Oh, okay. It hasn't come through yet. I just got it. Yes. Good morning. Welcome to the Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 Tarant County Commissioner Court meeting. It's okay. I now call the meeting to order. Tim County,
present. Miles, Junior, Commissioner here. Alisa, Mr. Precinct 2 here. Matt Crouch, Mr. Precinct 3 here. Ramirez, Mr. Pre here. All right. Today's invocation will be
led once again by Tarant County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Frank Litkkey. Please rise for the invocation and the pledges to our flags. Shall we pray? Father, we're thankful for this time that we have. I'm thankful Lord that we live in a county that recognizes you in
a time like this. Pray, seek your help, seek your wisdom, and we seek values. I pray for the judge and the commissioners that you would give wisdom with the many decisions that they are that they take during the course not only of this meeting but of course of their day. We pray Lord for our leaders, our sheriff,
his staff, as well as those that are working with the uh folks inmates that are incarcerated as well as the the officers on the street. We pray for them. We thank you for this day. We ask that you would continue to bless our nation, one nation under God. And I ask
these things in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. All right. 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 thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible.
Thank you. You may be seated. [Music] Good morning, Judge Commission. Agenda announcements. Oh, sorry, sir. Yes, sir. A couple of announcements this morning. Uh, first of all, item H1 under the criminal district attorney section. Go ahead.
Item H1 under the criminal district's attorney session. We're going to hold that item until after closed. Uh item P33 in purchasing that's being removed from the agenda completely for today.
And also item T1A is also being removed from the agenda completely today. And court members we have several items which have been pulled from consent. So this next batch are once again that have been pulled from consent. So the first one is I4 under elections.
Also I5 under elections, [Applause] P35 under purchasing, T2A, and finally T3G and T3H.
That's it, sir. All right. Thanks, sir. All right. Do we have any commissioner's court announcements? Yes, judge. I have an announcement. I'd like to put out one last reminder and call for our 10th annual Healthy Lives
Matters Alzheimer's Symposium that is coming up this Saturday, August 23rd, starting at 9:00 a.m. and we'll end up around 100 p.m. We'll be providing free of charge breakfast and lunch for all attendees. It is a great event filled
with lots of resources for the community, lots of access to care and support for those who are caregiving for loved ones who are dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. And I would encourage all those who have loved ones or friends of loved ones who are dealing
with dementia or Alzheimer's to invite them to come out. We will be at Taran County College Trinity River campus. So, you can find out more information or register on our website, the county website. Just go to precinct 1 and there
is a link for the Healthy Lives Matter Alzheimer's Caregiver Symposium. You can call our offices and register as well. So, we look forward to seeing all of you there this coming Saturday. Again, August the 23rd at 9:00 a.m. we will be at Taran County College Trinity River
campus. Thank you. What sir? We don't we don't do point of information from the audience. That's not going to happen. If you want to find a staff member, you can ask a question of a staff member. No more interruptions of the meeting for what you want asked
or put out there. The I'm I am I'm not going to talk to you again before I have you leave. So, please be quiet. All right. Any other commissioners announcements? Yes. So, I wanted uh today to take this
opportunity to recognize Texas State Representative Nicole Collier, who's uh who represents District 95, where each of you is sitting today. Um, I want to say thank you to Representative Collier
for her principled stand in defense of legislative dignity and democratic representation. Um, Representative Collier spent the night last night on the on the floor of the Texas House after refusing a
Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state department of public safety. And when House Democrats returned to Austin after their quorum break uh over redistricting, the House Speaker announced that Democrats could only
leave the House floor if they uh had received written permission and agreed to be under law enforcement escort. her refusal
uh to do that is notable. Um while the others signed the permission slip, Representative Collier said, "No way, not doing it." And she stated this, these were her words. I refuse to sign
away my dignity as a dulyeleed representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts. So, her refusal reminds me of the courageous acts of resistance throughout this country's history
when people of color and people of conscience refuse to submit to systems designed to strip away their dignity and fundamental rights. Just as enslaved people who refuse to carry passes that control
their movement, Representative Collier understood that signing such a document would be tantamount to accepting treatment as something less than a full citizen and elected official. And this situation
reflects a broader pattern. I've witnessed personally the targeting and harassment of black women leaders who refuse to be intimidated or silenced. As an African-American professional in
this role myself, um, I've experienced firsthand the disrespect, bullying, conspiratorial behavior from colleagues on this day and county executive staff who cannot accept
inclusive leadership. Many of my peers in leadership positions like this, including Nicole and Jasmine, Congresswoman Crockett, uh endure similar treatment. But this extends beyond elected leaders. Um
this goes to African-American women in boardrooms, in middle management, in blue collar supervisory positions um across our nation. So, Representative Collier's stand yesterday, which
continues today, was a declaration that enough is enough. And so, rather than submit to being treated with surveillance and control, reminiscence of our nation's darkest
chapter, she chose dignity and principle. And so for that courage and tenacity, I'm proud to recognize her strength and I'm grateful to her for her leadership. And I'll be going to visit her in Austin.
Thank you. [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] Uh any other commissioners announcements? I'll make one on uh empowering seniors. Uh mark your
calendars October 2nd. Uh Judge O'Hare's office and precinct 3 are working together to put that on. It's going to be a great event for seniors. Go to empoweringceniors.com. You get a lot more information on it. If you want to be an exhibitor or a sponsor, uh you can also do that there. But we'd love to
have a great turnout on October 2nd uh for empowering seniors. And and I will just say it's kind of a counter part to what Commissioner Simmons just said. I was actually in the Texas House in 2021 when there was another quorum break and I was subjugated to be uh held in Austin
for 30 days not getting to work on anything and every day I had to get a permission slip to leave the chamber as well. So nobody's being targeted, nobody's being individualized, nobody's being quiet. It's all because they fled the state last time and measures have to now be
put in place to make sure that they will stay and do their job. And so just one second. Yeah. If there's another outburst, you will be removed immediately. We're not going to do that up here today. I'll have an announcement in a minute. I'm looking straight at you because I've seen you do it three times. You'll be
gone if you do it another time. Okay. So, I want to I'll move her now. Take the lady in green out. Good. Goodbye. Goodbye. Thank you for coming.
So, I want to applaud uh Speaker Burroughs and uh House Administration Chair Charlie Garren for making sure that the people of Texas can continue to do the work uh that needs to be done during the second special session. Drastic measures have to be used because
uh of the first quorum break. So, I I appreciate the House leadership there. Thank you. Uh on another note regarding empowering seniors. So this is an event that puts seniors together with caregivers uh people who provide services for
seniors, help them to be able to get their Medicaid right, their Medicare right, all sorts of things. It's a great event extremely nonpartisan. It is something started really by Commissioner Gary Ficus many moons ago and then uh Judge Whitley
took it up. We decided, Commissioner Fus and I, to combine it because it ended up kind of taxing some of the providers and they ended up have sponsored twice and it took money out of their hands uh instead of uh putting it into the hands
of those who who need the help. So, we combined it to have one and uh it's a great event for seniors. I encourage everyone to send their friends uh who are seniors or who may be becoming seniors. It's a it's a wonderful uh
event that puts a lot of people in a lot of good spots and gives health care checks and all sorts of things that's good for our senior community. Uh any other announcements from the DIS? I have one. Um I would like to wish our colleague Matt Krauss, Commissioner
Krauss a happy birthday. It's his birthday today. So happy birthday Commissioner Krauss. Happy birthday Commissioner. Appreciate it. Happy birthday. Okay. Um, we are now to the proclamations and resolutions and presentation section.
I guess before I get there, let me make a couple of announcements because once we only got one item on there and then we're kind of getting into the to the meat of our agenda. Um, my goal for today for everyone here is
for you to get to say your piece in an orderly, respectful fashion. So there is a set of decorum rules that this court passed, another set that they operated by for many years that uh was passed by a majority of this court uh I believe
about a year ago. When you sign up to speak, you promise to abide by those rules. So what I hope to see is everyone gets up, speaks, follows the rules, everybody can do it in an orderly fashion. I hope to not have to tell one
person please lower your voice. I hope not to have to tell one person you cannot make profane remarks. Uh that is my hope but that's going to be up to the speakers. So do know I will enforce the rules. Uh I'm a believer in decorum. You
may not be. Some people on this dis may not be but I am and I think a majority of Americans are. So we're going to enforce the rules. And part of those rules are once we get past the proclamation section, there are no outbursts. There is no applause. There
is no rallying. This is not a political rally. This is a business meeting of the Tarant County government. So with that, we will now go to the proclamations, resolutions, and presentation section. Uh the first and only item on this section is a memorial resolution
honoring Mr. JW Robinson. Who's presenting this one? I am. Okay. Commissioner Miles, before I start, I would like to acknowledge and recognize Mr. Robinson's family. If you would
stand when I call your name, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Aquanita Robinson, this is the wife and widow of Mr. JW Robinson, his daughter, Dr. Kiana Roberts
and his granddaughter Natasha Robinson and his son-in-law Albert Roberts. We love you. We support you and we are here for you. Thank you for coming today. You may be seated.
[Applause] Whereas the family and friends of Mr. JW Robinson were deeply saddened by his death on Sunday, July 27th, 2025. And whereas Mr. Robinson was born on
June 20th, 1947 in Holly Grove, Arkansas to Timothy Robinson and Shed Robinson. And whereas Mr. Robinson received his formal education in the public school system in Holly Grove, Arkansas. Drafted
into the United States Army and deployed into the heart of the Vietnam War, where he earned the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Overseas
Service Bar, and Expert Qualification in marksmanship. And whereas Mr. Robinson worked in the construction industry after returning home to Kansas City, Missouri, then transitioned to the food service industry where he developed a passion
and love for quality food and personable service. And whereas after learning the craft of signature Kansas City barbecue style, his family moved to Texas to open Parks and Parks and Robinson Construction.
This business led to their personal construction of the now infamous Robinson's Barbecue located at 1028 East Berry Street, Fort Worth, Texas. This legendary barbecue pit pitmaster took
Kansas City style barbecue and added his very own Texas twist. And whereas Mr. Robinson will be forever will be forever cherished by his wife Aquanita Robinson his children Lelle
Robinson Hall Dr. Kiana Roberts grandchildren Natasha Robinson Kevin Dixon Albert Roberts III Carrington Roberts and a host of longtime friends
and extended family. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Rodri Miles Jr., Commissioner of Taran County Precinct 1 and Commissioner Al Alisa Simmons, Taran County Commissioner Precinct 2, pay tribute to the memory of a beloved and
honorable man, and extend our deepest sympathy to the members of his family and his many friends for their great loss. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this
seventh day of August, 2025. And on a personal note, I would like to say Mr. Robinson's barbecue spot was a formidable part of my upbringing in my childhood.
As a student at OD Wide High School at lunchtime, it was not it was not unusual to see a host of my classmates and I driving down Eastberry to get to Robinson's Barbecue to get us a chopped beef sandwich, a bag
of chips, and a soda for lunch. That was my daily meal for lunch. And it was the best chopped beef sandwich this side of heaven, let me tell you. And every time we would go and Mr. Robinson was there, he would greet us with the biggest smile
and say, "Make sure you get enough." And so he will be greatly missed. His fingerprints and his influence is on the majority of the south side of Fort Worth, Texas. His legacy will live on
not only through his family members, but those of us who were blessed to be in his presence and to be touched by his life. I thank God for Mr. Robinson and I thank God for his family. If the family will come at this time down so that we can take a picture with you with the
memorial resolution. Let's all give the Robinson family and the legacy of Mr. Robinson a round of applause. My colleague reminded me I I got a little caught up. I move for approval. Second. Second. All right. All right, we have a motion
and a second to approve. Any discussion? I I'll only say that working uh patrol in Fort Worth PD on the east side, um we also filled our bellies quite often at Robertson's barbecue and it was incredible. Still is. Uh we have a motion and a second with no
further discussion. Uh all in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, passes unanimously. You're in favor. Good. I figured you might be. So, Welcome. Great night.
Thank you. All right. Now we move to our consent agenda as amended. Move for approval. Second. Uh we have a motion. Yeah, it takes a little longer to get back to this stuff. Uh we have a motion to approve the
consent agenda as amended. And we have a second. You got it. All right. Any discussion on the amended consent agenda? All right, seeing none, all those in favor of approval, raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously.
Now takes us to the regular section, starting with 10 A1, the administrator section, consideration of out of state travel requests. Move approval. Second. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve
that item. Uh any discussion there? All right, seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. The next item is D1, budget and risk
management. Do we have um any comments from the court? court wish to discuss anything related to the budget. So there are no we have no items that we're presenting today for the FY26 budget.
Okay. We have one speaker on the budget and that is Dr. Harriet Harold paper. A budget is a moral document. A budget is a plan. A budget is the foundation that lets county government serve its
people. The goal of a budget is not simply to cut. Last week, we celebrated a low tax rate. You do know, of course, that a low rate also means fewer services. We owe residents honesty about
that tradeoff. Here's how an effective budget process should work. Immediately after this budget passes, launch a strategic planning process that includes all elected officials and a
true cross-section of Tarant County, urban and rural, business and labor, neighborhoods, nonprofits, faith communities, young people. Ground that plan in shared values, a clear vision, and a mission we all commit to. From
there, build consensus on the county's top needs and prioritize them. And for each priority, define solutions with timelines, cost estimates, and measures of success. Only then are you ready to
start to build a budget. Without that framework, departments compete, ideology fills the gaps, and power plays decide who gets funded. That is not leadership. It's roulette. And roulette produces
unintended consequences that hurt real people. It is time for Taran County to be professional. I am not criticizing the hard work of our budget office. I am saying they've not been given the
strategic tools to do their best work. Commissioners, your job is to lead. Leadership means being strategic. No more seat of the pants budgeting. Start a countywide strategic planning process
now. Publish the values, the priorities, the timelines, and the price tags. Commit to a rolling three-year framework. Report progress publicly and adjust with data, not headlines. If we
want the lowest taxes, say clearly what services we'll do without. If we want stronger services, say clearly what we will invest and why it matters. Either way, the citizens of Tarant County deserve clarity, consistency, and a
plan. Budgets without strategy are just spreadsheets. Let's do better. Let's lead. Thank you. Uh, any there is no applause here, folks. Don't don't make me have to deal
with it. Just be respectful. Uh, anything else from the court members on the budget. Okay, moving on to item H1. H1 is held until after closed, but we do have a speaker.
So, our speaker is Dr. Brooks McKenzie. I guess that's not Dr. Brooks McKenzie. Is Dr. Brooks McKenzie here? Is there a spillover room? I believe only right outside. Okay. Can y'all check and see if Dr. Brooks McKenzie is out there? I'm
assuming they have microphones out there. Is there some kind of speaker system? Speakers out there. Okay. All right. I don't see a Dr. Brooks McKenzie. Doesn't appear to be one coming.
So, we will now move to I1 HIJ. We'll move to I1. Elections Administration consider to approve an order calling a special election on November 4th, 2025. Move for approval. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve
uh this order calling the special election on November 24th. Any discussion? All right. Seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Next we move to I2, consideration to
approve an order calling a constitutional amendment election on November 4th, 2025. Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion, a second to approve that. Any discussion there? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand.
All right. Passes unanimously. Now we get to I have it marked as another I2. I'm assuming we just got it wrong and it says I3. Whatever it is, it's consideration to approve proposed early voting and election day polling
locations for the November 4th, 2025 joint special and constitutional amendment election. I move to reject. Second. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to reject. Any discussion before we let
Clint present his views? All right, seeing none, Clint, go ahead. Good morning, commissioners. Judge, happy birthday, Commissioner. Um, the last time we were up here discussing early voting locations, the court um told me, "Don't come back with
the same list. Go do your homework. look at the the locations and bring forth something um that you can support and that you've done your some analysis on and something that will support the the voters. And so that's what we did. We went back, we looked, we looked at voter
turnout, um looking at the locations, we calculated what is it, how how many voters can we actually process at a location per hour on average, that's 104 voters per hour per location with an average wait time of about 10 and a half minutes. So that's kind of the peak
velocity that we're looking at um with the max weight time or the average weight time. So as we were looking and especially our early voting locations, we went back and said, "Okay, 2023, what's our turnout?" That was the highest turnout oddyear election that
we've had recently compared to 21 a 19 um 23 had it. So I went through added 10% to that number to increase just for some growth. Um, traditionally we don't see 10% but went for 10%. And then uh
calculated the velocity. How many locations would we need on the busiest day of early voting to process those voters? And it's 12. 12 v locations could process the busiest day of early voting in 23 adding an extra 10%. Um,
and then we went back looked at same thing for election day. What's it going to take? Um unfortunately our odd year elections they just don't get the turnout. Um early voting we saw it had 10% the turnout that we saw in 2024
during early voting in 23. And overall for the 23 election even though it was higher it still didn't even hit 13% voter turnout. Um, so on election day, doing the math, looking at it, it would take approximately 80 locations to handle the volume of voters that that we
would receive even with the 10% increase. Clearly, um, we have many, many more locations like that available or for available that we could use um, and had used in the past. So then we went back and looked and said, okay, if if 12's what'll handle it,
how do we make cuts? Where do we look? How do we make sure we get the best locations we can? So, we started every every location, it has to be ADA compliant. That's the first thing we look at. We check make sure that every single one of our locations is ADA compliant. And then we went back and we looked at the voter turnout. Where do
the people choose to show up? Um, and we couldn't just take, you know, the 12 highest turnout locations and throw those on a map because it clearly it puts them all in specific areas and and you have big gaps all over the map. So, we also had to look at how do we get locations spread around the county uh to
to ensure that there is accessibility the the distance isn't too great uh for anybody to get there. And in doing that, we looked if we had two locations that were really really close to each other, the location that had the higher turnout was the one we would keep in in order to get there. And we also looked at the
spaces in in the polling locations. Are they large enough to allow us to to have more equipment than normal? If we're going to use a few less locations, can we add some equipment to ensure that we're we're not creating extra lines and we can we can process these voters? And
so we picked locations that that did have that space. And then um more importantly for early voting than election day uh recent legislative changes call for election equipment um when it is stored or when it's being
used during the election it must be stored in a in a separate locked room. Uh, so we looked at our polling locations that gave us that for early voting that had the separate locked room because anything that would be in a common area would require the staff to tear everything down every night, store
it, lock it up, then set everything up in the morning. And generally during election, we only set the equipment up once and we tear it down once. So doing that for 12 days, obviously you introduce a lot of risk um to the locations opening on time, um equipment breaking due to the use. Um, so we
looked at those locations that that were going to give us and meet those types of requirements. Um, on the list you're going to see that there there are four locations that weren't used in 23 and that's um Forest
Hill, the town hall. That's that takes the place of the Forest Hill Community Center. That was a decision Forest Hill made um in order to switch that location. Um then we now have the Arlington Active Center which is taking
the place of the Run Wright Library. Um it's a brand new space. They're giving us a much bigger space. It's very close to the Run Wright Library and it's just a much better space and we'll be able to better handle the voters. So, um we're very thankful that that the city of Arlington is allowing us to use that
one. Um and then we looked at the the North Park YMCA. Um they allowed us to move in to replace the Golden Triangle location. Although Golden Triangle would get good turnout, the parking and in and out was was very very difficult. And what end would end
up happening is voters would park in the field across the street and they would play Frogger across Golden Triangle to get to the polling location. Um so obviously not the best situation and we were able to find a better one for that one. And then um you'll see that we have
Sagenov Public Library which is taking the place of um TCC Northwest which took the place of Eagle Mountain Sagen ISD building because the Eagle Mountain Saga ISD building is no longer there. They tore it down. Um so we we had shifted to DCC
Northwest but then we were able to get the Sagena Public Library which has far better parking a much better space to utilize to assist the voters. So, with all of the proposed locations, um, we're looking at an average distance of about 4 and a half miles between locations.
Now, there is the longest distance is 10 miles, and it's the AEL um, ISDPD up there in the northwest corner with the lake. There's we just don't have anything else around it. Um, now these recommended lists are the bare minimum
that we would recommend. Um, we wouldn't recommend going any lower than this um to to assist the voters. Um, when we were looking there, there were a few that I wanted to brief the court on that that were very very tough decisions. And when we were looking at getting the down
to the bare minimum, that's that's what this list includes. But KO Community Center is is one location that that we really really struggled with um in including on the list. But again, we've got down to the bare minimum knowing that the court can can make changes and
um if they wish to add could um it it where it's located turnout it's it's right there kind of in that gray area and it very easily could have been added to the list. Um the other location is the Legacy Learning Center. although very low turnout, it's it's kind of up
in the north section there and there's just not a lot around it and uh could also would be um a good one to consider adding to the list of the 24. And then um the last area we looked at is in the North Richland Hills area. We had a
group of four locations that really are right on top of each other and but there's there's still really good turnout in that area and the Bedford Public Library gets the most turnout in that area and looking at our decision to pick the location that gets the best turnout. That's the one that that we
ended up choosing. But due to the turnout in that area, um we could see adding either of the um Northeast Subort House or the Brookside Community Center to to assist with that volume. So again, this is kind of that that bare minimum
that we believe we can execute and and pull off the election. the election day locations. There was a change in the statute in 23 that required changed how we calculated the bare minimum and that got us to a required
number of locations of 347. The legislature this past legislative session went back rescended that pulled it back to what it used to be and now the the number of locations that we must have on election day is 212. The list
before you has 214 locations. Um, we didn't go all the even though the math says 80. Um, we didn't go all the way to 212 because to leave a little bit of wiggle room if generally something does happen to a location between now and election day, one falls off, pipes
burst, things happen in order to make sure that that we hit that mark. Um, but 212 is as far as we could go. And again, we were looking at locations, which one provides the best voter access in the use. Um, something else that to consider
is we have recently had um several entities are sending us their notices that they're going to be joining in in the election. And then the entities can choose on their own to to add locations that they pay for for for their um elections. And the ones that we would
anticipate probably doing that um are Halum City, which usually they they use the city senior center andor the Halum Library. Um the city of River Oaks and they may request the River Oaks annex. City of Hurst, they may request the
Brookside Center. Um we got the city of North Richel Hills and they they most likely would pick either the city hall or the the library. Um and then Northwest ISD is has just called a special election and they they may in
turn want the Legacy Learning Center and then uh Kennedale also has is on there and they may request Doberh Hall um when and joining in those elections. So that's that's kind of the 10,000 view of of what we did, what we
went back and considered to get to this again. This this proposal is the bare minimum that that we believe we could use to to have a good election. Um but there there were some some tough cuts that that were made and we could see um adding a few as well.
All right. I have some questions for you. How much does this save over the last election? Over the last election, I didn't calculate. We were looking at the the just the reduction in cost of polling locations and it's over a million dollars. Okay. Did any member of this court
ask you to put something on this list or take something off this list? So after it was published obviously I received some phone calls and was asked to make changes to the list. Okay. Um let me then let me let me start with this. Did anybody prior is this your
list? So this elections list is yes this is elections list. myself, my team, every location that was recommended is a location that we recommended. Every location that didn't did not make the cut that we cut was a location that we chose to cut. Not a
member of the court selected any one of those locations or asked us to remove any of those locations. This this proposal is purely ours um and and our recommendations. Okay. So, um, after
the county went to countywide voting, which I believe was 2019, is that right? Correct. Elections told the court, not a single member is sitting here today that received this, but elections told the
court after a handful of elections, they would go back and look at what they could cut because it with the countywide, you can now vote anywhere. Can you confirm what I just said to be accurate? Correct, Judge. the the my understanding
the uh the initial agreement was we're going to use everything that we have and then eventually they would go back and look at the locations and then reduce in areas that they thought they could um to get the cost savings. Unfortunately that that didn't happen prior to me then 23 with the legislative change mandating
that that 347 polling locations. It just didn't give us the room. Um if you all remember we were scrambling to get to 347 just to meet the requirement. Does um so the first time this analysis was
actually done was in was for ahead of this 2025 constitutional amendment election. Correct. Okay. Besides the constitutional amendments, um, which I would venture to guess 99% of the public cannot name a single thing on there, and if they can name it, it's
the homestead exemption. I know there's Senate District 9 is on there. Is there any other election for office? For office, I don't believe so. I believe most of the cities are propositions.
Okay. Um so um is there any law that requires us to have the same amount of same amount of polling locations for each election? No. Okay. Um how much does it cost to operate
approximately? It's probably different for each one. How much does it cost approximately to operate one early voting location? On average a little over $10,300. So, I went we went back and looked at some numbers. And so, I'm looking at the
2023 constitutional amendment election. We had an early voting location that had, and I I did some math. My math could be off by a handful of hours,
but uh we had one location that had over the course of what I believe was 12 days of early voting and I I think it was about 120 hours of being open. We had one location that had
95 people vote the entire time. Correct. We had another location that had 116 people vote the entire time. So 10, if you just do some quick math, that lowest one, literally less than eight people per day,
less than a voter per hour. And so you've gone through and cut a lot of those locations for 2023, correct? This is not your recommended list for 2025, is it? No, it's not, Judge. Okay.
There were several legislative changes. You you briefly mentioned that. One of them was the Springer bill that came out and said you had to have one voting location in 2023, I think is when they passed it. You had
to have one voting location for every two precincts. There was some more nuance to it, but that was it. That's what required us to have 347. multiple counties, multiple elected officials complained, said, "You're making us waste money." I think LA, I think for the presidential election, how
many total votes were there? 830 something thousand. Yes, Judge. And we had 349 locations on election day and it was 20% of the vote approximately. Close a little over 20%. Yes, Judge. Um, and we had locations that were
vacant for hours. Yes, Judge. So they changed the Springer bill as it became known down in Austin to that allows us to go down to what on election day locations 212
212 and so your recommendation 214 correct all right so last year I guess it was when we had this discussion and I did not pull this information so this is purely from memory but on uh
election day we had one precinct with a 100 locations and another precinct with 80 locations are the numbers that stick out in my head and then another one maybe had 82 maybe had 84 and I think the message
that was delivered by a majority of folks up here was it's too late now to go create uniformity but we want something more evenly balanced. Is this more evenly balanced? Yes, there's a difference of one between
the precincts. Okay. Um I told you I said it was 839,000. It was 828,000 people. 544 voted in 2024 election and the 2023 election had
156,220. So uh what is that? I mean that is is that 20% even? It's not even 20%. There was one one other question. One of the legislative changes
said something to the effect of this past session said something to the effect of And as you talked about it when you picking up pack picking up pack up every day there has to be a secure room for it
to happen for it to be in that you have access to at all times. Correct. Were there any locations that said they could not accommodate that? The specifically two that we reached out to UTA and TCC TCC Southeast both said
that they could not accommodate that. Okay. All right, I think that's all the questions I have. Any other questions or comments? Go ahead. I've got one. Clint, thanks for all your work on this and to your staff. I know it was painstaking, took a lot of time.
What kind of partisan analysis went into these decisions? Zero. Okay. Thank you. So, um, Commissioner Ramirez just rec Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see. Go ahead if you'd like. Oh, you're
you're fine. I jumped I jumped in and did go for it. Go ahead. Go ahead. Because I'm you know I'm longwinded. Go ahead. Go ahead. Okay. So, uh it it was good to hear some details from our election administrator
today. Um but let's let's kind of talk about process. Um and you just heard a previous speaker discuss process uh with regard to the budget. Um,
and I don't know if anyone up here wants to admit to having had input on these list. Um, or how about did the elections administrator schedule meetings with you or your staff
to go over this? Probably could have gotten a lot of your great questions answered if if he had stopped by and visited uh with each of us. Like it's customary when executive staff has
policy, procedure, changes, initiatives, ideas, you come and get our input um and feedback and try to go and mash it up and make it work. Uh but that that didn't that didn't happen. So, I saw the
um list on the agenda, called him, talked to him about an hour and asked for analysis. Where's your where's your analysis? Where's your data? Um,
and he got this got this to got this to me on Sat Saturday. that that's that's not analysis and data um of the election process
uh for a county of 2.2 million people. Um so I don't have faith. I don't trust the process that was used. It wasn't um forget forget the commissioner's court.
It wasn't transparent to you. there was no opportunity to participate, give input. There are a good number of you in that audience that knows elections, polling places, the whole gamut better
than any of us and even better than Clint. Um, and so to not go to the community, the parties, the commissioner's court, um, I have a I have a problem with that. So there's no evidence
that due diligence was um conducted by um the elections administrator. He single-handedly developed these lists without guidance and input from the five member governing body u the top leadership in this
county. So to to me today is not a day to vote on these list. Um, we I think we need to have a special uh a specially called meeting um to to
settle this issue. Get get me the data. I'm interested in the data. It sounds like the judge is yet a lot of questions. Um to see how we got here. How did we get to a place where we will
be causing massive voter confusion? Let's let's just start with that. Um impeding and limiting access to the ballot box. There these voters, me included. You can
call me a senior citizen if you want to. I'm 62. Um have a specific place they like to vote. I am stunned that you and they people out
there probably stunned too about particular sites. I'm stunned that you uh removed the Bob Duncan Center in Arlington. It is incredible. Senior citizens, white um Hispanic and some black that
frequent the Bob Duncan Center. I I could go on, but um I I think that um you know, I would amend my motion to to table this so we can at least get the data, be able to analyze it as court
members, um give input. You mentioned the new state law uh with regard to I think secure rooms at um colleges and universities. I have relationships with my college presidents. I could text them
and say, "Hey, can you get us a secure room?" And I I just I don't think that would be a problem. But you didn't you didn't check check with the people who know their precincts extremely well with the people who are connected to the
people. Um actually commissioner specifically with UTA I did reach directly out to your office and ask if you could make contact on the the instru when I was looking at going in the instruction I received from your office is that you yourself wanted to handle that communication. I did
follow up and spoke with Gabe and he he had mentioned that he had looked and they were not willing to move us out of um that community center or the the Maverick Center. Okay. Um so my My aim here is to
not vote on this today until we get some data um that we can that we can look at. So, is that an amendment to your own motion? Yes, I can. Um and what is your amendment? Uh
I move to amend my motion to table the vote on the list today. Why don't you just revoke your motion? um your original motion. I'll ask the withdraw your withdraw your amendment. Withdraw your motion and make a new motion. I'll take I'll take my advice from
council. Either way is fine, Commissioner. Um I would suggest uh here to be clear on what the record is to take the approach of withdrawing the previous motion rather than amending it and perhaps causing some vaguess or confusion and
just make a straight uh motion to postpone to u the next meeting whether it be a special call to regularly scheduled. Thank you sir. So I would draw my initial motion. My
is there a requirement for a for the second to with to agree to that? Is there or is once they once it's withdrawn it's withdrawn? I I I would say that in this instance uh if the motion is withdrawn there would be no requirement for a second on this.
So it's withdrawn. All right. So I move to table the vote uh on item I3. I we have a motion to table the vote on I3. Second. We have a second. All right. Further discussion,
questions, comments for Clint or each other before speakers? I've got plenty of questions, Clint. Um and I appreciate you touching base with me last night um to answer some of them. Uh obviously, I think you're you're figuring out that communication uh probably would have gone a long way to
answer questions on the front end. Um, you know, when I saw the list, first of all, I I applaud you and your staff for going through and and trying to be analytical and data driven as we were selecting these sites. Uh, as you mentioned that there are a lot of efficiencies to be found in a lot of
places where um there was waste in in some of these locations where people were sitting around not doing much. Um, perhaps their efforts could could be used to funnel people to other locations as opposed to sitting in vacant areas. So, I appreciate you doing that and culling uh the the lowhanging fruit, so
to speak. Uh some of them that didn't make sense to me, though, when I saw this proposal were ones that I know to be historically utilized uh very heavily. Um ones that, you know, candidates campaign ad, ones that have convenient parking, ones that are in
unique uh areas. Um we talked about the KO community center last night. I think that's one that's very heavily used um by all of the surrounding communities there. Um when you when I think about Fort Worth in particular, and that's what I'll focus on here. Um you know,
some of these neighborhoods are like cities in and of themselves. And so when you think about North Side, you may say, well, it's close proximity just north of the stockyards to downtown. Um well, not many folks from North Side are going into downtown every single day for any other reason. Um, so a convenient
location in that area makes sense. You think about the same thing for Westside. You could say that's that's KOMO Community Center. Um, because the closest one to that one is the Southwest Subcourthouse. Um, and that's or the Benbrook Community Center, whichever one you you map it, and then they're about 5
miles away or seven miles away, whatever you want to say. Uh, and then also the the the last question I'll ask, and I know I'm saying a lot, the last question is about TCC Northwest. Um, you know, that's right off of the freeway. It's a much different uh geography than going into Maroy and into Sagenol to get to
the library. So, um just just kind of piece by piece what your justification was for those because what I was hoping to hear was that there was some scientific method that based it on population uh on geography. Um but I didn't hear that. I heard that that
there was a lot of of of things that were kind of left discretionary, which I don't mind. You're the elections expert, not us. However, seeing uh these communities as individual communities and and especially the sites that have a history of being heavily utilized, uh I
really would need a strong justification as to why we're going to cancel those out. But again, I support the effort in the aggregate. I mean, I think you you had a mission and you came back and I and I'm actually glad that it was independent um that that you decided to
do this on your own. I'm glad for that. But but again, I think you're seeing some of the pitfalls by not checking in even after you had your first proposal. So, um, if you would start by explaining justification on COMO. So, COMO, like I said, that one was was a very difficult one that we went back
and forth on, and that's why I brought it up specifically as one that potentially would be worth adding. Um, we it's it's right there on the border because we got Brookside and Diane, the Southeast Subcourthouse, Taran County Plaza, it's kind of right in that area. So there's there's the capacity to
handle the voters that were there, but understanding it's it's just kind of far enough. It was it was a very difficult one. And that one was we were trying to get down to the bare minimum saying we this is the least we could use to make this happen, but
anything that we add obviously would would increase and add some benefit um to a point. So, that one it it was a very difficult one to to to cut and hence the reason I highlighted that one as possibly one to add. The uh North
Side Community Center, that one the the location um not the not the greatest location and they had 160 voters in 12 days. Um and so it just it it was near the very bottom of voter turnout. And
so, um we chose not to include that one. Um, even though you know we have Which one are you referring to right now? North Side Community Center. Is that what you asked? Yeah. Okay. Well, I I asked specifically North Side
Fort Worth. If if there were a convenient voting location that you identified for that particular area. Yeah. The only the only location that we have kind of in that area is the North Side Community Center, and it only had 160 voters
for for early voting. Well, I think North Side Community Center and and Diamond Hill Jarvis Library, correct? Those are in close. Um I guess Diamond Hill, if that is technically North Fort Worth, it's so
far north. So, yeah, Diamond Hill is there, but the unfortunately the law requires that the election center be a polling location. So, I had to have my location, which is just down the street from Diamond Hill. Um, so we had that one and and I can't cut my location,
although the turnout would say we should. Um, the law won't allow it or I would. And TCC Northwest TCC Northwest um parking has been an issue there historically. And then um the that one does give us um it's kind
of a fishbowl thing that they put us in, but they have to go and remove all the furniture. We go in set up and then we have to pull out. They go in and put all the furniture back in. And we the Sagon Public Library has much better parking, a much better room um to to handle those
those voters. So, we chose the the Syon Public Library because it is a new facility that that that has just now become available for us. Yeah. I just I I look at and again this would have been great to have this conversation um you know a couple of weeks ago uh in an office somewhere where we could plot these things on a
map uh because when you look at just demographically I'm very familiar with the area. It's where I grew up. So I know everybody that's going to Sagenol Library is coming from the north down and then primarily everybody that's going to go to TCC Northwest is probably coming from with inside the loop up. Um that's probably how it's how it works
out uh every year. So it's not like the same voters are going to same places. Now, I I say all that I mean, I know you can't have an election center on every single corner. Uh, and you can't anticipate all of these things. And again, I I think you put forward a good effort in trying to accomplish the the
marching orders that I think you got after the last uh exercise on voting centers. Um but but on these I mean to to get comfortable with this I mean I I I really would like to see KOMO added uh potentially TCC Northwest and potentially something in North Side
Fort. The uh one other thing on TCC Northwest is out of the 44 locations in in 23 it was in the bottom 10 for turnout. Um, so there was another reason um to not utilize that and shift to the library because the library having
better parking, better access, we thought might help increase the turnout as well. Anything else over here? I I'll say one more. Uh, thank uh Clinton, when we talked, I know everything was driven by just pure voter turnout, and I think that's the
right way to do it. I think what you were looking at I understand some of the concerns uh Commissioner RmIrez was just talking about. Um but I I actually appreciated that that that's how you looked at it. What's the most efficient effective way to handle this election to get people where they need to go where
they've already shown us that they're showing up to vote at the ballot boxes. Let's take our resources there so we get people in more efficiently, more effectively. I think that was actually really well done. Um, I guess my uh my thought when when we're saying we didn't, you know, it was a unilateral
decision. Why was he the one doing all this? Sounds like you were the one tasked with that. And so when we tell you, please go do this for us, it seems disingenuous for the court then to say, why did you make these decisions? I understand we need some more communication, but um that's what you were charged to do and that's what you
came back. And so again, I applaud that effort. Um, if we vote down the motion to table, um, and what I was going to come in and be prepared to do, uh, right away was to, uh, move to adopt the voting centers that you had, but add three. And one was Como. I I think we
ought to add KOMO in. From our conversations yesterday, that one was right there on the margins. Um, and there's really no other good geographical location that that the people in that community can get to very easily. Um, so I thought Ko was good.
The Legacy Learning Center up in HLlett uh I also think was good. I was going to move to add that one because as you said that gap for that 10 miles as there's not much there and as Commissioner RmIrez knows better than anybody. Hasllett and anywhere is hard to get around Bonds Ranch Road. You probably need something closer to there to get
all those people in that area done. Um and then based on our conversation the the Northeast Subcourthouse. Now, having said that, I would say that's the third in in terms of priority because we do have the Bedford Public Library. Um, so if if somebody else wanted to add
something there, I get that. But based on our conversations, those were like the three that were right on the edge that we're no longer having. So, I'm prepared to make a motion uh if if we don't table it to adopt your map, but add KOMO Legacy Learning Center in the Northeast Subcourthouse unless there's a
overwhelming uh reason to adopt one of the other ones. Um, but I appreciate your work and I think you've done a good job of hitting the target that we asked you to do. Um and and and I think everybody understands nobody's going to be completely excited or thrilled with losing uh precinct or voting locations,
but that doesn't mean that that's not what we should do. So, thank you for your work. Thank you. I have a comment, judge. The first thing I want to say is this. This is not about wasteful spending.
This is about voter accessibility. Everybody deserves the the right to have a place that they are comfortable with and familiar with to go and to cast their vote. My people bled, died, and suffered and
fought for the right to be able to vote. And to dismantle or to take those rights away from us that we worked hard to get is unacceptable on any level. It's not about money. It's about access.
If it's only one person that goes to a voting site, so be it. That's one person that got to participate in the democratic process. It doesn't matter the cost. It matters making sure that everybody has access and the ability to
go and vote and to let their voices be heard. If we want to really talk about it, let's talk about why there is voter apathy. Let's begin to build strategy around voter engagement. Instead of taking places away from people, we need to make it more accessible to the
people. So, as we talk about voter access, in 2021, Taran County voters had 48 early voting sites and 323 election day polling locations. In 2023, early voting sites decreased
slightly to 44, but election day sites actually increased to 330. Under this proposal for November 2025, voters would be left with only 24 early voting sites, a 50% cut, and 214
election day polling sites, nearly onethird fewer than in 2021. Not to mention, many of the closures are concentrated inside the A20 loop, leaving Central Fort Worth, including
historic black and brown neighborhoods, disproportionately affected. That, my friend, is problematic. While our college campus early voting sites have been eliminated, disenfranchising young voters, firsttime voters, and working
students who depend on access accessible polling near their college campus. Let this sink in. The following cities have no early voting locations whatsoever. Everman, Kennedale, Halum
City, Hurst, Ulis, and Edgecliffe. and there is only one location for the whole of Grand Prairie. That, my friend, is problematic. This comes on the heels of midterm redistricting battles that already
weaken community representation. Now, reducing polling locations is a direct, in my opinion, a direct continuation of attacks on every citizen's fundamental right to vote. Once the number of polling places
decreases, it rarely rebounds. The precedent being set here risks locking in long-term voter suppression. In my humble opinion, in the 2023 election, turnout was just 12.48%
of registered voters and five sites saw fewer than 300 voters. Instead of closing sites, again, we should be asking why turnout is so low and addressing excess barriers. Residents without cars who rely on
public transit or who juggle multiple jobs will face the greatest burden when polling sites are miles farther away or reduced altogether. And let me add this, this is part of the systemic problem. We have people who do not connect and re
resonate with the people in the community. We don't have people who are here who are making decisions who are poor, who work multiple jobs, who have transportation issues, who have child care issues and all of these barriers facing them, but they are the ones that
are making the decisions for these individuals. We're leaving these people out of the process. We are making them invisible. And that ain't right. Our job is to represent every represented, every
person in the county. The ones that look like us, the ones that don't look like us, the ones who have what we have, and the ones who don't. Everybody needs to be included in this process. And the way it is presently presented, they do not.
And that's problematic. And we need to look at the humanness of ourselves and begin to see people for who they are and where they are and what they need and not make decisions and judgments based upon our experience and our lens.
That's what we're doing. We're making decisions based upon our personal lens and we're not taking into account what the people who will be affected by this need. [Music] I want you to think about that.
While state regulations and budgets create pressures, disenfranchising entire communities is not an acceptable solution. Democracy should not be sacrificed for administrative convenience or cost savings.
Democracy in Taran County is being chipped away. First through redistricting, now through cuts, now to voting sites. This is not about efficiency. It's about eroding access and silencing voices.
60 years ago, these kinds of tactics were unacceptable and today they remain an insult to every voter in Taran County. And as I close my remarks, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, give us the vote. We're not asking for
it. Give it to us because it belongs to us. Thank you. Sit down. I have something else. Okay. So, um this this plan as presented today, it just it makes it harder for
people to vote. Not easier. And so making it easier for people to vote, I hopefully that's what we all want is more voter turnout. Um I've heard Clint say since I've been on this panel uh
over and over he needs more polling locations. He has stood at that podium and said that repeatedly repeatedly. And so, um, we've got a perfectly good
list of polling places from 2023. Use it. The ones that are not welcoming us back, of course, but use that. Now, make this make any sense to me, and um, Commissioner Krauss, I think, touched on
it. The Northeast uh, Gary Ficus Subcourthouse number eight on the list of the highest vote getting polling places in the county,
but he removed it. Uh that kind of thing has got to be explained. Um so people need to be able to vote without having to worry about trying to figure
out where to go. Everybody's not going to jump on their phone and or try to find out what their precinct number is. U they're going to turn around and go home if it's not at the usual place that it's been at. And
we know resources are not the problem. Um the the FY24 fullear contract labor spend was 2.4 4 million and the current budget allocates
3.3 million for contract labor. Uh so that gives us more than enough to fund the staffing needs to keep voting accessible. Uh you know, unless I'm wrong, but you can come by and tell me. I'm just I
looked at your looked at the budget. Um so it feels like we're doing two things at the same time. We just finished drawing up a new map because our county is growing so fast, right? We just redistricted,
got all these new people, we think, but then we turn right around and say we're going to cut our voting spots in half. Come on now. Come on. Um
that just does not add up. And so when you take away places to vote from I can't even there's so many segments of the community that you're discriminating against. I it's hard to pick one. Senior citizens.
You know, when you say UTA, you think the campus, but if you've lived in Arlington for almost 40 years, as I have, you know that neighborhood. And that neighborhood is a senior neighborhood.
Those people can walk right across the street, get their steps in, and vote on campus. You're discriminating against African-Americans. Who takes coma? You're discriminate. Who You know, the voter turnout at Vernon
Newsome is a high minority population, but um and and I'm going back and forth between the list, election day and early. Um so
y'all know what this is called, voter suppression, uh impeding access to the ballot box. Um, and really Clint, it was what almost a year ago that we were up here about the college the
polling places on college campuses and um it's a big fight. A whole bunch of people up here. Um, and it and it failed. So, we know the Republican party of Taran County, they've said it,
thinks only students are only Democrats and they only vote on college campus, whatever. So, what you're doing is the work of the Republican party. You You went so we wouldn't have to debate it up here. You
went ahead and said, "I'll I'll just remove all college campuses." Um, and you are SP you an elections administrator must have integrity. You you 100% have to. And that's called
into question when you cut by 44% almost in half the number of polling places for each of these constituents. We talk about working families. gotta rush home and pick up the kids
from daycare and vote. That's you're discriminating against them when you cut these vote centers in half. Um, senior citizens, African-Americans, Latinos, it it goes on and on. And so, um, I I'm
I've got my motion on the floor. Um, it just this proposal, this list is not right. And I do have a PowerPoint presentation because you don't, do you? No, ma'am. Okay, I do. And I can show you show the
public what it looks like now and how many um uh spots you're taking away. Do y Where's the IT? Where are the IT people? Is it up? Gabe, if you can click All right. In 2023, we had 331 election
day polling locations. In 2024, that number was 349. Uh, and this draft proposal today has 214 sites. That's a net loss of 117 polling places from the last constitutional amendment election. Um, a
35% loss of location. So, um, that's what that looks like. 23, look at all those accessible locations. 24 or 25 proposed 25. And that's what we're talking about um doing. That's election
day. And here's early vote 2023. 44 early vote locations. in 2025 uh 2024 we had 51 but we I
didn't show that. So then you go to the proposed for 2025 I mean it's ridiculous. Go back to um 23 25. Thank you sir. These aren't small
changes. These are drastic cuts that will have a real and painful impact on our voters. And what really gets me is where these cuts are being made. Um, all the colleges are gone. Our young people, students, they deserve a convenient
place to vote. Um, and walking uh from UTA to the Arlington subcours is a hike when you're walking. Okay. Um, so we we should be encouraging participation in our democracy, not putting up barriers
to folks civic duties. Um, so that's that's all I've got for now. All right. Anybody else have anything? Yes, ma'am. Sir, I was just going to say in 2023, we only utilize two college campuses anyway, and UTA was not one of them. Okay. I know. I know that.
Anything else from anyone up here before we go to the speakers? All right. Thank you, Clint. This is I3. All right. Our first speaker you uh I will remind you please follow the rules. Our first speaker is Mindy Tacket.
Following Mindy Tacket we have Daniel Peters. If you if I call your name and will you please make your way to the center aisle. It's one minute for the these this item. In 1980, Paul Hyrick, a founder of the
modern right, said the quiet part out loud. I don't want everybody to vote. Our leverage goes up as the voting populace goes down. That's the playbook. And his heirs obviously are still at
work closing polling places in black and Latino neighborhoods and college campuses. coming on the heels of maps that split communities apart. All behind it, white Christian nationalism. If your faith, your race, your neighborhood
doesn't fit their vision, the goal is keep you from the ballot box. That's what's happening here. You all fear the people of Tarant County. You want to decide who counts and who doesn't. But democracy only works when voters
choose their leaders. And today, everyone here and everyone watching online can see how dangerous your choices are to our democracy. Thank you. Is Mr. Peters present? Daniel Peters? Do we still have people out
there? Anyone? I don't know, but I'll find out. All right. Daniel Peters, I called him. We're moving to Candace Swanson. Following Miss Swanson, we have Allison Compalo. Is this Miss Swanson? Okay,
judge. We do still have people outside. Say it again. We do still have people out in the overflow. Ready? Thomas Jefferson said, "We do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate. The new locations will suppress participation.
Tarant County is growing. 89 people move here a day. Closing half the early polling locations and 130 some odd of the same day sites will suppress turnout. By creating voting deserts in minority communities, you force voters
to travel farther to exercise their rights, especially the elderly and those of limited means. These tactics are not a sign of a healthy democracy, but we all understand you need to ensure a win for your side. Judge, you demand respect in your court. Cracking, packing, and
suppression are unfair and disrespectful to those you serve. Please be fair and respect the voters. Do not make it more difficult to participate in elections. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Thank you, Miss Compalo. Following Miss
Compalo is Taylor Ramett. Hello. Um, okay. So, I called Clint the other day and I I asked for locations and he said that's something for the commissioners to change the list. So, I'm officially requesting that we change the list of the proposed polling locations. Um, I would at the very least
recommend that we add in some polling locations. Um, even if we don't add in all of them, I'm not asking you to open the Everman Civic Center if nobody votes there. Um, I would please request the following six locations. Uh, which is the South Service Center or something equivalent to it. uh the Ulus family senior center, the Komao Community
Center, and the Bob Duncan Center. Those are the top four. So, those were in the top 24 by population and by turnout um from the 2023 list. Those were very highly uh utilized and used. And then also the Vernon Newsome Stadium and at least one location in the north side. And you know, I know Manny and I agree
on almost nothing, but he's completely right. We can't have no locations in the north side. We need at least one. Um, we closed the North Side Community Center, you closed the campus, you closed the Diamond Jarvis Library. That's not acceptable. We need last one. Nobody's going to Thank you.
Is that Mr. Rett? Okay. Following Mr. Rette, we have Nicole White. As an Air Force veteran, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. A note that didn't end when I hung up my uniform. That oath is why I'm standing here today. At its core, the right to vote is
not a partisan issue. It is the foundation of who we are as Americans. Every one of us in this room may differ on policy or party, but we should all agree on this. The ballot box must remain open, accessible, and fair. The
proposal to cut the early to cut the number of early voting locations in half and the closing of over 100 election day polling sites will make it harder for working people, for young people, for black and brown folks, seniors, for voters who depend on nearby places to
cast their ballot. We are not saving money. We're spending trust. And once and and once trust in our elections is gone, it doesn't come back. It doesn't come back with a stroke of a budget. History may not remember the margins of this election, but it will remember
whether we expanded or diminished it. Uh Nicole White, is she present? Following Miss White, William Marks, William Marks present.
Next we would have Fallon Brazzle. William Marks or Fallon Brazzle. The voters you're trying to suppress are my constituents. My name is William Marks. I'm a candidate for the Texas 25th Congressional District. So eliminating voting locations is an
assault on the rights of the working class, an assault on young voters, an assault on everyday Texans, and an assault on truth, justice, and the American way. This map of voter suppression is stealing the American promise that
everyone has a voice, that the government exists of the people, by the people and for the people. So if Republican policies are so good, let them stand on their own. Let the people decide and bring back every location
you're trying to eliminate. Is Fallon Brazzle here? All right. with no foul and brazle. Whitney Wood Wararez. It's Miss Wararez present. Whitney Wood Wararez.
Is that Miss Warez? Are you Miss Wararez? Okay. Following Miss Wararez is Abiola Agoro. Good morning. Access to the ballot box is the foundation of our democracy.
Closing these locations will create unnecessary barriers for students, working families, and communities of color. Many of these voters already face challenges like transportation and long work hours. Removing convenient polling
places will only make it harder for them to participate in our elections. Instead of limiting access, our county should be doing everything possible to expand it. Every voter, every vote
matters. Every voter should have an equal opportunity to cast their ballot. Thank you. Thank you. Is Abiola Agoro present? Following Miss Agoro, we have Diane
Simmons or Simons. How many of you all still have your grandparents or your parents alive? Show of hands. Nobody has grandparents or parents. If your grandmother fell in the middle of the road when I had an interview, would you want me to take the
time to help her? We often talk about what is legal. We talk about what we feel obligated to do. But helping people is not convenient. Helping people and doing what is necessary for people is one of the most inconvenient things in
the entire world. But it is what we must do. Many of you all have lived by different models your entire life. I'm sure Judge will recognize veritas liberavit vos for the truth will make you free from SMU
disciplina precidium civotas or cultivated minds are the guardian genius of democracy I'm not asking for you all to do what is easy I'm not asking for you all to do anything that is easy but I am asking for you to abide by what you have been said to abide by for your entire lives
thank you following Miss Simons we have Josiah Weber I'm Diane Simons, uh, precinct. Oh, I guess it's two now. Um, but I'm also a precinct chair 1206. Also, I am a house uh, uh,
coordinator uh, that takes care of 97. And I just want to let you know that, you know, I've lived and grown up in Ben Brook and I still go to KO. Why? Because the parking is horrible in Benber. And if you're disabled, the parking, all the people that park there
and the parking spot work there. And it's hard to get around and not actually hit somebody if you're doing curbside voting as well. Uh KO has a lot of curbside voting. And uh anybody that's been there, they'll always see that. And so
you're taken away and people that are in a wheelchair, our public transportation only holds two people max and people are having to wait for the next time to come around. You took all the other locations out of Fort Worth pretty much. We have to be able to get there. Thank you.
And you can't take them away. Thank you. Is Josiah Weber present? Josiah Weber. Okay. The time is 11:31. We are going to take a break, a recess until 11:40. So, we will be back at 11:40 to continue
public comments. We're in recess. Sorry. Yeah. All right. Please go ahead and find your seats. Uh we will resume. And the next person we have to speak is
Stella Fair. Following Miss Fair, we have Sonia Bole. Is Miss Fair present? I heard her say, "I'm here." I think I heard that. Good morning. I guess it's still
morning. During a commission's court meeting in early 2024, one of you said, and I quote, "I don't believe it's the county government's responsibility to try to get more people out to the polls." While this statement may be true, it is also not your responsibility
to reduce voter turnout by eliminating eliminating access to polling places. It is your responsibility, however, to ensure that all voters of Tarant County have unfettered access to free and fair elections. I urge you to honor your duty
to the voters of this county and reject this proposal. Thank you. Uh Sonia Bole present. Uh, following Mr. Bole, we have Elizabeth Gonzalez. Hello. It's nice to see y'all. Um, commissioners, I'm here speaking today
to urge you not to close any voting locations and perhaps add more to HB area, DFW area, and other parts of the community, especially those serving lower income and diverse neighborhoods. These communities already face significant barriers to voting,
including limited access to reliable transportation and great challenges for elderly residents. Reducing polling places would only make those obstacles worse, forcing people to travel further, wait longer, and potentially give up on voting altogether. I currently volunteer
to help seniors in my area to get to appointments, grocery visits, and any other oblig obligatory appointments that they need in their free time. This would put a significant obstacle on those individuals. We have seen in the past elections that long wait times, fewer voting sites hit
workingass and minority voters the hardest. This resident, these residents deserve the same access to the Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Elizabeth Gonzalez. It's Miss Gonzalez present.
Elizabeth Gonzalez. Okay. Isabella Barnett. Hi. Following Miss Barnett, we have Stephanie McCartney. Hi. Hi. I believe that it is common knowledge to most people in this room that having
equal access to the ballot box is a civil right that's recognized and protected by the Constitution. I believe it is the representatives responsibility to protect and uphold that right through their actions and policies. That's why I'm speaking today to express my deep opposition to the motion to close a
portion of Tarant County's early voting locations. To call early voting locations a waste of taxpayer money is an extremely insensitive and quite honestly an insult to the people of Tarant County. Personally, I do not believe it is an elected officials place
to hypothesize on how to disengage constituents from their civic participation. This decision would affect college students living on campus, specifically those without a vehicle, individuals without the means to travel, working people without the schedule to vote, and those with disabilities, and more from marginalized
communities. To move forward with this decision is an active form of voter suppression, specifically targeting young working voters and black and brown voters. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Stephanie McCartney. Following Miss McCartney, we have Vanessa Nun.
Tarant County and this court have a shameful record. Texas already like ranks last in voter access and Tarant County is following the state's worst trends. We demand transparency and justice. We call on this court to immediately halt all closures and
release the full list of cuts. hold public hearings in affected areas and restore voting access with mobile polling units and extended early voting like Harris County. This is about fairness and if you unwisely proceed, we will file federal complaints under the
Voting Rights Act. We will mobilize voters to remember this in November. Expose who benefits from silencing black, Latino, disabled, young, and workingclass voters. The nation is watching. Will Tarant County stand for democracy or suppression? Thank you.
Thank you. Uh, Miss Nun, did I call out Vanessa Nun? I'm calling out Vanessa Nun now. Vanessa Nun, Jennifer Snowden, Vanessa Nun, or Jennifer Snowden. Do we still have people outside?
Okay. Uh, Sabrina Ball. Vanessa Nun, Jennifer Snowden, Sabrina Ball. Okay. How about Suzanne Mabe? Miss Mab, come on up. No, we'll go ahead and let her go now.
Miss Mab, we'll have you second. Okay. Hi, I'm a native Texan and a mom and an election judge in Commissioner Ramirez's district, or at least I hope to still be. At my precinct, we've worked hard to grow turnout. I see men and women coming straight from long shifts, sweaty and
tired, but determined to vote. I see mothers with children, seniors, and veterans who depend on us. These are not wealthy families, but they are American families with the same right to vote as anyone in South Lake. When you cut early voting sites like, KOMO, and TCU, sites
with great access for working families and the elderly, you're not saving money. You're sacrificing democracy to save a buck. Working families built this country. Don't silence them now. Stand with us, not against us.
Next we have Suzanne Mab. Following Miss May, we have Gwen Bude. Hi. I I came here to um ask you to reconsider these uh selections that you presented to us, but uh Commissioner
Miles stole all my thunder. And so I want to second everything that he said, but I have a couple of couple of small things to say. Uh if your goal is to suppress voting, you're doing a really good job. And uh there are only
two sites within loop 820 and the public transportation outside of loop 820 is non-existent almost. So that needs to be rectified. And uh then I want I want to ask you why should why would you make it harder for
every year for people to vote? uh you are charged with overseeing the elections and you shouldn't try and cut the budget to keep people from voting by removing places to vote. Uh thank you. Following this birude we have
Andrew Kawa. Hello Gwen Bude here. I now represent Texans Defending Democracy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to protecting Texans right to vote. This proposal would reduce Tarant County polling locations and it lacks clear
rationale. Looking at early voting locations alone, high turnout and polling locations across Tarant County such as Brookside Center, KO Community Center, and Ulis Family Life Center as well as the Golden Triangle location would all be closed. while lower turnout
areas would lose access altogether. As Commissioner RmIrez pointed out, this means voters will travel farther, face longer lines, and depend on limited public transportation services. Twothirds of the remaining sites are
hard to reach without a car. And if one site shuts down due to technical problems, the backup would be the backup would be few and far as far as locations would be few and far between. These closures make voting harder, not easier. Please make voting easier.
Thank you. Is Andrew Kawa present? All right. K K A W A is how to pronounce it. Andrew. Uh Molly Sanchez. Katherine Godby. All right. Molly Sanchez. Miss Godby, come on up.
following Miss Godby and Zeta. I've been trying to understand what it means that I'm white. Uh, believe me, it's a painful journey. When I first learned that this was agendaized today, my spirit sank. I'm so tired of these
racist policies, racist actions by my county government. Voter suppression is an act of violence. It's in the long tradition of what Ben Boswell calls white terrorism. As in the middle passage, child slavery, police brutality, redlinining, mass
incarceration, gerrymandering, sundown towns, lynchings, urban renewal, Jim Crow laws. White people have been terrorizing black people for over 400 years, and we've got to stop it. Thank you.
Uh, an Zeta following Miss Zeta's Aaron Perks or Perus. Good morning. I'm An Zeta, newly racially gerrymandered into precinct 4. I didn't realize until I was preparing my remarks that I was dressed all in black, but I guess it's apppropo of the
issue that I'm here to speak on, the steady whittling away of our democracy. With only one minute to speak, another example of your efforts to limit the voices of constituents. I will just say that I am opposed to the reduction of polling locations that disproportionately impact black and brown voters. Several years ago, while
serving on the Fort Worth City Council, a demographer from Rice University presented to us the growth of minority community communities that were destined to make Fort Worth and Tarant County majority minority. And here we are. And now we have to fight to ensure that those voices are heard. Eliminating
polling locations will not make people go away, but it does make it harder for those voices to be heard. This is voter suppression. I also wanted to say that with the limited process of voters, it's about it's not about limiting the ability to process voters. It's the proximity of voters to hear their vo
their voices to be heard. And is the goal the bare minimum? I keep hearing the bare minimum. Thank you. It's Aaron Perkus present. Perks, my apologies. Aaron Perks. Following Miss Perks is Anan Patel. Okay.
Hello, I'm Aaron Perks, a resident and taxpayer in the 76110 zip code of Mistletoe Heights. I'm here today to share concerns about the proposed closures of early voting locations. Under this plan, residents of Mistletoe Heights, Berkeley, Tinglewood, Overton Park, Monaceel, Crestwood, and many more
would lose access to long-standing voting sites like Southside Community Center, TCU, and Health Science Center. Leaving only the downtown courthouse, which is harder to reach and navigate, tens of thousands of residents would be funneled into one location. If this is about efficiency, why aren't reductions
distributed evenly across the county? Central Fort Worth and historic black and Hispanic neighborhoods would be disproportionately impacted while other areas are left untouched. What steps will this court take to ensure that these cuts don't unfairly burden some communities over others? Trust in our
system depends on every voter having equal unburdened access to the right to vote. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh is Anand Patel present? Anand Anand. Uh, next, Loretta Hardman.
Following Miss Hardman, we have Ivonne Thompson. Good morning. Good morning. I am your lead for KO. I would just like to say real quick, KO is a welloiled machine. We're efficient, professional, and if you vote there one time, you'll
come back. If you come in with a problem, I'm going to make sure you have a solution. That's my promise. Commissioner RmIrez, thank you for recognizing Kamo. It's needed. Uh, Commissioner Krauss, is that right?
Happy birthday. That's it. Uh, Ivon Thompson. It's Ivon Thompson present. All right. Peter Irvin. Uh, Ivon Thompson. I'll call again. Um, following Mr. Irvin. We have Aisha
Hassan. My name is Peter Irvin. I have been a resident of Tarant County for four years. I urge no demand the court reject the proposed early voting and election day polling locations for the November 4th, 2025 joint special and
constitutional amendment election. Furthermore, it appears that at least three members of the commissioner's court have forgotten our founding father's position on petty tyranny. To this end, I will remind you that when in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitled them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the cause which impel them to
the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.
Thank you, sir. Next, we have Aisha Hassan. Following Miss Hassan, we have Reed Bills. Good morning. My name is Aisha Hassan and I live in North Fort Worth in precinct 4. I'm speaking in opposition to the consideration to approve early voting in election day polling locations
for the November 4th, 2025 election. My message today is to you, Commissioner Manny Ramirez. I am appalled at the idea of shutting down so many early voting election day polling locations. This is a first class
example of voter suppression and you know it is. This proposal disproportionately impacts people of color and their right to accessible voting locations. You cannot possibly stand for this. Um you cannot possibly stand for this proposal with
goodwill and face the people you sought to represent just like me knowing you are actively suppressing votes. This proposal is a disgrace and I ask you as a citizen in your precinct to please stand on the right side of history and not vote for this. Thank you.
Thank you. Reed Bills present. Following Miss Bills, we have Libby Willis. Judge O'Hare and his Republican cohorts are again trying to suppress voting in Tarant County by drastically cutting the number of polling locations, especially
in places where people of color and college students usually vote. I would like to address the funding implications of this proposal. The court communication indicates
there is no fiscal impact. Apparently no fiscal impact study was conducted. So I assume that means there is no costsaving to reducing the number of locations by half. If that is the case,
that leaves only political motiv motivation for this proposal. I urge you to vote against this blatant act of voter suppression. Follow. Is Miss Willis present? Libby Willis?
Libby Willis. Uh next, uh Anna or Anna Kamarena. Miss Kamarena present. Lydia Bean. Uh, following Miss Bean, we will have Rita Adam.
My name is Lydia Bean. I'm the chair of the Broadway Baptist Justice Committee and one of the founders of the Tarant County Faith and Justice Coalition. I'm speaking here today to ask you to not adopt this proposal to close polling locations which are disproportionately
in black and Latino and working-class neighborhoods. And I want to remind you that the right to vote is not a suggestion and it shouldn't depend on the color of your skin or the neighborhood where you live. And when you close polling locations, you make it very expensive and timeconuming for
working people to vote. You force people to take off work, to take a bus across town, to walk two and a half hours to the nearest because that's how long it takes to walk 5 miles in Tarant County. So creating a pole tax is a violation of
people's voting rights. Please reconsider this list, particularly focusing on historic neighborhoods of color, and make sure that everyone has a polling location where they can easily and conveniently vote without having to take off work, hire a babysitter. Thank you. Is Rita Adam present?
Rita Adam. Uh Alexandria Williams. Following Miss Williams, we have Toby Laws. Hello. I am a Terry County resident, college student, and precinct chair 4179 where early voting will be almost
non-existent for us. Um our Texas Constitution, actually, no, I'm sorry. The study by Enrico Canton shows that a quarter mile increase in travel distance can cause voter turnout to drop by 5%. You're considering cutting more than 100 polling places. So, what do you think
that difference will make? Um, fewer sites means longer lines, lower turnout. It'll lead to confusion, more mistrust and unnecessary boundaries in our government. This means seniors, students, and families without reliable transportation will be unfairly burdened. This is not efficient. This is
voter suppression. These changes will fall the hardest on underserved communities, young people, and working families. And at a time when trust in elections is already fragile, cutting polling places is a direct spit in the face of democracy. Voting is a fundamental part of
democracy and these decisions should expand access, not restrict it. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Rita Adam, is Rita Adam present? I didn't read that one very long. Toby LS following Mr. LS is David Richardson.
I too uh disagree with this proposal to remove many polling locations all across the land. People feel as though democracy is very much fleeting
and representation is not reflective of the population and those entrusted to serve the public often do not. It is very disheartening
uh for this to even be proposed. I admit some appreciation for Mr. Ramirez for at least trying to be somewhat objective about some things and
encourage you all to not necessarily vote on this, gather more detail and truly serve Tarant County. Following Mr. Richardson. We have Laura Leman. Thank you.
We've been drowned in facts and reason and enlightenment thinking today. I have too much to say for my minute. So, I'm going to tell you a story. I want to tell you about my neighbor's grandmother.
She lives out past the gravel road where the mailbox leans like an old man in the wind. She's voted in every election since 1952. Rain, shine, or Texas heat.
Last year, she took two buses and arrived from a church volunteer to reach her polling place. If we cut locations in half, she won't make it. And if she doesn't vote,
something sacred goes quiet. Not just her voice, but the memory of every generation she carried with her in that ballot box. Am I done? Yes, sir. I'm assuming that's what that beep was. Okay. Um
All right. Laura Leman is next. Following Miss Leman, we have Stacy Melo. Good morning. Yes, I'm Laura. Well, here we go again. How to cheat and steal to keep power by suppressing voting opportunities in Tarant County. Leading this charge, Judge O'Hare, Commissioner
Ramirez, and Krauss for the November 4th special election. And these three men shamelessly want to slash over 100 polling locations, cutting election day sites from 349 down to just 214. People are not stupid. While you claim this is about efficiency, we all know
it's really about making voting harder. Just like when you tried to close college polling locations last year and just like you racially gerrymandered the county commissioner precincts. Commissioner Ramirez, remember when you said add more sites, don't take any away regarding the college polling locations
debacle. Stealing power by cheating voters lacks morality and it it flies in the face of biblical teachings. Proverb 11, the Lord hates anyone who cheats, but he likes everyone who is honest. We've had enough of your terrible
policies. Voters are already what your actions are harmful. Thank you, Stacy Melo. Stacy Melo present. All right. Following Miss Melo, we have Karen Gryom. Well, well, well. Here we are again
fighting for our right to vote. I'm not surprised though, as it seems like the only thing that y'all are really good for is suppressing people's right to vote. So, congrats on that. Um, listen, I'm not going to sit here and beg y'all to do what's right, which is voting
against this voting list. You already know that that's the right thing to do. Uh, but I also know that y'all don't really care what your constituents have to say. You didn't care when you racially gerrymandered our precinct maps and you don't really care now. Um, so
really what I just want youall to be aware of is that we know that the reason that you're doing this is because you're scared. You're scared of the reckoning that is coming for you in 2026. And you should be because we every every
single time that y'all try to do this BS of trying to restrict our right to vote, it just lights a fire under us. So I hope that you are scared because we are coming for your seats in 2026. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Miss Gryom. Is Miss Gryom present?
Karen Gryom. All right. Following Miss Gryom or I guess not following but June Naylor Harris. Approximately how many people are still out there? Deputy if you had to guess.
Okay. Uh June Naylor Harris. June Naylor Harris present. Jennifer MSUS. Jennifer MSAS present. Chandler, do we have uh you said there's speakers out there, so I'm assuming
they're right outside those two doors. Hear it. I should see them pop up. What I've been told by staff is we're trying to call names ahead of time out there to have them lined up if they are sitting up. All right. Jennifer MSAS, uh Charles Bills, following Mr. bills is Leavon Cochril. I want to reiterate something that Mr.
Miles said about uh that the voters when they come they want a place that they always know they can go to vote and when you close something that's been around like Komo Center has always been open for voting and have it suddenly not be available to voting that that just
causes way too much stress and confusion. You know, there's not anything buddy saying, "No, now you have to go three miles away." There's just nothing. There's just no voting there, and that's just not acceptable. Uh, Miss Cochril, following Miss Cochril
is Wesie Anderson, Jr. Being unpopular is a problem. Better lost Taran County by only 24,319 votes. Judge O'Hare, you won by 34,9 69 votes and Commissioner Ramirez, you won by 23,628.
But 38,000 registered Democrats who live on the north side did not vote. Cutting $81 million to JPS, ICE raids, locking up Nicole Collier, Taran County, Trump's approval rating is 38% and falling. Republics are unpopular.
Hurting people is unpopular. Cutting polling places is unpopular. and you work basically one day a month for a 220,000 plus salary. I laugh because you can't stop publicity, the doortodoor explainers,
the continuous phone calls to the Democratic headquarters, our thousands of volunteer forms filled out. You can't calm the anxiety in Tarant County because you created it. Thank you. You awoke a low blood sugar giant.
Please step away from the microphone. Um Wesie Anderson. Mr. Anderson. Okay. Following Mr. Anderson is Kristen Hartwell. Well, good afternoon. Afternoon, Texas. Been here two years. Only thing I
heard since I've been here is voter suppression. My question for you on the redistricting is how does it affect you three as far as your neighborhoods polling closes? How does it affect you three people?
It's not It's not a Q&A. Use your minute however you choose. Okay. Well, everybody's complaining about voters being suppressed. I don't hear anybody on your side of town say y'all losing voters. It's crickets. [Music]
Anything else? That is all, sir. I got 15 seconds not to just stand there and do nothing. So, thank you, sir. No problem. Miss Hartwell is next. It doesn't affect their districts. Redistricting didn't affect their district. Commissioner Simmons, you just brought up that one of my polling places was closed. It was in one of the top 10
polling places in all of Tarant County. So, I wouldn't say that's exactly true. Miss Miss Hartwell, is Miss Hartwell present? Jerry Michael Stein. Following Mr. Stein is Donna Reagan. Jerry Stein, precinct number one. Uh,
Commissioner Miles summarized most of my major points. I just the only original thought I could add here is that there are consequences for your actions and I'd like you to think about that dearly. When you cut off the ability to pe for people to express their views peacefully, then you have people coming
out at a meeting like this. Then you have them go having large rallies at Barnett Park. After that, there are less than peaceful actions and and that's something that concerns me and should concern you. Don't cut off people's peaceful expression of their views.
Thank you. Thank you. Are you Miss Hartwell? Are you Miss Reagan? Miss Reagan. Following Miss Reagan, we have Andrew Fizer. Good morning. My name is Donna Reagan and it's my first time to appear here.
Um, I understand it's customary to address the court as your honors. However, the only honor I've picked up on here is honor among thieves. Thieves who are trying to steal the power of we the people. While voter suppression is no
laughing matter, it seems to be the running gag of this court. Instead of fulfilling your duty to safeguard fair elections, you're focused on delivering the same sad punchlines over and over. Play party politics, disenfranchise voters, target communities of color. When officials
manipulate who gets to vote, who gets streamline of a process, and who gets stuck at the back of the line, it's not honorable. It's cowardly. It's fixing the game before it's played just so you don't have to face a fair fight. And if you think racism is hidden
by bureaucratical language, think again. Denying minority groups their voice isn't just a bad joke, it's the oldest, ugliest reoccurring joke in American history. Thank you. Thank you. Andrew Fizer present. Andrew Fizer Fiser. Uh
Destin or Destiny Denini. Destiny. Following Miss Denini is Katherine Cano. I was born and raised in Fort Worth. I live in Ridgely Hills now with my husband where we're raising our beautiful little girl. I am a Texan. I
get when I get excited, my eye sounds get longer. If I see a need, I scream and I help. I scream at the TV just like everyone else when the game is on. As a Texan, if I make a mistake, I accept accountability and make amends when
necessary. If I lose, though I may not be happy about it, I can shake my opponent's hand and say, "Good game." And when I have a problem with someone as a Texan, I can look them in the eye and say, "So, I have a problem with
you." I ask that if polling places are being added for the November 4th elections, current polling places not be removed. To be a part of a team, you earn your spot. As repres as representatives of
this county, it is your job to rise to the occasion and meet the needs of all your constituents. Thank you. Is Miss Kano present? Gary McMatterin Gary Mcmadaran Gary McMatterin Steve Christian
following Mr. Christian Sad Dumis Thank you. I'm a lifelong resident of Fort Worth um precinct 4 live in precinct 4. Thank you uh Commissioner Miles for everything you said and a lot of others saved me some time in my one
minute. Um the main thing that I got from the presentation from staff today was we have low voter turnout and so the answer to that is to cut polling places. What that something doesn't seem right
with that to me. Um but um I'm particularly everyone else has spoken eloquently about the other reasons for this. I'll speak for the college students and the fact that eliminating all polling places
from colleges and universities is sending them a message that their voices are not valued and it discourages civic engagement for our next generation of leaders which I can hardly wait for them to get here. In a healthy democracy. In a healthy
democracy. Thank you, sir. We should be working to expand access. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Are you Miss Dumis? No. Did I call your name? Okay. Please state your name for us.
Good afternoon, Shade Dumas. I want to speak against reducing polling locations because saving a little over a million dollars are meeting the minimum requirement under the Springer bill does not outweigh the harm of disenfranchising
tens of thousands of voters. Democracy demands more than the bare minimum. It demands fairness and full access. Polling locations are not simply numbers on a budget sheet. Each site represents real people, real communities, and their
voices matter. Their votes matter. And honestly, voting should not depend on whether a community has the financial resources to buy its way into democracy. That in itself undermines the principle of equal access. It erodess trust and it
weakens our democracy. So, I urge you all to reject reducing polling locations. It is time to expand access to the ballot box, not to reduce it. Thank you. Thank you, S Dumis. That was me. Oh,
Kelly Tuful. Okay. Kelly Tuful. TOEFL. Allan Loba. Callie Tuful. All right, Mr. Loba, following Mr. Loba is Jessica Irvin.
Thank you so much. With all due respect to my good friend Stella, I thought the quote was, "It's not our job to make voting easier." I'd love to debate that when we have more than a minute, but I only have a minute. So, I would tell you that hardwired into your job descriptions, woven into the fabric of
your calling is to make life better for every resident in Tarant County. Serve every resident of Tarant County, make their lives better. All due respect, I love what you've said to us. You're my representative on this
council. I've heard two phrases, bare minimum, 10 mile radius. you can close 20 of the closest uh polling places near my house. I'll get in my car. I'll Google where I need to go. I'll get
there. But making somebody walk 9 and a half miles to a polling place because they have limited resources, limited time, limited access to transportation. Thank you, sir. Polling tax. Mr. Irvin or Mrs. Irvin, I'm sorry.
Jessica Irvin, sir. Jessica Urban Libertad Heredia following Miss Heredia is Richard Perez. Um, hi. My statements aren't very polished because like a lot of people, I was blindsided by, you know, this map
that came out with the suggested polling location closures. And as I was sitting here listening to uh members of this court, I realized that a lot of you guys were also blindsided. And I commend uh the commissioners from precincts 1, 2, and four for voicing their concerns and
standing on their principles. Um I I suppose I am echoing the sentiment of a lot of people here in saying that adding additional hurdles uh in response to low voter turnout is the wrong approach to take. Um it's a degradation of our democratic institutions and that
hurts everybody regardless of our personal beliefs. Even if you might feel like you're winning something, ultimately we all lose if we allow this to happen. and respectfully contrato um if we are concerned about budget I would suggest you look at your taxpayer funded
salaries before cutting access to voting locations respectfully thank you is Mr. Richard Perez here all right following Mr. Perez. We have Deborah Kratkkey. [Music] I'm Richard Perez and I live in District
2 near the historic stocky darts and I stand firm with District 2 Councilman Carlos Flores and District 11 Councilwoman Janette Martinez as they both oppose this proposal. They've released statements as of yesterday. I
live in the historic area of Fort Worth near the stockyards. I also live four blocks from a infamous historic building called the Ellis Picon factory. We know the initial purpose of that building was the Fort Worth Claver at the beginning
of the 20th century and that was used to intimidate people in North Side, black and brown people, people of diversity. They were known for suppression of voting. Uh they were known for their intimidation.
I would hate to see that our great Fort Worth and I my family's been here 80 years. I'd hate to see them. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Following Miss Katr, we have Amy Super. Yes, Debbie Katr here. Um in listening
to the other comments, I'm not going to add what's already been said, but there are two things that concerned me. And one of them was the fact when you asked the electeduh the elections official if the amendments were the only thing on the ballot and he said yes. That's not true. Actually Senate uh Senate seat
that's currently held by Kelly. Uh yeah, I said that. There you go. Okay. Then the last thing I'm going to say is in 1873 there was a Dallas resident who said that Fort Worth was very much like a sleeping panther.
And the one thing I can promise you is that panther has awoken and we will see you at the ballot box. Uh Amy Super following Miss Super Stanley Johnson. [Music]
Facts matter. All voters still have the same 12 days, 121 hours plus election day, another 12 hours to cast their votes. Nothing changes with that. That's not voter suppression. I analyzed the data. I told Commissioner Simmons how to analyze the data. Guess she didn't want
to do that. It clearly shows us where people want to go to vote and which places they prefer not to choose to vote at. This proposed plan reflects that. Uh the proposed list is a direct reflection of that data. Here's a fun fact. 202021
um 48 EV sites voter turnout 8.29. 2023 you took away four voter turnout went up not down. Okay. Do do you get that? Okay. I'd remind you once again of your responsibility. Take a more pragmatic approach when making
decisions that involve how our tax dollars are spent. Million dollars would cover your salary. So that's a savings I would think is good. I do recommend also to get KO back. Great parking and one of the best crew sites in Karent County. Thank you. Is Mr. Johnson present?
Stanley Johnson. Following Mr. Johnson, we have Nidia Cardinis. I have a rhetorical question for the judge and the election administrator. Uh, but I want to preface it by this uh
quote uh from our uh highly uh respected previous election administrator in his protest uh uh resignation letter. Judge O'Hare, my formula to administer a quality, transparent election stands on respect and zero politics. Compromising
on these values is not an option for me. You made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different. Thus, my decision to leave. I wish you the best. Taran County deserves that you find success. And so, my question is, u what is your formula?
um we're only going to save in a million dollars, I believe 11/10enth of a percent and it's not addressing the problem. The problem is low turnout, not too many voting places. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh following, do we have Miss Cardinis present? Nidia Cardinus. Following Miss Cardinis, we have Drew Brown. Hello, my name is Nia Cardinas and I want to know why we have a bare minimum mindset about the most foundational principle of democracy which is the
right to vote. And coming into this meeting, I tried to read all the news I could find about it. And all of them said that there was no comment on your behalf, judge. And I was kind of like, why is he not saying anything about why, you know, he's advocating for this? And I realized coming into this meeting is because you barely just got the
information. So, how could you feel comfortable making such a significant decision about people's access to voting with what sounds like less than a week of information? And so, I'm very concerned about how every time I come to this court, every decision is being made
with little transparency, little creative thinking. And if this is financial, then I would encourage us to ask the public interest law firm for a $250,000 refund um that we're paying them to fight the lawsuit against redistricting. um and we can fund what
was it 20 23 of the sites based on the um administrator's budget of 10,600 um for an early voting site. So let's do that instead. Is Drew Brown present following Mr. Brown? We have Becky Don.
Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Brooks. You used to be my commissioner. I'm sorry you're not. I voted for you. Uh and uh hi. You're my new commissioner. I didn't vote for you. I hope I don't get arrested.
So, uh, and M. County Judge, uh, I had the opportunity to vote for you, but I made a different decision because that's my rights and voting. So, you represent the whole county. So, uh, and Commissioner Brooks, so all you said
was facts, not opinion. So, uh, what we've got here is a bait and switch. They want to make that decision today. table the decision. What they're going to do is M commissioner Meris and Commissioner Krauss, they're going to throw a couple of bones over here. We're
going to give you we're going to give you com. We're going to give you this that that vote on. We're done. And think that they're heroes. Wrong. Is Becky Don present? Following Mr. Dawn, we have Peyton Bullis.
[Music] Some people imagine themselves as tasked by God to be liberators and protectors of purity and virtue. There are those of us who disagree and think they are merely dominators and oppressors of
other people. They use the language of spiritual warfare to scapegoat out outsiders by implying they are evil or inferior beings. These so-called liberators dismiss others as undeserving of the civil rights of our constitution, demeaning them by labeling them as
freeloaders, immoral or criminals. Local and federal agents are throwing innocent people in jail, often knowing they have not committed a crime. The color of their skin is their sin. Poverty criminalized when the is criminalized when the homeless are
incarcerated. Mental illness needs only to be controlled and often with brutality. When those in power redraw maps, cut polling sites, eliminate early voting. The message is that being sent it. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Peyton Bullis, present.
Peyton Bullis. Uh Jack Bowen. Jack Bowen present. All right. Following Mr. Bowen, we have Linda Henry. Big word said here today was integrity and integrity related to credibility.
And Judge O'Hare, my wife and I were stunned last fall when you said WFA, this is about partisan politics. Talking about redistricting, this is about partisan politics and making sure we have a stronger Republican majority on
the court. Not it was right. Not it was fair. Not it was honest. This is about partisan politics. So when we see this kind of cut proposed to places to vote, we see the president saying, "Let's ban mailin voting and we see the
legislature, the governor going, it's an emergency. Let's rejerrymander the last gerrymander we did." So we're suspicious. And even before a peaceful rally here in Fort Worth, the chairman of the Republican party said, "Few
wellplaced snipers could handle it." And if you wonder why Tarant County lacks credit, thank you sir. There you go. Uh following Miss Hanratty, we have Dr. Harold. [Music]
I object to the 50% reduction in early voting polling places and commensurate reduction in the election day voting places. Both of my early voting places, Ko Community Center and TCU, are slated for elimination, though apparently KO may come back in. I guess they found out
it wasn't just black voters who voted there. Um, why are we reducing the number of polling places when Taran County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country? This appears to be a f furtherance of the county's court's
mission to disenfranchise Tarant County voters which started with the recently recent grossly racial racist redistricting that we're all going to pay a huge amount of money for way more than all the voting places you're eliminating. The court says that their
policies are helping county residents and thus deserve re-election. But but it seems to me that reducing polling places means they're afraid of us. And of course, the other thing the court has done is they reduce Thank you. the meeting places.
Uh following Dr. Harold, we have Carla Palyus. Running fair, accessible elections is one of your highest duties. This proposal to cut early voting in half and to slash election day polling v places
will make voting harder for every citizen. The numbers are staggering. These cuts would force more than 8,000 voters into each polling place. over five times the national average. MIT
research shows that would add more than an hour to wait times. And I have charts here, Chandler, for you to pass out. Um, Tarant County's growth demands more polling places, not fewer. Yet, this
plan eliminates college sites and slashes early voting in half. Vote no on this proposal. Making voting harder is never the right answer. Right.
Is Miss Polyaris present? Carla Palaris. Uh Angela Rodriguez Pryin following Miss Pryin. Hollis Kirkpatre. Howdy. My name is Angela Rodriguez Prryin, but most people know me as Heli um like in Helica. Um and I am an
entrepreneur um and a mom who lives in Monaceel area. And I'm the granddaughter of Pauline Gosa Valenciano. A lot of people in here know who she is. She died in 2018. She served this city for a very long time, helping open more voting locations, expanding it to people who
speak Spanish and different languages. And my grandma, she's rolling in her grave right now. about all this. And I'm just asking you, you know, if you're trying to save money, use that money to put out marketing to say it's voting time. Hey, you know, here's the people who are on
your ballot. Let people know who's running so they can actually come out and vote. It's just basic stuff like that. And I'm also a fighting Texas Aggie, class of09. Whoop. And we don't put up with liars, cheaters, or tolerate those who do. And I'm asking you guys to
please just make it more accessible to people. Is Hollis Kirkpatre present? Hollis Kirkpatrick. Olivia Cartwright. Following Miss Cartwright, we have Alexander Montalvo.
The justification of low turnout ignores that turnout is low because of structural barriers. For example, in Polytenic Heights, voters currently walk or take a 10 to 15minute ride to Rosedale to vote. Under this plan, they would be forced to Bey Street instead,
doubling driving time or up to an hour by way of bus. For a minimum wage worker, that's up to three hours of pay, roughly $30 just to cast a ballot. That is not access. It is a deterrent. Clint has now apparently had two opportunities
to present data. And I I commend you, Judge O'Hare, for asking those important questions. And unfortunately, we have yet to see an ounce of scientific method or data. Commissioners who demonstrated your commitment to factbased decisions last year when you voted to preserve
campus polling locations. I ask the fellow commissioners and judge to apply that same principle here. This is not science. This is politics. Taran County has consistently Thank you. is Mr. Montalvo present. Alexander
Montalvo. All right. Next, we have Kimberly Agoro. Following Miss Agoro, we have Candida Garcia. [Music] I am Reverend Dr. Kimberly. I've been greatly disappointed with my
so-called friends, neighbors, and fellow followers of Christ. At least with the open races, and groups like the Proud Boys and the KKK, you know exactly where they stand, and you know what to expect. But with today's good people like
yourselves, people who toss rocks and hide their hands, who sit silent while allowing the balance of power to be shifted unfairly and still demanding that folks pull themselves up by the bootstraps that you are cutting. Jesus is wondering how his
greatest commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself is embodied in this legislation. I'm at a loss as to how you expect me to bask in what is not love. This is not love. This is not justice. This is not right. And guys, as the woman who chaired text pack
and put corn porny and put Greg in office, I'm back. You got me back. I'll be here. Is Miss Garcia present? Candida Garcia. Uh Paul David Williams. Next we would have Katherine Brennan.
uh this this uh is supposed to be a republic of democracy and you're trying to make it authoritarian. That's not right. And uh we need people to love each other and we put you in place to do that and you're not doing it. You're
denying people the love that they need by taking away their voting. We need to have the districts be fair and we need to have people to be able to vote without any uh problems and you're
making more problems for us. What you're doing is wrong. What the world needs is love. It's up to you to do it. Is Katherine Brennan present? Katherine Brennan,
Claudia Busby, Claudia, I'm sorry, excuse me, Claudia Busby, and following Mr. Busby, Dixie Davis. Good afternoon. Uh, I'm against this. Um, closing the polling places. Each time we
go to election, uh, this past time was election, we have people come in and they want to vote and they not register to vote. They have vote registration cards. And I thought that was odd this past year. And then now we come back and we close places. I hear Romero asked about all these questions. And I said, why he asking questions? He normally
don't say anything. And they were beating questions in order for the other guy to speak cross to speak in. Basically, what we trying to do is railroad people and get rid of these voting places. We need these voting places. You know it. And you trying to play like you're not doing it. These
people in this room here are against this. Not going to listen to us. I recommend that the people in this room share this information with the young people and let them put it on social media and see how y'all run our media. If you want your child to run a meeting the way you run across, let your kids
see this because you're not you disrespect of Miss Sims, disrespectful audience here, you don't want to listen to us. Thank you. Thank you. Dixie Davis following Miss Davis is Carol Raburn. My name is Dixie Davis, speaking on
behalf of the League of Women Voters of Tarant County, a nonpartisan civic organization whose mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. Cutting nearly half of polling sites this November would continue a persistent pattern of voter suppression by this court. a pattern that includes the defunding of Trinity Metro bus rides on
election days, last year's attempt to eliminate all college campus polling sites, and the recent dilution of voters voices through blatant racial gerrymandering. Fewer polling sites means more confusion, longer lines, and greater barriers, especially for college students, seniors, and voters of color
who may need to travel farther to vote. This court has a duty to voters to make every election accessible and well funded and ensure our polling places are numerous and well staffed regardless of voter turnout or what's on the ballot. We urge you to prioritize the needs of
voters and keep all polling sites from the 2023 election. Thank you. Thank you. Following Miss Raburn, we have Leon Reed Jr. So, I've worked the election as a judge many times in Arlington at various locations. We don't need to lose any of
those locations. All of them have been very busy. Most of the ones, especially the subcourthouse and UTA are are staffed full-time. There's people there voting all day long. We don't need to double either one of those locations,
especially taking away the UTA location. that smacks of total voter discrimination because you're discriminating against young people and we're working really hard to get young people registered to vote and to encourage them to vote at UTA and TCC
when they graduate from high school. You're telling them that doesn't matter and they're not going to be able to do that anymore. It's very disappointing. Mr. Reed, following Mr. Reed, we have Judith Cotton. [Music]
I'm here to remind you that life prefers balance. But don't trust me. Trust science. Trust Isaac Newton when he tells you that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Don't trust me. Trust God. when he tells you
in Galatians chapter 6 that you will reap what you sow. Trust good old boys when they tell you that chickens will eventually come home to roost. The further you try to stretch Tarant County in one direction, the further and more
vicious the snapback will be. It has been noted that Tarant County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Yet we want to cut the polling locations. It's past time that politicians stopped
electing voters and allowed the voters to elect the politicians. That is the American way, not what we're seeing right now. Thank you. Is Miss Cotton present? Okay. Following Miss Cotton, we have
Ronald Bendian. I do not support this repeated attempt of voter suppression from your mission statement to work collaboratively with our stakeholders to improve the satisfaction of the residents and businesses of Tarant County through the effective and efficient provision of services. Removing over 100 voting
locations is not effective or efficient provision of services. Taran County is the third most populous county in Texas and 15th in the USA. It's contradictory that a rapidly growing county with over two million citizens should reduce voting locations from 349 to 214. This
attempt will leave citizens of North Side, Southside, KOMO, all college campuses in the county and the hardworking without effective and efficient early voting on election day locations in the November elections. It is your duty to uphold the United States Constitution, your mission, goal as
county commissioners, and do not approve this attempt of voter suppression of the citizens of Tarant County. Thank you. Thank you. Ronald Bendian. Ronald Bendian present. Aandra Kulie.
Following Miss Kulie, we have Roelio Mahero. Since I only have a minute, I'm hoping you are taking note that so far it's been one person for this and the rest of us in this audience have been against
it. Uh, I'm here to say that I'm against it, too. Let the people you sworn to represent vote. Reducing the number of sites will
disenfranch disenfranchise and suppress the vote of the young people, the working poor, the middle class, and of course the people of color. I hear that a couple of you are familiar with the Old Testament
and of the Ten Commandments because I hear they're posted everywhere now. Number eight says don't steal. And isn't that what you're trying to do? The absence of polling sites on campuses.
Thank you, Miss Uh Mr. Is it Mo? Can you help me pronounce that? Moio. You got a judge. Uh, Roelio is the name and Muo the last name. Muo like Okay. Following Mr. Muo is Dorothy
Deose. Go ahead, sir. All right. Thank you so much. Commissioners, I want you all to think back for a second. The first time you voted for me, in my case, it was a UT Arlington. That feeling of pride, the feeling of being part of this great country. Do you remember?
I'm a proud for generation Tehano, a student at UT Arlington and the son of immigrants who believe that Tehas says Latenos because after all we are our parents American dream and yet this court wants to shut down my campus polling site. Don't tell me that this about efficiency. This is about cracking
and packing our communities because this is about bringing Jim Crow through the back door or in this case through the front door today. And transportation is already the biggest barrier. Not everyone gets to have a car like you. I've been riding my bicycle for many years now in Taran County. But ultimately, I don't have all the time in
the world to spend and the TR, the TXRE, because transportation is already the biggest barrier. I ask you to front the bill. I ask you to provide free and rapid transit for every single person so that it's not a barrier for us. I want you to help me increase voter turnout. Thank you.
Is Mr. Deose present? No. Is Miss Dose present? Yes. Following Mr. Debose is Jane Collins. Good evening, judge and commissioners. My name is Dorothy Deose and I strongly
oppose a proposed reduction of the early v early voting sites and election day sites. When polling places move farther away, seniors without cars and students relying on public transit face longer, more borders bordersome
trips just to cast their vote. You are making it harder to vote. That discourages participations in silenced neighborhoods that rightfully deserve strong representation. Taran County is growing.
Our access to democracy must grow with it, not shrink. I urge you to preserve fair access for every neighborhood by keeping their sites open. I have lived within five blocks of my vote all my
life and I find that for all neighborhoods for me to have to go 10 miles to vote is unacceptable. Thank you. Thank you. Uh following Miss Collins, we have Jimmy Blackwell. Hello, I'm Jane Collins from Arlington.
And when I first listened to the report, it sounded like everything was just about finances, how to save money. But thanks to M uh Commissioner Miles, we uh heard that it's about a lot more than
just saving money. And I totally encourage anybody listening to this uh session on on their computers to relisten to that. I couldn't have said it better. And uh once again, I'm going
to appeal to to Mr. Ramirez's uh at least please vote to table. I'm totally against any of this uh cutting of polling places because I think it's undemocratic, especially as we're growing. But I'm going to appeal to you
at least table this until we get more analysis. as Commissioner Simmons has asked for. All right. Following Mr. Blackwell, we have Andrea West, Judge O'Hare.
Taran County is in a recession. It's not a financial recession, but a recession with the truth, honesty, integrity, and fairness. It's an absolute disgrace
what you are proposing and what you will just force down the throat of Taran County voters. You know what you're doing. So, don't look at me like you're innocent. You know exactly what you're doing. You're trying to suppress
the vote of precent one and precent two. You want to change everything to your lacking. And we are here to fight back and say it's not going to happen. So I stand strongly and ask you to reject
this racist MAGA s proposal. It stinks. Thank you, sir. Uh, Miss West. Uh, following Miss West, we have Lee Henderson. [Music] Good afternoon. My name is Andrea West and I represent District 6 on behalf of
the office of Councilwoman Dr. Mia Hall. Our district includes historic Lake Ko community and the Komo Community Center, an accessible polling place now being considered for removal along with James Avenue Service Center and several north side and college campuses
college campus polling places within the city of Fort Worth. These are neighborhoods made up of working families, seniors, and voters who rely on nearby familiar polling sites to make their voices heard. Removing these locations would create unnecessary barriers to voting access, especially
for communities that already face challenges. This is not about politics. It's about fairness, equity, and access. Voting should be convenient, not harder. I respectfully urge this court to maintain these polling sites and protect
access to the ballot for all of Fort Worth and Taran County residents. Thank you. Thank you. Is Lee Henderson present? Lee Henderson, Mark Connelly, is Mark Connelly present.
Messia Savis Messia Savis. Okay. How many of you signed up to speak on this particular item besides Mr. Montalvo and came in late? Anyone?
Okay, Mr. Montalo, come on. All right. I didn't know my time was appointed to a certain time, so I don't know how late applies, but I want everyone to understand who is watching this, who is in the audience, that this is the MAGA movement doing everything it
can to kill democracy. The MAGA movement that O'Hare loves to be a part of is anti-American, is anti-democracy. And a lot of folks will think, well,
dang, America's got a pretty ugly past. You know, he may be doing the things that it was designed to do. But I'm here to say that people have died for our rights. Black and brown community members,
women, and even white community members have sacrificed to get us where we're at, and they are here to undo it, and it's time for everyone to take action and step up. All right, those are all the speakers we have on this item. We have a motion to
table. I don't have any form from you or you. I read them all. Sure. I believe that's Mr. Bell. Can Can you check and see if Mr. Bell is on this list? I don't recall saying his name at
any point. We have you signed up under Let me see it. I4. No, 104. He probably meant it. probably supposed to be I4. So, all right, we have a motion to table
this item. We have a second motion, I mean a second on that motion. Any further discussion from the court before we vote? All right, seeing none, all in favor of tableabling the motion, please raise your hand.
Okay, so that fails two to three. Do we have another motion? I'm making it quiet. Please remove her from the room. Um, please remove her from the room. I'm not going to move him. I'm just
going to move you. Please remove her. Okay. So, we have Do we have another motion? I make a motion to approve all I make a motion that we approve all the voting site locations that were put
forward by uh Mr. Lewig with the uh to add on to it KO community center legacy learning center the Tarant County uh college northwest campus the Charles Griffin Building and the Northeast Subcourthouse. I'll second that.
I have one moment. We have a motion and a second. Further discussion. I wonder why. So, the motion was to approve the sites presented with the addition of KOMO
Legacy Learning Center, Legacy Learning Center, Tarant County College Northwest Campus, the Charles Griffin Building, and the Northeast Subcourthouse. Okay. So there's a motion and a second discussion. I have several sites to add as well. So
would that require an additional motion to amend this motion? You can make a motion to amend the motion and then you it does not have to be accepted by the original motion maker.
That's correct, judge. What would happen in the case of an amendment here would be the amendment would require a second. The court would then vote on the amendment and then proceed on the main motion as amended. Okay. So, state your motion. Uh, my motion is to add
Bob Duncan, University of Texas at Arlington, uh, TCC Southeast campuses or those sites back. All right. So, there's a motion
to amend Commissioner Krauss's motion to add the following sites. Bob Duncan, UTA, and TCC Southeast. Southeast. Do we have a second on that? Second. We have a second on that. Any discussion on that one? Yeah. No. Uh, Mr. Credville, do I
indicate whether I will accept or reject that amend? Amend. No, Commissioner, at this point, because there's been an a motion to amend and then a second, the court should vote on the motion to amend. And then if it is adopted, the court should vote on the main motion that you presented as
amended. And if it's fails, then you vote on the original motion. Correct. Okay. Okay. So, the motion. Does anybody need me to repeat the motion up here? All right. We have a motion in a second. Any discussion on this? Yeah. I don't know which sites exactly. Um I didn't write them all down. There
were three. Bob Duncan, UTA, and TCC Southeast. Clint, did you have any problems with any three of those? UTA traditionally isn't an odd year early voting location. Um so, that one we would have to see if that's something
that they would even want to do. Uh and UTA and TCC Southeast, both those locations do not give us a separate room. So, that's going to if if they will allow it, we're going to have to set up and tear down those sites every single day uh to to make those ones
work. All right. So, we have a Hang on. We have a motion and a second to amend the original motion to add Bob Duncan, UTA, and TCC Southeast. Okay. Just to Clint, uh, in regards to Taran
County College Southeast Campus, I would recommend reaching out to their governmental affairs director, Reginald Gates, with the district office, about accommodating you. And if you need me to provide you with his contact information, I can do that or I can make
the call. I'd appreciate that, Commissioner. And my understanding is the actual due date could accommodate. So if this motion fails
and you and the reg the first motion passes, there is still time to add these if they can accommodate the law. Is that accurate? Yes. Like this. Okay.
Well, could could you alternatively if the if the motion passed but they didn't want to since we're publishing a list say let's say we approve those sites and then you subsequently find out that they can't accommodate uh in accordance with the law. What happens then? Do we have to come back and remove the site by
court action? I I believe we would just have to post the notice that that site is not going to be available. I don't remember the exact posting requirements off the top of my head. I don't have the election code, but we would just have to notify that it is not available um and where
the nearest locations are at. Okay. So, what here's my comment on this. Bob Duncan did not say we cannot accommodate. No, they didn't. Okay. UTA and TCC South Southeast did.
Correct. after you reached out. Correct. Okay. So, um the other issue, well, I can I I would probably support the Bob Duncan one. Uh I'm not going to support those two and
they've already said no. But if you can come back and be able to analyze it and explain it and why it's good, why it isn't, but the idea that UTA is never a constitutional amendment election um site, I mean
weighs with me. So, uh All right. Anybody else have anything on this before we vote on the amendment? I would just say in order of operation, I think it would be better if we didn't add those polling sites in right now that have already told us they couldn't comply with state law and then try to
come back and add them in later than to maybe approve them on the front end and then have to come back and post a notice and go through all that. So, um, but I agree if it's just the Bob Duncan Center, I'm I'm great with adding that into this list of of amended sites.
It's not just the Bob Duncan Center. It's those sites I named. And I have an amendment to my motion to add um I move to amend my motion to add the Vernon Newsome stadium.
Would you be willing to revoke your previous amending motion and then make one? Sure. For those four? Yes. All right. You you vote? Yes.
Okay. I move to resend my motion. No, you just withdraw. You withdraw your amending motion. I withdraw my Now you're going to make a new motion for I'm going to make a new motion.
Amended motion to add Vernon Newsome Stadium, TCC Southoutheast Campus, Bob Duncan, and the Kennedale site. So you're now taking UTA off.
Okay. So Bob Duncan, when you say the Kennedale site, what is the Kennedale site? Kennedale Community Center. Have you Yeah, I don't I don't have the name of it because they just they had to move. We used to be in the library, but they're doing some construction. So it's
um Dober Hall is is the location. Have you talked to them about that about being able to do that this time? We haven't, but we can just reach out and um and ask. So, let me say this. This this my whole
point of tableing this until we have uh time to go through it. So, sitting up here on this day is um without the information um is
irresponsible. It's unprofessional. Um, and so the rush, what's what's the urgency to do this? We can have a special call meeting. We can do it on September 3rd. Um, which
gives him plenty of time um, according to the elections calendar to get this get this approved. So, what what is the rush um to do this? Commissioner Miles might have some some sites. Commissioner RmIrez might have some sights.
Is that a rhetorical question or No, no, I need to know. Uh I think two pieces to this is one I'm ready to vote and I think we can vote. There is an OP. So there is an option to bring the other sites when
they've had the ability to do diligence. Um so I don't see a reason at this point to postpone it. We can vote if yours fails. We can vote on his original motion. If yours passes, we can vote on the amended motion alto together. Take a
vote and then if there's something else to add, it can come back and be added and it gives him a chance to do the diligence. So that that's the an answer to that question. And anybody else want to weigh in on that question? What's the the list of amended sites? There's I
don't see any of well all of the additions. I don't see any sites that historically would tell us no don't don't show up here. Um so I'm I'm pretty confident that the list of ads um we can make happen. Which which list are you referring to?
KO all all of them. KO T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T TCC Northwest, the Charles Griffin Northeast Sub, Vernon Newsome, Bob Duncan, and TCC Southeast, and Kennedale. I thought you already said TCC said they couldn't accommodate. They can't accommodate the individual polling
location and us having a room, but they will let us conduct voting there. Okay. So, at the moment, we have a motion to amend Commissioner Krauss's motion
to add Bob Duncan, Kennedale Health Center or something to that effect, TCC Southeast, and Vernon Newsome Stadium as locations. Did I repeat your motion correctly? Yes, but I have a question for the administrator.
Um, so are you going to hold this list? Because the judge said we can always come back and add sites. Are you going to hold this until the next meeting before submitting it or publishing it or whatever you have to do to it? Did you
hear what he said? The what is approved today is what we're going to move forward with to to start getting the election done. And I don't if we get an improved list of of what we want then that's what we would.
So he's he wasn't quite accurate when he said that that we can add if if if commissioner Krauss's passes and my amendment fails, we can come back and try to add some more sites at a future
meeting. There's there's still time. Um if we if the court wanted to agendaize an item and and add those on the September 3rd meeting, we could add those in. It just taking this list and moving forward lets us start getting the programming done. All the work for the
election. This will be the majority of it. I wouldn't imagine that any ads are going to be much significant after uh the list that we've we've gained here. So, we will be able to continue what what we've presented and if there were ads, we could add those in.
All right. Are we ready to vote on the amendment to the motion? I've got a comment. Okay. Um ju just in general, uh I I think this process again, communication is key, um for our elections administrator, um on the next iterations of this. uh but I do
think you know while I may not share the viewpoint uh of some of my colleagues up here I I do think that the robust discussion uh is healthy and I think being able to discuss it and you know not everybody it's not a win or loss
type of thing not everything's adversarial um you know it's it's viewpoints on what's the most efficient way to do something what's the most responsible and at the end of the day how to best serve all of the citizens in Taran County, all of them, uh, in each of our individual precincts. So, I do
think that the conversation's productive, uh, just to go through the exercise and and again, Clint, I think hopefully um, in the future, we have this discussion before uh, we have a final proposal so that everybody's viewpoints are included. Um, but but
this process again, I think, has gone about as well as it could with getting the information how we got it. So, thanks. Yeah, I don't I don't think anything's been adversarial up here. Um, it's what I said at the beginning, the process.
Um, and you know, you're not worth two damn cents because I asked you Friday if this could be postponed. You said yes. All weekend
you and Chandler said no, it can't. I wait. I've spoken with election administrators in four other counties. So, I know you did not tell me the truth this weekend
as I attempted to pull this item off the agenda and move it to the September 3rd meeting. You wanted this circus. You wanted You ought to be embarrassed. So now you just said
you could put it on the September. I I've got emails I will post on social media for these people to see. Please do commission. I like I said and I told you for the programming side of it, yes, we have time. The issue is both myself and the assistant elections
administrator are not going to be here on the 3 in order to present it. And that is why we wanted to get this in here in front of the court so we could have this discussion. and so I could get my team a list of sites so that they could work with and I took that into consideration and
my motion. All I've talked about is a special call meeting because this county has to stop because two individuals won't be here. He'll be at a conference. Hey, go go go to the conference a day late. But the business of this county
has to continue. Forget your conference. You got a list to do. You got programming to start. Skip a day of the conference. All right. We have a motion and a second on an amending motion. What? You do not have a second for the
amendment, judge. Um, do we have a second? Seconded. Okay. Second. We have a motion and a second on an amending motion. Any further discussion before we vote on it? Just one more question because TCC Southeast is included in this. Correct.
Correct. and they have told us that they cannot comply with state law with the the separate room. Now there's as long as we have a room within there that we can tear down and store the equipment every night then we can still make that happen. They didn't say they
could not do that. They just said that we could not have our own voting room. So I can go back and see can they accommodate that or they could say no they can't and and then it wouldn't be compliant with the state law and we wouldn't be able to use it. So, you feel reasonably confident that we'll be able to make that site work?
I'll do everything I can to find a way to make it happen. So, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. The 11th lowest turnout from the 2023 constitutional
amendment election is the one out of what now has risen to approximately 28 plus 4 32 locations. We're going to make an accommodation for them being the 11th
lowest that no other early voting site has to make. So for an average of approximately 50 voters a day. All right. Again, if if this had if if we had this information ahead of time, we wouldn't be up here doing this.
It doesn't make sense either to get rid of the northeast courthouse and they bring in they're the one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eighth highest vote getting site in Taran
County. Make it make sense, sir. That was part of the discussion and that was one of the locations that I said likely could be added. But when we were looking at the fact that there is another higher performing location right there next to it and what we had done consistently was if there was a higher if there were two
locations together and one was a higher location that was the location that was chosen to facilitate the voters. And and the administrator was very responsive and helpful with me when I called and asked that very question. He laid all of that out to me and gave me a clear reason for why that was not done.
And so I appreciated that. There was a rhyme and reason behind every site that we asked him about and that was very helpful. Well, what I don't appreciate is are the games and the lack of transparency from you, Clint, and from
you, Mr. Merritt. Um, and what I don't appreciate is these people coming down here parking, spending their time, leaving their jobs, whatever. To be disrespected.
When over a hundred people tell us what to do and one says no, we do what they tell us to do. We were elected by them. Y'all are
disrespectful to our constituents. and your disrespect for our staff is one of the most abhorent things I have ever seen. Be quiet now. They don't they don't have to be quiet. They can respond. Yes, you do. Remove him.
Yeah. And you know what? When I have the microphone, I have the ability. [Music] So you you love you love. Excuse me. because
he's got to throw people out. No. Disrespectful of these people who have par, paid to park, come down here, taken their time to tell us how to do their business. These are taxpayers
and you are constantly calling our staff members liars, questioning their integrity uh over and over and over. They lie. Would you do me a favor? I let you speak. Would you do the same for me? Okay, I'll speak after you. So, of course you will. You can never stop.
So, you repeatedly get up here and call our staff members liars when you don't agree with what they say. You You confuse facts. You say things that are inaccurate as though they are fact
literally every single meeting. And Clint has been very clear from the time this started that the deadline to turn this in is not today. But they also don't want to go down to the very last minute because voting
starts in I believe it is uh mid October and they have less at this point than two months to start going on it. It would be nice if you would stop accusing the staff members who disagree with you and don't do what you think they should do every minute. It would be nice if you
would stop accusing them of being liars and deceiving and deceptive. You did it to him today. You did it to Helen last week. You do it to Chandler multiple times a year. Enough's enough. Okay. So, judge might be right. If this is No, no. I was going after
him. If this is a comprehensive report analysis, methodology on why we should be cutting our polling places in half.
We're sad. This is sad. This is ridiculous. I ask him, "Where where's your arithmetic? Where's your data? Where's your methodology? It's all over my office, ma'am. I I I would I would have to put it together." And this is what I got on Saturday. So
if you don't want to be critiqued and criticized, you've got to do better. You've got This is This is pathetic. And I don't miss I don't mince facts. I've got facts. My data is always accurate.
It comes if it's ever inaccurate. It comes from the staff, this staff. Um, so you can allege that all you want. Um, but you are wrong. You can you can
praise these people. Let me tell you guys why he can praise these people. They are terrified of him. He couldn't dare they couldn't dare tell him, you know, judge, that's not a good idea. They'd be gone. He has whitewashed
this administrative staff. When we got here, it was very diverse. We've got three minorities left on this administrative staff. So, they're terrified of him. He's got the power. You see? One, two, three. Those guys,
you're going to one, two, three. Lock step. They're not going to consider you. I am, sir. And don't you ever say anything about being a Marine again. My son is Marine Captain about to be a major. and you're
embarrassing. Sir, if we're done, I was going to call the question, but sounds like we're there. I I'll say one more thing. Um, the fact that nobody listens on this DAS, it it's
just not true. In fact, you're seeing this amendment play out. Thank you to my friend Loretta, uh, who wish me a happy birthday, who made a strong case for CO as a lot of other people did after conversations. That's why this is on here. We talked about the Charles Griffin Center uh that was really
important to uh Commissioner Miles that's on here. So when you say nobody's listening to you, that's just not true. Taking a lot of feedback today. That's what this amendment is all about. You're being heard even if you don't always agree, but those changes are being incorporated. All right, question.
Is the amendment for early voting or election day sites or both? Great question. I believe the amendment was for early voting sites is how I interpreted it. Is that accurate? Yes.
Okay. All right. We have So, we're not even addressing election day. At the moment, we have a motion to amend the motion on the floor to add Bob
Duncan, Kennedale, Tarant County College Southeast, and Vernon Newsome Stadium to the list of early voting sites. Um, all those in favor, please raise your hand. All right, so it passes four to one.
Uh so now we have an amended motion on the floor which is to approve the list provided by Clint and also to include Bob Duncan Kennedale Tarant County College Southeast Vernon
Newsome Stadium the Northeast Subcourthouse KO Legacy Learning Center Legacy Learning Center and TCC Northwest TCC Northwest gest that I get them all. All right. Uh all those in favor of
this, please raise your hand. All right. This passes 3 to two. All right. That is it for that item. We will now take a 10-minute recess and be back in here at 1:30. We are in recess.
All right, we are back from recess and the next item on the agenda is item I4 from consent. I make a motion to approve.
All right, we have a motion and a second to approve item I4. Let me go find I4 so I can read it. This is the uh consideration to approve the changes to the EFG Elections Administration consideration
to approve changes to certain voting precinct boundaries and authorized publication of required notices. All right, we have a motion and a second. Discussion before we bring up the speakers have a comment, but I can wait until I speak. Okay. Uh,
so we have uh Dr. Valencia Edner is first up. Following Dr. Edner, we have Amy Super. I guess I should thank you for the small win. Yet, it does not change the motive
behind the way things get done. It takes a weak body, executive or judicial, to continue to keep rigging the system in its favor. This is not politics. This is fear. Without your schemes, the people would
speak and your power would shrink. This boundary change is not math. It's malice. It's not efficiency. It's voter suppression. steel. If you continue to vote for these
tactics, you are not serving the people. You are silencing them. Your fear of a county where white or perceived white supremacy no longer rules has led you down a path of exclusion.
But hear me. When you change boundaries that you could make the adjustment to, don't give me the lie about the law. When you cut places for people to vote, you cut away democracy.
When you suppress votes, you suppress justice. Reckoning will come not from men, but from God. You should have tabled the vote. Do not enshrine voter suppression into
the history of this county. And you cannot look at me if you don't choose to, but you need to because I speak for the people of Tarant County, not for the agenda of misguided
politicians, of which unfortunately many of you are. Fix your heart and maybe it'll fix your mind and your motive. Amy Super is next. Following Miss Super,
we have Geraldine Jackie Cox. Hey, just a a quick request. Won't even use up my three minutes. Um, under the court actions requested, I'm going to ask that you please request Tarant County elections to also provide notification to both parties, current
precinct chairs. Um, so we start filing as early as next month, September, at EC meetings for both parties. And for me, my precinct is changing from one that starts with a four, the one that starts with a two. What what is the request? uh that the
notification about these changes, these are changing our precinct numbers and that they res they they uh provide that notification not only to the what they have listed here but also to the currently seated precinct chairs for both political parties so they know what precinct number to file to be on the
ballot for. All right, that's all I'm asking. Thanks. Is that the whole thing? Yeah. Okay. So, uh, can we even do what she just asked today sitting here the way this is noticed or is this something Clint's going to do anyway?
Judge, let me check the notice and I I will I will let you know uh with precision. Okay. So the in the process we sent the notice that this hearing was going to happen to the precinct chairs
that did go out the the approval then that the notice posting here requires the website and in the newspaper of the changes that you that are approved but there's we can send this out to all the precinct chairs as well. It's it's not hard. Okay. All right. Uh next is Gerald and
Jackie Cox. Following Miss Cox we have Dr. Michael Bell. Miss Cox, are you coming? Thank you, commissioners. Uh my name is Geraldine Jackie CS
precinct and I want to bring to your attention today the fact that the memorandum prepared uh by the administration's uh elections division cites some but fewer than all of the
statutes that really govern what may happen when a countywide a pre a county which does countywide voting may alter the way in which it assigns voting precincts. Uh and the first of the things which we
need to look at or that I ask you to look at is the text of uh our election code section 42.06 that mandates that countings with voting age populations of more than 100,000 persons
must produce precincts that have at least 100 but no fewer than 5,000 registered voters. Attached to Mr. Ludig's memorandum for you is a chart that shows the number of
voters who will be in the new precincts that he wants sent to the elections board. Uh and precinct 2656 has two voters quite a few many fewer than 100.
Precincts 46 4620 has 62 voters again less than 100. Uh but the big place where you see deviations from what is permitted under another section of the election code
which is 42.0051. 0051 has to do not just with counts but also with how you make up the new precincts. What you do and section 42%. 51
provides that you uh can only change voter precincts if you're in a county with a population of less than 1.2 million voters. So right now as of today you don't have
authority to make the changes that are in part of what you propose. You do however you won't you'll have that authority when uh a bill passed by uh the Senate the legislature this
session becomes law if you meet a whole bunch of fact requirements. Uh, and I'm not sure you do, but one of the requirements is that you may not violate the Voting Rights Act.
And we've had a lot of evidence today that the manner in which this was done does violate the Voting Rights Act. Dr. Bell, you're passing. Next, we have Jimmy Blackwell. [Music]
Judge your hair again. I smell a rat because some somehow the truth is not coming through here. You have too many people who have spoken against this proposal to just go ahead
and force a vote and get things done the way you want them done. That's not leadership. Leadership is when you listen to every person on the court
and then you either discuss it, have a lengthy discussion, a vibrant discussion to see where people stand because you have commissioners here who represent certain precepts and they have to go along with what
their constituents say. But you judge, you are over the whole county. you don't have a precent. So, we would think that a person who is over the whole county have a level head can make sound decisions.
But apparently that's not the case. So my message to the voters out there is first to replace you and to get people with integrity and honesty
to listen to those who elected them like Commissioner Simmons and Commissioner uh Rodri so eloquently explain every time we come to comm uh to Commissioner's
Now, judge, I know it's against your ego to have an African of the diaspora woman challenge your authority. And I think I've made that point before. But here's the case. You should want
feedback from strong opposition so that you don't get a big head thinking that you know everything when we know that you don't. You made decision to destroy this county. I guess that's what you come to work to
do because you do not listen to opposition voices. You only listen to those voices who agree with you even when you're wrong. They don't present any opposition, any
feedback that may be detrimental to your thinking. That's not leadership. That's dictatorship. And we don't need another Putin in America. We already had one in Alaska.
That's dictatorship. That's not good. I smell a rat, but apparently they missed the three blind mice. All right, that's all the speakers we have for I4. Uh we have a motion and a second to approve the item. further discussion.
Yes. Uh while this seems simple on its face, uh like just a routine authorization to publish new boundaries, it it represents the culmination of a process that I have been vocally and
fundamentally opposed to from the very beginning. The mid decade racial germander was unnecessary and unw warranted. The 2020 census data showed our precincts were in
compliance and there was no need to spend taxpayer money on consultants to redraw maps. This entire process has been irresponsible and this map cleanup is just a drop in the bucket compared to the consequences
both intended and that are having to be corrected for no real reason. Furthermore, these new boundaries are a political and legal travesty. As I have said before, this is not about fixing a problem. This is about creating
one. It is a calculated attempt to dilute the voting power uh voting strength of minority communities to silence the voices of my constituents and to strip representation from people of color. the UCLA Voting Rights
Project. That analysis confirmed that these maps are a textbook example of racial gerrymandering. We've got two lawsuits uh on the books. So this this action
today uh is just another necessary cleanup in an unnecessary process that has lacked transparency, public input, and moral justification. So, I just want to be on the record to I
want the record to reflect my continued and unequivocal opposition to this map, which I believe um is legally questionable, morally wrong, and a disservice to the voters of Taran County.
All right, we have a motion, a second on this item. Any other discussion? All right. Seeing none, all in favor of approving I4, please raise your hand. All right. Oppose, please raise your hand.
All right. It passes 3 to two. Takes us to item I5 removed from consent. Item I5 is consideration to approve supplemental appointments of county election judges and alternate election judges. Move for approval. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve
that item. Uh, any further discussion there before I bring the speakers? All right, first speaker is Amy Super. Following Miss Super is Jennifer Blunt. [Music]
I'm asking the court to get clarification on what it is you're voting on today. So the subject is titled consideration to approve supplemental appointments of county election judges and alternate election judges. You voted on a list to do that
on July 1st and that list had was not the list that the parties submitted in its entirety. There were names on that list that they didn't submit. There were names on that list that they did submit that weren't on that list that you approved. So what I'm asking is this the list now? Because if it's the list, it's
not a supplemental list. It's the list. Um, a supplemental list is as indicated in the background covered in tech uh, Texas Selection Code 32. I don't know what. Um, it tells you in great detail how this should be done. Um, I just
would like for you guys to get some clarification. Is this an actual supplemental appointments, which you are free to make, the law specifies that, or is this the two-year list corrected? Um, that would be my only question I think with regards to that. Just change
that so we all know what we're doing. There are people that you approved that are no longer on this list. So, do you have to vote to take them off or are they just off? Good questions to ask. Just want some clarity on that. Um, and then, um, since I have time left, I did
not address when you were talking about the approval of the, uh, precinct boundaries. Um, make sure because the code is very specific about how Okay. Are you are you talking about item I5 at the moment? They're they're combined because it has
to do with the election judges. The way they're aortioned has to do with the way people voted within different precincts. So, you've moved precincts within county precincts. So, the aortionment of which party gets to have the presiding judge in each poll site has to be completely redone. and I want to just make sure
that that's done in time for us to adjust and get make sure our appointments are done within alignment with Texas election code. Thank you. Thank you. Is Jennifer Blunt present? No. Okay. Uh Clint, can you address some
of those things there? when we were wording the list um we did uh consult legal on how to exactly word the item because there are additions from both the parties to add to this list. Additionally, when we were going through this um looking at the code, we
noticed that the how historically this list had been done had been assigning judges to precincts and as a countywide polling location, that's not the correct way to do it. So we went through and changed that to make it reflect the the proper way the list should have been
formatted and not the way that it had been submitted prior. So the list that we voted on in July was not the list submitted by the two parties. It contained names of the list submitted by the two parties. The it didn't have
all the names on the list. the commissioner's court. Uh we had to move up our deadline and to submit that um because there was only going to be the one court. I believe it was July and the requirement is this gets approved in July. And okay, so hang on just a second. Just so
I'm clear about what we're talking about. The list that the parties submitted, it's a list. It's got names. Whatever it is, 10, 20, five, seven, it has names. The list that that both Well, let's
start with the Republican party. The list the Republican party submitted. Was that the list that showed up on the July meeting? Not all of it. No, judge. Well, it's either the list or it isn't. It's one or the other. This is the entire party list now. We've
we've worked with them to get all of their names, all the changes. That's not what I'm The list that we approved in July was not they had a list of names, 10 names, 10 whatever we did. That wasn't the list we voted on. There were some people on that list that we voted for. There were some people not on
that list that we voted for. Is that accurate? Yes, judge. Okay. The Democrat one, was that list correct that we voted on? Not all of it. No, it was missing some names, Judge. All right. How did that happen? The when the deadline moved to submit everything, um, we jumped through to try
to get everything onto the court. The parties technically had till the end of the 30th to submit, so they still had time to give us names. They hadn't given us all their names and then we hadn't completed a working list and so in the scramble to get a list to get on that July 1st court when they compiled the
staff compiled the list they didn't get everything and there were some names that were missed. Okay. So now what we're voting on today is the list that Republicans asked for and the list that Democrats asked for.
Yes, Jeff. What happens to the people that were not on the list that these parties submitted or either party don't care? What happens to those folks who were approved in July? Are
they now removed by this? No, this is the supplemental list. So the the ones the parties want to have are all on the list. This is correcting the the previous list and making sure we worked with both parties to ensure that we had every single person that they
wanted included and we had removed every single person that they wanted removed. Okay. So I think the answer to the question this list is the entire list that each party wants and by voting for this today does that remove anyone who
was previously voted for in July? Mr. Proud of bill. Uh I'm checking the statute right now, judge. And um I mean, basically, are we now voting on two lists and then now the people we voted on in July and these people are now all on this together? What's the deal?
What the what the statute contemplates here is is the ability of the party chairs to supplement the original list of names that was okay. Submitted. So there the original list of names is not what we voted on. Let me ask you this. Would y'all We can move on if there's no objection from the
court. We can move to some other items. Come back to this when y'all have had time to when you've had time to research it and understand it. That would be helpful, Judge. Yes. Okay. Can we come back during this court? That's what I meant. Yeah. Can we just move to table this?
Yes. Was there not a deadline? uh the the first list of names which I understand is kind of in flux here uh was due to be acted upon in July and uh
there is a deadline of 15 days before a special election or 20 days before a general election. So just from my cursory reading of the statute I believe we have some some time to still approve any additional supplemental list.
So, I go back to my question, which mistakes happen, wrong list, submitted, whatever. The the idea here was we're cleaning up those lists, but I don't believe I've got an answer to the question of
somebody that was voted for in July that was not supposed to be on the list. Do they remain a an election and an alternate judge if they were previously approved or is this action taking them off?
Judge, if we table this, I will get you an answer to that question. Is there any reason we can't table this? No, judge. Okay, move the table. Well, we already Hang on. We already have We already have a motion to approve. Um,
you want me to resend my motion to approve? Well, if you want to resend your motion, you can resend your motion. Well, I I I guess but any anybody can ask questions away. I I don't feel like we have to table it. If we get the answers from Mr. Crowdville and others by the end of this
session that satisfies everybody, but then we can table at that point. Um, I guess that's the way I would I would recommend going about it. Just seeing if we can answer the questions by the end of the court and if not then we move to table. I don't see any reason wrong with this.
Nobody the dem neither the Democrats or the Republicans are bothered by it. Let's just get the right answer. Um, so how about we um
well, so Commissioner Miles, did you just vote to table? Did you just make a motion to table it? Yes, sir. How are you about Let's move on from this item. We have a motion sitting on the floor. Let's go to the next set of items. Do all the stuff we're doing. Come back before we close. See if we
have an answer. I think it would be better just to table this so that they can get the accurate information to us and clear up the confusion because there is confusion instead of just waiting till the end of the court and hoping that they can
provide the accurate information to bring clarification and clarity. I think we should just table it until a later date. Okay. So, all right. Thank you. You have a motion and a second on the floor. Can I can I just move to postpone?
Yes. Either and and to be clear, the terms table and postpone are used synonymously in a lot of cases. Um but in either case, what I would advise is that does take precedent over the main motion on the floor right now. And so it can either be tabled or postponed until later in the meeting or a future
meeting, whatever the court prefers. Okay. I don't Does anyone care up here which one we do? I'd say we hold it until after closed. and give them time to sort it out. Come back after close. If they don't have time at that point, we can table it for a future meeting if they don't have
their Okay. So, in terms of the order of this, he has a motion that's still sitting there. He has made a motion to to table the item. Doesn't seem like we have a consensus on tableing the item. So, do I
now have to hear that motion before going to his motion? That would be correct. save for. There needs to be a second on the motion to table and I would I would just ask that it be to uh a particular time whether it be after close. Clarify your motion.
I move to table this to a later date. Okay. Do we have a second on that? Second. So we have a motion and a second to table this item until a later date which now has removed his motion essentially. Or this has to be addressed first.
This has to be addressed first and then you can proceed on the made motion. Does anybody want to say something about this? All right. Um, I I I do I want to say what I've been saying all day. This is unprofessional. You're not prepared.
This is a bad look on this county and this staff. I'm not going to throw you a parade because you're a nice guy. You have a job. We should not have all these questions. We shouldn't be confused.
Um, it's ridiculous. Now, y'all can pat him on the back if you want, but this is crazy. We have a motion and a second to postpone this until a later date. Anybody else wish to weigh in?
All right. All in favor of postponing until a later date, please raise your hand. All right. All those against postponing to a later date, please raise your hand. All right. So, the motion to postpone to a later date
fails. So, now we have a motion to approve sitting before us. And I will make a motion to postpone till after closed. Second, but we had a motion. And now we have another. But he needs to rescend his other one. He didn't have to rescend it for him to
do it. So, I don't know why he would. Well, he made me resend motions earlier. Does he Don't we have a motion on the floor? Yes, that is correct, Commissioner. Except for the fact that a motion to table or a motion to postpone takes precedent over the main motion on the floor. Voted on that one. It's a different motion. I'm talking to the
and I'm and I'm and I run the court and it's a different motion and so we're going to hear the motion. So, we heard that motion. There was a there was an uh there was a motion on the floor. Correct. The the motion to table uh was heard and now you're on to the main motion, but there has now been another motion to
table or a motion to postpone which takes precedent over the underlying motion. Correct. So, we have a motion to postpone until after closed to see if we have an answer. Is that your motion? That's it. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. Any further
discussion? All right. All in favor of this motion to postpone until after close, please raise your hand. Okay. All those opposed? So the motion to postpone until after
close passes 3 to two. Uh now we move to I believe in this order it is J1 um which is consideration of a community facilities facilities agreement with the
city of Fort Worth related to utility improvements for the Plaza garage expansion expansion project including the 2025 5 capital improvement program. So, this was the same thing we addressed
two meetings or two weeks ago, I should say, where Fort Worth wanted to charge us $76,000 or so to inspect our parking garage and we failed this item and now there's
a reason you have brought it back. Would you please tell everyone what that is? Yes, sir. to the unenviable task of returning something to the court. My apologies. Um the the community facilities agreement is, as you know, an agreement between the county and the
city for modifications to their public improvements. They have public improvements within the foundation lines of our current ongoing plaza garage project. And the approval of this would allow us
to continue um the expedited construction of that garage. A disapproval will cause us as a county to have to put a stop work notice to the work or a portion of the work at which place puts the county at risk for
additional costs to the contractor. And when does when is that and how is that additional cost triggered? uh it's triggered by a stop work notice. In other words, if we as the county or the owner cause something or do not facilitate something that allows
progression of the work and it impacts the extending duration of the construction contract. Okay. Has anyone had a discussion with our contractor as to how they would play this while we work this out with Fort Worth or try to?
Yes, actually. It's been a hot topic with the contractor for about two months. Okay. Okay. Um between the previous court and this court, we've been able to facilitate the work without causing any further hindrance. Uh at this point, delay is pretty close to impending. The
existing sanitary sewer line that needs to be modified runs immediately adjacent to the tower crane foundations which are going in now. The tower crane mobilization is scheduled for this coming weekend. Okay. Uh Mr. Merritt, tell us where we
are with the city of Fort Worth and any discussions. Tell us what where we stand. Sure. So, uh, the facility staff has been trying to work with Fort Worth on seeing what we could do with regards to any reduction or waiver of fees from the city. Um, most of what my feedback has
been, most of those folks at that level aren't really authorized to make that level of a decision with regards to reducing those fees. Uh I've reached out directly to the city manager for Fort Worth uh to see if uh he at his level uh or the council's level would be willing
to reduce or wave the fees on our behalf. And I'm currently waiting to hear back from him on on that. So when we when three of us here took office in January of 23,
we had multiple meetings with Fort Worth asking them to allow us to do video magistration to alleviate jail population problems. Uh, in one particular meeting I was in
with the sheriff, the chief of police. I say that I think the chief was there. If not, there there were multiple assistant chiefs whether Chief Nos was there or not. Uh, the mayor, the then city manager, and probably five, six other people. And they were all, "Yes, we want
to help." We're on board. That was approximately February of 23. I don't believe we actually got approval to do the video magistration at Fort Worth holding facility or what
at their police station until August of 24. Um is any part of that I said not accurate? I can't speak specifically to the timeline, but um but that sounds about correct. Okay. And so where I'm going with this
is um Fort Worth wants a good partner in Tarant County and I think it's beneficial for the residents of Fort Worth and the residents of Tarant County to have a good partnership
with Fort Worth. Um, but the idea that we're going to pay $76,000 to improve our parking garage and traffic and street parking, which will allow, I believe, more revenue for
the city of Fort Worth with all the parking meters that I think goes to them anyway. And then we can't even get them to return a call and get with us on how we can deal with this. Uh, I I it doesn't sit well with me. I it shouldn't sit well with with any of us. I would
hope. But may maybe this is one where we can have some bipartisanship. I don't know. But here here's what I would my opinion. We need to pass it to avoid penalties. Um, what I would d ask the staff to do
is to uh, and by the way, I have set up a meeting with the mayor tomorrow on this very topic. And uh I would ask our staff to go research, assuming today passes, which I don't know that it will, but
assuming it does, um to go research what we could do to revoke andor reconsider the tiffs we passed at the end of last year to recoup this kind of money.
Um, I would like the staff to go do research on how we could use that tiff money for any remaining costs on the parking garage, including the inspection cost that they are charging. Um, I would
also include in that JPS. I know there are fees that they want to charge JPS for how they build the tower. Um, and so I think in a nutshell, it's
please present us options on what amendments, revocations, and approvals we have with the downtown TIFF to ensure a fair and balanced partnership with the
city. And by that what I mean there is if you can't amend it then one option is you could revoke it and pass it again
and take dollar for dollar that charge out of by percentage what we allow them to have. So I believe it's 35% over 20 years is what you told me last time. Whatever it may be, calculate the number 32%,
30%, whatever it is, I'm asking you to bring back those options. This is not part of a motion or a vote. I want to explore those options in the whole court to be able to look at it. Okay. So, questions, comments? Yes.
So having uh city of Fort Worth not eagerly embrace video magistration was was problematic. Um I'm not sure I I got tired of asking.
I'm not sure how many people they're even um magistrating now. Um but another um uh source
of revenue or partnership we should be getting from city of Fort Worth. I've said this before several times is to stop taking their inmates um without them paying for them. City of
Austin and Travis County have an agreement. City of Austin pays Travis County to take their inmates till a case is filed. City of Dallas, Dallas County, same contract. We just
take the city uh Fort Worth PD's inmates. um if you want to look at recouping cost um and this
revoking of TIFFs is not the answer. I mean this is an attack on economic development. Pulling out of the TUR or TIFF will throw the developers funding plans out of whack for just $75,000.
uh potentially delaying development and possibly cancellation due to funding gaps. So that that's not the answer. Um you know, it's it's as as much as we give and do
uh for Fort Worth at a detriment to to the county. Um I'm not jumping up about down about paying this 7576,000, whatever it is. Um but we've got we've got to do it. But there are other ways
um you know to charge uh city of Fort Worth. Move for approval of item J1. We have a motion to approve item J1. Second. Second.
We have a second. Uh further discussion before vote. So, um I have one point I would like to make and that is there is no money from Tarant County in this tiff
guaranteed to go towards anything. There is no development project that will be interrupted or stopped because Tarant County when we pass the TIF maintain the right to approve any and
all projects that Tarant County tax money in the TIF would go towards. So if a developer, which I highly doubt, is currently banking on our portion to go towards any
project, we haven't taken a single vote for it. And uh I doubt very seriously there is some project moving forward at the moment that is counting on our specific percentage
but also revising the tiff or re renegotiating voting it down adding a new one. Um we are part of downtown. We have lots of costs that we have to incur and
bringing them to the table can benefit everyone in Tarant County. Uh and that's what a healthy partnership is. My intention here is not to create a war with the city of Fort Worth. In fact, it's the opposite. It's to ensure basic fairness between the two entities. And
right now, it certainly doesn't seem like it's a two-way street. It seems like it's a one-way street. I'd like to make sure it's a two-way street. So, any other comments or questions before we vote.
All right, seeing none, we have a motion and a second to approve this item. All in favor, raise your hand. All right, passes five to zero. Uh, next we go, if I have my thing down correctly, to 01, public health
consideration of changes to the Tarant County public health fee schedule. Dr. Bird. Thank you, Judge and Commissioner Brian Bird, public health. I have with me Sabrina Vidari, who is our associate director over environmental health. she
handles uh restaurant inspections and that's what we're talking about today. Uh we are responding to Senate Bill 10008 which requires as of September 1 uh that we comply with the Department of State
Health Services fees uh for all of our inspections on fixed food service and mobile food service. Uh since I am not an expert on restaurant inspection and I like to hear from experts, uh I've asked Miss Bedari
uh to present this uh this series of slides, this slide deck, and walk us through uh our approach to this as we attempted to uh to present a proposed fee schedule that balances uh we want to keep everybody healthy and we don't want
to be ownorous on our local businesses and trying to walk that line. So without further ado, I'll turn it over to Sabrina. Sabrina, good afternoon. Can y'all hear me? Okay. Okay. Yes, ma'am. So before I start the presentation, I would like to let you know that the fee
schedule methodology has changed based on the state law. Our current fee schedule methodology was on square footage and the state law puts us that we would need to use the Texas Department of State Health Services fee
schedule and theirs is off of gross annual food sales volume sales. So um the first slide so we have separated it out amongst the different categories of inspections due to that to try to make it more clear for you. So fixed food are
just like that. They're establishments that don't move. their brickandmortar type of establishments. They um you can see all of the fees. Our current fee schedule is on the left. The proposed fee schedule is on the right with the current Texas Department of
State Health Services fee schedule in the middle. We have aligned our fee schedule um with the Texas Department of State Health Services with the exception of the highest fee schedule which is for $150,000 or more of gross annual food
sales. That cap is $773 and we have dropped it to 700. The reason why we have dropped it to 700 is because we do believe that there may be a majority of establishments that fall into this category. So some of the
establishments may see a fee increase and others may see a fee decrease. I do not have any information on our establishments as to where they would fall in this. It is not information that we had previously collected from any of our permit holders.
Okay. Do you want me to move on or is there a question? So, are we the the proposed free SK fee schedule on the right 150,000 or more is in sales, right? It is gross annual volume of food sales.
Yes. It is not revenue. It's gross annual volume of food sales. I'm sorry. It sounded like you just said it is something and then repeated the exact same thing and said it isn't. It is not revenue. A lot of people, a lot of people get them confused. It's not based off of revenue of the establishment. It's based off of gross
annual food sales, which is before taxes, before any deductions that would come out from revenue. Is revenue different than that? Revenue comes after tax deductions and exemptions. Okay. So, on the 150,000 or more, pick one, doesn't matter. How how do we now
plan to go determine that? So the that process fill out a form. Well, they will have to submit. So it's proprietary information. So they'll have to give us this information which would the best way is to give us their last tax returns so they can prove if they do
not meet this category. We have asked the state department of state health services. They use the comprollers's office and we have asked the comprollers's office, the state comproller if they would assist us with this and they told us no, that it was proprietary information.
So, we had talked about it with other jurisdictions and that's what other jurisdictions are doing as well. They're setting it at the top and then we're messaging out to all of these establishments that if you feel you're in the wrong category, please get with us to provide the proper documentation so that way we can lower that category.
Do we have a different way of doing this besides so if you take 150,000 in gross sales? I mean, the possibility exists that the profit out of that is like 15 or 20 grand. Like, that wouldn't be unusual in the food industry, whatever it may be.
Let's call it call it 50,000. Call it 100,000. Do we have a way to determine if they're 150,000 or more other than asking for their tax returns? No, it is. I'm just not real comfortable with us requesting people's tax returns. So the
the way this would come up is if somebody's claiming they have less than 50,000 in sales and what we don't believe them or we're just asking everyone to give us their tax returns. I was just trying to use the same methodology that the state of Texas has
set with all of the establishments. Um we can most certainly change that. This program does pay for all of the personnel and supplies. Um the county does not put in additional information with that funding for that. And we do have 30 ILAS with incorporated cities
and DFW airport. So we have about what was it 3500 6,000 permits total and we have about 1,500 to 2,000 that are pool permits. So the rest are some sort of food permit. So if somebody says on their form, yeah,
we have more than 150,000 in gross sales, we're not asking for their tax return. Correct. We were going to set everybody at the high one and ask them to come and prove it to us if they need to lower it. Okay. If the if the state of Texas is already doing this, does that mean the comp
controller has those numbers somewhere that we could pull from and not have the business owners send it to us as well or is there not enough communication between those two entities to get that info? So, in asking the controllers's office, they notified us that that was proprietary information and they would
not give it to us. Are any of the proposed fees an increase over the current fees? So, for some of the establishments, it may be an increase. So, if I could just explain like the less than 500 square f
feet of our current fee schedule, that is $400. That would generally be like a small subway or a drive-thru establishment just to give you an idea of what they would be. They may increase to that 700
and that is required by the state. So the law states that we have to use the same methodology that this Texas Department of State Health Services is using. They do not use unfortunately square footage.
Okay. Is there anything else that's an increase in fees on this slide? No sir. I would like to point out temporary foods. So the state has a temporary food permit for 1 to 14 days and they charge everybody $52. Most of our temporary food permits come to 1
to five days and our current schedule is 35 and we did not feel any need to increase that. Um it is decreasing for the 6 to 14 days down $10 because we are allowed to take 120% of the fee
schedule. So from 70 it went down to 60. That is a very small amount over 90% of our temporary permits are 1 to 5 days. Those are date and location specific permits. They do not allow them to roam around. So they may be festivals or
organizations doing um some kind of food sales for fundraising for them is usually who's pulling. So like if somebody does a bake sale for their neighborhood PTA, are they supposed to come get a one-day permit? Well, if they're selling hot dogs, cookies are not bake sales are exempt
from that. But in that scenario, yes, they would have to get that permit. Okay. So, so I think you said it earlier, but just to clarify, the the fee structure that we have and the fees that we impose are to subsidize the cost of our employees going out there and doing these inspections to make sure
that there's healthy food being served by these establishments and temporary places. It's not a profit center for the county. Is that correct? Correct. And by state law, it cannot be profitable and it does have to go into its own fund. And that's why it's more special fund F223.
Thanks. Would you like me to move on to the next slide? Okay, sure. So the next one is mobile food units. So this one gets a little bit more complicated. So in 2023, the jurisdiction for all mobile food units did move to Tarant County. So we were
permitting all of them. This past year in the 2025 legislative session, the state has moved the mobile food jurisdiction to the state of Texas. However, that is not coming into effect until June of 2026 because they do not
they need to set up their program for that first. So, we need to lower our fees in order to come in line with Senate Bill 10008. But we will not be taking any of these fees beyond June of 2026. People will have to get their mobile vending permit
from the state of Texas. Currently, the state of Texas is indicating that they will give reciprocity to anybody who has a current permit from a local jurisdiction when that occurs. I bet you're happy. Will this will this necessitate a
reduction in workforce? Do we have people that specifically do mobile or do we or they they do all of it? So, in consumer health, they do all of it. We do have a few that are dedicated. I happen to have four positions that recently became vacated that we are going to hold to see what the revenue
comes in to see if we can fill those positions or not. Got it. Thanks. ISDS is another change. So, independent school districts, currently the state of Texas does require them to apply by September of
every year in order to receive their inspections. So, ISDs are a nonprofit and they're their own governmental agency. They're not required to get a permit. However, they do have to have one inspection in the spring and one inspection in the fall for their USDA
funding, which covers free and reduced lunch. So, the methodology that we chose to go is that and they charge I know I wrote it a little weird on their fee schedule. It looks like it's $150, but they actually charge $150 each inspection for
the spring and for the fall. And I am proposing that we give both of those inspections for $150 and not for 300. There are some ISDs who have a third-party contractor that runs their kitchens for them. that must be approved
by the Texas Department of Agriculture. We do have a public information request in in order to get the proper amount in Tarant County ISDs of who would fall under this. And then we will have to notify the ISDs of who may not have a permit currently and who does. We also
have an interlocal agreement with Fort Worth ISD which would need to be updated in order to comply with this fee schedule on the ISD required cafeteria inspection. Then the ISD school cafeteria operated by profit profit
private contractor. Yes sir. Uh for-profit private contractor. Why the difference between the fees? Because that is the way the state of Texas does it. The for-profit contractor is not a nonprofit and so they're required to have a permit. State law exempts any nonprofit from permitting.
Okay. This we're not just following here what the state does. We're following state law. Correct. Okay. And now on to nonprofits. So currently nonprofits, you know, they're not required to have any permits and they don't require to have any fees. Texas Department of State Health Services will
not inspect a nonprofit unless they apply for an inspection. Here in Tarant County, we have some nonprofits. We have roughly 600 of them that do have permits and we conduct inspections with them. Um, most of them happen to be ISV
concession type stands. Some of them are like lounges uh not loun not bars like veterans lounges you know that are nonprofits and meals on wheels is one of them. So what are we suggesting because
we do have those four vacant positions is that we continue to give one free inspection a year and if they feel they need another inspection then they can pay for that inspection but we did lower it to 100 from 150 child care centers. So, as the note
says, back in 2010, the actual regulation of child care centers moved to a different agency within Texas HHSC. And when that happened, the Department of State Health Services Food Inspectors
did not permit or inspect child care centers. We So, with that, this bill says that we cannot charge anybody a permit that is higher than what the state is. So they have taken child care centers out of our jurisdiction.
So since they are a highly susceptible population, we still want to work with the child care centers and allow them to request an inspection of their child care center and to charge them the same that we would charge a nonprofit that $100.
So this is the full fee schedule. As I noted before, pools are also conducted by this group. Pool inspections. Um these fees are not changing. What is new here is a late fee. In the past year, we've had 30% of our pools be delinquent
by more than 90 days in paying for their pool permits. And we are hoping that by instituting the late fee that they will come into compliance and to keep that permit maintained. By law, if you have water in that pool, you're required to
keep it maintained, which requires a permit. And it does take a lot of leg work from our inspectors to go out and constantly remind them that they are delinquent on their permit and they need to pay. Previously, we did not have any late fees for pools. A permit is annual. Yes, sir.
So, if they are 30 64 days late, they're they get a $100 fee. If they're three days late, they get a $100 fee or fine. Yes. Yes, sir. It's $100 the day. So, all of our permits expire on the 10th of a month. So, by the 11th of a month,
those late fees would come into play. And these pools, tell me what just give me. So, they're all public and semi-public pools. So, they could be operated by municipalities, homeowners associations,
um, other public pools like the YMCA or apartments when when they're late. I mean, obviously, we're trying to keep the public safe, correct? You're testing. When they request the permit, what do we
do? So, whenever you're a new establishment, you request a permit for pools specifically, they're before they put it into the ground, we have them go through a plan review process. We used to have plan review fees, but the state of Texas does not. So, we have taken all of those away. And um pools are pretty
complicated. There's usually four or five inspections before they are finished making that pool because if they put the gunnite down, which is what you would walk on in a pool and the plumbing is incorrect, it is astronomical for them to tear that up in order to fix it. So, we go do a lot of
inspections that way. Once it's permitted, you get inspected one to two times a year. We try to do one at least in the summer months when it's being used and one outside because there are a lot of violations, say for fencing or for things coming into the poolard that shouldn't be there that allows things to
climb over that needs to be addressed. If they're in not in compliance, then they will be closed. If they're in with a municipality with an ILA, we'll notify them. We're very good at getting people to come into compliance and the municipalities don't really need to
assist us with people coming into compliance, but sometimes they do. Um, and we don't charge any kind of reinspection fee for that at all. We just work with them to come into compliance and then reopen those when they're late on their permit.
They should technically How often have you closed them down? They do. That is a procedure in order to go and close the pool. uh whether they close it or not. Sometimes, you know, when you're talking about HOAs, it's hard to get people on site. And so, a lot of times this notification
is going outside of that. We don't chain any pools, you know, or anything like that. It's up to the pool establishment to ensure that no one is using that pool until they come back into last year. How many pools did we close now? I do not have that number for you, sir, but I can get that for you.
Do you know if it was 10, five, hundred of them? Any idea? It's less than a hundred. No. Okay. I just I'm not sure. I mean, I I understand the need to test it and make sure it's safe for the public. I'm not sure a $100 fine to the HOA is going to
make them jump up and go get their thing filed, but I'd be willing to bet a close down would do that. Not that I'm advocating for hurry up, close them down. We do close down now. Um it just takes, we go back numerous times, like I said, it's over 90 days that 30% that were
delinquent in their permits. Usually a lot of people think that the pool is not being used in the winter months, so they don't need to keep up with it even though their permit may expire in the winter months. This is going to be an incredibly ignorant question. Um the
the brain eating amieba as it's described. Yes, sir. How often does that come from a public pool or or home pool? I So that is normally I can even Haven't we had like some splash pads where we think some splash pads that can
happen with. So what happens is that type of parasite it can form a bofilm and so it kind of protects itself and in splash pads they don't have continuously running water so it can allow them to do that. A pool is supposed to be operating
and have a higher amount of chlorine in it on a regular basis. Typically you will see in splash pads or in natural bodies of water that concern. Not that it can't happen at a pool if they don't keep their chemicals straight and it maintained properly, but we have not seen that here in Tarant County since
I've been here, but we have seen it at a splash pad in the last few years. In Taran County? Yes, sir. Yeah. Is there anything we can do different to stop that from happening than what we're doing now? No. Um, the last one was a maintenance
issue. They didn't maintain properly what they were doing. So I can't tell you if that bofilm would have been allowed to occur if that maintenance was proper. How does a pool prohibit this from developing? So but is it simply just running water or
is it chlorine? It's sanitizer that is approved sanitizers in the pools. Splash pads actually have two methods in which they need to have sanitizers. Um, it's either two sanitizers or one sanitizer and you can use UV light, some other type of way in order to try to filter that out
because the water's not constantly moving through. They're usually push button and activated that way when somebody is wanting to utilize it. I bet a $250,000 fine for any pool that uh has a child catch that. I bet I bet that would deter them more than $100.
Okay. I would just encourage you to look at that. I know it's not a big big it's not a epidemic here, but is there something we can do to protect the kids? That one for whatever reason probably because I have kids just makes me really nervous.
Yeah. Yes, sir. I agree. Yeah. Okay. What else? Anything else? That is it. Anything, Dr. Bird? I I I just want to point out that I learned a little bit this morning. Thanks for asking the good questions and
uh but that is all we have sir. Okay. All right. Do we have a motion on this? Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion, a second to approve the changes to the Tarant County public health fee schedule. Any further discussion? All right. Seeing none, raise your hand
if you're in favor. All right. Passes five to zero. brings us to purchasing item P1. Not even looked at this amount of
numbers this morning. All right. P35 has been removed from consent, so it'll be added at the end. Uh I would make a motion to approve
P1 through 13. Second. All right, we have a motion, a second to approve P1 through 13. Any discussion, comments, or questions? Uh, all right. Seeing none, all in favor
of approval of purchasing items P1 through 13, raise your hand. All right, passes five to zero. Brings us to then the next number which is at 14 P14 permission take bids and RFPs.
Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion to second to approve that item. Any discussion there. All right. Seeing none. All in favor of uh granting permission to take bids on RFP RFPs, please raise your hand.
All right. Passes five to zero. Next we do P35 which was removed from consent. P35 is consideration of ID application and subscriber agreement annual contract for skip tracing software and maintenance and elections
administration. Move for approval. Second. All right. We have a motion and second to approve that item. Any discussion? Is there a speaker? No. Anyone have any questions on this? All right. Uh, all in favor of approval
of P35, please raise your hand. All opposed. All right. So, it passes 4 to one. Um, T2A was removed from consent, but now it has been removed in its entirety. So, we will not address T2A,
which brings us to T3G. from consent. All right. Motion to approve. I'll second it. Uh, any discussion on this item? I don't know. Any discussion on T3G?
All right. Seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Passes five to zero. T3H was also removed from consent. Move for approval. Second. We have a motion to second to approve that item. Any discussion there?
All right, seeing none, all in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. All right, passes four to one. I'm actually opposed to G as well. Oops. Can you go back and revote or change
your vote? How do you do that? Um, I would suggest Can you correct the record or do we have to undo it? We we can simply make a amendment to the minutes when they are adopted at the next meeting to reflect that that was your intent, commissioner. All right.
All right. Um next we have appointments to various boards and commissions. Do we have any board appointments? Commission appointments. I have two. Okay. Um so for the I don't know what it's called, Megan. Is it called the Green Brick Freshwater
Supply District? Okay. I thought that was today. Never mind. I have none. All right. Anybody else? But I'll take his um uh I need to make uh Katherine Roder who's done some great work for precinct 3 for a very long time. She submitted
her resignation um for the Keller Tur board number two um effective yesterday. And I'd like to appoint Mike Garcia to fill her unexpired term. Second. All right. A motion and a second to appoint Mike Garcia to that TUR board. Any discussion? All right, seeing none,
all in favor raise your hand. Passes unanimously. Any other board or commission appointments? All right, next up, briefing item, operational impact of Tarant County redistricting. [Music] Good afternoon, court members. Just a
couple of updates uh since our last briefing on this. Uh we're really down to kind of two items. Uh budget and elections. So during our uh budget workshop, we had some discussion with regards to uh road and bridge uh assets,
personnel, and things like that. We did not make any final determinations at those meetings. Uh but certainly those items are still in conversation uh with the budget office to make those final recommendations uh as part of the the final approval of the budget coming soon. Uh as far as election goes, uh
certainly we had a couple of action items today with regards to uh voting precincts and and the such. And that's that's really the update I have for this meeting with regards to redistricting. All right. Any questions or comments on
this item before we bring up a speaker? So on the voter registration system, has the updated voter registration system now been fully implemented, Clint? And have there been any errors or issues? Good afternoon, Commissioner. the the
maps and the precincts themselves, the updates are made, but because these don't go into effect until January 1, they haven't been moved into the voter registration system to reflect. So, anybody that were to go to our website and and put in their information, it's
still going to um show that they would be voting in the other commissioner's precinct because those or their not the other commissioners precinct, but the voting precinct because those voting precinct numbers haven't changed and won't change until January 1. So, we're
those changes will be made effective. What we are doing is creating a separate database to then transition it to the post January 1 precincts prior to that so we can do the
mass mailouts to ensure that when we mail everybody their voter registration card they get the information that will be effective January 1 even though we have to have those mailed out prior to the end of December. So it's not effective now. the voting
precincts. No. Why not again? So, the the voting precincts by law don't go into effect till January 1. Okay. All right. Any other questions or comments? Just stay stay up there. Um,
so have the new voter precinct maps been published to the public yet? the new voter precincts. They haven't yet because we just um approved those today. Okay. And what's the what's the ETA? We're working on them right now, Commissioner.
Okay. So, a week, a five day, what? Two weeks, a month. It won't It should be by the end of the week. Okay. Um, so have so you have or have not sent official
notices out for voting changes? We have sent official notices as were required by the statutes to get to this point and then we will have to do post the notice of the approval today.
Okay. And have voters received any direct notification about potential changes to their precinct polling place that won't happen till January? I'm trying to understand you quite so voters
have we communicated to the voters in any way about you've been moved into this precinct. This is your new commissioner. Um this is No, we have not. We We didn't have anything approved. What we're working
with um it right now is creating a site where a voter will be able to go in and put in their address and it will tell them um the the new precinct that they're in. Um but we're working with it to get that finish out that development. Okay. So, that kind of goes to my next
question uh about the communication plan. Um, so we're just going to say you can go to our website and check this out. I saw the little video last time. Um,
but is that going to be it? I mean, this is a a big change. So, communications department is certainly aware. Uh, as I stated last time, the video just gives you a taste of what we've been working on in order to push out the information with regards to this. However, until the site was up
and we had confirmation that the site was up in Oregon correctly, we didn't want to push anything out yet because we will be directing people to the site if they want to look up uh where their new voting precinct is. So, it's just going to be our website. It's just going to be our our website, social media channels, all of our our normal uh channels that we
have available to us to push out information, right? But have we thought about doing paid communications or Additionally, Commissioner, when we do the mass mail out, every registered voter that we have in the voter registration system will get a new voter
registration certificate and that will reflect that new precinct number. So they will Okay. Have any of our cities or school districts or community partners responded to notifications sent through the mayor's council or delegation
briefings? I have not heard any response, ma'am. Okay. So, we don't have any feedback or concerns or No, ma'am. I haven't heard of any feedback from uh the federal, state delegations, uh cities or ISDs.
Okay. Were those uh FY26 budget recommendations to each precinct uh finalized before the August 19th budget hearings? I'm sorry, which FY26 budget recommendations? Bud uh let's see to each precinct.
I think it was from your last presentation. So I referenced the finalized recommendations to each commissioner precinct related to the FY26 budget submission. And uh what we again at the budget retreat we did have some conversation with regards to those uh
but we were based on the fact that we did not have an entire court here we decided to kind of table some of those conversations work with the budget officer with regards to that to bring back final recommendations. Okay. Thank you sir sers. All right. Anybody have anything else on
this item? All right. We have one speaker. Dr. Valencia Edner. [Music] What an embarrassing day this has been. Such a good old boy backs slapping got him nights. The lights went out in
Georgia process. That's the prevailing mindset in this court. But let me get to my point. Critical thinking requires more than chasing an agenda. It means asking what are the ripple effects.
Doing your homework before pushing it would have avoided this Keystone Cop atmosphere we keep enduring. Yet your collective piler choices prove that you either cannot or will not see them
by re redrawing precinct lines, slashing polling places. You have forced citizens already packed and cracked by you to struggle for what should be their birthright. Free, fair, and equitable elections.
But your politics won't let you care. This is not leadership. It's ambition gone mad. An ambition so blindly that you trample the very people you were elected to serve. But your politics won't let you care. And tell me, how do
you rest? How do you look in the mirror and not see the darkness of what you've become? You can close a polling place, but you cannot close people's will. You can withdraw a line, but you cannot withdraw redraw our determination. You may try to
dim democracy, but we the people are the light. And the light always finds a way to shine on, shine in, and shine through. And no one is blinded by good
light cuz truth will march on. All right. Next item is Tarant County Sheriff's Office update regarding incidents in the county jail. U
we had reached out to the sheriff to request uh either the off his office be available for briefing today. Uh we heard back that the sheriff's office was unavailable to to brief today. Uh yesterday I received four specific names
as far as information uh that had been requested to be briefed on today. I have the four press releases that were sent out by the sheriff's office related to those four names. If it pleases the court, I'd be happy to read those into the record or I'd also be happy to just file them with the clerk as a matter of record. you can read them into the
record and u we'll just schedule them for a briefing at the September 3rd meeting. Okay. All right. So, the first one was on a gentleman named Charles Johnson, February 8th, 2025. On Saturday, February 2025, a 36-year-old inmate in
the Tarant County Jail passed away at John Peter Smith Hospital following complications from an attempted suicide. The inmate was booked into the Tarant County Jail on February 4th, 2025 on a parole violation out of Palipinto County of multiple sexual assault convictions
as well as failing to register as a violent sex offender. During the booking intake process, the inmate was administered a screening form for suicide and medical, mental, developmental impairments as required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Sandra Bland Act. TCSO detention
officers identified behavioral concerns and the inmate was referred to Tarant County MHMR for further assessment. The inmate was screened and cleared by MHMR and assigned housing per minimum jail standards for protocol. On February 6th, 2025, the inmate was once again screened
by a mental health provider. It was noted that the inmate did not display any suicidal ideiations and was cleared to remain in general population housing. Subsequently, on February 6th, 2025, after being cleared by MHMR, the inmate was found unresponsive in his cell by
his cellmate. Within seconds, detention officers and JPS medical staff immediately began administering life-saving treatment. The inmate was taken to JPS hospital where despite their efforts, the inmate passed away a couple of days later. The Tarant County Medical Examiner will release the
inmate's name and cause of death. In 2024, TCSO detention officers intervened and prevented 390 suicide attempts. So far in 2025, TCSO detention officers have intervened in 24 suicide attempts in the Tarant County Jail. All in custody deaths are reviewed and
investigated by Tarant County Sheriff's Office Jail Staff, the TCSO Criminal Investigations Division, an outside law enforcement agency. In this case, the Texas Rangers, JPS medical staff, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Texas Attorney General's Office.
All media request on this case should be directed to the Texas Rangers as they are the lead investigating agency. That was Mr. Charles Steven Johnson. Yes, ma'am. Charles Johnson. Okay. Do we have Do you know if the autopsy um report is back? Do you do not
know that latest? Okay. All right. We'll just have him come back. Yes, ma'am. Next. Next up is Kimberly Phillips. February 20th, 2025. On Tuesday, February 28th, 2025, a
56-year-old inmate passed away while under medical care at John Peter Smith Hospital. The inmate was arrested by Grand Prairie PD on January 24th, 2025 for outstanding felony warrants for injury to child, elderly, disabled, bodily injury and obstruction
retaliation. They were transported to the Tarant County Jail the following day. The inmate was placed in medical housing under medical observation where there is access to 247 medical care. On February 15, 2025, the inmate was transported to JPS and passed away on
February 18th under the direct care of medical staff. The Tarant County Medical Examiner will release the inmate's name and cause of death. All in custody deaths are reviewed and investigated by Tarant County Sheriff's Office, Jail Staff, the TCSO Criminal Investigation Division and Outside Law Enforcement
Agency, JPS Medical Staff, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Texas Attorney's General's Office. The third individual is Liza Gadlin. This release is dated April 21st, 2025.
On Saturday, April 19th, 2025, a 57year-old female inmate passed away at John Peter Smith Hospital. As per jail protocol, she was evaluated by MHMR and medical staff when she was booked last week. The inmate's history indicates a longtime drug use and chronic health
conditions. She was receiving care from John Peter Smith Hospital medical staff during the time she was in custody. She was arrested by the DFW airport police department on April 15th, 2025 for theft of property between $100 and $750.
The Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office will determine her cause of death and release her identity. All in custody deaths are investigated and reviewed by Tarant County Sheriff's Office Jail Staff, the TCSO Criminal Investigations Division, the Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office, and Outside Law Enforcement Agency, JPS Medical Staff,
the Texas Attorney General's Office, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. We don't have her cause of death. No, ma'am, I don't. But on all these, I'll if they've been publicly released, I'll make sure that we have the medical examiner's office
send that information to the court. Okay. Uh and inclusive of this last one. The last individual is Richard Gowski. This release is dated August 6th, 2025. On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, jail
medical personnel from John Peter Smith Hospital responded to medical emergency inside the Tarant County Jail involving a 61-year-old inmate. The inmate was transported to JPS hospital where he passed away. He was arrested by the White Settlement Police Department for criminal trespass. He arrived at the
Tarant County Jail on July 29th, 2025. The Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office will determine his cause of death and release his identity. All in custody deaths are investigated and reviewed by the Tarant County Sheriff's Office, Jail Staff, the TCSO Criminal Investigations Division, the Tarant County Medical
Examiner's Office, and Outside Law Enforcement Agency, JPS Medical Staff, the Texas Attorney General's Office, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. As scheduled, the sheriff to be here
next time to give an update on all these cases. I'll make the request, ma'am. Anybody else have anything before we bring up our speakers? Uh, Nan Terry and Joe Palmer.
Good afternoon. Chandler mentioned it, but I'm going to say my piece, too. Since the commissioner's court last met, uh, Mr. Richard Gowski uh died in the Tarant County Jail. The Texas Attorney General's death in custody reports his
death is August 6, 2025 at 1047. He had been in jail about a week. He was charged with a class B misdemeanor offense with a a criminal trespassing and had a bond of $500. He was 61. As you know, the National Institute of
Corrections critical site visit report made recommendations to the Tarant County Jail to improve the jail. One recommendation is on page 11 of the mortality review process. What currently happens is MHMR and JPS have a critical
incident review committee and they meet weekly to discuss this. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards requires the custody staff to review what happened with the death in custody, but near the two should meet. And the
recommendation from the NIC is that the custodial death the custodial staff be allowed to attend the MHMR JPS uh their critical incident review meeting and so that information can be shared against
both all three groups. and you guys are the leaders of Taran County and you fund or have some role and responsibilities and perhaps you could encourage JPS MHMR to implement that
mortality review process on page 11 of the NIC report. I can't imagine it would cost any have any significant budget impact. Uh the other point uh Kimberly Phillips her death in custody report was uh malnutrition and dehydration
uh starvation and dehydration. And another of the recommendations from the NIC report was for a huddle to be done weekly from JPS MHMR to discuss incidents of concern for individuals
including reduced food intake. And since Miss Phelps passed away due to reduced starvation and dehydration, perhaps you could encourage people to implement that recommendation also. Um, I can't imagine that would cost much. I think they do a
weekly now. Huddle. Uh, not daily. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, I did not see Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer's not present, is he? Uh, now we come to public comments. Okay, I don't have it. So, we have
public comments now. First person to speak on public comments is Darlene Doss. Miss Doss present. Oh, we have Rose Abraham. Are you Miss Abraham or Miss Doss? What's your name?
Rose Abraham. Gotcha. Okay. No. Darling Doss. Okay. Go ahead, Miss Abraham. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Rose Abraham. I'm 73 years old and I am here to uh share with you guys something that is
really important for me that you know and that it's going on and it involve um a tow truck company right here in forward located on 6754 Randle New Hope Road.
Uh these people are seriously conducting uh illegal activity and I was a victim of them. I had a Nissan truck which it was parked properly. They stole it. I sued them. I won the case. They didn't
release my my truck claiming that they were going to appeal it. They never did. I sue them again and they went on a rampage. Every time I had to go to court, I was mysteriously um hijacked and all my court paper were
taken. So I had no evidence and I had to start all over again. That happened three times and also one of the time mysteriously uh and I say mysteriously because I cannot say specific that they did it but
the connection is very strong. I was hijacked. I would spray with something. All of the sudden, I found myself dumped on the freeway. Uh, luckily a a good Samaritan was passing by and they noticed that there
was a human being. It was not a a a toy or a a doll. An ambulance came. They picked me up. They took me to the emergency room. And little by little, I started remember things. Bottom line,
they have seriously been terrorizing me. But I am not going to stop. I'm going to seek justice because I found out that my truck was sold to my next door neighbor, an illegal drug dealer that have also been
terrorizing me. I cannot be quiet. I need to speak up and you all need to know what's going on. I need prayer and I need help and guidance. Anything that you can do to guide me and help me, it will be
awesome. I can't find an attorney. I don't have money. I'm suing them again and we supposed to go to court. And I'm appealing the decision of the judge because they have uh an attorney that have never show up to any other meeting
and they getting away with it. They don't they don't I'm prosay but they don't communicate with me and every time we have a a a a hearing they don't show up and it's okay. So I need an attorney and I need prayer.
That's all I can say. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next we have Bob Willoughby. Let me start off with first here that uh the school board the public comment comes first. Canidel white settlement forest hill city council comment comes
first. We're on the bottom here. It doesn't take a minute to move the people to the top. Republicans move people to the top. Remember Reagan? We the people first. Okay. Okay. Got that back. Secondly, I really don't have much respect for any across the board because
you don't answer questions. City council don't, school board don't, and you don't until you start answering legitimate questions. I don't care about redistricing. I don't care about those machines or the voting locations. They're irrelevant until you start answering questions and you don't answer questions. None of you. Not one of you.
Okay. Now, I got I our election in District 5 was rigged. Democrats rigged the election in Dem five 100%. Nothing short of Jesus Christ walking that door saying it's not rigged. It was rigged. Do you care? Not one of you reached out to ask about it. I went to court. It was
dismissed on 91A, which said, "Okay, I'm going to file a however you do it, I'm going to try to uh appeal it to go up to a different court because the judge said there's nothing there." Well, I'll tell you what. When the votes go up four elections in a row and it drop by 50%,
something's wrong. A doctor takes your temperature, it drops by 50%. Something's wrong. He can't tell you what, but he say something's wrong. My votes dropped by over 90%. 67 votes they gave me. That's the lowest out of five
elections I ever got. I spent $20,000. More money I ever spent. 67 boats was a joke. This thing's rigged. And don't tell me you care. You speak up about it. You don't care. Or you speak up about it. Our elections are the fabric of this
city. Our system. And if you don't care about being rigged, the redistritis, the locations don't mean crap. You got to fix the riggedness. It is rigged by Democrats. Cat in the voting deal should not be in there. She's got mental problems. She said it publicly. She said
she's a radical left Democrat and she's in charge of the voting. Give me a break. God. Anyway, you people start answering questions, that's one. And I mean the school board, council, city council, across the board, when y'all start answering. This is a partnership I
would never want to be in in the private market with any of y'all. Never would I enter into a partnership. But I am in a partnership whether I like it or not. And I don't like it. But I've got to start answering legitimate questions. One is Phil Sword. He's got documents on his desk right now showing corruption
100%. He says, "I'm not going to act on it. I'm not going to do anything. I'm not going to answer. What do y'all do? Same thing. You don't act on it. So, don't talk like you're really doing something for the people. Don't act like you're something. District two, you're not you don't answer either. You're no better than the rest.
So, as far as my concern about all of you, you're not worth a hill of beans until you start answering people and respecting the public and moving to number one. Thank you. Uh, next is Paul David Williams. Mr. Williams here.
Next is Amy Super. Miss Super, are you going? Most of my comments are going to be directed to my new commissioner. Um, I I I get it. you got a bunch of new constituents that you know, you know, we didn't even have the option to vote for
you because you wouldn't have been on our ballot the last time you were running. And you know, you're going to have to work hard uh to try to maintain your seat. Um, however, you do still represent us and when I go on to your social media site and I am being
directed on videos how and what to say when I call your office based on your opinion on an issue. I'm not comfortable with that. I think that's that's not representation. Now, to be fair, you've done a really good
job of showing us who you are and who you believe you are best capable of representing and it's not me and it's not a whole lot of people who are now part of precinct 2. Um, that doesn't change the fact again that you're still a representative. I specifically
suggested the last time I was here that you consider maybe toning down some of the hostile ways in which you addressed Tarant County employees. It's embarrassing. Those are the sorts of things you do in private. Um, I'm not asking you to give them free reign and
not hold them accountable when you think that they're not doing something they should be doing or have done something incorrectly. Just not in front of this entire group of people. Had I known you'd come after our elections administrator the way you did today, I would never have brought up some of the
subject matters that I did. I have a great working relation working relationship with him as a voter. very approachable uh very problem-solving oriented that I was ashamed and I apologize to him for having done so. I should have
known that he wouldn't listen to my suggestion. Um I would like to also just quickly address this thing with Tarant County um college campus adding them. So they explained to you that they don't have a room where they can secure it, which is
now going to be part of the law. And he also explained that that means that if they can't secure it, that site is going to have to break down, tear up, and set up every day, 12 days in a row, 14-hour days, these folks are working. They're getting paid less than people who are
working at Taco Bell. You and I are very close to the same age. It is physically demanding to do that. Good luck at finding a crew who is willing to do that. EV sites do not have to set up their own pull sites. Those are done for them. They're take they're set up and
taken down by the staff at Tarant County elections unlike election day sites where we set up and tear down all of our equipment. You're asking people to do that every day for 12 days in a row. So before you proceed with that, I would I would ask for consideration for that for the poor people who are going to be
stled with doing that work. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Carla Palaris. She present. Next is Jimmy Blackwell. [Music] Judge O'Hare,
it's a shame that the sheriff's office is never available to face the people. George O'Hara, I know you uh are familiar with Joe Lewis, heavyweight boxing champion.
He coined this phrase, you can run, but you cannot hide. He made that comment when he was getting ready to to challenge Billy Khan.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. coined this quote, "No lie can live forever." So, Judge O'Hara, what are you mega people running from?
You all are running from the truth and attempting to hide behind lie after lie after lie. How can the people of this county have any confidence
in the decision brought before the people by this court when it's apparent that you, Judge O'Hara, makes the first and final decision based on your ideology. You refuse to include other
commissioners in your dis, excuse me, in your discussions prior to your decision. Now, how can we be confident that the other commissioners will vote
with you other than you have already threatened them or whatever the case may be if they go against you? I want to personally thank uh Commissioner Simmons and Commissioner
Rodri Miles for their stance against some of the stuff that you bring to this court and before the people. You know, it's not based on your discussion with these individuals
because you refuse to even include them in your discussions. How can that be sound leadership when you exclude two of your major opposition voices?
That's what democracy is all about. Listening to other people, discussing issues with other people, and then making a decision based on that information that you get from those people. You just don't arbitrarily make a decision on your own and then shove it
down the throat of the people. And that's what's going on with this commission. That's what's going on with you, Judge O'Hara. This has to stop. I smell a rat. Thank you, sir. Miss you three blind.
Thank you, sir. Next, we have Nan Terry. Is Nan Terry present? She leave. And then Joe Palmer. I do not see Mr. Palmer. Okay. Well, I don't have your form.
Well, you skipped earlier from the uh section that was on uh agenda announcements. Why is it on the list of of agenda items that you can participate in? If he on whatever he's describing,
we do have a form, sir, for Go ahead. Thank you very kindly. Give me just a moment to queue it up. What's your name? Stanley Johnson for precinct 1165. So I direct your attention to the uh
uh rules of decorum that the court has established. Uh I would request that you all uh periodically perhaps before each meeting refresh yourself on them just so that you're uh confident that they say what you think they say and that you're you know
they're right in your head and in your heart. One of the things that it states in them is that you uh uh that your intent is to maximize uh citizen participation
and uh I would suggest that perhaps reducing the number of uh polling places would be the opposite of maximizing participation. It would be reducing it. Um the uh I don't have a lot more today
other than to say um the the the court seems somewhat fractured. um if not actually physically uh perhaps
um uh symbolically uh in particular the two of you in the center and to your right I guess uh seem to be very much at odds and again if not physically if y'all could possibly symbolically
shake hands uh tone down the rhetoric a little bit in the sense that um maybe have dinner on occasion. Uh humanize one another. Uh I think that would serve the entire court better. Um and I think that's all I have to say.
Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Do we have any announcements or comments from the court members? Uh, seeing none, the court will now recess the open session and proceed to close session to discuss items exempt under sections 551071, 072,
074, 076, 087, and 0725 of the Texas Government Code. Executive session will begin promptly at 3:30 p.m. We are now in recess. We are back. We are back from executive session. There are two items. One I
think we will take action on. One we may or may not. The first item is H1. Do we have a motion there? Motion to approve. All right, we have a motion to approve H1. I'll second. Any discussion on that? All right, seeing none, all in favor,
raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. That's the lawyer one. Opposed, raise your hand. All right, passes four to one. Then the next item that was tabled until after closed was item I believe it would be 10
I5 and we did receive a legal briefing legal advice on that issue. Does anyone wish to make a motion or do we deal with this in a couple of weeks? All right. So seeing nothing we will
take no action on this item today. We will um likely take this up on September 3rd. September 3rd. And that is all the items we have to address. So we are now May make one announcement. Judge just my
neglected to say this at the beginning. Next commissioner's court meeting we are scheduled to be back in our normal courtroom on September 3rd. So AV installation is going very well. We don't anticipate any issue why we would not be in that uh courtroom September 3rd. Okay. Thank you sir. We are now officially adjourned.