All right, we good to go here. All right, let's see. It's on. Good morning and welcome to the Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 Tarant County Commissioner's Court meeting. I now call the meeting to
order. Tim O'Hara County Judge present. Miles Jun, commissioner precinct one here. Lisa Simmons commissioner precinct two here. Matt, commissioner precinct here. Manny, commissioner precinct. All right. Today's invocation will be
led by Steven Emerick, the associate pastor of Most Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth. Please rise for the invocation and pledges to our flags. Before we pray, I just wanted to uh honor your service. Um scripture tells us that God handpicks our governors, our
leaders, and so thank you for your service. Thank you for your leadership. And uh yeah, we just appreciate you. We honor you. Let's pray. Father, I thank you that your word declares that the earth is yours and the fullness thereof,
the world and everyone that lives in it. And so we don't take that declaration lightly. Lord, I pray for our leaders. I pray for those who govern. I pray for every precinct that's represented. I pray for everyone uh in this county, Lord. And I thank you that we have leaders that are willing to serve and
lead all people in Tarant County, not just in their precincts. And so we just invite you in. We say have your way. We want your wisdom in every decision. We know there's important things that need to be decided on, important things that they need to be discussed. I pray for every speaker. I pray for uh every
decision that be made would be made with the wisdom of God. And so, Holy Spirit, have your way. This court is yours. This county is yours. This world is yours in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Please join me as we pledge allegiance to our flag. I pledge aliance to our flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And now to the Texas. Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to thee Texas. One state
under God one and indivisible. Thank you. You may be seated. Well, before we start off here, I know we have some agenda announcements, but I just want to say for what you had to deal with, uh, y'all have done a
pretty good job. I would say a fantastic job of putting this together and making it go. So, thank you staff, facilities for your hard work. This is not a bad setup here for what we're dealing with. So, thank you all. Absolutely. Judge, you beat me to the punch. Uh I was going to say almost the exact same
thing. I think y'all's staff has done an outstanding job uh in a very short time to move an entire commissioner's court operation over to a completely different building and a completely different room. So, thank you to all of the staff that's been involved in this. They've done a spectacular job. So, thank you for recognizing that, Judge. A couple of
agenda announcements for today. Uh, okay, here we go. So, we have several items that have been pulled from consent. I'm going to list those out here. So, the first one is item B1 under archives. Items C2
and C5 under audit the auditor section. D3 under budget risk management. I3 under facilities management item L1
that's under human human resources item M1 under information technology and then item 046 under purchasing
Uh court members as of note item F1 uh we're going to hold that item until after closed so we can receive a legal briefing. Uh and then finally commissioners court uh item H2 under election. We are not asking the court to take action on that item today.
So is H2 a consent item? It was yes sir. Okay. So H2 is off alto together. Correct. and F1 held until after close. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you.
All right. Do we have any announcements from the court? Yes, sir. I do. I would like to just remind everybody that our Alzheimer's education seminar is coming up on August the 25th. It will be held at Tarant
County College Trinity River campus. The time is 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can contact either one of my offices to register or you can go on social media and there is a flyer with a QR code and you can register there. This is a very
valuable resource that we're giving to the community. Uh, and I think everybody who has a loved one that they've care for should attend. As a survivor, as a caregiver who survived my father passing
from dementia and Alzheimer's, I can't tell you how valuable this seminar is, how it helped me and my family. And I think about uh individuals who may not have the support system that I had when we were going through the process of my
dad transitioning with Alzheimer's. I can only imagine it was hard on us and I can't even imagine or fathom how difficult it is for individuals who don't have a support system. So this is a resource that we're providing free for the community to get informed, to get
educated, and to get the support that you need. August 23rd, right? 25th. 25th. All right. Where at? Taran County College, Trinity River campus. Excellent. All right. Anybody have anything else? Yes. Um, on Saturday the 26th of July,
my precinct 2 team hosted a community a free community paper shredding event. Um, it's one of many ways that we make services accessible and meaningful to the public over in precinct 2. So, we
offered residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of sensitive documents while promoting sustainability and protecting the environment. So, we didn't just shred paper, we delivered impact. So, in Arlington, we shredded
4.7 tons. In Mansfield, another 3.6 tons. We had these at both of the the parking lots of both sub courouses and that's over eight tons of paper diverted from our landfills saving 141 trees and keeping more than
16,000 pounds of waste out of the trash stream. So, I want to thank my incredible staff, led by my strategic initiatives manager, Valerie Hill, for their hard work in organizing these events and ensuring everything ran
smoothly. This is what community centered government looks like. Working together to protect privacy, preserve resources, and serve the people of Taran County. So, thanks to my team. That's it. Thank you. Judge, I do need to make a correction.
Apparently, I need to be wearing my glasses up here cuz I got the date wrong. It's actually August 23rd, not the 25th. Saturday, August 23rd. You were right, Judge. You must remember when I tried to help you out there. So, yeah.
Okay. Got something. Yes. Thanks, Judge. Uh, mark your calendars. October 2nd will be empowering seniors. So, um, the judge and our office are collaborating together for that. Uh, it's a great time. Lots of exhibitors, lots of sponsors. We had our kickoff just a
couple of weeks ago that went really well. I want to thank the judge's office and my office for all the work they did for that. Still room for sponsors. Uh, and still room for exhibitors. So, uh, visit the website. I think it's just empowering seniors.com. Um, would love to have you there and to participate,
but this is a great resource for senior citizens in Tarant County. Um, Gary Ficus uh, started this many years ago, so it's kind of a continuation of his legacy as well. And so we want to continue to do it and do it well. But please mark your calendars. October 2nd
at the Will Rogers U Convention Center and we'd love to have you there. Thank you. Did those TVs right there? Can people It's Is that what's on our screen? Okay. Uh next up we have proclamations, resolutions, and presentations. The
first is a resolution recognizing the historic legacy and honoring the life and achievements of Robert Snake Lrand. Commissioner Simmons, thank you. Um, so Snake passed away um last week. His
funeral was last week. I have known Snake for decades and decades. And um many people can say that it was abundantly evident at the service and I think his oh I'm not sure which
speaker it may have been his daughter that said everybody claims Snake as a best friend. Um but he was uh a friend to my family and just everybody in the Arlington and Tarant County community.
And so I wanted to honor him and his legacy with this resolution. And he does have family here. His wife is here. Y'all can u stay there for now until I read this. Gloria Lrand, if
you'll stand up. Um Lisa Lrand, his daughter. And Lisa, I think you have another last name or Okay. and Chris Lrand, his son,
and grandchildren Madison Lrand Morgan Lrand and Taylor Jenkins. And I'm missing one more Leo. Thank y'all for being here. So,
recognizing the historic legacy and honoring the life and achievements of Robert Snake Lrand. Whereas Robert Snake Lrand is a celebrated and significant public figure in Tarant County and in Texas and a recognized trailblazer in
national college sports. Whereas Robert Lraan's achievements and community work over the course of a lifetime have impacted generations of young athletes to practice service, courage, and resilience.
and Robert Lrand passed away July 20th, 2025, leaving his family, friends, community, state, and nation in utter sadness and profound bereiement. And whereas this overwhelming grief is rooted in Robert
Lrant's historic accomplishment as the first African-American NCAA Division 1 head coach in Texas and as the first black head coach at the University of Texas at Arlington. And whereas Robert Lrand led UTA men's
basketball team to three winning seasons and to an unprecedented appearance in the 1981 national invitation invitation tournament and the first UTA coach to do so. And whereas at that time
neither UTA nor the Southland Conference were considered powerhouses in men's college basketball. Thus, Coach Lrand's NIT appearance sparked excitement among fans and extensive media coverage and eventually became known as one of the 20
greatest men's college basketball moments in North Texas history. And whereas Coach Lrand is a founder of UTA's Move and Maps men's wheelchair basketball team, which has won 13 national championships in its 35- year
history. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Tarant County Commissioner's Court, do hereby call upon all citizens to remember Robert Snake Lrand's historic achievements and his impact on students and basketball
fans across this nation. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of August, 2025. If you'll join me in giving a hand to coach Snake Lrand
and if you all will come forward. I move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right. By show of hands, all in if you're if it's a yes, please raise your hand. Okay. Passes unanimously. Four to zero.
And we are very very sorry for your loss. If I may, I just wanted to say a couple of words and thank the county commissioners court for this proclamation or resolution. And I have to say that my husband was
what I considered a lover. He loved his family. He loved his country. He loved the county. We've always lived in Taran County. And we so appreciate the show of support that we have seen over the past
two weeks. And so with that said, thank you guys. And Mrs. Lrand, thank you, Gloria. Mi Mrs. LRA, I just wanted you to know uh I took a tour of UTA in 2015 and one of the first things they told me about was
your husband and that 1981 run to the NIT and how awesome that was and then I got to meet some of the moving mavs later on that day and they talked about your husband so reverentially like he hung the moon and so um his legacy continues to live on. Uh and so I I I
it's an honor to have y'all here today and thank you to you and your family for being here um what y'all given to our community. All right. Thank you very much. All right. Next, we have a congratulatory resolution recognizing Daryl Gamboa for 30 years of service in
the Tarant County IT Department. Commissioner Simmons. Yes. Well, I'm happy for Daryl. I guess this is bittersweet. Um
he is a fixture in precinct 2 and um he is going to be missed. He is our um IT support um person and and so we had a little
gathering for him yesterday and it was um it was heartwarming to see all the people that stopped by and um wished him a farewell. So Darl, here we go. I think I got my
last request in yesterday before I have to dial the support number now. So recognizing Daryl Gamboa for 30 years of service to Taran County Information Technology Department. Whereas Daryl
Gamboa began his career with Tarant County in November 1995 as one of two instructors to establish what was then known as the data services software training center. And whereas this data services software training center is now
Taran County information technology department. And this department now serves more than 3,000 employees with information and storage management. And whereas Daryl Gamboa helped to roll out ESS Taran County's SAP self-service
portal by training county employees to use a system, a self-styled ESS commando, as he served as one of the first county employees to navigate this new SAP application and then to teach all other
employees its functions. And whereas Daryl Gamboa has supported six different versions of the Windows operating system, Windows for workg groupoups, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10 and whereas Daryl
Gamboa in 1998 also became Taran County's first remote desktop support technician. served he has served four precinct 2 commissioners working initially for commissioner Martney Van Ravens way
then former commissioners Andy Wyn Devin Allen and now for commissioner Lisa Simmons and whereas Daryl Gamboa has served his 29 years 7 months and eight days with an upbeat spirit a smile
on his face and joke ready to tell, always trying to bring a little joy to everyone he worked with. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant County, do hereby celebrate Daryl Gamboa on his outstanding and meritorious service as
specialist, customer support lead, and extend best wishes upon his retirement. In witness whereof, we have here in two to set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be a fixed this fifth day of August, 2025. I move approval.
Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve that resolution. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. Thanks, Darl.
Thanks for everything. [Applause] It's been a wonderful career here at here in Taran County. It's it's been the best job ever. Um it there's it's the
greatest job you I when I come into a department it's to uh to choruses of Daryl and you just you just can't beat it. Um the it's it's been a a terrific career
here. Um and it's it's been the the people that I work with that have made it so special. So thank you very much. Uh, I'm so grateful to have have worked here. Thank you. Thank you, Darl.
[Applause] All right. Next item on the agenda is a resolution recognizing Sharon DS for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons. Thank you. So, I have a series of uh resolutions
here. Um the to recognize those folks uh in the human services department who are retiring. The human services department staff possess invaluable institutional knowledge, expertise, and relationships
within the community. They understand the complex needs of our diverse population and have worked hard to deliver aid to those in need. And for that, I'd like to recognize the members of the department,
most who are reluctantly retiring from their careers after unexpectedly and unceremoniously being told they would not have their careers on September 30th. In addition to offering my sincere
apologies for the jarring manner in which you guys learned your careers would be ending. Um that apology extends to each retiree but also to your colleagues who are um still holding it
down um at work and making time to search for new jobs. I want to celebrate your service today with um a resolution of gratitude. In the 19th chapter of Leviticus verses
9-10, God tells us, "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not go over your vineyard a second time to pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for
the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. And that message is to all of us. But to the entire human services staff, um they have dedicated their lives to
helping the poor gather the leftover grapes. And I want to say thank you all for representing the county with compassion and effective service. Um so I think I have seven resolutions today. Not sure if they are all here.
Um, but out of respect, I'm going to read all seven of them out of respect for them individually in their careers. Um, so I'm not sure if Sharon uh DS is here. Uh, Sharon, she is here.
Is she? Oh. Oh, Lord. Yes. So whereas Sharon DS is an experienced social service worker, case manager, and transformational leader who has been employed by Tarant County Human Services Department for 30 years and nine months.
And whereas Sharon DS compassionately and skillfully led Tarant County's human services department as its assistant director for two of these past 30 years and retired from this role July 31st, 2025. And whereas Sharon DS began her public
service as a caseworker in October 1994 with a sincere desire, commitment, and plan to address housing insecurity, assist with gas, water, and electric needs, and to encourage skills development among Taran County's lowest
income mothers, foster youth, military veterans, and those with disabilities. And whereas case management is a vital link in an overall plan to stabilize families and move them toward self-sufficiency and such work requires the skills of
licensed professionals and whereas the diligent work of Sharon DS a licensed balarat social worker led to her promotion in August 2013 to assist super to assistant supervisor of 17 employees
and her demonstrated ated leadership led to her promotion in 2023 to assistant director of human services. And whereas in these roles, Sharon DS developed the professionalism of the department by recruiting licensed
social workers, promoting professional practices, and encouraging participation in the county's leadership development program. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the commissioner's court of Taran County, do hereby celebrate Sharon DS on her outstanding and meritorious
service as assistant director of Taran County's human services department and extend best wishes upon her retirement. In witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and cause the seal of Tarant County to be affixed this fifth day of
August, 2025. I move approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this one? All right, seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously.
Where's that one? [Music] [Applause] Good morning to everyone. First, I'd like to thank God for being my Lord and Savior who has given me and embedded in
me the spirit of wisdom, understanding, resilience, and perseverance during my employment here at Taran County. You know, a lot of times we think we uh apply for a job. When I applied, we were still handwriting applications. Now, we
moved up to a higher technology. But I always felt that it wasn't just a job. It wasn't just a title. It was an assignment that I lined myself up with a passion to serve people no matter we
have a cultural diversity environment to serve them with dignity, respect and provide confidentiality in everything that we do. And as our department, we provide rent, mortgage, utility hygiene assistance.
And I just as I retire I reflect back on that that that's something futuristic. We have had staff previous staff we have current staff who have always been devoted to providing the services and
the needs of our community. Futuristically I would still like to see that occur for residents. Make sure that not just the precincts, not just the communities, making sure that everyone
has accessibility to services. Making sure that we understand those that have making sure they have access to mobility. if they have a mobility impairment, make sure that that's provided to them as well as
transportation because we all know that transportation is an issue in some of those areas. I would just like to see that continue whatever we can do as Taran County residents, Taran County officials to continue to see those services provided to those people who
are in so much need. Also, I would like to thank my family because they were always concerned about me when I work late hours on the weekends. Uh, my adult children, Larry, Noel, and Camille. And also my grandchildren. But most important, I had another family that I
work with. Some of them are present today and they're going to be recognized. We have Lisa Morton who's our past um immediate past director who's here with us. Michelle Hecman who's our financial assistance analyst. We have Ron Silas, Aaron Johnson, and
Eric Bonner. Those employees that are not present today or may be watching, I give them ownership for the success of this department. It's just not one person is working collectively having visionaries following the mission statement of Taran County. Thank you so
much for this recognition today. Thank you. All right. The next one is a resolution recognizing Lisa Silski for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons. Thank you. Not sure if is Lisa here, Sharon. Okay.
All right. I'm going to read her resolution into the record. This is a resolution recognizing Lisa Silski for outstanding public service. Whereas Lisa Silski, case aid in the Tarant County Human Services Department, began her
career as an administrative assistant with Tarant County on July 29th, 1985. And whereas Lisa Silski provided a high level of customer service and commitment to Tarant County patrons who entered,
called or emailed the human services department. And whereas Lisa Silski's compassionate and diligent work ethic caused her to be promoted to case aid, further serving human services clients with fairness and dedication and with
dignity and respect. And whereas Lisa Silski retired on July 31st, 2025 after working 40 years for Tarant County and for the same county department.
Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant County, do hereby celebrate Lisa Silski on her meritorious service as case aid in the Tarant County Human Services Department, and extend best wishes upon
her retirement. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and cause this the seal of Tarant County to be affixed this fifth day of August, 2025. I move approval. All right, I'll second. We have a motion
and a second uh on this. Any discussion? All right, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously. Thank you. Are we moving on to the next one then? Yes. Okay. Next one is a resolution recognizing Eric Bner for outstanding
public service. Commissioner Simmons. Is Eric here? Hey, Eric. All right. Uh whereas Mr. Eric Botner, an information verification specialist in the Tarant County Human Services
Department, began his career with Tarant County on August 24th, 1995. And whereas he will retire on September 30th, 2025 after 30 years of public service to the
Tarant County Human Services Department. And whereas Eric Botner completed a high volume of SUAPP appointments, quality reviews and ci certifications of applica applicants seeking shelter and utility assistance from Tarant County Human
Services. And whereas Mr. Botner also provided Texas Workforce Commission and the state's Department of Health and Human Services with data to assist in determining eligibility for assistance. And whereas Eric Botner worked collaboratively with families of
deceased individuals, funeral homes, and Tarant County Medical Examiner's Office to best serve those who sought assistance from the deceased poppers program. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Tarant County, do hereby recognize Mr.
Eric Botner on his outstanding service as an information verification specialist in the Taran County Human Services Department and extend best wishes for success, happiness, and good health upon his retirement.
In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of August, 2025. I move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this one? All right. All
in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. [Music] [Applause] To God be all the glory for all the things that he has done uh to this great
commissioner's court and to all of its members. is our county judge to my uh commissioner uh who met me uh here. And uh I just want to say that um being employed by Taran County has
been one of the greatest joys of my life. I always say that uh I was employed by Tarant County, but I work for the good people of Tarant County every day. Uh
my wife could not be here, neither my two adult sons. But every day when God allowed me to arise and uh be in my right mind and have the faculties of my body in proper working order, I
remembered that I'm going to work because I'm going to serve the good people of Taran County. I'm going to serve my family and to make my family proud of me and to do a good job. And uh
so it's with bittersweetness on today. I'm a sensitive kind of guy. I cry a lot. I cried at my retirement application meeting and I'm crying today because I see a
part of my life ceasing. But uh there are new opportunities that I'm not waiting for anyone else to create. I'm going to create them myself. Amen. Amen. I serve as the senior pastor of the Bethlehem Church of God in Christ, 4,400
Willer Street, Fort Worth, in the historic uh Eastwood community of Fort Worth. a vacuum will be filled. And I'm going to make sure that the underserved and possibly forgotten are going to be
served by the ministry that I lead. And I'm asking God to give me the strength, the courage, the fortitude, the resilience, and the wisdom to go forward in serving continually the good people
of Taran County. So, thank you for this time. Thank you for this opportunity. Uh Jesus did tell his disciples, "I was naked. You clothed me. I was
sick. You came to see me. I was in jail. You visited me. I was hungry. And you fed me." And they said, "Jesus, when did we see you in these particular situations?"
He said, "Well, when you saw the least of my little ones and you did it unto them," he said, "you are also doing it unto me." Yes. So, that's what I'm going to do. I'm 60
years old. until I'm 99 and a half. I'm going to keep on working for the good people of Taran County. Be blessed. Amen. The next resolution recognizes Aaron Johnson for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons.
Hey, Aaron. All right. Whereas Aaron Johnson, a social worker too in the Taran County Human Services Department, began his career with the county on September 18th, 1997.
And whereas Aaron Johnson will retire September 30th, 2025 after 28 years of service to Taran County and to its most vulnerable residents. And whereas Mr. Johnson assisted applicants
with completing documents and advocated for those with disabilities. And whereas Aaron Johnson addressed housing insecurity, preventing many families from becoming homeless by assisting with issuing
housing vouchers. And whereas Mr. Johnson also maintained families utilities, ensuring they were not disconnected. Whereas due to his outstanding and compassionate work, Aaron Johnson received thank you notes from many, many
mothers, fathers, and children. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the commissioner's court of Taran County, do hereby celebrate Mr. Aaron Johnson, his outstanding and meritorious service as social worker to, and extend
best wishes upon his retirement. and witness whereof, we have here in two set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of August 2025. Mr. Johnson, if you would come down.
I move approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. [Music] [Applause]
Thank you, judge, commissioners. Appreciate the honor. Appreciate it for working with uh Tarant County for 28 years, and I'm so grateful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. At the next resolution recognizes
Beatatric Rivas for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons. Okay. Whereas Beatatric Rivas, assistant supervisor in the Taran County Human Services Department began her career with Taran County on October 1st, 1997.
And whereas during her employment, Beatatric Rivas continued her formal education and earned a degree in social work and further became a licensed social worker. And whereas her excellent skills, professionalism, and commitment
to Taran County patrons led to her promotion to social work social worker 2 on February 19th, 2011. And 13 years later, Beatatric Rivas' leadership within the department led her uh led to her promotion to assistant
supervisor on January 20th, 2024. Whereas on July 31st, 2025, after offering 28 years of meritorious service, the Taran County Human Services Department and the residents of Taran
County, Beatatric Rivas retired. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the commissioner's court of Tarant County, do hereby celebrate Beatatric Rivas on her outstanding service as assistant supervisor in the Tarant County Human Services Department, and do extend our
best wishes for continued success, happiness, and good health. In witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of August, 2025. I move approval.
Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimous. Well, I'm assume passes unanimously. All right. Thank you. Not present. Not present.
Okay. Uh the next resolution is recognizing Mary Gutierrez for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons. Okay. Mary is not present. uh but I'm happy to uh acknowledge her outstanding public service. Whereas Mary
Gutierrez, a social worker too in the Taran County Human Services Department began her career with Taran County on June 26th, 1995. And whereas she will retire on September 30th, 2025 after working 30 years for
Taran County's human services department. And whereas for decades, Mary Gutier has assisted county residents with disabilities to access basic needs of shelter and utility
assistance. And whereas Miss Gutierrez also assisted aging adults to access utility vouchers during summer and winter months. And whereas due to her excellent skills, outstanding leadership and consistency, Mary Gutierz
was promoted from social worker one to social worker two. And whereas on June 11th, 2022, she was further promoted to assistant supervisor in the human services department. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the commissioner's
court of Tarant County, do hereby recognize Mary Gutierz on her outstanding service as assistant supervisor in the Tarant County Human Services Department, and extend best wishes for success, happiness, and good
health upon her retirement. and witness whereof we have here to set our hands and cause the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of August 2025. I move approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a
second. Any discussion here? Uh all in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. Uh the final resolution today is a resolution recognizing Ronald Salis for outstanding public service. Commissioner Simmons.
Okay. Hey, Ronald. All right. Where is Ronald Salis and administrative assistant 2 in the Tarant County Human Services Department began his career with Tarant County on December 14th, 2010.
And whereas he will retire on September 30th, 2025 after 14 years and 9 months of outstanding service to Tarant County and to its most vulnerable residents. And whereas among his most notable
achievements are the maintenance of a high volume of department case files and mail. and he processed and completed these functions with excellence and extraordinary attention to detail. And whereas Ronald Salis takes pride in his
uncommon punctuality and attendance at work for 15 continuous years now. Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Commissioner's Court of Taran County, do hereby celebrate Ronald Solless, his outstanding and meritorious service as
an administrative assistant to, and extend best wishes upon his retirement. In witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and caused the seal of Taran County to be affixed this fifth day of
August, 2025. I move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion here? All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. [Music] [Applause]
Thank you. I just want to thank Taran Town County for hiring me. I appreciate it. Um I have five years service, 15 for the county, and it's like losing part of my family. I'm going to miss him. Thank you.
Thanks, sir. All right, we are now before we move to consent, uh, we are going to take a short break. So I have that it is 10:55. Let's try to get back in here by 11:02
at the latest. We are now in recess. Okay, we are Are we live? We good? Can anybody tell Chandler, are we live? Okay. Are we always live when we soon as I do that? Okay. All right. Um,
please be patient with me today. There are a lot of speakers, but they're scattered all over and we've had several things pulled from consent. So, I will if I miss one up here, speak up and tell me I missed one, but I'll try to get it all right. Uh, we now move to the
consent, which has been heavily altered. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended? So, moved. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion on the amended consent agenda? All right. All in favor of the amended
consent agenda, uh, please raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously. Brings us to the first item of what we call the regular agenda.
That's A1, consideration of the developer awarded project agreement between Tarant County Hospital District and JT Von Construction. Yes, sir. This is just a request from JPS. Uh, as as the court's aware, per our policy, anytime a construction contract or an agreement is over half a
million dollars, that has to come to the court for final approval. This is part of the uh mental, excuse me, psychiatric emergency center project. Uh, it specifically has to do with the uh material supervision and planning for a public utility waterline improvements.
Move for approval. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second to approve this item. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Brings us to A2. Receive and file
petition for the creation of Tarant County Freshwater Supply District number three and set time and place for a public hearing for the creation of the district. Move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Um, since you're up there, would you like to chime
in with anything? Sure. I just want to state that this uh particular district uh is almost identical in procedural and structure uh to the PMBB district that was created uh approximately 6 to 8 months ago. Um this
particular property is located directly to the east of the PMBB property um and consists of approximately 322 acres. Um these districts are governed by the um water code and are a means to provide water, wastewater, infrastructure and drainage services. uh to rural or
unincorporated areas, excuse me. Um if this petition is approved today, a public hearing will be set and held on September the 3. And after that hearing, a request to formally create the district um and appointment of the board of supervisors will happen on that same date.
Okay. Anybody have any questions, comments on this agenda item? All right, seeing none, we have a motion and a second. Uh all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously. Next up is item A3, which consideration
of an order designated the frequency in which the commission court will convene in regular term during fiscal year 26. Move for approval. Uh we have a motion. I'll second that. So we have a motion and a second to
adopt this calendar. Uh we do have some speakers. Megan, are you talking about this item? Um I just I mean obviously you can see from the um court communication and the proposed calendar that this is a difference from the previous calendar and that it drops the
meeting frequency down to one meeting per month instead of two with the exceptions of August and September which is um to help gear up for the budget season process. Um and that um we took a look at the data. Um, and we also just
want to mention and remind the court that um, the ability to call special called meetings is still out there and if for some reason this schedule, proposed schedule does not work out that the court has the flexibility and the ability to revise the schedule at a later date.
Okay, any questions for Megan before I bring up speakers? What's the rationale? uh the rationale I mean again this is a proposed schedule but um intended for discussion by the court but we looked at the data from the last fiscal year and
the um court meeting schedule and made a put a calendar together that we thought was feasible. In addition to that um the current process for the agenda takes about two weeks to put together uh and that draft agenda is then obviously
given to our court members. Um, there's a new legislative change that goes into effect on September the 1st that requires the agenda to now be posted three business days in advance and not three, I'm sorry, not 72 hours in advance, which changes the posting date.
Um, so this will obviously elongate the process to make sure that uh we're able to produce items for court and that the court members have the capability to review those items before court takes place. It's three business days.
Yes, sir. We will be posting the agenda. So, if you It's three business days, you can't count 72 hours anymore. No, sir. Three business days would be Wednesday at 11:59. Yes, sir. Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. The agenda will need to be posted.
Got it. No longer Fridays. All right. Other questions or comments before speakers? I have a comment, judge. Yeah. As a member of the commissioner's court, I oppose the proposal to reduce our
regular meetings to once a month. This change would have far-reaching consequences for transparency, community engagement, and the effect of governance of one of the largest counties in the nation. Reducing the frequency of our meetings undermines
government transparency and accountability, in my opinion. Holding court only once a month limits the public's opportunity to hear del deliberations, provide input, and remain informed about decisions that impact their daily lives. It also obscures how
taxpayer dollars are being spent and how we are prioritizing county services. This proposed reduction would delay critical decisionmaking. County business is dynamic and time sensitive. Whether it's approving contracts, addressing emergency
responses, or funding critical community programs, Taran County cannot afford unnecessary delays caused by an inflexible meeting schedule. It also limits community access and engagement, and I think that that's the most important part for me. Residents rely on
regular court meetings as a platform to voice their concerns, celebrate community milestones, and hold their government accountable. Reducing these opportunities sends the wrong message that constituent voices can wait. That is not who we are and it's not how we
should serve. Furthermore, it contradicts the scale and complexity of our operations. Taran County serves over two million people and oversees health, justice, infrastructure, and public safety systems that demand consistent oversight. A monthly schedule does not
reflect the urgency or magnitude of the issues we are entrusted to manage. Let's also be honest about the privilege and responsibility of our roles as elected officials. We are well compensated to serve. Our constituents deserve more
than our presence once a month. They deserve consistent, committed, and responsive leadership. Lastly, this move sets a harmful precedent. Taran County should be leading by example, not lowering the standard for local governance. Fewer meetings will
only disrupt the work of departments that rely on timely approvals and leadership decisions. One one moment. Sorry. Who is who is jacking with this? Okay, we good, sir. Well, we're saying we're in executive
session at the moment. We keep flipping back and forth between screens. Okay. Sorry, Commissioner Miles. You're fine. Go ahead. The bottom line is this. Reducing our
meeting schedule weakens democracy, slows progress, and deprivives our residents of access to their government. It does not reflect our duty to serve. We must uphold the integrity of our offices and meet regularly to ensure that government is working for all the
people all the time. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments from the court members before our speakers? U my my question if I may judge. Yes. My question is for the auditor uh and budget. I I know last time we had
discussions about the schedule. Um largely any complication uh was or any concern was from the auditor and budget office uh about month expenditures writing checks week. So have those concerns been assuaged or
anything like that um during this process? And have y'all studied what this meeting schedule's implications? [Music] Um, we've worked with the DA's office to come up with a solution. We've expanded the order that was already in place to
allow for us to continue to process payments, especially those that may be within the 30-day period and we could be facing late fees. The other thing that we also included that with some authority that's allowed in the statute
for the budget officer to make selected appropriation adjustments and ratified later. This item is on the agenda today for y'all to vote on. It is on the consent as well. So,
so I'm willing to give it a try from the standpoint of I am regularly talking to staff about what can we do here, what can we do over there, what can we put together and it's so agenda heavy that it keeps them from
being able to go look at stuff and research stuff and come up with different ideas about how to do things including our facilities. For example, we've got constant requests for people to move from here to there and here to there. And we've got two buildings that are about to be empty. And there's one
group that wants to move and remodel this, and another group wants to move to remodel this. And we don't have an all-encompassing plan for what we should do with our facilities and our buildings, which they need time to work on. My personal duties,
uh, I'm on so many boards and commissions and things. It's one day that I'm not going to be doing something, but I think I'd like to see it knowing we have a I can call a meeting when we need to call a meeting
by law. I can call a meeting and I think I have to give I guess now it has to be three business days, not 72 hours. There are provisions of the law that allow an emergency meeting, but also three commissioners can get together to call for a meeting uh in the event that I
wouldn't call a meeting on something we need to call a meeting over. So, I'm willing to try it. I don't know if it will work, but I know there was a lot of trepidation about the first one when we went from four times a month to two
times a month and that seemed to work out uh from my perspective. So, I'm willing to give it a shot. Yeah. And Commissioner Ramirez, I think you asked the critical question. Will this impact the functionality of the county at all? And that was my big question when this was proposed. And
from what I understand, it won't. Tax assessor collector uh Barnes as well. I wanted to make sure that he was going to be okay. And it sounds like he's going to be able to do his work as well. So, and Commissioner Miles, I I share uh some of the concerns, but I don't see that this lacks transparency or
accountability or engagement. If anything, I think it more focuses it and gives people an opportunity to really understand and digest what's going to come up at every meeting. So, it's not as maybe as haphazard. Sometimes you're here for two weeks and then something else pops up two weeks. It's one time a month. You know, you're going to be
there. You know when it is, you know what the calendar is. So, some ways I think it might actually focus community engagement more than the others. But I'm also if if not everybody's willing to go along with it, it this is not a hill I'm going to die on. I just can see some efficiency and effectiveness with it.
So, the court says no, I'm happy to go to keep doing two times a week, but I'm happy to explore this as well, knowing we can come right back and undo it if it seems unworkable or we hit some roadblocks we hadn't anticipated earlier. I appreciate your comments and
I understand your position. Thank you. So it it is essential for this court to be present and available to vote on county business
and to allow the community more than one day a month. just 16 times a year to directly voice their
concerns to the body that governs this county. Um we we signed up for this. We we ran for office. Um, and on top of that, we we get paid
to handsomely to to serve you and minimizing that to one day a month in on this day is
to tell you what we've done all month is not acceptable to me. It's paramount for the public to have the opportunity to raise concerns and be heard
at the public meeting. Um, it it just doesn't serve the public interest. And furthermore, court meetings occur at 10:00 a.m. Unlike school boards and city councils.
Uh people work. Um not everybody's retired. I appreciate the all the good retirees that come down here and voice their opinion. We probably, and I said this long time ago, should be doing one of these at night uh
at the very least. But eliminating a meeting is just not it. I mean, we're meeting two days a month. Two days a month. Um,
and court uh county staff preparation is important and this will require even more from staff um on more policy and procedural issues in shorter time periods than previously
considered. Um this will lead to longer court meetings, longer wait times for vendors who proposed on a project or um supplies or whatever to learn the
results of um their bid. Um longer wait times for vendors to get paid. Um, and really when this was proposed going to two meetings a month, this county staff literally
freaked out. Um, we showed you how it could work. It worked. One meeting is that's a bridge too far. All right. Anybody else before we bring up speakers? All right. Bishop Kirkland is first.
Following Bishop Kirkland is Katherryn Godby. Where is uh where is their clock? Where do they see a clock? Right there. Okay. Preposterous. Unacceptable. Because you need to do building
maintenance and building repair. Ridiculous. Each of you make over 200k a month. You just gave yourselves a 3%
cost of living raise in October and forgot about a lot of people in this room who didn't get one, of course, but the sheriff office did, but that's another subject later. You can't listen to your constituency
for twice a month making $224,000 a month a year. A year. Thank you. You know this. We know it's a horse and pony show, but at least appease us.
I don't want to hear how much time it makes to develop this schedule. We pay you people and we pay you good money. This is insane. It's ugly and it's disrespectful. What are you people doing? All the
software we hear every meeting. How much we pay for software and you can't use all this fancy software to go next door and knock and say we need to get this item together. The sheriff doesn't even come to this meet and he makes 218k a
year. The last meeting we had, we were here till almost 3:00. The very last meeting, my daddy's call it supper time. We gonna be here past supper time to breakfast time if we move to once a month.
This is disrespectful. It's wrong. It's a cloak. It's a cover up. And it makes it easy for you not to look at our not just don't listen to us. I'm past that. That ain't my point. I'm like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. My point
ain't to change you. My point is to cry out because one day you going to stand before the master and he going to say, "What did you do for the least of these?" I understand what you're doing for the greater of the car county. But the question is going to be asked, when
I was hungry, pastor, you didn't feed me. When I was sick from mental disease, you put me in the county jail and killed me. So now we're at the place where what little bit you've left in our hands, now
you've taken that away. And then you tell us, "Boy, I take that and go over there and sit on the box and be happy. This negro ain't happy. I think it's wrong. I think it's disrespectful. And each of you should be ashamed. And
if it takes you three days to create agenda, take three days to complete." Miss Godby. Following Miss Godby is Harriet Herold. Uh I've been coming to this court for three years since August of 2022.
I uh really don't like coming here, but it's something that I feels important to do. The first three words of the preamble to the United States Constitution are we the people.
Those three words affirm that the government exists to serve its citizens, not the other way around. This feels like an anti-democratic move. I can't help but be a little cynical about it.
Is it because you find it unpleasant to hear from the public? If so, that would make perfect sense. I can imagine that it is unpleasant at times, but as has been mentioned, you do make the big bucks.
I don't think the Fort City Council makes anywhere near what you bring in, and they meet publicly quite a bit. I'm thinking that facing unpleasant things might be part of the job description for a quarter of a million dollars almost.
We're supposed to hold you accountable, the public is, but it's really hard to do at Taran County because you make everything difficult. You make it very opaque to get any information. I'm told that San
Antonio is having a budget a series of budget town halls and what a great idea, but I probably don't see that happening here in Tarant County. A friend said that meeting monthly really seems like
something a small rural county would do. A county that didn't have a lot going on. It wasn't very busy. This is just a move in the wrong direction. I have no respect for what you're trying to do here.
Uh Dr. Harold is next following Dr. Harold Leavon Cochril. I'm speaking today as a Tarant County resident and stakeholder as defined in our county's mission and vision statements. Let me read them for you.
Our mission is to work collaboratively with our external and internal stakeholders to improve the satisfaction of residents and businesses through the effective and efficient provision of services and the vision to be financially
responsible with county resources and efficient in service delivery. We commit to a culture of innovation, excellence, and transparency while providing the highest level of customer service to Tarant County
residents and businesses. Choosing to reduce commissioner court meetings to just one per month runs counter to both of these. It is not collaborative. It does not improve resident satisfaction and it is
certainly not transparent or serviceoriented. The court communication for this proposal contains not one word of justification, no rationale, no costbenefit analysis,
no explanation of impact. In the absence of that, let me offer what many residents now perceive. That the majority of this court is trying to distance itself from the public. That citizen input is seen as inconvenient
rather than essential. That decisions are being made behind closed doors. and that the majority thinks it can act in unilaterally without the input of all elected commissioners or the people they represent.
When, for instance, did Commissioner Miles and Commissioner Simmons first learn of this proposal? And why was it something that so significantly limits citizen engagement and was introduced without warning and scheduled
for a vote on the very day that the public first knows about it? Why do you do this to yourselves? It's not good governance. It's not responsive. It's not transparent. And it's not fair. It raises a serious question for the people
of Tarant County. Are you truly serving us or are you simply shielding yourselves from us? Is Leavon Cochril present? We don't have a spillover room, do we?
Okay. All right. Next is Michael Bell. Following Mr. Bell is Janet Matter. One of this country's most trusted newspapers has the headline, "The America we knew is rapidly slipping
away." Some might question the truth of that claim. But what's irrefutable is that here in our own backyard, the Tarant County we knew is rapidly being laid to rest under your leadership, Deacon O'Hare. Buried beneath broken
trust, incessant bullying, bad faith, and backroom deals cloaked in procedural respectability. This proposal to reduce public meetings of this commissioner's court should ring every alarm bell for the residents and
taxpayers of Taran County of all stripes, regardless of political affiliation or ideology. Is this really an intelligence test? a calculated push by you, Manny and Matt, to see just how far you can stretch the envelope in an
effort to gauge just how much disrespect, how much disregard the people of Taran County are willing to tolerate before we finally push back. What you're advocating isn't about efficiency, it's about evasion. It's not streamlining governance. It's
suppressing accountability. And it's rooted in false and hubristic in the false and hubristic assumption that this court under your divisive leadership has earned the public trust. You haven't. Not by a long shot. And if this passes
let history record that when transparency died in Taran County, it didn't slip away quietly. It was strangled in broad daylight in full group view of the people and at the hands of those who were elected to serve them. According to the fiscal year 2025
budget, the county judge's annual salary exceeds $224,000, not including benefits, allowances, longevity pay, or state reimbursements. And if we come down here and stand before y'all while y while you insult, berate, and treat us like children
without getting paid, you mean to tell me that you can't sit and hear our concerns maybe 24 days out of a 365 day year? Shame on you for this proposal to a bridge freedom of speech and restrict our constitutional right to
petition the government for a redress of grievances. You may dress it up in bureaucratic language, but we see it for what it is, an attempt to silence dissent and suppress the voice of the people. Yes. Uh, Miss Matter present. Following Miss
Matter is Adrienne Smith. Hello, my name is Janet Matern. I am the president of the League of Women Voters of Tarant County. I am here to oppose the proposed reduction of Tarant County Commissioner's Court public meetings. Reducing the frequency of public
meetings is an ill advised move that threatens to erode public trust, diminish transparency, and curtail meaningful public access to county government. The proposed reduction from 24 meetings a year to just 12 stands in
dark contrast to the previously established precedent held when they held weekly meetings to provide greater citizen access, engagement, and oversight. Public meetings are the cornerstone of an open government. They
offer resident, stakeholders, and county employees a regular forum to voice meetings, sorry, voice concerns. receive updates and hold elected officials accountable. Fewer meetings limit these critical
opportunities, distancing the public from the decisions that shape their daily lives. When the frequency of public meetings are contra curtailed, so is the transparency that is essential for good governance in particular in a
fast growing county like Tarant County. According to the survey of Texas Association of Counties, Tarant County elected leaders are the highest paid leaders in our state.
With such compensation comes the expectation of diligence, accessibility, and responsiveness to the public. A standard that is undermined by making the court less available to the people you serve. The proposed reduction in
public meetings is contrary to the best interests of Tarant County citizens. It diminishes the court's accountability, restricts public access, burdens county staff, and could ultimately lead to increased costs. I urge I'm sorry for the sake of transparent, effective, and
participatory government, I urge that the commissioner's court maintain a robust schedule of public meetings and uphold the principles of openness and service for which this county should stand. Thank you.
Thank you, Adrien Smith. Adrien Smith, I am one with the people. First, I would like to say greetings to each of you and your perspect in your perspective uh places. Um I would like to open up uh by beginning to first I
want to thank uh one of you all, one of the staff that's part of this part of what you all do here, Miss Kendall. I want to say thank you, Kendall, for your professionalism, time, and consideration for helping me to get signed up to speak. It was right at the last moment, but I picked that phone up and she we
worked it out. So, I I just want to say shout out to Miss Kendall. Thank you for helping me to get signed up. Um, this is one of the things that came across across my radar that I wanted to speak to. I'll be brief. Now, the transparency part, a lot of individuals that spoke to. Most of my time, I fight
is down at city hall. So, I'm not going to spend uh too much time up here. Uh but the transparency aspect, I get it. Um one thing about the transparency I get in this space is that it it is it's like night and day. You all like
the night. I mean, you all are like the day and it's like night time down there in city hall. So, thank you for that that type of transparency where we able to sign up for as much as we want to sign up to speak on and you allow us to speak speak on these items. you know that has been stripped from us. So, uh
there are voices here that have been coming longer than longer than I have. They spoke to the transparency and uh I give great respect to those individuals. Uh future meetings, uh Commissioner Simmons already spoke on future meetings. That was one of my questions. Will meetings be longer? If if you go to
this particular new uh schedule idea, uh my four point reference is uh giving voice to uh giving voice to this particular agenda item which each of each of you have. So thank you for that. You all have given voice to this issue. So we know where you stand on it. Well
to the people to the people to the people to the people who come here week after week uh giving their voice to the issues. Should this should this become should this get adopted, please? There will be a vacuum down at city hall that
you all can come to. I'm telling you, they have day meetings. So, when there's not a day meeting here at this particular uh court, should this get adopted, please come down to city hall. Your voices are needing your presence as
well. So, thank you on that. Uh, oh, Commissioner Simmons brought up the pay the pay the pay aspect. Should pay decrease across the board, not just with you all, but across the board if we're going to change to me. That's just something hypothetically throwing out
there. And last but not least, uh, again, the dayight aspect of things. Thank you all for, uh, it's like a welcoming environment here, you know. U, I see a lot of things. I hear a lot of things, but you know, you know, I'm still trying to get used to coming down
here. So, thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, that's our last speaker. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any further discussion from the court members? All right. Seeing none, all in favor of
the motion, please raise your hand. All oppose, please raise your hand. Okay. The motion carries three to two. Brings us to item A4, which is consideration of outofstate travel requests.
Do we have a motion on this? Approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion here? All right. Seeing none, please cast your vote. Oh, no. We don't do that anymore. Uh, all in favor, raise your hand.
Thank you very much. It passes unanimously. All right. Now we are adding item B1 from consent. B1 is archives consideration to de
accession items from the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau collection of the Tarant County Archives. Uh yeah, thank you. So we have one speaker on that, Bishop Kirkland. Morning. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, I I just, you know, I don't
know if most people are aware of how much money this county and forward in particular, we have some of we have one of the best zoos. We have the best museums and there's a whole lot of money
in tourism for Taran County. And I really didn't want to talk to you. I wanted to talk to the constituency and say to them the way that we really fight back is interrupt that cash flow. All right. We have on this item B1
consideration to de accession items from Fort Worth Convention Visitors Bureau collection. I will move to approve. Second. We have a motion, a second. Any discussion on this item? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand.
All right, passes unanimously. Five to zero. Next, we go to item C2 from consent. Item C2 is receive and file the auditor's report for the cash and other remittances control review of the public
health department. I don't have a speaker signed up for that. That's me. I pull that. I do. No, this is C2. That was me. Oh, okay. It um so just a quick question. The bis the
business office indicated that um revisions to the cash management policy manual are currently in progress. Since that manual has not been updated since November 2012,
are we on schedule to distribute the updated manual to all public health offices by September 30th? I believe uh Helen and I spoke this morning and they are on track for October one.
[Music] Okay. I'll check back in a couple months. Okay. Thank you. That's all I have. All right. Do we have a motion on this item? So move. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve uh to receive and file the auditor's report. Uh any further
discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Now we go to C5, which does have a speaker. C5 is receive and file the Tarant County financial statements for
the 9-month ended June 30th, 2025. I will move to receive and file. Do we have a second? All right, we have a second. All right. Discussion before the speaker. [Music] Speaker is Bishop Kirkland. You know, I often call this meeting the
horse and pony show. is because of some of the actions or lack thereof we take in this room. And I looked over it and I kept looking and trying to really understand it once I opened it up
because I know that our county judge says that he wants to eliminate it. Eliminate all remote employees. I kept looking for people who this particular person initials and I don't want to say their name is JJ
who lives all the way in California and makes 182K and she's a part-time employee and I kept trying to find her salary because we don't talk
about it in commissioner's court because it's a part-time position. So, I was just curious where is their salary or how do we find it in this this this report that I kept looking at? And
I stumbled upon another person. Her initials are MJ who lives at least three three hours away from here and makes 159K and she's listed as a part-time employee. And I was trying to find in
your report, how do we locate her her her salary be? And and that's why I often call it the horse and pony show because the
scriptures say, "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." And you guys are good at that. Y'all y'all perfected it and you made these things like a maze. We don't we should meet once a year because by the time you get through
putting the fluff on it and we read it, we don't we don't understand what we're reading because we would think as constituents before we paid somebody almost 200k that lives all the way in California who are not even paying taxes in the state of
Texas. And we don't know where the money people being taxed from. And and some of y'all look at me like, "What what is he talking about?" So So maybe it's the big three that knows all of this. Maybe maybe it's it's the big three because obviously you're reading
the same reports we're reading and it's a facade at best. It doesn't really cover where all the money is going. I just want to say, "Show me the money." Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for for your time and
attention. Thank you. We have a motion and a second on C5. Any further discussion or any discussion? I I have a question. What's he talking about? I would have to look it up. I I I wrote down the initials, but I I'd have to
look into that to see what the comments are about. What's he talking about, Helen? There are positions that are uh in the human resources department that are contractual actually uh positions.
Uh one is a compensation coordinator. I don't know who. MJ I don't remember that one. So they're contract positions. They're not county they're not county employees. They're contracts. The only reason they're set up as a substitute position is to allow them to be able to get in
our system and do their work. Are they paid retirement benefits? They're contractual uh employees. No, they're not. Okay. Are they do they pay income taxes for this in Texas or is it just California?
Does the county take any money out of this check that's goes their way or is it just purely the one? We we get them from an agency. So the agency that con that we contract with, okay, actually takes care of all of that stuff. And this is part of you trying to clean up HR. Okay.
So MJ is Michelle Johnson. She's my learning and development professional. And then Jennifer Jones is my compensation and total rewards professional. These people live elsewhere. Well, one is here. JJ or Michelle
Johnson is here in Texas. Does she live in the metroplex? No. So these are remote positions. They are reverse commutes like myself where they live somewhere else but they work here. You don't live here.
I live I my main home is down in Bertrram and I have a temporary home here in Little Elm that I commute in Ray Burst meeting because I love Tarant County. So
JJ and MJ uh one moment Commissioner Simmons. So I just have a question. I was still Yeah. asking question. I'm trying to keep us in line with the law. I'm I'm just one moment. You'll get to go back to your question. Are we discussing something we
can sit here and discuss under the open meetings law sitting here right now? Because I have questions about it also. Uh the short answer is yes because the the action that is being taken right now is just to receive and follow this report. So as long as you're talking about the report, you're well within the agenda item.
Thank you. Okay. Just to clarify, these two positions are contract 1099. Contract 1099. And they're in our system as part-time so that they can access the things they
need to do the work. Okay. And they are both remote. Well, one reverse commutes like I do, so she's here in the office. Um, Commissioner Miles could speak to that. She's working with him quite a bit. Um,
and the other one is completely remote. And the salaries are 180Kish and 159K. This is what we pay them through the service. Yes. This is what we're build. Is it a one-year contract? to your
contractor. We we h we awarded this contractor so we can have them as long as I need them through the contract service. But the the sal the $180,000 is that annual. So if you decide to keep
them two and a half years, yes, that's an annual rate. Yes. Oh, all right. You're about to get rid of my staff, but Okay. Interesting. All right. Any other questions from the court?
I I would just recommend going forward. Um maybe you put a footnote in there that this is a professional service contract and not an employee. I can absolutely understand why it's it's murky. Um if there's a concern there, but if it's a professional services
contract, make sure it's designated as such in the report. Thanks. All right. Any other questions or comments from the court? This is C5. We have a motion and a second to receive and file. All in favor of receiving and
filing, please raise your hand. All opposed. Are you are you So it's 4 with one abstension. Uh next we go to item D1, budget and
risk management consideration to adopt a partnership model to support human services in Tarant County. Move for approval. Um, all right. I'll second. Hello.
So, our recommendation during the budget process has been we've been looking at various departments, uh, various ways to save money, various ways to get services uh, that are already budgeted for into
the community uh, completely. So, our recommendation from the budget office is that we eliminate the human services department, set up the services for utility assistance and rental assistance at $2 million with a $300,000
additional administrative cost for whoever receives this grant. So, 2.3 million will be made available. So there therefore this $2 million that we are hoping to get into the community 100% is will still be available. This is being
set up as it is being proposed to to you to the court uh to set it up as a grant and outside uh nonprofit or for-profit whichever one is the best uh candidate and applies for
the uh requests for pro program to be awarded to. Um the the also the recommendation that we're presenting to you is that an advisory committee be set up appointed by each one of the court members to
score the candidates who apply for the $2 million so that we can continue the services within the county. So, can you tell us more about tell the public more about why this was proposed and specific numbers on cost savings and
dollars going where and so currently we have so I'll go back to precoid COVID and postcoid there was a lot of money that was on the table for rental assistance and so when we did our investig did our research on it we
looked all the way past precoid so we could look and see what was out there. Historically, we uh budgeted $2 million in the human services department and repeatedly on the average for the p past eight years, they left $994,000
on the table of services that were not given to our community. So, our looking at that and putting the $2 million back on the table again so that the um are continuing to put the $2 million on the table so that someone from the outside
community who already does this program or outside the county in the community that already already does this program and is set up to continue to provide these services. hopefully getting all $2 million out the door to our services so that we can continue to assist with
rental and and uh utility assistance. So, I want to see if I have this correct and if I have anything wrong, speak up. So, if this is passed, this is going to eliminate the Department of Human Services in Tarant
County. Correct. Yes, sir. Okay. It's going to put $1 million additional dollars over and above what's there now to serve people in need. Is that accurate? It is to get into the hands. We have
historically budgeted $2 million only. Uh they the human services department has not uh been able to process $2 million out the door. And so we're hoping that by changing this method, an additional $1 million will get to the
hands of the community. So your hope is that $1 million over and above what's getting into the community now to help people in need with rental assistance, utility bills, and the like is what will result from passing this? Yes, sir.
Okay. And in addition to that, there's a savings to the taxpayers of almost 1.8 8 million. Say it again. Is it almost 1.8 million? Yes, sir. Okay. So, um
the people how many total people are affected by this? So there's 25 positions, but as you've heard today, there are numerous of them that are eligible to retire and will be have either already retired, the director and the assistant director retired pro prior
to this recommendation. Uh then we have others who have retired and you heard today that some are retiring effective November um September 30th. Uh and our the plan that we have put in place would be that on 101 vacant positions would be
eliminated from the county. On 111 half stop for a second. So on 101 vacant positions inside this department would be eliminated. Yes sir. And I would only assume at this point there is some kind of freeze or you
can't go hire them between now and October one until I have uh recommend talking about if this passes they're not they're not gonna be allowed to hire someone next week who gets knocked out on October one if the court passes this. Yes.
And how many current openings are there now? Um so openings I think there's only like four or five available right now. And there's 25 positions. 25. Are you saying that there are 20 people
that are currently employed? Uh, four of them, the ones that came today are retiring effective September the 30th. Is that the four or five positions or does that take the number down to 16? It takes the number down to 16. Yes, sir.
Okay. And my understanding is the county was going to try to find a spot inside the county for anyone who wished to remain with the county. Yes. Is that accurate? and what has been what
has happened so far. What we encourage is for the employees that are looking for other uh Tarant County positions to apply for those positions and to notify the HR office so that we can ensure that they get on the eligibility list and we want to
communicate to hiring managers that they need to be a preference. We want people to have an opportunity to interview. Okay. So I want to if this passes I want to make this clear from my perspective. I I I do not want Tarant County to go keep someone employed who doesn't do
their job. So this is and I I don't know if there's 16 people that do their job exceptionally well or there's 14. I don't know. Would have no way of knowing. So this is not a go make sure everyone gets a job even if they're not doing their job. But for those who are
doing their job and show up and do what they're supposed to do, uh I want if this passes us to find a way to help them if they want to stay in the county. If not, I want to make sure they have access to
anything and everything we can legally do from um resume services, whether that's us or we pay for it uh outside Tarant County, job interview coaching, every tool that
you can find from an HR perspective to help place these folks. And if that means hire an agency to do it uh to help place them for those who want that assistance, I would want to see that also. Uh and if we do this the right way, and I'm going to get back to you
here in one second on the 101. If we do this the right way, everybody that wants a job and wants Tarant County's help should be able to find one in a relatively short time frame if they haven't already. Question for you now on the 101.
Eliminate positions that are no longer uh filled. All right. What's the next step? The next step would then be on 10 uh 111. We would look at how well the scoring of the uh RFP uh we would hope would be completed and
already out on the street by 101. Uh that's why we're presenting it to you now so that we can go ahead and get this uh taken care of. uh and it would be on the street by 101 and the new uh process would be in place and we would only be keeping the employees on to work through
the applicants and uh contracts that we already have in place and so it would be half of them would be moving off on 111 and then the other half would be one uh January 1 of 2026. Okay. All right. Those are all the questions I have.
I have some questions. Yes, sir. Helen, thank you for providing this update to us. I have several questions. It's not a reflection on you. It's just for clarification for my benefit and the benefit of the individuals who are in
the room. Um, what portion of the department's current 4.5 million budget goes directly to financial assistance versus administrative costs? So, it's two million. 2 million will go out into the community. We have added an
additional 300,000 to cover the administrative cost. You're asking current. Yeah. Yeah. Currently answer currently. Oh, sorry. Would you ask a question again then? Okay. Currently, what portion of the department's 4.5 million budget goes
directly to financial assistance versus administrative cost? What actually goes out the door is approx just a little bit less than a million dollars. Right at a million dollars for the four point over $4 million. A million is going to services. And what about the administrative costs?
Well, it would be uh the salaries and it would be all it would be the uh 2 3.8 million. Uh now let me back up. 500,000 of that is approximately uh deceased popper burials which is going over which
has already uh by a court action gone over to the ME's office. How much again for administrative salaries? How much number? I don't have the entire if it's 4,800 uh 4.8 million uh then a million is going
out for services. Approximately 500,000 is going out for deceased proper burials. And the remaining is is the administrative cost to do the business between the salaries, the supplies, education, dues,
postage. Okay. Under this proposal, are are we moving the entire $4.5 million currently budgeted to partners to provide financial assistance? No, sir. Why not? Uh because again when I was doing our research when we were doing our research
in the budget office, we were trying to find savings within the county so we could continue to uh streamline our services that we're um presenting to the community. Do you know how many individuals and
families were served by the Department of Human Services last fiscal year? Yes, sir. So in the special utilities program in FY24, 879 applied, 393
uh were supported. In FY25, again under the special utilities program, 646 applied, 399 as of July 28th were supported for rental assistance in FY24.
9,189 applied. Uh 353 were supported in 2025. To date, well, as of July 28th, 6,726
had applied and 292 had been supported. So, we had 9,89 people apply for rental assistance and we were only able to provide 353 to support
through various reasons. Okay. Yes. 353 were supported by human services. That's that's a large discrepancy in my view. Uh, and I'm sure that there were
reasons that are policy related and things of that nature, guidelines related. Um, but that's concerning. Um, in the information that you provided, the graph on page five demonstrates that
approximately 7.5 million was unspent between 2018 and 2025. Yes, sir. May I ask what happened to those funds? they would go back in as cash and go back into the uh to to uh either do the
reserves support the reserves undesated or capital pro uh items requested by the county. So it goes back goes back into the money left over at the end that we only use cash for specific items.
Okay. If the court were to move forward with the proposal, what specific guard rails would we put in place to ensure transparency and accountability transpar I'm thinking let me help just to help her there a little bit. So absolutely as part of the
grant like a lot of the grants that we get from the federal government they put certain metrics and reports in there that are required in order to receive the funding. I imagine we would do something similar in this situation where we'd have key performance metrics or things like that that we would require of whatever vendor or
organization has chosen to provide these services. Okay. So, thank you. Under the PFP, the it says uh under monitoring if that's what you're referencing. So, uh, what we have put together so far for the RFP, again,
until the advisory committee is established for them to review this also, it's still just a draft product, but it says Tarant County will conduct monitoring reviews in accordance with the notice, Tarant County may contract additional reporting requirements in alignment with budget and risk management and audit needs and objective
as and objectives as detailed in the service agreement. So, it is lined out in the content of the proposal. uh this would be a reimbursement. So they would be required just like any other grant that we majority of all the grants that we have. Uh they would have to send in a
a request for reimbursement at the end of the month and it would then be paid out if they met uh the requirements with the uh in their RFP. Um do we have any idea and Helen you may have an answer to this or Chandler we
may not. What criteria are we using to select and vet the nonprofit partners and will that process be open to public scrutiny or public participation? Well, it would be the advisory committee that would be appointed by this this
court. Um so there is in here it's the funding announcement. Uh it is categories of assistance that we would include and so it would be crisis, disabled, unemployed, new to job, disaster, special utilities
assistance program which we do currently and training assistance program. Those are the items that are on the uh request for proposals at this moment. Again, it is a draft uh until the committee the advisory board is comm uh uh selected so that they can also review.
And if I may to add to that commissioner, all roads lead back to the commissioner's court. So any final agreement that would be up for consideration by this court, this court would have to be comfortable with it in order to pass it. And as part of our typical uh publication of documents, you
would see the entire agreement in there so the public could review it as well. Okay. Uh has have we identified any national best practices or models from other counties that have successfully transitioned to a nonprofit service
delivery model? So what we were looking at was internally we have this program these programs already uh exist within housing and community development. Uh some of public health are set up this way. So we looked internally to see what
we were doing that we thought was uh successful and that's what we are uh uh modeling this after. Okay. Um, can we share those examples to the public so they can review them? Those best practice models that we have
from community development, public health, and the other one that you referenced, housing, housing. Yeah. Is it possible to share those best practices with community members so that they can see what's working efficiently and effectively?
I think it may be online. I can't say that. It's on It's available online. Okay. All right. Um, looking through the rest of my question, what impact analysis has been done to evaluate the potential disruption in
service delivery during the transition period? So, we that is why we're leaving staff on. Uh, the intent was to leave them on all along so that we could transition off and transition on the SUAP contracts. uh roughly go between uh
February, March, somewhere in that I can't remember the exact date, but they go through December. And that's why we're recommending it not be until January 1, so that we can continue those current contracts. Uh special utilities assistance program, sorry. And that's that program that goes
throughout the entire year, correct? They they are when they apply, they are uh awarded it for a specific amount of time. And so it's it they don't have to reapply every single month. Now they will have they it does shut down after
December. They do reapply uh and then they're set back up for approximately a 9-month period where their utilities are paid. Okay. So that's my last question and my final comment would be the reason why I asked those questions was so that the community can have a better
understanding of the thought process that went behind uh sunsetting if you will the human services department. They can hear in real time how much money was getting out and how much money was being left over.
Um and I want them to be able to have feedback. I want the community to be informed. It's important that we're transparent with the processes that we are recommending and the pro and the practices that we implement. Um I would
love to see some uh public participation in the group that we're assembling to identify um the nonprofit entity that will be ultimately if this is approved
distributing those funds. I think there needs to be some public participation on some level. We need to figure that out. But um those are my questions and thank you court members for the the privilege and the time to speak. Okay. So there are financial practical
and philosophical issues with a proposed elimination of Taran County Human Services Department and this outsourcing plan. So for the audience, um, human services department
provides a critical lifeline for thousands of our most vulnerable citizens, offering direct financial assistance with um, rental assistance, utility payments,
uh, some basic transportation needs, hygiene needs, and those experiencing unforeseen crisis. is and many of us
um humans live paycheck to paycheck. Human services department often serves as the last line of defense uh from homelessness against eviction, utility disconnections,
and removing the safety net will push more people into crisis. and transitioning those services to external nonprofits will inevitably lead to significant delays and disruption in service
delivery during a crucial time uh for those in need. So, I'm just going to tell you what what I think this is. The the budget director's proposal
represents reelection campaigndriven costcutting disguised as efficiency reform with no there. You've heard her attempt to answer these questions
with no evidence-based analysis to support elimination over improvement. fix the department. So your claim is that this creates financial inefficiencies within
assistance focused departments. The reality is this elimination is not efficiency. True efficiency would be to improve operations uh to serve more people at a lower cost,
not abandon the mission entirely. Start by updating the 1990s era policy and procedures. If you take the time to go over and talk to the
people in human services, you will hear what they're up against. They have to deny, deny, deny, deny people after they've gone through a lengthy process.
um application process. So, we've got to update our policy and procedure. Those assistant director, director, employees that have been here for 40 years, 30 years, 20 years, they will tell you
outdated policy that no court member goes talks to them. They get one assistant um county administrator Um, nobody's been over there in years to
talk to them about the problems and what they're facing in that department. Um, human services is clearly understaffed. Um, when you have 21 people handling 500
plus requests for assistance a week, that's a problem. That's a that's a that's a large workload. You have the technological systems now in Taran
County. We will come up with some homemade software, but we will not go and buy this stuff tried and true software off the shelf used by other counties. Um a a a better approach would be to
invest 500,000 in technology um upgrades and adequate staffing to achieve national ben benchmarks at 65 cents to 75 cents per dollar distri distributed
try to fix nobody's tried your claim is that you're increasing the amount of funding to support Taran County's most vulnerable able residents. The reality is that's mathematical slight of hand. That's what that is, Helen.
You're not you're not increasing help. You're hoping outside agencies can stretch dollars while eliminating direct county responsibility. So in that um
only 800,000 in direct assistance dispensed. So they've got 2 million. They only give out about a million. Correct. Is that that's what you said? Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes, ma'am. It is does that include
the grants and donations from Encore Reliant at so they're actually giving out more correct that we so for utility assistance. Yes. The money that is given to them by a specific utility company
that they have to use it for that a customer that has that service. Yes. Okay. Okay. But of the of that's I'm talking about the money the county gives to the department to get out into the public. I understand. But we should not be
misleading. So I don't know how much we get in utility grants and assistance. I know that they're frequently on the agenda for approval. Correct. Donations. But but tell the whole truth. We're not just giving out, we haven't just given
out a million or 800,000. Um, that is only for utility assistance, not rental assistance. Okay. But it's human services. Correct. All right. So, just tell tell the tell the truth. Um, so
there's no evidence that 2 million in outsource services will serve more people. I talked to you about this in my office than the current one point or one million in direct assistance. Um, no needs assessment has been conducted to
determine if 2 million is adequate for a county of 2.2 million people. $2 million if we give it to um a nonprofit or for-profit in a county this size, that's not really significant.
And who h who's measured the need in Taran County has this county. Well, human services has only given out a million dollars. So, I look at that as part of the need that uh they are putting out. So, I could this is doubling the money that is currently
being going out the door. So to avoid I20 this morning, I came in up uh Rosedale, then switched over to Lancaster, and I looked at the people on the side of the streets with the shopping carts and just meandering
along. And I wonder, does that person know about Tarant County? Does that person know that Tarant County Human Services can assist them? does that person what have we ever done with regard to outreach with regard to
marketing uh to let people know that these services exist? So there is a MHMR has Tarant Care's website which is also 211. If you call that number or go on to their website the very first reference
they give is Tar County Human Services and we're eliminating the department. Okay. And they only were giving answer the question. Yeah. Okay. And so, um, no needs assessment has been conducted to determine if 2 million is even enough
for a county 2.2 million. There's no guarantee that community partners have the capacity to handle current demand plus unmet need because we haven't gone out for requests for programs. I think you told me.
Yeah, we have not done that yet. I I cannot go out until the commissioner votes on this. Okay. And this was supposed to be a part of the budget, correct? But it was now we bringing it forward to today instead of next Thursday. Okay.
It's only one week up. So you you claim a partnership model replicates successful models in other county departments. So comparing temporary program assistance
to other county functions is fundamentally flawed because community development and public health partnerships, they supplement county services is what it looks like from the five meager pages that you put
together. They don't replace core county functions, they supplement them. um assistance requires immediate response capability that outsource partnerships may not be able to guarantee. Um other
departments maintained internal capacity while adding community partnerships. So saying that you know you're replicating a successful model these would be two different things. You claim the RFP process
ensures proper vendor selection and oversight. Reality, the RFP process you described as critical gaps that expose taxpayers and residents to risk. That was that that was not a
a complete description of what the RFP process would be. Um, you you had no transition plan when you first brought this to me. I'm not sure about what No, ma'am. I I explained the
transmission transition plan to you when I met with you with all of your staff in your office. Okay. But you and I talked a couple times on the phone before that because you kept cancelling the meetings that I was trying to get with you so that I could explain this to you in a in a uh same time I was explaining it to
the other court members. Okay. So, um, you tried to go there, but you sent me an agenda that was a list with not one bit of data.
That's correct. And so I had my scheduler to get with you and before I scheduled a meeting for you to come with a a list of tw 12 a list in one piece of paper, half sheet of
paper with no data, no documentation. That's not how you run a county. It's not how you run a county budget department. So you had to get me some data before we data to you that I supplied to everyone else.
I'm not talking about everybody else. That's that's why Well, when you met with me, but I had to push you for it. No, ma'am. It was already prepared. Well, you didn't send it when you sent the No, ma'am. I did not send it to anybody else. Well, let me get Let's We're off topic.
Um, so there's there was no transition plan when I first talked to you twice via phone. Um, now we've got a sloppy transition plan.
Um, with no guarantee that new partnerships will be ready in the first October, November. When's the when's that last month you plan to
January of people? Um, how will clients be informed about alternative services now that Taran County services are going to be phased out? The nonprofits that would re that would
actually meet the requirements already have a system set up and already would be uh having having outreach to the community that they would be servicing. And in addition to that, again, we would contact MHMR
through Tarant Cares and the 211 to make sure that we updated whatever this uh the nonprofit that was uh selected by this court. Okay. So our current participants how will they the ones that the human service
well the current the ones that so you're talking about SUAP because that would be the ones that we are already servicing on a continuous basis and that is in the request for uh the um uh pro uh program to make sure that they continue on with
the SUAP. That is something that we're wanting to continue on. So, and their contract ends in December. So, that would be through and then they would just apply and that would be for their new uh time frame. Uh we would be
again staff some staff will be staying on till January. And so that last month I I'm going to make an assumption that they would be telling their clients who the new uh organization was that was doing this.
Okay. So, these folks won't you're saying this just the Sue folks won't be affected at all by this. I You're I can't promise that no one will not be affected. The intent is that they will
not be affected. Well, you specifically you specifically pointed out the Sue recipients because that is a contract that goes through December. Okay. So January they won't be they'll or December from here to December
they'll be fine. Um will partners and community organizations that refer individuals for rent and utility assistance they will be notified about the cessation. Right. I I'm sorry I didn't hear what you asked. the uh partners and community
organizations like you said, United Way refers the fir 211 the first MHMR and MHMR stands up Tarant County Cares 211 they will immediately after this vote they will immediately be notified of the cessation of this
we will start the process if this is approved by the court we will start the process immediately all All right. Um, so you're saying in this your document, your plan that one month from RFP
issuance to deadline that is sufficient. That is the normal time that that is given to I have to go and look at it. Sorry. So yes. So we're saying the release date of
August 22nd. The RFP deadline would be September 12th. Uh September 19th, we would review and the committee would review and score. Uh October one would be the elimination of the vacant positions. October 7th, consideration to approve community partners contracts by
commissioner court. Again, that would be depending on the date that court met for their uh approval of whoever was awarded. uh and then the by January 1st the final uh remaining force uh human
services force would be uh have a reduction in force. Okay. So all right and you're saying there'll be a one month from RFP to deadline. Then there will be a review process and a committee process. And at
some point 3 four months down the road we will have identified a nonprofit or forprofit. The advisory committee will be scoring the uh requests. But you you know because you've been
here a while and you know how purchasing works and you know what RFP processing. This doesn't go through purchasing. Okay. But you know what RFP processes. That's a request for purchase. This is a request for programs instead of like grants. Okay. But RFP processes are RFP
processes, right? They take time. It's just a matter of it going onto the street and the whoever wants to participate uh applying for it. Okay. And we give them a deadline. And again, this puts it on the this this brings it
back one week. So October uh August 22nd doesn't have to be the start date. As I said, if the court approves this, we can start the process immediately. Okay. Uh Commissioner Miles addresses performance metrics. they they're
undefined in your your plan. Um I think Chandler touched on this. I definitely like I think we all would like to see performance metrics uh for whoever I have them here to pass out. Okay. Uh been nice to have them two
weeks ago. Uh your claim that county staff would work directly with community partners for RFRS and performance met metrics. Um, so this creates more bureaucracy sounds like to me, not less, while reducing
direct service delivery. So, county will still need staff to manage contracts, one person. Okay. Um, and that will be that will only be for them to submit their requests for reimbursements. The organization that
would be awarded this would be looking at all of the other requirements. Are they going to conduct site visits, monitor performance? If that isn't in the final documentation, yes. Again, it's a draft until the advisory committee is uh set
up so that they can look at what we have and agree with it. All right. And your claim also that you're exponentially lowering the cost to perform these services. No real evidence provided to support
your exponential savings claim. Well, the county will only pay 300,000 because that is the uh 15% that the federal government also requires. So, we will they could expend more than that, but not through the funding that we would be
making available. Okay. So, no benchmarking data, hidden costs are ignored, startup cost ignored, risk cost ignored. Um, so to to me, I'm I'm almost done. This is um a
false choice framework really. The budget director presents only two options. Keep expensive, inefficient county department or eliminate the
department and hope the partnerships work. Um the missing third option is fix the department through targeted improvements that cost less that elimination and provide better
accountability. What what she didn't address um is needs assessment. I talked about that earlier. Capacity analysis um identifying community partners that can handle the current demand and the
unmet need. Geographic coverage. Will partnerships serve all areas of Tarant County equally? Service standards, what response times and service levels will be required? Is there a failure contingency?
What happens if the partnership fails to meet the demand? What's the plan? Or we don't care. It's in their balls in their court. Um there are so many data gaps here.
Um, what you're claiming is 1 point almost 1.8 in taxpayer savings. What you're hiding is contract management cost, performance monitoring, expenses, risk mitigation cost, service gap cost. Um,
and the real math would be if you took about 500,000 in department improvements um versus 2 million in outsource partnerships. Um,
you know, you you could save you could save money. Um, anyway, um, I think your proposal is not evidence-based policy reform. I think it's campaigndriven cost cutting. It abandons
county responsibility to vulnerable residents. create service gaps with a shoddy transition plan, reduces accountability. Um, you know, not adhering to our
mission through outsourcing and increases risk to taxpayers and residents. Um the the moral test of government is how it treats those in the dawn of
life, our children and those in the twilight of life, the elderly. Elderly people, those in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, the disabled. Taran County has residents who have
built our communities and paid their taxes their entire working lives and they deserve better than this. We're abandoning people. I'm done. Anybody else have anything?
Yeah, I'll say a few things. Um, so this morning I I I had the privilege to attend the Las Vegas Trail Cook Children's JPS uh brand new health clinic um that that was built in 18 months uh on Cherry Lane. Uh now this is
transformational for the Las Vegas Trail community and there were upwards of seven to eight community partners including JPS, Cook Children's um that came together to make this center a reality. Now, they offer primary care services, women's care services, mental
health services, um food assistance, uh workforce training. Uh this center is all-encompassing, and it didn't happen, I'll just say this in context for this conversation, it didn't happen because the government made it happen. It happened because we were able to put the
needs of the people first, go directly to them, and say, "This area needs reinvestment. which private partners are best suited to help fill this gap. We knew, and Dr. Bird was there with us this morning, we knew that springing up another public health clinic downtown Fort Worth was
not going to solve that challenge. But partnering with all of these competent and capable organizations is quite literally going to change a generation uh in the Las Vegas Trail area. Um, and so I was very proud to be there this morning. And when I thought about what
you proposed uh several weeks ago on on this uh transforming this model, it it keyed in my mind the goal should be to get as much services in the hands of the citizens as possible. Uh I had no idea that that we were spending upwards of
$2.5 million on personnel cost and only $900,000 uh on actual assistance given to the citizens. I thought I would have assumed it was the inverse. Uh but when told that I said, "Well, absolutely I'd be open to exploring other models uh if it
got more services into the hands of the citizens uh that we're trying to serve." Um, I I absolutely understand uh the concerns that Commissioner Simmons brought up. Uh, and quite frankly, I think having an evidence-based approach and having examples from around the country would be very helpful, not just
for our decision-making process, but for the community at large to understand exactly what you hope to accomplish by this proposal and what we hope to accomplish by this proposal. Uh, I think Commissioner Miles, you you put it very
very well. Um, I think the public needs to know, um, and be comfortable with this process because ultimately it's the public that we're serving here. And the goal is to get those dollars into the hands of those who most need it, just
like that was the goal of the LVT Health Clinic um, that that Cook Children's and JPS partnered on. That was to to serve the most vulnerable among us uh, and quite literally change their lives. Um, so, so I think I'm not opposed to
supporting your proposal because I think that you're trying to hit that mark and and I am not uh I'll say this, I I believe that we have incredible nonprofit and for-profit uh partners out in the community that have a heart for this type of work that
can do it more efficiently and get more dollars into the hands of those who most need it. Um, and so I'm I'm not vain enough to think that we in government can solve all the problems. Uh, sometimes we need to say if we're not operating efficiently enough, perhaps we should shift gears and try to go there.
So, I could understand absolute um apprehension on on the part of you, Commissioner Simmons, and Commissioner Miles if uh the amount uh of of actual dollars being expended to the public was was reduced, you know, from the 900,000
to 500,000 or whatever, but it's actually doubled. Uh and that's what caught my attention uh when I saw the proposal. So, um thank you, Helen, for going through the exercise and putting all of this together. Um, you know, I think that that as I mentioned uh before, it's very difficult when you're
dealing with personnel, uh, people who have worked here for a very long time and provided incredible service to the citizens of Tarant County. Um, you know, I do hope that that those who who will continue to serve Tarant County find a place within the county to continue to serve. Um, and I and I appreciate all
those resolutions this morning because those those folks truly did they showed up and did their job every day. Um, and they did what they could. So in any case, thank thank you for the presentation. One last comment, judge, if I may. Sure. Um
the discrepancy between the utility numbers of people supported and the rental numbers of people supported is problematic to me. But it it says to me that we need to update and overhaul our eligibility requirements. And I would
hope that if this does pass, that will be a focus of that group that we look at those eligibility requirements so that we can get more dollars out of the door and into the hands of the people who
need it the most. Um, and I'll say this, in June, there was a report that in June 16,000 Texans lost their job. And over 10,000 of those Texans are right here in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.
We cannot afford to wait to get resources in the hands of the people who need them the most. And if us doing this will allow us the ability to get more
dollars in the hands of the people who need it the most, then how dare we not do what we can to get the resources in the hands of the people? That's the bottom line for me. How much money can we get in the hands of the people? How
quickly can we get those funds in the hands of the people? And how much we can get in the hands of the people? I'm all for increasing that number if that's what the demand requires. That's the re that's why we're here is to make sure
that the residents of Taran County get what they need in a timely and efficient manner. So those are my final comments. Thank you. Thank you. One other thing. So, we're proposing cutting human
services supposedly because their operational costs exceed the service delivery rate, right? I I hate to call department names because they'll be targeted.
Um, but have you done a costbenefit analysis of all county departments? because I guarantee you the ratio is going to be about the same.
We we just took in my office the fiscal year 2025 budget book and we just flipped and picked some departments and when you want to say we spend $242 to dole out a dollar's worth of
assistance. I got right here departments that you probably ought to start outsourcing and it's a long list. The ratio is the same. So, are we just going to get rid of every department? Have you done a costbenefit analysis of
human services first of all or was this what we got today that's it? And have you done it of any other department? Do you have a schedule? Do you do three a year, five a
year? What what's your schedule for for analyzing these departments? So it would be departments that are not statutoily required. Departments that are statutoily required have certain guidelines that they have to meet. Elected officials have certain guidelines they have to meet. So yes, we
have started looking at other internal departments and just like you I'm not going to name the departments that I'm looking at. When when did you start? You said we had started since all this came up. No ma'am. When every year that we look at a budget,
creating a budget and presenting to the court for approval, we're looking at all different costs that go on to into it. We're looking at um we meet with the departments regularly to try to find out what their need is versus their want. So this is our job in
my department on a daily basis. Okay. So your job in your department on a daily basis is doing a costbenefit analysis on contracts also not just departments but on individual contracts that each department has. I'm talking specifically about doing a
costbenefit analysis of departments with an aim of I don't know reducing the tax rate maybe below the known new revenue rate maybe or with an aim to eliminate them. When's the last time you
eliminated a department? Pre-trial. When? In 2014. 20 2014 2015 somewhere around in there. Okay. So, but we just we
selected human services and I can I can tell you their ratios. We'll show you the ratios are there's one that's higher than human services. Not sure why they're not being targeted for elimination.
Um didn't understand what you said. It might be best to to create a schedule to do some uh costbenefit analysis throughout the county and and and learn uh what needs to be done. if it's
elimination, if it's fixing a department or whatever, since we're eliminating department. Yes, ma'am. So, a couple things before we get to our speakers. The, uh, for me, looking at the numbers, 28 cents for every dollar
getting into the hands of people in need. Uh, I trust your numbers and I trust what you have to say, it's very difficult to put together a budget with 69 different elected officials, wants, and needs. I think you do a remarkable job. So, thank you for what you do. Um,
at 28 cents for every dollar, if you have an opportunity to increase the number, which I don't think we have any reason to believe it won't, that seems like a good move. The one hesitation, the one which and it's not a
small one, is the people. And so if this passes, I I am reiterating. I want to make sure every able-bodied productive worker, we take care of them. And there's multiple ways to do that. Let's
find them spots. Whether it's here, whether it's with a city, whether it's in the nonprofit world, let's help them. Uh, and that's very important. Uh, and it would be good if this passes once this moves forward to see, okay, what is it doing? I'd like to know what it's
doing. I don't want to just say let's pass it and okay, we're done. We're fixed, right? Uh I want I want to know. I want to I want evaluation. I can tell you that since the '9s, uh public health and the HIV administrative
agency have outsourced 17 different programs. And I I'm not hearing any calls to bring that back in and do it in house. the nonprofit partners that we have where we outsource that to seem to
do a pretty good job and I think this will be the same. So, but time will tell. All right, we do have a bunch of speakers. Uh, first up is Mindy Tacket. Following Miss Tacket, we have Stella
Fair. So, yes, I'm Mindy Tacket. I'm a resident here in Tarant County. Um I I think we've heard a lot from this dis about trust and we're supposed to trust.
Um however in you know the articles that have been written prior to today about this subject, we were told that there was no discussion. Judge O'Hare, you had indicated to the press that there was no discussion about this yet. and and I can
send you the article if if you want that, but yet people were given slips of termination prior to today. So, you're acting as though this is going to be um transparent and we're supposed to trust
all of you. And frankly, a lot of us don't trust you at all. And we do very much care that our tax dollars are used to help people in a way that they're actually going to be helped, not just passing out money or
grants to nonprofits that we've gotten to have no say in to this point. So, I am 100% with Commissioner Simmons in the idea that if it's broken, fix it. Don't just say it's broken. We're going
to get rid of it. Trust us. We don't trust you. I don't trust any of the three of you. Repeatedly, you've given us reasons not to trust you. And you've not been transparent about lots of things. So, you know, I mean, I absolutely want,
as Commissioner uh Miles pointed out, the most people to be helped and given the most resources possible, but just saying trust us is not going to cut it. and the fact that y'all have done this in such a quick manner. You've
not included the public or or taken public input prior to this at all and all of a sudden you're just going to vote to eliminate this department. That's ridiculous. Thank you. Thank you. Following Miss Fair, we have Amy Martinez.
I wrote a one minute speech because I thought I only had one minute. Read it twice. Okay. I don't know if you want to hear this twice. Good afternoon. My name is Stella Fair and I am here to request
that you leave the human services department intact and allow it to continue to do the job for which it was created to provide temporary financial assistance for our fellow citizens who through no fault of their own find
themselves facing a financial crisis. to eliminate the source of help they have been able to rely on for decades is just out down out downright cruel. Outsourcing this service will not produce the results you expect. In fact,
it will create the very problems you promise this proposed change will avoid, such as a gap in service and processing delays. If there are, as a couple of you have said, inefficiencies in the human
services department, fix them. And don't make matters worse with this plan you are considering. I urge you to vote no on this proposal. All right. Is Miss Martinez here? Uh, I would like to ask the staff while
she's on her way up. So, I've got a comment here. Next up is Amy Super and I'm not sure an owl could read the comments under this. So, can we do something with our system where this
becomes readable? Um, and also in here, I don't know if we've done something with this, but when she filled out the form, she says she would also like to speak in public comment. Um, I don't know if that's sitting in there or if you did it again. I don't know what the deal is, but that's just I mean, look at
how microscopic that is. Okay. You're talking about the font size. Yeah. Okay. I mean, you can't I can actually read it, but it's it's difficult. It's very difficult and it's not. I mean, you have magnifying glass. I think if you had 2010 vision, my apologies, Miss Martinez. That's okay. You're up.
Hi, good afternoon. My name is Amy. Commissioners, I stand before you today a voice of the countless lives you're about to shatter by dismantling health and human services. Let's address the declaring contradiction. You, the very Republicans who constantly champion being for the life of children, are slashing Medicaid. Do you understand
what Medicaid is? It's not just for children. It's a lifeline for seniors, nursing homes, and nursing homes and critical support for mental health services. How can you claim to protect the lives while gutting the very programs you that sustain it? You say you're for the working people, but where I don't see
it. It is already bad enough that majority of the pe working people are struggling and can't afford healthcare food. This is a reality in a lifeline for many families and individuals. Meanwhile, your own robust benefits are paid by our tax dollars. This is this isn't very serving.
Excuse me. This isn't very serving the people. It's a profound betrayal. Commissioners, have you forgotten your why? Was serving the public a genuine calling or merely a scheme of access of public money while families drown? Mr. O'Hare, the moment someone speaks an
uncomfortable truth, you demand the removal. But that ugly truth is the reality of our many communities and it demands to be faced in many uh excuse me. Manny Ramirez remember your roots. You stand here today because of a long line of
Latinos standing up to small fragile eagle men. Without that fight, you would have never gone to college. Never be in this very seat that you are in. Do not forget who paved your way. Without us, the people, you are nothing. You will be nothing and have nothing. We are watching. Remember who you serve because
it's we the people who sustain you. All right. Next, Miss Super. Following Miss Super, we have Dr. Harold. [Music] Good afternoon. The community assistance plan, HS data, and HS budget background
should make it abundantly clear to anyone who reviewed the information that the recommendation to eliminate this department and move to a partnership model during the 2026 fiscal year is a recommendation we should all support. How can anyone who advocates for our
county to allocate funds to provide temporary assistance to our community members most in need turn around and argue against a proposed change that will result in additional $1 million in services to those in most in need. When doing so also creates a savings to taxpayers of more than $1.7 million. I
think Commissioner Simmons may have missed the part where the charities review council reports the national average is to spend 66 to 76 cents for each dollar of services since she questioned whether our chosen partners would truly be able to provide that additional $1 million in services at a
fraction of the cost it takes for that assistance to get in the hands of people that need it the most. The proposed process will replicate already successful models being utilized across Tarant County departments also mentioned in the backup documentation using actuals through May 31st. This department is on track to spend $2.72
for every dollar in service provided. An increase of 30 cents in cost per $1 in services provided over fiscal year 2024. While I don't believe this is a significant disparity between their cost versus the monetary services provided in any way is a negative reflection of the
employees of that department. I just think this is simply a matter of moving to a process that will provide more services to those most in need at less cost to taxpayers. As elected members of the commissioner's court, you each have a fiduciary responsibility to the
taxpayers of Tarant County. Approving this recommendation to eliminate this department and move to a detailed partnership model will show taxpayers you take this fiscal responsibility seriously. I ask you to approve this recommendation. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, next is Dr. Harrell.
Following Dr. Harold is Gerlyn Jackie Cox. Commissioners, you are not ready to make the decision to eliminate the Department of Human Services. That might eventually be the right decision, but not today
because the proposal isn't ready. First of all, proposing $2 million in services with 300,000 for administration needs to be looked at. When you compare that to eliminating 20 positions and
nearly 1.8 8 million that we're not able to distribute the full $2.3 million budgeted. We need to know why. You're assuming that fewer people in a
nonprofit will be able to do more, will not face any of the barriers that our current staff faces. And I think that's highly speculative. Second, um we've been hearing about the
cost per $1 of services at $2.40. That's a worthy issue to look at. So why hasn't county administration addressed it? If administration can't manage efficiency inhouse, why should we
believe they can manage outsourced services over which they have far less control? or maybe there's a good reason for that cost discrepancy and our expectation of the nonprofits are not realistic.
Third, before any decision is made, the performance metrics in the RFP and the payment terms deserve serious public attention. Emergency human services must be carefully designed with citizen input
to avoid gaps. For instance, will there be accountability not only for admin costs, but also for approval rates and delivery? And will services be equally accessible regardless of precinct, age,
gender, sexual identity, or race? Most nonprofits serve specific populations. Human services helps all eligible Tarant County residents. Don't move forward
without citizen input to asssure you have the best possible process. Fourth, as further evidence that this proposal is rushed, it twice promises a one-month RFP response period and then
just gives three weeks. The proposal is not ready for a vote. Commissioners, you have time and responsibility to know what the issues are. Be evidence-based. Get citizen input. Postpone this vote to
be sure that you get the best possible plan to move forward. Following Miss Cox, we have Deborah Katkkey. Can you hear me? I'm Jackie Cox. I live in Commissioner's Miles District.
Uh Tim Joair, when one looks at your website on the county, there's a little family photo and you say, "Oh, I'm so proud. When I worked for Farmer's Branch, I managed to reduce pension
uh deficits and I managed to save taxes." Well, this little scheme to cut out a department will in fact get something like 25
people out of your pension plan and it will also save some money but not a really huge amount of money. Your estimated taxpayer savings for this is a mill777,757.
I imagine that Commissioner Ramirez is getting more than that to build new roads in Bond's Ranch. What this commissioner's court is good at is development. Spending money on developers is one of your favorite things.
Yeah. And what this commissioner's court is bad at is taking care of the poor. You cut money for this. the people who need the money the most, you're going to reduce them to a much smaller budget and
hope that maybe some nonprofit will bid on it and say, "Oh, well, we won't take more than half for administrative overhead." But the whatever you're going to get out of an a PNP, a nonprofit, is going to
include a bunch of administrative overhead. So the money that you used to give out all in benefits will be cut back by however how much it's going to cost to pay the administrative costs of the nonprofit. This is hypocrisy, sir.
This is not serve the poor. This is save money for taxpayers. Following Miss Katkkey, we have Jane Collins. Hi, Debbie Katkkey from Crowley, Texas. Um, I I swear to God, Dr. Harold must have cheated off me because a lot of
what she was talking about are what I want to talk about. And first, I'd like to say um, Commissioner Ramirez, I remember you when I worked with you over in Las Vegas Trail, and you did some good work there. But let's talk about this transition plan. It's not a month. You're not giving the people a month.
You're giving them 14 work days. That's it to prepare an RFP. And one of the in the middle of that is Labor Day. So I'd say you're down to about 12 work days to prepare a a response to an RFP for $2 million.
We don't do that in government. We usually give 30 to 60 days for an organization to think through it to see if it's a right fit. And somewhere in here there should be a a biders conference so the people interested could come and ask questions and get
educated so they can give you the very best proposal they know how. So that's one thing. Right now there are over 2,000 nonprofits in Tarant County and I've been working with nonprofit community based and faith-based organizations with contracts for about
30 years. And I can tell you some of the things I've learned. One of them is there's only a handful of nonprofits in Tarant County that could handle a grant for $2 million. That's a it although I'm sure a lot of them would love it to have that much money, but you have to have a built-in infrastructure to handle that
kind of funds. So now we're looking at maybe 10 or 12. And the problem with that, as Dr. Harold said, many of those organizations have targeted populations. You've got targeted populations for veterans. You've got them for uh women and children. We've got them for
re-entry. The thing about human services with the county was they served whoever walked in the door as long as they were residents of Tar County. So, you're going to have to look very specifically for that. The other thing is most of these nonprofits have a real problem
with cost reimbursement. And for people who don't understand that, that means they have to spend their own money, then bill, and then get the money back. That's cost reimbursement. And for most nonprofits, they have very little undesated funds. And what that means is
most of the money coming into their budget is designated for a particular service. So let's say during the first month of service, they pay $300,000 in rent. Let's just pretend. That means they've got to have $300,000 in
undesated funds in their budget before they can bill you and get the money back. So, that's going to be a real issue, I think, with this kind of money. If it was $200,000, I think most nonprofits could handle that. But if you're looking at millions of dollars,
most nonprofits can't. So, what I would suggest also is you need to take a serious look at how you're going to do this because what I'm afraid of is nonprofits are going to get real hurt in this. So, thank you. Thank you, Miss Ky. You're you're right. And think
about the reimbursements. Now we're going to one meeting a month. Yeah, that's a real issue. And so I would really Thank you. think about looking at that. Following Miss Collins, we have Leavon Cochril. My name is Jane Collins and I live in
Tarant County. Uh I think that people should vote against this. I don't I I agree with the people that say you're not ready to do this. This hasn't been thought out well enough. And I think our concern with should be with the v
vulnerable populations, not with saving taxpayers money. And I think this is coming from an ideology rather than practical concerns here. I think there's people here that only think that government should not be involved and it
should all be charity or nonprofit. And I think that's a big mistake if you're concerned about vulnerable people. I think they need to add more people to the Department of Human Services so they can help more people. All we have to do
is look out at the number of homeless, the number of people that don't have enough to eat to know that we need more people out there helping and not if we put this in nonprofits. So, nobody's going to be responsible. That's what it
looks like to me. And I see that going on all over the country, shutting down departments and then who's responsible? Thank you. Following Miss Cochril, we have Carla Palyus.
[Music] Hi, I'm Leavon Cochril. Nice to see everyone. My uh what I've written is just all over the place because I've heard things today. Just talked to Demi. There are a lot of nonprofits that are not profitable and they're poorly
managed and I don't know how you're going to pick the ones that are regular are well managed. I don't know how you're going to manage the fact that they can't manage so much money deposited on them. And what that tells me is that this lady did not do her due
diligence and we need to send her back to the boards and let her talk to the nonprofits. The other thing I taught at at um Western Hills High School and forever 20 years ago and I could have told you 20
years ago, Manny, that there needed to be a health department over there. Every teacher in this town can tell you what you need. And the fact that the Republicans have held this court for 30 darn years and has said, "Let's privatize this," has made a lot of
wealthy CEO Republican men, not that many women, this isn't anything about what I wrote. It's just that I'm furious. I am shaking furious about this. If if if the people in here hearing what we have heard today and her
report to this commissioner, it's infuriating. and the fact that you want to take it down to one meeting. I probably should stop here before I start using that those cuss words that I can now use after the age of 70 that my parents wouldn't let me use.
Thank you. Thank you. Is Miss Pauly present? All right. Next, we have Alexander Montalvo. Following Mr. Montalvo, we have Michael Bell. You got to hand it to that good oldfashioned mega math because it never
makes any sense. So, you're going to present numbers from a presentation, an incompetent presentation that missed so many data points. yet you're going to take it on face value
and tell the public that yes, this is what the cost, this is what the service is, but we hope we're going to do better. In what world does that make sense that you're going to rush through this to eliminate service to 2.2 million people
within a county and then hope that a nonprofit is going to come in and save you with a very, very rush timeline. So between the commissioner's court here in Tarant County and city hall in Fort
Worth today, the whole objective is let's eliminate things and hope we're going to do better. You have given us no reason to hope because we know what your plans are. We know what your plan was, Matt, when you
tried to implement book bans to try to help dismantle public education and continue to worsen what is happening to schools across the state. We know what the racial gerrymandering is trying to do, costing us more dollars because of
lawsuits that going to keep happening and the cost associated with that. the cost of settlements because you don't want to address what's happening in the jail and people are getting murdered and killed all the time. And yet now you're saying we're going to
give it to a nonprofit to be able to handle human services for a county of our size. It is the biggest load of bull any of us have heard from this court. And we've heard quite a bit. And Manny, once again, this is impacting
members of your community and members of black and brown communities across the county. And you are openly saying, "Let us continue to do harm. Let us continue to cut services. Let us continue to cut support because as long as I'm with
these two guys, I'm safe and everyone else be damned." Between the court here and city hall later tonight, we have Latino leaders in our community who are willing to sacrifice
diverse community members in our city in our county for the sake of being in proximity of power of white supremacist power. There is more that should be done around this if it is legitimate and there is
definitely improvement within the department that can be had as anybody who's ever worked in anything in their life knows that process improvement, talent development, technology improvements go a long way and y'all are pursuing any of that.
Following Mr. Bell, we have Adrien Smith. This is nothing less than a shame before God. The Taran County Commissioner's Court's website reads, and I'm quoting, "Taran County Department of Human Services, TCDHS,
is the county's temporary financial assistance program. The mission of TCDHS is to provide social services and economic assistance to individuals and families. It doesn't stop there. The site even acknowledges, and these are
your words, not mine, the need for financial assistance in Taran County is critical. Your need is very important to us. the online screening requests may not be available at this time due to the high volume of requests that have been
submitted. End quote. And yet you're cutting human services in the midst of pressing needs of some Terrar citizens. Shame on you. This is unconscion. This is unconscionable. In the face of human need, in the face of rising housing
insecurity, food instability, and gaps in mental health care, your response is not to expand the safety net, but to cut it off. Not to meet the need, but to offload the responsibility onto
overwhelmed community nonprofit organizations. Shame. TCDHS receives as many as 500 calls a week, 500 cries for help, 500 lives trying to hold on. And your solution is to silence
the phones, shut the door, and say, "Let someone else figure it out." Shame. Who's going to answer the next 500 calls? Who's going to walk the next mother through an eviction crisis? Who's going to help the senior citizen with no
food in the fridge and no family left to call? Shame on you. Let it be read. Let's be real. What you proposing is outsourcing compassion and subcontracting justice. You are taking
the one agency specifically charged with meeting urgent needs and handing that charge off to nonprofits and faith groups who are already operating on shoestring budgets and stretch staff. You're not solving the problem. You're shifting the burden. And you're doing it
on the backs of the poor, the vulnerable, the sick, the left out, the elderly, and the marginalized. This county, one of the wealthiest in the state, shouldn't be gutting its human services. It should be leading the
way. It should be meeting needs, not dodging them. It should be answering phones, not disconnecting them. Thank you, uh, Mr. Smith. with good will, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And that was Ephesians 6:es 7-8. To the Taran County Department of Human Services staff, let me begin by first saying thank you for all that you have
been for the entire Tarant County. Your love, considerations, and relent relentless efforts in supporting individuals and families in need throughout the years are truly priceless in every sense of the word. Know that everything you've done you done has done
has been with a greater purpose and I'm sure many recipients of your services appreciate you. I appreciate you. Let's begin with the 211 years of combined services that were
that came before us as uh with the given pro proclamations that were read. Let's talk about the relationships that were established not only within the department department but the relationship that these individuals were able to have with the people they helped over the years. And I'm sure some of
those were continual relationships. We heard the term retirement, but I feel like it's been more force retirements than it is just retirements because hey, I think I just want to retire now. Sounds like more force. Option three. I
love option three. Why not keep the department in its current function and capacity and add the potential partners on for better outsourcing of said services? Because we said that the money
There's been money left on the table. But if we're going to talk about money that's been left on the table, guess what? I can't get services if I don't have a roof over my head. I can't pay a light bill if I don't have a roof over my head. As far as hygien services, I'm
still limited. I can't shower. I can probably wash my face and brush my teeth, but I'm still limited. So, we say from 2018 to 2025, there was a uh 7.5 million something left on the table. But again, what about the eviction rate that that
goes on in this county? Where are those numbers? We need to we need to also factor in the eviction rate that goes on this that goes on in this county. That's a part of the money being left on the table. 34 seconds. So, current employees will be required
to train potential partners. What happens to all of the case files that have been established over the years? Um, CO is not the measuring stick. You all, we can't measure things by CO, you know, when determining policy. And then we
have a lot. There are no guarantees with this change. There are no guarantees. We're rolling the dice, but I guarantee we're going to crap out. I'll be back with public comment. Finch. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That's our final speaker on
item D1. We have a motion and a second. Do we have any other comments? I questions from the court. Um I I have a question. I I have a question for uh budget
and I have a comment. So, for uh budget, can you how quickly can you get us information about the utility assistance money that I asked about earlier? We have that we have that information
available. We can get it to you by the end of the day. So, but not before this vote. How much? I'm sorry. Not before we vote. How much? So instead of saying we only gave out 880,000 or whatever it was, we need to I think
we need to add to that the grant dollars that we received, the donations we received. Yeah. And disseminated if we've diss No, ma'am. I can't get that to you before the end of the before this vote that's happening right now.
Okay. And then to um the constituents, pay pay attention to what's what's coming up. It's L1 and it's the Criminal District Attorney's Office asking for us to increase
the what we call here the higherend salaries for a particular level of attorneys. that will probably pass. And I think we're trying to increase how many positions the higherend rate by 30%.
So let's say the hiring rate is $50,000. The request today is to increase that 30% for one set 72s. What are 72s? That that's I get to talk about that one
again later on, but that is not increasing at 30%. That's only increasing at 10%. 10%. There's a 30% on the communicate and a 20%, but you're saying it's increasing at 10%. They are. Yes, I will discuss that later. Okay.
Um, so we'll probably pass that when we're cutting we're cutting human services and positions. So, watch how that happens. That's it. All right. Anybody else have anything? I I just made one brief comment. I think
there's been some very unfair uh mischaracterizations and attacks against our budget director, Helen. And uh I I think you do a fantastic job. Every question I had, you answered. You answered thoroughly. You answered completely and you gave me background on it. You were very responsive to our
office. We had everything we needed coming into today to make a well-informed decision. And so I think you do a fantastic job. I think your staff does a great job. Keep us well prepared. So, um, heard a lot of things today that that would counter against that. I just want people to know you
probably have one of the hardest jobs in the entire county. And I think you do it really well with everything you have going on. So, thank you for all your information and uh, guidance that you've given us as we've had questions throughout this process. All right, we have a motion and a second. Um, if you are in favor of the
motion, please raise your hand. Okay, if you are opposed, please raise your hand. All right, it passes 4 to one. All right, with that, uh, we are going to take it is I show 118. We're going to take a recess until 1:30. We'll
be back at 1:30. We're now in recess. You still got it. D3. You got it. Okay. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]
[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] We are back recess. The next item on the agenda is consideration
funding for the continuation of 10 grant funded positions. Thank you. Uh item D3 is next up. Consideration of interim funding for the continuation of 10 grant-f funed positions for the Tarant County DA's office protective
order unit, human trafficking unit, and victim services unit. Um I will move to approve. Second. We have a motion, a second. We have one speaker.
Where are we? Right here. Bishop Kirkland. You guys lost my last request on the last agenda item. So be it. Um, why we keep hiring lawyers,
more lawyers, then when we need lawyers, we got to go to West Virginia to get them. I I understand that. And I say victim services unit. How many people have come in this court
and made complaints about victim services? And and just for the record, 1099 employees don't pay taxes in Texas. They pay them in California. And I do want to go on record that I'm appalled that
someone called out those people names in open court for no apparent reason. So it looks like I'm making personal attacks on people and it's your system that pisses me off. All right, we have a motion and a second
on item D3. Any further discussion? All right, seeing none, please uh all in favor raise your hand. All right, passes five to zero. Next, we go to
ABCD FG H. We go to F1 which is held but we have speakers. So uh the court will not take any action on this until we have some legal briefing but I will call out the
speakers now. Bishop Kirkland is number one. Following Bishop Kirkland we have Sandra Kulie. This is item F1. I'm sorry. I I can't hear you, but I'm going to call the names that I have as I as they
go through. Only problem I have with this is they're asking for 30K. And this is how we always start out, Commissioner Miles. We start out with these little ballpark numbers and you come nickel and dimeming
us every session and no one's keeping a running total or telling us what the running total is of all these nickel and dime uh requests that you guys are fulfilling and by the end of the day we just keep seeing them and we never know
in the end how much we're actually spending. Here's a complaint that I've voiced to commissioners several times. ask for what they need upfront. We already know with current legal fees and legal costs with all the people we pay,
especially we got to go to West Virginia to get them, we going to have to pay a whole lot of fees and that 30k will be eaten up in a moment's time and then we'll be coming back and you'll ask for 15 to 20k more and then before you know
it, the running totals around 100 around 86,000 $120,000, but you keep nickeling and dimeing. us. This process is not pleasing in my sight. Ask for what you need. Build the request in a way that we know approximately how much money that we're
going to spend and quit the horse and pony show. Thank you. Uh next we have Sandra Culie. Following Miss we have Gerlyn Jackie Cox. Hi, I'm a Taran County resident and a voter in Keller ISD. I'm against hiring
Tim Davis because he is still mired in the poo and the stink of the of the attempted Keller ISD split. Since 2022, Tim Davis of the Fort Worth Law Firm, Jackson Walker, has served as a legal
counsel to the Keller ISD school board as a separate entity from the district. During this time, our mostly Patriot Mobile funded school board trustees set schoolboard agendas
which have divided our community needlessly and and set about over and set about ridiculous culture wars and Keller ID taxpayers like me. We've been forced to pick up Tim's tab for
servicing our voter hospital board. For one long school board meeting in January the 9th, we were charged over $4,000. Two, it is my understanding that the South Lake office of Tim Davis served as a location where the idea of a failed
school board split was hatched. Currently, there is a lawsuit to remove three color school board trustees over their alleged participation in secret talks about splitting the district. To date, through 2025,
Keller ISD has been invoiced $172,000 for the services of Tim Davis. Also included was $8,810 for expenses. Additionally, like the bishop said, the court proposes to hire Tim at $400
at a $400 rate for a maximum expendure of $30,000. That's about 70 hours. I wonder what happens when this when the $30,000 is not enough. Thanks. Following Miss Cox, we have Michelle
Klene. Is Miss Cox present? All right, Michelle Klene is up. No, Michelle Klein. All right, how about Barbara Brewer? Good morning. My name is Barbara Brewer
and I'm speaking today as a concerned Tar County taxpayer. I strongly urge you to not hire attorney Tim Davis. As a legal counsel for Keller ISD, Mr. Davis has already cost the district over $247,000
just since December. And that's in legal fees, money that should have gone to students and classrooms, not lawsuits and not a political agenda. Taran County deserves better. There are many qualified attorneys right here in
Fort Worth, Texas that could represent Taran County Commissioner's Court. As taxpayers, we are tired of seeing public money wasted. We don't want another dime going towards Mr. Davis or his law firm. Please make a
fiscally conservative, responsible decision. Thank you. All right, that's all the speakers we have on F1. And again that is held. So now we go to uh H2 from consent
H2 judge. Uh yes. Sorry. We asked the court not to take action. Yeah. But there's speakers on it. Is there not? I there's one. There is one. So, while the court will
not address H2, uh, Miss Cox had signed up to speak on it, but I don't believe she's here any longer. So, now we will move to I3. And this may be the one that I pulled.
Yeah, this is the one I pulled. Let me tell you what. Let me tell you why I pulled this. So I3 is consideration of a community facilities agreement with the city of Fort Worth related to utility improvements for the plaza garage
expansion project included in the 2025 capital improvement program. So, the reason that I I pulled this item, I believe it was November, perhaps it was December.
There were two different tiff zones that were asked the city of Fort Worth asked to extend them even though they were nearing expiration, although I don't believe the expiration was until the end of this year. And um what we did and we
approved it and I I voted for it. Um, we approved, if I remember correctly, what amounted to $57 million over, was it a 15-year extension? I think it was a 20-year extension.
20-year extension that instead of that money coming back into the Tarant County coffers stays in where the city of Fort Worth projects and again we put all kinds of things in there that require allow us to approve
the projects where the county money is used. But then I look at this and I see that uh the city of Fort Worth wants to charge us or has charged us and apparently we've paid it $76,225
to inspect our parking garage. So we tend to run into this over and over and over again with Fort Worth where they ask us to do something that will benefit the city. we agree and then it doesn't
seem the favor does not ever seem to be returned. So, um I I have probably two or three things on this one. Um I want to see on any of these things moving forward, our staff go to them and
say wave if they can legally wave this, wave it. And if not, then every time we're charged something like this, um I think we should put the TIFF extensions back on the agenda and reduce
them dollar for dollar the amount that they charge us to do things like inspect services. So that's that item is not on the agenda here now obviously that piece of it, but uh you know and the same thing is going on with JPS.
um the fees that they are generating from a public hospital that are being paid into the Fort Worth budget. While we're sitting here looking at things to cut and reduce to not increase taxes, the city of Fort Worth is going to put out a budget that's
going to cut the tax rate uh with Tarant County money. So, I think for me enough is enough. Now, we have good working relationships with many people in Fort Worth. I think a lot of the people don't know this is going on, but I think we
need to say if we're going to participate with you in these kind of projects where you have tens of millions of dollars over the life of them, we're expecting some courtesy on things like this. So, uh I've I've made my
statement. I think we're going to enter this agreement. Um, but it needed to be said and I want to see us as a staff doing more to try to address this very issue. All right. Anybody else have anything on this item?
Move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any further discussion? All right. Seeing none, please cast your vote uh by raising your hand if you're in favor. That's two. All right. All opposed,
raise your hand. Okay, that's three. All right. Item fails. Well, how about those apples? So, um All right. So, that was I3.
Next, we come to L1. L1. is human resources consideration to establish new hiring rates for job numbers 1026 and 1028. Is this you? Did you pull this off?
Uh yeah. Okay. So, Helen or Brock, I'm not sure which one. Yes, ma'am. [Music] [Music] Are you about to ask questions?
No, I'm waiting for her to explain um to explain what this is. So, explain it. It is a request to the court to change
the hiring rate only for grades 72 and 73 specific to jobs 1026 and I believe 1028 which you are your misdemeanor attorneys and then attorney ones uh in the felony division uh increasing them
from a seven uh min minimum plus 20 what they're currently at for the grade 72s this is your first year attorneys that are in the misdemeanor courts to minimum plus 30%. Okay. The hiring rate for surrounding counties
is we are at the bottom. Uh all of the surrounding counties have a higher hiring rate for our misdemeanor attorneys. It does not increase the maximum. All it changes is the hiring
rate uh for the grade 72s because it took the hirin rate of the 72s above the grade 73s. We also did a minimum which was originally minimum plus 10%
to a minimum plus 20% for the higherend rate so that they would not be impacted by the increase of the misdemeanor grade 72s. the maximum amount stays the same. They can never they cannot go above the it did not change and it's for those two
positions. It's those two job uh codes. Okay. 72 is a what type of attorney? It's a misdemeanor attorney and 73 is I believe it's called attorney one uh but hold on I've got it right here. Uh
it's attorney two felony and it is the promote that is the next step for grade 72 misdemeanor which after they get experience if there is a vacant position they can be hired into the grade 73. How many 72s are there? There are 29 29 positions.
Okay. I think at this particular time it's either 11 or 12 that are vacant due to the lower hiring rate uh us being lower than the surrounding counties. Okay, same question for grade 73. How many positions?
How many um hold on? There are 23. How many open vacant of that? I believe there's only three. But that wasn't the concern. The concern from the DA's office was the grade 72s.
Okay. So, the recommendation for the grade 72s is what? To only increase the hiring rate, not to reclass the position, which would cause a domino effect across the DA's office.
And there were not vacancies to uh to warrant us doing that. The only thing was the misdemeanor's hiring rate. So it changed from minimum plus 20% to minimum plus 30%.
So first things first, you didn't have a dollar amount on the court communication. So what's the what's the dang hiring salary? So the difference for the 72s is $6,64846
annually. $6,600 something. 48 6650 if you just went around. Okay. For the 72s. Okay. What's the What's the salary amount? $72,500
a year. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. The first part salary the salary went from $79,78152 to $86,429.98. Again, just the hiring rate, it does not change the uh maximum amount that they
can receive. The current hiring rate is 79,000. If you want to just round 80. Yeah. 80,000. to 86,000 to 86,000. That's what you're requesting. That is a what percent increase?
Um it it's a 10% increase because again they were minimum plus 20 now they're minimum plus 30. And I have information um Ellis County pays their misdemeanor attorneys 102,882.
Ectctor County pays 95,000. Harris County pays 93,100. Taylor County 90,000. Uh Dallas County has a minimum and a maximum that's higher than ours and it's about 81,000. Rock Wall about 81, Lach 80, Collins
7980, and uh Tarant County 80. Denton County pays higher. I do not have Denton counties right here, but they currently pay about I think it's about $3,000 higher than ours. The last if I remember correctly. Okay. But you have a goal of
um lowering the tax rate and that's why we didn't budget. So you didn't reclass, but this pays the people more money. It gives them more money as a higherend rate. So the DA's office has 72s all the way
to 78s. If the bottom one is reclassed, they all have to be reclassed because it impacts all of them. And that would be in the tune of about a million dollars plus. This only changed the higherend rate for a grade 72 and it did not
increase the maximum amount that they can be paid. It stays the same. Okay. Well, if we're cutting, we're cutting. So, I'm I'm sorry to have to be opposed to this. All right. I'll move to establish new hirein rates for job numbers 1026 and
1028. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. All oppose, raise your hand. All right. Passes three to two.
Next item is M1. M1 is from the IT department. Consideration of a project addendum between Tarant County and TechShare Local Government Corporation. Go ahead. I'm ready to answer any questions you might have.
Okay. Anybody have any questions for Andre? So, uh, for the addendum itself, why was this not done before the texture courts project began years ago? Why was this not done? I cannot address
that, Commissioner Simmons. That was long before my arrival. All right. But you've got something on the agenda, so you ought to be able to speak to it. Um,
you think you can find out for me why this wasn't addressed? Uh, I'll be I'll be glad to ask the people that were around at that time. Okay. And so, uh, for the scope of work, what stakeholders will participate in the selection process of selecting the
vendor? So I will participate in that together with the staff from techshare. Uh and of course it will be submitted to the board of tech share for approval. This the staff of tech share in Austin.
Is that uh well they're actually uh you know all over the place. All over the place but yes I just say Austin. So I expect to be dealing with Miss Lewis and Mr. pick it and potentially others in terms of selecting the best
possible vendor for this assignment. What business units um process improvements have been identified and does the county currently not have a technology roadmap for for techshare?
Mhm. Under your scope of work. So for tech share what we are going to try to find is one say again say again I'm sorry repeat I'm sorry for tech share what we're going to try to identify is first and foremost uh whether the
technology platform on which they're operating uh is uh sufficient for scaling in case that there is a marketing uh strategy that is identified that allows for more counties to participate In the near term, as with
any uh cloud-based services, uh you have to be prepared uh to uh accommodate the needs of additional clients if they come by. And so we need to make sure that the technology is appropriate to that. Uh in addition uh we're proposing to have an
evaluation of the landscape of organizations that approve that provide similar software um and that um uh and that could be uh you know are competitors for techshare in the marketplace. Uh also going to
look at a marketing plan and what would be necessary to have a marketing plan so that there could be uh you know potentially higher acceptance amongst uh you know counties that are looking for similar uh types of software and we could increase the chances of other
counties deploying this software. So we still do we do or we do not have a road map for tech share. Uhhuh. Yeah. There is a road map. Okay. Tech Techshare is responsible for that. Okay. And we also have requests for techshare
for improvements that are part of that equation. Okay. And potentially other projects that we are under undertaking and that we need to undertake where tech share could be a potential bidder. Okay. I need to see I need to be updated on all of that.
Be be glad to provide. Okay. Um and the statement of work. What other similar consultant engagements have you participated in and how successful were those engagements for this type of identification?
Um, a a substantial number of them over my 40 plus year career including in the federal government contracts uh in the uh in the billions of dollars for software development uh and for um and for cloud services. And so um I have uh
I I would like to think that I'm fairly well-versed uh in this uh in this particular discipline. And over in IT, do we Thank you for that. Do we customarily pay for a service before the service is delivered?
Uh so um so it is not going to be paying for this service. Okay. Uh the the uh the county is going to advance some funds to tech share uh and then those will be refunded in the form of credits against our maintenance
and operation budget on a annual basis until that debt is fulfilled. Oh, so we are going to there will be zero financial impact to the pay in advance and get a refund refund.
Absolutely. So we are going to pay for services in advance. Um I I I guess you you you could make that case. We're making a loan to TechShare uh so that they can go out and procure these services uh because of uh
their current financial situation. uh it uh it would uh be very difficult for them to accommodate that at this expense at this time without affecting operations and effectively uh we the county uh is very very dependent on tech
share being able to operate properly and so we want to make sure that there's no financial impact to this organization that could negatively affect uh their ability to support the county. All right. Sounds like to me we're subsidizing somebody's
business process. Well, I mean, effectively, if I may, uh, you know, tech share, uh, is a a county asset. It's a an asset for several counties who are participating counties, but by virtue of our larger presence to the
tune of about 80%. Techshare is effectively an 80% asset of the county. So enabling them to look at their business proposition, to look at their platforms, uh to look at their marketing potential, I think that it is huge
benefit to the county in terms of its ability to control its costs going forward. It is uh in my view unfortunate that the long history of tech share not always successful
uh continues to impact the perception of the organization and the software and more importantly of the value that it presents to the county as we speak here. Uh TechShare is effectively running the county. Our courts are running as we
speak. Uh the CDA office is running as we speak. Juvenile is running as we speak. The jail is running as we speak. All of that is taking place while we're here at a price performance ratio that I believe exceeds anything in the
industry. Um it is uh it is a product of high quality at this point after a long struggle over almost 20 years and a product that is remarkably inexpensive when compared with other solutions that
exist in the market that do not have the same type of functionality and provide the same level of service. So as the CIO uh you know being in charge of ensuring that the computing platforms for Tarant County are about as good as they can be
I believe and I am I am I'm actually quite satisfied uh that TechShare as we stand today provides an invaluable service to the county at a price that could not be more optimized. Have you
ever do you all conduct enduser surveys? Like do you all survey the our county staff that actually use texture? Absolutely. We I I talk I talk with my stakeholders on on a daily basis, right?
You but you do formal some some semiformal research so they can respond anonymously. Uh yes. Yes. Absolutely. which which by the way I believe is the most important one because one thing I can tell you commissioner none of them hesitates to call me when something goes wrong.
That's something I learned. Or me. Huh? Or me. Or you. No, no, no. You've called me in the past. Absolutely. So I think they call me. They call me. I I I ask you that if they do so that they call me so that I can address it. I can tell you that in the 18 months that
I've been here uh from so my direct experience we've gone from a situation where I was getting daily calls multiple daily calls about performance issues about other issues one one might call bugs
um that uh you know that uh that occurred on a regular basis. Um knock on wood um I am no longer receiving those calls at all. As a matter of fact, um I would struggle to remember a single call like that over the last three or four
months. Uh we have reached a level of stability with tech share that is enviable. Uh and that I am very very uh grateful for especially late at night and in the weekends. Um but uh that is
due to the uh you remarkable uh amount of work that has been done by both techshare and the users in bringing to the table a a working relationship that has provided us with great results. And so uh you know and and as a CIO that has
no pride of authorship right because I wasn't here when all this started uh I can only be gratified that we got to a level of performance uh that is what a county like Taran County deserves. That's all I have. All right. Anybody else have anything or
a motion? Uh I I'd move that we approve this and then I'll have a comment. Second. Okay. All right. We have a motion a second to approve uh discussion. My my comment is maybe forward looking. I think what we ought to do is have a full briefing on kind of tech share where their status
is. So, as as you know, I stepped into Commissioner Fus' role on the board of tech share and so there's been wholesale change there just over the past um heck four months and and it's uh it's remarkable the track that I think is
achievable uh in the next year, year and a half. And so I' I've been very impressed by what I've seen uh internally at their willingness to explore outside of the box ideas all to the benefit of Tarant County and our other partner agencies. So I think one of these days maybe even in a special
meeting we do a a tech share or technology kind of roundup uh to see what's there um how we're performing and I'd love for the rest of the court to have the visibility that I have uh into that system now. So, okay, we have a motion and a second on
that item. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. Uh, all opposed. All right. Passes four to one. Thank you. All right. Now, we come to purchasing. So, um, I will make a motion
and feel free to pull one of these out here that we approve 01 through six. Second. All right, we have a second on that. Take a look at those. See if you have any questions, comments. So, it's a motion and a second to
approve 01 through 06. I have a question about three. Far away. Is this a new new contract? No. Why would I didn't even mean that? Yeah. How about the Is this a new contract? No, this is not.
Okay. All right. Thank you. I should have taken credit for being funny. Um I didn't know that's what that was. Yeah. All right. Anybody have anything? Okay. Seeing none, uh motion to second to approve item 01 through six. All in
favor raise your hand. All that passes unanimously. We have a speaker on 07 which is is why I didn't include that. So 07 is an annual contract for jail security electronics and software system integration maintenance and repair. I'll
move to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion before our speaker? All right. Bishop Kirkland, I I just got more questions today and I'm sorry. Uh I just got more questions.
I'm I'm like a 5-year-old. Please explain it to me, somebody so I can understand these software updates, all this stuff the jail needs. We these people, the taxpayers
are paying for all of this equipment and we still can't see takes from Anthony Johnson Jr.'s murder. We We bought this equipment. This equipment belongs to us. And because I'm a reader
of faces, I know all of you, maybe with the exception of him, have seen that tape because I read people. I know that you you you and you have seen that tape because I read people.
Why haven't we been privy to it and we're paying for it? That's like me paying for my motor vehicle and I don't get permission to drive it. And then when we ask questions like this
and when we challenge the powers that be in this room, I even watch people who sit along these these lines in these quarters and the disdain and the disrespect
from looking under their glasses, passing notes, making facial gestures while Commissioner Simmons is speaking. Whether you like her or not, whether you appreciate what she brings to the table or not, as an elective commissioner in
Tarant County, she deserves your respect. I don't often agree with the three of these gentlemen. Okay. At the moment, we're not talking about an annual contract for jail security electronics. If you want to save that for public comment, great. If
you want to talk about this item, you can continue. What was the item? I guess I messed up, judge. Yeah, it's annual contract for jail security electronics and software system integration. Hell, I read it wrong. I'm sorry. All right, we have a motion and a second
on item 07. Any further discussion on that? All right, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, it passes five to zero. Now I will make a motion to approve items 08
through 011. Second. We have a motion and a second there. Anybody have any questions, comments on that one. Okay, seeing none, all in favor of this motion approving 08 through 01, please
raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously. I did not include 12 because I have some questions on 12. So, um, who can talk about number 12? Can you talk about number 12? Yes. Okay.
So, um, this is a one-time purchase of furniture for 350 West Bellnap. Are we um adding any new positions that are going into West Bellnap?
None that I'm aware of, Judge. So, everybody that's moving into West Bellnap currently has a place where they go to work and sit and have a desk and have file cabinets and whatever they have. Is that right? Yes, sir. Okay. Why are we buying new furniture?
We've already approved it. Um this is a That's not what I asked, though. Why are we buying new furniture? I would point to a lot of these employees are in the old courts building which is uh 200 Bellnap. Uh it's very
dilapidated furniture. It's very old. Uh we have a lot of leaks in there where we get water that actually damages a lot of the furniture in there anyway. Okay. So this is a wholesale replacement of very old and dilapidated furniture. Okay. All right. That's what I have. Anybody
have a motion on this one? Make a motion to approve. Second. Second. All right. We have a motion to approve item 012. Any further discussion? All right. Please raise your hand if you're for it. All right. Passes five to zero.
All right. Let's just do it one at a time here. 13. Um I'll move to reject all bids and grant permission to rebid. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion there? All right. All in favor, raise your hand.
Passes 5-0. Number 14, approval of invoice payment onsite geo elections arc technical training services and election administration. I will move to approve payment of the invoice.
Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on that? Yes. So the training was completed without a PO or invoice for services is correct. That's what happened here.
Yes, it's already happened. Okay. Um Okay. And so we're just going back. Yes. We sent a notice to the department as well as the vendor to remind them that they must obtain a PO prior to services being rendered.
Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Did we We have a motion to second on this one, right? Yep. Okay. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor of 014, please raise your hand. All right. That passes unanimously.
Now we come to 05. Permission to take bids and issue RFPs. Move to approve. We have a motion and a second on item 15. Any discussion there? Um 15 C
the purchase of firearms range target system for 115,000. Um is this for the current fire uh train the um range? It's the current outdoor range. Yes.
Okay. Uh and this is a budgeted item uh I believe. So it it reads in the 2025 budget. Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. We have a motion and a second on item 015. Any further discussion?
All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Then we move to item 046 from consent. That was me.
All right, let me read that here. Okay. 046. Recognition of Tarant County Purchasing Department 2025 achievement of excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. was kind of wondering why that was on cons or uh on consent and um pulled it
off to congratulate the purchasing department on this 2025 achievement of excellence in procurement award from the national procurement institute. Congratulations to you guys. Not quite sure why it was on consent but
thank you for the work work that you do. Thank you very much. All right. Is that a motion to approve? Yes. I'll move approval. Second. All right. We have a motion, a second on item 046. Any further discussion?
All right. Please raise your hand if you're in favor. All right. Passes unanimously. Next up, we have board and commission appointments. Uh I have three to make. Uh, I will move to appoint
John Henahosa to Trinity Metro in place of Paul Alvarado and to reappoint Jack McCarti and Will Churchill to Trinity Metro. Do we have a second? Second. All right, we have a motion, a second. Any discussion there?
All right, please raise your hand if you're in favor. All right, that passes 5-0. And any other board or commission appointments? Yes, I have several. Um,
do one at a time motion or the whole group motion? Pride probably all at once. I move um appointment of Jason Thomas to the building line adjustment board. uh move approval or appointment u of
Jason Thomas to the variance appeal board. I move um to appoint Kelly Allen Gray and Stephanie Swan
to the Child Protective Services Board. I move to reappoint Billy Wilson and Floren Barger Henry to the historical commission for precinct 2. And
that's all I have right now. Okay, we have a motion, one motion. We're going to take that as one motion to appoint all those people or reappoint them as named. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion to second. Any discussion there? All right. All in favor, please raise
your hand. All right. Passes unanimously. Any other board or commission appointments? All right. Next up, we have operational impact of Tarant County redistricting briefing. [Music]
Good afternoon, court members. Just a quick update on where we stand on uh operational impacts of redistricting. Uh this is an amended version of the presentation you received uh during the last court meeting uh to really talk about items that are still uh on the table uh out there that uh we're we're
working through to to complete uh redistricting. So does this work? Okay, perfect. There we go. Okay, so we're down to really three departments that have uh primary responsibility in finalizing the implementation uh of of
redistricting. Those would be budget, elections, and communications. So, under budget, uh the primary item that is left is the recommendations uh to each commissioner precinct related to the fiscal 20 26th budget submission. Uh we should hope to have those obviously
finalized by the time we get to the budget hearings uh next Thursday, the 14th. Uh under elections, uh we have really three items that are that are left. Uh last time we had talked about the need to update the voter registration system. That plan has been
completed and then and Clint and his team are in the process of actually implementing uh that that system. Uh the notice is to comply with requirements of voting was originally scheduled to be uh voted on today. Uh however, we're going to bring that back at the next the next
meeting to to do that. Uh and then finally, uh one thing that Clint's folks are working on, uh the new maps are, uh officially effective, um for for voting purposes as of January 1. So Clint and his team are working on a way to show
those updates from a voter precinct level uh system without affecting the current uh maps that are still in place as it is right now. Uh so uh they are working on what that might look like so we can make sure and get that information out to the public just as quickly as we can.
Uh on communications uh we have sent notifications to uh our cities uh through the mayor's council which actually met yesterday. Mr. McClinton made sure that the mayor's council was updated. Uh the state and federal delegation have also received correspondence from us making sure they were aware uh of Tarant County's actions
with regards to that. Uh, as I said, the mayor's council was was updated yesterday during the regularly scheduled meeting. Uh, and then finally, uh, on a communications front for external communications, uh, we've been working on, uh, several communications to go out. We're trying to we're trying to time those to line up to when the voting
precinct maps are available. We don't want to put something out there too soon. And then they say, well, where where's my voting precinct? And we don't have that information out there yet. So, today we just have what is a preview for you just to show you what we're intending to to show the public uh through all of our communications channels. It's just a quick little
video. Uh, I'll be honest, it was supposed to have audio in it. Uh, I think we did we did we No. Okay. All right. So, we tried hard to get the audio working. So, just imagine some pretty acoustic guitar music playing while you're watching this next little video here. So, uh, and that's not it.
What do I need to do, Garrett? Do I click something? Oh, there we go. They hit play. So again, nice little guitar music while you're watching this online. Uh this will be shared on the social media channels uh as uh as well as anywhere else that we that we see fit. We'll
we'll encourage partners to assist us in in resharing that. So that was a quick little 17 18 second video. That's the kind of stuff we're working on to just ensure that the community is certainly aware of that. But again, timing wise, we want to make sure that lines up with u with what we're doing with the maps just so because the first question
they'll say is, "Well, what's my new voting precinct?" And we want to make sure that information is available as we start to further share out this information. Oh, that was fast. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Any questions for Chandler?
All right. We have one speaker, Mr. Jimmy Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell, is he present? There he is. [Music] Judge O'Hara, we the people believe you already knew what the impact
would be even before you pushed forward with this racist gerrymanding scheme. First of all, you knew that by fracking precinct uh two into a precinct heavily populated with Republicans and mega
knights would make it almost if not impossible for Commissioner Simmons to be reelected. Therefore, eliminating your strongest opposition.
How dare this African of the diaspora woman challenge my slave authority? Second of all, you knew that by packing Africans of the diaspora,
Mexicans and Asians into precent one would greatly dilute their vote and silence their voices. also by moving major industry
out of precent one. That move alone put precent one in a financial chokeold that would eventually leave it lifeless and the voices of the people, citizens
of this county ineffective. Judge O'Hara, stop hiding behind lies. Come clean, grow up, be an adult, and let the people know exactly what's behind this racist
germanding redrawing of the precinct lines. because we are well aware that this has nothing to do with the population boom so to speak because there has been no census since 2020
and we know that you rushed this thing through so that your agenda alone could be passed. Your failure to inform the commissioners of precinct one and
precinct 2 of your actions only goes to show that it's not about population. It's about maintaining your control over this commissioner's court. As a matter
of fact, if I may quote you, you said you would like to have all five Republicans, and that's fine. They all five will be rages. Thank you. All right. We now move to public comments.
First person I have signed up to speak is Bob Willoughby. Mr. Willoughby is Bill Fischer. Talk about you. I'm talking about him. If he wants to leave, he can. Um, okay. Let's start off with one thing real quick. We're at the comment meeting, right? Okay. You ought
to move the public comment meeting to the top. You say Republicans, we the people first. Put the comment meeting on top. It's there at the school board. Is there council meetings? Not ours. We don't have one. But anyway, put it top. Second thing is real quick here. One thing y'all have in common with the school board, city council, and the
commissioner's court. You don't answer questions across the board. You don't answer questions. I've asked you a simple question, you never answer. I've asked you one, you never answer. I've asked a lot. That's okay. They don't have a good school board either or anybody's house. No one answer questions. That's the first thing needs to be fixed in the city. Second thing is
when you talk about you can't get reelected because of the drawing the maps. The same thing in Fort Worth where Lisa Breck and Lisa Beck in district 5 started crying because she wouldn't get reelected because they draw the maps. What I got to know is you can't get
re-elected because you don't have Democrats voting for you. How about qualifications? Do they count anymore? Qualifications. What y'all are saying is if I can't have black people voting for me, if I can't have Democrats voting for me, and I cannot believe Biden, President Biden
elected a vice president by race and gender only. Said my vice president going to be a woman, going to be a black woman. No qualifications. What happened to qualifications? That's what I want. I don't care what race, gender you are. I want you available to answer questions. And when it comes to
answer questions, Bill Sor didn't answer no questions. I've got documents at his desk right now that show misreuse of proper funds, CCP funds, misuse of them. So when one of them said Josh shouldn't be trusted with giving out funds and
stuff, you shouldn't be because you're not holding Phil source to what he's doing. I got a document on his desk. 100. Undisputable. Undisputable. You know what he says? I'm not going to dispute it. I'm not going to act on it. I'm not going to answer you. There we
are. No answers. That is the key problem to everything in this city. No answers. Number one, no answers. When you start answering, then we can start talking cuz we're in a partnership whether we like it or not. got our money, you got the
rules, and we don't got anything out here, but no answers. So anyway, if you don't think you can get elected because you're a Democrat, try qualification. Go out and meet. There's 1% only 1% voting in your district. 99% is not voting. What about those people? All y'all fight
for is the same freaking group of people over and over and over. We're down to 1% voting. Get out there and knock on some doors and get some votes. It don't matter how they draw the lines. If you're good and you're qualified, you'll get reg reelected regardless. I appreciate your time. Thank you very
much. Thank you. Thank you. Bill Fiser present. Is Bill Fiser present? All right. No, Mr. Fiser. Next, we have Bishop Kirkland. Following Bishop Kirkland, we have Jasmine Hunter. I'm appalling
and don't get stopped. When they call you racist, when they call y out of y'all names, everything gets shuts down. But when they attack her, it's full game on. That's the way the game's been played. I get it.
It wasn't right, Bob. I just got questions again. Excuse me. Uh, I have questions again. Why did the sheriff's department employees are the only department in the
county across the line got a 3% cost of living raise and some of the people in this room right here didn't get one and they killed more cattle. They killed more people than we killed cattle in the state of Texas. Yet everybody over there
in that slaughter house got a 3% raise across the line and not all county employees. I don't look for people to contact me in the county. They contact me. You know why? Because they're scared. They're
afraid. Because that's the way things go now. Because our president does that. And since he does that and he make people afraid to challenge him, now it's pervasive here. People are afraid of Mr. Hair. So they don't voice their opinions
because they're afraid they're going to get fired. So if I don't have enough to do, county employees are contacting me because they're scared for their jobs. They're scared for their livelihoods. Can we please not go on television
because we just uh Miss Miss who retired today. Uh she she didn't really retire. She was forced out of her job. So let's not go on TV and brag about how much we've saved and the
budget cuts. In reality, we've eliminated positions and we ain't saved no money. We just eliminated position. I saw the whole interview. I almost threw up. Mr. judge. Um, I I want to apologize. I read the agenda
item wrong. I try to stay on point. If someone would have given me that 900k that you had in surplus during the time of the debate today and if you send me to stop six right with that 900k right in less than an hour
yes I could have found a way to justify giving that money our problem people was an antiquated outdated system you cannot
you cannot regulate ate Catholic Charities or any other major organization on how that money is going to be allocated or dispersed. I'm looking to see how this is going to come out in the wash. Thank you for your time. Thank you.
Is Jasmine Hunter present? All right. Next, we have Amy Super followed by Jimmy Blackwell. Good afternoon. During the July 1st Commissioner's Court meeting, Commissioner Simoni brought to the attention of all of us that the
redistricting of the county precincts that the majority of you voted in favor of took effect the date that the vote took place. That's that's what I understood you to say. Um, no one came back and said that that was incorrect. Um, I was confused
by what was presented by this gentleman just a few minutes ago speaking about maps and voting precincts not being in effect until January 1st. So, I don't know if I'm a constituent of Manny Ramirez or if Miss Simmons right now. So, I'm not sure if I should go on with
the remainder of my comments, but I will. Um, as it stands right now, I'm going to go ahead and believe that what Commissioner Simmons said was accurate and it reflects what I've researched as well. Um, that would mean myself and my husband are now your constituents. Our
son and our daughter-in-law are also two of your new constituents. We were moved from precinct 4 to precinct 2. They've removed from precinct 1 to precinct 2. And at least 22 Taran County Republican precinct chairs have also become more of your newest constituents.
I'm one of those precinct chairs. To say I'm engaged in getting out the vote would be a bit of an understatement. According to my party records, I personally knocked on more doors leading up to the November 24 elections than any other precinct chair in our party.
We, the affforementioned New County precinct 2 constituents previously referred to, would likely not have voted for you when you were last on the ballot. The following statements are my personal opinions as a constituent, as a voter, which I can feel compelled to share publicly. Anyone who considers
what I say to be an attack on Commissioner Simmons needs to reexamine their own hearts and listen more carefully. I'm going to ask because I've heard on numerous occasions you've made it abundantly clear with your words and actions the interests of what groups of people you intend to represent and which
you feel best suited to represent. I don't fall into either of those categories. Yet, you are obligated to at least appear to be willing to hear from all of your constituents, at least for the remainder of the time you remain county commissioner for county precinct 2. As your constituent, I respectfully
request that you attempt to exemplify a more professional manner in your interactions with county employees during these live stream meetings. As part of their duties, they must present details and answer your questions about proposed consent agenda items. Berating them, speaking in an exceptionally
condescending manner, even accusing them of lying, which you did today, is simply not becoming even an elected official and is frankly cringeworthy to be in the same room when it occurs. So, I'm going to ask that you do better as your new constituent. Thank you. Thank you. Following Mr. Blackwell, we
have Leavon Cochril. [Music] Judge O'Hare, I don't believe that there is an accredited institution in this country that would adopt your leadership model.
Your leadership model teaches if you cannot win based on established rules then ignore them. If you cannot win fair and square then change the rules.
If you are challenged then lie. If all of this fails then you bring out the big guns. coercion, intimidation,
and bullying. This model of leadership might last for a minute or two, but eventually it will fizzle out. Your problem, Judge O'Hara, is your overblown ego
that cannot take strong opposition, especially from a strong African of the diaspora woman. And now it is the desire of this court to eliminate programs that were
established to assist citizens that need assistance of this county who need assistance from time to time to make ends meet or at least to make them see each other.
Commissioner's court open with a prayer. That's nice, isn't it? Yet you turn around and eliminate programs designed. We need to take one pause. We had a what? We need We had a small technical issue in the back. [Music]
Okay. All right, Miss Carl, you can head back up. Thank you, Judge O'Hara. I'm not real sure what I signed up for, but I want to read what I had written before before I got terribly fright. I didn't get frightened. I got furious. Two different
things. Um, I just want us all to remember that 85% of charter schools are out of business within 15 years. And when you're doing this nonprofit information, this is going to be about the same thing. They're they don't
they're poorly run most of them. Not talking about United Way, although their CEO has made themselves very wealthy. We know they're topheavy in funding. Um, and when you start privatizing the good health of the people in our city where I
see homeless people wherever I drive, it's like Fort Worth City privatizing doing our roads. And if you haven't come down Westridge Avenue, do it. Put something in the back that rattles and have a fun time doing that. Go down
Victory. Go down Allen Street. Just a city street. That's what privatization does. And it was a Republican idea 30 years ago to pull all this money out and say, "Hey, let's make these people have things." But there is no accountability.
There's it's fake data. It's poor management. It's no oversight. There's favoritis favoritism. And it's poor performance. Now, I can call my city councilman and say, "I'm really mad about this. I'm
gonna start posting it on my Facebook page. People are going to go, "Yeah, that's a bad road." And eventually, finally, you get a phone call back from him. He goes, "Yeah, that's a bad road. I'm going to call the guy that made that road and
maybe we can get it smooth." But but that was me being mad, being upset, calling what you're planning to do by privatizing these monies. I mean, heck, there are people under the under the bridge right now. Hand me some of that and I'll go
down and give it to them and then we can rent something for them and and sustain. Let's just get them off the street. Get them off the street. And I don't I don't believe these nonprofits can do this. If they could, they would have.
If they could, they would have. And only a collective taxpayer system can actually make this work right for us. Also, you got to put a hallway here. This is a fire hazard. You know, if
somebody were if we had to exit, just getting down this row is really bad. Just take some chairs out and get us an aisle. Thanks. Is Carla Palyus present? Adrien Smith.
So, as I begin, I'm I'm going to end again. Thank you all for how you all conduct business down here. Again, it's like night and day uh here compared to city hall, but I'm I'm appreciative of it. Um, I know we
we're in election season again and Judge O'Hara, you have shared with us publicly that you are running again. Kudos. Kudos. Um, I would not dare question you as a man,
a father, a husband, anything of that nature. You have been very transparent on social media. We can engage you. You engage us back. you don't block people, you know, you engage us. Um, so I I appreciate that. Uh, actually your first your first run, I I was someone who
supported you. I did support you and you came onto a platform that a friend of mine she she had at the time and you you talked to the people, you know, and we heard you. Uh, the candidates didn't, but you came on and, you know, you had
my support. Now going forward uh we have to see. I haven't you know I've seen a lot and heard a lot and you know there are a lot of people who agree or disagree with some of the things you have done but me personally I'm still uh
just watching and waiting and listening. you know, uh I would consider all candidates who put theirelves up for office, but if they don't pass the mustard, then hey, you know, I'm I'm just one vote, you
know, I'm one vote. So, um, to each of you commissioners, I mean, regardless of the changes that that that are happening, remember the people are the ones who going to make the ultimate determination. You know, I know it's the political divide is it's here. You know,
we know the political divide is here, but again, the people are the ones who going to have a final say. So I encourage you all regardless of the changes that are coming. Some are bolden with them. Some feel like it's against them. Remember the people just speak to
the people. Speak to the heart. Speak to the minds. Get the people on board cuz they're the ones who are going to make the final decision. Endorsements are good. But again, the people are the one who going to make the final have a final say in everything.
I truly feel y'all. We as a nation, I think we are starting to stink in the nostril of our the most high God. I know on our on our money is printed in God we trust. But I know that term is not talking about the God that created everything. It's talking about this is
this is America's God right here. But I truly think we as a nation are starting to sink in the nostril in God's nostril and something is coming. I just pray we all are ready for it. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. All right, that's all the folks we have signed up to speak. Do we have any announcements or comments from
commissioners? I just have one. Um, we've had a great intern with us all summer. She's been fantastic. Kelly Graham, uh, is here today. And so, Kelly, yes, I wanted you to stand up. She's been unbelievable. She's a Baylor student. She's about to
go back to school. You're going to be seeing a lot more from her. But, thank you for everything you did this summer. Every task, every responsibility we given, you just crushed it. So, good luck this school year and we hope to see you back next year. All right. Anybody have anything else?
Okay. The court will now recess the open session and proceed to close session to discuss ex items exempt under sections 551 071 072 074076 087 and 0725 of the Texas Government
Code. It is now 2:50. Executive session will begin promptly at 3:05. We are now in recess. back from executive session and we only have one item to address which is item
F1 uh consideration of an employment agreement engaging Tim Davis of Jackson Walker for the defense of Tom Wilder district clerk in a lawsuit in file the state of Texas. Uh Lewis Brooks McKenzie Jose Pora
Leighton versus Tom Wilder. Motion. Move for adoption. Okay. Uh we have a motion. I'll second it. Any discussion? All in favor raise your hand.
All opposed raise your hand. passes four to one. Uh there are no other items to address. We are now officially adjourned.