Exactly. I just [Music] Yeah. I know. [Music] Friday. He's got fireworks out there. That's right. That's the one thing we're
going to miss this year. [Applause] Hello. [Music] All right. Well, good morning everyone. Welcome to the Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Tarant County Commissioner Court meeting. We are halfway through 2025.
Kind of hard to believe. Jeez. Uh, I will 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 30, present. Manny Ramirez, commissioner, precinct 4,
here. All right. Today's invocation will be led by Pastor Pastor Dave Young from Light of the World Church in Fort Worth. Please rise for the invocation and our pledges of allegiance. Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father,
as this country prepares to celebrate our Independence Day this Friday, we thank you for all the many freedoms that we enjoy. We know this is a great country and we thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to participate in government ourselves. We thank you for all the
people that are here today. And we ask that you would uh use this meeting to better your people. We know Lord that while we enjoy many great freedoms, the best freedom of all that we have is the freedom that comes from your son giving his life for us, setting us free from the curse of sin, death, and the devil.
Thank you. You also urge us, Lord, to pray for those who are leaders, those who are serving us in government. And so today, we especially want to lift up our commissioners court. We ask that you would give them listening ears so that they hear well the concerns of your
people and that they would be given wisdom and discernment and all the decisions that they must make. We ask also Lord for your protection and care for all those who serve in our military and for our first responders especially
when we hear of firemen who were lured out in Idaho and were murdered. We ask Lord that you would watch over all that serve as first responders. And we pray for comfort and peace for those families that have lost loved ones. We ask all these things as we pray in the precious
name of our savior Jesus. Amen. 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 the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to the Texas. One state under God, one, indivisible. Thank you. You may be
seated. So last Christmas, we had a very special guest that had worked very hard to prepare something special for us. and I boneheadedly completely forgot to call
him up uh before the meeting was over. So, he rushed back in here and did it, but the meeting had already ended. I am not going to make that mistake this time, and we will have him do it again for Christmas. But, Joseph, where are you? There he is. All right, we got a special uh special one for uh July 4th
week. So, sit back and enjoy some of the finest fiddle playing you'll ever see. Take it away, Don't elbow anybody while you're doing it. [Music]
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat.
[Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause]
Heat. [Music] Heat.
[Music] [Applause]
place during the month of August. So, while the month of August uh is happening, we will be meeting at an alternate location downtown and we'll be publishing that location at a later date. Okay. Where? Uh well it we're still working through it's either going
to be the the uh Charles Murray courtroom, the Tarant County family civil law conference room, or maybe the grand jury room. We're working through security and a couple of other things just to make sure we have the appropriate venue. Got it. Thank you. Uh okay, now it's time for commissioner's court announcements. I want to start
today with a couple um a couple of sad notes. I'm sorry, judge. Yeah, my apologies. Uh do in in line with the AV renovation, our system is just locked up in the back. My apologies. We're going to need to take a two-minute break so they can reboot it really quick. Sorry.
It's good timing. I guess that was a good good purchase. Maybe not fast enough. So So [Music] [Applause] Hi, good
job. All right, back live, right? Yes, sir. Okay. Uh wanted to start today's announcements with a couple of things. Um just want to share our condolences uh
for the loss of Rosyn Williams. Um Roz uh dedicated 28 years of exceptional service to the Tarant County Housing Assistance Office. She passed away suddenly last week unexpectedly on June 22nd. Um she served in a variety of roles throughout her tenure uh including
housing counselor, leasing coordinators and assistance uh director. Uh her her colleagues will certainly miss her. Her family will miss her and we pray for comfort for her friends and family. So a sad note there. Uh
rest in peace Roz. Also many of you in this room know Deputy Todd Tipton. You may remember Deputy Tipton uh was shot in the line of duty I believe three times last year. Um he had lost his mother I think approximately a year ago.
Um he went through that and then his brother suddenly passed away. His younger brother suddenly passed away uh last week also. Um this is uh he runs uh he ran Tipton Insurance agency with his
father which is located over there on industrial uh in Ulis and uh so that was a sudden loss also. So, uh Deputy Typton has had a had a rough go here the last couple years. So, please remember uh Todd, his father, Ron, and their family in your
prayers. Also, uh other uh announcements from our court members. Uh yes, judge. I'd like to announce and invite everyone who is here today and those who are viewing online to our 10th annual Healthy Lives Matter Alzheimer's
Education Seminar. It's going to be held August the 23rd at Taran County College Trinity River campus from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All are welcome. And just on a personal note, my father transitioned from this life to the next as a result
of Alzheimer's disease. Commissioner Brooks, the former commissioner, his mother transitioned as a result of Alzheimer's. Anybody who's ever had a relative or friend who's had to care
for those loved ones who have Alzheimer's know that it is a devastating disease and it takes a great toll on the family members as well as the person who's walking that walk. I want to encourage you to share this information with as many people you know
because it may not be happening to you, but it may be happening to somebody that you know. And we have a host of resources, valuable information, cutting edge updates about technology and advancements in Alzheimer's and dementia
care. It's real and it's important. And I want to make sure that everybody has what they need to be able to walk with their family member or their loved one in a dignified way to make sure that they take care of themselves as well as
taking care of their loved ones cuz you're no good to your loved one if you are burnt out and don't have anything left to give. There are flyers available for those who want to attend. My uh executive administrator, Mr. Jamal Williams has those for the anybody who
wants to participate. There are also some out in the forum. Thank you, judge. Uh, thank you. You know, my brother is only 69 years old and dealing with it right now. It's literally like the worst thing I I think I've ever seen in terms of a health condition. So, thank you for
doing it. Absolutely. Uh, yes. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome I have a new uh precinct administrator. I lost one. So, I've gained a new one. He is uh Albert Roberts.
He uh here's a little bit about him. He starts off with he's married to his wife Dr. Kiona Roberts. They have two children. Albert the third, he's 12, and Carrington, she's eight. Um Albert's from Fort Worth, went to Dumbar High
School. He has his bachelor's in electrical engineering from Prairie View&M and he has his shest doctorate from Third Good Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern. Um, and in 2017,
Albert left this Tarant County District Attorney's Office and started his own uh private practice where uh he practices criminal defense and in addition to his years of prosecuting experience and awards in
North Texas. Albert has served in professional legal organizations in multiple capacities, including president of the uh El Clifford Davis Legal Association, Taran County Black Bar. And Albert is currently a member of the El
Clifford Davis Legal Association, Taran County Bar, Taran County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the National Bar Association. and he coaches his son's all his son's teams and he is a member of community
frontline Fort Worth chapter Jack and Jill and a lifetime member of Kappa Alphasai fraternity. So welcome to our staff and to the count back to the county. Glad to have you here. [Applause] [Music]
[Applause] Commissioner Simmons, I'd just like to say you got a a rock star when you got Albert. Yeah. So, that's a great hire. Kudos to you. Thank you. I lost a rockar gain a rockstar. So, thank you. Yeah.
He's got big shoes to fill because he was awesome. Ugo going was fantastic. So, but Albert, welcome aboard. We know you're going to do great things. Uh I I just wanted to echo some of the sentiments that uh Judge O'Hara talked about in terms of the Typton. had known Tai for many years and you wouldn't have
met a more u humble uh generous loving uh passionate guy and so I loved uh all my interactions with Tai uh he loved this country he loved this state he loved his family everything that's good about what we see in Texans uh was
embodied in Tai and so I I want to extend my condolences to to Ron and Todd uh during this difficult time I know uh Tai's in a much better place uh he's free from any pain or sickness or illness that that he may have had before going home. And so we're grateful that he's with the Savior, but um I know that
it's still difficult down here. And so um I want to express my condolences and also wish a happy early uh 249th birthday uh to America uh as we uh celebrate Independence Day this week. Um we've had a long run and our country is I would not want to be in any other
country uh in this world than America. I wouldn't be in any other state than Texas uh in this great country and no county other than Taran County in this great state in this great country. And so I think uh we don't want to take it for granted the uh freedoms and liberties that we have here in America.
And so uh hopefully you'll join our family and many others as we uh celebrate heartily uh this July 4th knowing that uh our forefathers blood uh blood, sweat, and tears gave us these freedoms and liberties and we need to pass them on to the next generation. So, happy early birthday to America. Uh,
yeah. Is is Tai Todd's only brother? Yes. Okay. I met him as when I went to visit Todd in the hospital and I walked in the room and he just embraced me and
said, "Commissioner Simmons, come here. I have some stuff to talk to you about." He was delightful. Um, he made sure his father knew who I was. I spent so much time talking to Tai and the dad and Todd got uh shot on the
day that his mother uh the date that his mother passed and so it was uh an emotional day and the dad told me that whole story and it just Ty was he was just warm. He was and u so I said I got to go talk to your brother can't stay
here talking to you. So, oh my goodness. My condolences to to That's right. That's time. Got anything? Okay. All right. That's uh that's it for I'm sorry. One uh late request if we could remove K3 from consent also.
Goes into regular or it's off altogether? Uh it goes into individual consideration. [Applause] Okay. Thank you. All right. Now, it's time for employee recognition. So, we obviously have a lot of
resolutions here. We always want to make sure we honor our employees who have given so much of themselves to make Tarant County a better place to live. Uh for those who are uh present, I'll group
of 5 year, 10 year, 15, 20, and then we individually recognize those 25 and above. So, if I call your name, uh please stand. We'll do the five years first. My gosh. Either my eyes are getting worse or y'all making this smaller. What are y'all doing?
Seriously. He's right. All right. Five year. Eric Abrams Jr. Josiah Brian Carolina Casillas Edward Cotton Jr.
Eric Davis II, J. Patrick Gallagher, Judge Gallagher. Hi, Judge. Vanessa Gandara, Kashif Hussein, Zylina Jefferson,
Gloramar Lugo Ortiz, Bianca Ortiz, Alicia Robersonson, Jason Rosenquist. Hi, Jason. Bryant Thomas,
my TR, Adrien Vasquez, Cecilia Webb, and Briana Williams. Thank you all very much for 5 years. We appreciate you. [Music] All
right. Now we go to our tenure employees. Uh Erica Fitchet. Hi Erica. Roberto Gonzalez III. Hi Roberto. Kristen Hammonds. Jennifer Jennison.
Denise Montalvo, Brittany Noah, Joanie, is it Olant? Is that how you pronounce it? Yeah. Are you related to Timothy? No, different spelling. Uh, Zayn Reed, Rosa Rojos Lea.
Hi. Uh, let's give all of them a round of applause. Thank you for sending. All right. Now we go to our 15year employees. Uh James Birdwell, Jordan Mason, Bradley Phelps,
Timothy Roberson, and Sheila Young. There's always one group. Uh, let's give them a round of applause for 15. All right. Now, we go to our 20-year employees.
Pascal Oavda, Moses Garza, Helen Geese. Hey, Hel. Uh, Marlene Martinez, Calvin Palmer, Teresa Smith,
Terrence Taylor, and Samantha Vargas. Two decades with Taran County. Thank you all very much. [Music] Many of the employees here watch commissioner court meetings from uh from
their computers. So uh for those of you that are doing that, thank you for your service even though you're not here with us today. All right. Now we go to the 25 year folks. Uh is Jana Msina here? Uh hello there. How are you? So she's been with us 25
years. She's a detention officer born in Taft, Texas. Went to Eagleside High School. She has Wow. She has five boys. Yeah, I I learned it for her. So, fact no one knows about her. She
likes to write poetry. Uh she likes to shop and she's been a detention officer in both housing and inmate services. Um, her most memorable moment is just the time she spent in inmate services and watching people uh
whose lives were turned around, which is great. What she likes the most, the people she works with. They have become her family. Uh, Jana, thank you so much for your 25 years of service to Taran County. All right. Uh, I don't have any form on him, but Christopher Cochran, are you
here? Okay. Well, he has served in the sheriff's office also for 25 years. So, Mr. Cochran, if you're watching, thank you. We appreciate two and a half decades of service to the great people of Tarant County. Let's give him a round of applause.
Uh, Ava Sherwin. Is Ava here? Okay, we didn't get a form from Ava, but also 25 years with CSC. Um, thank you, Ava. We greatly appreciate you and your 25 years. Okay. Shelley Brazzle, are you here?
Shelly, hi there. How are you? 25 years. She is a court intake officer in juvenile services. Born in Big Spring, uh went to Big Spring High School, uh college, Angelo State University. She's a Ram. Uh
fact, no one knows about her. If she said it, then everyone would know. I like it. what she likes to do for fun. She likes to watch sports and movies. She likes to go to concerts. Enjoys spending time with family and friends. What's the last concert you went to? Oh gosh. Um
I couldn't I can't Well, you must not love it that much. So, or she loves it so much. There's so many of them. Um other jobs she's had with the county detention intake officer and juvenile services. too many memorable moments to
list and uh what she likes the most about the job is the people she works with most of the time. So thank you very much Shel for your 25 years of service. We appreciate [Music]
All right. Next we have Mark Sullivan. Oh there you are Mark. I didn't see you earlier. Uh Mark brought his fan club. Good. Um 25 years of service. He's the court administr administrator in probate court number one. And born uh in Motor City, Detroit, Michigan. Uh went to high
school Birmingham Groves in Southfield, Michigan. And then uh and Mark is a lawyer. He went to the University of Michigan undergrad and Baylor University School of Law. Um no kids, just Labrador Retrievers. Uh how many of those? Two. Two. That's plenty, isn't it? Um in
fact, no one knows about him. He has white water rafted as far north as the Nana River in Alaska and as far south as a as the Yurim Baba River in Peru. That's pretty cool. Wow. Um what he likes to do for fun, play golf, travel,
read, attend movies and concerts. Not going to ask. And play with or do you remember he wants to say? I can tell. Okay, there we go. Uh and when did he last come around? Last year. Was that last year? Okay. and he likes to play with his dogs. Um,
other other job titles he's had with the county, none, but not for want of trying. And, uh, my most memorable moment, being sued multiple times by one of the wards along with Judge King, Jerry
Jones, Kim Jong-un, and scores of other individuals and entities in a variety of state and federal courts. Interesting company. and what he likes the most. Taking the 17 years of lessons in law and professionalism learned from Judge Steve King and sharing them to
make the operation of his court predictable, reliable, and less of a burden for the citizens of Tarant County coming before them. Uh Mark, thank you very much for your 25 years. We greatly appreciate you. [Music]
Next, we have Diane Duran. Is Diane here? Hi Diane. Uh 25 years with us. Uh she's a legal secretary in the DA protective order unit. Born in Fort Worth. I went to Diamond Hill Jarvis. Uh went to Tarant County Junior
College. Uh her and her husband have seven children, 19 grandkids, and seven great grand. You don't look old enough to have that many great grandkids or even even great grandkids at all. Um she likes to go to yard sales, thrifting. She also likes to make blankets for all
the new babies in our family. That's a full-time job. And it's a tradition her mother started years ago. Very cool. Uh other job titles she's had with the county records clerk, district clerk, um basement of the old courthouse that has since been demolished, and associate and
administrative clerk in the district clerk's office. Uh most memorable moment was the day her supervisor, Cruz Hernandez, from the records department called to tell her she was hired to work for Tarant County. And uh this is just a theme that's repeated over and over, which I think is a testament to many
people that came before those of us sitting up here. What she likes the most, her co-workers, she considers them family. So thank you, Diane, for your 25 years. We appreciate you. [Music] All right. Is Larry Christian with us?
Uh how are you, sir? I We didn't get a form for you, but 25 years you're in precinct 4. anything you like you'd like to chime in? Yeah, I'll say this. So, Larry retired uh a couple months back and he walks into the office this morning very very tan. I don't remember that tan when you were working hard for
the assistant. Now, he's got that retirement tan. Larry was an incredible leader. Uh our assistant field options director out there in precinct 4. Um one of the best in the business when it comes to maintaining building our roads. And as he reminds everybody out in the shop, and I remind our folks that are
out there doing that good work, quite literally, we're paving the roads that our families use to get to the doctor, to get to school. Your job is important, and we appreciate what you've done for 25 years, Larry. Thank you. [Music]
Uh, next we have Paul Rojos. This is this is we're skipping over 30 years. This is 35 years. That's incredible. Oh. Um, so he is an error resolution deputy in the sheriff's office, obviously. Uh, this is kind of cool. Born in Caracus,
Venezuela. How when did you move to America? 78. I'm not going to ask you when you were born. So, um, high school Claude uh, High School in Claude, Texas. Graduated 1979. Um, Tarant, this is cool. Tarant
County College Associate of Arts 2024. Uh very cool. Yeah. Um Wow. Two children and uh what he likes to do for fun is just be with family. Um other job titles he's had with the county jailer, ID
officer in jail booking, warrant profiler, and warrants. And what he likes to do the most is travel and experience new places. Uh 35 years and still learning going to college. That's awesome. Thank you very much, Paul, for your 35 years of service. chair
[Music] and Paul Sites. Uh, how are you Paul? Hey, also 35 years and he is in support services procurement. Born in Dallas, also went to Fort Worth Dunar High School. How
many state basketball titles did they win when you were there? Yeah. um went to college at Texas Southern. Uh has two daughters and two wonderful grandsons. Um loves to help others.
What he likes to do for fun, drag race, hopefully not illegal street drag racing, football and basketball, and other job titles he has had with county detention officer. and uh his most memorable
moment was retiring in 2014 after 27 years of service and and returning in 2016 to continue serving the community he lives in. And what he likes the most is working with his co-workers. Uh Paul, thank you so much for 35 years of
service with Tarant County Sheriff's Office in our county. We appreciate you very much. [Music] Okay. And last but not least, uh she is not here. She is on vacation. Uh Lisa
Silski, uh with human services, 40 years of service to Tarant County, four decades. Uh literally started working for Tarant County before Commissioner Ramirez was born to put that in perspective.
I mean, so Lisa, I hope you're not watching this while on vacation, but if you ever go back and watch it, let's give her a big big round of applause. [Music] [Applause]
All right, I will make a motion to receive and file the employee recognition. We have a second. Uh, any discussion? All right, please cast your vote. All right, passes 5 to zero. And as usual, we have a reception for all of our uh
employees who are recognized today on the fourth floor. So, uh you're welcome to stay, of course, as always. But if you'd like to leave now, uh you're welcome to do so and go down there and and uh enjoy the refreshments and hey, stay out a while. Enjoy yourself. You've earned it. Yeah. Uh we'll take a minute
or so while they leave before we resume the meeting. [Music] Heat. Heat. Okay. All right. The next proclamation is a proclamation uh for Alzheimer's and
Brain Awareness Month. And uh Brenda Shulesworth uh is here. She's the executive director from the Alzheimer's Association North Central Texas chapter. Allow me to read this proclamation. Uh the month of June is acknowledged as
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Alzheimer's disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss in the brain, which slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually limiting the ability to carry out daily tasks. Alzheimer's is the most
common type of dementia, and the fifth leading cause of death in Tarant County, resulting in 664 deaths in 2023. Simple daily actions such as prioritizing sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise can make a positive difference in brain health and lower the
risk of cognitive decline. Staying mentally and socially active by learning a new skill, adopting a new hobby, or seeking more education is key to brain health. Uh we stand united in our commitment to reduce the negative impact of Alzheimer's and other dementias in Tarant County and thank the numerous
nonprofits, medical providers, and caregivers who assist those who face cognitive decline. Uh therefore, we resolve we the Commission Court of Taran County to hereby proclaim June 2025 as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in Tarant County. I'll move approval. Second, second. All right. Any
discussion? All right. Please cast your vote. All right. That passes unanimously. Let me present this to you. [Applause] judge over here. Thank you so much for this opportunity and commissioners.
Thank you. Really appreciate Commissioner Miles the partnership that we have with you and formerly with Commissioner Brooks. We look forward to being with you on the 23rd of August. We are striving for a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. I chose to engage with this organization for personal reasons. My father passed
away with frontal temporal dementia, my mother with latestage Parkinson's disease, and we will find a cure together, but we're all going to have to join together. We appreciate the support of Tarant County. Three things are going to help us find a cure for this disease. One is research, and much research
happens right here in Tarant County. The second thing is risk reduction and early detection. what we can do daily to decrease the chances of having this disease by simple things like diet and exercise can decrease the risk by 40 to 60%. And then the third thing is care
and support and the Alzheimer's Association is with you 24/7 through our online website and also through our helpline. So, thank you again for declaring June 2025 Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. We appreciate it
greatly. Thank you. I I I have a question for you and I'm I'm just curious. You know, people that are around our age, we did not see this nearly as much as we see it today. It seems to be all over. Uh do we do we know what's causing
it? Are there theories that we believe it's this or that? Do we know why it seems to be so prevalent today? I think part of it is that research has come a long way. We are we are research is at lightning speed right now. this is the right time to be researching Alzheimer's
and brain and brain health. I think about the scientists that spent their whole careers and never had a breakthrough and now we are getting at the bi the underlying biology. Scientists found ways to treat symptoms but now that they can see what is happening in the brain but the brain is
tricky and every time we learn something about the brain we find something else that we did not even know existed. So I think part of it is just that research is more sophisticated, communication is more sophisticated and we talk about it more and that is something when you
think about risk reduction and early detection, it was something that was secret in my family even 15 years ago and the more we are willing to say you know what something is wrong with my brother or something is wrong with my dad and getting to the doctor and in
partnership finding out what is wrong that is the way we get to a diagnosis earlier which right now the early diagnosis is the only road to effective treatment that treat the biology. Thank you for the work you do. We appreciate it.
[Music] Uh next we have a proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Uh, with us today are Sheri Bulock, Amanda Sutherland, and Nissa Muhammad with Adult Protective Services, Lynn Scott, Lindseay Stanley,
and Dana Hoffman with Guardianship Services, Inc. and Texas Elder Justice Coalition, and Eureka Pinkney and Jennifer Riggs with Tarant County APS Community Board. Uh, for those of you who have made it, I will ask you to come forward. Um, this here's this
proclamation. Um, the month of June is acknowledged as elder abuse awareness month, helping prevent the abuse and neglect of older adults. As those who pave way before us, members of Tarant County's elderly population deserve our respect, care, and protection. As we age, we grow in knowledge,
experience, insight, and wisdom, which enrich which enriches our communities. There were 123,852 reports of abuse towards older adults and people with disabilities in Texas in 2024. Taran County seniors deserve to live
with dignity knowing they're safe. Taran County takes seriously the risk to our older residents who may be victims of neglect or subject to financial, emotional, or physical abuse. Raising awareness about elder abuse enhances our community's ability to recognize the signs, understand the impact, and take
action to prevent, report, and address elder abuse. We stand united in our commitment to ensure the safety and security of older adults, support victims of elder abuse, and hold abusers accountable. Uh now therefore be resolved with the Commissioner Court of Tarant County to hereby proclaim June 2025 as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in
Tarant County. And I'll move to approve. Second. We have a motion to second. Any discussion? All right. Please cast your vote. Okay. It passes unanimously. And I just as I bring this down here, I want to commend uh our DA's office and our sheriff's office because they do a lot
of work to try to raise awareness about elder abuse, to protect our elders, and to prosecute those who will take advantage of them. So, let me bring this to you ladies. How's everybody? [Music] [Music]
Just thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To General O'Hara and the county commissioners, we want to thank you so much for your support of adult protective services and our mission in the community to protect older adults
ages 65 years or older or 18 to 64 years of age with a substantial impairment by providing resources to prevent or alleviate malreatment. We appreciate all of our partnerships in the community, specifically with Commissioner Simmons. We've done a lot in the community to
bring awareness to adult protect uh to adult protective services and the resources that we offer as well as um Commissioner Miles. So, we want to continue to build these partnerships in order to protect the most vulnerable citizens of Tarant County. Tarant County proclaiming June as elder abuse
awareness month brings awareness to abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. But it also brings awareness to the resources and the community partnerships that we have that can help to prevent um abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
That way we can foster and prevent these things from happening by fostering better partnerships. So we appreciate your partnership. We appreciate this proclamation. Standing with me, like uh Judge O'Hare mentioned, are many of our community partners who we work closely with, including the DA's office, in
order to prosecute those people who take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens. So again, we thank you. And if anyone feels that someone is in a state of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, please reach out to adult protective services. Our number for the
record is 1 800-252-5400 and it is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Um, and I also have uh handouts if anyone would like one. Thank you again, Judge O'Hare and the commissioners. Thank you ladies for the work you do. appreciate.
[Music] Okay, this next resolution, um, Byron Nelson High School suddenly lost their head football coach, Travis Pride, a little while back. And, uh, just a personal story, my dad left when
I was like 6 months old. So, I didn't have much of a father figure. I had an uncle that tried to help, but the the people that that I looked up to and kind of where I got fatherly parenting and guidance from were coaches and that was
junior high, high school, college. And so, there's a special place in my heart for coaches. But when I was reading about Coach Pride and the outpouring of support for him and how many people loved him and how many people he seemed to touch in every community he went in, uh, such a tragic situation. I just I
wanted to honor him and his family. So, uh with us today is his wife Christy, his children Colt, Brody, and uh Ray Lee, and uh I know of also his uh sister uh
Robin. And uh I would just like to ask them to come forward here to the podium. And anyone that that is here to support Coach Pride's family, please come forward as well. Uh, Taran County just wants to honor your family and a good
man that uh that meant a lot to a lot of children. Uh, we know he's no longer with us here, but we know that your family will see him again. So, let me read this resolution honoring the life and legacy of Coach Travis Pride. We
honor the remarkable life and legacy of coach Travis Pride, a man of deep faith, unwavering integrity, and selfless leadership whose influence continues to shape the lives of students, colleagues, and families throughout Tarant County. For nearly a decade at Byron Nelson High School, Coach Pride led with heart and humility, building one of the top 6A
football programs in the DFW area while fostering a culture of excellence and respect. His impact extended far beyond the field as a trusted mentor, role model, and advocate for all students, always putting other people first. His decades of coaching, including roles at
Witchaw Falls High School, Mansfield Summit High School, and state championship teams at South Lake Carroll High School, reflect a career rooted in distinction, purpose, and service. Coach Pride lived out his Christian faith daily, modeling servant leadership and leaving a lasting imprint on all who
knew him. He is loving lovingly remembered by his wife Christy, children Colt, Brody, and Raleley, his parents, and a wide circle of students, friends, and Northwest ISD colleague colleagues whose lives he touched. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the
Commissioner's Court of Tarant County, do hereby honor and recognize the life and legacy of faith, leadership, and love left by Coach Travis Pride. And I will now make a motion second to adopt that resolution. Thank
you. Uh any discussion uh please weigh in now. If not sir just for this precious family as he was sharing the story about your loved one this passage of scripture came to me and I thought I would just share it with you to give you
some hope. Revelations 14, the 13th verse says, "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works follow them." You are a reflection of your loved one and the host of people's lives whom he's
touched are those works and they live on through all of them until we meet him again when we are at the great banquet table celebrating together. We're praying for you. We love you. God bless you. Amen.
And please uh cast your votes now. kind of followed him wherever he went after that. And just on behalf of his family, his friends, uh the coaching staff at Byron Nelson and the countless lives that he he touched, we wanted to uh thank you, Judge, and the
commissioners for uh recognizing a wife or a life well-lived. Um and thank you for your continued support through this. And if anyone has a free Friday night this fall, we would love to see you out anyway. Thank you. Thank you.
[Applause] All right. Our next proclamation is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Halum City. With us today is Dr. An
Truong, the mayor of Halum City, city council members Lynn Thompson, Troy Dunn, Dana Kaufman, and Kyle Hance, and city manager Rex Phelps. I'm going to ask all of you to come forward and allow me to read this proclamation. I guess
I'm going again commemorating the 75th anniversary of Halum City. The city of Halum City, Texas, marks its 75th anniversary on July 3rd, 2025. That would be Thursday. The Halum City area started as Birdville, originally the county seat of Tarant County. A lot of people didn't know that. After losing
the county seat, the residents and businesses showed steadfast character by maintaining a thriving and growing community, becoming Halum Village in 1932, incorporating in 1949 and eventually merging with Old Nol in 1950. Halum City's growth has included a new city
hall, police facility, fire station, senior center, updated infrastructure, and a recently renovated Signature North Park. In celebration of the momentous anniversary, Halum City reopened the Signature North Park in June, providing residents with open green space, a 4acre fishing pond, walking trails, a disc
golf course, and more. Halum City boasts 3,400 businesses, and continued development, including the Midway Logistics Industrial Park. Halum City will soon be home to a 45,000 foot pickle ball facility, Taran County's
first HMart, which will be a huge economic boom for Halum City, and a new live music venue. Halum City started as a population of 3,000 in 1950 and is now approaching 50,000 residents. Halum City is a pivotal community in Tarant County, exemplifying economic growth and a
spirit of resilience. Now therefore be it resolved that we the commissioner court of Taran County do hereby recognize the 75th anniversary of the city of Halum City and I move approval. Second. Second. All right. Any discussion? Judge I'll just say it's an honor to have Halum City a great thriving city
who's doing great and better things all the time part of precinct 3. So uh excited to work with y'all as y'all continue to grow. We want to help you grow along uh right there with the aspiration. So congratulations and it's an honor to have you here today. All right. And I will say uh for Mayor
Trump's sake, he was a Fort Worth police officer and he was also a Taran County District ADA. Um and then their city manager Rex has also been an incredible partner for precinct 4 and we have a uh phenomenal relationship and we look forward to seeing the growth of Alam
City in the future. So congratulations on 75 years. We welcome the next 75. Congratulations. Congratulations. All right. Please cast your vote. All right, this one passes unanimously and let me present this to you, Mayor.
the future. All right. All right. Fresh smile. Thank you. [Music] Good morning. 75 years ago, I were a two years old boy from Vietnam.
And uh 1970, I come to America. I rushed from US Air Force at a fight to pilot during Vietnam war. I got shut down several time but still alive. Come to United States you know after many time I do a different job and finally I land
with forward PD academy and work with the commissioner Ramirez and after that I work for district 28.7 happy at the DA investigator and uh finally I don't know why I become
politician you know because we state of Texas and uh thank you so much for proclamation. This promotion make a lot mean a lot of form city and uh everything you said I'm not doing alone
we are the team work. Mhm. I would like to introduce our mayor pan north cooper deputy mayor housing and councel Thompson Troy and especially
uh this guy he uh joined me we build a heart of city you know at we are now hot city were little mini town and nobody know who we are now we have hm and one more Um, judge, commissioner,
and ladies, gentlemen, thank you so much for this proclamation. This will be in our city hall. I just I have two questions for you. Yes, sir. Did you Is it Hmark named after Halam City? And did y'all post notice of this
meeting? That's what I want to know. So, thank you all very much. We appreciate it. Let's give them a round of applause. [Music] Okay, as proclamation and resolutions continue, next up is a resolution
recognition of Junth, 2025. Good morning and thank you, judge, and commissioners and attendees. Um, I'm going to read this resolution into the record and ask for its ratification.
resolution in recognition of Junth, 2025. Whereas on June 19th, 1865, 2 and 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation,
Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were freed. an event now commemorated as Junth.
And whereas Junth is a day of profound significance in American history, a day to reflect on the end of slavery and to celebrate the promise of freedom and the ongoing struggle for equality and
justice for all. And whereas the journey from emancipation to full equality has been marked by perseverance, resilience, and an unyielding demand for the rights and dignities afforded to all
citizens. A journey that continues to this day. And whereas Taran County is home to a vibrant and diverse African-American community that has enriched our county's
cultural, social, and economic fabric through its countless contributions in the arts, education, business, public service, and every field of endeavor.
And whereas we honor the legacy of Fort Worth's own Dr. Opel Lee whose tireless advocacy and symbolic walk to Washington DC brought national attention to this historic day and was instrumental in
Junth being recognized as a federal holiday reminding us that the pursuit of freedom is a cause that unites us all. And whereas Tarant County is a majority minority county and is committed to
upholding the principles of equity, representation, and justice that are at the heart of the Junth commemoration. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant
County, Texas, do hereby recognize and celebrate Junth and encourage all citizens of Taran County to acknowledge the contributions of African-Americans during Junth and throughout the year. In witness whereof, we have here unto set
our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this first day of July 2025. Thank you. Is that a motion? Motion. Yes. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Go ahead. Go ahead. Although this is after Junth, the mission, the heart, and the passion of Junth lives on every day that we're on top of this great earth. And I want
to celebrate our very own trailblazer, Dr. Opale Lee, for all of her tireless efforts to make Junth a federal holiday. Let's give it up for Dr. Op. [Music] And lastly, in the words of Dr. Opie,
no one is free until we all are free. Thank you. So, I've got one thing. So, I had no idea um what Junth was until I was a young patrol officer working the east side of Fort Worth and I was driving out, I think, Rosedale. I was
driving down the road and there's a little house and it had a sign on the front uh fence that said Junth Museum or Junth exhibit. I drove past said what in the heck is that? Midnight when I drove past first time I ever saw it. I get back to the sector and I asked my
sergeant I said why what is Junth? What is that house? Who lives there? What what is that? And then he explained a little bit about it and then he explained hopeully. I mean because this was hey 16 years ago. Yeah. And uh in any case,
from just awareness of what it was, the historical event that it was uh in springboarding it ahead just 16 years ago, considering I had no idea what it was, right? And a house on East Side Fort Worth is the first time that I saw it. So just a a remarkable story and
that's where it began with Dr. Opal Lee taking it all the way to Washington DC to get this uh commemoration. So big thing for Fort Worth to have more certainty. Absolutely. Yeah. Well, I was just going to say it always every year it's just a great reminder. 2 and 1/2
years it took to get that message of the Emancipation Proclamation. That's right. To Galveston. It's incredible to me. And so I think this is absolutely something worth celebrating, something worth remembering. Um it it is a it was a great day in American history. We need to continue to remember that every year.
So thank you both commissioners for bringing that resolution. This is a uh a great time of celebration we need to remember every year. So, thank you for doing it. Thank you all. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All right, please cast your vote.
Passes unanimously. Is there anybody here? No. Okay. All right. Next uh resolution is recognizing the community impact of safe families for children in DFW in Tarant County. Commissioner Simmons. Thank you. Yes. I would like to
offer this resolution. Um, I I at my very first meeting with the Arlington Ministerial Association shortly after I took office, I met uh several pastors, but uh Pastor Greg Key,
and he talked to me about Safe Families for Children and uh put me in touch immediately with the chapter director who happens to be his wife. And so we
have we have uh in precinct 2 supported the work that they do uh with keeping hopefully keeping children out of foster care. And so I'd like to take this opportunity to uh recognize them today
with this resolution. Whereas Safe Families for Children, DFW, engages churches in Tarant County and in North Texas in a movement to reduce poverty, prevent children from entering
foster care and keep families intact. And whereas safe families beliefs are rooted in faith and they are based on three foundational values. radical hospitality
disrupted generosity and intentional compassion. And whereas Safe Families leaders, including chapter director Lorie Key, work continuously to recruit compassionate individuals to support
parents on the brink of having their children removed and placed in child protective services. And whereas research shows that children who uh remain with their birth families despite having marginal parents fare better than
those forcibly removed and to experience the placement disruption of foster care. Whereas Safe Families for Children has impacted 39 households and 103 children
since its launch in 2019. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Taran County Commissioner's Court, do hereby call upon all healthy families to support Safe Families for Children by donating to the organization,
considering becoming a safe family, hosting a family, becoming a family friend, or a family coach. And um in witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be affixed this first day of
July 2025. I move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this item? All right. Please cast your vote. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Pastor Lorie Key, chapter director is here.
Pastor Greg Key, Jennifer Murio, and uh Anna Ericson. And did Rosanna show up? She was in overflow. Okay. So, come on up and let me present this to you guys and then you can make
some comments. Thank you. And you have gifts. Thank you. Thank you. I saw everybody else up. These are my friends. I didn't talk to
them. Kind of crazy. There you go. Congratulations. All right. [Applause] She's going to help Good morning, judge and commissioners, honored guests, partners, and friends. Good morning. On behalf of Safe Families
for Children, DFW, I am Lori Key and I am the chapter director at um Taran County in North Texas. I stand before you deeply humbled and grateful to receive this resolution. An honor that recognizes not not just the work of this
chapter, but the extraordinary courage of the families that we serve. This resolution is for the brave parents who make courageous decisions every day. Parents who choose to ask for help, who make sacrifices, who stay in the fight together no matter
how heavy the burden is. It is for the children whose children whose resilience and hope inspire us all to keep showing up and standing in the gap when life gets hard. More than 20 years ago, our founder, Dr. David Anderson, stepped
into the unknown land of family preservation with a bold vision. What if the church and community could open their homes and hearts and pre to prevent children from ever entering foster care? He and hearts to prevent children from
ever entering foster care. He didn't just dream it, he built it. Today, because of that pioneering vision, there are now over a 100 chapters across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Neighbors standing in the gap for
families in crisis before it turns into separation. In 2019, that vision took root here in Taran County through the pioneering leadership of Eric Erica Anna Ericson and Katie Weathers who saw the families on the edge in our community and chose
to build a local foundation, compassion and prevention. As a small as a small and growing chapter, we pressed in and served families even through the pandemic. When doors were closed and the world felt uncertain, our volunteers
went to the families. We showed up on doorsteps, on porches, and hotels, bringing hope, groceries, diapers, prayers, and a reminder that no family walks alone. We persevered through the challenges that come with planting something new.
We faced all the growing pains, building trust, stretching limited resources, and laying a strong foundation in the hardest of times. Yet go yet by God's grace and through the faithfulness of committed volunteers, we endured,
adapted, and grew because families needed us too. In 2022, I had the privilege to step in as the chapter director and continue to build on that foundation. expanding our reach, stretching, strengthening our infrastructure, cultivating strategic partnerships like
our protective homemaker services with our community, our kids, and anchoring everything we do in a spirit of excellence, openness, and integrity. Trust is the heartbeat of Safe Families for Children, DFW. It it is earned
through presence by showing up again and again for parents, children, volunteers, and our partners. And it is the trust and as and this is this trust is stewarded by our small and mighty team, our devoted part-time
staff, faithful interns, miracle working vistas, and our unstoppable leadership council. and the volunteers who serve tirelessly and endlessly to ensure every child, every parent, and every host family is supported. Together, we have
served over more than 200 families with practical preventive care, mobilized and equipped over and trained over a 100 volunteers to wrap around families with dignity and love. We developed poverty informed training so our volunteers serve wisely
and compassionately. implemented circle of support model and we have built systems to remain accountable. Thank you commissioners. Thank you judge. Thank you my friend. Thank you for your work. Yeah. May this resolution
not only celebrate where we've been but call us all forward reminding us when the church and community come together families stay together. Thank you. And may God bless our families, our children that this air, this Tarant County that
we call home. Thank you. Thank you. Now, we have a resolution honoring Amanda Jane, Arizona for her groundbreaking service on the Tarant County Hospital District Board of Managers, Commissioner Simmons. So, I am losing another rock star, but uh in the
form of uh my Tarant County uh board appointee uh I'm sorry, Tarant County uh JPS hospital district board appointee um Amanda Arizona. So, I have this
resolution. Is she okay? There you are. Whereas the Taran County Hospital District Board of Managers was formed with a mission to transform health care delivery to Taran County communities and with a vision to become a national leader leader in improving patient
experiences, medical outcomes, and access to care. And whereas two of the values of Tarant County Hospital District's board of managers are mutual respect, which includes honoring the ideas, beliefs,
and diversity of others, and excellence, which includes striving to exceed expectations by establishing high standards of performance. And whereas Amanda Jane Arisola was appointed in February 2019
to serve on the hospital district board of managers, the first Latina to serve in this capacity. She has upheld these values by advocating for expanded medical access and for dignity and culture fluency in healthc care service
delivery. And whereas Amanda has served as chairwoman of the human resources committee and has advanced bilingual service delivery, supported patient centered policy reforms, and helped in hiring key leaders at J. John Peter
Smith Hospital. And whereas during her tenure, Miss Arisola also co-chared the quality committee where she strengthened JPS's commitment to indigent families and lowincome patients. And through her
unwavering service, Amanda has left an enduring legacy that will continue to shape the future of public health in Tarant County. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant County, Texas, do hereby honor
Amanda Jane, Arizona's groundbreaking service on the Tarant County Hospital District Board of Managers. In witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and cause the seal of Tarant County to be affixed this first day of July, 2025.
I move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right. Please cast your vote. All right, passes unanimously. [Applause] It's my community. [Music]
[Music] Thank you so much. Um, thank you Commissioner Simmons for allowing me to serve as the first vice chair and being a vice chair for the hospital. JPS is a big part of my life. It has I, you know,
fourth generation Fort Worth and sixth generation Texan. Uh, our health care system is important to all of us. JPS, even though I'm not a JPS baby, I got there as quick as I could. Um, you know, our patients are amazing. Uh, they come from all over. Uh, the work of our
members often goes unseen. Um, for the time that they put in. I'm grateful to all of our board members, current and past, for the work that we did. We came through a global pandemic and JPS came out as a number one hospital through
that time and moving forward. Our staff from our contracted environmental services workers to our tax, our nurses, our doctors, everybody in between and our executive staff. During the time that we talked about contract services,
we talked about livable wage and making sure that even our contract services were paying a livable wage to each one of our employees. Uh 7,600 employees. Um we're the third largest employer in Taran County. It is amazing the way that
JPS runs and moves through. Is there room for improvement? Always. However, we do love what we see and what we do. It is important that we continue that service. I also want to thank um the former commissioner Deon Allen for
recognizing that there is a missing link and voice to our community and seeing and filling that particular void. I for the children of y'all to look and see at that board level and see the representation that's needed on that community. I am a JPS patient. My
doctor's at JPS. My sister is JPS patient. Um, I ask if y'all are JPS patients. Who in here is a JPS patient? My mother spent the last two years of her life in and out of the hospital. Um, going through several different illnesses. It was a very different
hospital then than it is now. I look at our community and I ask them, please continue to continue to pay JPS as that safe harbor for individuals who need specific healthcare healthcare access.
healthcare access is right and that continues to go through and especially for our Latino community and being here and making sure that they feel safe. That was our mission all the time and making sure that all communities feel safe and have full access to the
life-saving treatments that are needed. So I continue to say let's go ahead and continue to fund JPS at full capacity. [Music] Thank you. [Music]
Next up, we have a proclamation honoring the Great Vine Police Department and Texas Game Warden Tristan Pakornney for exemplary service in the aftermath of the tragic death of Ava Moore. Commissioner Krauss. Yes, thank you, Judge. Uh many of you remember uh the
end of May, uh Ava Moore, 18-year-old uh Air Force Academy appointee, uh tragically lost her life. uh she was kayaking, hit by uh hit by somebody and and died due to those injuries. And so uh it was incredibly tragic. And so we were talking in our office, a great way
to remember her. Uh she had her whole life in front of her, but we uh we wanted to make sure she was memorialized. And as we talked about it, we started looking into the circumstances surrounding it and just the heroic efforts really of the Great Vine uh Police Department and our Texas
game wardens in bringing uh the perpetrator uh who took Ava's life uh to justice. And so the more we talked about it, we want to remember Ava's life, but we also really wanted to thank and appreciate and show appreciation to our law enforcement uh agencies that do such
great work day in and day out. uh that goes for our sheriff's uh department, that goes for our local law enforcement associations like Grapevine, and our state partners like DPS and the the Texas game wardens. And so uh we wanted to honor them today for their incredible work uh not just for what they did in
this one particular case with Ava Moore, but what they do on a daily basis, not only to keep us safe, but to bring justice to families affected by crime. And so that's why we wanted to recognize them today. I'm not going to read the entire proclamation. I did want to read the part about Ava Moore so we get that
into the record. Uh that Ava Moore, a recent appointee to the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, embodied the spirit of service, excellence, and promise. And her memory will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew her and loved her. And so to
the family of Ava Moore, we want to continue to express our condolences and thank you for raising such an exceptional young woman who in 18 years put more uh into life than many do uh who live far far longer. And so we want to remember her and then I'll I'll read
the last little part uh for our uh law enforcement agencies as well. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Taran County Commissioner's Court hereby honors and extends its deepest gratitude to Greatvine Police Detectives Nicole Johnson and Joel Mohler along with Texas
game warden Tristan Pokery for their outstanding dedication and swift actions in the pursuit of justice for Ava Moore. Be it further resolved that their efforts serve as a shining example of the courage and compassion that define the very best in law enforcement. Their commitment is a true blessing to our
community and the state of Texas. And today we have with us from the Great Vine Police Department, we have Captain Wade Easley, Detective Nicole Johnson, Sergeant Sham Sam Shimwell, Captain Ronnie Gutierrez, and
Captain Clay Gibney. And with our victim's advocate service, we have Michaela Moore. And then with the Texas game wardens, we have Tristan Cody Poconer and Captain Joseph Quantero. If all of you would come to the front, we'd love to present you with these
proclamations. And I move to approve the discussion. Please cast your votes. All right, passes unanimously. [Music] I got one for the game board and one for
the All right, here we go. Thank you. Appcate. Thank you. [Applause]
[Music] Okay, our last proclamation. I'm not sure how you guys drew the short end of the stick here, but uh Great Vine High School baseball team on another state championship. Incredible. Commissioner Krauss. Thank you, uh, judge. And, uh, yes, thank you, uh, coaches for, for
being patient through all this. We wanted to take a a moment to recognize some of the athletic achievements in precinct 3. It's hard enough to win a state championship. We've recognized some state champions and uh, on incredible seasons and kind of catching lightning in a bottle. And it's incredible to uh, be a state champion
here in Texas, especially at the 5A level. Well, Gravine High School is not only a state champion, they are now a back-to back state champion. And so that means for two successive seasons, they've uh exemplified the epitome of excellence in all that they do. And you've got everybody gunning for you that next year, right, as as the
defending state champs. And so you got the best from everybody this year. Um but it didn't matter. Great Vine High School had an incredible season. Uh and and it starts with their leadership. And so we just wanted to take an opportunity to congratulate y'all uh in front of the entire commissioner's court and let Tarant County know what a great job
y'all are doing there in Gravine and that the student athletes have done. I'm not going to read this again. I won't waste your time on that. But we want you to know how proud we are of you and how uh exceptional your achievement is. And so we wanted to celebrate that today. So
today we have with us uh the head coach Jimmy Webster and the assistant coach Jason Washburn. So, if you guys would come up, uh, we will, uh, move adoption of this, uh, proclamation and and, uh, just thank you guys for a great season. All right, we have a motion to second.
Any discussion? All right, please cast your vote. All right, let's give him a big round of applause. [Music] just because everybody else spoke. Um I I I don't want to downplay what we do because I think it's very important
uh being a coach and a teacher and and I'm honored to be in that profession. Um but with the other proclamations and and the other things that have been said today, uh it's we're we're extremely honored uh by the people that uh were
directly in front of us and even the ones that preceded them. So to be included with all of that's a great honor. So thank you to the commissioner's board. We appreciate it. Thank you guys. Congrats again. Congrats. And coach, we look forward to the 3P
proclamation next year. Yes, sir. All right, that is quite a bit of proclaiming and resolving. So, uh, we are going to take a I guess a 10m minute recess. So, we'll be back in here at 11:37. We are now in
recess. Yeah. [Music] [Music] This is combination of water and green tea. Yeah. Yes, I've officially given up
zero. Yeah, I made them. Anything that's a new contract is usually not. That's probably what purchasing. That's why you see all the renewals on consent
with anything that's a new contract with a new award. They ask, [Music] you know, more than likely probably with glasses. Can I do that? Oh, yeah. I've seen those. You seen those? Yes. We do like this and it's two
different focus layers. influence. Wow. I have heard of that. All right, we are back from recess. Uh there was one speaker signed up for A6. That speaker has notified our office
they wish to be removed and do not want to speak. Therefore, A6 is going back to the consent agenda. Um, and with that, do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended? Move
approval. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Anybody? I will second it. Any discussion on the consent agenda as amended. All right, seeing none, please cast your vote.
Okay. Passes unanimously. All right. Now we have a public hearing on a proposed ordinance prohibiting solid waste disposal and processing in certain areas of Tarant County pursuant to health and safety code sections 363.112 and 364.012
of the Texas what? Health and safety code. Health and Safety Code. All right. So, this is a public hearing. Um, is there anyone here that has signed up to speak to this? Anyone wanting to speak to this? Is there something you would like to
add? No, sir. Okay. Uh, all right. Seeing none, do we have a motion to close the public hearing? Move to close public hearing. All right. We have a motion to close the public hearing. Do we have a second? Second. Motion to second. Any discussion? All right. Please cast your vote. Passes unanimously.
[Applause] Next item is consideration and possible action to approve a contract for legal services between Tarant County and the Public Interest Legal Foundation, Inc. Approval for approval. Sorry, microphone's off. All right, we have a motion and a second
to approve this item. Any discussion from the court before bringing speakers? Yes, sir. Back in April at the start of this redistricting, do one moment. Do I need to turn this 10-minute thing on for either of you? No. Okay. All right.
As I was saying back in April at the start of this redistricting process, I said clearly, every resident of Taran County deserves a redistricting process that is fair, transparent, and responsive to the people, not one rush behind closed doors. I warned that this
approach would lead us down a costly and unnecessary path. And now nearly 4 months later, we are facing the very lawsuit that many of us feared. And we are being asked to approve a $250,000 taxpayer funded contract for a law firm that played a role in the flawed
process. The Public Interest Legal Foundation was neither transparent with this court nor accessible to the public throughout the redistricting process. Residents asked questions and received no answers. Commissioners saw clarity and were met with silence.
That's not how public representation should work in my opinion. Additionally, there are numerous highly qualified law firms right here in Tarant County and across the state of Texas that could represent this court with professionalism and transparency.
Therefore, I cannot support this action. So, um, pill should should not be hired because it would violate the Texas legal ethics rule that um, an attorney cannot represent a party
in a case in which they will be a witness. pill certainly will be a witness with regard to information it gathered public comment it received and the drawing of
the maps including map 7. So in Texas, lawyers generally cannot act as both advocate and witness in the same legal proceeding due to the advocate witness rule. And this rule is found in uh Texas
rule of professional conduct 3.08. It prevents a lawyer from taking a case where they know or believe they will be a necessary witness for their client. Um, and really this is essentially
hiring the arsonist to put out the fire. Um, Phil doesn't work hard for the money uh that we're about to pay them, the the $30,000. They barely attended any community meetings. Hill refused
uh to make themselves available uh to answer questions the day of our vote. Um they don't work hard for the money. And you know, one example, another example
of that is their invoice. I wish I y'all could see this invoice uh from PIL. I'll I have copies for my colleagues. Um you know a third grader could have done
this invoice for her lemonade stand. You'll pass those down. It just says summary services rendered per agreement April through June 2025 date of invoice 617 total due $30,000.
Now I have another invoice that we've received from a law firm in one of our cases here. It is itemized like what what did you do? Look at this
telephone conference with [Applause] review statutory uh and case law applicable to damages. I mean it's and it has the name of the lawyer
or the parillegal or whom whomever this is a legal this is an invoice tell this is an invoice it's from a one of the vendors who whose uh contract
will approve today it's handwritten um but it's itemize. It breaks down labor details, hours during the week day week, hours on the weekend. Um,
this this is what this is what PL sent over. This is their invoice. 30,000. Give us $30,000. um paying PIL 250,000 is a waste of money because PIL will be
disqualified because they are likely witnesses in this redistricting case. Um there are as my colleague said highly qualified firms and lawyers right here in Taran County.
Not sure why the majority on this court is skipping over our Taran County law firms to give this contract to its ideological buddies. But hiring pil is an insult to the great lawyers right here. And finally, if the lawyer loses
the trust of their client, they can't effectively represent the client based on their refusal to provide straightforward and transparent communication when I've requested it. I don't trust bills. I do not consent to them representing me as a member of this
court. Um, we need a lawyer that all members of this commissioner's court can trust all of us. Um, thank you. All right. Any other comments? U question for Mark. I think Commissioner
Simmons brings up a valid concern. Uh I'm assuming that already with the contract the DA's office has already considered the possibility there may be a conflict. Uh it will be up to the lawyers if the court approves this to ensure that they
comply with the ethical rules and if they're unable to take the case make arrangements such that the county is represented pursuant to the contract. Yeah. My assumption in this in this in choosing this firm is that it was the least costly because they already have
familiarity with the process and as it was going to to come forward. You don't have to basically onboard a whole new firm to the process. But I mean when do you think that would be discovered? Um if there were a conflict or otherwise with with this specific firm, it would have to be something that's raised in
the course of the litigation and then there would have to be a showing as to how a conflict is made. I'm no lawyer, so I'm just You're saying as this contract stands, it's copacetic with the DA's office. We do not have an issue with the contract as it currently
stands for the court to consider today. So, I have a I have a question for um Mr. Katville along those same lines. Do you you're the lawyer. Would are you expecting uh
Joe Nixon for example to or accuse himself giving his connection here? Seems he would be a witness. That that will be up to the parties in the litigation to determine whether he is a witness or not. Uh commissioner right now I I do not know whether he is
or not would depend on and just expanding on my question if we need to take this into close to discuss let me know. I mean, I don't know if it has anything to do with advice of counsel or whatever. If you're more comfortable doing it that way, that's fine. Or we
can have it here. Just making sure that if that's the option you want to do. Is the question are we of the opinion that he's going to be recused because he's somehow a fact witness? No. My question is just making sure that there there is no conflict
with with the firm. I mean, I think that's a valid concern. It is. Yeah. And what would be what conflict are you referring to? I guess the fact that maybe they would be witnesses if they're part I don't think they're parties to the lawsuit.
I would be I'm not giving legal advice to the court. I would be stunned if a judge said you could recuse this firm because they're quote a witness. Um yeah any more than you could recuse him for sitting in this room and being a
witness. That's just not how the law works. Yeah. Otherwise, a lawyer's a witness to every single thing that ever happens. I mean, it's just I see what what they're trying to do. I don't think it's going to work. Um, okay. Any other questions from the
court? All right. We have a motion and a second. Uh, please cast your vote. Oh, yeah. I'm glad you said that. Thank you, judge. Um, I broke my arm. Okay. A1,
where are we? What are we doing here? We have speakers. Okay. Uh, Bishop Kirkland is first, following Mr. Kirkland is Jeremy Pope. How did we get here? Deborah Cox wrote and performed a song entitled, "How did
we get here?" Probably the living stated, "How did we get here? We're not supposed to be here. It is apparent to the listener Miss Cop's dilemma when she found herself smack dead in the middle of an unhealthy relationship. However, everybody knows exactly how we got into
this mess. And as usual, here we are writing openf face checks. I call them that because there's no set amount in the amount box. We will be writing these checks because Tarant County Judge Mr. O'Hara used a dangerous phrase in a news
interview. He said, "I think the best government is a conservative government. It is my issue is the use of the pronoun I. I has nothing to do with your role as a Taran County judge. You do not represent
your own ideology. You're elected by the people to serve all of the people." Next, you said it. This is a Democrat and Republican issue. Not true, sir. This is a county issue. Winnie Jackson,
Jared Jackson, Silva Vasquez, Dwayne Braxton, Miss Nidia, I'm not gonna mess up, Nadia. I'm not going to jack up her last name, are the first of many lawsuits to come. Sir, during the hearing two weeks ago, you resonated
with me when you said, "I've seen all these types of cases filed at the city and state level. None of them have been successful. I come here today like a rushing mighty wind and it came to me and I said the outcome of so many cases
what sounds like an openf face check. Today's allocation is just the beginning of so many to come. Gavveston County was $4 million in its racial gender mendering litigation back in 2023.
How do we get to such a large amount? The attorney's fees, $450 hourly out of pocket, including travel, miles, parking, and meals. $100 an hour for none attorney fees, parallegal, and legal assistance. I have
an accountability problem with PIF. PIF would not even come out at the request of a commissioner of this court. I have an accountability with a firm that does not make itself available for the people that hired them. Um, now we're saying
looking at this request for new sir, we hired them, we give them 30k and right then in the middle of it, they decide their recruit cues and we're out of 30k to help. Next up is Jeremy Pope. Following Mr.
Pope is read bills. Is Mr. Pope present? Do we have a spillover room? Uh, we do in 504. Let me find out if there's anybody in there. All right, we'll we'll bring We don't have a spillover room, judge. Everyone is Okay, so everybody should be here. All right, read bills.
Just read bills here. Following Miss Bills, we have Deborah Krakkey. [Applause] The reasons not to hire the Republican Virginia based law firm Public Interest
Legal Foundation to redraw our precinct boundaries are again valid reasons not to hire the firm to defend the legal challenge to the map ordered and paid for by PIL and chosen by the Republican
members of this court. But additional concerns arise in this new request. Since the two Democrats on the court did not vote for the map, they should not be parties in the case brought by Jackson at AL. If hired, Pil will not be
representing their interests. Commissioners Simmons and Miles need their own representation at the county's expense to protect them from being included in the case and any other scenario that violates their rights.
I urge you to deny the request to hire PIL, a firm with obvious conflict of interest that thoroughly failed to meet its obligations in drawing, presenting, and advising taxpayers on the new maps.
And furthermore, I request that you hire and pay for a law firm of their choice for Commissioners Simmons and Miles. Thank you. Uh, following Miss Katr, we have Valencia Elaine Edner.
In Fort Worth, there are over 352 lawyers, many with over 30 years experience in governmental affairs and really impressive wins. Mo most are within 20 miles of this courthouse. I find it baffling that you would pick a
law firm that is 1,363 miles away from this courthouse and was only formed in 2012. Let's talk a little bit about that law firm. PIL has made claims about widespread ineligible voter registrations, but independent fact
checkers and investigative journalists have found many errors in their data and analysis, including the wrongful inclusion of eligible voters on lists of supposedly noncitizen or fra fraudulent voters. In 2016 and 17, PIL published
reports that included personal information of eligible voters, including social security numbers and dates of birth, falsely accusing them of being fraudulent voters. This led to a federal lawsuit which PL settled by removing the information and issuing a
heartfelt statement of regret. That statement did little for the people's whose personal identifying information was exposed on the internet. And we all know some once something is on the internet, it never goes away. One so such voter was a US missionary in
Guatemala who based on this report was inaccurately highlighted as a fraudulent voter. Besides the attorney's $450 hourly range, the county will be paying, as we've heard before, out-ofpocket expenses, including travel, fair, meals,
parking. The county will also be build up to $100 per hour of non- attorneys, parallegals, or legal assistants, all for a firm $1,363 miles away with less than 15 years
experience. To procure legal services, a county in Texas must follow procedures governed by the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and their related statutes. Some key requirements are legal services are classified as professional service under Texas law.
This includes lawyers and they are exempt from the standard competitive bidding requirements that apply to most goods and services. And this is where I found um for comments earlier about cost. Maybe they were the low bid. This does not apply for qualifications. All
you have to prove is that the firm is qualified. Not price. The county must select legal counsel based on demonstrated competence and qualifications. I guess none of the 352 lawyers in Tarant County are good
enough for this court. Following Miss Edner, we have Carla Palarus. Good morning. I'm Reverend Dr. Valencia Edner and here are my comments. It is an absolutely it is absolutely both a conflict of
publicity and a moral failure that this county has hired the very law firm responsible for crafting the racist redistricting map to now defend them in a lawsuit challenging it. Not only is that like appointing an arsonist as the
fire marshal is like hiring a thief to guard the vote. The public outcry has been loud and clear. Yet, PIF, such an appropriate name, has shown no decency and didn't even address the communities most harmed
by their political coloring exercise. This is continued Jim Crow, this time in a tailored suit. This is a strategic systemic disenfranchisement
with no voter input. And now citizens are being forced to pay for their own oppression. It is an abuse of power, an illegality and a betrayal of democracy and we cannot be silent.
This is a pilering of our community and it's unacceptable. Following Miss Polyaris, we have Nicholas Tziac. Is Miss Polyaris here? All right. How about Mr. Tziak. Next we have Tanner Tras.
Following Mr. Tras, we have Chris Dobson. Good morning. My name is Tanner Tras. I'm a longtime resident of Taran County. Been living here since I was 12 and uh went to high school and college here. Currently the minister over at Westside
Unitarian Universals in Fort Worth. But I'm here as a resident and taxpayer of the county. Um, when you talk about being of service and leadership in a position of public trust, I've never
been in your seat, but I was a teacher for about 10 years. Taught high school social studies and high school math. I was really happy to see uh the the the award given to the baseball team. Our student athletes were fantastic. Love having them in class. didn't work at that district and I know that they're
afraid too. And one of the things that I learned as a teacher is that it wasn't enough to not act improperly. Of course, you couldn't act improperly. You had to you're in a position of public trust, but you also had to avoid even the appearance of impropriy if you wanted to have the trust of the parents and
taxpayers of the district who were working for. And I believe that hiring PL does not avoid that appearance of impropriety. I don't know the inner workings of all of these
things, but I don't know if I could defend it if somebody asked me to defend it. So, the good news that I have today is that denying this contract, at least for right now, even if you just have
questions at the moment that you want to make sure you have answered, denying this contract right now is both the morally and fiscally responsible thing to do for the taxpayers of this county. And I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thanks. Uh, is Mr. Dobson present?
Okay. Next we have Linda Hanratty. Following Miss Hanratty we have Joe Palmer. [Applause] I strongly oppose any expenditure of my tax money to defend the gerrymandered redistricting which def disenfranchises
all residents of the southern half of Taran County and adversely impacts a north a minority residents. This is a pure power grab by the Republican majority who are afraid their anti- voter policies will harm them in the
next election without this unprecedented jury mandate. Taran County faces significant cuts in federal funding in healthcare, housing, and other areas. It is a waste of taxpayers money to spend $250,000
to defend this redistricting. And as the contract states, this is probably only a down payment with more funds likely, hopefully not the 4 million that Galveastston paid. If Commissioner's Court is so eager to support this likely
illegal redistricting, the court, or at least the Republican majorities, should pay for it, not the taxpayers with no accountability to the residents of Tarant County. I don't want a king in Tarant County any more than one in Washington DC. One party rule inevitably
leads to bad policies and corruption. Thank you. Thank you. Following Mr. Palmer, we have Gerald and Jackie Cox. Thank you. The welcome experience of all of my comments being made. So, I'll just highlight one thing. uh the attorneys
that you're asking to defend you in this action in this case are the same ones that either couldn't find this room a month ago or they were refused to come to this room uh to answer questions about what was going on. It doesn't look good. I've said that about things in the
past and it was said earlier uh it doesn't have to be illegal or bad. It just has to look bad. This is a gamble. Um, if you win and you get your map, uh, then it looks like it paid off. You've got the the firm to represent you, the
same firm that drew the map. If you lose, they're going to beat us over the head with it, and it's going to look really bad. Uh, the other thing that came to mind just now was, uh, the inclination to use PIL uh, to represent you in this matter. Either that inclination to use them existed before
you knew you were going to get sued or it's a surprise that you got sued and you said, "Well, of all the law firms around us, who are we going to use?" I know. We'll just use the same firm that that drew the map. I It's just okay. All I need to hear is how this makes sense
and how this looks good to me. How this makes how is this common sense with all the law firms in Taran County? Why do you go with a firm that's 1300 miles away? I don't know if I've said it here before. Uh Milton Freedman, The Economist, talked about four ways you can spend money. You can spend your own
money on yourself. You can spend your own money on somebody else. You can spend somebody else's money on yourself. That's the best kind. Or you can spend other people's money on other people, OPM. And that's what's going on here. Why Why in the world would you hire a law firm that's in Virginia that's that
far away? Are they going to charge you for travel? I think they are. It just doesn't make sense to me. Make it make sense to me. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Following Miss Cox, we have Alexander Montalvo. [Music] My name is Geraldine Jackie Cox. I'm
here to warn that there's a danger in what you're doing. First of all, you're doing a lot of harm to a lot of people. I'm going to read you from the pleadings filed in the suit against you, the county commissioners, and the county
judge in his official capacity. And that is about what does mass 7, which you adopted, do to your population? The pleadings alleged that over 150,000
people of voting age in Tarant County who are entitled to vote in the commissioner's race that will be Mr. Ramirez will be up. Miss Simmons will be upund people 140,000 people who were
entitled to vote in that race which will occur in the fall of 2026 will be disqualified because they've been moved out of an even number precinct precinct 2 and into an odd number precinct precinct one these are
now Mr. mild soldiers. But the people who are not deni are denied their right to vote in 2026 by this mechanism have a very valid claim under the voting rights act that their rights have been infringed. And y'all
have gone about proclaiming, "Oh, it wasn't racial. It was just political." But you know what? You deprived them of their right to vote. And I don't believe it was just political because you've made too many statements that are kind
of racist. And the impact the impact on the population falls most heavily on black voters. Uh the way they measure this experts is when map 7 dis disenfranchises just 5%
of Taran County's Anglo adults, it disenfranchises 19% of the county's black adults and 12% of its Latino adults. But the biggest thing is that you have a voting margin here that secures some
people's election and denies others. And that's really the covenant. The other thing that I dislike a lot about this agreement is that it moves approval of the billings that come in out of the county auditor's office where
I can see them as a matter of law and into the county attorney's office or the DA's office. That's uh so now in let me find the paragraph in the agreement. Thank you. Anyway, is Mr. Montalvo
present? More by the law. Uh, how about Dr. Michael Bell? Is Dr. Bell present? Yeah. Uh, following Dr. Bell, we have Dr. Harriet Harrell. [Applause]
[Applause] Let's call this what it is a betrayal of trust in April 2025 by narrow three to vote. This court chose to hide the public
interest legal foundation to draw new precinct maps for Taran County. And what did we get? a racially gerrymandered map designed to pack and crack black and brown communities across this county.
Deliberately uh slicing up our voices, intentionally attempting to minimize our participation in the democratic process and diluting our influence at the B ballot box.
That's not democracy. That's disenfranchisement funded by taxpayers. Let's be clear, PIFF is not an entity with a documented history of dis uh pardon me. PIFF is an entity uh with the
documented history of deception and discrimination. They've been sued repeatedly for false claims about voter fraud, for voter intimidation, defamation, and violating privacy laws. In fact, on April the 12th, 2018, the
League of United Latin American Citizens of Richmond and four individuals filed suit against Piff and his president, accusing them of violating both the Voting Rights Act and the Clu Klux Clan
Act. That's who this court trusted with our electoral map. And now you want the taxpayers to foot the bill to defend a map that was flawed from the start. It's an insult plain and simple to every
thinking citizen of this county. Regardless of color, zip code and judge O'Hare, let's not pretend this is out of character. Your record speaks volumes. As mayor of farmers branch, your administration was the architect of at least four major lawsuits tied to
racially discriminatory policies. The infamous anti-immigrant rental ordinance alone cost those taxpayers over 3.7 million in legal fees by 2011 and was ultimately struck down by a federal
injunction. There was also the went hole versus farmers branch first amendment lawsuit in April 2011 and the 2010 city council election methods suit targeting the city's disenfranchisement of Latino
voters. These weren't isolated issues. They were part of a pattern. And here we go again. Here we go again. Another map. Another lawsuit. Another pile of legal fees dumped on the backs of hardworking Tarant County taxpayers. All because of
a persistent unapologetic pious that sees people of color as neighbors but it's our uh Dr. Harold. Thank you. And following Dr. Harold is Carol Raver. [Applause]
I am here to strongly oppose paying any more money to PL. You were thoroughly warned that a lawsuit would be coming if you approved Pil's racist maps and yet you approved their plan in order to get
a more conservative court without any idea of the financial impact. In fact, on June 3rd, the court communication said the fiscal impact is unknown at this time. I hardly think it was
conservative to approve something this big with no fiscal information, no plan, and no sense of responsibility. Now here, the very first meeting after you approved racial gerrymandering, you
want a quarter of a million dollars for the very law firm that packed black voters into one precinct without explanation, justification, or fiscal analysis, not one shred of supporting data, not
one answer to public questions. Pilf was impolite, dismissive, and at times outright contemptuous of the public you are elected to serve. And then after the public comment period ended, they submitted two more racially
gerrymandered maps and you adopted one. That is not representation. That is resegregation. Let's be clear. Pilf is a political operative and their conduct, both in
content and character, is unworthy of the public trust or money. I can only assume that you think this case is so fraught with problems and illegalities that the only law firm you can trust is
the very one that so unethically caused the lawsuit. This unbudgeted money is going to be taken from important services in Tarant County. I am hereby asking you and Mr.
Merritt and the budget office for a public accounting of every cent that is spent related to redistricting from this lawsuit to changing letterhead. every cent commissioners
and then your constituents can decide if there has been one iod of benefit. Miss Raburn following Miss Raburn is Maggie Martinez. [Music] Hi. Hello. I'm Carol Raburn. I lived in
Arlington for 35 years. Graduated from UTA. I'm a retired engineer. I believe in truth and honesty and I really challenge the maps that we were forced to understand that you approved were so
gerrymandered to take away the fair vote of so many people in Arlington and shift the boundary so that we're not represented equally like we were before. It's a sad day to see what has happened to our county's commissioners. We expect
better of our elected officials. We expect fair representation in our precincts of all the people in the precinct, not just the white people. We really expect you to not waste our money. This is a total waste of any
money that we've all paid in taxes. We're all taxpayers. You're taking my money and sending it out of state for a very bad firm. Okay? And there are a lot of other law firms here that are equally qualified that would give us a
detailed re invoice that we could actually look at and trust. I really believe that you need to hire different lawyers for our Democrat commissioners so that they're not thrown under the bus by this very bad firm. Thank you.
Following Miss Martinez, we have Blake Mormon. [Applause] Good afternoon. My name is Maggie Martinez and I'm here as a resident and taxpayer Taran County uh to speak about the plan to spend our money to defend
this racial gerrymandering lawsuit. You're wanting to spend up to $250,000, possibly more, the same people who built this discriminatory map. Pil isn't even located in Taran County. So the question is why? If this map is so great, why is
it the DA's civil division whose salary you already paid handling this case? If not the DA, then why not any of the Tarant County firms that are more than qualified? Is it because the map will hold up in court? Or because residents are right when we call it a gerrymandered power grab that
silences black and Latino voters? Or maybe it's just easier to funnel money to political allies while residents are distracted. Why are you choosing to work with PIL? Why are the same people who made this mess getting paid again to clean it up? The audacity to force residents to fund the defense of a plan
designed to silence our voices is wild. And y'all should really be ashamed. In the end, you're not just spending our money, you're spending our trust. We, the voters, see exactly what it is, and we won't forget who made us pay for it come election time. Thank you. Thank
you. Is Blake Mormon present? Yes. [Applause] My name is Blake Norman and I'm the first vice president of Fort Worth Taran County and the ACP branch. Our members are appalled by the idea of approving a
contract for legal services between Taran County and the public interest legal foundation incorporated Phil PIFF for any reason. This is because of it is because of PIF the unlawful maps produced by them and the approval of the
majority on this court that the county finds itself in this situation to engage in a contract for any amount and in particular an amount up to $250,000 with this organization is a gross misuse of public funds. PIFF has proven itself
to be unresponsive to members of this court, deemed itself unaccountable to the taxpaying citizens of this county. Do not approve this contract. Thank you, sir. All right, that's all the folks we have signed up to speak to this. We have
a motion and a second to approve. Any further discussion from the court? I I do. Um I I have a question. Um, Miss uh, Martinez brought it up.
Is our district attorney's office uh, capable of defending the county in this lawsuit? Our civil is it the civil division that would would do this? I would think. Um,
I'm not sure who I'm asking. uh we are capable of. Yes. So the DA is capable of defending the county. So to me um we start there.
Um and and these people are salaried. They're here and we save $250,000 at the outset. Um so that's that's good to hear. Um because
when you look at that their first invoice and you look at this contract, it looks like Pil is fleecing the county because contracts again should specifically
separate the partners from the other regular um hourly co you know the partners the um attorneys, the parallegals and all of that. As as far as I can tell, everybody gets
the same rate. Uh you know, the parallegal gets the same as a partner. Um I don't know. It looks like a it looks like a horrible play here. And another question I have for Chandler, why um so
the pill contracts have kind of been all over the agenda. So this one is under what's it under? It's under admin. Admin. Yes, ma'am. And previously it was under county judge. Um there's a little explanation there. So originally this
was on the June 17th agenda under the county judge because it was the county judge that brought the uh brought this item forth before. We didn't know we weren't having a meeting last time, attending the meeting. We got a notice from one of the court members saying that they were actually going to have to leave early and they wanted to be able to vote on this item. So, because of
that, we moved it up in the agenda under my section in order to do that. Uh, we did ask the DA before we did that to make sure that the placement of the item wasn't germanine to its outcome. And the DA's office advises that as long as it is on the agenda, where it is placed on the agenda is not really germanine.
Okay. Thank you for answering that question. I'm I'm done. Okay. All right. If there are no other comments, we have a motion to second. Please cast your vote. All right. It passes 3 to two. Brings us to item 10 A2, which is consideration of
the initial guaranteed maximum price amendment between Tarant County Hospital District and Austin Commercial LP for the new hospital edition project. Do we have a motion to approve this or any questions from the court? Move approval. Second. We have a motion to approve and a second. Any discussion
here. All right. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All right. Passes unanimously. Brings us to item A3, consideration to adopt an ordinance prohibiting solid waste disposal
and processing in certain areas of Tarant County. Move approval. Second. SH uh I'm sorry. We have a motion and a second to approve this item. Any discussion? I just have a comment before we vote. Um
I want to thank the thousands of citizens from the Silver Creek area uh that brought this these types of concerns forward over the past several years. Uh in Tarant County, we are committed to um preserving the quality of life for all of our citizens here in the county and I think this is a big
step to accomplishing that goal. So, absolutely. Um, I want to thank those those particular citizens out there in the Silver Creek communities that uh brought this um to the court for our awareness. Okay. All right. We have a motion, a second with no further discussion.
Please cast your vote. Passes unanimously. Brings us to item A4, consideration to appoint Tarant County's designated delegate and first alternate to the 2025 National Association of Counties Conference and Exposition. I'll make a motion to
appoint Commissioner Ramirez as the delegate and Commissioner Miles as the alternate delegate. Second. We have a motion to second on that item. Any discussion? Oh, actually. All right. Seeing none, please cast your vote.
All right. Passes unanimously. Item five, consideration of out of state travel requests. Um, I will move to approve. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion there? All right, please cast your vote.
All right, that passes unanimously. A6 was passed in consent. So now we move to from consent B3. B3
is from the auditor section. Remove from consent. Receive and file the auditor's report for the cash and other remittances control review of the sheriff's office. One speaker. We have one speaker. Do we have a motion on this item? Uh move approval. Second. All right. We
have a motion to second to approve this item. Uh any discussion from the commissioners before we bring up our speaker? All right. Our speaker is Bishop Kirkland. Anything that has to do with this
current sheriff's office, this current sheriff's department is suspect to us. Anything. And when you look at the agenda item, it's so ambiguous.
I would like to see the citizens have something to view to let us know exactly what it is. It concerns me when I see cash and regions. I'm just concerned. It is so sad. It is
a sad commentary commissioners and judge that we've come to a place where you and this sheriff's department our trust in you is so eroded until we
question every single thing that has to do with the church of water. In the words of the Marines that's piss. All right. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any discussion? All right. Seeing none, please cast your
vote. All right. Passes unanimously. Brings us to item C4. Uh from also from consent, which is budget and risk management. Item C4, consideration to
submit a resolution to the office of the Texas Secretary of State to request Help America Vote Act formula grant funds. Um, I will move to approve that. Second. Second. We have a motion, a second on that item. Any discussion before speaker
Bishop Kirkland, [Applause] I see I'm feeling better. Good to be here again. Commissioners, why we get all this money from these people? with all this money over chapter 19
funds as it relates to b voting. Yet your efforts, your doings have severely hampered the idea of fair play when it comes to
voting. all of this money that we got in chapter 19 and that we're getting from the feds to ensure help America vote. What does our commissioners do? Make it impossible for
some of the citizens of Arlington to have an opportunity to vote. They give us the money. The money is that in the words of 0 for who ain't even our money. They've given us money to encourage to
help to assist people to vote and you people take that opportunity. All right. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any discussion here? All right. Please cast your vote. All right. Passes unanimously.
Uh, next we have item F1, consideration of additional funding for outside council Taylor Olsson Atkins and Elim for litigation expenses in the amount of $15,000 for the defense of former Tarant County employee Jonathan Nimoan in a lawsuit entitled Anthony Johnson senior versus
Tarant County. Move for approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second on this item. Any discussion before bringing up speakers? Okay. Comm uh Bishop Kirkland is first following Bishop Kirkland's Kala Carla
Palyaris. As usual, we are writing an openf face check. Again, I call them that because there's no set amount in the amount box. It is a bottomless pit. KLIF reported
November 13, 2024 that this court approved $370,000 in funding by outside legal representation for the nine jailers. By
December 3rd, 2024, according to Cody, and I trust his math, we were at 800K. In Cody's article, he reminded us that the largest chunk of that money, that
800K, was dedicated to the 775K to the family of Kelly Masten. Kelly was the lady, Kelly was the woman with intellectual disability. Miss Masten was
in a coma and was covered in bruises after 10 days stint in the Taran County jail. Ladies and gentlemen, this 15K is what I call pilot trick. Politics with tricks.
You say 15k, but the reality of this is we've spent a whole lot more. So you come in here, do you nickel and dimes 15, 20, 30k at a time while on the back end,
this number keeps growing. We just want you to ask for what you really want. Tell us what it's going to cost us. Quit playing these hide and seek games with numbers and quit saying these little minuscule numbers like 15k when you know
how much money we've spent and how much money you're going to continue to spend but you just like a good m magician. You keep talking by the same times we're paying attention to your words but we're not paying attention to what you're
doing with your hands. And when you're going with your hands, it's going into our taxpayers dollars. Thank you very much. I love Miss Paularus present. All right. Next, we have Tanner Tras. Following Mr. Tras, we have Charles
Bills. Morning again. Good morning. Afternoon. Oh, yeah. Afternoon. Thank you. Um, I just want to echo what's already been said. So much of our tax dollars have already been used on this case and
related cases. Too many people have died in Karen County jails lately. And that any additional funding, any additional tax dollars that we want to spend on this, I believe should instead be directed to settlement of the victims and fully investigating any other deaths that have happened in the county jail
and preventing any further deaths. Thank you. Is Mr. Bills present. Following Mr. Bills, we have Jimmy Blackwell. Every time this Anthony Johnson case comes up, it reminds me that the district attorney has yet to prosecute uh the man, Mr. Simmons, who sprayed
uh pepper spray directly into Anthony Johnson Jr.'s mouth. And also, there's no no prosecuting of all the people that stood around and did nothing. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. All right. Mr. Blackwell, following
Mr. Blackwell is Linda Henry. The judge O'Hare. I rise to voice my strong opposition to divert any taxpayer funds to the defense of the county employee who
contributed to the murder of our comrade Anthony Johnson Jr. Taran County taxpayers played no role in Mr. Johnson's murder. Therefore,
not one red cent should come from taxpayers to defend this employee. And I say again, to add insult to injury,
the family of Mr. Johnson uh Jr. are taxpayers also here in Taran County. to ask the Johnson family to contribute to the defense of the employee who has been accused of participating
in their loved ones murder is disgusting and disrespectful. So, I'm counting on you guys and young lady to do the right thing.
Reject any amount of money to defend the people who killed this marine. You you are an advocate for the veterans. Is that correct? I attended one of your uh
programs out there. Where is your voice? Where is your vote? Where is your reaching out to this family and trying to soothe their pain instead of contributing to it with your
silence? You cannot, Mr. Ramirez, pick and choose which veteran you're going to help. If you're not going to help all veterans, don't help any of them.
That's not the Marine Corps way. We are simp. We're always faithful to our comrades. And let me tell you something else. Once a Marine,
always a Marine. So if you're not going to support us in our time of need, then don't do anything at all. That's hypocritical. I stand firmly with the Johnson family
and requesting that this consideration be denied unanimously. Miss Hanratty. Following Miss Handrdy is Joe Palmer. [Applause] Um, Linda Hanratty, I'm again talking
about money. I'm assuming that this request is the one that was first placed on the agenda on on June 3rd because there was one with that amount. I've been trying to keep track of this. It isn't easy and you all haven't helped us in that regard. So, we all have
different numbers about exactly how much has been spent on the Anthony Johnson case, but we don't need to spend any more. We are asking again as taxpayers that you settle this case once and for all
and stop the bleeding of all the money. My numbers shows 750 thou 15,000 if we add this additional 15,000, but everybody else has a different number. And I'm not sure what it is, but the taxpayers need to know because it's our
money, not your money. Our money. And we are tired of paying money to a court that says it's conservative. But when it comes to spending money to hurt people, apparently that's okay. Thank you. Mr. Palmer
[Applause] Palmer, Republican voter. From this point forward, I'm asking that the total amount of money paid to each law firm regarding the respective in custody deaths be included in the agenda item language. Yes. I would also like you to
not pay any more money to these law firms. I would like you to settle. I'm just going to add my voice to those of others who have asked you for that. Um, this is an opportunity to see what side you fall on. Um, when you run for office, you say, "Vote for me. I'm going to be your voice. I'm going to be for
the people." For the people. For the people. Nobody ever says, "Vote for me. I'm going to get in there and I'm going to defend the machine. I'm going to defend the county apparatus." This is one of the things that I really dislike about going to Fort Worth ISD board meetings. I would like to think that I could come to this room, a Republican
controlled body, and have a better experience. I don't have any information coming out of this body uh giving me explanations of why these things are being voted on. Give me some explanation. Have some discussion. This makes sense because fill in the blank. Yeah. How long is this going to
continue? Please settle with these families and please demonstrate from the disforms that are being implemented in the jails. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That's all we have signed up to speak to this one. We have a motion and a second. Any
discussion from the court members? You know, can I just make one point? Um, Mr. Kratville, tell me if I'm wrong on this. The county has to pay these legal costs. We cannot not pay these legal costs. So, I get some of the frustration
and why do you continue to pay these bills? Why do you continue to do this? But from my understanding, the county has to provide this representation to these employees. Am I correct on that, Mr. Credville? county must provide legal representation. Yes. So even if we all
decided not to pay these bills, I'm pretty sure we would get a court order pretty soon saying you have to pay these bills. So I hear this uh in most of our meetings. Why do you continue to do this? Why do you continue to do this? We do it because we are legally obligated
to do it. So I just wanted to make that point of clarification. I wanted to make sure I was right um before I said that. But hopefully that gives you a little bit more of a window into why we keep bringing this up. We keep voting on it because we have to do that. Can I ask a question? Is it possible
to show the residents that policy where we have to pay for legal representation of county employees just so that they it's not just us them hearing us say it. they can actually
read it and see it and get the justification for it. Commissioner, there's a statute that requires that. Uh I don't know it off the top of my head, but I will get it to you right now and once I have it, I will tell you the the citation to it. Thank you. Well, that that that's a good point. And even in the court communication pursuant to this
statute. All right. Any other comments from the court members? All right. Uh we have a motion and a second to make approve this item. Uh with no further discussion, please cast your vote. All right, passes 4 to one.
Next up, we have item H1, which is consideration of real estate contracts for the purchase of real property located at 312 Porter Drive and 101 105 Scotland Avenue in Ail, Texas. Move approval. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve this item. Um,
is there something you would like to say? No. Okay. Uh, do we have any speakers on this? No. Okay. All right. There's no speakers on that item. So, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the court? I have uh two questions for
maybe you that I forgot to ask you yesterday when we had a good conversation. Um, how is the land valuation determined? Sure. You're talking about the fair market value. Yes. The cost. Mhm. Um it's done by a
combination of factors. Uh property characteristics, location, the market, the current market, um similar properties, all of that brings up fair market value together. Oh, okay. Um
and I don't have those notes. I was going to give you the price per acre, but I don't have those notes. Um, and so a question for the administration or Commissioner Ramirez. Ail is so close to
that Parker County line. Um, will it you're going to make sure it serves the area equitably, right? Yeah. The reason why this site was selected um by the the maintenance staff, facilities, etc. Uh
right now our maintenance facility, our our primary maintenance facility is in Sagenoth, which is uh quite a distance away from the bulk of our unincorporated roads that we work on daily. Okay. Um this new location is right in the middle of roughly 80% of our unincorporated
roads. And so we're going to save substantial costs on fuel setup, tear down time, etc. uh it's it's much further from any of the other places, but it makes the most sense for a maintenance facility so that we don't have to waste gas, etc. to get
to uh our work sites every single day. Um yes, this this is all and the these unincorporated roads, this unincorporated part of the county has no designs on being incorporated into any municipality in the next 20 to 30 years.
um the Parker County line adjacent to it, that's all unincorporated as well. And so no cities are are moving in on the Parker County side either. So I work actually pretty closely with the county commissioner out there um in coordination with projects that they're doing right on the line in Parker County
because we go all the way out to the Springtown border right there. So um the the the the land is is very convenient um to serve the citizens out there. Okay. Thank you. All right. Anybody else have anything?
All right. We have a motion and a second on this item. Uh with no further discussion, please cast your vote. All right. Passes unanimously. Next up is item H2, which is consideration of a letter of intent to Still Water Capital LLC for
the purchase of 6 acres of land located at the northwest corner of Heritage Parkway and Regency Parkway. I move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve this item. Any discussion? Uh, I have one question for you. Um, I
think this is at least the fourth time this has been on the agenda. Um, can you bring us options for whatever money is earmarked about what that money can be used for, including but not limited to the payown of any debt on any of our outstanding
bonds to save taxpayers money. Are you talking about the budget that's available for the land and construction of the Mansfield sub court house? That line. Okay. Yes. Um All right. We have a motion and a second to approve this item. Um Judge, I think Oh, sorry. Yeah,
I'm I got you. Uh any further discussion or any discussion before uh we bring up our one public commenter? I I have a couple questions I reckon. Um so on the facilities, you know, we've had discussions about um the the new
mansfield courthouse replacing the old one because it's in disrepair. Uh perhaps it needs renovation or could have used renovation, but they said the most viable option is a full replacement. Um my question is with redistricting now and the the population balance and how that works, is it still
viable uh for precinct 2 to operate two sub courouses? as you know, you know, I operate one. Um, so my question is, is it still viable to operate Arlington and Mansfield or is the population of Mansfield getting so great to where perhaps if there could be one centrally
located that could consolidate services? Is that a study we've done? I mean, I certainly think that we want to get to a place where where we can support uh an efficient option here. Um, I just don't know if it's been relooked at since the the precinct boundaries have changed and
if or or if that's what we need to have staff do is to take a look at it. That's and you don't have to answer that. I could ask facilities if they need to. So, I Yeah, we can ask facilities, but I'm I can guarantee you it has not been looked at since redistricting went into
effect um a couple weeks ago. Um they uh did do analysis years ago. Um and Helen, do you know how much money is in that account for the land acquisition
and the construction of a new Mansville subcourthouse? 28 million. 28 million. So, but to answer your question about the popular one having one u location that's that's
not feasible that that area manfield Arlington Grand Prairie is right there. Uh Grand Prairie may have moved to precinct one but the people are still there. It is a very very dense
um area and so having one big um or one subcourthouse is not feasible um for southeast Taran County. Well, I think when we when we look at so so I was on the board of the DMV and you know I
can't say the exact number percentage of of what the the volume of visitors to courouses is for but I'll say the vast majority especially in precinct 4 is for um auto registrations things like that working with the tax office personnel in these courouses. Uh I know that there's
substantial improvements in technology and there's some pilots across the state where potentially the volume of visitors will go down in the future when it comes to the tax office specific. Now we're still going to have to operate uh JP courts. You're still going to have to have constables. Uh you're still going to have to have services there, passport
services, etc. clerks. Um but but the bulk of the traffic uh I can see that that's why when when I was asked if we needed a second one in precinct 4 um you know our volume is right up there with all the other precincts. It's just in one I don't think future forward I mean
heck it probably wouldn't be built by time some of these technologies got rolled out in the next 5 to 10 years. Um but again that doesn't that doesn't change your equation being in a building that's needs to get replaced. Yeah. And so, so ultimately I I just I would hope
that over the next couple of weeks or month or whatever, we could have staff take a look at the new math, the balance, and see if there's if that's still the most feasible solution that they came up with several years ago. Well, again, the the the people are
still there. Um they're they may have a new commissioner, new precincts, but they're still there. So, and that area is growing. Of course, Mansville sub courthouse continues to decline structurally. We
we you guys redistricted based on, you know, population growth and it and it's growing. Um, since the last assessment in 2017, there have been nine years of growth. Uh, population growth
again was the argument for redistricting. So, I I really failed to understand why there is an issue with building a new subcourthouse in Mansfield. We have the uh the land continues to be
available and funds are specifically allocated and earmarked for this project. Um I've heard the excuse that the proposed location is close to the county line um and it's one mile from the current
courthouse. Um and and so it just it needs to happen not for me but for our constituents. It is the smallest subcourthouse in Tarant County and again
it's in disrepair. I'm not sure why I've said this before. I'm not sure why this has to be made political or anything like that. Um, I just don't know how we continue to deny the
residents of the far southeastern region of our county access to quality and efficient services. Um, with regard to technology, yeah, that'll come, but this county
isn't um the most progressive when it comes to adopting technology. we still have SAP or whatever that is. Um, so let's do what's right for the constituents in Southeast Taran County.
Let's go ahead and get this land purchased while the pricing is still decent. And it's going to cost more to try to refurbish, rehab uh that
subcourthouse than to build another one. We have heard those presentations uh from our county staff over and over and over again. and power is out at the Mansfield subcours as we speak. I mean,
we continue to have uh problems out there. So, I hope you all will consider this for the residents of Southeast Taran County. Thank you. So, I will make a few comments on since the question keeps getting raised why anyone would be
opposed to this. Um, Dallas County has one subcourthouse and it's the almost I think within three or four square miles it's the same square miles as Tarant County and they do it with one. Uh, if hate to break it to you guys, but if
y'all bring a plan forward to try to build a new subcourthouse in three, I will vote against it. If you bring a new one to bring one in four, I will vote against it. Uh I and I don't think because a building has problems that you decide to build a new building. Uh this
building has problems and then we go do things to retrofit it and change things. Uh I believe technology is far more advanced and can be used to manage lines and things of the sort. I don't believe it's a good use of taxpayer dollars when there's a building sitting there to go
spend what we think I think I saw one estimate it could be $50 million to build this. I don't think that's a good use of taxpayer money. Even if it's $28 million, I don't think that's a good use of taxpayer money. And we've already voted here multiple times to fix things and repair things. Um, and you can
continue to do that like every other building and every other house that exists literally in the United States of America. When they age, things happen and you go remodel them, then you go do things different. For me, it's not partisan. You can keep saying it is. It just isn't. Um, they're they're my
voters, too. And I don't believe it's the right use of taxpayer dollars. I'm sorry I don't agree with you. I just don't think it is. Uh and it's not because of you. Uh and it's not because of Republican Democrat. I don't think it's a good use taxpayer dollars. And I think that's a reasonable position to take. Well, if you know, if we look at
being uh fiscally responsible, paying for repairs year after year after year, that that building became operational in 2020. It's 2025. So you waste money um
with a a facility that is crumbling that really was not built on um sound uh foundation in the first place. I talked to Commissioner Figus about this when he was here and I said, "Let me
tell you the problems with this building." And he said, "Oh dear, I can tell you the problems with this building. We never should have built it on that land. It was unstable land. So why would you So we're gonna we're gonna
slap band-aids, spend money on expensive band-aids for 50 years just because the building exists. At some point we have to be smart about it. Uh we we replace
end of life equipment and processes here all the time. And so these buildings do get to end of life. And we've got to be responsible stewards u of taxpayer dollars. buy the land
while we can uh build a thing now and give the citizens what they need out there or keep paying for these expensive band-aids. All right, any other comments from the court members? All right, we have a motion and a second
to approve this item. Please cast your vote. All right, it fails two to three. All right. Next, we have item I believe that's H3, which is consideration of a property use and fee waiver request from Afterburners Toast Masters Club.
Did we vote before I did a speaker again? Uh, my apologies. Um, I don't know if they're here. I will move. Is Miss Cardoza here? Okay. I will move to
How do you do this, Mark? Rescend reconsider is what I would recommend here. And it has to come from the prevailing party, does it not? The second does not. The motion does. Okay. I will move to resend our previous vote.
Second. Okay. Any discussion? Please cast your votes on the motion to rescend the previous vote. All right, that passes 5 to zero. Uh
now my apologies to you ma'am. Uh Miss Card Joanna Cardardoza. Ready. Okay. Good afternoon county judge commissioner. My name is Joanna Cardardoza. I used to be a resident of precinct 2. Found out yesterday that I
am now in precinct 1. Very sad about that. Uh I am here today to speak in support of the purchase of land for a new sub courthouse in southeast Taran County. Southeast Tarant County is seeing a huge influx of new residents putting a strain and constraint on the
current courthouse courthouse's ability to provide timely services to the residents of that community. Mansfield Independent School District has seen the majority of student population growth from the southeastern area of the district. The city of Mansfield and other cities in
that area have seen a huge increase in new housing development as well. Commercial development in the area is booming, creating new market share opportunities for businesses, sports venues, healthc care providers, and new
tax revenue for local taxing uh entities. Like any other property in a hot market, the land value will continue to increase, therefore costing taxpayers more money and the and the opportunity to purchase the land could be lost to a
a developer. the long longer the county takes to take action. Uh I will say that um I was at the Arlington sub courthouse yesterday and technology doesn't always work and
is efficient for the uh county taxpayer. I arrived around 4:00 and I was not able to renew my vehicle registration. So I'm going to take care of that today. Um, so if I would have kn I don't know if it affected the whole county or if it was just the Arlington sub courthouse. If I
would have known, I would have probably driven to the uh Nashville sub courthouse cuz I live closer to that one and I considered I live in South Arlington. So technology doesn't always work, right? That's right. All right. Thank you. Thanks. Would you like to
remake your motion? Yes. Um, I move uh approval of this uh contract. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the contract. Any more discussion before we vote? All right, please cast your votes.
All right, fails two to three. My apologies for skipping over our speaker. Miss Cardardoza, you can do a registration right downstairs. Okay, I wanted to make sure. Uh, next up is item H3, which is
consideration of a property use and fee waiver request from Afterburners Toastmasters Club 6191 to use the Tarant County Plaza building for after hours meetings. Um, I have a couple of questions on this. I don't know who's the one that would answer it. Um, so I
see that we the county is paying for what is it almost $5,000 for the rest of this year and $3,800 for the rest of the next year. Um, who is part of this Toastmasters club?
that part of Is this just a a random group coming in wants to use this building and we're paying all this money so they can use this building? Well, they've been with us for quite some time and I know that they do leadership type training. Is
this something through HR? It it is not. It is an outside organization that uses our building but does training for the outside and also Tarant County employees. Do they pay for this stuff or do we just the the sheriff's
department's budget pays for this? Well, the sheriff's department budget is only because they're after hours. That's what that's show. That's an expense. There is no No, they do not pay for the use of the building. Yeah. And I don't I don't know anything about the Toastmasters Club. Don't know who runs
it. Don't know who goes to it. Don't know if it's four people or 400 people. I have no idea. My question is, if you do this for them, then anybody else that comes up and says, "I'd like to use it." Well, then are we not doing it for them and then
the next one and the next one? And I would have no problem with it if they were reimbursing through membership dues or something of that sort the county. I just don't I mean this just seems like
this is a slippery slope that maybe no one has tried to take advantage of so far or use so far, but I'm not sure if you say yes to this and then the next one comes up. How do you say no to that one? And then once it's 20, how do you say no? Are we now having a policy where
we're just letting people come in and use and we'll pay for law enforcement? Is there something I'm missing here? I'm I'm fishing here for answers. So, I I was trying to look at one thing on the couple on the the court communication, but to answer your second question first, staff certainly doesn't make this decision on how facilities are used. We
just put the information together and bring it to the court for their consideration. I thought in the working quickly, I thought someone had mentioned, didn't don't they offer memberships to county employees at no cost? Yes, they're not pay for the education. What
they offer as an offset to the cost is they offer our employees membership in the group at no additional cost. Okay. Do we know how many employees take advantage of that? I do not. I don't know that. We don't know if it's one or 40. Okay. So,
do we promote this Toast Masters Club through HR? Yes, we send out the flyer. Okay. um so that people know about it and know when the meetings are and I'll see if I can get you some numbers while we're sitting here like okay on participation. All right. All right. I
think you got something just um I've had the opportunity to present my strategic plan for it in front of a group of Toastmaster account employees that are part of the toast masters. Uh and there were approximately 20 people in the room at the time or
whatever that's okay. And but we don't know if so you can't tell me if it's 19 people from outside and one employee. Okay. So um the county
throughout our facilities don't we we have community rooms. Correct. We have community rooms. There are several multi-purpose rooms uh that are available in the county for use. Most of them are just used for internal purposes. If an external group does want to use one, that's when this facility
use request will go to court, right? And so the community rooms or multi-use, multi-purpose rooms are open and available for the community to reserve for meetings. Not to reserve. Well, they they would
have to go through this process. Well, that's what I mean. The but they're they're open for the community. Right. So we have right per the policy we have it set up so if someone wants to make application to the county to use one of our facilities either for the incurred fees or no cost. Okay. Okay. Sorry. But
there are community rooms and there the comm groups nonprofits can come in and say hey we'd like to use the community room at precinct for um subcour. That's correct. And it's
been that way for how long? Well, this one is 2010. Okay. But the county's had community rooms. All right. So, I'm sorry. It's not. I mean,
his his questions were uh as if this is something new, but it's not. The countyy's always made available rooms for community groups to meet. Correct. That's correct. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. I don't think my question was, is this something new? I
don't recall voting on anything like this where we allow an outside group to come in and then we pay for I guess sheriff's overtime to allow them to come in there. I'm I'm not aware of that. Maybe that has been on the agenda before
and I don't remember it. It depends on the group. Some groups ask us to wave the fees. And don't we normally we make them pay the cost. Isn't that kind of the norm? It depends. But yes, a lot of times this court since the facilities use policy has gone into
effect has asked that the individuals wanting to use the room, pay the fees. Okay. But we have no idea. I mean, if it's a if it's a thing the employees use and it's a good perk for the employees, I'm okay with it. I just we have no data of any kind whatsoever. How many use it?
I'm we're working on it. I hope to get something to you here shortly. Would would anybody be opposed to I was going to do a recess as soon as this one is over? Is there anyone here on the dis opposed to taking it now and
then getting information when we get back? Oh, no. Okay. Let's uh so we'll go into our recess now and reconvene on that item. It's 10:06. We'll be back at I'll say 1
because of what's sitting there waiting for you. We'll be back at 120. We're in recess to 120. [Music] Yep. I may not have given enough time. I saved some of my rabbit food.
I forgot you're all in, huh? Mhm. Good. I bet I I bet I've dropped 12 lbs. You can tell. Yeah. All come back. You see it right here? I'm going to win the I was about to make a joke. I got to I'll tell you afterwards.
Good luck. [Applause] Okay, we are back from recess with the allimp important Toastmasters questions to be answered. Uh, and we have how many members that of this Toastmasters club that are Tarant County residents? We
have, I mean, Tarant County employees, I'm sorry. We have approximately 20 that attend per week. It's an annual membership of $120. We would need about 38 participants to offset that cost. Is it Is this something that you think is worth uh promoting more than we
currently promote it? Yes, all right. Um I'm I'm I'm okay with Anybody else have any questions on it? Okay. Do we have a motion approval? Second. All right. We have a motion to second to approve this item. Any discussion?
All right. Please cast your vote. Uh, Manny not a Toastmaster fan. All right. All right. 5 Z. Now he's going to blame you for that. He was quick on the draw. All right. Pass it unanimously. Next we go to K8
from consent. And [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I don't know what this is. K3 K8 is consideration of changes to the table. Am I reading the wrong one? K3 first
from consent. Oh. Oh, we got to go to K3. Really? [Music] He came back. Oh, that was that one. Got it. All right. K3. All right. What is K3?
K3 is consideration of salary administration guidelines revisions. All right. Do we have a motion on this item? Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion, second to approve this item. Any discussion? Yes. Um I am
against this change because this is phase one of two that will cut staff and their jobs, their income. of uh current employees from my office and
Commissioner Miles's office. Um, and it's exactly what Commissioner Miles stated during redistricting uh when he was concerned about staff staff cuts. Uh the density of the population and
economic infrastructures of precincts two and one is vastly different from that of precincts three and four, making this proposal not feasible and another attempt to sacrifice residents for unrealistic
campaign promises. Uh the phase two of this only saves just over 293,000 total across all the commissioner's offices. And so the value of services of
my staff that my staff provides uh is worth so much more um than having my staff cut. So, this is phase one of a two-phase project uh proposal
where all of our staffs would be uh staff sizes would be limited to five people and I think I have eight. So, I'm not interested in cutting my staff um in a precinct that is now spread out.
So instead of being compact right there in southeast Tarant County, it goes from Arlington to Crowley to Berles to Benbrook. And to service those constituents is going to
take the amount of staff I have and it would take more uh if we were uh all concerned about constituent services and um concern. So, I'm opposed to to this phase one
of the salary administration guidelines. And I'm I'm going to support phase one because my understanding in the conversations that I've had with the administrator and HR director and budget is that uncoupling
the precinct administrators or executive administrators in my instance and community outreach coordinators from my salary makes them eligible for um raises every year 3 to 6%. And to Commissioner
Simmons's point, my staff works really hard and I think that they should be eligible to be able to get, if they earn it, the full measure of those raises. So that's why I'm supporting phase one. All right. Any other comments from the court
members? Yes. And so just to or maybe you can clarify, but my understanding is um I think you want to uncouple our salaries, our sta top staff salaries
um our percentage of our salaries. That's correct. And I think the commissioner's concern is if we vote uh against giving ourselves salary increases, then our staff members won't
get increases. Is that correct? And I think Commissioner Miles had a personal story about this happening in the past. And does it have to even though it's it's
the term coupled with even though the my community outreach coordinators their salaries are coupled with mine? Um where does it say that if we vote not to give ourselves a raise,
they don't get a raise? I mean do you have to decouple? Uh yes, we need to decouple these positions. Do you have to for them to get a raise if we vote against giving ourselves a raise? So the way that it works now, yes, we would
have to decouple this and that's why this is phase one. And so if we don't vote to give ourselves a raise, they will they get any type of increase, a bonus, a 3%.
No. So, it's not like if we have staff members or employees who who are topped out and they can't get the regular they get an evaluation, they're eligible for 4% raise, but because they're at the
top of their range, they can't get a raise. But don't they get a bonus or something or a cost of living? Great. I think I think there's a a a little differentiation is that we have an unclassified position and we have a classified position and those are
handled a little bit differently and the timing of that merra increase would be handled differently. If you're unclassified that would not receive the rates because they're connected to you. the classified physicians fall into the merit pool and that that happens
annually unless they're at the top of the range and then it would be a one lump sum that would be given to them. Okay, that's where I was getting to. So if you're the top of your range, not our employees but county employees, um
you're you topped out, you will get that one time. One time once a year. One time. Yes, ma'am. What's it called? Lump sum, lump sum, lump sum. So those employees coupled with us,
if we don't give ourselves a raise, the unclassifides that are coupled with you, if you don't give yourself a raise would not, they would not receive a raise. Okay. Um Okay. All right. Any other comments from the court members?
All right. We have a motion and a second to pass this item. Uh please cast your vote. All right, it passes 4 to one. Uh, next up we have K8, which is consideration of changes to the table of organization medical examiner's office.
Um, I'll move to approve. Second. Now we have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the court members before we bring up speakers? All right. First, we have Bishop Kirkland. Then Miss Cox I believe has notified us that she has left. So our
only speaker will be Bishop Kirkland. I want to go on record saying that Mr. Mark Smiley does an excellent job in recovery of the remains of the deceased in Tarant Denton Parker in Collins County. My remarks are not directed at him or nor are they directed at our
chief medical examiner. We have an excellent chief medical examiner. Any changes that we can make or whatever we can do to make this office more proficient, we must do it. I want to see
the organ organizational chart that flows all the way from the chief medical examiner down to a mail room clerk. It takes entirely too long for the average remains of a person that passes away in
any of the four mentioned counties to remove from the place of dirt demise. In some cases, it take even longer for the body to be released to local mortuaries. I know that because my son owns a martuary. Uh my classmate Dmitra
Thompson recently passed away. Um, she laid in her living room floor from 8:30 to almost 100 a.m. with all of her children and her grandchildren. Jesus
completely bonkers the whole entire time. whatever we have to do to help our chief medical examiner any opportunity to just beg of you evident
officers we're the 11th largest city in America it's enough of Terara County but then you guys with Parker and Colin and Don these bodies were lying on the ground way too long and let me go right to
thing. Do you know Mr. Ramirez that how tension builds in adverse situations where these bodies are still there? Whatever we can do for our chief am let's do it this time. I think I
Wait, what? Give me your You get four minutes this time. Come back up and quick before he changes his mind. [Music] Um I I have a question who um so these
positions are not really defined outreach and disposition. What does that mean? And is are these duties being conducted now in the county?
So Dr. Crowns was around somewhere back there. I'll have him speak to the uh to what the positions will be used for. Uh but to answer your second question, we currently have a bifurcated system when it comes to the deceased poverty policy. We have the human services group that's
handling a portion of it. We have the medical examiner's office that's handling a portion of it. What we found uh is when we originally introduced this several months ago with the advent of the cancellation of the HSSC contract, we kind of went back to what we were doing beforehand with regards to that.
We've now had several months under this uh this agreement under this bifurcated system. And what we believe now is that it would actually be better housed under one to more effectively execute the policy and the statutory obligations of the court. So from
which department? Human services. Human services. Yes, ma'am. Going to the ME's office. Correct. And they've already worked together in tandem on this. The idea is just to bring it under one uh one individual being the chief medical examiner. Okay. So, how many people in
human services are currently performing duties that have to do with the deceased poppers? Do you know that? No. There's no one there's no position one position dedicated to doing this.
Okay, somebody's doing it. So, they they do human services work. They help people with rental assistance or utility assistance. And employee Susie Q
helps with rental assistance and also does the deceased poppers. Correct. That's part of her job description. And then Joe Blow, same thing. How many people are kind of dedicated to the deceased
poppers? I don't know if anybody's dedicated to it. I would call it one of those other duties as it signed. It's it's a it's a role that we put on to human services because that's who previously actually handled it before we did the agreement with HSC. So, it's it's kind of a shared responsibility uh
I believe uh under a few a pool of people in human services. So, I don't know if there's any I as as Helen said, there's no dedicated position to fulfilling this right now. It's it's really a shared responsibility of everyone within the department. Okay. As far I'm sorry, ma'am. Is anyone going to
lose their job over in human services because these positions are being created? There is there are no positions go away. There are no positions directly tied to this program in human services. So in a sense, we're taking the roles and
responsibilities that were in the shared area of human services and placing them over under the medical examiner's office. Dedicated. Nobody's there's no dedicated positions in human. Go ahead. Dedicating specific positions in the in the M's
office. Nobody's going to lose their job in the transition of these duties to the medical examiner's office. Yes or no? I do not believe so. Is that correct? Not
correct. Not today. No. What was that, Helen? Not in this Not in this court communication. There is no elimination of positions in this court communication. There's no elimination. I know it's not in the court communication, but if one department was doing the work
and you're moving the work to another department, will I'm just asking will anybody lose their jobs with this vote in human services? No, no one will lose their jobs with this vote move adding these positions to Medicare. That was
hard to get to, but I was probably asking it the wrong way. So, okay. Thank you, Dr. app for the work you do. We appreciate you. And this is K8. Um I believe we have a motion to second on this item. Do we not? We do. Okay. Any
further discussion on this before voting? All right. Please cast your vote. All right. Passes unanimously. Brings us to M1, which is an annual contract for e- messaging and notifications. Um, I'll
move to approve. Second. Have a motion to second. Any discussion on this? All right. Please cast your vote. Passes unanimously. Next, we have M2. We do have a speaker on this one. This is construction manager at risk for Cold
Springs jail renovation. Do we have a motion here? Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any discussion from the court before speaker? Okay. read bills. [Applause]
In the past few months, there have been several agenda items relating to expansion of jail services, including construction projects and hiring personnel from a private provider. I think it is time to reveal the county's
plans for Cold Springs facility to the tax taxpaying public. The sheriff has agreed with the people who have come before you that we should be working toward decreasing the jail population. We should be we were able to absorb the
inmates from the private prison in Garza into our county jails without opening cold springs to do so. Who then will be housed in Cold Springs when it becomes a medium security facility?
Who will guard the incarcerated inmates? Why are we increasing our capacity instead of looking for alternatives to jail? Taxpayers want answers. All right, we have a motion and a second on item M2. Any further discussion?
All right, please cast your vote. passes unanimously. Now, I will make a motion. Feel free to take your time and look through this. I'll make a motion to approve items M3
through M23. Second. We have a motion and a second. I have questions on six and eight. Okay. Yeah, go ahead and ask them. Okay. or comments on on item M6
[Applause] for security guard contract security guard services countywide. I'm um I'm okay with this except for over at the uh mental health diversion center. I'd prefer to have sheriff's deputies over there instead of security
guards. How can we make that happen? [Applause] Nobody's ever here. I think it was the reason why we have the um contract contractor over there was to free up officers for the detention center.
Are these detention officers or deputies? Chief jerk here. Okay, great. Commissioners question again. I'm sorry. Oh, sorry about that. Uh over at the U diversion center. diversion center.
Thank you. I seems to me we should have uh sworn people over there instead of um contract security is my thought. Well, the problem is and the reason we moved towards that was that uh we're short in
judicial and that's where they come from. So it took eight deputies away from judicial when uh how can it help previously they were paid by uh ARPA. Yeah, ARPA. So when that ran out, when that went out, we had to move them back
or basically we'd have eight judicial deputies now out there when we need them downtown. I'm sure like three, seven deputies in courts. Sometimes we're saying no to judges. So getting those eight deputies back was very helpful.
And now since that time through nutrition, we're in a kind of a worse spot. Uh we had a meeting this past Monday with Mark Till other people and uh Mark you know in the last year that the current company's
been out there we haven't had any complaints we're constantly in contact oversight in case something happens but uh we've not had any incidents yeah they can call you for response so Right. Right. So
we we urge the court to please just because I don't know how we're going to staff it. Okay. We got to go back to it. Thank you for answering question. Okay. Commissioner. Uhhuh. So I mean one reason why I thought we had security out there in lie of of
sheriff's deputies was because these folks are technically not in custody at that point, right? I mean it was more of a softer um healthc care center uh for folks as an alternative. I thought that was one of the reasons why we added security. Anyways, okay. I don't know if that's
still the point or not. So, so uh what I can speak for Mr. Till what he said on Monday is that they do they they do prefer not aggressive uh people, you know, deputies, it takes
a certain type of security guard. the ones they have in place or, you know, they they don't need them unless they're called. And the staff is very good about handling most incidents. And it's just it's just once in the blue moon that
sometimes the deputies or in this case the security guards have to help out physically. Like I say, the last year we haven't been called. Okay. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Was that him six? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Questions on the committee? Uh, no, I did. Um, and those got answered in my office. Let's see. Blah blah blah blah. Oh, I I do. So, uh, this skip tracing uh
software for elections, is this a recurring contract? Is this We We've always done this. [Music] I called you last night, Clint. He didn't call me back. So, I actually ma'am, I called Gabe this morning. And I
know I called you like at 6, but it wasn't even it wasn't even late late, but Okay. So, we wouldn't be here. Yes, ma'am. No, this is not a renewal of a contract that we've always done. This is new. Okay. How How do we identify? Is there a
problem? People move. Yes, there's a problem in um verifying all the data on our voter 1.3 million keeping up to date with everybody's addresses um deceased voters, right? We only get a
list from the county clerk's office if that person is deceased in Tarant County, but we don't have anything that checks nationally. So, if you're a resident of Taran County, but you pass away on vacation in Florida, we don't know to take you off our voter roles. Um, so or if you are, we don't know if
your address is a commercial address versus a residential address. All this is that I understand the name is a little odd. That's just what the the community calls this. Um, we use the companies, a lot of them are are like u credit companies and their databases. So
they have access to the NCOA and all the um registration databases, physical databases. So we will provide them a copy of our voter registrations. They bounce that off of these various databases, death records, and then they report back to us. Here's every here's
the people that no longer live where they said they live. Um, here's the people that have deceased. Here's people these addresses are commercial addresses, not resident addresses. Then that gives us the opportunity to reach out through written notification of these individuals. Have you really
moved? Have you not? And it allows us if they we don't get any response. We put these individuals on suspense and it helps maintain our voter goals at a level I can't do right now. And so it it gives us an access to a lot of information that we don't have access to right now to make sure that the
information on our voter roles is as accurate as possible. Has there been a problem? Did the elections integrity unit identify an issue? How is this coming up? The issue is it it comes up
every day in transactions as we're going through and and I find a a voter that's been deceased for a decade that we had no idea that's that's been maintained under it. It comes across when we get 14,000 challenges from the residents of different addresses because they have
access to data I don't and now we have to process all these to try to update this. This gives our office the ability to get in front of this and keep them accurate and more real time versus the very long process that that currently exists with the lack of information that
we have. See y'all again y'all put this stuff on the agenda. Is there a report? Is there something we can look at before we just read the court communicate? There's no Is
there a report that details how this is a problem? Uh how many addresses, how many, you know, deceased persons, how many fake deceased person, how many do do y'all do any reporting, tracking, analytics?
Well, I don't have that report like that because I we haven't done this yet. I haven't run back to get feedback. I just know what we come across in doing the transactions and the things we do. The other thing is is this is an opportunity to create a cost savings this year. We
have to do our mass mail out. Well, all of the addresses that that are not accurate, that aren't up to date, that are sitting there that we are not aware of, we're going to pay postage and mail. How do you know it'll be a cost savings? You you've not done any analytics. You
this is this is a this is a feeling. I mean this is you know it's not a feeling commissioner. I mean we received over 14,000 challenges from the public last year that we did have to process on on addresses that were not up to date in our system and they believe the residents didn't there. It exists. It's
there and it exists in the thousands. And so what we're trying to do is be more proactive. Instead of making the public have to go and do all of this research to try to find this, how can we solve this problem internally to get in front of this? How can we get some
analytics about that that shows that this is a problem? How long it's been a problem? Some historical data. How did this come up? Why is it effective immediately? What is the
execution timeline? What what what you didn't put that in the court communication? That is correct. We we were just trying to purchase the software in order to do this. It's we don't do full briefs on every single purchase that we make of
data. So, I didn't prepare that. I apologize. I didn't realize I was going to need all that. the what we're doing here I understand is is new. Um but like again like I said we have the challenges from the public the massive lists of addresses. We
understand that that there are deceased voters out there that when we send out the voter registration card at the every year when the spouse gets it instead of returning it to us so we get notification they just hang on to it. So, we have no idea that this person is
deceased. This gives us a way to check against these other databases to find that. And it doesn't. And I'm I'm able to do it utilizing this company instead of trying to utilize the 14 people that I have that are thousands of transactions behind already. Um, and
it's a proactive measure to to keep everything up to date. Y'all just doing something. Okay. Um, all right. Anything else from anybody on the court about this motion to approve M3 through 23? Thank you for your work, Clint. Appreciate it. Okay, seeing none,
please cast your vote. Passes 4 to one. Uh, next up is item M24, which is permission to take bids and RFPs. Do we have a motion on this item? Move approval. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve this. Any discussion
before the speakers, Nan Terry, and Joe Palmer? I'm speaking on 24E. Uh, and thank you for putting this RFP out and not waiting for the new budget year. Uh media reported Taran County Sheriff deputies fatally shot Christopher Loyo, a 19-year-old, this past spring after he
allegedly attacked him with a knife as they attempted to serve a mental health warrant. I I pray that the injured deputies have recovered and are doing well. And I lift up the family and friends of Chrisoya as they learn to live without their loved one. The sheriff's office issued a press release after this death stating that
the deputies served 427 mental health warrants and transported these taken into custody to mental health facilities last year. How many of these warrants were issued in conjunction with MHR professionals? I hope the majority were, although not for Mr. Loya. I hope the
sheriff deputies avail themselves to resources available through MHM MHMR. The court has provided MHMR employees with bulletproof fest to accompany them for these mental health warrants. Again, I thank you for getting this RFP out. Having these body cameras will be beneficial for all of Tarant County
deputy and residents. Thank you. Mr. Palmer, [Applause] I do appreciate this being put on the agenda. I'd like to add what I said earlier. This this this is interpreted as a a gesture of reform in the jail and
um it's great for Taran County to boldly go where every other major urban county in Texas has already gone before. Um I would just like to highlight one thing. The way it's written here just says deputies. It doesn't say all deputies I don't think you could realistically give all deputies a body camera, but deputies
that are in a position and a capacity to have contact with individuals in public or in the jail um need to be wearing the body cameras. And we don't need any kind of gradual roll out. They all need to be wearing them ASAP. And uh my understanding further is that um the
method by which inmates uh receive their medication, this may be wrong, this is what I was told, is that they're in a line to receive the medication. And uh there needs to be a camera on that process so that we have evidence corroborating whenever the jail staffer
writes down in their report whether the inmate refused the medication or if the medication was not available at that moment. That would be a place to put a camera. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you. So this is M24.
We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on M24 before voting? All right, seeing none, please cast your vote. All right, passes unanimously. And Commissioner Simmons, you would like to ask some questions on M12. Yes, thank
you. Thank you. Um, [Applause] why are we still putting money into the SAP platform and is there a transition timeline for SAP's replacement ever? Have y'all thought about that? So I can
I can start and then we can have Andre fill in if we need to. So the the court passed u an agreement with the consulting company to come in to start that analysis and we're in the middle of that analysis right now. Thank you. Yes ma'am. I don't think that quite answered why we're spending money
on SAP. It did because it's still our operating system for all of our financial transactions and everything. So we're just studying to move to a new system but until such time we still have to have the licenses to act to uh apply to our production system. Okay. This is
just continuing to hold the licenses while we're doing this. Correct. It's like buying our Microsoft licenses every year for all of those products. Any other questions on this? Okay. So, uh that's already passed. So, no questions there. Thank you very much. And we now
move to whatever is after M24. which is Q1 end took the month off. Yeah. Um Q1 consideration of a request for variance from the Tarant County regulation of communication facility structures.
You have to announce it while playing the fiddle. I was going to say good afternoon members of the court. So, this request for variance relates to our 300 ft setback requirement um from a subdivision for cell towers. Um the
applicant did contact the one property owner that is located within that 300t setback and uh obtained a letter of consent. Uh our office has reviewed all other application items and determined they comply with our regulations. I'll be happy to answer any questions you
have. All right. Any questions or do we have a motion on this item? Approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second to approve Q1. Any discussion? All right, cast your vote. Passes unanimously. Thank you, sir. Next
up, we have item S1, uh, appointments to various boards and commissions. Yes. Uh, judge, I'd like to move to appoint uh, Monae and Ghart, Tammy Nakamura, and Dr. Tom Schlleer to the Taran County Historical Commission. Okay, I'll second
that. Any discussion on that item? All right, seeing none, please cast your vote. Uh, passes unanimously. Any other board or commission appointments? Yes, I have three. Uh, to the Taran County Historical
Commission, Marisella Armino, to the Emergency Services District 1 Board, Lieutenant Fate Jones. Don't y'all applaud? Yeah, finally. And uh to the Taran County Hospital
District Board, Demetria Bibbons. All right, we have a motion uh to appoint those three people to those boards without trying to repeat it all. Do we have a second? Second. Second. We have a second. Any discussion? All right. Please cast your vote. Um passes unanimously. Is Demetri
related to Jenna? No. They're friends, but no. different business. Any other uh and I've got one more. Uh Roger Fischer, who many know has uh done incredible service to the JPS board for many years now. Um and so we've had a couple of
conversations, but I'm going to be uh replacing him with an appointment. And so I I move to appoint David Mansorfer uh as one of my representatives to the Tarant County board uh JPS board. And I also really want to thank Roger for his years of dedication and service. He's
done a fantastic job and appreciate that and I think David's going to take over and do a really good job for him. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second on that item. Any discussion there? All right, please cast your vote. All right, passes unanimously. Any other
board or commission appointments? All right, seeing none, we now move to a briefing item, operational impact of Tarant County redistricting. Good afternoon, court members. Uh we were asked to just put together a uh a brief briefing briefing I guess I can
say that uh on what we've been doing since June 3rd with regards to the operational impact of redistricting. So this is set up uh by or organized I should say kind of by department. Uh and these so far are kind of the main departments that have been involved in
shape or form uh with result um uh with respect to the results of our June 3rd redistricting vote. So just going right in alphabetical order uh we would start with budget. Uh budget has certainly been involved uh with each of the court members with regards to their fiscal 25
and fiscal 26 budgets. Uh most of what you're going to see on all these departments is we're just here in a supporting role trying to help our court members out with anything they need to to change especially in the uh the fiscal 26 budget since those budgets were turned in before the action of the court was taken. So Helen's making sure
that we are supporting our commissioners with any adjustments that they may need to make with regards to the budget communications. We broke this down to really internal and external. Uh internally, uh the biggest thing we've been doing is reviewing the fun fact. We
have over 4,000 pages on our on our website. Uh making sure that all 4,000 pages, uh if they have any reference to commissioner precincts, uh or areas of representation that all of those are being updated. Uh typically you have a combination of IT communications working
through those together getting with the page authors who are the ones that are responsible for the content of those page making sure they're aware of uh anything on their page that may be inaccurate so they can they can update those. Uh we're also working on externally uh certainly we're making sure as I said the the web pages are
updated. Uh we've asked the mayor's council to be updated just uh through James whenever uh he has their next meeting with them. Uh and we're also uh offering any assistance any the commissioners may need with any of their new representative areas with regards to either citizen notifications or any of
the areas they represent. County auditor. This is just kind of a bold statement of uh certainly the auditors on the back end of everything with regards to payments uh and everything that needs to be done with regards to assets. So we're keeping her in the loop on the front on the front end so basically she can make sure that
we're being taken care of on the on the back end. uh elections has uh has some four things going on as well here. Uh so first thing is to ensure that we have uh single member districts are maintained. Uh I believe today the court approved
notification party chairs of what those some of those new districts may look like. That will come back to the court for their final approval after uh those party chairs have been notified of the updates. Uh GIS is a big part of this also. uh GIS layers across all of our
systems need to be updated. So, uh ITD has been doing a a yman's job of working through all those layers. Again, reaching out to support the court members on their layers, checking with transportation and elections and everyone else that uh has GIS layers in their systems to just make sure we have
the most accurate information out there. Uh Clint's working on his plan to update the voter registration information of the affected voters in their system. Uh as well as drafting required notices to comply with the requirements of the the voting precincts for redistricting facilities. Uh also doing some GIS work
uh through this process. We actually found one of our subcourouses that was slightly off of where it should have been in our GIS system. So we've corrected that. that triggered us to go and look at all of our facility locations just to make sure that they're accurately shown not only in the commissioner precincts but also just on
the actual map itself for anyone that may be trying to use our GIS systems to navigate to whatever facility they may be going to. Uh, also we're looking at all of our physical signage around all of our facilities just to make sure that everything again is accurate and and there I think we're very close with
facilities uh on that audit. Uh, and then at such time if we find any inaccuracies out there, we will we will be sure to um to to bring in a signage contractor and make those make those adjustments as needed. Uh, fleet again here is really more in a
supporting role for both heavy and light equipment. Uh certainly the court has uh given each commissioner uh the equipment and personnel they need in order to uh fulfill their rhythm bridge commissioner exeicio officer duties. Uh fleet stands by to assist any of the court members uh
with any movement or transfer of equipment that they need to make. Uh and that also again ties back to what Helen's been doing with regards to the budget for fiscal 26. Uh human resources. I think there's been a couple of employees that have just reached out saying what does this mean? How does this work? How does this affect
me from a a personnel standpoint? So, we've had HR just kind of on standby taking calls as needed. I I don't think there's been a ton of calls, but there's certainly been a few calls and um and and Roxy and her team have been have been handling that. Uh it just one more time with the GIS layers. A lot of GIS
layers to go through. Uh I believe Andre let me know before court this morning. may believe they've got all of those maps updated, the ones that are under it ID transportation hasated as well, but we're we're still just making sure that everything is as it should be. And as I mentioned earlier, the the web authors,
we're just making sure that if we do find some inaccuracies on their page, we're letting them know so they can update the content as needed. uh our IGR folks, Aaron, uh just really making sure again on the board and commission appointments that there's no conflicts out there that uh may be due to
appointments and where districts are. Uh haven't found anything so far. It's just as a cursor review we're doing just to make sure that all uh appointments are still accurate. Uh if there is anything affected, we'll certainly make sure each commissioner is aware of that so they can resolve it as they see fit. Uh and
then certainly we're making sure that the state and federal delegations are are also aware of of these changes as well. Transportation's been a little busier. Uh in addition to the GIS maps that they've worked on, we also reached out to our bond council with regards to our transportation bond that's out there
just to make sure that the redistricting uh does not affect any of our bond covenants that we have. Uh so far we have not found any uh issues with that. bond council has uh basically assured us that the redistricting that took place will not uh will not affect any of the bond covenants that are currently out
there. Uh any of the ILAs that are put on the agenda every week, uh we've offered up transportation to work with the commissioner's office should there be anything out there that needs to be uh edited, realigned, or anything like that. Uh so we're letting transportation work with our our commissioners on that.
Uh internal policies of bond funding, we're just making sure that there are no changes there. There may be uh funds that were allocated potentially for a project from one commissioner. It may not be in their precinct anymore and now it could be funded by another commissioner. Uh that we're we're working through those items as they come
up uh just to make sure that everyone's aware of the funding amount amount they have available especially for discretionary projects. Uh and then they can again make decisions on how they want to bring those discretionary dollars to the court for their consideration. Uh and then finally again just that supporting role for uh all the
road and ridge assets under their purview. I believe each of you the four court members or excuse me four commissioners uh we we had GIS prepare uh representation for cities and ISDs. Uh we provided updated maps on gain and
removal for road and bridges that are under the purview of each of the commissioners. Uh, I believe we also provided a facilities map so you can see each district, which facilities that Tarant County owns and operates or each of your precincts just so you'll have that information for your use as you see fit.
And that's that's what I have. That's what we've been working on for the past 30 or so days. Great job. Thanks, gentlemen. It's great. You and your team, really good job. I mean, this this process is not painfree. Uh, and I know that you guys are working very very hard
to sort it out. And again to to my colleagues on the court, uh same message, it's not painfree. And I think that sorting through this to make sure that there's uninterrupted service and that we provide the exact same level of service and even improved uh is very
important. So I mean I I know myself and and Commissioner Krauss who had quite a bit of border swap and roads uh move around. We've been in very close communication to talk about how to make sure that we maintain and improve service throughout those communities. So, uh, we're committed to continue to
do that. That's right. All right. Any comments from the court members? Yes. So, I I call this briefing and I think it should be added to each agenda so we can get updates um to
better understand the operational impact as we go along. I mean today is not the beginning and the end of the changes or hearing about the changes that will occur. Um just right off the bat with
communication. So uh there was a rush to to go through this redistricting process you know 6 8 weeks. Um, it does not appear there was any
transition plan ever created. It was just about changing boundaries to get the votes. Um, and so that left our county staff hustling and scrambling and trying to
figure things out. Um, on Wednesday after that vote, I said, "Okay, what are my new cities? What what are my new school districts? What county facilities are here?" And they did know, but they quickly
um did did the overlays and all that stuff to get it figured out. Uh, so we left no plan for transitioning administrative operations. Very irresponsible.
uh in going through this process. Uh one thing we must do is make sure all the county employees are notified that redistricting is the new map is effective right now
as well as our constituents as well as the community. We have not notified them. So, our communications department has a really big job
to undertake to notify the 2.2 2 million residents that the boundaries have been redrawn and you may have a new commissioner and you may not be able to vote if you're in
the Grand Prairie area for six total years uh for a new commissioner. We've got to communicate that our communications department job one. I'm not sure why we didn't send out a uh and the public won't know this, but a
ZZ email to say that to the county employees that redistricting is in effect. This is how it might affect your department. Um so, you know, that's first of all, I appreciate the PowerPoint.
Um, but I want to see this on the agenda permanently until it all smooths out. Um,
we need an elections update. Uh, all of that people need to know if their voting precincts have people need to know this occurred. So you do have a big job and
um with regard to road and bridge um the precinct one maintenance center is now in precinct 2. So precinct 2 has two maintenance centers and most all of the
road miles the lane miles that were in precinct one. I'm not sure how many you have left. Four and a half. Four and a four four and a half. Incorporated. Unincorporate. We're talking unincorporated. Um
so, you know, there's discussion about it needs to continue. We've we've discussed this um briefly, but capital funds transfer or I've got to
add more money to my budget. um personnel transfer equipment. What what what's the plan? And this court did not consider that. I'm not even
yelling at the county staff. This sounds like it was dropped in your laps. Um so it's just irresponsible leadership, but we'll get through it. And I think first things first,
notify the our constituents. Whatever our communications department has to do, we budget for television ads, public service, what we have to let people know. Um, so let's just keep this on the
agenda until it smooths out. Anybody else have anything? All right, we have I believe five speakers. Bishop Kirkland, calling Bishop Kirkland, Valencia, Lane Edner. This issue has made my brakes trying to
raise us bills and lost the residence. And if I were a weak man, I give up my will to fight this issue. Mhm. But because I am who I am, I'd rather die
on my feet than to live on my knees. Have you guys gone down to the east side? Our our roads, our delays to get anything accomplished. Well, what really y'all supposed to be
doing the most of anyway? y'all doing the least stuff as commissioners really because y'all are being bogged down in too many other areas that is not really your real truest society. So when we get to your real truest assignment, we
suffer bad on the east side. Now now I'm lying that things are going to take even longer for us. You know, I went out I went out up your way in Philly. That's one of the things they say. I lived there for a minute. Well, I went up your
way and I thought, man, I wish the six looked like this. I wish I could drive in my vehicle with those low profile tires like this and not have to zigg and zag. So, I'm worried about this redistricting as it relates as it
relates to that. And I know you can't talk to me, Commissioner Simmons, but did you just say that people in Grand Prairie can't vote for six years? Mhm. How did that people? Mhm. Don't nobody
have a problem with that. Mhm. That could be justified. I thought you were really listening us to a minute, Commissioner Ramirez. And then when I saw the vote, my breath was taken away
because it's like no matter what 100% of the people present your constituents say, you guys still do what you want to do. Yep. So why are we here? Are we pissing in the wind and it blow back on our leg? I guess I have could
got a better analogy. I apologize. I'm worried about what this does to my village. And I thought about standing up saying, you know what, I've talked enough today. I don't say anything else, especially as it relates to
redistricting. But you people wonder why I represent the people I represent that are always so angry with you. Come to the east side, find out. Come check us out. Come walk in our shoes.
See what it's like. You wouldn't live, you wouldn't last a minute on those roads that you'll find out. Come check us out. Following Dr. Edner, we have Nan Terry. [Music] Yep, you won.
But what did you win? Really? What's happened in Taran County is not just political redistricting. It's a deliberate act of eraser. And we will keep saying it. This travesty disproportionately
devastates black and brown communities, stripping services and power from the very people who have it the least. to give even more to those who already have the most.
Let's be real. Conservative in this context is a euphemism for racism. And yet we know you do not care how we feel. or these or how these employees who you
honor on one hand and then flip their worlds upside down on another. Your givea care is busted. Now you can try to redress it.
You can you can try to redress it in up in legal or political language, but the intent is clear and the impact is undeniable. This is all lipstick on a pig. To those who claim faith
while participating in this injustice, I ask you, how can you soothe your soul while calculatingly perpetuating the abuse and oppression of the poor, the marginalized,
the cross-section of God's children who cry out for justice? You are right. It is not painfree. It's painful. H Today you honored the dead quite eloquently
while you keep spitting in the face of the living. Make that make sense. This political narcissism slaps the Jesus you say you believe in right in the face. This inhumity is not just cruel, it's
diabolical. It's evident that you cannot be embarrassed personally. And I don't have enough time or crayons to explain it to you. So let me assure you, we will not be silent. We will speak, protest, organize, litigate through every means
available to make it undeniably clear your actions show you care more about affirming the affluent than defending the disenfranchised. You still have an opportunity to do what's right. You could pause this, turn it around,
resend your decisions, but your political agenda and your personal ambitions far outweigh your moral comp. Your time is up. Thank you. Following Miss Terry, we have Tanner Tras. [Applause] I can't begin to say what the
operational impacts of this redistricting are. However, I was struck when the conversations prior to this uh decision to redistrict when several speakers spoke, mentioning having staff and facilities in separate precincts
with separate lines of command and separate maintenance issues and separate and all that needed to be addressed and it doesn't appear that it has been addressed and and personally I'm not impacted. However, my dad is he now is
in Commissioner Simmons district. He lives in an assisted living or he lives in a senior living center down in the southwest part of town. But but I'm torn because part of me is like I wonder if
the three individuals who voted for this if they would be so quiet on all the things that have to happen if a Republican does win precinct. Let's say if Tony Tinder Hold wins and run runs and then wins, will the staff in the buildings remain the same as you planned
for them today? Or he shows up, oh, we're going to move those and make sure everything's the same. I I'm kind of struck that there's no the situation's the same regardless who's in office. And I I wish that you make sure that if
the staff and the maintenance are under now a different precinct that that's addressed by this court. Thank you. Uh following Mr. Tras, we have Dr. Harold. [Applause] Good afternoon. Hi. Last month, many of
your constituents told you exactly that this would happen, that we would have these lawsuits, that we would have all of this work to be done, that the staff is doing their absolute best to carry out. And there's a silver lining, I think, here to not having a transition plan in
place before the vote, and that's that we it's not too late to throw out these maps. It's not too late to go back, get the old mass in place, follow the regular redistricting process. And I guess the other option is to keep
moving forward and spend time on defending these lawsuits and these late night meetings and doing all the work these good folks are going to have to do to make these new maps a reality. Instead of spending your time on doing good works for the people of Tarant
County, instead of spending time with your families and friends, maybe even going fishing or bowling. So, when you're out here on these really late nights working with whatever uh legal organization you're allowed to work on, work with when the uh when that
eventually comes up. I guess the one thing I want you to remember is that you have one blessed, holy, and wild life to live. And you'll have to ask yourself, is this really how I want to live it? Thank you. All right, Dr. Harold
[Applause] commissioners, you passed this redistricting plan in such a rush to gain power that there was no thought given to actually implementing it. My understanding from employees of the county is that it came as a shock that
it was to be implemented immediately upon your vote on June 3rd with no time provided for any planning. I appreciate Chandler's uh briefing today and the hard work that they have been doing since June 3rd to try to figure out what
needs to be done and get started on it. But I want to speak to some perceptions that result from this lack of planning and consideration and because PIL provided no information in their gleeful
efforts to disenfranchise black voters. For instance, precinct one with the black voters has lost the garage and the employees to maintain county roads and its boundaries. Have you given any thought to that? Or
how the budget and employees for those services moves to precinct 2? Or did you deliberately want to reduce services in the black precinct and give Commissioner Simmons a disproportionate workload in
precinct 2. The perception because no citizen of Taran County was provided with information from PIL is that some of the special places and the economic engines of downtown and TCU
were taken away from the black precinct, precinct one. And the economic engine of Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark was taken away from precinct 2 and given to the whitest precinct in the county,
precinct 3. Or did you deliberately want to leave the black precinct with the fewest resources and least services? It looks like it. And if you reject, as I know you want
to, the assumption of racist intent, you have a lot of work ahead of you, you three, to start trying to demonstrate that. I am asking for a public report detailing what Chandler has given us and
the progress on all of those items, a timeline for accomplishing them, and the cost for each. I would like it to be on the Tara County website and as Commissioner Simmons has asked that it be a part of an agenda so that it is
regularly provided and and that you demonstrate the respect of the Taran County citizens to provide that because I want to know that somehow you are going to try to prevent Taran County
from being a model of discrimination. Thank you. So that's all the speakers we have on this item. Next we will move to another briefing historical marker 24324 briefing.
Good afternoon. Uh so unfortunately the uh the person that was going to speak on this today is not available to speak. Um, the one thing to note about this marker is that it was received by the Taran County Historical Commission in
February of 2024 and was initiated by City of Fort Worth staff. Okay. Okay. Anybody else have something? I do. Who was supposed to brief brief this Jamie? The most appropriate person would have been the Tarant County Historical
Commission chair. Okay. What about uh Jamie? Jamie is with the archives. So she is just the uh lays on staff. She doesn't um I know. So she's the liaison to the Taran County Historical Commission. Correct. Yes,
ma'am. But she's not knowledgeable about any of this. Well, she is not the one who's uh reviewing the applications. That's the historical commission reviewing the applications, but she's our county staff liaison to
the historical commission. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. So, she should know about this whole what happened, this whole process, and she should know about what their work is, what they're
doing. That's what that's why we have a lesson. I would agree with that. Why is everybody looking at Jojo here when they come up here? I swear to God I am I'm asking I'm asking the questions. It's not just you. It's it's Clint. It's
Helen. I'm Look at me and try to answer my questions, please. Um so I want to take a moment to speak clearly and firmly. you can have a seat in defense of the Tarant County Historical Commission and to express
my outrage at the actions taken by our county judge regarding the Rainbow Lounge historical marker. So, Judge O'Hare uh sent a letter to the Texas Historical Commission requesting
that the approval of the Fort Worth LGBTQ plus community marker be rescended. And in that letter, he made demonstrabably false claims about the members of the historical
commission and their actions. He falsely alleged that a single committee member of our Tarant County Historical Commission acted unilaterally without input from the full commission to move the application forward. That's
simply not true. That's not what happened. Let me be clear. The Taran County Historical Commission followed the correct process in full compliance with the Texas Historical Commission's guidance.
The marker chair on the Tarant historical commission was duly appointed and served in her designated role as liaison throughout the process. The application was reviewed, discussed, and
documented in commission minutes and was distributed to the full commission. There is not an error of process here. What we have is an abuse of power. The real issue here is not about
historical procedures. It's about erasing history, specifically the history of the LGBTQ LB LGBTQ plus community in Tarant County. Judge O'Hare's actions are in my
estimation political grandstanding. They are discriminatory and they are an obstruction of the legitimate state sanctioned process. The state historical commission approved this marker after reviewing
our submission. The applicant, the city of Fort Worth, followed up by submitting payment. The they then drafted the marker language reviewed by both the applicant and the
Tarant County Historical Commission. That is exactly how this process is designed to work. And let's not forget the Taran County Historical Commission has received the Texas Historical Commission's
Distinguished Service Award every year since at least 2016 until now. And because of this, the only reason they were denied this year is because of
this false narrative pushed forward by the judge. That is unfortunate. We talk about Taran County as a family. We appoint people to these boards that
we uh vet and trust. And then we one of us goes and does something like this. So judge I ask you why do you like gay people so much? Why why the focus?
I mean you don't get to rewrite history because you don't like it or what it includes. You don't get to dictate which communities are allowed to be seen, heard, and remembered.
This court and these court members should not be in the business of gatekeeping history, especially when it's rooted in discrimination and political interference. I stand with those volunteers on the
Tarant County Historical Commission and I stand with the LGBTQ plus community whose history, pain, and progress deserve to be acknowledged and preserved just like any other. This this
was just overreach and and political. It was too much. Um, and it's I'm sure it's painful to the people on that historical commission. Those folks are volunteers. Um, and they did what they were supposed
to do. If the city of Fort Worth screwed up, that's on them. But the members of the Taran County Historical Commission did what they were supposed to do. And so the record needs to be set straight because it's out there in the media that
the Tarant County Historical Commission didn't do the right things. They didn't follow the right process. Not true. Thank you. Anybody else have anything? Well, I I mean, so Commissioner Simmons, I mean, Judge
O'Hare can write any letter, all the letters that he wants to the Texas State Historical Commission, but it's not his decision whether they resend or approve an application. So, why do you think the Texas Historical Commission after receiving the letter rescended the
application? If everything had been done exactly the way you had said it in perfect order where everything was done right, why would the Texas State Historical Commission then have resended that application? Political pressure. So that's the only reason you think they they just caved into political pressure.
They didn't go back and review and see, oh, maybe some steps were missed and they hadn't done it the right way. Nope. That they do this every day. So they they cave to political pressure. They they do what every day? They approve markers every day that this is what they
do at the Texas Historical Commission. Yeah. Okay. Well, so pressure from Taran County and whoever from Fort Worth was coerced to also call it the Texas Historical Commission. It's politics. It's politics, man. It's straight pure
and simple. And and if it discrimination and and if it had turned out that something had been missed in the process, you would be joining and saying the right way. I'm told there was nothing missed in the process. But if something had turned up to be wrong, you
would then be in favor of resending that since it wasn't sent uh approved under the right circumstances. I'm told there was nothing missed in the process. So but but anything anything that's if
there are missteps uh at our level or at the state and no I would not support wrongdoing or missteps or moving forward. Okay. Thank you. Anybody have anything else?
So, if if my board members called me and said, "This never came through the committee, either they lied to me, um, or they told me the truth." I'm going to go out on a limb and say they told me the truth. The city of Fort Worth has
publicly acknowledged that it didn't follow the proper process there. Uh, in addition, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that I don't think glorifying
drag show performances is an appropriate thing. I don't I won't now. I won't tomorrow. I won't next week. I won't next month. If this goes through the historical committee and they vote to approve it and it follows the proper process and it goes through the same
thing with Fort Worth, then it would pass and it would move forward. So I believe every piece of information I put in the letter is self-explanatory and accurate and I stand by it 100%. And not a single person has shown me anything
to suggest what I wrote is remotely inaccurate. I've seen it. So, yes. So, anything else from the court? All right. So, we have, I believe, five speakers on this item. Bishop Kirkland
and then read bills. Mr. Cross, it annoys me how you make statements in the form of questions. Sir, you going to make a statement. Just make a statement and don't put it in the formal question. That annoys me beyond knowing. I just want to say I have eight
sons and and seven daughters. Yeah, I did a little marine and preaching. Of those eight sons, three of my sons are gay and their father loves it around me. Walk them.
of my seven daughters, one of my daughters is gay and is probably one of my best friends since all the rest of them are dead. My son told me he was getting married. I said, "Son, I'mma come to the wedding, but when you take pictures, your daddy
ain't going to be in no pictures just because people do what they want to do with pictures and they'll say I'm making a political statement." So when get to the part of groom kiss the groom, that's when your daddy leaves. We're talking about people.
We're talking about people that happen to love people that they love. And all the talk the Republicans do about family values. Some of these people that we've reduced
to nothing because they love who they love are better or more sound, moral, loving, giving, productive members of our community. It is another move
by the Republican regime. I'm neither Democrat nor Republican, but it's another move with these Western Christianity values that determines however they
think everybody's supposed to live. It repulses me. On behalf of my four gay children, I am offended and I'm appalled at the actions of this mother. My babies
are my babies and I love the gay ones like I love the straight ones because the gay ones somehow seem to take better care of father. I don't know why. I'm ashamed for I'm ashamed Taran Kelly for such a move.
I don't know much about the Rainbow Lounge except one thing that matters. They are Thank you. Miss Bills. Following Miss Bills, we have Jane Collins. [Applause]
The city of Fort Worth recently honored our LGBTQ community with a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month. Judge O'Hare recognized Pride Month by rescending a Fort Worth application for an historical marker recognizing the
LGBTQ history in Tarant County. The fact, if indeed it is a fact, that the application for the marker may have skipped some bureaucratic requirement could not possibly have mattered to the judge. This homophobic and transphobic
action erases a story of Fort Worth that the city wanted to honor. Apparently, Judge O'Hare is not only trying to eliminate all the Democrats and persons of color from the county, he would like
to do the same to our LGBTQ residents as well. Uh, following Miss Collins, we have Todd Camp. Um, my name is Jane Collins. I'm from Arlington and I appreciate Miss Simmons uh giving some facts on this. I I read
the article in the uh Fort Worth report and uh the reason I wanted to speak on this is this is an issue to me of either inclusion or exclusion and it's the same issue that came up on racial
gerrymanding mandering. are are we including or are we excluding our our voters and our the members of our communities? So, uh I read the article and I saw the the question got brought up whether the
correct procedure was followed. But then what I noticed is when they talked to uh Ruth Ray, oh here's chief of staff, she gave the real reason why uh why he wrote the letter, you know. So
and he just said it himself. He doesn't believe in dragged performances and you know in in his uh p chief of staff didn't think children should see that plaque when they're walking around.
Well, I'm I'm a retired teacher. I've had uh children with two mothers. I've had children that I thought probably were LGBTQ, but it was too young to be sure. and I've had a trans person in my
class. So, uh, what I noticed is children can love and accept people in their community unless they're poisoned into bullying people. And I think it's really important as a teacher or as a
political representative to include and not exclude people. And that's why I wanted to speak on this. I think it's very similar issue to what we saw with the racial gerrymandering. So, I just wanted to connect those two issues
because I think they're very much the same. Thank you. Is Mr. Camp present? Uh, following Mr. Camp, we have Tanner Tras on this one. Uh, good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Uh, my name is Todd Camp and I am
the executive director of Yester Quequer, the Tarant County LGBTQ history project and I'm a resident of near Southside in District 9. I'm here representing a broader community of residents, scholars, and neighbors who believe in the value of preserving local
history. All of it. There's been some confusion about the content and the purpose of the LGBTQ state historical marker that was recently denied. And I think I'm in the unique position to address it as I helped write it. To clarify, the proposed marker was not
intended to memorialize the 2009 Rainbow Lounge raid, which falls outside the Texas Historical Commission's 50-year eligibility guideline. Nor does it glorify drag shows. Instead, the marker focuses on the deeper, decadesl long
history of Fort Worth's LGBTQ community and the significance of the South Jennings neighborhood, a space that has long served as a hub for community, activism, and cultural expression. Markers like these are not about rewriting the past. They're about recognizing it. And right now, that
recognition is deeply unbalanced. According to the Texas Historical Commission's own database, currently in Fort Worth, there are seven state markers classified under black history, one marker under Asian-American history, and one marker dedicated specifically to women's history. At this time, there are
zero state historical markers for LGBTQ history in Fort Worth, and only one statewide in Dallas. This is not because that history doesn't exist. It's because it's been routinely overlooked. Markers do more than commemorate. They
educate. They invite visitors and residents alike to engage with the layered complex stories that shape a place. When one community story is absent, the historical record is incomplete. The omission becomes a statement in
itself. Once again, Fort Worth has the opportunity to lead as it has in the past to show that our city values the contributions of all its citizens, including those who've historically lived in the margins. Denying this marker sends the message that some
histories are less worthy of preservation than others. But placing it and placing it accurately says something far greater. That Fort Worth sees the full picture and believes in telling the full story. Thank you for your time and for considering what this means not just
for the LGBTQ plus community, but for the integrity and inclusiveness of our shared local history. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tras. [Applause] So according to KE's local reporting on this issue, which for the most part
seems to agree with Commissioner Simmons testimony, the normal procedures for a historical marker were followed and there doesn't appear to be any legal mechanism for the Taran County Commissioner's Court to get involved in this at all. Um you I've mentioned
earlier I used to teach history here in Tarant County and I taught you know each year that our federal system here is predicated on a system of checks and balances that different organizations within our government have different responsibilities and different powers
and privileges. Um, in short, the Taran County Commissioners Court does their job and the Tarant County Historical Commission does theirs. And as a former history teacher and as a leader of a community here in Tarant
County, I feel called to say that folks who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and more have been in Tarant County, are currently in Tarant County, and always will be in Tarant County. and I'd like you to please resend your statement to
try and cancel this motion. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Does anyone in the court need to take a break? Now, I want to point out a couple of things. I have a question, and I you don't have to answer it. Did you have access to what
the verbiage was on the marker at all? Has that Have they gotten that far? I I know what the verbiage is. I don't I can't tell you if at the point I wrote the letter if I do. I don't I don't remember. Okay. So, I was wondering
about the drag show thing. And um just for your information, I've got the minutes. So that's that's how I know that what you said in your letter is inaccurate because the approval and the
whole process of them was captured documented in the commission's minutes, the Taran County Commission minutes. So, um, even though you didn't you heard something different from your
appointees, it it's documented in the minute. So, that's it. All right. Anything else? All right. Next up is a briefing item on Tarant County Emergency Services District number one. [Applause]
Good afternoon. My name's Stephen Watson. I'm a uh working as a contract interum director for Taran County ESD1. And we were reached out to you by Commissioner Simmons office to come provide a briefing uh on the study outcome, stakeholder feedback, and the
status of the permanent director process. So, I'm here to share that with you briefly and answer any questions that you have. Um about this time last year, uh the county had put together, uh an RFP, the county and the district had put together an RFP for full-blown
organizational study um of the emergency district. Uh and I came on board, I believe it was in June of last year, and we worked with the county administrator's office at the time um to work through the RFP and select the firm to do the study. Uh Fitch and Associates was the firm that conduct was selected
to conduct the study. Uh we were hoping that would be about a 6 to 7 month time frame. It wound up taking significantly longer due to some challenges with acquiring all of the data and and response data and getting accurate data. So the study was finally published in
May and we're working to move forward from there. Just some quick findings of the study. Uh we have more of a g geography issue than a workload issue. Um there is service demand but that service demand is spread out over 150 plus square miles.
Um, so our system resiliency is okay from a workload standpoint, but we're just not in all the places that we need to be. Service gaps are identified. Um, on page one of the study, which is on the district's website, if you care to look at it, um, it it recommends that three new fire stations be constructed.
That being in the southwest portion of the county, uh, in the area known as Whiskey Flats, 377, 1187, uh, the northern Eagle Mountain area. Um, and then a third, uh, west on 1886, uh,
around the Lakeside community, if you will. Another thing I would like to mention because I think it bears mentioning is this wasn't an evaluation of facilities. This was an evaluation of service location. So um one of in part of our stakeholder feedback after the
study that we've been going around and collecting and we're still working on that. We haven't made it to all 14 fire departments yet. Um, Renon Fire Department is responsible for 26% of the total call volume of the entire service area of the district and they do tremendous work there. Um, and they're
they're in my interpretation they're in need of a facility as well as part of this overall capital project. So, I think that's going to get included in in the stakeholder feedback. Part of the study process was also stakeholder input. So, Fish and Associates met with
all of the the service providers that contract with the district, which is I believe it's uh 10 it's nine or 10 municipalities and then there's I believe four nonprofit 501c4 fire departments. Um
couple of other thing recommendations in the study was performance-based contracts just to basically take adopt a system of measures and ensure that taxpayer funds are being spent on those contracts. Um but there's performance metrics that are tracked on a regular basis as part of that. Uh and then of
course um additional equipment and staffing will be needed to out outfit and and provide for services where those new facilities are put in place. Um the moving on and any questions on the state that's a very very brief overview.
So, did you It seems like the stakeholder um interviews or conversations were done. Have they been done? They're in process,
right? So, you did the study. You did the study first. you've made some decisions about what what's getting built um but you didn't get stakeholder feedback
prior to so the board has not made any hard decisions on what's being built. The only action that's been taken uh following the study was uh to authorize me until there's other staff uh on the board to start identifying subject
properties in line with the study recommendations just because that's that capital project is going to be a lengthy project. First we got to find land uh then make sure that those properties are feasible to provide the services recommended. So all we're all we tried
to do is start moving the ball forward on those um study recommendations. No money has been spent on that. No no no land has been acquired yet. We're identifying subject properties is really the first step. Okay. So perhaps when you identify uh some properties you'll
get feedback from stakeholders. So you are taking steps without stakeholder feedback is well respectfully I I would say that uh those those are running in parallel again the the district has not acquired any
property or spent a penny on any new capital projects yet um while doing the work to identify available properties in line with where the study recommends it's taking us I would say 30 to 45 days to get around and visit with the 14
primary service contract fire departments and get their gather their feedback on the study itself. Mhm. Um and I I don't foresee that um any properties would be acquired or even entered into contract on before that
process is done. There's I think it's it's notable um that there's been significant citizen input um from both the Eagle Mountain community and the Whiskey Flats area um imploring the district to take swift action on
bringing services out there to those service cats. So I think the the board feels compelled to try to move that ball forward while um we're collecting feedback from the stakeholders on the study. The
What we knew was uh a point of contention with most of the stakeholders was funding equity especially to the municipalities and that was something that we asked Fitch to directly address in the study which if you if you care read it's on the website on page 36. They presented
um there's four or five funding alternatives uh based on utilization or a base fee plus utilization to the municipalities for fire funding. we've always had or the as I understand for it's been a long-standing utilization funding schedule on the EMS side. Um so
one of the things that we're collecting in that stakeholder feedback is which of these um formularies in the study you feel would properly remunerate the municipality for the funding inequities that they they've shared uh that they
have. And I I understand you may have received some communication from some of your constituents that they feel like um moving forward on trying to identify possible properties for station locations should not happen until all of
them have been communicated with. But there's no again nothing's being acquired or any action taken uh until that stakeholder feedback is completed. We're just trying to go to get the ground running and go to work on all of the study recommendations as quickly as
possible. Okay. Have were you able to get input from So you're working on getting input from all the ESD fire chiefs? Yes, ma'am. Um did have any confirmed that the relative data in the uh Fitch
study is accurate? Do they have problems with some of the data? What's the feedback thus far? So there's been we've received some communication that some of what we call shoot times um it's time from when the call is dispatched until the resources and route that some of those
times they feel like were longer than what their records show. One of the challenges um in what took so long with the study is that the the different fire departments that the districts that the district contracts with to deliver a
service is they're dis dispatched by two primary entities but then there's also two other entities. the city of Fort Worth dispatches several of the fire departments and then the Tarant County Regional Communication Center in Everman dispatches some of them and then still
uh Ben Brook and Crowley at times use their own municipal dispatch centers. So as you can imagine amassing all of that data and sometimes that data was conflictive um to produce a measurable result in the study was very
challenging. I think some of that is um that resource is in fact moving but the time it takes to they're transferring from say Ben Brookke because they communicated that they had concerns u talking to their dispatch to moving and talking to TCRC there's just a physical
delay there um so one of the things that really needs to be done is as much as possible to centralize the communication side of the district. Sure. Okay. Um I have a whole bunch of questions, but as you'll see, I made an appointment today.
I think he's Is he here? Is um No, he left. Okay. Uh I was going to introduce you to my appointee to the ESD and so uh I'll be able to follow up more closely. I do have uh one more question.
Have you I went to a meeting and I heard that three I think I heard that three fire stations would be constructed at some point. Have you prioritized those? So the
district has not taken any action to prioritize those in the study. They were prioritized in the order of the Whiskey Flats area, then Eagle Mountain, then west on 1886. Mhm. I refer to Lakeside as the area around the Lakeside community, the
uninorporated areas out there is what they're referring to. That would be, I guess, west of Lake Worth and south of a building, northwest of White Settlement. Um I the the district is currently debtree and is
very close to having the financial wherewithal to to be able to build those facilities debtree. We've been out allocating uh capital funds Most of the unrestricted funds had have been allocated to a capital facilities fund based on the study recommendation.
Uh but the the district has not said we are going to build these fire stations in this order or in this order priority yet. Okay. That's what I'm interested in because I'd heard that uh the Eagle Mountain one would be built first
and I understand that um there's massive growth in that Whiskey Flats area. So, Southwest probably needs attention first. Um, so that's that's how the study kind of has it ranked, but the ESD
commission has not made the decision yet. No, part of that spending stakeholder feedback. Okay. report on that. So, so and I the I I think maybe it caused some contention with with some of the stakeholders, but the action to um
explore available properties is really a very preliminary action um to try not to have any delay because the service gaps there are critical and citizens there are showing up to meetings and giving feedback. So we wanted to give credence to that and start at least seeing what is out there
while we're wrapping up the stakeholder feedback on the study so that hopefully we can bring actionable items to the board. With regard to that Eagle Mountain location, how did how is it explained in
the study? How we how it was determined that we need an additional fire station out there because there's one that exists. Correct. There's one that exists. The challenge is that it's too far south for the area,
the primary area that it really covers. Um and all of the all of the recommendations in the study are supported by data. Uh there's four modules that support the sun report that's published on the district's website. Uh and so response data for 3
years was taken and catalog and GIS analysis ran on it and also an analysis on the insurance services office public professional class ratings. So, one of the pain points both in the Eagle Mountain community west
going towards Lakeside and then down Ranch, Gidacres, Mustang Creek, all of that area down there in the Whiskey Flats area is that they're over five road miles from fire station, which makes them a public protection class rating of 10, which some insurance
companies aren't even riding policies on class 10. Others are non renewing. community homeowners have experienced two to 300% increases in their insurance premiums. Um so there's it's twofold. Both the response data um actually it's three-fold. The response the historical
response data the forecasted growth which was a component of the study um and then the five road mile range where those hotspots are is what is the back background data what drove those conditions. Okay. Um, is it
does it make sense to build a new since you said that one's too far south, does it make sense to build another fire station cuz those two would be within what, 5 miles of each other? Yeah. The way the study presents
it is it's really a relocate versus an additional. Um so h um constructing a fire station further north on the I guess that's the Morris corridor. Um
in the response model they call it regional utility model where they forecast okay if you add stations here and here and you have these other stations that you use this would be your standard of cover. Uh they took that into account with that without that
being an additional fire station, but instead the Eagle Mountain fire station moving north. Okay. So they're you're thinking there would be one, correct? Not two. That's correct. Okay. And
all right. And does it is it moved closer to the resort so that they can experience uh better insurance rates. It would be closer to the resort and a lot of other
areas up there. Yes. Okay. And that's where a lot of the dense development as I understand it is being planned to go in as well. That I believe will be um based on working with the county administrator staff. Um several at least
some of those developments will be in unincorporated area of the county for some time to come until bonds are paid off and the responsibility of the district to provide services. Okay. I'll leave you alone. I have no pointy and he uh is um his background is
he's retired Fort Worth fire. So we will have a a fire expert on the ESD board. uh fire EMS um professional on the ESD board. And um that's kind of why I've
been slow. I've been diligent about finding somebody um with fire service background um who knows the area, who knows Fort Worth, Taran County, and um
so I have him there and I'll be tuned in um to what's happening out there with ESD. That's fantastic. us. We've had challenges at times getting a forum. So having a fifth member on board will be good and having governance that understands mission of the district is is critical as well. So yeah, and so
I've inherited, you know, some of those areas. You talk about um Ben Brookke and uh Crowley and all that. So I am uber concerned about uh public safety
response times and um you know they 14 minutes uh versus 4 minutes uh and I used to work in 911 for a a whole career. So yeah, public safety dispatch, public safety communication.
So okay, thank you. That's all for me. Anybody else have anything? I just want to thank you. uh since you stepped into the role and I know that you have vast experience out of Parker County too and um you truly have taken that ESD into the 21st century. I think your
leadership, the guidance, the new board um you know forever in Tarant County things were kind of handled on a handshake and kind of a put your finger in the wind and say which direction is it blowing. Um but but you guys are actually implementing changes based on data. Um that matters. I think that
taking or undergoing in the fit study that was important that was a good step to identify where you actually need uh to put your resources but at the end of the day I think you have a very competent board. Uh I think that you are building a management team right now
that that I trust will will take that independent agency into the future. And of course you have to rely on relationships with uh our great stakeholder partners city of Fort Worth. I mean, all the other partner agencies that we have IAS with. Um, but the the number one goal, and this is how it's
been communicated back to me from from the board members that I speak to, the number one goal is always reducing the response times and providing fire coverage and medical service um to to those unincorporated areas. That's why the ESD exists. Uh so I I I will thank
you for your efforts over the last uh year or so um to to to really help create a a competent professionalized ESD. So the the the difference is is notable. Yeah. And I'll just echo uh the thanks.
Uh I've obviously only been doing this for 6 months. So Richard is my appointee and we just had breakfast again last week. Um, and so I've tried to get up to speed on this, but it sounds like, as Commissioner Ramirez has said, you guys have taken great strides in the last 12 to 18 months. And so I want to thank you for that. And I know always at the
forefront of your mind is being a good steward of taxpayer dollars as well. Um, and so I want to thank you for that commitment. And I'm excited about what you guys are going to do. You put in a lot of work. I know you don't get paid uh incredibly well for it, but uh appreciate the time, effort, and energy y'all are putting into making sure our
citizens, all citizens in Tarant County, uh have the proper response times when possible. So, thank you. I I appreciate that. A couple things. I'd like to just commend the county administrator staff has been great to work with us and kind of pass the torch from how things were
ran for a lot of years in Taran County. And then then the the district commissioners uh to my knowledge is the first time that that that governing body has gone and actually gotten their state required education to be emergency services commissioner. So they're they've really worked hard um to go and
and learn what they need to learn in order to represent their constituents and make sure the mission of the district um is fulfilled and financial or uh fis being cognizant of of fiscal concerns. you know, we adopted the non revenue rate last year and I think the
intent we're structuring the budget process around that this go around. We remain debt free. Um and uh just as another note, the we're wrapping up the executive director hiring process. Yeah. Uh and the the top
ranking C candidate did accept the offer that was made by the district. He was planning to be here today so we could introduce him. uh but he's uh had a death in the immediate family last night as a matter of fact so he's not here with us but I'm sure you'll be seeing him soon. Please pass our condolences.
All right. Thank you. Okay. We now go to public comments. And the first person signed up to speak is Bob Willoughby. Following Mr. Willoughby is Chris Woods. [Applause] Okay, I'm going make this quick. I got 3
minutes and 5 hours and $12 in parking. The Taran County DA, Bill Sors, which we have documents at his doorstep now, which led me there from the uh Never mind. We're there at his doorsteps where it's at. This is corruption in court. He
has the documents. Phil says that we're not going to dispute the documents because they're undisputable. Phil says we're not going to act on the documents. Phil says, "I'm not going to answer." So, I'm at your step now because Phil's
not answering. We're at a dead end. Now, if nothing's done here, we're at another dead end. That's where we're at. Another dead end. If nothing happens here. So, and I think that nothing happens here. This court is a totally waste of time. Now, let's move on to something else here.
You know, I do not like it when officials attack me and people attack me from the shadows and run off and they'll never confront me. I call people names, but I always tell them, "Come out and confront me. I'll call you names, but I want you to confront me." Okay? I'm fair. I don't hide. I hate that. And it
happens all the time with the mayor and and people working. Okay? The POA, well, this book here is a portfolio. It mentions Fort Worth chapter 18. The POA, they buy candidates is what they do. They buy them. They're proud about it.
They brag about it. Chapter 18, I tell about how they got Danny Scarf out of office, Carrie Moon in the office and it mentions you. You were the POA then at that time you were there. You never returned phone calls. You never would talk. But you did put my name on this leaflet that was
mailed out supporting Gina Bibbons. So it's not recommended. Bob Willoughby along these other candidates not recommended. This is what the PLA does. It criticizes good candidates and it supports crooked candidates. The PLA is no better than the KKK. Matter of fact,
it's worse because you know why? That name is connected with the police and the police should only that name should be connected with credible organizations. Now, the POA in the 70s used to give grants to kids in high schools, stuff like that. Instead, they started buying candidates and it's
filthy. Every time I see your sign out there saying support, Maddie Parker or whoever you feel sores is owned by the PLA. You're owned by the PLA. Mayor Parker's own by the PO. Half our council's own by the POA. And that's why nothing's going to get done about Phil's source either because he's owned by the
POA and they'll protect him. There's evidence right now of corruption. He's not doing anything. He's not answering. And that's his word. We're at a dead end. I wait 5 hours here. And I want to tell you here, so be on record. I could call you. And I got to say, a lot of this stuff you do, do you have a phone?
Can you talk to any of these people out here first before you get here and discuss it for 5 hours? I think you cut down this time by about 2 or 3 hours if you just used your phone. Okay. I appreciate your office never answered. I can you guys never answer in district one there. I've asked you in District 2
if you want to come on the show. You hadn't answered either. Okay. Thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. All right. Following Chris Wood, we have Bishop Kirkland. In October 2021, I started being stalked by a career criminal because he was angered by complaints that I made
against him. His persecution has been cruel. He went to the police, a career criminal, going to the police when he laughs and breaks laws all the time. I find that disgusting. I find he told them I was the one harassing him and cut out his actions
with the evidence that he gave. I was arrested for felony stalking in February 2023. I immediately lost my part-time job due to this open arrest. Since then, any job opportunities quickly evaporate as soon as the background check is run on me. It is hard to find employment
with an open arrest because employers do not want to train someone with the risk they can end up in jail. I was assigned a public defender, but due to his required case load, he was difficult to get a hold of and any conversations were rushed. He recommended I get evaluated
for competency for reasons I do not know. Much later, he was let go due to a long list of complaints against him, but the damage of his actions had already been done. I was declared incompetent for saying that my stalker had friends helping him, as if I was delusional. I
had a second competency exam a few months later. The evaluator said, "You don't seem incompetent. Why were you declared so?" She reviewed her notes and declared me incompetent again for saying my stalkers had friends helping him, which makes no sense because criminals
act together all the time. I found out I was on a trajectory for jail because if deemed incompetent, a person can be put in jail without a trial due to a lack of hospital beds for incompetent defendants. Going to jail without a
trial in the United States of America is unconstitutional. Since I found out I was at risk of going to jail, I canvased my family for money and hired a personal lawyer. Then the wheels of justice started to roll in my favor. Do you mean to tell me that
justice is only obtained in Tarant County for those that can afford private legal counsel? I had two more examinations and was told I'm not headed for jail. But my next court date in the competency court was reset from January
2025 to September 2025. It has been 2 and 1/2 years since my arrest. I still have not had my trial. I am being punished and treated like a convicted felon without telling my side of my story and presenting my evidence. This
is in direct violation of the Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution which guarantees the right to a speedy trial for anyone accused of a crime. Please, where is the justice within the Tarant County justice system? Thank you. Thank
you, Miss Wood. Following Bishop Kirkland, we have Dr. And why I just called three of my sons don't even do drag. Um I want to say uh heads up to you, Commissioner Simmons. Um I sponsored the step team and Paul
Lawrence Dunar and way back in the day was on my step team. Uh thank you for for hiring a super super I call him a kid. I don't know why he has a gray beard and mine is black probably just for me. Uh my my village do not hate all
law enforcement. We love the police. There are people in our village we want to go to jail. Our problem is that we're often policed and not served by law enforcement. Commission Simmons, I always also want
to tell you the Fbomb is perfectly okay to use in public. Our president use it referring to Israel and their war names. Thank you. Uh, I want to uh say to you guys, we could spend money on lawyers in
Virginia, but and defend murderers that kill a marine, but we can't build a sub courthouse. That amazes me. Uh, I would like for this the commissioners and the judge to show a little more tolerance with our residents.
I believe if you can make as a judge $211,895 each commissioner $27,000 uh I'm sorry $7,952. That's enough money we pay to sit here and listen to us. Yes. One thing
resonated with me, judge. You said there are many avenues people could speak to you, but to come to this podium and speak to you, you don't listen to that. That's not right. You Now you're on TV saying that you take pride in saying that if you're not called a racist, you're not doing your
job. However, when Mr. Blackwell caught your racist, you threw him right out the door. We paved your way 218k a year. He don't even show up to talk to us. He don't come to these meetings. And when he does, he sticks his foot in his mouth.
So I do understand why he does not come. Uh oh, I said that. Um, I I wish that I could spend my latter years because I have more years behind me than I do in front of me. I wish that
I could spend my latter years with my children and grandchildren, but I come here each week that I have an opportunity to cry. I don't come because I think you're going to listen. That that doesn't matter.
I come because there is a righteous judge. That's right. And I hope people in this meeting are keeping records because he's definitely keeping a record. And I hear all these scripture quoting prayers and Bible reading. I
mean, we got to stand before a holy God. Yes. Following Dr. Edner Carlo Palomy. As you can see, unlike my normal thing, way of talking to you, I usually have something in my hand. I don't right now because I put on my other hat.
And each of you, I'm not quite sure about you, but I gather from your your head nodding that you are a person of faith. All of you have said that you are some of you more than others.
And so this is my hat. This is your minute and a half Sunday school lesson. [Applause] Majority does not constitute morality. Woo. So when you make statements and you
do things for the for for the people who you've been called and voted upon voted on to serve. Just because it's a 3-2 split doesn't make it right. Right.
There's something you've got to do in the recesses of your heart to recognize that just like Jesus, you know, the one we keep calling on said to the Sanhedrin council and the Sadducees and the Pharisees
in his wonderful storytelling way that the way that they were dealing with the people is wrong. I come to you today to say that to you myself. Think about what your faith walk looks like when you don't do the one thing
Jesus said do and that's care for the people. Care for those who can't care for themselves to champion those who are hurting.
Matthew 5, Matthew 25, and Luke 4 must be your study guides so that you can treat this job, which is legal, with a kind of love that you say
you believe in based on what you say your faith walk is. They have to be able to walk hand in hand. And if they're not walking in tandem, then what it says to me is that you've chosen your ambition
over your care for the people who trust you. Don't be the Sanhedrin Council. Miss Paula Marus here, Cassandra Johnson. Following Miss Johnson, we have Chris Dobson, although
I don't see him either. [Applause] Uhoh. I had foot surgery from the shoe.
Hello to all. I'm back. This has been something today. I came with a whole another vibe. But for me to sit here and see all the proclamations that you gave out, I received that too. You know, when it comes to being the
mother of Trayon Wormley, who died inside a Tarant County jail back in 2002 from a fitting overdose, you know, I spoke about that traumatic brain injury. Did you hear what the lady said about
the brain? and how you have to focus in communicate greatness. I know my job was well done. And then when I heard the other uh they speak about um Alzheimer's Lord with my mom, she didn't die of
Alzheimer's, but yet she uh it was July the 1st, 23. Trey passed in 22. gallbladder cancer didn't suffer. So when people look at me, it's so much to tell and the story
is I'm getting started, you know, but when people look at me and say, "If you done been through your tongue loss, died inside of Taran County Jail. Your mom died, you know, then I am massive four surgeries." And when they look at me and
they say I'm still going, it's called the body. It's called completion. Completion. And when my mama passed, you know, with gallbladder cancer, she thought it was gas. So when July the 1st when I took
her out to UT Southwest and then it was July the 25th when they diagnosed her with gallbladder cancer and then she passed peacefully on August the second. That was never God saying, "I want you daughter, the youngest of seven to see
the difference of a tragedy death and a peaceful." So God is going to use me. I am that same mother that recall me telling you guys that they kicked in my door with guns tall as me on the day I found it
found someone to accommodate his issues. Where is that video at? Where is that thing that I saw? I want you to help me. Remember I said I need you guys help cuz I'mma help you. And I'mma help you by speaking facts
by asking that we get some change around here. I heard a lot today and that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to say I got to clear my belly out. Judge your hair. I want you to let
Waybor boy sheriff way boy know that I got to forgive him. I got to forgive his son because it was three years. Give me a minute, judge over here. Thank you, ma'am. Ma'am, I'm sorry. It's 3 minutes ago. Three years. Thank you. That his
son. I don't see Mr. Dobson here. And then he died in his father's. Ma'am, please step away. Uh, I don't see Mr. Dobson. Um, Mr. Dobson's not here, right? All right,
Nick Tziaak. Is Mr. Tziak here? All right, Mr. Blackwell. And then the last speaker is Joe Palmer, but I don't see Mr. Palmer. [Music]
[Applause] I'm assuming that the exterminator was out here last night because I smell a rat. Georgia O'Ra Teran County citizens asked you several times what will this process of redistricting
would eventually cost the taxpayers. You did not respond to their request. We know that it began at $35,000. $35,000 that could have been used more
effectively to assist those who need assistance with life experience expenses, I'm sorry. And now you want to do away with human resources. Now that this case is in the court
system, there seems to be no cap for what this action will cost taxpayers. Taxpayers did not asked or wanted this racially motivated redistricting fiasco to take place
at this time. But Judge O'Hara, we know that you will spare no expense to accomplish your end goal, and that is to rid yourself of your most
vocal adversary, Commissioner Simmons, and to disenfranchise as many minority voters as you possibly can.
Because like you said, you would like to see five Republicans up there because you will have five you'll have four yes people who just go along with whatever you say, right? That's not how you govern.
That's not leadership. Leadership takes under consideration that you can bring those into your path that disagree with you, not the ones that agree with you all the time.
That's not showing leadership leadership skills. That's showing intimidation and bullying. And that's how you govern. So, I want to say this, Judge O'Hara, you have failed Taran County citizens,
and you should be voted out of office as soon as you come up for reelection. I want to thank you, lady and gentlemen, and I want to apologize to you for putting these uh men ahead of you, okay? because sometimes I say gentlemen and
lady, but I want to uh correct that and say ladies and gentlemen, thank you. Thank you for your time. Enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you. Joe Palmer, I do not see Joe Palmer. Those are all the folks signed up to speak. Do we have any announcements or
comments from the court members? [Applause] Anything from anybody? No. Okay. So we uh we have no closed session. Uh we will adjourn today's meeting in uh memory and
honor of Ros Williams and Ty Typton. We are now officially adjourned and