council would do it. It shows respect for the people. But on the other hand, everything has a double-edged sword. There's good sides and bad side. Now, I appreciate being up
here like this. That's part of the system that I want to see more of done for the people. Judge, I wish you'd kind of lighten up on the people that speak here. Let them have their two minutes. Just relax. Let them have it. They wait to get here. They wait a long time to get here. It ain't going to hurt. Just let them have it. That's what I suggest
to you. I'd like to see you do good. Like to see you stay there, but I'd like to see lighten up on them. That's all. Other thing is my commissioner does not answer questions. I heard him while ago saying how he was hoping anxiously to answer question these kids. He don't answer questions. I don't like that. That's my problem. One of the problems
our system don't answer questions. I system. Uh Lisa's the only one that answered. Uh Tamisha sent me an email. I framed it. It's on the wall. First one. Now I've got to put her to the test. Now Lisa, the DA over there, Phil Source is doing something corrupt. He's not
answering questions. I have documents on his uh table there. 100% corrupt. He's not answering. I've got to ask, if you saw someone robbing a bank, would you call the police? Even if it's or would you say, "Oh, that's Bank of America. It's not Well Fargo. I'm not worried about it." Should you call the police?
Anyway, I'm asking for help. I'm This is not the only way I'm working at this. I'm working in several ways. This is only one of them. The DA has to answer. He's corrupt because he is corrupt. These has to be answered. And I'm just asking just simply ask him why is he not answering Mr. Willoughby. That's all. Just say you're getting a complaint over
here. You want to know why he's not answering? That's it. I appreciate it. Thank you. Y'all have a good day. Thank you, Tim, for bringing us up to the top. >> Thank you, sir. All right. Following Janet Matter, we have Billy Wilson. >> My name is Janet Maturn, the president of the League of Women Voters of Tarant
County. We are a nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. The league has complete confidence in and we support our Tarant County elections administrator, staff and citizens who
work at polls, our members of the ballot board and signature verification teams. Our elections require trained and dedicated people. Judge O'Hare, why did you call for a handc count of the SD9 runoff election?
And why was it part of an audit rather than as an official recount? I can only deduce that adding it to the audit ensures taxpayers get the bill for this unnecessary effort and expense. I
sent emails on my finding that mail-in ballot rejections tended very high for the last two elections based on the Secretary of State reconciliation forms. I hope to get a quick response that there may have been an error. I received
no response from the ballot board lead or any Republican leaders on this issue. Why? A ballot board member did review the data and provided to me a clear explanation regarding the errors on this
ballot board approved form. The league is asking to have the reconciliation forms amended to ensure their accuracy. I ask the county to not waste money on recounts. Use the money to train election workers, have more polling
locations, hire more election workers, and provide more voting machines. Democracy requires leaders to be fully transparent and to work for your constituents. >> Following Mr. Wilson, we have Andrew
Grub. We speak with one voice because you seek to silence us. The 2020 election was not stolen. Haidder Garcia did a good job. Crystal Mason should not have been prosecuted. Kyrie Campbell and Anthony Johnson should be alive. And my right to
a continuous voting community should not have been a bridge user by your desire for political gain. That part is for you. The rest is for my community. We have for years come to petition our leadership to address our
concerns with this administration of justice in our community. We have called for decarceration mainly by the proper placement of individuals with intellectual development disabilities as well as the release of low-level non-violent offenders. But we find ourselves today with Shawn in his
situation. This leadership has shown no compassion or confidence. They have responded by restricting our voice in cutting program. The fort reporter reporter article verifies what many of us feared that when you cut yap based on your polit your own personal views that
many of the programs that were needed by our children would go by the wayside. Mmr cannot fill the gaps of what has fallen because of gap. We see that we are not concerned with our RDD people and the chase of case of Shawn. Will he
be the next to languish in our jails and die? We must address this issue of incarcerating individual with ID pending competences hearings knowing that they may not ever be able to be competent leaving them to languish in our jails is a death sentence. Will Shawn be the
next? You may glory the recent decline in death and to call these acceptable lawsuits. But what if Shawn was your son? Well, if he was their son, he'd be like Bill Waver's son who never got past intake process. They do not care about us. Vote them out. Elect representatives
who are looking out for our interests, not national ideiations. Vote these Republicans out and elect people who will fight to secure our voting rights. Build a safety net for those who need help. Stop shipping our use off to an overcrowded state. >> Next, we have Mr. Grub. Following Mr.
Grub, the name on this screen says Robert Buy. I don't know if that's Robert Ber, but >> uh before I start, I'd like to address uh the prior speaker uh Belinda. Her point was going to be that the election judge at Morningside denied her entry
and refused to uh swear her in for over two hours. It was only after the sheriff's uh department and downtown elections board interveneed that she was sworn in to do her uh duty as a poll watcher. I'm going to address my duties
and experiences as a election clerk at Southwest Regional Library on election day. Um I'd like to observe that our election process is too complex. We uh each voter has to engage with four different machines in
order to be registered, to be issued a ballot, to create their ballot, and to have that ballot inspected. Each machine is a source of potential mechanical and electronic failure. At our polling place, we saw every kind of machine
fail, have to be rebooted, jam over and over again. In addition to the machines themselves, the ballot stock was inconsistent and would not feed properly into the duos. We had 5% of all ballots cast at our uh polling station spoiled leading
to further delays and frustration on the part of workers and voters alike. Um, so I would like to uh commend the uh county for considering changes to the machines uh to reduce the
complexity and to go to handmark ballots to reduce the opportunities for electronic and mechanical failure and thereby increasing the confidence of the voting public in our elections process. God bless y'all. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak. Thank you. Is
Robert Buer or Robert Buchi here? Robert Buer. >> Um, it doesn't do me the pleasure to come back to this commissioner's court. I was hoping I wouldn't have to, but you know, to kind of highlight some of the corruption going on is my son apparently lost his appeal. And so now he's
currently sitting in Taran County Jail because his appeal got moved from the second court's appeal from the seventh court's appeal without any explanation. It would just randomly happen, but it only happened due to my u my son's attorney. It was only his cases that got moved. It was nobody else's cases.
Nobody has any improper relationships or anything going on that made that happen. That only leads me to one person and that's that judge. Apparently, she can't take a loss even when it's the right kind of loss. And the sad thing is I, you know, for the first time I went and I did a little bit more research and I
happened to see a couple people that are prominent on my son's judge's uh Facebook, which you know, it's saddened because one of them happens to be my commissioner who I have not heard from. I've heard from almost all of y'all except for Mr. Miles. You know, I know you're kind of new this. I'm still giving you some grace. I know you're learning, but I've
heard from everybody's office but my own commissioners. And I live in this precinct and that's sad. My son lives in the precinct. He's already been in the hospital three different times as a heart patient, not getting his medicine. I've had to fight to get his medicine. Why? This is a heart patient. Only way
to fix this, and this is never a fixed is through a transplant. And as long as he's in the jail, and as long as he's a felon, that he had to fight to try to get off. But we had a bad representation that was going to sell us out in the courtroom just so they didn't make their judge friends mad. And that's exactly what happened. I smelt them from a mile
away. And trust me, I asked all the questions. Tell me why is it why do you think it's a 50-50 chance? What what to you is 50/50. Maybe I can fill in the gaps because I was there when all this didn't happen. And so now he's sitting in the jail and he's already been in the hospital twice.
They withhold his medicine because they say it's his blood pressure is low. But they have to understand that that is a transplant regiment that he's taking and the only way to keep his blood pressure from bottoming out is he has to have all his medicine. So his blood is too thick. So now I have to, you know, live with that.
>> Thank you. Uh, next I have Zoe Kirkland. >> Then I have Deborah Kratkkey. >> Good afternoon. Um, I have a few words for Miss Commissioner Simmons. As a young black woman growing up in today's
society, you've inspired me with the way that you've moved and conducted yourself. Now I have a poem that's very dear to me that encouraged me and hopefully it encouraged you. You so black. You so black when you smile the
stars come out. Baby, you so black when you born the god comes out. Black as night. Black when it's wrong and black when it's right. Black is pyramids and mathematic. Black is melanized and magic. Black is televised and ease the drastic. Black investment. Black enhanced. Black with chances. Black with privilege. Black with pride. Black on
purpose on the black hand side. Black and beautiful. Black and blessed. Highly favor. Praise the Lord. Black and so much more. Black and nothing less. Black and educated. Black is brilliant. Black is song. Black is resilient. Black is song. Black is infinite like hip hop or space. Black is grace. Black is love. Black love makes babies. Black babies
grow up. Black is tough. Black is hard to do. Black is me, black is you. Black is not something we get to choose, but it is something we must treasure. It's something we get to wear and we get to rock this with honor. We black like our granddaddies and our great great great grandmama. Black is lift every voice and sing and let the freedom ring every
sound. Black is adjective, adverbs, colors and nouns. You so black. You so black when you born. When you smile, the stars come out. Baby, you so black. When you born, the guy comes out. Now don't be discouraged about a fight that wasn't meant for us. But keep in mind that you
stick out. You stick out the fight. And in my eyes, our eyes, you won. So keep going and keep the peace and continue to be brave. Thank you. Thank you. >> Next we have Next we have Deborah Kratkkey
and then Bishop Kirkland Deborah Kretky uh Crowley I was surprised to see that Tarant County had agreed to accept a proono work from First Liberty Institute. I'm very familiar with this organization. Several independent research organizations do categorize the broader network of First
Liberty as a participant in far-right policy and influence infrastructure. First Liberty is a member of the ad advisory board for project 2025. But since we are limited in time, I wanted to bring your attention to the
contract that you're about to sign. When I reviewed the actual contract, I found several issues that were concerning, especially ones that where the client, that's you, understands the ability of FLI to provide pre- bono proono legal representation is directly connected to
the ability of FI to inform supporters of its work. Client agrees to fully cooperate in publicizing non-privileged and non-con uh confidential information related to any legal matter including participation in recorded interviews and
testimony. Now what this also says is that they do the communicating not you. In fact it goes on to say it ties the hand of all members of commissioner court to discuss the issue with the media unless they are cleared to do so by fli. Although most lawyers would
appreciate the client saying nothing without approval, I wonder if all the commissioners understand that this is a gag order impro by that's being imposed by FLI. Bottom line, this law firm has ulterior motives for taking this case as seen in the clause in the actual
contract. Client understands that FLI has public interest objectives established by their board of directors. They seek to establish legal precedent that will enable others to exercise their first amendment religious liberty rights. This is not a contract that you
want to sign. >> Thank you. Uh following Bishop Kirkland, we have Charles Weedmire. >> I want to encourage you both, Commissioner Mouse, most of all to encourage you, the Democratic nominee for the Taran County uh judge, my youth
system. My inspiration for you is don't get Weary, Dr. Dr. King reminded us the crowd at the Washington Monument of his refuse to believe that the great vaults of opportunity of this nation are empty. Sister, there are some dark and
difficult days ahead. But don't allow your tears stained pillow to make you forget that the joy is coming in the morning. Don't you dare grow weary. Don't allow your grapes to draw up like raisins, your joy bells to lose their
resonance like Dr. My Angelo said the cage bird does sing. My soul sister, keep fighting and asking the questions about the Taran County jail. Even when you have to ask them at an empty podium. Continue to prep the consciousness of
this county until morning come. Morning is coming. Don't you dare grow weary. Hold on. We're counting on you. The black, the brown, the red, the yellow, the liberals, and even some conservatives, the heterosexual and the homosexual. Because I've discovered you
could be a Republican heterosexual and still not be straight. We need you to win, sister. Hold on and be strong. Like you, we have a constitution about the Constitution. We hold these truths to be
self-evident that all men are created equal and deserve a hand up and not a hand out. Stay strong, sister. Don't be sidelined or distracted. They will go after the independent voter. They will talk about men competing in women's
sports and transgender bathrooms. But sister, don't be bamboozled into wasteful debates as you've always done. Stay strong on the real issue. Stay strong, sister. Hold on. In the words of Langston Hughes, I too sing America. I
am the dark brother. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next, we have Charles Weedmire. >> Following Mr. Mr. Reed, we have Harriet Harrell. >> Good afternoon, Judge O'Hare and fellow commissioners. I just have a s couple of
simple points I want to make. It was a real stunner for me when I went on the ballot board to learn that there was no way to trace a ballot to the person who voted it. Am I the last guy to realize that that's a big deal? It means that
ballot security is important, but ballot secrecy is not. And we need to keep that in mind when we do all these deliberations about voting because once a voter turns that ballot in, there's no longer any connection. They're just
ballots. That means they can be counted by anybody. They can be counted in any situation as long it's as it's a secure deal where there's a a train of security and the situation secure. The other
thing is about voting locations. I think that as we get more voting locations, more voting time, I shouldn't say locations, but more voting time, we have less voting because in my experience, when we make things easier
for people, everything moves down to a more relaxed attitude. Voting day should be really important. It should be a special day. And we can get more engagement, I believe, by making voting
day special. make it a holiday. Uh do away with this early voting stuff and have people come and and celebrate. It's like diamonds are only valuable because they're scarce and voting day should be valuable to all of us. So, thank you.
Good luck. >> Thank you. Next, we have Dr. Harold, then Matthew Reynolds. Thank you. Commissioners, you've now heard about Sha Verachio, an inmate with autism and
ID who functions at the level of a six-year-old child. He has been in the jail for 446 days and he's not been convicted of a crime. Mhm. >> Imagine, in essence, a six-year-old
locked alone in a cell all those days. We fear for his health. Shawn qualifies and is entitled for placement in a stateup supported living center. We are asking the sheriff's office and MHMR and
you to act immediately and secure that placement before Shawn becomes an irreversible tragedy. Secondly, notice we are still here hanging on to participate in the public
discourse that's the heart and soul of democracy. You steadily reduce public participation from four to two to one meeting a month. You progressively tighten the rules of decorum so that citizens cannot speak on agenda items
when they're actually considered. We cannot participate in public hearings or public briefings because you force us to speak now before we know what the content of them even is. >> Right? >> Quoting poet Amanda Gorman, there is
nothing that convinces like the self does our life, our body and that is why we continue to come here. You restrict our voices but our presence speaks. Gorman says, "Tell me what is more
powerful than the unerased." >> We are still here, commissioners. We will not be erased. Stop. All right. Here's what we're going to do. If we have any more applause the rest of this time, we're just going to
clear the courtroom. So, don't want to have to do that. You've you're warned. So, that's how we'll handle it. Now, we have Matthew Reynolds. Next is Christy Bridgeman. >> We speak with one voice because your attempts to silence us. This county has
already paid out over $3 million in settlements of lawsuits brought by the family members of people who have died while in custody. And that is just the cases that have been settled so far. We cannot afford the sheriff and this jail team. Imagine what could have been done with that money if our jail system was
managed effectively, humanely, and justly. In his letter from the Birmingham jail, MLK wrote, "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed." We speak with one voice, especially for those whose voices have
been silenced as they died in the Tarant County Jail. Since 2017, more than 70 people have died. A few of their names. Kimberly Phillips, Anthony Johnson, George Baldwin, Edgar Alvarez, Trayon
Wormley, Shante Brous, Steven Whitley, Richard Gatowski, Lisa Gadlin, Charles Johnson, Veron Ramsey, Chassity Bonner, Dean Stewart, Jose Rivera, Devonte
Meyers, Jason Martin, Abdullah Muhammad, Delany Price, Andrew Wilson, Dale Thompson, Rory Johnson, and Kenny Craraven. Please do better. >> Next, we have Christy Bridgemond. Is Miss Bridgemond
present? >> Okay. Then we have Nan Terry. >> Good afternoon. My name is Christy Bridgeman. My 26-year-old son, Shawn, has been in a Tarant County jail since December of 24. Shawn is autistic and
has a diagnosis of ID, which is intellectual and developmentally disability. He has been receiving services from MHMR since he was 8 years old. Shawn has been in and out of group homes since he was eight. Most recently,
he was living with me when he was arrested for alleged assault against me. I have filed an affidavit for nonprosecution on but the DA insist on prosecuting him. Shaun's competency cannot be restored.
He is unrestoraable. I am so afraid that my Shawn will die in this jail like many others. He does not have the ability to care of himself. He has lost a tremendous amount of weight, walks around barefoot when he's got
fungus, and he keeps hitting his head against the wall. He needs to be transferred to a state supported living center immediately. I do not understand why MHMR did not put him on the impatient care waiting list for SSLC
prior to his arrest when it was always an entitlement for him and they were aware of his acute behaviors. I feel like they are waiting for a crime and a victim before letting someone with ID into SSLC. Shawn should have been sent
there years ago when I first filed for guardianship in 2017. Please don't let my son die in jail. He needs care, not a cage. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you, Miss Terry. Following Miss Terry, we have Alexander Montalvo.
I'm thrilled that the deaths have declined in the county jail. How many recommendations of the Bureau of Prisons NIC Division's critical site visit report have been implemented? What changes do you think led to the decline in deaths? I hope the briefing co cover
those changes that were made. I am not thrilled that individuals with intellectual disabilities are languishing in our county jail. Do you know how many? We've heard of Sean. We've heard how many days he spent in the county jail. The dashboard costs
states that it the daily cost to house an inmate in Tarant County is $101. For Shawn, that's over $45,000 in county. So, Tarant County has housed an inmate that is incompetent whose doctors say he will never be competent. Tarant County booking told me he would be released to
MHMR when they had a place for him. MHMR says the state makes the determination on when a bed will open up at a state supported living center. Has anyone on this court called HHSC to demand a bed? I believe the last time this court heard from the public regarding ID and
detainees was with the Kyrie Campbell situation. The sheriff's press release stated they bought him chicken nuggets and coloring books. I asked is was this a sheriff's policy for dealing with ID? Then has anyone done the same for Shawn? He has a mental capacity of a six to
8-year-old. Does anyone think the jail is the right place? I'm not sure exactly how a bet appeared for Kyrie the public was involved and my understanding that his commissioner worked with HSC to help resolve any backlog or whatever.
I, like his mother, hope he doesn't die in our jail. I hope Shawn is not on our in our jail in our April's commissioner's court hearing. I expect you to do something. Thank you. >> Following Mr. Montalvo, we have Lon Burnham.
All right. So, I'm going to spend my two minutes sharing immense amount of gratitude. So, my gratitude first goes to the voters of Tarant County because y'all, we did something special this last week. In the first time in 30 years
during a midterm cycle, Democratic voters outvoted Republican voters. Over 188,000 Democratic voters voted in this primary election. Following the heels of the success of SD9, following the heels of
the success of the Mansville School Board, Great Vine Collieville School Board wins, and so many others throughout this county that are rejecting flat out the Christian nationalism that Tim, Matt, and Manny represent and the extremism that they
have within our county. This momentum will not end now. We have local elections happening in May. We have runoffs happening in May. And then we have the general that replaces two of the commissioners here with more
competent, amazing leaders that are going to transform this county. And for that, I am grateful. I'm grateful for Commissioner Simmons taking on the challenge to run for judge so we can actually have real representation. I'm thankful for the results of the county
clerk and the district clerk that are also going to get replaced here. That's also going to lead to a lot of new faces sitting amongst these seats that I can't wait to see do good work amongst the county. And I think my final two pieces of gratitude have to go to you, Tim.
Number one, because this recordbreaking voting and activation amongst our Tarant County residents, I don't know if it would have happened if you weren't here and the just horrid policies and leadership you bring to Tarant County coming from Dallas County. And my final
gratitude is to Manny for rejecting the Latino community and choosing not to serve that the people are ready to replace you. Thank you. Next up, we have Mr. Burnham. Following Mr. Burnham is Gail Smith. Good afternoon. I'm anti-fascist. That
doesn't make me mean. I'm anti- antiat or whatever they call it. I'm anti-communist and I'm anti- inappropriate use of guns and I'm anti unnecessary deaths in this jail. And about a half dozen people have talked to you today about the pending next death
in this jail. It's just a horrible reprehensible situation. I believe in the first amendment that guarantees the right of all of these people I previously discussed to own and print fascist, communist, and gun use materials.
There are so many problems with this county government. It's really hard to know what to speak to in only two minutes time. But first, there's the issue of the way this court is run. And I'll call your attention to the Dallas Morning News story covering the last
commission's court. Free speech concerns raised after removals. The pictures say it loud and clear. How in the world does anybody think you can ban somebody from this court for a year? My six months was
inexcusable enough, but a year, please. Then there's the DA's office. As the Texas A&M law professor criticizes Ter DA's stance on jail death law, I want to make sure all of you understand that a policy statement by
the state attorney general on whether or not the law applies to the requirement that you have outside investigations of all of our unnecessary deaths is just an attorney general's opinion. It is not
law and you better support state passed law. And finally, there's the whole issue of how the jail is being run. Whether it's true or not about the rat in the jail in solitary confinement. The
fact of the matter is we are serving as host. >> Next we have Gail Smith >> in our jail. >> Is Miss Smith present? >> No. Miss Smith. Next we have Wesley Duncan. It's Mr. Duncan present.
Next we have Stella Fair. Following Miss Fair we have Elizabeth Hearn. Morning. >> Afternoon. Okay. As a body who prides itself on being fiscally fiscally
responsible, I am amazed I am dismayed rather by your authorization to have your our elections department spend taxpayer dollars to have all 95,000 ballots cast in the SD9 runoff election
counted by hand. While I have the utmost confidence in the elections department and feel their actions were motivated by the best of intentions, this audit was not, in my opinion, the most efficient use of the county's time and financial
resources. I understand the desire to prove the reliability of Tarant County's voting equipment, but that was already done three years ago. Shortly after the municipal elections in
2023, bipartisan testing was conducted to determine the effectiveness of counting ballots by hand versus letting the voting machines do the work. I have personal knowledge of this because I was one of the volunteers who participated
in the testing. The testing conducted back then resulted in the same conclusions reached by the ballot board in their recent audit of the SD9 runoff election. Tarant County's voting machines are both
accurate and reliable. So my question is why was it necessary to spend taxpayer dollars to repeat something that was already proven three years ago? >> Right. My major concern about this audit is that it will be just the first step in
turning back the clock and reverting back to conducting elections in a way that is no longer effective. >> Is Elizabeth Hearn present? All right. Next is Dr. Valencia Edner.
Following Dr. Edner is Susan Bentley. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, >> commissioners. Before this briefing begins, something must be said plainly. Over the last several years, under this AWOL sheriff, 76 people have died in
Tarant County Jail. They were not statistics. They were human beings in the custody of this county. Some of them, some of the more recent deaths are still under investigation and families are still waiting for answers about what
happened to their loved ones. Yet today, we are preparing to hear a briefing about decrease in deaths. Let me be clear, fewer deaths is what should have been happening all along. When the microscope finally towards turns toward an institution, of course, things
improve. But improvement under scrutiny does not erase the obligation to account for what has already happened. And it is deeply troubling that this county is paying to defend those connected to these deaths while families are still fighting for the truth. If this
administration wants the public to believe conditions are improving, then start with the people who have already died. Tell the truth about what happened. Resolve the investigation. Show the families their loved ones mattered. Until then, a briefing about decreasing
the number will ring hollow, especially with when people have died at this jail in an alarming rate. The c the community does not need better statistics. What we need is accountability. And my Bible calls this kind of thinking dumb.
My final few seconds. Please know America was not founded upon Christian values. It was about religious freedom. And when you put a statue in a county and call it the will of the people, you
alienate and hurt those who are part of this county. Your thinking is flawed and your faith is a farce. Next we have Susan Bentley. Following Miss Bentley, we have Angela
Kirk Pat uh Kilpatrick, excuse me. >> Hello, I am Susan Bentley and I worked as an alternative judge on March 3rd, 2026 at precinct 4232, which is Northwest Library. At our location, we had a 7% spoilage of
ballots um due to having two ballots that the voter had and it was most often the second ballot that would jam in the machine. And I even observed ballots being placed correctly um into the machine and that they would
crumple up and it was often like I said the second ballot. Then we did have a few occurrences of the first ballot having that issue. But that's 23 ballots out of 330 um voters. We also had an issue with poll books going down, restarting,
rebooting. We had issues with the poll books where we would scan their ID, their their driver's license, and their name would not pop up. So then we would have to enter it in um manually. We also had an issue of a new voter which I registered on 13126
um and he was in the state system but Tarant County had not pulled him over into their system even though he was a qualified voter for that election. So they went ahead and did that. Some other issues the duos kept going down. your controller, which is where you get your ballot number and your ballot, um,
continue to freeze and go down. But the Duo Duos, where you're putting your ballot in and making your selections, had issues with, um, the touchcreen, making the selections, it had issues with the jamming of the ballot. And we had other ballots that jammed but were
able to be retracted and put back in. We also had another issue of um one voter putting in her ballot into the scanner, which is the last stage, and her ballot went in, but the second page would not. So, we had to reprint, but it gave us a
different ballot number, which gave us an off number of 331 by the scanner saying that there were an extra voter at that time. So, there's some issues. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is Angela Kilpatrick here?
All right. Next we have Nell Hollands. Is Nell Hollands present? All right. How about Amy Woodward? No. Is this Amy Woodward? >> Hi there. I conducted my 20th election
as a judge and I have trained voters from or clerks from other the other party um several times. They requested to to work with me because they believe that I um uphold the integrity of the process and I want every voter to count.
Why I keep doing this is because I love my country. Um however, my enthusiasm is diminishing due to issues I continue to encounter from the election machines. um 23 pages of ballots um getting stuck in machines. That doesn't seem like a whole lot um when they tear and and you
have to spoil them. But that took three and a half hours to um go through the process of spoiling those, reprinting them. And um I dread when I have to process 1500 voters in November of how many spoiled ballots I'm going to have
to um process. Dozens more ballots were saved because we could save the paper that wasn't torn or print um printed already. Duos were not consistently accepting the ballot paper. Um Susan touched on this, but one voter had to vote twice due to the scanner accepting
one page the ballot, not the other. And um I got instructions from the elections office to um let her vote again basically. And so one paper for had one ballot number, the other um page had a different ballot number. That caused a
lot of undue stress at the end of the night. Um combined with the controller not shutting down at the end of the night. Um and with the elections office on the phone, I had to reboot the machine. That delayed my workers from going home 45 minutes after a long
stressful day >> caused un stress again. Um, there has to be a better way to do this process and um, I hope we can find that because every voter counts. Thank you. >> Thank you. You were Miss Woodward,
right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Now we are going to vote on the amended consent agenda and then we will go into recess before we get to the regular part of the meeting
and the items removed from consent. >> Move to approve consent agenda as amended. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the amended consent agenda. Any discussion? All right. Please cast your votes. All right. It passes 5 to zero. The time
is now 12:42. No, it isn't. It's 12:46. So, we will reconvene at 1:00. And just commissioners, at 1:00, I'm starting it if there's three people here. So, we are now in recess until 1.
And we are going >> then we don't have three. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right, we're back from recess and the first item
will be C1 from consent consideration of payment in lie of taxes agreements with TRJPAC International Inc. and the letter of no objection regarding foreign trade zone designation. off center
more. >> You're you're good. >> It's not usually where it's at, is it? >> No. >> So far back. >> Yes. I believe this was pulled from consent. Did was there questions about this particular item? >> Not anymore. >> Not anymore. >> All right.
>> Thank you for answering. Thank you. >> All right. Do we have a motion on this? >> Yeah. >> Did you just say that? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Please cast your vote. Passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Megan. >> Great job explaining that. Yeah.
Next up, we have item E2 from consent, which is receive and file the auditor's report for the review of tax office adorum refunds. >> Also pulled from consent. Does anyone have any questions? Yes, I've got a few. >> Okay.
>> So, can staff clarify whether the or can you clarify whether you identified any issues or recommendations related to the tax refund process? >> Uh there were no findings. >> They're well old machine. >> Okay.
So, were any systemic errors or trends identified that the court should be aware of? >> No, ma'am. >> All right. Receive and file the auditor's report for the review of financial and system controls of the medical examiner.
>> We're not we're not on that item. We're on item two. >> Okay. Okay. >> Do you have any more questions on item two? >> Nope. That's it. That's it. >> All right. I'll move to receive and file the auditor's report for the review of tax office advalorum refunds. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a
second. Any discussion of this? See new second. Miles or Manny, either one. All right, cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Now we go to H1. >> Okay. >> FGH. H1, Constable Precincts. Receive and
file the 2025 racial profiling data from the Tarant County Constable Offices. >> Move to receive and file. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to receive and file that data. discussion. >> Yes. I I have a question regarding this.
Why Why do four precincts have exemptions while four have submitted a report? Commissioner, I'll do my best to answer that. I'll know that statutoily, I believe the commissioner's court has to receive and file this information. So,
this is typically what we've done. If there are questions specifically for specific constable offices, I'll probably have to get with them to understand that and then we can get back to you. Unless unless any unless Mark, you know why some have exemptions and some don't. >> Some simply have a policy of not
conducting traffic stops and they're still required to file something. >> I can't hear you. Some offices, some conipal's offices have a policy of not conducting traffic stops and therefore they have no data report to report, but they statutoily must still file this with uh Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement, I believe. So, this is their way of still complying with the statutory requirement of making a filing even though they don't make traffic stops. That >> makes sense. >> Okay. So, some just some don't do traffic stops. Is that what you're saying? >> Correct.
>> Okay. Okay. >> All right. Anything else from anyone? All right. Cast your votes. All right. Passes unanimously. Now we go to item K1. District clerk's office consideration to authorize the
removable the removal of court cost uncollectible accounts. >> Motion to approve. Second. Now we have a motion and a second to approve this item. Discussion. >> Yes. Um, so I understand these balances
relate to cases that were dismissed or not pursued. Is that right? >> Say again, please. >> That the these balances relate to cases that were dismissed or not pursued.
Well, the Texas tax code requires uh or disallows us from collecting anything from cases that the cities or any taxing entity nonsuits or the judge dews it. So, this is simply
a matter, an ongoing um keep the book straight matter that I began my first year in office. And the first time we came to this court about 10 years ago, we wrote off $5 million.
Um, and we've kept the books clean ever since, writing off the amounts each year, uh, as the law requires. So your office is just cleaning up receivable accounts.
>> Well, that was a big debate back then. I did not consider them to be receivables and the district attorney's office um agreed with me in an opinion back there. They're they're tainted receivables at best because if they're
dewed or nonsuited, they're not collectible at all. So here we're talking about more than $377,000. Correct. Uh in uncollectible court costs.
>> That's correct. >> Right. So I just I think it's important for us to understand how these balances accumulated and what steps are being taken to prevent this from happening. Well, we uh my accounting department and Miss Gray is here along with some staff
members uh they u deal with the auditor's office every month uh with these amounts and by the time we get to the end of the year those are calculated and we come to commissioner's court.
>> Okay. Are you asking the district clerk what the district clerk's office is doing to keep cities from being unsuccessful in collection efforts or from judges dewapping cases? I'm just
being educated about the what this amount is and how we can hopefully you can explain how these balances accumulated to more than $377,000 um or these am uh >> it's just a bookkeeping operation. Uh do
you spreadsheet these Jess or Dusty >> come up here? How do you transmit these to the auditor monthly? >> So, uh, every month, uh, our tax department runs a report for cases that were dismissed either by the, uh,
non-suited by the the law firms or dismissed by the judges. And so we accumulate that to the end of the year >> and then that's how we compile these numbers. So, so it's a report that we run monthly for cases that were dismissed. And so on this amount was this accum
did this accumulate over multiple years or >> No, this is all 2025. >> 2025. >> Now again to go back to when we originally did this, which was a long-term bookkeeping uh exercise,
we came to the court with $5 million to write it off for all preceding years going back into the 80s. Uh and then every year thereafter I told staff I want to keep the books clean. Plus the auditor needs these amounts to
make her uh Gazsby report uh accurate which is also required by the state. >> Is this considered uh minimal amount or a large amount? This 38 >> well tax cases are growing. There were
5,200 tax cases filed last year. Um that sort of depends on our lawyers. >> Okay. So you have procedures to track all this and uh keep up with it. >> Are there any changes being implemented
to prevent uncollectible balances from accumulating or is that just a tough thing to do? Are there any procedures in place? Well, I mean, this is because either the judges are deeming them dismissed or the law firms aren't pursuing cases.
>> Yeah. The judge can decide. He's had this on the docket forever. And uh so you can't take We had 828 cases as part of this 377,000, but those could go back several years.
So even though we had 5,200 cases filed in the tax court last year, u it the cases that are being written off here could be multiple years old. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, gentlemen.
>> All right. All right. We have a motion on and a second on this item. Any other discussion? All right. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Next we have item 012, consideration of amendment number three to the fiscal
year 2526 Health Resources and Services Administration Ryan White Treatment Extension Act Part A provider contract with Harvesting International Ministry Center, Inc. I move to approve. Second, >> we have a motion, a second discussion.
>> Good morning, um, commissioners and >> afternoon, whatever it is now. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah. Good afternoon, judge and commissioners. I'm Lisa Mutaya. I manage the HIV administrative agency and I'm happy to answer whatever questions you may have about this particular agenda item. >> All right. Before we approve this item,
I need confirmation that these funds are not being used for services outside FY 202526 budget period. >> No, they are not. Okay. >> They are not. They're for services uh delivered through the end of February.
Um we saw a and I know we've talked about this contract in the past. We saw a significant uptick in the number of services provided in the month of January >> and um needed to provide more funding for that organization to be able to bill
for the food services u provided for people living with HIV. >> All right. So you're saying all let me ask were all services tied to this amendment delivered on or before February 28th? >> Yes. Okay. 26. >> All right. Um
All right. Under what authority are the services tied to this amendment being charged to Ryan White budget? >> Under I'm not sure I 100%. >> Under what authority are the services tied to this amendment being charged to this Ryan White budget period.
>> It would be through um the definitions within the Ryan White legislation as well as the contract with Tarant County. Um we have within our contract that uh there can be amendments. We both increase and decrease funding because we have a overall goal of expending 95% of
our funds in order to avoid penalties in future years. >> Okay. Uh were other providers reviewed for similar year-end adjustments or only harvest international? >> No, we on a monthly basis we are um reviewing those and making um amendments
as needed. >> All right. Thank you, ma'am. >> All right. >> All right. Any other discussion? >> That's it. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Cast your votes. Thank you, Lisa. Passes unanimously brings us to item 101, a public hearing to consider
establishing a speed limit of 30 miles per hour on Brier Road in Precinct 4. >> We have to have a public hearing. So, um, we let's start with the public hearing. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who would like to speak to this
item? All right, seeing none, do we have a motion to close the public hearing? >> So move. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Um, any discussion? All right. Uh, cast your vote on closing
the public hearing. I believe that was Ramirez that made the motion. Okay, so the public hearing is closed. Now, by show of hands, well, after a motion, do we have a motion to establish this speed limit? >> So move. >> Second. We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on that? All right. All in favor of setting that speed limit of 30 miles per hour on Brier Road in Precinct 4, raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Next, we have item two, public hearing to consider the draft program year 2026,
annual action plan community development. It's first a public hearing. Do we have anyone that would like to speak to this item? All right. Seeing none, I'll move to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> All right. Do we have any discussion on that? All right. Seeing none, cast your
vote to close the public hearing. All right. Public hearing is now closed. Brings us to 11 A1. consideration to adopt a Tarant County Hospital District budget review
and submission policy. Um, I will move to approve this item. >> Second. We have a motion, a second. Any discussion? >> Yes. You go first because I'm >> All right. Um, so I have concerns about the policy's enforcement section,
specifically the provision that ties compliance to limiting the hospital district's tax rate to the no new revenue or no new revenue rate or removing consideration of certain
capital projects. So what what problem is this policy solving that the current JPS budget review process does not already solve? >> Yes ma'am. So uh couple things there. So first of all let's start about the
history. So typically what has happened in the past with the exception of last year is JPS has come before the commissioner's court. They've made a PowerPoint presentation with regards to the budget uh and then ultimately the court has made a decision on both the tax rate and the budget. Last year at one point the commissioner's court said
we would like more detail on what's going on. Uh we'd like to have more of a line item detail from JPS to to better understand exactly what was happening in the budget. That uh that turned into me sending an email to Dr. Duncan, the CEO, asking saying this is what the commissioner's court would like. Uh and
we had originally asked for that date to have it back by I believe it was August 15th. We did receive that information. We did pass that out to the commissioner's court. Uh and what we found is the information that was provided still did not give I guess the level of detail that uh some at least some court members were looking for specifically related to the tomorrow
fund uh cash transfers and things like that. So out of that uh what we decided to do was put together a policy for the court's consideration uh in order to further solidify exactly the information that the court was looking for uh to make sure that they had everything they need in order to do to do their
statutory obligation which is set a tax rate as well as approve the budget. So, >> so it >> I don't want to interrupt your questions, but I have a couple of things to add to that that relate to your question. I can answer it now or I can sure. >> So,
me, Chandler, Helen, Matt, Dr. Duncan, and the new CFO all met in my office to go over the budget and to go look at it.
In previous years, the only thing JPS gave the commissioner's court was literally a PowerPoint. >> Correct. >> With five, 10, 12 slides. In contrast, the budget that is presented to the Dallas County
Commissioner's Court is about that thick that they can look at and go through. So when we were in that meeting, we my question and I think Helen's question was we see what you've provided. Where is the capital improvement budget?
And the answer was at first it was it's in there and then we said well where in there and then well if we have some expenditures this year it's in there. And then we asked, well, what what are what document are you going off of when
it comes to expenditures? And we were told the blue ribbon committee report, which which I believe was done seven, eight, nine years ago at this point. And so what what this will allow
us to do is actually review a budget that we choose to approve, but also and they may have been going to do this anyway with the new CFO, but from my understanding since 2019,
they haven't actually had as part of their budget a capital improvement budget related to the new hospital projects and so forth. So, I want to see the information. I want to be able to look at it and I want them to be able to look at it. That's where this came from.
>> Okay. Um, so we align on some of that, most of that. I would like to be able to see their budget, too, other than the slides they send a week before. Um but
this this policy seems punitive. If you don't do this then that um these >> they have a new CFO. These folks are the professionals. They are adept at
running that operation over there. We we put uh members of the community on the board over there. Um how will alignment with county priorities be defined? Because it says
in the contract alignment with county priorities. How is that going to be defined? So it is objective and not political. Um that's one question. If JPS is found non-compliant, how would
the proposed penalties affect patient care, staffing, and capital projects? Uh, if you if you look at this thing, it's uh it's punitive. Um, so anyway, hospital districts exist to provide critical health care services
to our community, particularly for residents who rely on the safety net system. any policy that could potentially restrict the hospital's ability to serve all while responding to their health care needs. Investing in needing
facilities, needed facilities are moving forward with necessary capital projects deserves careful consideration. I just I think we let them uh run the operation. We tell them,
"You've got to get this budget information over here a month in advance and it's got to be detailed." He is right. It is it's not detailed. And so, um, but putting in a policy is
from from the county is not what I think we should do. What concerns me is the continued dependency on that no new revenue rate and claim tax reductions. Uh while that may appear to lower taxes
in the short term, it can create long-term challenges by limiting the resources available to meet the growing needs of Tarant County residents. When revenue is constrained in this way, the pressure doesn't appear immediately.
Trust me, it shifts to essential services like our hospital district, which is already working diligently to meet the health care needs of this rapidly growing county. Uh, you know, if we hamstring them, this I I'm just
concerned that these bed towers um over at JPS are never going to get built. Uh the cost is increasing from the 800 million bond back in 2018. and what's it costing now to build that thing? Um
almost will be$ two billion dollars here shortly. Um so certainly we need to see every bit of that budget. We need to see it earlier but all this punitive stuff in this in this um policy is unnecessary
in my estimation. >> So may I address unless there's other members comments two two Oh sir. Yes, sir. >> So, my question first, thank you for providing clarification, judge. I I agree with your assessment and Commissioner Simmons assessment. We need
to see the full budget, a comprehensive budget. My My only question or concern is it sounds like there's some redundancy here because any projects over $500,000 has to come to us, >> correct, >> for approval. Am I is that right? >> That is correct. That is the current
court policy, sir. >> Right. it already has to come to us and state law provides that the commissioner's court provides us with the authority to approve the hospital district's budget and set the tax rate. So if the only issue is we need to see
your full comprehensive budget that's why we're doing this then I just think that that's that's redundant. >> Okay. Tell and I'm not quite following it. Tell me the redundancy part. If you're saying that if you don't provide the budget within the comprehensive
budget, then we What does it say? If JPS fails to meet an administrative deadline, the policy allows commissioners court to block projects over $500,000 in >> You're saying it's stating a a a penalty, so to speak, that we already have the power to do anything. >> Correct.
>> Okay. So, me personally, I'm not married to that. >> Okay. I I I like it, but I'm not married to it. We We need something that has some teeth to make sure we get it.
>> Judge, may I address that really quick? >> In one one second, sir. >> So, you may think of now they're my board members. They're we know Dr. Duncan. We know this person or that person. Well, it may not be any of them tomorrow or next week or next year, next decade. And
so we're setting a policy for hopefully after we're not here, after they're not there, a policy that can be relied upon and not just, hey, we hope we get it. So if we've got another suggestion, I'm all ears. You've been itching to say something here.
>> Well, I want to say something. >> Would you like to go? >> Yeah, I agree with having a policy. I I just I don't know if we could table this so I can have a chance to see it. Just it just appeared on the agenda. I didn't get any of this in advance of when the
uh before the agenda came out. So to to have an opportunity to weigh in on it. Um and Helen will tell you since I got here, my staff has always said this is practice or is it a policy? So I'm I'm real good with policy. I I agree that I
you know, you don't know who'll be there tomorrow. But I didn't see the policy until it hit the draft agenda or And so I I would like to look at it and weigh in. >> Yeah, I didn't see the policy also. Um
but I do agree that there ought to be one and I agree with both the judge, you know, and both both commissioners um that we do need to see the comprehensive budget if we're going to approve it. >> That's right. >> Responsibly. Uh I in instead though of of tying it to projects over $500,000 or
the tax rate specifically, which we already have the authority to control, I I would suggest that the enforcement measure be um tying it to the existing level of spending approved in the previous year's budget. So essentially, we can't authorize an increase in the
budget if we don't know what's in it. Uh so essentially year-over-year spending would be frozen uh until we saw a comprehensive budget. That makes more sense to me um than tying it to a tax rate or tying it to the the purchasing issue and it's simple and clean.
>> Re reward it for me like how you would have it in there. >> Uh essentially if if we are not provided with a comprehensive budget in accordance with this policy, spending for the next fiscal year will be frozen at the previous year's spending levels.
So, the budget can't grow by a penny. >> Um, what >> did you make a motion? >> If you make if you make a an amendment to that motion, I don't even know if I have to support it, but I would welcome it. >> Yes.
>> So, what what I wanted to say is, and y'all all started to kind of get there separately, is the the enforcement and compliance piece is actually in alignment with state statute that's already out there. So, to quote tax code 26.05C, 05C if the governing body. >> Why didn't you say so at the beginning?
What? >> We have this policy. >> 3 2 1 2 123. What the heck is bothering me? So uh basically if the governing body of a taxing unit does not adopt a tax rate before the date required by subsection uh A the tax rate for the tax
unit for that tax year is the lower of the no new revenue tax rate calculated for the tax year or the tax rate adopted by the tax unit for the pre preceding year. So in a sense the policy is in alignment with state statute already says. It's making the implicit assumption that if you do not receive the information outlined in this policy,
you do not have the information you need in order to to adopt a budget or set a tax rate. So part one is in alignment with statute as it is it as it is right now. That was the reason we chose that language as the teeth as you say judge with regards to that. The second part
because there is a court policy out there that speaks to something very similar as far as the half a million and above. That's the reason the second piece was added as a will. It precludes me from bringing anything to you because again of the implicit assumption that you did not receive the information you needed in order to adopt a budget and
set a tax rate. Thank you. >> Okay. Yes. Thank you. Um >> I'd love to table this till April. I don't know if there's some urgency so we can add your language and see if anybody else everybody's okay with it.
>> All right. At the moment, we have a motion and a second. In light of what you said, um, that makes some sense. Do you want to amend the motion? I I would amend the motion to include the lang basically take this language
out and include the language that simply the budget spending would be frozen to the prior year's uh, spending levels. >> Okay. So, Mr. Proud of are you writing anything here at the
moment? Do you have a >> do you have a recommended thing of language to say like can remove blank through blank and then add that?
>> Uh yes, judge. I I have the broad strokes. I would have to work out the >> Okay. Well, language. So, if we if we table it, um if we table it, this would come back the next meeting.
There's nothing from a time standpoint of why it should pass now versus April. I don't think so. So, we we were trying to do this now before JPS got into their budget season because we wanted them to be able to plan for this. The other
thing that this does is it we typically have the second week in August is when we have our budget hearings for us. The idea here is we always reserve those two days that Thursday and Friday. The way we've set this up is talking about August. >> I am Thursday is the county meeting. Friday would be the JPS meeting so we
have them back to back while you guys are in the budget frame of mind. >> So they know this is coming. >> Absolutely. We've been working with the CFO for months on this. And what they probably didn't know was that it's almost unanimous with maybe some tweaking of language.
>> So, and and just just to clarify, I mean, on the 500,000 the policy, we would have to let's just say we can't forecast every eventuality. So, what if in five years down the road the the court does doesn't get their budget. They don't want to approve
additional expenditures. However, there's a critical project that has to be completed over $500,000 and we have to consider it, but our own policies restrict our county administrator from bringing that to us. Uh we'd have to have a variance to the policy and then bring that item. It's just it's overly
complicated in my opinion as it's written. >> Okay. So, is would it be your pleasure to also table this bring us something back or would do you want to make >> I'm prepared to vote with my amended language. Okay,
>> I'll table it if that's what the will of the group is. >> Um, so you can't make a motion to table when there's a motion on the floor, right? You either have to withdraw the motion. You can't you can't make a motion to amend to postpone. >> Judge, that would require me breaking
out the book to give you >> perfect guidance on that. >> No, you can't. Uh, we would have to So, we either have to withdraw the motions or you can make an amendment. Me personally, I'm comfortable if you make an amendment and and then we pass
it and if we if you want to look at it after the fact and see something like, man, I'm not I don't like this one. Let's reconsider it. We can always bring it back. Just I prefer to put them to bed. But I haven't heard any from anyone so far about anything other than the tax
rate part. >> So, >> well, I I would I would like to go back and look at it. We got this agenda. I looked at everything. So, I would like to go back and look look >> at it and do some research and look at other hospital districts and
>> Okay, got it. That's So, the motion and the second are still there. Are you making an amended motion? >> I would move to amend your motion. >> Okay. um and strike D1
from the policy and include in addition D1 that would state the annual budget will be approved at a spending level not to exceed the prior year's approved budget. Okay, you have a motion to amend. Do we have a
second? >> I'll second that. >> We have a second. >> Any discussion on the amendment only? All right, seeing none, we're going to I guess we're going to do it this way on the screen. So, cast your vote for or
against the amendment. Okay, so the amendment passes 3 to two. Now, we go back to the original motion as amended. Any further discussion before voting? I agree with Commissioner Simmons. I would like to have a little more time to
review it and I don't think there's any harm in taking. >> Move the table. >> Second. >> You can't. That that's not before us. Uh so we have a motion and a second. Is the
motion on the floor? So any other discussion on the motion on the floor? All right. Seeing none, all in favor of the motion on the floor. My original motion as amended. Raise your hand. Okay. All opposed? Raise your hand.
Okay. It passes 3 to two. >> All right. Now we go to consideration of out of state travel requests A2. Do we have a motion on that? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second on this
item. Any discussion? All right, cast your votes. All right, passes four to one. All right, next up is item four, consideration of an exception to the travel travel policy sheriff's office. >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. >> Are you moving to approve both A and B? >> Yes. >> Is that your second? >> Yes. >> All right. We have a motion, a second to approve items for A and B. Any discussion there? All right, seeing none, cast your vote.
All right, passes unanimously. Now we go to item B1, consideration and possible action to approve a contract of legal representation between Tarant County and First Liberty Institute regarding the Ten Commandments display outside of the 1895 Tarant County Courthouse.
>> Move for approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second to approve that item. Any discussion there? >> Yes. Um U Chandler or whomever, judge, what is
the county's legal objective here? Defend the display as is, change it, or evaluate settlement options. Um, what's what's the legal objective?
>> I can't speak to the legal objective. This was an item that was presented to me to to place on the agenda, so we placed it on the agenda. >> Okay. >> I'm I'm happy to answer questions because I was the one who >> Oh, thanks. >> asked to put it on the agenda. >> Somebody >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, what's the legal objective
here? What >> why are we retaining? If you remember last year when we uh made the motion to put the Ten Commandments up and to pass that uh we said at that time should any legal challenges arise, we had First Liberty Institute who had offered to
represent the county for free. And so u we made sure there was not going to be any taxpayer funds. And so once we received this letter from Freedom from Religion Foundation, um there's really no better experts in the country uh to respond on our behalf than First Liberty Institute. and I thought if we brought
them on uh that would make it a lot easier and they could do the response. Um I don't anticipate necessarily a lawsuit coming forward after this. I think this will be enough to to show them that no, everything was constitutional. Everything was done uh
exactly the way it should be. And so I think they're going to do a fantastic job for us. And again, they're the leading experts in the in the country uh on this particular topic. They're 10-0 at the Supreme Court. They've got another uh decision coming down in the next couple of weeks or months which
will make them 11-0. So to get worldclass representation for free, I felt like that was a really good thing for the for the county. >> So should we accept these pro bono services? Absolutely not. Tarant County
represents many viewpoints, many people, people of all backgrounds and people of varying faiths. That is government at its best. It's for
the people, by the people, and of the people. First Liberty may be a set of good people, an effective legal firm with nice intentions. However, this organization has a viewpoint and that point of view
is not consistent with government's point of view, which should be a representation of the cumulative, not the few. If Taran County is sued over the placement of this monument on public
property, will First Liberty Institute defend its brand of faith? I'm certain they will. This problem is their brand of faith. The problem is their brand of faith is not my Muslims, Muslim constituents brand, my Buddhist
friends brand, nor my Jewish neighbors brand of faith. Further with first liberties defense, will first liberties defense put the county in a position that is perceived to be that Tarant County is establishing one religion? I
don't know the answer. So, I implore First Liberty to answer those questions and a few more. Um, so why does this contract give First Liberty final control over litigation strategy instead of the count instead of the county
retaining that authority? >> Well, like I said, they are the leading experts in the country on this particular field of law. I think it would be foolish to not listen to the experts who understand this. There's a reason they were 10 and0 at the Supreme Court. There's a reason they have over a
90% success rate in all their cases. And I think it would be foolish of the county to say, "No, we're going to do this on our own when we have worldclass representation for free." So that's what I would say. We're leaning on their expertise. And because litigation is fraught with nuances and things that,
you know, can help a case, can harm a case, you want the experts in control of that process the entire time. So I think it's actually a really good thing that we are going to rely on the experts to lead the litigation strategy to ensure that we are part of that 90% success rate and as part of their contract by
saying they get to decide the litigation strategy if their client which is the the majority vote of the Taran County Commissioner's Court if their client wishes to go a different direction than their litigation strategy they can choose to say okay we'll go with it or
they can choose to withdraw. >> Uh >> that's right. So that that option is there >> and and I will say first liberty uh it's religious freedom for everybody. Uh I think they would take exception to your characterization of them because we're
def uh first liberty is defending uh synagogues right now. They've had uh seek clients. They've had Hindu clients. They've had Muslim clients in the past. So they've actually defend the religious liberties of every uh faith tradition that that that they can. And so it's not
just one particular view. They understand that religious freedom for one is religious freedom for all. And so again, I think they would take exception because they have defended the religious liberty rights of multiple religions uh in courtrooms all across America.
>> So I again I heard what you said, judge. I I have a problem with First Liberty having final say in retaining authority over the county. We just we just talked about
JPS and that policy and overtaking their their budget process and and and all of that stuff. And you said what I said, those people at JPS are the experts. You're saying these people are the experts. We should rely on them to do
to to do strategy for us. But I have a problem with them retaining that authority. Uh, if the representation is pro bono, who pays any damages, court awarded fees or settlement costs if the county loses?
>> If the county were to lose, the county would have to pay any kind of damages that came out of that. >> Okay. >> But I'm very, very, very confident that will never take place because it was a very constitutional action. we have the
law on our side and I I welcome uh litigation honestly so that we can reaffirm the ability to do things like this um in Fort Worth, Texas. >> So what safeguards exist if First Liberty's public interest goals ever
diverge from the county's interest or do you don't think that would happen? >> Well, you can always cease the uh relationship. You can always cease the agreement. As Judge O'Hare said, the court at any time can make the decision. We no longer want to be represented by a
worldclass organization that's representing us for free. But I just think that would not be in the best interest of of the court >> or they can choose to withdraw. >> Yeah, that's right. >> Who keeps authority over public statements in any settlement decision?
>> Well, the court retains authority over any settlement decision. uh in terms of media strategy should that ever occur. Again, litigation is fraught with nuances and you want to make sure everything is uh put forward the way you want it to. So, I'm sure First Liberty
would have suggestions for us and recommendations on how to pursue any kind of media strategy or statements that we had. >> You can listen to them. You don't have to, but their entire purpose is to put you in a place where you can be successful in a court of law. And I think again, it would be foolish for us
not to listen to those recommendations. Have you spoken to other Texas counties that have used this firm? >> Uh, >> and what did they say? >> You know, I haven't. We're the first one that's done it on this. Uh, I know they've offered uh there's Rock Wall
County is looking to do a similar uh monument and they've offered to represent them for free. Uh there's another county uh out near Houston that's considering the same thing. They've offered to represent them for free. This is their model. Uh this is why they raise money. this is why they
uh are in existence is to help and defend and advance religious liberty. This is an opportunity for them to uh do so here and so they're they're excited about the opportunity to represent the county and uh but they've had several multiple scores of Texas clients over
the years and again 90% success rate 10 and0 at the Supreme Court. I think that's a pretty good track record that we can be confident about and uh put a lot of faith in them. So, obviously we don't have a representative from First Liberty here
today. Um, which is unacceptable to me. Um they they did try to somebody from DA's office yesterday reached out to my office to see if um I wanted to talk to them and I did and so my whole staff the
schedulers set up a time the staff gathered around the conference room table and it was just difficult to get in touch with them. So, >> well, that's interesting because I heard that they tried to set up a conversation with you and your office said you were
not available this morning to talk with them. So, >> no, not this morning, but yes, I don't I don't do meetings on court mornings. >> I I just think it's good to reflect they are absolutely willing to talk to any of the commissioner court uh anybody on the commissioner's court. Happy to entertain any questions. They had previous
engagements where they couldn't be here today, but um they they certainly uh would love to have that conversation. >> Okay. I would too. I would have liked to have had it before, but we we call the number, we call the office number, we call the other number. We So, we just we
just couldn't get them on yesterday. Um I I will always support fiscal responsibility, making sure we are not wasting taxpayer dollars on lawsuits that could have been a uh avoided. Um, I will support efforts to focus on real
problems, real solutions, invest in public health, improve services, strengthen trust in our institutions, and ensure that county government works for everybody. Those are issues that truly matter to the people of Taran County. So instead of spending our time and resources
defending a monument um that divides people and exposes taxpayers to legal risk, let's focus on solving the real problems facing our community, our county. Uh for those reasons, I I can't support this item.
And uh I recommend the district attorney's office represents the county um when we're sued. I mean, if when we're sued, they're they're here. That's that's their job. So, um, thank you for answering my questions. >> Absolutely. And I'll just say you're in
luck because we won't spend any taxpayer dollars, uh, defending this lawsuit. They're going to do it completely for free. And again, I I'm incredibly confident that should we get sued, we will prevail in the federal district court, in the court of appeals, and if it makes its way up to the Supreme Court
there as well. Again, all free representation. And so, I don't think we're just here defending a monument. I think we're here defending a uh a symbol of the principles that our that our state and our country were founded upon. I think that is very beneficial uh to
our county and I'm honored that it's sitting over there on the lawn of the uh historic courthouse. So remember free is not free. You're you're going to have to deal with them. I'm going to have to deal with them. County staff is going to have to deal with them. DA's office is going to have to deal with them. Time is
money. So not necessarily. >> All right. Anybody else have anything? All right, please cast your votes. Passes three to two. Now we go to purchasing. Please take a look, court
members, at items C1 through C14. >> Move for approval. >> I have something on C2, sir. >> On C2. Okay. Anybody else have any questions on any of these items? C1 through 14 besides two. All right. Seeing none, I'll make a
motion to approve purchasing item one and then two through 14. >> Hold on. I'm sorry, sir. I have uh something on C14. So C2 and C14 for me. >> Okay. So I will withdraw my motion and or restate my motion. I move to approve
items C1, items C3 through 13. Second. >> Uh we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right, seeing none, cast your votes. All right, that passes unanimously. Now
we go to C2. C2 is an RFP, an annual contract for collocation data center services with Cyrus 1 LLC. >> Um just just well a few questions. So I I want to start by understanding one basic question. How does this decision
benefit Taran County and the taxpayers who are paying for it? And maybe is this for Andre? Maybe. >> Yeah, this is for this is we currently have um a collocation in the same area.
We that contract is up. So, we put out a new bid for um the remaining um storage that's still needed. um that's not through a SAS solution. Um so this contract will get
us through the time that is needed to get the rest of our software um off premise. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Good afternoon. Hey,
>> so we we've been on a multi-year uh program to move all of our applications to the cloud >> and we are in the final phases of moving our tier what our tier what we call our tier one applications to the cloud.
um which will allow us to vacate almost all of that space which is which is our our failover space to ensure that the next tornado that happens to roll through downtown Fort Worth we're completely redundant. Um we
will have to maintain a small footprint there just as a network failover so that we still have network capacity but we won't have any servers there. we won't have uh any applications hosted there, but we do need a a small timeline there
while we move our final applications out of there. >> So, it's a backup site, but not >> correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so, I also want and I I saw that only one company submitted a bid even though four
vendors attended the pre-proposal conference and there were eight no bids received. is what's the what's the story on that? >> So, our current provider um chose not to submit.
Um we reached out to them to find out um why and it they just chose not to because of the space that they currently have have available for us. they could uh find
larger entities that could utilize that space. So, >> so okay, when the county moves to a new vendor under a new contract, how is the existing data transferred to the new
data center? It's all cloud >> based in in this situation. Um, literally it's moving from one cage to another in the same building. it. We're just putting it on a cart and moving it down a hallway >> physically. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> And what security measures are in place to protect the county's data? And how equipped is this data center to safeguard sensitive information? >> I'd be happy to brief you in close court on that. I'd really prefer not to address that in open court.
>> All right. So, why is the contract 9 years in length and has an annual 4% escalation clause? What's that about? Uh, that was the only option that we had with this company.
Um, I believe it does have a 30-day out clause. All of our contracts do. So, you couldn't negotiate >> this? What they said is what we're >> We went back and forth on this contract for months with the district attorney's office.
>> Okay. Huh. And y'all conducted a site visit and did y'all conduct the site visit and tour this company's data center facilities? Uh we currently we currently
have uh equipment at this facility. Okay. >> We've been using it for several years. >> That's right. That's right. Okay. >> All right. >> All right. Is this this is item two. Do we have any other questions on item two? >> All right. Do we have a motion? >> Move approval.
>> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve this item. >> Any further discussion? All right. Please cast your votes. passes unanimously. Uh, next up we have item,
is it 13 or 14? >> 14. >> 14. NASPO master agreement addendum number two, electronic monitoring services, juvenile services, satellite tracking of people LLC. I'll move to approve. >> Second. Have a motion, a second on that.
Discussion. >> Yes. So expenses under this contract for the last 12 months were $88,400. Correct? >> Yes. >> So it appears that 80,900
in funding is available in the general fund for juvenile services electronic monitoring. Is that correct? >> Yes, that's the information that was given to us. >> Okay. How are we planning to fund the
difference that 7500 between the amount paid for last year and this year's funding availability? So the expenses for the last 12 months were 88,000, but it doesn't mean that that's how much
we're going to spend this year. So, the the funding available as of right now is 80,000 and I believe if it went over the $80,900 that they would um request a budget
adjustment, which account would we get the difference in funding from? >> I I don't know. That would be a request from the department. >> Okay. It just appears this could be a better option than juvenile detention for some kids. If done correctly, this
could lower the amount of children house and juvenile detention at any given time and allow them the chance to participate in rehabilitative communitybased programs. So, I was just wondering um
uh about how we were going to fund the difference here. So, thank you. >> All right. Any other questions on this item? All right, cast your votes. All right, passes unanimously. Uh, now we go to permission to take bids and RFPs.
And uh the one thing that I will ask our staff to do if they before anything like this is awarded having talked to a number of people in
different government entities around the country. Uh a lot of times there are licenses that we keep renewing that we don't actually use. uh don't know how good we are at
policing that, but I would ask us to do the absolute best bangup job you could possibly do so we're not overpaying for licenses and some of the examples I've heard of some of the savings that some government entities have uh enjoyed from that. It's pretty
significant. So uh do we have a motion to approve this or discussion? Move >> approval. >> Second. We have a motion to grant permission to take bids and RFPs. Any discussion. All right. Seeing none, cast your vote. All right. Passes unanimously. Next up,
we come to appointments for boards and commissions. Um, I would like to make a motion to reappoint Rick Brunson to the 911 district. >> Second. >> A motion and a second on that item. Any discussion there?
All right, please. Yeah. Uh, all in favor raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Any other board or commission appointments? >> I have two. Uh, first, I'd like to appoint Dylan Moroni to the surface technical transportation committee at NCT Cog.
>> Second. >> All right, we have a motion to second. Any discussion there. All right, all in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. And I also have an appointment to the JPS board of managers. Uh Mr. Ron Clevenger, senior
executive at BNSF from Fort Worth, Texas. >> Yeah. Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second to appoint Mr. Clevenger to JPS. Any discussion there? >> All right. All in favor, raise your hand. Passes five to zero. Any other board or commission appointments?
All right. Seeing none, now we go to briefing item on the decline of in custody deaths in Tarant County jail facilities. honor commissioners, thanks for having me. uh glad to come forward and talk about some of these things is uh we'll do a quick
presentation then try to answer any questions that we may have is I also got Chief Herzkllock here with me to keep me out of the weeds and uh and help some things. But what we've seen is a downward trend of custodial deaths and 2020 was our biggest year that that was
CO and we lost 17 inmates. always want to remind people at that same time we lost five officers out of the jail that we buried. So it was a horrible year and uh as we gone on ever since then it has trended down with last year being six at
64% reduction and of course as we set the stage to what we done we got to tell you what we are doing and one of the next things is is the uh you doing that channel who's who I don't but do I oh I've got it okay sorry
>> there we are uh this is from Texas jail standards on top counties in in Texas across the board. You see where we lie. We're in 2025 we were number five uh behind El Paso in the total number of deaths. Both Travis County's uh death
rate is trending down. So is Bear County trending down. And uh now unlike us, Travis County's jail population is trending down while ours is trending up. And uh I just want to right there to say I know every one of those sheriffs and I
know them well. We cross talk all the time seeking out best practices on these issues. So it's a it's a constant conversation where we're at including Zoom calls and so forth and so on. That's where we're at today.
And some of here's the cause of death by our medical examiner and cardiac arrest leads the case. Uh we have six of course for cancer and 11 COVID are up there. And then you see on the other side it's going down. We have seven suicide but
note 2025 alone we interrupted and stopped 282 suicides. Toxicity we lost seven people over that same time period to alcohol or drugs. And I'll tell you you know booking into the jail is that 80% of the people that come into the
jail wrestle with addiction to either alcohol or drugs. That first 24 to 48 hours is incredibly dangerous because if that we don't know it and they haven't told us that they are detoxing or about to go into detox and we miss that, that
can be a very dangerous situation. But for those that admit it, we're able to get modern medicines on board and go through a detoxing program. Just a couple of weeks ago, we had a guy go down in the jail in booking and uh no heart rate. Our medical team was incredibly quick along with our
officers. We did CPR and we did life-saving stuff. Got him to the hospital. He went through ICU. He's back in our jail today. But he was detoxing from alcohol. And it wasn't until he got back to the jail that he tells us that he was just embarrassed to tell us that
he drinks two-fifths of vodka a day and has been doing it for several years. And that's the kind of things that we run into if they don't tell us. Here we've got some just fast facts about uh Tarant County and we put up there the small
cities because that's what we are policing every day in the jails. Small cities. Today it's a little over 4,500 prisoners in jail. And uh and here's some facts is that we're going to book in nearly 45,000 this year. This is 2025. The average daily population is
4,300. Well, that's trending up over 4500 in 2026. The age of our inmates is from 17 to 84. >> We uh serve 5.3 million meals. That's about 14,000 meals a day. The absolute
most busiest restaurant in Tarant County. I'm not recommending it for date night, but uh we make a lot of meals. And then over there, just to talk about how sick our population is, 4.1 million
pharmaceutical dispensure and medicines and pills. And then of course we had uh clinics visits. This is inside. We have over 25,000 clinic visits in 2025. Then tellaalth over 600 and 2400 dental visits. Uh then
that that that excuse me go back that 92,000 MHMR referrals are done by our officers. Now I'm not talking about mental health today but just for y'all's information. 92,000 referrals 2025 from our pod officers. seeing somebody in
crisis and asking for help. And then 282 suicide preventions by detention staff. Now, before we go any further, you need to know that inmates can refuse any and all medical treatment and medicines. Just a few weeks ago, we had a guy that needed surgery that absolutely refused
to have surgery. We can't make him. He's got the right to refuse. Only a judge by court order can order that. We have no one currently with medical care with court orders behind them. We do have some with psychiatric care
coming in the door. 50% of the inmates disclose that they have a chronic illness. The other 50% we discover about 30% of them are sick when they get there because one of the first persons that they see is medical and they get a physical and review of their health. So
we have that 65% of have mental health issues that come into the jail. We are truly the largest psychiatric hospital in the county. All inmates have access to medical treatment 247 and we they can contact us by various
methods, telling a pot officer, writing us a note, but they also, and this is increased, they get they get an iPad these days. They can hit the button for medical right then and there. And if they're asking for an appointment, the national a national standard is about 72 hours to respond to it. We're responding
between 24 and 48. In a medical emergency situation, we're about a 90-second medical response. There will be medical people there within 90 seconds. to go on to just push out uh the the facts that go on inside the
jail. The 114,000 requests for medical treatment for that average population of 4,300 a day. 28,000 patient clinics visits and 1687 transports. That's by ambulance. We average five ambulance a
day that come and pick up prisoners and take them to JPS. Five a day. In 2017, the average population was 3,400. JPS medical staff dispensed 89,000 pharmaceutical pills compared with today or last year at 4.1 million.
>> Wow. >> The ratio of uh medical staff as of last year, this wasn't true the year before, but last year we brought medical staff up to one to every 15 inmates and 225
per doctor. weekly our command staff along with JPS and MHMR they have conferences to talk about critical cases and what we're doing about it and so that they agree to help and they're working in great teams
to make sure that happens and over the years in the last several years we have been looked upon as an exemplary uh jail we have passed national and state standards and and we've been a model for other people but we've had multiple people from all over the
country visit us and see how we're doing things. Including this week, we'll have people in the jail from other places that are looking how we do things and conduct business. But what did we do different? Well, we had a new medical director come in and I couldn't tell you how much I appreciate
Karen Duncan today. She saw what was going on and she took steps and she got the right person on the bus and that was Dr. Lowi. And we changed, she changed something that was tremendous to us is that we were operating off of protocols and uh orders, standing orders for
somebody coming into the jail. She repealed those orders and said we're going to individual care. Now, that included adding more staff, but it has worked and we zeroed in on individual care. And she has a strong clinical leadership as she has put set the pace
for everybody. And of course with uh Shannon coming on board and his perspective of the jail has helped a lot especially in the team area. But now we have 247 doctors on on board and a nurse manager at every facility. But our
medical staff has increased from 200 to 300. A significant increase but it has worked. Uh we've increased the booking nur nurses from two to three. Shannon worked that out where we could have three nurses down there to make sure we're doing very in-depth medical reviews. If booking gets backed up,
which today sometimes that happened where we may have a hundred people in booking, we dispatch a doctor and nurse and literally people are getting physicals in booking these days. Uh, one of the things that Dr. Lowey did was the commissary. She started identifying
hard-he healthy things and diabetic labeling. But keep in mind, they don't have to follow that. They can still get the honey buns and the Coca-Cas and everything else. They do not have to follow that. But we're labeled. We're telling them, hey, this is where it is.
We've also very much in enhanced uh detox protocols with early intervention, monitoring, and more effective medicine. We've changed some medicine up, and it seems to be working very, very well. But the key here has been that individual
care that I think has coming on. And by the way, what we haven't talked about is is that we run several clinics a day outside of the campus, sometimes as far away as Dallas, depending on where the specialist is. So people do see specialists while they're here that are
not in the jail. And uh I know there's been a lot of public discussion and comparison of what we're doing and where we're at and always that we're the highest in deaths and so forth, but that is just simply not the truth. We've seen the 64%
reduction. Now, with saying that, I want to make it perfectly clear. You know, I don't think anybody in this room knows the date and time that they're exiting this world, and we don't have the ability to resurrect people. But I will say this is that I think we're as I
think John Quincy Adams said it the best. It is our duty to do and God's got the results. So we've set the table for uh some incredible medical upgrade in Tarant County Jail and I think we'll be the model at this and we're going to see how others look at it because we've
called other jails and there wasn't sure, you know, they they they haven't had our success as of the last year, but they're looking at different things. But there's where we're at. We uh we are one of the things the attitude
uh that we have committed to with our jail and detention staff is while they are the keeper of the keys, they are also the greatest advocate of those inmates. As you saw the number of MHMR referrals where there was equally probably as many health referrals. They
care about them. They take care of them. They run to their aid and they take care of business. They've done an excellent job under incredible pressure and they recognize that people often don't appreciate what they do, but I think the
majority does and they do a great job standing on that that door. And you know, from a judicial a total circumstances of the people that we have in jail, as the old captain says, you got to know who to keep and who to let go. But there's also a third. You got to
know where to place them because not everybody does belong in jail. A lot of those people with mental health issues should be someplace else. But that's my in short my presentation and I'll certainly try to answer any any questions and I've got Chief Herblocks
with me in case I can. Mr. Cheriff, if I could uh f first of all, thank you for providing this briefing. Uh, I requested it given pulling the statistics and seeing some of the changes behind the scenes that have been going on for the last three years, not just the last year. >> That's right.
>> Uh, but but your staff has been working tirelessly uh to implement best best uh in-class improvements. Um, that goes with that starts at the front line with hiring, goes through training, and then also in how you're administering uh care in the facilities. Also, medical care.
you saw that medical deaths were by far the highest driver and early intervention was the process and you requested that help and I appreciate it. You mentioned Chief Herkllots um and I went back and I did a little research with Chief Herkllots and it just so turns out in the last 5 years the lowest
uh jail death uh ratio in Dallas County was the year that Chief Herclaught spent there. Uh and then our um you know what 60% decline last year from FY 24 to 25. Chief Herclots was here for that. Uh and
knock on wood uh and God willing, we we've had zero deaths uh through the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. Um, and so, so I think that while most folks don't see outside, um, outside looking in all of the work that's gone into to
turning a cruise ship uh, and getting modern improvements inside of that jail, your staff and our men and women that wear that patch on their shoulder every single day show up with that mission in mind. Uh, they take the arrows from the outside, too. But at the end of the day,
we're seeing market improvements and despite any type of narrative, I think that that deserves to be celebrated whenever you do have results like this year-over-year. It's not an accident. Um, and we appreciate it. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much, Commissioner.
>> I I had one question that the number that just was staggering stood out to me. 2017, we dispensed 89,000 pharmaceutical pills. 2025 we dispense 4,72,896. What what I mean that's not 45% more
that's 45 times more. Um what's driving that? >> The people that are coming in sick and even the medical folks will tell you the acuteness of uh their health has just gone down. Uh we have sicker literally sicker people today than we ever have.
And uh we're treating all kinds of things in the jail and u it's it's incredible. I mean, staggering. Yeah. >> Yeah. And as I said before, 80% of these people wrestle with an addiction of either alcohol or drugs. And there's
only so much runway that you can deal with that the body doesn't deteriorate. >> Yeah. Yeah. That was staggering. Thank you for this briefing. Thank you, Chief Herklots, as Commissioner Ramirez said, for getting in here, rolling up your sleeves, and getting some good work done. Um, I I want that number to stick
at 02 uh for the entire year. >> Any other questions? >> Yes. >> I could barely sleep last night because since Friday, Friday,
three families contacted my office three about their loved ones in the jail. This looks lovely, but let's talk reality.
Let's talk about Tasha Thomas. I have all these people's CDs. I wish I wish I could just turn them over to you. There's not a whole lot I can do. Um, and I think y'all know about Tasha
Thomas now. She has a known brain bleed diagnosed around October 2nd and a history of stroke and seizures.
So, when the mother or the daughter sent me what she sent to the state jail commission or whoever, I'm sorry, the uh Texas jail project dated February 28th, a couple weeks ago. In the last 24 to 48 hours, she has had
slurred speech, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, seizures, blood pressure. Despite this, the daughter writes, "The jail has refused to transport her to an outside ER and is only giving her ibuprofen."
She has also reported that a staff member, Miss Green, second shift pod 62D, has repeatedly refused or blocked escalation of outside medical care. that on the 28th of February, the
daughter spoke with Lieutenant Chavez at the jail. Chavez told the daughter that your mother is fine because she's alive and refused to authorize ER transport and would not connect the
daughter with medical decision makers. She has called local authorities and had EMS dispatched to the jail and was told the jail can still refuse to let EMS take her mom. She received an EMS incident number,
filed an emergency complaint with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, asked a prosecutor friend to physically go to the jail and check on her mother. She's extremely concerned that this is deliberate indifference to
a serious medical need. Um, I'm happy to give this daughter your number. I'm an elected official. Give my number out. Uh, I'm not afraid of the people I serve. Um, this this daughter
is asking any for any urgent advocacy or guidance that can be given to help her deal with her mom in the Taran County jail, advice on next steps to protect her and hold the jail accountable.
So, she's now getting more ibuprofen. She's getting 800 milligrams because she sent a prosecutor friend from a different county in um and and that's about it. But her mother
needs to be in a hospital. Uh so let's talk about Sean Faracio. You probably heard some of the public comments or speak about him. >> If I could interrupt you for a minute, the jail staff does not decide who goes to the hospital. It's strictly a medical decision by the medical people on duty,
which in this case would be a doctor. I have not heard about Mrs. Thompson. Okay. >> But I certainly want her to get the best care possible. >> Okay. Um, so I'll tell the mother or the daughter that. And who does she need to speak with? >> Tell her to call my office and we'll happily.
>> She'll need to speak to me. I'm I don't run the jail. But they they when they're spoken to this way by staff, they feel like they have no other choice. They just see me on the news and reach out to me. That's not my job.
That's yours. But and then Sean Ferasio. Um this is insane. This is another if you remember Kyrie Campbell. >> Oh yeah. Um, and don't think this is a jail issue. I
think this MHMR JPS um, another family that's worried that their loved one is going to die in our jail. This young man, you all might have heard some of the the public speakers,
uh, is 26, mental capacity of 6 to8. He's been in that jail 446 days. It's like a baby, like a kid, like a first grader. Um, when he went in, he weighed 244 lbs.
He weighs 115 pounds. What is happening in that jail? He's been a a patient uh an M MHMR patient since he was six. He's got a file with MHMR. Why
Why is he in here for 446 days and the judiciary is thinking his competency can be restored? I've I've seen the letter from the doctor. His competency cannot be restored. Why is he here? And
how many others Shaun's and Coyis are in there? >> Let let me talk about the process of that one young lame man which is horrible. We we know that we have them in jail. We're advocating for them every day to get them to a better place. But
going back, you got to these kids and I call them kids even though they're chronologically >> Yes. >> 19 and 20 and 21 years old. Mhm. >> The police officer on the beat gets called to a house and you have violence, obvious violence, the threat of
continuence violence, they by law must take action. So they arrest that person and then a judge finds probable cause to hold them because they're looking at the affidavit in the document. They're not medical and then they're placed in jail. The way we get them out of jail is the
same way. We got to have a court order. And it's just like these people when we come into the jail, generally our staff advocates very good for them. The gentlemen last couple years ago that we had, they were incredibly good. We got the we got our our vendors to get different food. We we did everything that we could to make it as a pleasant
stay as possible. And we fortunately got him in a bed in Maha, Texas. And this young man has got a bed in Ma Texas soon as it gets empty. The challenge with our mental health issue is clearly we do not have a good handle as a state and a
country for that matter on what to do with our mental health which is rising rapidly. We've got two different sets of mental healths in our jail. One is just like this kid unfortunately he that was the card he drew at birth and it's awful. It's absolutely awful and the
parent that has to deal with that is courageous and it's awful. it doesn't get better either. And then you have the second group. The second group it becomes mentally incompetent because of drugs as a general rule with by the way THC leading the path in that where they
they become hallucinogenic schizophrenic. Leading cause of schizophrenia today is K2 and and it's a mess. And we've got all of the above in our jail because police officers on the street had no where else to put them and they were a threat to the community and
they didn't know what to do. So once we get them, we try to treat them as fairly and as best we can. And MHMR steps in. Some of those critical cases that I talked about, we're talking about those every week. What can we do with this person and where can we go? And we're
always digging up resources across the state of Texas and trying to get them to, you know, homes that that are that can handle violent people because that's what needs to happen is we got to have special special care because majority of
these people unfortunately are violent and that is unfortunately what happens as these kids get older. >> So sure he has behavior he has behavior issues. So the police were called. You talk about the process uh by the neighbors. Um they
got there, the mom said, "No, he's he this is what he does. Uh she has no marks or whatever, just he was calm when they got there. Um, she signed the affidavit of nonprosecution
and he's in jail for 446 days with fungus in his toes with uh, you know, he's beating his head against the wall. Who is this is not this is there's something wrong.
>> If she signed an Well, >> that's what she said. She signed an affidavit of nonprosecution. you don't know anything about the case and I'd be speaking out of ignorance, >> but I can give you the CD and u I'm begging you to please look into this case. I've reached out to Susan.
>> Send me those names and and I'll happily run them down. >> Sheriff, when there's a situation with an inmate where a parent or a loved one is concerned for their health, uh what are they supposed to do? they can call
the jail and ask to talk to supervisors and including up to the chiefs. Okay? >> And uh if they're not, you know, getting a response that they think they need, they can certainly call uh my headquarters and we we will we will hunt that down. I message with families all the time via every way you can possibly
message with them and uh and try to get them answers. And >> we also have a medical liaison that takes those calls. anything that's of serious nature, she'll elevate it up to us, but they can also call JPS directly. Now, the problem with most of them is
they're adults. So, if there's not a a release of information on file, a lot of it can't be discussed with them. >> That's that's another issue. >> Parents may call and say, "I want to know what's going on." Unless they have maybe a power of attorney or a release of information from the individual, they
cannot discuss any medical care. That's a HIPPA violation. You know, I I I think this first of all, thank thanks for the comprehensive answer, but I think this highlights a lot of the challenges that that law enforcement and specifically uh custodial law enforcement deals with
across the state. Uh even juvenile, I mean, but but here we've got what 300 folks for competency restoration that are held in our jail roughly. Um I mean, and that that these are folks that we've got to provide treatment to and and that means, you know, getting them practitioners and providing medication.
Do you have the actual number? >> Yeah. Well, I'm glad you brought that up because we got our uh state jail hospital weight list is down to 62. >> We had 160 when I got here. It's down to 62. Some of that's due to state funding through perimeter hospitals. So, we're getting them through. We just had a
meeting last week with all the judges, the DAs, and some other folks so that when they come back, restore competency, they don't languish on the court docket, they get through the system quicker. So hopefully we can get some of these folks where they need to be and not languishing in our
>> and I don't have the numbers with us, but there is a group that is waiting to see if they're calling. >> So specifically, let me ask you this. When somebody calls her office, what would you ask her to do to get that information to your department? >> Yeah, let's I think it's a great thing
to go right directly to this medical leazison. >> The best thing is to go to the medical leaison and she will elevate it. That's her sole purpose is to be the liaison between family, medical, JPS. Again, we meet weekly uh with JPS, MHMR, uh and we
meet monthly. We're a big overall meeting. So, it's the collaboration there and I talk to Dr. Lowi darn near every day. >> Can you make sure everyone on her staff has the medical leaison's name, phone number, and every way to contact them humanly possible? >> I will email it directly to her as soon
as we get out of here. But but the three that you brought up, Commissioner, send send those to me, too. And uh uh we'll we will take a look and run this down. >> Commissioner Simmons, was one of those Bridgemen that we had heard from earlier. Was that okay? Yeah. Okay. Because I I talked to the the mom after
uh our last recess, too. So, um so if you'll get that to him, I was we were going to do that, but if you send that to him, >> I will. So, yeah. Uh she uh Sean came to my attention Friday. Um, uh, Miss Thomas came to my attention
Saturday. There's another one that has text me. I still got to finish talking to her, but um, you know, I I know we hired a new medical director or have a new medical director. We got
Chief Herkllots, but what what has been done specifically? His presence alone could not have produced a remarkable change, right? Um >> I don't know. I mean
>> um what what has been done differently? Um, and doing things differently is great uh because it admits that you were not doing some things right. So, what have
what have you done since you you gotten here, sir? >> Go ahead. >> So, this jail has passed 33 annual inspections in a row. So, it wasn't a bad jail when I got here, but as the sheriff mentioned earlier with Dr.
They didn't have 247 doctors when I got here in January. So doctors were not here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So there were a lot of standing orders. Those standing orders were put into place just so that basic medical care could be provided. And as he the sheriff
had testified, we're now doing more individualized care. So now with more doctors, we can see more people individually and not have standing orders. So, don't quote me on this, but I think we were around 250 260 standing orders when I got here. We're less than
25 now. >> So, we're doing individualized care because we now have the doctors to do it. >> You also stated there were 200 medical personnel >> and added another 100 for a 50% increase. >> Some of those were vacancies, but they did add some positions, but now they're
up to over 300. And folks are staying in the jail. When I say that, I meant the staff, the nurse. we don't have a lot of turnover anymore and now we've got the right leadership there. People are happy to be there and the collaboration is there. I can tell you the first four or five months I was here it wasn't there
because the right people weren't there. >> Well, I'll tell you and you keyed on in your presentation too. I think the >> the culture and and you know leadership matters. So I do think a leadership shift >> um and and just a paradigm shift to deal with a changing jail population because this
>> this jail is not the jail the population is not the population it was in 2017. It's completely different as you mentioned you know there are a lot more you know mental health acuity issues that we're dealing with. Um but but what I'm I'm appreciative of and proud of is that all of the work that goes on behind
the scenes that that no one ever sees. Um, you know, and I know Commissioner Simmons, you get uh inundated on the front end uh with calls, etc. Uh, but I'll say on the back end, my phone doesn't stop going outward uh in helping some of these issues. Uh, but it's the
continual improvement and reaching the benchmarks like like today, those are things that we have to celebrate and say, look, we're not perfect. Um, we're never going to be, but we need to get as dang near close as we can. And I think you guys are taking giant strides to get there, and I appreciate it. Well, and and that's where I was going with the
89,000 to four million. It's not that those in 2017 didn't have mental issue. I think y'all are doing a much better job of identifying it, getting them care, and getting some them the medication that they need. So, I I thought that was actually numbers are eye popping, but I think the story behind it is actually very telling.
>> And again, I want to hear from mental health, but in 2017, 25% of the population is protecting mental health services to to Manny's point of how much it's changed. and we had 25 in combinant at that time. And while we've got 60 now
down to 60, which is great, that need state beds, we probably still have another couple hundred out there that are waiting >> Yeah. >> to see if they're going to be competent. And I don't know, listen, we have an inmate that's been with us since 2016
and goes in and out of competence. Uh, >> I thought since 2019. years. Seven years 2019. Okay. Get the teams mixed up. Precoid. But uh u the thing that and
that Shannon brought to it was attitude and leadership and reinforcing that that that we're do we need to do we need to reach for best practices and we've been able to do that and I think think he's done a great job. Uh the Dr. Lowi hires
as again Karen Duncan was willing to listen to what the issues was and she was making course correction and she did a beautiful job and Dr. LA has just been incredible and and uh the recall of those protocols. You know, for instance, from a practical standpoint, you had somebody that come in and had diabetes
at 2 in the morning. They got an insulin shot. That doesn't happen now. Yep. >> We we they get an individual care, which maybe a pill would be better than a shot. And so that they're shifting their attitudes toward that. But individual care is one of the single most important things that we have done.
I I sir I I I get too many I get I get way too many calls and I have been somewhat successful in getting these people the
medical care they need because I just usurped you guys and called JPS. um somebody before he went to um the state, his wife said he's been on the list for heart surgery or something.
Can can he get that before he goes to the state? Um tried to call was before you got here, uh Shannon, uh tried to call over to your office, Amber, I think. Um it just didn't work. I called
I I just don't think a commissioner should have to call the CEO of the hospital district to to ensure that um the detainees get help. It should be a standard protocol. Uh it it just it
these I'm not trying to get a soul out of jail. I don't ever know what they did. I don't but they shouldn't be dying in our jail. Um, we've still got what, 21 cases that are waiting to be
investigated um by the state. Uh, it this is pretty, but it's it's not real. Uh, based based on the calls I get for help, do I want
the calls? Sure, I'm happy to take them, but I I I want them to have direct access because Shawn shouldn't have gone in at 244bs and now at 115. He's not eating. His teeth aren't getting brushed. When the
mother goes sees him, of course, he's all bloodied and battered. who has dropped the ball on this person with a $750 bond the mother can't afford. Um, so
you know, are you saying there's been a 64.7% reduction between since 2020 from 25 to 20? Yeah, you can crunch these numbers any way you want because you said 11 were due to COVID. So, we have got to do better. I'm
not interested in getting deep into the jail business doing your job, but our constituents need you to be accessible. I don't want you here to be
whatever you called me. That's That's not why I want you here. I'm glad you're here today. Whoever called you, I'm glad you came. Um, I'm just trying to help these people. That's what I was elected to do. Um, I cannot,
you know, it's hard to sleep um when you hear stories like this. Just yesterday, I talked to both these families and it's tough. So, please, let's get real and say we got we we got some
problems with the medical care. Uh, and do something different. What solutions do you have that they should implement that they're not? >> There are a ton of solutions. I'm happy because I have because I have visited other jails, other directors across this
country. >> Great. What are >> So, I'm happy to sit down with the sheriff because you're not the sheriff. You're not the expert, >> but I do vote to fund them. So, I would love to hear the ideas. >> Well, I would love to sit down with the sheriff um to to go over those. Um I
just want access to the sheriff. I'm not just trying to give you give it to you. I don't want it. Um but but but the families know that they can talk to me >> in 2022.
11 people died. Alvi Johnson Jr. James New Edgar Filator Alvarez O Young Park Thomas Simpkins Trail Wormley Richard Marta Lionel Mitchell Jr. Kenneth Perry Kelvin Brown Antonio
Duca In 2023 10 more people died. William Burns, Carlos Rodriguez, Munoz, Adrien Chavez, Jason Lavar Jackson, Heidi Gits, George William Zinc, Daryl Jackson, Linda Carol York, Clyde K.
Alexander and Joanne Lemons. In 2024, nine more people died. Anthony Johnson Jr., Mason Yansy, Russell Qualls, Carol Roberts, Ronald Ree, Rodri Johnson, Chassity Bonner, Clinton McClendon,
Cwell, Vernon Ramsay, and Twin 25, six more people died. Charles Steven Johnson, Kimberly Phillips, Liz Gatling, Richard Gekkowski, Stephen Whitley, and Shante Brous. These are not statistics.
They were someone's child, brother, father, mother, sister. They were human beings. And for many of those families, the most painful part is that they are still waiting for answers about what happened
to their loved ones. They would love to talk to you. They're not trying to talk to me. They're just desperate. So, they're talking to me just because I have some proximity. >> If they've called my office, commissioner, I I've sure missed it, but I'd be happy. I don't I don't turn away
people that have issues in the jail. And uh uh if I may add, and listen, all of those names are very important. It's sad that every one of them have passed away. Uh but to that point is that sometimes we give them the best care that we can
possibly give them and it still doesn't work out. And uh and you said thousands of solutions and I know the judge asked you what what give me one jail in America that you would like for us to look at. >> Orange County. >> Orange County. What?
>> Florida. Aren't you? >> We've done that once before and they had worse problems than we did. We'll be glad to do that again. >> All right. Um, maybe you and I can go and you can show me the differences or the similarities. >> All right. Anything else on this item? I
move that we make that happen. >> Second. >> He's the one that runs for me. I >> Anything else? I appreciate you, Cher. >> Thank you all. Yeah. Thank you. >> Do better. >> All right. Now, we're moving to briefing on Tarant County financial reserves.
Good afternoon, judge, commissioners. Uh, I'd like to take the opportunity to walk through an overview of our financial reserves. Specifically, today we'll talk about we're talking about operational reserves. Let me see if I can get this to perfect. So, we have a current policy
that states our operational reserves should be at least 10%. That's our goal to reach each budgeting year as we go through the review of reserves. And when we talk about operating reserves, that's the overall budget less capital and operating transfers. That's how we get
to the operating budget amount. And then we divide that by what is our reserves. And our reserves are made out of two buckets. The first bucket is reserves and then the second bucket is what we call undesated. And I want to make sure we have a good explanation of what those are. So, I'm going to read this ver
verbatim from the cash balances policy. Uh, reserves are used to ensure short-term cash flow requirements are met, protect the county's creditworthiness, ensure the ability to effectively react with existing resources in the event of extraordinary, unusual, or infrequent events.
Undesated expenses is a budget allocation that provides the ability to address unforeseen needs without having an impact on reserves. So we try to use we will use undesated first before we touch reserves in any unbudgeted circumstance.
I also wanted to discuss a little bit about best practices and what GFOA recommends which GFA is the government finance officers association. They recommend two months of operating expenses. When you extrapolate that out over 12 months that is 16.7%. So there's a difference there between
what we have in our policy and what GFOA recommends. But that GFOA pronouncement was made back in 2002. They have since come uh in about 2015 and kind of made that more broad where you should adjust your reserves based on your risk. So as
an example, the Tarant County uses property taxes primarily for our revenue. Other municipalities may use a sales or use tax. Those sales and use taxes are more volatile than a property tax. So then they would have a larger reserve balance for those to account for
those voluntary volatile reserves. So on the next slide I want to kind of walk through where our reserves have sit since we uh had the policy in 2015. They remained steady from 2015 through 2019. And then in 2019 through a court uh
through approval of commissioner's court or prior commissioner's court they increased approximately 20 million to that 14.9%. And that was as a result of extra CARES money that we had on hand after we reclassified some salaries. Uh we shifted that money to reserves to
bring it up to that 14.9 in 2020. And then it stays pretty the reserve amount stays pretty static from 2020 to 2026. Those peaks and values you see are as the operating budget adjusts. So the the operating budget may go up, may come down, but the amount of the denominator,
the reserves, stays pretty consistent and the same. And I know we were asked to go back and look when we've used reserves in the past. So we went all the way back to the inception of SAP which was in 2003. And we've only used
reserves twice. We used it once in 2016. And this was as really a loan to the tax office when we had extraordinary circumstance dealing with tax refunds and we are statutoily required to refund those uh to return those refunds in a certain time period. We did not have the
tax collections to pay that. So we dipped into reserves as a loan to pay those back as quickly within statutory guidelines. The tax office then paid us back those reserves as we went through as they collected additional tax revenue
in that next year. So the overall change there was a net zero. The next time we used reserves was in fiscal year 25. And that was just recently. You may have seen these on the appropriation adjustments in the past few months. uh primarily that approximately 8 million of reserves were used to account for
negative salaries and when I talk about negative salaries that are that is overtime or unbudgeted positions that were not offset by vacancies or any savings anywhere else. So that was a true use of reserves in 2025. But there
there's two parts to that. So in order to get to have to use reserves, you also have to use all of your und designated. And in 2025, we used most about 90% of our designated on an unbudgeted security contract and on council fees, indigent
council fees, about 4.8 million. And that represented about 90% of our undesated budget. Those two uh unforeseen circumstances that took up and I want to be very clear and and show the importance of a one of probably our
largest unfunded mandate is our indigent defense to the tune of about $33 million each year. Commissioner Krauss, we talked about this probably a couple months back. um that increases year-over-year consistently and from 24 to 25 it was about a 16% increase. Uh that we did not
foresee it being 16%. As we get further and further away from COVID, we anticipated that cost to level out or at least at least not go down but at least level out to where we're not seeing double digit double digit increases year-over-year. And that brings me to our my next slide
which kind of shows how much we have in a designated versus what we have in reserves. it's about 5.7% where in reserves we have 94.3% and this is uh fiscal year 26 u and those two buckets are like we
talked about are very important I I talked about the IDER piece and how that affects our undesated and then the last piece I wanted to mention was how we fund our reserves and we fund our reserves through cash carry forward and that cash carry forward is defined as a prior so for 26 it' be the
25 excess of revenues minus expenditures. >> That's how you get to your cash carry forward. That cash carry forward then is broken up into these three different priorities. The reserves capital improvement fund and the non-debt capital. That's what we use that cash carried for to fund strategically based
on the need of the county. And then finally, I'll just mention that best practice uh as we always talk about cash, always want to mention that best practice from the GFO and from our financial adviser is to never use cash to balance your budget. uh Hilltop which is our financial adviser even went to say that it would be very troubling for
our bond rating if we were to have to use cash to balance our budget. And that's kind of the high level overview. Here's our sources and then I'd be happy to ask or answer any questions. >> All right, questions for Matt.
>> Thank you, Matt. >> Of course. Mr. Too easy. I didn't expect that. >> Quick presentation. So we we've we've dipped into reserves recently, right? 7.78 million, correct?
>> For what? >> To pay what I call >> say again. >> Negative salaries. So that's salaries in excess of savings. >> What department? >> Primarily every department has some but
>> okay. So, but we used hopefully I'll get this right, Helen. We dipped into FY25 reserves. >> Correct. >> Correct.
Okay. Um, but we did it in November of 2026 or December. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. And that's as we as the auditor. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Sorry. >> Did she just say you dipped into it in November of 26? And you said yes, ma'am. >> I'm sorry. >> November 25. Fiscal year 26. >> Yeah. >> Fiscal year 26, but November of 25. >> Yeah. Sorry about that. >> Yes. Fiscal year 26. But we we do that as we as the auditor's office cleans up
the prior year's books. We then know what those negative salaries are. That's when we account for those negative salaries is at the end of the close of the fiscal year. And what was the reason? I mean, we didn't have
we didn't have the money budgeted. We didn't have it in operating. >> Correct. We did not anticipate the amount of overtime that we would need to pay for the sheriff's office. >> Okay. >> Do you anticipate going into reserves again?
>> No, ma'am. Not for negative salaries and because >> not for negative salaries for anything. Be careful because remember you guys came to my office and briefed me on some stuff. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um >> and that's dealing with group insurance. And there's a possibility we may have to
dip into reserves to cover a funding shortage of group insurance >> at at about how much? I it's hard to tell now depending on how it fluctuates throughout the year, but it could be 10 million, could be two million depending on how how the year finalizes.
>> All right. So, it's clear we're dipping into reserves. That's bottom line. Um I contend that's what you get when you go below the no new revenue rate. Like I said,
back then, you can cut to the bone and then you're dipping into reserves. Um, I don't know if we'll be able to replenish like you did in 2016, but it's just the beginning of the
fiscal year essentially, and I am very concerned that we'll have to dip into reserves more. Um, and so I would like regular I would like this to be a regular
briefing item. I was going to say it doesn't have to be every meeting, but hell, we only meet once a month. Um, well, we'll talk about it, but I I want the public
uh to be up to date on how we're spending and how we're managing this county's money. Um dipping into reserves um in the first quarter is scary and anticipating
going to reserves again is concerning. Uh and so everybody needs to be aware of that. Um that's all that's all I have. >> All right. Any other questions for Matt? >> Just one more clarifying question. Even with the negative salary outlay that we had about that $8 million, we still had
15.8% 8% of our budget. Uh I mean reserves as a percentage of our operating budget. Is that correct? >> Uh budget for at the beginning of the Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> But but okay. So if our reserve levels fall below responsible thresholds, it
can damage the county's bond rating. Correct. >> Yes, ma'am. It could depending on other factors. So when we look at the bond rating, we're not just looking at reserves. We look at total cash on hand. >> Sure. Um but but it it could damage the bomb rating and reduce our ability to attract
investors uh to fund major projects such as infrastructure, public safety facilities, hospitals, other investments. And when borrowing costs go up, taxpayers pay the price. Our current policy requires what? Only 10% in
reserves. >> Yes, ma'am. So, all right. This is 7% below the two months we should have potentially leaving the county with only one month of reserves. Um,
>> I'm not quite sure I understood that. >> Okay. Um we'll yeah I think I'll just keep this on the agenda so that we're updated um about what's happening with this budget with
our operating with reserves all of it. >> Yes ma'am. >> Thank you ma'am. >> We are in recess now until 3:05. Yeah. Hi. All right, here we go.
We're back from recess. This is a briefing item for consideration from elections administration on process and procedures of hand counting of the ballot from SD9 runoff special election that occurred on January 31st, 2026. Good afternoon, judge, commissioners.
So the handc count was created during the 89th legislature under SB 827 and prior to this we did have a post-election audit of the ballots that was end
this changed some of the procedures and how to do that for the SD9 the biggest the biggest change was that it was no longer the elections department that was doing the audit or doing the counting of the ballots. It actually became the
ballot board that's that does the counting and as we mentioned the ballot board is independent of the elections administration. We just simply provide their support. So it's provided a I don't call it a third party audit instead of the election auditing
themselves. We now have the members of the ballot. >> They came here. >> Oh, >> who is they? >> We'll try this now. >> Um, >> so the the audit now starts it has to
start within 72 hours of the polls closing. Depending on what the election is, who's responsible for selecting the the locations andor the precincts to be audited? Um, depends. And the audit must be completed within 21 days of
election day. So we for the audit process, we get the the percentages, the locations for early voting, the locations for election day, and then the precincts for the absentee ballot by mail that must be audited. Then we go
into a process where the ballot board I have to appoint members of the ballot board to be the count teams. We post notice, it's going to start. We have I appoint the count teams and my staff is only allowed to assist the count teams
administratively, i.e. things like paperwork or sorting ballots, but they cannot do any part of the tallying or the counting. So, we will pull all the ballots. We get everything ready. We help and assist where we can. We provide the count teams the paperwork in the
SD9. We provide them documentation. We helped sort ballots so they could count, putting them in stacks of 25 to make it easier. The count teams consist of two callers, one from each party. So the first one will call, the second one verifies what they called was was accurate, and then you have the
individuals tallying and they tally and they go through the every single ballot for that location or that precinct if it's an absentee ballot by mail and they count them. And what is different than this than a actual handc count during an
election is the handc count during an election has has different procedures. It's not an audit and this doesn't change an election outcome. We're just simply verifying the data. So the count team in the audit will know that Keller
Town Hall had 4,000 ballots cast and this is the outcome. So when they're the count teams in the handc count audit, they're going through ensuring a they had the 4,000 ballots that they said they had and that all those results match. And if because it is hand counting and
people do make mistakes, there are times that they will get off and they have to go back, check it, double check, and then continue on with the audit. Um, so that's kind of the process. At the end of the audit then we have to compare all the results from the independent
hand count to what the machine results were and then we provide take that and provide a report and that report is posted on our website for the election everybody to see. So that's that's the process and the procedures of the handcount audit. Um,
the difference with SD9 over the standard handc count audit is I did request from the Secretary of State's office permission to audit the entire election and not just do the up to six early voting locations up to six
election day locations and the up to well the precincts depends be it's because it's based on the number of precincts in which a ballot is cast. So that can shift from election to election because not every precinct has somebody that votes absentee. So that can that number can change.
>> What was the result of the hand count compared to the computer tally? >> It was 100% match. >> So we had a a runoff election for I think it was 2024. I think it was a runoff. Maybe it wasn't
a runoff. It was a constable in the Republican primary in 2024 race. >> There was a recount. I can't remember if it was a runoff or not. In fact, I don't think it was. There was a recount and there was a hand count done during the recount. And my understanding is
multiple times during this recount. They couldn't get to the same numbers as in the computer or sitting there hand counting it themselves. Do I have that right? >> That is that is correct. There's, I believe, uh, around 22,000 ballots that
they were attempting to hand count, which is different than an audit. >> Okay. >> Um, and they they did come up with a different results than what the machine had come up with. And then that turned into an election contest. Okay. >> And during the election contest, the
judge um overturned the handc count audit, the handc count itself, and reinstated the electronic results because of the inaccuracies that occurred during the handc count. And so which uh who did that count or those counts I should say?
>> Those were members of the public >> and were they it wasn't one candidates people over another. I'm assuming both candidates had got to have people there. >> The they do um have to have the people there. They can also have poll watchers there to observe.
>> Okay. Who picks the members of the public? >> It's uh both candidates pick. both candidates agree on it or both each candidate gets you get this many, you get this many. >> I can't recall, judge, on that one. I can't remember exactly. >> Did they come up with their own method for doing it?
>> No, it's spelled out in the election code on how they have to do it. >> Um, which limits them to account team of three. >> Okay. And so again when that's part of the reason we have the four the person verifying what the caller's calling because we learned from that callers
after repetitive they can call they just see a name and can call the wrong thing. So this is another layer of verification to make sure that it's accurate. >> Okay. Do you have an X? So that you said that was you think that was 22,000 something ballots. I don't I don't know what it was but the SD9 election was
something I think it was 94,000 >> over 94,000. Yes. Judge. Do you have an explanation as to how one with whatever that would be 20% 18% maybe uh had multiple counts go wrong and this one matched the machine
verbatim. >> It's the difference in how the procedures are done with between the handc count and the audit. The audit allows for the verification steps and the things that and the extra measures we put in place to ensure that it's accurate that just aren't allowed for in
the law. I.e. they only get to have a count team of three. Even if they wanted to have six, the law says three. Um so that's that creates some of the issues and some of the inaccuracies. >> So what was your rationale for wanting to do the whole thing?
Right. During this time, there were had been some some claims, some allegations of the machines creating inaccuracies. And going into the 26, >> let me just stop you real quick. When you say claims or allegations,
I mean, there were in fact some things that came out wrong. >> There were there were three three claims specifically during this time. Two of them that the ballots it showed there's there's images, right? Uh, one there was a a line that went through multiple
candidates which created what's called an overvote. Um, during an election that one, even if that had happened, the ballot board would see that. They get notified of the overvote. They would see and see that it appeared like there was a hair maybe that it was picked up in
the scan and the ballot board would be able to determine voters's intent. The other one, the scan itself had picked up a single mark inside a box and it counted that as a vote. And so that that is an issue. It counted a vote that it
should not have. And the thing is is going into the elections, how often is this happening? Is it is this a real problem or is this just something that that was a very random occurrence? But in order to find out going into the
election year, do we have a problem? Because if there is inaccuracies in the equipment, not only do I want to know, but I'm going to have to brief you all on, hey, our equipment's counting votes that it should not be counting and we have a problem and what do we want to do about this? So, it was an opportunity. So, we had to investigate the issue
regardless. If I were to use count county resources to create a 94,000 ballot sample to check the accuracy of the machines, it would be far more expensive than just using this election that the ballots were already created.
They were already cast. Um the ballot board members make $15 an hour during the count team, whereas our staff makes significantly more than that. So it would have been much more expensive to investigate it using our resources versus just using the tool that was already available.
>> So another question I have for you and I I guess it's somewhat related to this most I guess you would call it that. I I feel like I've heard in the last two elections
the SD9 runoff and then the primaries. It seems like I've heard more discussion about having to reboot, things getting spoiled, printer not accepting ballots,
and I don't know if I'm just get get it's getting to me more or if there actually were more. Can you tell me if if let's just say the primary for example elections were there more machine issues with machines have to
being have to be rebooted and and not accepting ballots than there usually is? >> I it's hard to say there's more because during the primaries we use more equipment. So the even at the percentage and I have I don't know we haven't had a chance to go through all the data yet to
look at the percentages um but just because of the amount of equipment that we had out being used even if it's the exact same percentage it's more right um I will say that the spoilage of the ballots this election um
just off of not having had chance to go through the data yet um seemed high. So, that is something that we're going to be looking into when it comes to the ballots themselves that were getting spoiled. And it it did seem to be the two-page ballots that were having the issue. Um, so we're those are things that we're going to have to get with
with Hart and try to figure out what was going on there. >> Okay. All right. Other questions? >> Sure. So it was sounds like it was you alone uh that had the desire to uh have this
hand count audit, right? Am I saying that right? Handcount audit. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So it was you alone that made this decision. >> So yes, ma'am. The Well, the handcount audit has to happen regardless. It's in statute. But right, the the handc count
audit of 100% of the ballots, that doesn't have to happen. >> No, we we it was it was my decision to ask the Secretary of State to handc count the other 70% because we were already going to do 30% of the ballots um based on the the sites that had had
been selected. And so it was my request to do the extra 70%. >> Why? because it this was a very unique race in that it was one contest with only two. This is the easiest thing to handcount we will ever have and these
don't happen often. I don't have another Senate runoff race really to even compare it to in recent history in our data. And it's it was a far less expensive way to investigate the the issue with the machine and the vote that
was being counted that shouldn't have been counted than if we were to try to recreate something and and investigate it that way. So it was already there. the timing worked out because the issue happened right when this happened and and so it was just a everything lined up
in order to do this and still do the investigation, perform our statutory requirements and not spend as much money doing everything. When you explained it to me, you said that having these issues where it counted votes and it overvoted,
um, you wanted to know if there was a problem and that this would be the easiest, fastest way to figure it out in a real election. Was it surprising to you that the handc count audit matched the machine? And was it surprising to you that there was no other issue in the
machine? >> No, it's it's not surprising to me. um having well I'm in my third year now and we've done I' lost count of the elections at this point. Um so we've seen a lot um we've in our other
post-election handc count audits or when it was the PMC the partial manual count our our findings have always matched 100%. But I had never had an instant going into an election where we had right in front of us an image of a
ballot that was marked incorrectly and a vote having been counted that should not have been counted. >> So, okay, back to my that had a list of questions. Um,
what was the additional expense? >> We don't we haven't even finalized the cost of this election or the SD9 election yet. Those invoices are still coming in and then we'll have to separate it out. So we don't have the additional expense right now >> for the handc count audit. >> Correct.
>> You don't you don't have you don't have it yet. >> No, we don't ma'am. >> So normally when departments spend money they have to come to the court for approval. Was this um something this expenditure
approved in any way? >> The expenditure is approved under my elections budget. It's part of running the election. The handcount audit must be done. We just increase the scope of an audit that we have to do.
>> I understand. But asphalt is a part of my budget, too. But when it's time to buy it, it has to be approved by this court. Every penny has to be approved by this court. So, I'm trying to, you know, if I go to the chamber lunchon, it's
$35. It's got to be approved by this court. So, just trying to figure out this the expense to audit do an a handc count audit
of 100% of the ballots. There was an expense. >> Yes, sir. >> Did you budget for it? We budgeted the hand count and I didn't know how many. >> Did you really? >> Yes, we have to. It's part of >> 100%. Not not the usual. I know the stat about the statutory hand counting
talking about you did a handc count audit of 100% of the ballots. You had to pay these ballot board folks had to get paid to do this, right? >> Correct. >> What was the cost and did you budget for
that? So what I was attempting to say is is we budgeted for all the elections throughout all the year and I don't know how many ballots I don't know what the random selection is going to be in the hand count. So we have to budget
incorporating larger numbers and then when other elections we get a smaller hand count then another one we get a larger handc count and the amount that so the amount that we have expended we are still within our budget when I buy asphalt I'm still within my
budget but I have to come to court to to get it approved you understand what I'm saying >> I understand what you're Everybody has to get whatever they want approved by the court, even if we budgeted for it. So, quit playing. I mean, good lord.
Why Why wasn't a meeting of this Why wasn't this handcount um idea or procedure brought before the commissioner's court for approval? It doesn't have to be. I'm trying to be educated. >> There is no requirement to come before
the court to get approval to conduct a handc count. Not the statutory hand count quit. I'm talking about the 100% the handc count audit of 100% of the ballot. Not the statutory where you just handc count audit three or four six
precincts. >> I'm not aware of any requirement to come before the court. >> All right. Um so we don't know the cost yet. When will you know the cost >> that it it's difficult post elections as
as we start getting the invoices and with as many elections back to back um they're behind. So I I can't tell you exactly when that's going to happen. Obviously we're going to get it and we will reconcile it and when I get that number I can provide it to you. >> Two months, three months, two weeks.
>> I I I don't know ma'am. When I get it I'll provide it to you. So, is it your conclusion that with this extensive audit counted 100% of the ballots, we no longer have
need to have this increased expense for future elections? Do we need to hand Did you So, it sounds like there was 100% match is what I heard you say. >> So, no problems stuff match. I think you mentioned three two or three problems.
All right. Uh so is it your professional opinion that Taran County elections are safe, accurate, and can continue as is? >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Do you do you expect that we
might be handc counting 100% of the ballots for November? >> No, ma'am. >> Um All right. I I I would love to see the
cost of this, the expense. Um whereas the documentation providing the reasoning for the hand count. I heard you. It sounds like it was this an easy race to do just to check things out. >> Um
and you talked about the couple of discrepancies, right? >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's it. Okay. >> Um All right. So, I'll look forward to the expense of this and I understand that you as the expert don't see a problem with our elections in Taran
County. They seem to be safe and fair and um with few problems. And you don't see a need to handcount ballots in November? >> The the post-election handc count of all the ballots in November? No, ma'am.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Anybody else have anything? >> All right. Item five, briefing from elections on discrepancies in Secretary of State reconciliation reports preventing voters the ability to vote by
mail with ease and causing vote by mail ballots to be rejected at a higher rate than usual. >> Um, I'm going to do my best on this one that uh that brief that a lot of those things don't actually connect. So, this
is going to be a little bit difficult. Um, so I'm going to I'm going to try. So, first thing, when it comes to the absentee ballots and the ballot by mail, the the ballot board is the one that's responsible for counting those. And the ballot board, the members of that are
appointed by the parties. They do not work for the elections department. The elections department simply provides them support so they can do their jobs in counting those absentee ballots. So the the rejections are are not something that our office is responsible for. Um
we simply providing the support to the ballot board so they can process um those absentee ballots. The um I believe the the part about the secretary of state is referring to the online curing
process that they have through their website. And the last time we had checked that's still that functionality is still not working in the new software that they had released. So um we are still we're providing a means to either correct the deficiency
through the mail or they can come in our office to cure to cure those ballots. But the Secretary of State software they are aware of it. We've made them very very aware of it. Um and they're working. We're being told they're working to fix it. But as of right now it it's not working. Um so that could
create a challenge in curing a ballot. Um and then uh the discrepancy in the the summary report I believe that is I think a a misumption of the numbers
the and this is so in the SD9 it was reported to me that there was a 38% rejection rate and what I'm guessing where that came from was the difference on the final summary report What the
person that was looking at that didn't understand is that's not a rejection rate. What that is is that's a ballot's not returned and rejected. There was only a 2% rejection rate in the SD9 election. It was 36% that we had
mailed them out and they didn't come back to us. So that got to the 38%. Um just looking at that and the SD9 runoff was one that was done. I don't have another SD runoff election to compare to. So, I just went to the
municipal runoff elections for 23, 24, and 25. The average rejection rate for those those three elections was 2.6%. And the rejection rate for the SD9 election was 2%. And then I believe the
November uh 25 election was also brought up as having a a high rejection rate. Again, looking at that one, I went back November 22, 23, and 24, and their average rejection rates was uh 2.28%.
The rejection rate for the November um election was 1.36%. Um so it was it the actual rejection rate was lower. I believe the fact that the non- returnturned ballot numbers are
in that report is what caused the person to to see the large discrepancy not knowing that those numbers are part of it. >> So these are ballot board folks you're talking about when you said you these
this person saw large discrepancies. >> It wasn't a ballot board member. was a member of the public that had contacted us. >> Okay. Okay. I'll I'll get there. I got I have so much for you. Um, can your office provide a full breakdown for the
election showing mail ballots issued, mail ballots returned and counted, mail ballots returned but rejected, mail ballots not returned, and mail ballots surrendered at the polls.
I can email it to you >> if you could please send the email. We can pull the data. Most of that's available on our website now. the returned to the polls. I don't think that's something that would be available. We'll have to look, but most of that those numbers you could find on our website. Now,
>> is the reconciliation form structured in a way that could lead staff to record not returned or surrendered >> ballots in the rejected field? >> It's a it's a Secretary of State form. Um, so we've reached out to them because
of this issue for clarification on if there is a way on their form that we can adjust that to clear up. >> Anything else? >> So to me, we need elections administration
to certify that the numbers provided to the ballot board members completing this form are accurate. Can you do that? Can your office do that? >> Yes, ma'am. I >> Okay, >> we can run the reports and provide it. Yes,
>> we need all the numbers entered to be certified as accurate and attach data source or attach calculations with source as applicable. we that that's the kind of stuff we need so that these whatever occurred
um doesn't happen again. Um >> what occurred? >> So, well, I think I jumped over back to the I think I jumped back to the u the S the SD9
um election with the forms there. Um All right. All right. Is that it for you? >> Yeah. >> So, this title in number five is a grossly misleading, if not downright
false, way to describe what happened. The causing vote by mail ballots to be rejected at a higher rate than usual is simply false for both the SD9 runoff election and the primary elections. Is
that accurate? this didn't there was a SD9 in the November election not the primary >> so all of the what that says in this agenda item >> is simply false and misleading there was not a
vote by mail vote by mail ballots rejected at a higher rate than usual >> no there wasn't >> okay all right >> so wait a minute in November November 4 2025 election 647 mail ballots were rejected.
>> No, they weren't. 41 41 were rejected. The 6 >> uh whatever the difference is were not returned. 41 were actually rejected. >> Say, say that again. >> 41 were rejected. The 600 whatever the balance is is what was not returned.
>> Okay. >> So that 600 I think was it 47 that's the total of rejected and not returned ballots, not rejected ballots. >> Okay. All right. Anything else? >> Big difference.
>> All right. Now we go to announcements and comments. Do we have any announcements or comments from the commissioners? >> Only thing I will say is I wanted to welcome Noah Graham, uh, who's an intern in our office, a junior at Dallas Baptist. He's working in our office this semester. So, uh, Noah, thanks for being here today. It's great to have you on
board. >> All right. Anybody else have anything? All right. The court will now recess the open session and proceed to close session to discuss items exempt under sections 55107,072 074 076 087 and 0725 of the Texas
Government Code. Executive session will begin promptly at 3:45 p.m. when three are present. We are now in recess. Are we live? >> All right, we're back from executive session. No action is necessary at this
time. Thank you for watching and being here. We are officially adjourned.