[I.2. Discussion and possible action to release the performance bond #1001130663 in the amount of $1,045,394.00 and consider the acceptance of road construction & surface drainage improvements for Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, Phase II (to be privately maintained). SMITH/A.JONES]

TO PULL K5 FOR ANYBODY NOAH WAS GOING ON TO THE AGENDA SO PLEAS

OPEN I TOO. >> DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTIO TO RELEASE THE PERFORMANCE BOND (100)113-0663 IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,045,039 FOR $94 AND CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF ROAD CONSTRICTS AND DRAINAGE FOR DRIFTWOOD, GOLF AND RANCH CLUB PHASE II TO BE PRIVATELY MAINTAINED.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN,

[I.3. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Standard Utility Agreement Supplemental No. 1 between Hays County and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc. for the Old Bastrop Highway Project in Precinct 1 and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/A.JONES]

COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONE

OF INGALSBE, JUDGE BECERRA. >> 'S SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER ONE BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY IN BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. FOR THE HIGHWAY PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE AND MOVE THE BUDGE

ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED, SECOND.

>> IT'S JUST AN INCREASE IN COS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS IN I GUESS SOME REDESIGN OF EASEMENTS .

>> PLEASE CALL A ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER.

[I.4.Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Contract for Engineering Services (PSA-2026-84) between Hays County and Surveying and Mapping (SAM), LLC to provide Utility Coordination services for the High Road Project in Precinct 1 and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/A.JONES]

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONE COHEN, JUDGE BECERRA. I FOR, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTE EXECUTION FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES 20 TO SIX DASH 84 BETWEEN HAYES COUNTY AN SURVEYING AND MAPPING SAM LLC T PROVIDE UTILITY COORDINATION SERVICES FOR HYBRID PROJECT AND

AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONE EMMA, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE,

[I.5. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Contract for Engineering Services (2026-PSA-69) between Hays County and Doucet & Associates, Inc. to provide engineering services for the Darden Hill West Extension project in Precinct 4 and amend the budget accordingly. SMITH/A.JONES]

JUDGE BECERRA. >> I-5.

>> I-5, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT WERE ENGINEERING SERVICES 2026 TESS PSA DASH TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FO THE DARDEN HILL WEST EXTENSION EXTENSION PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SEVERAL.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE'VE GOT OUR SECOND.

AND, DO YOU HAVE ANY IN-PERSON OR ARE THEY ALL WRITTEN.

>> PERFECTS. JUST TO YOUR THING.

>> THIS IS FROM MATT WATERS. I SUBMIT THE STATEMENT ON BEHAL OF THE PETITION SIGNATORIES AND RESIDENTS OF DARDEN HILL ROAD AND WE SUPPORT SIT SAFE RESPONSIBLE MOVEMENTS, WE DO NO SUPPORT ALLOWING THIS CONTRACT TO DETERMINE A FOUR-LANE DIVIDE HIGHWAY AND BESIDES OUR SCHOOLS. ITEM I-5 DESCRIBES A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY COMING AT THE COUNTY HAS SAID THAT THE TRAFFICS FOR THIS IS NOW ONLY BEGINNING AND THAT A TWO LANE CONFIGURATION MAY BE CONSIDERED. THOSE FACTS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE COUNTRY SHOULD NOT, TO A FOUR-LANE OUTCOME BEFORE THE MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES ARE EVALUATED.

IS NOT JUST A MINUTE STRAIGHT O IT ESTABLISHES THE ENGINEERING FRAMEWORK FROM WHICH FUTURE WOR AUTHORIZATIONS ALIGNMENT DECISIONS, RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPACTS AND DESIGN CHOICES WILL FOLLOW PERTH THIS IS THE MOMENT TO ENSURE THAT BUT DECISIONS ARE BASED ON NOT ASSUMED HIGHWAY TO OTHER PLANS OR UNFUNDED PROJECT.

WE ASKED THE COURT TO CONTINUE ITEM I-5 OR AT MINIMUM DIRECT THAT NO WORK AUTHORIZATION ENHANCER FOUR-LANE TO SIGN THE FINAL ALIGNMENT OR RIGHTS OF WA ACQUISITION COUNTY FIRST ONE PUBLISHES CURRENT TRAFFIC COUNT AND TRANSPARENT CAPACITY ANALYSIS, TO, COMPARE IS A PERMANENT TWO LANE SUPER TO DESIGN WITH TARGETED TURN LANES AGAINST A FOUR-LANE ALTERNATIVE THREE, COMPLETES AND PUBLISHES TRAFFIC NOISE AND SAFE ROUTES T SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS. HOLDS DARDEN HILL SPECIFIC MEETING BEFORE A LANE CONFIGURATION IS SELECTED.

FIVE, DESIGNS FOR A 35-MILE PER OUR SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SAF CORRIDOR WITH THE MEANINGFUL PLAN TO END SIX, RETURNS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW BEFORE MOVING BEYOND

[00:45:04]

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS OF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT ASKING THE COUNTY TO DO NOTHING, WE ARE ASKING FOR SA FOR A EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTION THAT PRESERVES DARDEN HILL IS A COMMUNITY ROAD, NOT A REGIONAL BYPASS.

ACCURACY IN PUBLIC MATTER MATTERS.

THIS DESCRIBES A 1.7-MILE FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY END FUNDS IS INSURING CONTRACT THROUGH 2025 CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. RESIDENTS DESERVE A DECISION BETA ON COST AND FUNDING BEFORE THE COUNTY MOVES INTO DESIGN.

THANK YOU. LYNN GREER TEN.

I LIVE ON DARDEN HILL ROAD, MY PROPERTY IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED B THE PROPOSED DARDEN HILL WEST EXTENSION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY CONSISTENTLY DESCRIBE THIS PROJECT IS BEING APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT DESIGN WITH ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT STILL ADVERTED THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED TO READ THE ENGINEERING CONTRACT BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THE AGENDA DESCRIBES THE PROJEC IS A 1.7-MILE FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY, WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS, INTERSECTION AND OTHER SPECIFIC FEATURES. AS A RESIDENT HIS PROPERTY MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MESSAGE THI SENDS. IF THE PUBLIC HAD BEEN TOLD THE DESIGN IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT BUT THE ENGINEERING CONTRACT IS ALREADY BASED ON A FOUR-YEAR FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY IT RAISES A REASONABLE QUESTION WHICH IS HOW OPEN IS THE DESIGN PROCESS AT THIS POINT. IF THE POLICY DECISION TO BUILD A FOUR LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY HAS BEEN MADE, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW THAT CLEARLY. IF THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE I HOPE THE UPCOMING ENGINEERING WORK WILL INCLUDE A EVALUATION OF REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES BEFORE MAJOR DESIG DECISIONS ARE EFFECTIVELY FINALIZED.

ABOVE ALL, I ASKED THE COURT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGERS.

WE UNDERSTAND HAYES COUNTY IS GROWING AND THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AREN'T NEEDED, WE JUST LUMPED CONFIDENCE THAT THE PUBLIC PROCESS REMAINS MEANINGFUL AND THAT ARE INCOMPLETE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE .

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> ISABELLA WALT, TO THE COMMISSIONERS I'M WRITING TO EXPLAIN MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THEIR PROPOSED EXPANSION OF DARDEN HILL ROAD INTO VOICE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SURROUND THIS PROJEC VARIES ALTHOUGH I DO NOT CURRENTLY LIVE IN DRIFTWOOD, I GREW UP THERE AND I SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME THERE IN MY COMMUNITY. THE HOUSES LIMIT THE FEW PLACES I CAN ESCAPE THE CONGESTION AND NONSTOP DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN.

IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING TO SEE SUCH AN PROJECT MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT RESIDENT, OVER THE PAST EUTECTIC'S, DRIFTWOOD AND THIRD-GRADER DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS AREA HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTH, LONGTIME RESIDENTS HAVE WATCHED FARMS AN RANCHES DISAPPEAR REPLACED BY SUBDIVISION AFTER SUBDIVISION.

THE AREA HAS STRUGGLED WITH THE INCREASING TRAFFIC, MOUNTING PRESSURE ON OUR LIMITED WATER SOURCES AND THE GRADUAL LOSS OF THE RURAL CHARACTER THAT HAS MADE IT SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE FO GENERATIONS. THIS PROPOSED ROADWAYS FEELS LIKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARD TURNIN DRIFTWOOD INTO ANOTHER SUBURBAN CORRIDOR ARE. THE QUIET COUNTRY ROADS, DARK SKIES, ROLLING HILLS OPEN PASTORS AND PEACEFUL SUNSETS AR NOT THEY ARE WHITE PEOPLE VALUE THIS COMMUNITY.

EVERY TIME I RIDE MY HORSE TO THE RANCH OR DRIVE THE BACK ROADS, AND REMANDED LIKE PLACES LIKE THIS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY RARE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

THERE ARE ALREADY COUNTLESS COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION DRIFTWOOD SHOULD NOT BE SACRIFICED TO ACCOMMODATE MORE TRAFFIC AT THE EXPENSE OF ITS RESIDENTS.

IT'S RANCHES, IT'S WILDLIFE ONC THESE LINKS ESCAPES ARE FRAGMENTED THEY CANNOT BE RESTORED.

AT A MINIMUM I URGE YOU TO PAUS THIS PROJECT UNTIL THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN GIVING ME NOBLE NOTICE AND AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PLANS AND GENES TO PROVIDE INPUT FOR FOUR DECISIONS OF THI MAGNITUDE ARE MADE. MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD NOT A FORWARD WITHOUT COMMUNITY TRUST.

PLEASE PROTECT WHAT MAKES DRIFTWOOD UNIQUE.

FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SAME COUNTRY SIDE SO MANY OF US HAVE CHERISHED VERY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION .

[00:50:04]

TOM RIORDAN. GOOD MORNING, I AM TOM RIORDAN OVER HAYS COUNTY RESIDENT. A APPRECIATE THE WORK FOR BECAUSE INTO PLANNING, TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR RAPIDLY GROWING COUNTY GREAT I UNDERSTAND PROJECTS LIKE THIS EXTENSION TAKE YEARS TO DEVELOP. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC PROCESS REMAINS MEANINGFUL.

THE COUNTY HAS DESCRIBED THIS PROJECT IS BEING APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT DESIGN WITHIN ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES STILL AHEAD.

THE ENGINEER A CONTRACT BEFORE YOU DESCRIBES A PROJECT AS A 1.

ROADWAY. WITH A SHARED USE PATHS, ROUNDABOUTS, T INTERSECTION AND OTHER SPECIFIC FEATURES.

AS A CITIZEN I WOULD ASK FOR GREATER CLARITY.

IF THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWA HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE, I BELIEV THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED OPENLY. IF IT HAS KNOTS, I HOPE THE ENGINEERING PROCESS WILL GENUINELY CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE MAJOR DECISIONS BECOME FINAL GRADE TRANSPARENCY BUILDS PUBLIC TRUST, CLEAR COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE DECISIONS I MADE AND WHICH DECISIONS REMAIN OPEN HELPS RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHEN THEIR INPUT CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION . NIKE MATHIS.

PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR DARDEN HILL ROAD, THE PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY INFORMED AND HAS NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ADVERSELY REFLECTED BRIGHT IT SEEMS THAT THE COMMISSIONER DOESN'T CARE WHAT THE LANDOWNER WANT THE COUNTY IS DISRUPTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR DARK SKY INITIATIVE IN OUR WATER SUPPLY. SHOULDN'T COMMISSIONER SMITH BE WORKING FOR US INSTEAD OF AGAINST US? PENNY REEVES. FIRST, THANK YOU FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT APPROVING THIS SIZABLE CONTRACT ON THE PROPOSED DARDEN HILL ROA EXPANSION PER THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PUBLIC INPUT ESPECIALLY FO RESIDENTS ALONG THE ROAD THAT WILL BE IMPACTED NEGATIVELY. BY NOW THE PLANNED FOUR LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY INCLUDING TEMPLATE SHARED USE PAL, ROUNDABOUTS, T INTERSECTION'S AND MORE THE SIZE OF THIS ROADWAY AND THE SHEER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC THAT WILL FOLLOW WILL DETERMINE YOU ARE PLANNING TO PUT AN URBAN SCALE ROADWAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF A RURAL AREA UPRIGHT WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLI INPUT BEFORE APPROVING ENGINEERING CONTRACTS. AS A MEMBER OF THE DRIFTWOOD CONSERVATION SOCIETY, MY POSITION ON DARDEN HILL ROAD, IMPROVEMENT IN LINES WITH THEIR POSITION.

I WOULD LIKE THE COURT TO CONSIDER A LESS INVASIVE AND LESS COSTLY ALTERNATIVE. I WOULD SUPPORT A QUOTE UNQUOTE SUPER TO ROADWAY WHICH IS AN ENHANCED TWO LANE RURAL ROADWAY WITH TURN LANES WERE APPROPRIAT TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND IMPROV SAFETY. IS ALREADY WORKING ON FM 97.

THIS TYPE OF ROAD CAN ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES WITH GROWTH INCLUDING SCHOOL TRAFFIC, WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA ATTRACTED THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT FARMS AN HOMES HERE.

THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON DARDEN HILL HAVE FELT BLINDSIDED BY NEWS OF THIS FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY.

WE HAVE A FEW MEETINGS RECENTLY WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY STAFF , ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ENGINEERS, BUT AFTER ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS I FEEL LIKE THE COUNTY IS JUST GOING TO RAM THI ROAD DOWN OUR RURAL LOVING LIFESTYLE, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE QUOTE BY CLAYTON WILLIAMS FREIGHT IF IT'S INEVITABLE, JUS RELAX AND ENJOY IT. I WILL NOT RELAX OR ENJOY IT I WILL CONTINUE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION.

IN ADDITION I CONTINUED TO VOTE FOR COUNTY LEADERS WHO LISTEN T THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

BOB BRIDGE. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS REGARDING TODAY'S ITEM I, PLEAS DO NOT APPROVE THE 2 MILLION PLUS FOR ENGINEERING PLANS FOR THE PORTION OF THE DARDEN HILL EXTENSION. THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US IS UNDER EXTREME STRESS THE NUMBER OF INSECTS NATIONWIDE CONTINUE TO DROP DRAMATICALLY WHICH LONG-TERM POSES AND EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR AGRICULTURE AND MANKIND.

WE MUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO SLOW THE DISTRACTION OF NATURAL HABITATS AND USE OUR LAND WISELY .

[00:55:02]

IF NEW ROAD IS TO EASE ROAD CONGESTION, THINK AGAIN, THE CONGESTION REDUCES REDUCTIONS ARE SHORT-LIVED.

GENERALLY, FULLY EVAPORATING AFTER FIVE JUDGMENT TEN YEARS O USE. THE WHITENING OF THE CAVE HE FREEWAY, I TEN IN HOUSTON DID NOT EASE LONG TERM CONGESTION, ALTHOUGH IT EXPANDED 26 LANES INSTITUTION TO THE TRAFFIC DELAYS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN A FEW YEARS DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND. WHY DO WE KEEP DOING SHORTSIGHTED BUILDING OVER AND OVER AGAIN? WE MUST PAUSE THIS EXPANSION UNTIL HIS COUNTY EVALUATES HOW TO INTELLIGENTLY ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, REGARDING TODAY'S ITEM, I HAVE, DO NOT APPROVE THE 2 MILLION PLUS FOR ENGINEERING ON THE DARDEN HILL EXTENSION. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO RARE HIL COUNTRY OF TEXAS. HAVE YOU ACTUALLY LIVED IN OUR TRAVEL THROUGH THIS LANDSCAPE AND OBSERVE WHAT IS GROWING THERE? 'S LIVES THERE AND HOW THE VITA CYCLE PSYCHO WORKS THERE OVERTIME.

ONLY EYES ON THE ALMIGHTY DOLLA AND SELLING, SELLING, SELLING O THE TEXAS CAN MISS THE FACT THA ONCE THE HILL COUNTRY IS DESTROYED, IT'S GONE FOREVER. OF THE MONEY IN THE WORLD IS INGRAINED TO RE-CREATE A FRAGIL INTERLOCKING SUCH AS A SHORTSIGHTED INTEREST. WANT TO DESTROY AND THE PURSUIT OF OF COURSE PEOPLE WANT TO MOV YOUR, AT LEAST FOR NOW, BUT COULD WE USE SOME IMAGINATION T FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE POPULATION GROWTH WITHOUT SCRAPING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS OFF THE SURFACE OF THE NATURAL WORLD? HOW ABOUT TRANSFER THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE FOOTPRINT.

HAVE ABOUT HOME SURROUNDING THA USE LITTLE ENERGY AND BETTER DESIGN. TO NURTURE OUR FUTURE.

WHY WOULD WE KEEP DOING STUPID SHORTSIGHTED BUILDING OVER AND OVER AGAIN JUST BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO.

VIC IF YOU TO PAUSE THIS WESTWARD EXPANSION UNTIL SOMEON LOOKS AND LEARNS HOW OTHER PEOPLE INTELLIGENTLY ACCOMMODATED GROWTH. JAN WESTON? HONORABLE JUDGE BECERRA IN THE COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE DON'T APPROVE HI-FI. THE COUNTY IS STILL HAVING OPEN HOUSES LIKE THE THURSDAY AT 430. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE DARDEN HILL AREA WERE MISINFORMED LIKE THE REST OF US AT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE 150 EXPANSION AREA.

DARDEN HILL FOLKS WE'RE TOLD TH BOND WORSE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR CURRENT ROADS. IT'S JUST NOT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE TRUTH FROM THE GET GO.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. I WOULD ALSO EMPLOY YOU TO FOLLOW THAT MANY OF THE FIRMS THAT ARE GETTING THESE DONATING TO MEMBERS OF THIS COURT. PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU ARE DESTROYED BECAUSE ONCE GONE WE WILL NEVER GET IT BACK.

>> EMILY. I HAVE FOUND SOME IRREGULARITIE ABOUT THIS CONTRACT THEY BELIEV SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

FIRST, THE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE LISTED COMPANY BY NAME , BUT AN ADDRESS FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA THE ADDRESS ON WEST HIGHWAY 71 IN AUSTIN. SECOND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST LISTED FOR COMMISSIONE SMITH HOWEVER HE IS LOCATED AS TO THE PROPOSED VENDOR OF 2017. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE A COMMON INTEREST IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED BEFORE ANY AS GRANTED. THE LAST ONE IS FROM DENTON

[01:00:02]

RAGLAN. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS

COURT. >> WELDON, OKAY.

COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> FOR PHOBIC IT STARTED, I JUS WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT.

WITHIN THE LAST I GUESS PROBABL SIX YEARS, SEVEN YEARS, THEY HA THIS PROJECT SEVERAL TIMES AND PARSED IMPARTIAL.

THE BACKGROUND AS FAR BACK FROM THE 2013 TRANSPORTATION PLAN, I WAS RECOMMENDED IT BE AT MINIMU A CENTER TURN LANE ATTITUDE DARDEN HILL ROAD. RIGHT NOW IT'S A TWO LANE ROADWAY, PLACES OF NOT EVEN SUR HOW WERE ABLE TO DO A CENTER TURN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DRAINAGE OR SHOULDERS WHATSOEVER . THE OTHER THING I WOULD TELL YO IS THAT BOTH IN THE 2017 TO 150 WEST CHARACTER PLAN WHICH WE CONDUCTED AS A COUNTY WHICH WAS DONE BETWEEN 2013 AND 2017 AND DIRECT WORK WITH THE HISTORIC CONSERVATION SOCIETY, IDENTIFIE AT MINIMUM OF A CENTER TURN LAN AS WELL.

IN 2021 WITH OUR MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND THE GROWTH THAT WAS SEEN THERE AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW OF AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL GOING IN ON THAT CORRIDOR IS.

IF YOU LOOK AT DARDEN HILL ROAD AND ITS ENTIRETY, IT IS SPLIT A PART OF THE 2016 ROAD BOND PRIO TO MY SERVING ON.

THERE WAS ENGINEERING PAID FOR SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING A ROUNDABOUT AT 1826. THIS ACTUALLY IS EXTENDING THAT PORTION OF THE ROADWAY SEVERAL THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.

AFTER NEAR THE END OF OUR PROCESS IN 2021, AS WELL AS THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING THEIR MASTE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IDENTIFIED THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE 5,000 STUDENTS THERE STARTING NEXT YEAR, BUT ME, AND FALL OF 2028.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE ZONING FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPRAYED AT THIS TIME W KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE STUDENT TRAVELING OR FAMILIES TRYING TRAVELING ON THIS PORTION OF DARDEN HILL ROAD GREAT I THOUGH IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THI IN THE OUTREACH THAT WE DID FOR THE 2024.

IN THE PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY HAD WITH GIVEN TEXTILE STANDARDS WITH A SHARED USE PEDESTRIAN PATH WHICH WOULD MORE OR LESS LANE UP TO WHAT WERE LINING UP FOR WHICH INTERCEPTS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAVE ARE THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY, NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO ADDRESS, I BELIEVE THE PERSON'S NAME WAS EMILY, BUT I DON'T KNO

THE LAST NAME,. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]

>> ONE OF THE CONCERN SHE LISTE WAS THE FACT THAT THE ADDRESS FOR DOUCET IS ON HIGHWAY 71. AND O2 SATS PARENT COMPANY IS LOCATED IN ANOTHER STATE AND I THINK THEY PROBABLY CARRY THE INSURANCE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE ACCUSATION THAT I HAVE SOME TYP OF BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN HAYS COUNTY WITH ANYONE IN OVER EIGHT YEARS. IF THERE IS ANY ACCUSATION SIMILAR TO THAT OR ANYTHING, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT BROUGHT OUT IN COURT PUBLICLY SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT.

I WILL ADDRESS ANY OF IT AND I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.

THERE ARE FEW TIMES I GET ADAMANT IN THIS COURT, AND GET UPSET OVER SOMETHING, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY UPSETTING, BUT IT'S UNTRUTHFUL. WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE OUR RULES OF DECORUM IN WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE HERE SO WHEN THEY MAKE AND KISSES TORIES HE STATEMENTS THAT ARE PATENTLY FALSE, WE CAN

[01:05:03]

SWEAR THEIR MEN BECAUSE THEY AR WITNESSES WHERE THEY ARE TESTIFYING BEFORE A COURT OF LAW .

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP I'VE EVER HAD BUSINESS WISE OR OTHER, SO WITH THAT I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD QUITE LITERALLY THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR PROCESSES OVER A DOZEN VOTES THAT I CAN COUNT SPECIFIC TO THIS PROJECT AND WELL OVER TWO DOZEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THAT. I CAN TELL YOU AT LEAST TWO OF THE RESIDENCE RESIDENTS HERE, I HAVE NOT WITH MOST OF THESE PEOPLE, I HAVE OPENED AN OPEN DOOR ON THIS PROJECT ENDS, THEY ACTUALLY BECAME RESIDENTS OF TH AREA AFTER THE 2024 PASSED, TO SAY THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLIC OUTREACH, I KNOW EVERY COMMISSIONER ON THIS COURT HELD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THIS.

WE PROMOTED IT AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH OUR LOCA PAPERS OR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST TWO VARIOUSSPECIFIC FACEBOOK GROUPS FOR THIS AREA THAT HAVE OVER 20,000 PEOPLE.

COULD WE PRESENTED THESE PROJECTS TO THE HISTORIC CONSERVATION SOCIETY MULTIPLE TIMES.

WE HAVE MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MY OFFICE TO DISCUSS EVERYTHING FROM TRANSPORTATION TO ANY OTHE ISSUE THEY MAY HAVE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHENEVE WE DO THIS OUTREACH, WHAT IS INVOLVED FOR THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WITH A QUESTION TO GO T OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS THIS INFORMATION. WITH GOT A PHENOMENAL WEBSITE U SPECIFICALLY TO DO OUTREACH ON ALL OF THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THOSE THAT WERE INCLUDED BOTH IN THE BOND AND I THE FOLLOWING. ANOTHER COUPLE OF POINTS I WOUL JUST LIKE TO MAKE, QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ARE VERY PERTINENT THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN THOSE COMMENTS, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED AND COMMITTED TO DOING AN UPDATED TRAFFIC ANALYSIS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW PROJECT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT OVERALL ON OUR PROJECT SO WE CAN ADDRESS SOUND IN THOSE AREAS. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE WANT TO REVIEW TH PLAN BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF WE LOOK A WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT WE SAY THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING A 30 PERCENT PLAN, THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIE AND TOBY HAVE THAT.

THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO HAVE IS WE WILL START THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PORTION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, SO WE WILL HAVE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR THE FIRST PUBLIC OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT FOR THIS LARGER PROJECT AND IN THAT PROCESS THAT IS WHERE WE WILL GARNER ALL OF THE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS PROJECT. THERE WAS A MENTION OF THE SOUTHWEST CONNECTION PUBLIC MEETING THAT WERE DOING ON THURSDAY, THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

THAT PROJECT IS FURTHER DOWN TH ROAD THAN THIS ONE SO NOW IS WHEN WE ARE STARTING THE ENGAGEMENT PORTION.

I'VE SAID IN A PUBLIC MEETING NOT LONG AGO THAT IF THIS IS A CHILD WE ARE RAISING COME OF THIS PROJECT, WE ARE JUST PAST CONSUMPTION. THE FACT IS WE WANT THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. WE WANT THAT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT WERE GOING TO BIRTH AS A PROJECT, AN WE ARE NOT EVEN AT THE INFANT STEPS OF THAT.

WE KNOW WHAT OUR TRAFFIC PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS HAVE TOL US NOT JUST FOR THE 2024 PLOTS, BUT FOR YEARS PRIOR TO THAT WIT THE NEED WILL BE FOR THAT. WITH THAT, I WOULD ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT COME UP. >> WITH THE OTHER GROUP MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS UP FOOTPRINTS, WILL SAY THAT I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HEARD A BACK-AND-FORTH OF SOME OF THE SAMPLINGS OF WHAT WE JUST HEARD COMMISSIONER SMITH SHARE, WE AR NOT THERE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET, BUT THEN WE TURN AROUND AND WE TELL THEM YOU MAY NOT WANT THIS PROJECT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MILLION OF DOLLARS ON IT, SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

TODAY WILL BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS WERE WE'VE SPENT OVER $2 MILLIO ON JUST THAT ONE CONTRACT ON THAT EXTENSION PROJECT GREAT SO UNDERSTAND THE CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY IN THEY UNDERSTAND WH THEY SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE CADENCE OF FEEDBACK. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND UPFRON

[01:10:01]

WITH EVERYONE IN THIS NORTHWEST CORNER THAT I CAN INTERACT WITH AND I HAVE YET TO FIND SOMEONE TO COME UP TO ME AND TELL ME WE LIKE THIS EXTENSION. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER SMITH WRITES DOWN ALL THE NAMES OF TH PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE COMMENTS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS FIND OUT IF HE HAS A LIST OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN THE VICINITY THAT ARE FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME WITH MY SINCEREST INTEN TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM.

I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM TELLING ME THEY WANT THIS PROJECT. I DON'T LIVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM THERE, THAT I WILL SAY THA I WANT TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY WANTS, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE W HEAR FROM THEM.

OF NOT HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY WANTED THAT LIVE IN TH AREA. THERE IS A LOT OF AMBIGUITY THA IS LITTERING THE LANDSCAPE. MAY BE IT IS THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE COMMUNITY PART, MAYBE IT'S A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE COURTS PAR AS TO HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE COMMUNICATING, BECAUS WE HEARD COMMISSIONER SMITH JUS SAY WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS, NUMEROUS MEETINGS TIE TO THE ROAD BONDS, BUT IT SOUNDED TO THE LAYMAN, IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE THEY WERE TIED TO TH EXTENSION, SO SOME PEOPLE CAN'T FOLLOW IT THE FRAMING AND THE BACK AND FORTH, BUT IN REALITY IN IN SUMMARY, I KEEP HEARING REPEATEDLY WE DON'T WANT IT, WE DON'T WANT IT, WE DON'T WANT IT SO I EVEN TOLD DOUCET AND ASSOCIATES, I SAID THIS IS A HARD THING TO PUT MORE THAN $2 MILLION TOWARDS WHEN ALL I'V HEARD IN AND BEING VERY CLEAR WITH THE PUBLIC ALL I'VE HEARD IS WE DON'T WANT IT BECAUSE WE'LL MAY GO BACK OUT THERE TO MEET WITH THEM, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HEAR WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MILLIONS ON THIS PROJECT, WE CAN'T STOP NOW. SO IT'S NOT A SCENARIO THAT I WANT TO PLAY SHAKE AND BAKE WIT THE COMMUNITY ON.

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW YOUR PRECINCT AS WELLAS YOU DO, BUT I RECALL THAT THERE WAS A ROAD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THIS ONE, I DON'T RECALL, BUT WHERE WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SOM SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE.

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKESURE, BUT YOU MENTIONED 500 SCHOOL

STUDENTS ARE THIS ROADWAY. >> 5,000 PERIODS THAT'S WHAT I HAVE I'M SORRY. SO I WOULD IMAGINE, HAVE YOU

SPOKEN TO THE SCHOOLS? >> THE SCHOOLS ARE SUPPORTIVE O THIS AND WHAT I WOULD SATAN FORGIVE ME I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY HERE, IF YOU LOOK AT TH CORRIDOR, THE SAWYER RANCH DARDEN HILL CORRIDOR, IN OUR BOND, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ALL CULMINATE AT THAT POINT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL. I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS TH PUBLIC IS SEEING OR HAVE RAISED I THINK IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT SHOWS WHENEVER WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING AS TO WHY CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED, THEN THEY UNDERSTAN IT, BUT THEY STILL MAY NOT LIKE IT.

ESSAY THAT FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT A TWO LANE ROADWAY AS W DO HERE, SAFETY IMPROVES DRAMATICALLY ON A FOUR-LANE ROADWAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WERE LOOKING AT THIS ROADWAY BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS NO RELIEF LANE, OUR CONSTABLES HAVE CLOCKED PEOPLE DOING OVER 70 MILES AN HOUR ON THIS ROADWAY.

WHEN YOU ADD UP LANE, IT CREATE A RELIEF LANE, IT MAKES IT SAFE TO PULL OUT ONTO THAT ROADWAY THEN IT DID WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE LANE. ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS WE HEARD WAS HEY, WE WANT THIS TO BE OF 35 MILE-PER-HOUR ROADWAY IN WE WANT YOU TO DESIGN IT TO 35 MILE-PER-HOUR ROADWAY.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DESIGN INTO A 35 MILE-PER-HOUR ROADWAY IS UNDER TRANSPORTATION CODE, YOU CAN ALLOW FOR BLIND CURVES, YOU CAN ALLOW FOR DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN THERE THAT ACTUALLY MAKE IT LES SAFE BECAUSE IT IS BUILT FOR A LOWER SPEED. WHAT WE DO IS WE DESIGN FOR A 4 MILE-PER-HOUR ROADWAY, BUT THEN WE AS A COURT CAN CHOOSE TO MAK IT 35 C GET THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS OF INCREASED VISIBILITY, YOU GET THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS OF DRIVEWAYS

[01:15:03]

FURTHER APART ON A ROADWAY, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO MAKE THIS A LOWER SPEED ROADWAY. WE HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED IN THIS PROCESS THAT THIS WILL BE 35-MILE AN HOUR ROADWAY SPECIFICALLY TO IMPROVE SAFETY. THIS IS ONE OF THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE ROADWAY WAS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PORTIONS AND MY PRECINCT. MONTHLY WE HAVE PEOPLE GOING OF OF THAT AND WE HAVE HAD ROLLOVERS IN SOME PRETTY BAD ACCIDENTS, SO WE ARE EXCITED TO GET THAT FIRST SECTION CONSTRUCTED WHENEVER WE'VE LOOKED AT THE ROAD BONDS, THERE WAS A PLAN TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD DESIGN, CONSTRUCT CERTAIN PROJECTS AND THEN DESIGN CERTAI PROJECTS WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S WHAT WE DID THIS TIME, W LOOKED AT WHAT PROJECTS WE KNOW BY THE TIME MAKE IT TO SOME FUTURE BOND OR SOME FUTURE BONDING MECHANISM WHERE WE GOIN TO HAVE THE MOST DENSITY AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE IDENTIFIED ROADWAYS IN THE PRECINCT BECAUS AGAIN, 2016, THE FIRST PORTION OF IT, 2024 WITH THE CO'S, WE ARE CONSTRUCTING THAT PORTION AND IN THE 2024 ROAD BOND, WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TH DESIGN FOR THIS. AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S DESH WENT- THE THING WE DON'T WANT IS AMBIGUITY.

WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS COMING AND HAVE THE HARD MEETINGS. WE CAN DO SO MUCH THE OLD ADAGE IS YOU CAN LEAD THE RSO WATER, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM DRINK.

I CAN TELL THEM WERE DOING MEETINGS I CAN TELL THEM HERE I WHAT OUR PLANS ARE IN THIS COUR ON THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT TAKEN HAVE NO LESS THAN EIGHT VOTES THAT WE HAVE PASSED ON THE THE VOTERS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO D PUBLIC OUTREACH, THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT, WHEN WE UPDATED THAT FOR THIS BOND, WE SAID ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT I GET FROM RESIDENTS IS WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING PUBLICLY ON THIS THE PUBLICLY RUN INTO IS BY THE TIME THEY START A DESIGN AND GE YEARS. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE CASE O THIS PROJECT.

BY THE TIME, PERFECT EXAMPLE IS 150 AT 12.

THE INTERSETION THERAPY BY THE TIME HE GOES TO CONSTRUCTION, 8 THERE HAVE BEEN THERE AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST BOND IT WA INCLUDED IN. WE IN OUR GEC CONTRACT RIGHT NOW , WE HAVE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT ON EVERY PROJECT ALL THE WAY THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. IF YOU REMEMBER ON THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THAT'S, THAT'S WHITE AND CONCLUDED THAT.

WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE YOU GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS YOU END AND THEN YOU WAIT FIVE YEAR TO DO THE PROJECT ENDS AGAIN HALF THE PEOPLE ARE BRAND-NEW AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE SOME OF THE CASE OF WHAT WE ARE HEARING HERE.

>> I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

SO THERE IS NO MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION, IT IS JUST DESIGN AS THEIR UTILITY OR RIGHT-OF-WA RELOCATION OR ANYTHING INCLUDED?

>> WHENEVER WE DID OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THE BOND IT WASN'T DISSIPATED WE WOULD HAVE 115 MILLION DOLLARS NCOS FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY. IF YOU REMEMBER THAT WAS PART O OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WOULD AFFECT RIGHT AWAY ON. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BOND . I WILL GET YOU IN THE SECOND.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTION ALLOCATED TO THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY, IT IS JUST FOR TH

DESIGN. >> IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

TRAFFIC COUNTS ARE GOING TO BE DONE.

OKAY, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. >> AND THAT IS PART OF THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE'S NO DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO MAKING THE ROADWAY. BUT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON DISSEMINATING MORE THAN $2 MILLION FOR THIS.

IT'S LIKE WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MILLIONS SO HAVE GOT TO KEEP GOING AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TH FRUSTRATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA. WE'VE ALREADY SAID WE DON'T WAN THIS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY SO I GENUINELY AM ASKING FOR COMMISSIONER SMITH WHO IS INFINITELY INFORMED TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE AGAINST AGAIN THAT ARE FOR THIS EXPANSION BECAUSE ALL I HEAR IS NO ONE WANTS IT.

I DON'T WANT PUT MONEY IN FRONT OF IT AND MORE MONEY IN FRONT O IT WHEN WE KEEP HEARING WE DON' WANT THAT, WE DON'T WANT IT, WE

[01:20:01]

DON'T WANT IT BECAUSE THE ARGUMENT WILL BE WE'VE SPENT MILLIONS WE HAVE TO DO THIS OTHER PART.

>> THINK COMMISSIONER YOU SURE THAT YOU HAVE, SCHOOLS HAVE

REACHED OUT. >> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REACHED OUT, THE CITY ADOPTED THEIR MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLA IS THIS PART OF IT IN 2021. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REACHED OUT AND ADDED TO SCHOOLS TO THI ROADWAY IN THEY ARE EMINENTLY CONCERNED AND I THINK AARON CAN SPEAK TO THIS, BUT THEY ARE EMINENTLY CONCERNED WE ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IS PORTION OF THIS IS COMPLETED AT LEAST FUNCTIONALLY BEFORE THIS COOL START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN 2028 . ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE PUT O A CERTAIN TIMELINE AND JEOPARDY AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

I'M VERY CONCERNED, AS WE LOOK AT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST TELLING AND ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH ANY OF YOU COME OUT WHENEVER I DID A PRESENTATION OF THE DRIFTWOOD HISTORIC CONSERVATION ON ALL TH PROJECTS AND WHEN WE DID, I STARTED THAT PRESENTATION WITH AN AERIAL VIEW OF DARDEN HILL ROAD FROM 2010, FROM 2021, AND FROM 2025.

IT STARTED OUT, IT WAS 80 PERCENT GREEN SPACE.

THERE IS NOT AN AWARENESS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR THAT AREA OVER ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THA HAS OCCURRED THERE.

YOU LOOK AT AND AERIAL OF THAT PORTION OF THE ROADWAY IN IT IS NOTHING BUT HOMES, IT'S NOTHING BUT NEW CONSTRUCTION.

I WOULD LOVE, THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER, WHY CAN'T WE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN LIMIT CONSTRUCTION, HOW THEY CAN DO DIFFERENT THINGS ON DEVELOPMENT. WE WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT AND HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT AS A COUNTY , BUT WE DON'T, WE GET TO DEAL WITH THE MESS AFTER IT'S HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITIES DO AND WE HAVE T TRY TO DESIGN TO GET IN FRONT OF A LOT OF THIS.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH JUST SAID THAT THESE PROJECTS WERE PUT IN JEOPARDY, THE TIMING OF THESE PROJECTS WAS PUT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF A CHALLENGE OF THE ROAD BOND, BUT WE CREATED $100 MILLION TO ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO DELAYS.

>> ACTUALLY IT WAS $220 MILLION. >> MY POINT IS WE HAVE MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, 100, 200 FOR A ROAD BOND, BUT YOU ARE MENTIONING RIGHT NOW THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, BECAUSE OF A

LAWSUIT, THEY ARE IN JEOPARDY. >> THE PROJECT DELIVERY IS INCOME OF THE TIMING IS IN JEOPARDY.

>> JUST FOR A MINUTE HERE, I DON'T WANT TO BACK-AND-FORTH BECAUSE WE COULD DO THIS FOR A GOOD SOLID HOUR.

MY TRUEST INTENT IS TO TELL THE REST OF THE COURT THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNITY I SAYING BECAUSE I KNOW THIS INFINITELY WELL AND SOME OF THE THINGS BEING SAID ARE CONFUSING.

I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT WANTS IT FROM THE AREA IN I REALLY WANT YOUR SUPPORT TO HEL ME SPEAK FOR THEM BECAUSE THIS IS A MILLION-DOLLAR BILL FOR A WEST EXPANSION THAT NOBODY IN THE AREA SEEMS TO WANT.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN IN THE BOOKS, KNOW IT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN 2012. YOU ARE A LITTLE ANTSY, PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME. POINTING TO 2012 IT WAS IN THE STUDY OR IT WAS DRAWN IN AND 2016, YEAH, BUT IF THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT AND THEY SAID IT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAD, I THINK WE OWE I TO THEM TO GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE AND NOT ALLOCATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR DESIGN.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M TRYIN TO SAY HERE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU THIS. THERE SEVEN ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. THERE ARE FIVE, EXCUSE MY IGNORANCE OF NOT KNOWING HOW MANY THERE ARE THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THERE IS SOME MORE NUMBER ON TH CITY COUNCIL.

BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIED A NEED IN THIS AREA.

[01:25:03]

THERE ARE 65,000 RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PROJECT AS NEED. THEY DIDN'T LIKE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THEY COULD'VE VOTED AGAINST THE BONDS, THAT THIS WA INCLUDED IN. AS MEMBERS OF THE COURT, THERE ARE NO LESS THAN EIGHT VOTES ON THIS PROJECT THAT HAVE BEEN VOTED UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH THIS COURT.

I HAVE DONE LITERALLY YEARS OF MEETINGS ARE NOT ONLY THIS BUT EACH PROJECT I HAVE IN THE PRECINCT RATE I LOOKED IT UP I THINK I'VE DONE OVER 130 PUBLIC MEETINGS JUST ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I AM GLAD, JUDGE, THAT AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO BE ENGAGED.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO INTERRUPT ME EITHER.

YOU CAME TO ONE MEETING THAT WA PUT FORTH AS NOT EVEN MEETING O THIS PROJECT, IT WAS A MEETING OF A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION AND YOU SAID AT LEAST THREE TIMES I THE COURTS COURT, I SET UP THIS MEETING AND I CONDUCTED IT, NO, I WAS A GUEST SPEAKER AT THE MEETING YOU SHOWED UP AND ENGAGED A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER .

IN GLAD YOU DID. I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE HAD YO SEVEN YEARS AGO OR EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO, WHENEVER YOU WERE CAMPAIGNING FOR THIS BOND WITH THIS PROJECT AND IT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AT THAT POINT, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST IN TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THROUGH A LONG SERIE OF PROCESSES INCLUDING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT EACH POINT.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS IN THE PROCESS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN HELPING THE PUBLIC MEETINGS RELATED TO THIS. WITHOUT ANY ENGINEERING AND NO PROJECT, WE ARE JUST GOING TO STAND IN THE ROOM AND LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND NOT HAVE ANYTHIN VIABLE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC AND T DISCUSS AND THAT IS ON EVERY SINGLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT RATE THEY DON'T COME OUT OF THE ETHER AND JUST TAKE A MESS SOMEBODY THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOO IDEA.

WE HAVE CITIZEN ADVISORY PANELS. WE STARTED A CITIZEN ADVISORY PANEL IN 2020. IT HAD BEEN ON ART MINSTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN SINCE 2012. THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN HAD A CITIZENS PANEL. NOTHING WAS DONE ON IT UNTIL TH 2020 REPORT ROAD BOND. WE'D BEEN LOOKING AT THAT PROJECT 14 YEARS PRIOR. AT A CERTAIN POINT YOU HAVE TO PULL THE TRIGGER OR NOT. WE ARE NOT EVEN READY TO PICK U THE GUN YET. WE ARE LITERALLY LOOKING AT WHA SHOULD THIS LOOK LIKE AND YOU START THE VASES OFF ON THE PROJECTS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIO UNDER TRANSPORTATION CODE.

THAT'S WHERE WERE AT. >> SO WHEN SOMEONE WROTE COMMENTS THAT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH GOVERNMENT YOU WERE VISIBL UPSET AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT YOU JUST SAID I SHOWED UP AND PARTICIPATED IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT ROADS FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE IT WAS AN ELECTION YEAR.

YOU'RE FRAMING AND YOUR MISCHARACTERIZATION IS EXACTLY WHY PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF DISTRUST IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

ONE COMMISSIONER JONES AND YOU WERE PUSHING FOR THAT 45

EXTENSION, I WILL REMIND YOU. >> YOU LIKE THAT ABOUT THAT TOO.

>> I WILL REMIND YOU THAT YOU GUYS BOTH SAID THE MAYOR AND TH CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTYN SUPPORT THIS AND YOU SAID THE COMMISSIONERS CHORUS FROM TRAVI COUNTY SUPPORT THIS, AND THEY WROTE ME LETTERHEAD SAYING THAT YOU, AND COMMISSIONER JONES DIE IN THIS COURT BECAUSE IT WASN'T TRUE.

>> LET ME CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT SAID IN COURT SINCE YOU JUST LIED ABOUT IT AGAIN. WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ALL YO WANT. I NEVER SAID ANYTHING NOT ONCE ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I NEVER SET THE COURT SUPPORTED THAT. I ASKED IN THIS COURTROOM HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO EVERYONE ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. I HAVE A LUNCH THE WEEK BEFORE WITH TWO COMMISSIONERS, BOTH OF WHICH SAID YES, WE THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA. WE THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT RIGHT WHENEVER YOU ASKED ME TO CHARACTERIZE IT I SAID I THOUGH IT WAS A POSITIVE CONVERSATION. THEN YOU PUT OUT A PRESS RELEAS SAYING THAT WE LIED. YOU JUST LIED RIGHT THERE.

[01:30:05]

SIX YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE SAT HERE, FOUR YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO YOU, THOUGH ONE THING THAT I DON'T DOUBT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THIS COURTROOM, I WILL PUT MY IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IN FRONT OF ANYONE IN THIS COUNTY OUR EMPLOYEES, ANYONE WHO'S DEALT WITH THIS COUNTY OR THIS COURT, I WILL TELL YOU, IF THER IS ANYBODY ON THIS, I WILL PUT MY CREDIBILITY UP AGAINST, I WOULD WELCOME IT EVERY DAY, SIR. EVERY DAY.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS, W WILL.

IF YOU WANT TO CALL FOR A VOTE BEFORE, WE WILL.

>> I HAVE TWO MORE THINGS TO SA AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON.

I WANT TO BRING THIS TO A CLOSE I REALLY DO I PROMISE.

THE SUPPORTING THOUGHTS THAT CROSSED MY MIND WHEN YOU SAY I NEVER SHOW UP TO ROAD PROJECTS ALSO BRINGS TO MIND WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THIS INTERSECTION AT 12 AND 150 WERE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY IT WA BEING HANDLED.

I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, AND I'M SORRY I DON'T REMEMBER WHO WILL SUPPORTED IT, BUT I REMEMBER YO SUPPORTING IT AND I APPRECIATED WHEN WE PUT A PAUSE FOR A ROUNDABOUT AND THERE WE'RE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE THAT WER MORE FAVORABLE. SO YOU KNOW THIS, YOU ARE A ROA COMMISSIONER, I LEAVE YOU GUYS ALONE UNTIL YOU PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME TO LEAN IN. I DO MY BEST TO LEAVE YOU ALONE BUT WHEN THE OUTPOURING OF COMMUNICATION TO ME IS I HATE T SAY IT THIS WAY BUT 98 PERCENT PRECINCT FOUR AND IT'S ALWAYS OPPOSING WHAT THE COMMISSIONER IS LEADING, I'VE GOT TO SPEAK UP . I HAVE NO CHOICE, THAT IS WHAT FEEL IS MY JOB. I'M NOT TRYING TO BASH YOU OR TAKE A 12 HOUR COURT, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT I FEEL THAT I HAVE A DUTY T TELL WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND SO I EVEN APOLOGIZE TO MISTER MIKE DOUCET SAYING I HAVE A HAR TIME SUPPORTING THIS FROM ALL O THE FEEDBACK I PERCEIVED GREAT CAN POINT TO NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE I HAVE SUPPORTED LOTS OF THINGS, BUT WHEN THE COMMUNITY SAYS HEY, WE ARE HAVING HEARTBURN WITH THIS, I SPEAK UP. IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS

COMMISSIONERS. >> MY PRECINCT IS 35 SQUARE MILES, SO IT IS THE SMALLEST ON GEOGRAPHICALLY.

WITHIN THAT PRECINCT, THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 15-17 SCHOOLS SQUEEZED INTO THAT SPACE AND I HAVE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE SCHOOLS ON WHAT IS BARELY A TWO LANE ROAD. MY FEAR FOR THIS PROJECT IS YOU KNOW, YES, JUDGE, YOU MIGHT NOT BE GETTING ANY POSITIVE FEEDBAC ABOUT THOSE, BUT I GUARANTEE YO WHEN THAT SCHOOL IS BUILT, THOS PARENTS ARE GOING TO START CALLING BECAUSE THEY CALL ME NO ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW TERRIBLE OUR ROADS ARE, HOW UNSAFE AND KIDS GETTING HIT CROSSING CROSSING GUARDS.

SO FOR ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WIND THAT SCHOOL IS THERE IN THE TRAFFIC THAT IT WILL BRING, THAT CONCERNS ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST IT AND I FEEL WHETHER IT'S YOU COMMISSIONER SMITH, OR THE NEXT COMMISSIONER, MY PLEA IS TO CONTINUE THE OUTREACH BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT DOES HELP, BUT KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE SCHOOLS ON ROADS THAT ARE JUST NOT MADE FOR THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, I KNOW IT'S GOING T HAPPEN WITH THE NEXT COMMISSIONER THAT COMES IN, THE ARE GOING TO BE BOMBARDED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SCHOOL AN ALL OF US WILL START GETTING SCHOOL BECAUSE WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THE PARENT PICKUP LINES AND THE FACT UP. UNSAFE DRIVERS TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND IT BECOMES UNSAFE.

THOSE CALLS COME, SO I ALWAYS PREPARE MYSELF FOR THAT EVERY YEAR. SO JUST LOOKING FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY LENS OF OUR KIDS, WE NEE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ROAD.

WE HAVE TWO. FOR ME IT'S JUST CONTINUED OUTREACH WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST IT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS SCHOOL IS COMING, IT'S GOING TO BRING ALL

[01:35:01]

OF THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE DRIVING, THE PARENTS, EVERYTHING . THAT IS MY ONLY ASKED.

I WILL SUPPORT THIS AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S GOING. IT NEEDS TO BE TRULY LOOKED AT.

>> I JUST WANTED TAKE A MOMENT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS FOR NOT FIXING A ROAD, BUT IT'S FOR A NEW ROAD, AM I RIGHT?

>> NO. ROAD EXIST.

>> I KNOW IT EXISTS. >> AM I HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION IF YOU LET ME. >> EXTENSION PROJECT RATE IF YO KNOW IT EXISTS, YOU KNOW THE EXTENSION PORTION OF THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY REMOVES THREE DOG LEG THEY TEND 90 DEGREES TURNS AT THE END OF IT. AND IMPROVE STURGEON HILL ROAD, INTERVIEWED LIKE YOU'RE MORE THAN LOOKING TO LOOK AT IT ON THE MAP. 80 PERCENT OF THE ROADWAY IS EXISTING RIGHT NOW. IT WOULD CHANGE IT FROM A TWO LANE UNDIVIDED ROADWAY WITH NO SHOULDERS AND VERY LITTLE DRAINAGE INTO A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED WITH A WALKING PATH ON IT. 80 PERCENT OF IT.

THERE IS NO WAY WE HAVE LOOKED SINCE 2021 AT LEAST TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THOSE CURVES AT THE END THAT ARE JUST RIGHT-THA DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HURT THE SAFETY VALUE OF THAT ROADWAY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT IN 2021 DURING OUR MASTER TRANSPORTATIO PLAN, WE HAD FIVE DIFFERENT GPS WHO GAVE COMMENT SPECIFICALLY T ME STATING THEY HAD ALL GONE TO A DEATH AT THE INTERSECTION OF DARDEN HILL ROAD AND 150. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN STRAIGHTEN THOSE CURVES OUT, SO THE EXTENSION PORTION IS SIMPLY CUTTING OUT THE CURVES AT THE END OF THE ROADWAY ABOUT I WOUL SAY 70-80 PERCENT OF THE PROJEC IS EXISTING ROADWAY.

>> SO THIS TWO MILLION-DOLLAR EXTENSION PROJECT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANYTHING TO GO FROM 12150 ROUNDABOUT AROUND TO TO 90

? >> NO, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT RATE COULD GE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING

ABOUT THAT. >> THEY ARE MISTAKEN IF THEY'RE

TALKING ABOUT THAT. >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY WHAT THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BE USED FOR.

WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THIS, SINCE IT IS BEING BROUGHT UP, THE CONFUSION COULD BE TAKEN PLACE THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN CRACKING AND NEW PIECE OF ROAD TO TO 90.

I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO JUST SHED LIGHT ON ITS REALITY ON THE THAT IT'S A PORTION OF DARDEN HILL.

>> DARDEN HILL DOES NOT TOUCH 12150.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE AGENDA ITEM, THERE IS NOTHING AND ANYTHING RELATIVE TO THIS THAT EVEN MENTIONS 12TH BECAUSE IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT 3 MILES AWAY, FORGIVE ME, HOW FAR IS 150 DARDEN HILL INTERSECTION?

>> THE PROJECT LIMITS THIS FROM THE ROUNDABOUT THAT IS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED THAT WE DID ON PHAS ONE OF DARDEN HILL AND ENCOMPASSES THE EXISTING ROADWA DARDEN HILL WESTBOUND.

IT DOES LEAVE AN AREA AND THAT IS WITH THE COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING IS WHERE THE CURVES ARE, IT MOVES OVER TO BELIEVE WOULD SLEEP IS THE NAME OF THE ROAD THAT WILL INTERSECT.

IT WILL BE SHORT OF, I DON'T KNOW THE DISTANCE, BUT IT DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY TIE HIM. TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING , THIS PROJECT IS REALLY COMMITTED AND I WAS LISTENING T THE COMMENTS AND TO GET A LITTL CLARIFICATION, WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN THE AREA, I LIVE ABOUT A STRAIGHT SHOT, 5 MILES FROM THIS.

I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 28 YEARS. THEREABOUTS.

I HAVE SEEN THE GROWTH IN THIS AREA, WHAT WAS THERE AT 28 YEAR AGO ISN'T, IT'S BY FAR GROWN. I'VE ALSO BEEN BOTH A DIRECTOR IN THAN PREVIOUSLY OPERATIONS O MAINTENANCE IN SEEING SCHOOL ZONE, I'VE TALKED WITH PAST COMMISSIONERS OF THIS AREA, COMMISSIONER WEST PREVIOUSLY AN NOW COMMISSIONER SMITH.

[01:40:04]

IT'S GROWN TREMENDOUSLY BUT THI PROJECT, WE LISTENS AND I LISTE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS I BELIEVE THE FIRST MATCH WAS THE FIRST COMMENTER, I BELIEVE I ME WITH HIM TWICE, ONCE WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH IN THE OTHER BELIEVE WAS IN THE TOWN HALL MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH. WE HAVE GIVEN THAT GROUP OF PETITIONERS COMMENTS TO EVERY ONE OF THEIR QUESTIONS THAT THE HAD EXPLAINED THAT IN PERSON IN IN WRITING.

WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO HAVE THOS CONVERSATIONS AS WE EXPAND WITH THE PROJECTS, LIKE WITH ANY PROJECT RATE AS THESE DESIGNS, WHICH THESE ARE, THIS IS THE STARTS, THIS IS THE FIRST DAY O THE REALITY OF THIS. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WITH THESE I THINK THERE IS SOME CONFUSION THERE I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU JUDGE ON THE CONFUSION SIDE, TH CONFUSION AS I THINK THEY HAVE WRAPPED UP A BUNCH OF PROJECTS INTO ONE.

WHEN I HEARD 30 PERCENT OUT OF THERE, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT ON DARDEN HILL EAST WHERE WE AR BUILDING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE THAT IS WHERE THEIR CONFUSION IS ON THAT.

AND WHEN I LISTEN TO GROWTH, WHEN WE DO PLANNING AND LONG-TERM PLANNING, THERE ARE SOME ROADS IN OUR TRANSPORTATIO PLAN THAT WE DO 20 YEARS AGO OR 15 YEARS AGO THAT WE DIDN'T BUILD, BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT WE HAVE PLANS FOR AND AS WE MOV FORWARD, I ALWAYS TELL RESIDENTS , WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE PLANS, EVERY FIVE YEARS , WE REDO OUR MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN WE LOOK AND EVALUATE THAT.

WHERE IN THAT PROCESS NOW, HOWEVER WHEN WE IDENTIFY THESE PROJECTS WE START TO, BUT THE FIRST IS DESIGNED.

OF THIS WHEN WE DID LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMENTS WERE, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO THE NOISE ANALYSIS, WE PUT THAT IN THIS B LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS ALSO GOES INTO THE SCOPE O THIS ENVIRONMENTAL HAS THOSE ASPECTS OF IT TO GET US TO THAT POINT. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THE RESIDENCE IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE PLANS, WE HAVE GOT TO BE PROACTIVE IN LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING A THIS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ROAD AS IT IS NOW, AND EACH OF YOU COME UP AS A COMMISSIONER AND A JUDGE, WE HEAR ABOUT OUR CONDITIONAL ROADWAYS NOW. WE GET THE QUESTION OF WHY CAN' WE WIDEN THIS ROAD. THE REALITY IS THE MAJORITY OF HER ROADS ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN , EITHER SIDE, EASTERN OR WESTERN, WE'RE BUILT TO A DESIG STANDARD THAT WAS 30 OR 40 YEAR AGO. SO WE LOOK AT THESE ROADS OR MA SAY OKAY, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THESE, OR IS THERE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. WHEN I HEAR THE DEAL ABOUT THE WIDTH, I HAVE TWO CHOICES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, THESE ARE HAVING A WIDE RIGHT AWAY FOOTPRINT.

EVERYBODY THAT DRIVES HER ROADS WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THAT URBANIZED, WE LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF WHAT W LOOK AT. THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO DO URBANIZED BECAUSE TH BUILDINGS ARE ALL THERE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE NARROW FOOTPRINT THAT IS MORE OF AN URBANIZED DRAINAGE OF THAT. WE'LL BE GET INTO THESE AREAS THAT ARE RURAL WHETHER IT'S EAS OR WEST, WE LOOK AT THESE CORRIDORS IN WE SAY OKAY, THERE IS NOTHING BUILT THERE, BUT WE WANT TO DEFINITELY LOOK AT HOW THE COMMUNITY AND THE WHAT THEY LIKE ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY. HAVING A WIDE RIGHT AWAY WITH LOTS OF GRASS AREAS, AREAS WE CAN PUT OUR DRAINAGE INTO, THEY HAVE PATHS AND TRAILS TO BE ABL TO UTILIZE.

AND KEEPS THE HOUSING AWAY WHER IT'S NOT AS URBANIZED FOOD THAT'S WEEKLY LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE RIGHT AWAY.

THIS PROJECT, RIGHT NOW, IT IS REALLY A DESIGN WHERE WE CAN GE THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS TO AT LEAST LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT FITS. LEAVE ALL BEEN COMING EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE DESIGNS, SOME THINGS WORK AND SOME THINGS DON'T.

WE COME BACK AND WE CHANGE THE SCOPE WHERE WE ADJUST SOMETHING BUT GETTING IT STARTED, IF WHEN I HEAR THAT 30 PERCENT, I THINK THE CONFUSION IS THAT 30 PERCEN WAS A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT WAS THE EASTERN PORTION THAT WE HAV TO BUILD BECAUSE THAT IS RIGHT AT THE SCHOOL. WHEN I HEAR ABOUT TALKING IN OU

[01:45:05]

MEETINGS, WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITIES, WHATEVER CITIES THEY ARE, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIMES WE ARE MEETING, MYSELF AND USUALLY THE COMMISSIONERS WE MEET AND TALK ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.

WHEN THIS FIRST AROSE, YOU BRIN UP I AM NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON I TREND TO STAY CLEAR OF SOCIAL MEDIA BUT LIKE EVERYTHIN I LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT SOMEBODY HAS A COMPLAINT IN I WANT TO TRY TO COLLECT CORRECTED .

I WANT TO TRY TO FIX THAT ISSUE. WHEN THIS ALL CAME UP, I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED BECAUSE IT'S IN THE WORK AND I LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHEN RIGHT NOW YOU CA SIT AND INJURE INTERSECTION, AN BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC BACK TO BACK .

OUR CONCERNS AS A TRANSPORTATIO LOOKING FORWARD, YOU HAVE GOT A 5,000 PLUS STUDENT BODY THAT WILL BE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT IS RIGHT BESIDE DECIDED THAT IS CURRENTL THERE THAT INCLUDES ELEMENTARY AS WELL. THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COMBINATION OF THERE IS AN ELEMENTARY JUNIOR HIGH AND JUST UP THE ROAD ON THE SAWYER RANCH THAT IS THERE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT THESE AS THE TRAFFIC. THE REALITY IS, AND COMMISSIONE WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, THIS IS JUST GETTING THAT DESIGN GOING. BUT, WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO EVEN LOOK AT WHAT CONCERNS ARE OUT THERE, AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL

TOYS, AND TO HAVE SOMETHING. >> US STARTED.

I KNOW, JUDGE YOU HAVE MENTIONED , AND I APOLOGIZE, I WAS MISTED ONE OF THE LAST COURTS BECAUSE I WAS BEING A CIVIL SERVANT MYSELF IN A JURY, BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE LOOK AT THIS PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE. IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT UP THROUGH THE BONDS, IT WA PASSED THROUGH THAT, HOWEVER, I ORDER TO DO ANY OF THOSE STUDIES , IT WOULD PROBABLY COME OUT OF TRANSPORTATION WHICH WOULD COME OUT OF THE GENERALIZED MAINTENANCE WHICH W ALWAYS LOOK TO WHERE WE COULD FUNDED, THIS WOULD BE THE IDEAL WAY TO FUND IT TO GET THE BALL

ROLLING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT. >> THANK YOU, AARON FOR POINTIN OUT THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.

I WAS THERE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THAT HEP, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ARCTIC FOR HS THIS MORNING I WA LISTENING TO THE TEXT ABOUT RESIDENTS CALLING BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING THE REPAIR WORK AND TRAFFIC LIKE ALWAYS IS BACKED UP , SO WHEN I SAY THAT ABOUT TRAFFIC, WE ARE LOOKING THAT WAY . TRUST ME I WILL SAY THIS, WHEN TELL YOU THIS, LIVING THERE IN THAT AREA FOR 28 YEARS IS LIKE ANY BUDDY ANYWHERE YOU LIVE IN HAYS COUNTY.

I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE LIKE IT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID, HOWEVER , WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE OVERALL CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY IS LOOK AT WHERE TH GROWTH IS, HOW IT'S GROWING AND TRUST ME, I HIT THAT PROBABLY THE MOST OUT OF WHY ISN'T THIS ROAD BUILT THIS WAY. COMMISSIONER COHEN WAS MENTIONING SKILLS. IN THE HILL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE . IT'S BACKED UP, IT WILL BE BACKED UP NEXT WEEK, BUT AS THE EVOLUTION OF OUR PROJECTS WE ORIGINALLY SAID THREE LANES ON THAT ONE AND THAT IS BACKED UP.

WE WIDENED IT TO THREE LANES IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL LAST YEAR, AND IT STILL BACKED UP SO THEN WE TOOK OUR ORIGINAL PLAN AND SAID OKAY, LET'S DO A STUDY OUT OF OUR ENGINEERING SCOPE AND ADJUSTED TO FIT AND THEY SAID THE FIVE-YEAR ULTIMATE IS THE BEST WAY TO GO. SO WE DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASI IN I WANT TO STRESS TO ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTS, I WORK FOR Y'ALL, BUT I WORK FOR THEM ULTIMATELY AND WE ARE LOOKING A THAT AND TRYING TO BE THE BEST STEWARDS OF THEIR DOLLAR, PLUS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OF IT WHAT WORKS BEST.

I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE THE WAY IT IS, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT T LOOK AT HOW DO WE IMPROVE IT. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WHEN WE GET A TRANSPORTATION PLAN THERE MIGHT NOT BE A TWEAK TO WHAT WE DO, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING IN ORDER TO GET AT LEAS WERE WE CAN PUT OUR EYES ON WHA THIS AS.

[01:50:03]

>> WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS SHOWN THAT TEMPERAMENT AND THAT WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE FOR SURE AND THE DARDEN HILL COMMUNITY GATHERING AND I HAVE PROTESTANT OTHERS THERE, THEY BROUGHT UP THAT NOISE STUDY, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP AND YOU AREN'T LISTENING AND INCORPORATING WHAT THE COMMUNIT IS ASKING FOR.

THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF MIGHT BRINGING THINGS UP VERY THEY E-MAIL MY OFFICE, I WRITE IT DOWN AND I MAKE SURE TO SPEAK O IT. SO WHEN I SAY REPEATEDLY THERE IS CONFUSION, THERE IS CONFUSION , WE NEED TO TALK MORE CLEARLY, THAT'S ALL I'M AFTER I MAKING SURE WE DON'T LEAVE OUR

COMMUNITY BEHIND. >> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY BY ANY MEANS THAT WE ARE PERFECT AND WE'VE DONE THINGS PERFECT IN TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE ARE LISTENING AND ADAPTING TO THAT.

I KNOW I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT HOW WE INTERACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WILL BE THERE THURSDAY TO TAL ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS OR ANY OTHER PROJECTS SO WHAT I WOULD SAY, THESE ARE THE STARTS OF THAT. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE END PRODUCT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST STEP IS, IT'S AN

ADJUSTMENT. >> HOW MUCH OF THIS IS CATCHING THE EAST PART FOR THE SCHOOL? TO GIVE THE PROJECT CATCHES ACTUALLY JUST TO THE WEST OF TH PHASE ONE THAT WAS THE

ROUNDABOUT. >> THE TERMINATION POINT IS THE ROUNDABOUT IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOL.

>> SO THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS AND IT TIES ALL OF THAT IN.

TO GO BACK TO THE OTHER ONE ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECT, RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW THIS INTERSECTION VERY WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRECINCT YARD AND A TRANSFER STATION RECYCLING CENTER RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION , AND I HAVE COME OUT ONTO THAT INTERSECTION IN I IS AS BLIND OF A CURVE.

THIS PROJECT WILL ACTUALLY ELIMINATE THAT RISK ALSO BECAUS IT WILL MOVE IT DOWN AND PUT IT IN A BETTER LOCATION TO GIVE VISIBILITY. THERE ARE THE PROS AND CONS, THERE IS ALWAYS THAT. RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY GETTING A LEAST THE BALL ROLLING WHERE WE CAN SEE THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS THE SCHEMATIC SIDE OF IT AND THEN ALSO IN THIS THERE ARE THOSE OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS, THOSE OTHER DISCUSSIONS AS WE

MOV THROUGH THIS PROCESS. >> THAT'S WHAT ARVID STRESS.

>> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> HOW I ENJOY SITTING IN BETWEEN YOU ALL. THE ONE THING I WANTED TO SAY A I THINK THE CATALYST OF EVER SINGLE COMMENT THAT WE REFERRED US FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.

EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY. WHERE WE AT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL VISIBILITY STUDY, WHAT IS THE PULSE ON THOUGHTS?

>> ALL OF THAT WOULD BE INCLUDE IN THIS.

OKAY, GOOD. AND I, WE ARE ROAD COMMISSIONERS , THAT'S WHAT WE DO SO WE HAVE OUR PRECINCTS IN THE ARE PUT IN CHARGE OF KNOWING TH CONSTITUENT BASIS IN KNOWING WHERE THE QUALITY OF LIFE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN THEIR SMELL A PERFECT EXAMPLE NOBODY REALLY WANTED THAT ROAD, CAN IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT IT.

SO THERE ARE THESE THINGS THAT HAVE TO PLAN FOR AND THE FUTURE SO I SEE ALL THE POINTS, I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY W WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, SO LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND AS LONG YOU SURE TELLING ME YOU HAVE AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY TO MEE WITH ANYBODY AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AND TO BRING IT BACK T COURT AND BE THEIR ADVOCATES, I PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF THAT.

>> THERE YOU GO. IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL

ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.

>> S. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> S. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> ES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER.

>> S. JUDGE BECERRA P.

>> I WAS OPEN AS TO OPEN AN AGENDA ITEM FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE N ACTION IN THEN OPEN IT AGAIN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS THAT STILL THE REQUEST?

>> YES, I THOUGHT I CAN RECOMMEND.

OF ONLY GUESSING THAT THEY'RE COMING IN FOR SO I JUST WANTED

TO MAKE THAT DECLARATION. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO JUST ON MAY OPEN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE GO BACK KNOWING THERE IS ONE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE GO BACK INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

[01:55:02]

OKAY, SO THEN TO FOLLOW. >> K-3 SIR.

WE HAVE OUR WORKSHOP AT 1:00 P.M., I SEE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OFFICIALS IN HERE. WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING THAT TIMELINE, WE WILL BE TALKING BUDGETARY STUFF OF THE MOST PAR AT 1:00 P.M. I WANTED YOU GUYS TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY, I BELIEVE ARE FINISHED WITH ROADS. OKAY, K-3.

[K.3. Discussion and possible action to provide direction to the Hays County Budget Officer to prioritize efforts related to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget including, but not limited to: a freeze on new Full Time Employees (FTE’s); Haskell inmate outsourcing relocation and inmate reduction to fewer than 50; the allocation of School Resource Officer costs; American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) position reallocation to unfilled positions; A pause on studies, master planning and outsourced updating of projects; the utilization of the Juvenile facility to house out of County Juvenile inmates; and postponing data conversions and software updates if not required in FY 2027. BECERRA]

>> DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTIO TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE HAY COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER TO PRIORITIZE OUR EFFORTS RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO A FREE SUNDAY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES HASKELL INMATE OUTSOURCING RELOCATION AND INMATE REDUCTION TO FEWER THAN 50.

THE ALLOCATION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER COSTS, AND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, POSITION RELOCATION'S TO USE UNFILLED POSITIONS, A PAUSE ON STUDIES OF MASTER PLANNING AND OUTSOURCE UPDATING UP PROJECTS, THE UTILIZATION OF THE JUVENILE FACILITY TO HOUSE OUT OF COUNTY JUVENILE INMATES AND SOFTWARE UPDATES IF NOT REQUIRED IN FY 2027.

>> SO MOVED. >> EMOTION AND THE SECOND.

THANK YOU. THE REASON I CREATED THIS AGEND ITEM, OF COURSE WE MAKE THE AGENDA ITEM AND EVERYTHING IS T BE REVISITED AND AN EMOTION THA MAKES NO SENSE EMOTION AND A SECOND ALLOWS FOR THE CONVERSATION TO TAKE PLACE.

I HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS ASKING FOR DIRECTION AND SUPPORT. THEY ARE RUNNING THEIR ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THEY ARE LOOKING TO ANTICIPATE PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS AGENDA ITE IS TO GIVE OPEN ROADMAPPING AS COMPASS FOR NOT ONLY OUR BUDGET OFFICE BUT FOR ALSO THE VIEWING PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR GOALS OUR AND WHAT ARE AMOS, THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THIS

AGENDA ITEM. >> LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIALOGUE IT'S THE DIRECTION FRO THE COURT ON HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED ON THE BUDGET. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO JUS TAKE EACH LINE FROM THE ITEM AN DISCUSS IT OR IF SOMEBODY ON TH COURT WANTS TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

WANT TO MAKE THIS AN OPPORTUNIT TO PROVIDE THAT CLEAR DIRECTION.

THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. UNLESS A COMMISSIONER HAS A CONCERN I WILL LET HIM LEAD THE CONVERSATION LINE BY LINE.

>> JUST GOING OVER THE ITEM. THE FIRST ITEM TO DISCUSS IS A FREEZE ON NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WHICH COME AT THE UPCOMING BUDGET IS VERY LEAN. IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE THAT WAY THAT WOULD BE A COST SAVING MEASURE.

THAT BEING SAID, THERE COULD ALWAYS BE POSITIONS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TIME SENSITIVE SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE COURT.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT OVERAL THERE ARE COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAD AND I AM GOING TO JUMP A HEALTH THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN W TALK ABOUT THE ARPA POSITIONS BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE NOT NEW POSITIONS, BUT THEY ARE FULL-TIME POSITIONS THAT WE MAD A COMMITMENT WHENEVER WE CREATE THOSE THAT WE NEEDED TO CARRY THOSE FORWARD. THE OTHER ONE THAT I WOULD, WELL , THERE ARE TWO, ONE OF THEM IS MENTIONED HERE, THE OTHER ON THAT I KNOW I HAVE HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THEY ARE IN THEIR BUDGET CURRENTLY SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL SROS FOR EACH CAMPUS. IT IS A DOUBLE EDGE SWORD FOR M I WOULD WELCOME CONVERSATION WITH THE REST OF THE COURT BECAUSE I WELL REMEMBER WHEN WE OFFERED SROS FOR THEM COUNTYWID AND IT WAS TURNED DOWN. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CARRY THAT FUNDING. IT IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS WANTE TO STEP UP AND ASSIST WITH AND THE PAST AND I THINK I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. THE ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE CREATED OR THE OTHER CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE CREATED THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE APARTMENT, WE MADE A STRONG COMMITMENT AS TO HOW THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD EXPAND WITH

[02:00:03]

THE OPENINGS AND WITH THE OTHER DUTIES THAT THEY HAVE NOW TAKEN ON. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO IN THE BUDGET WE DON'T WANT TO OPEN A PEAK AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND NOT HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO HAVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS AND HAVE THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATE IN THOSE THINGS. I DON'T WANT TO SET THOSE PROJECTS UP FOR FAILURE. OTHER THAN THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEPARTMENTS LOOKING AT WHERE THOSE NEEDS ARE. THE OTHER TWO THAT DO STAND OUT TO ME THAT I HAVE HAD OUR OUR GP OFFICES.

I KNOW THEY HAVE A MASSIVELY EXPANDED CASELOAD TWO IN THE NEXT MONTH WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM BUT THOSE OF THE AREAS I HAVE CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYEES AND FULL-TIME

EMPLOYEES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A LITTLE CLARIFICATION -- INTENT IS NOT DETERMINING ANYONE'S EMPLOYMENT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SAY.

BECAUSE I WAS NOT CLEAR MANY YEARS AGO AND SOMEONE TOOK THAT AS AN IMPRESSION, AND I WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO FIRE ANYONE OVER ANY OF IT. DIESEL IS 5.14 A GALLON RIGHT NOW. EVERY TIME WE COME TO COURT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY MAKE AUDIBLES IF YOU WILL ABOUT THE INTENT TO COME TOGETHER.

IF WE HAVE MADE A DECISION TODAY AND WHATEVER ELSE IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING THAT CHANGES THE CONDITIONS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THE DIAL AND BE FLEXIBLE AND ADJUSTABLE.

MY AIM IS TO BE AS LEAN AS POSSIBLE AND I DON'T WANT TO SHORTCHANGE SENTINEL PEAK STAFFING, OF COURSE I DON'T.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE ACROSS THE BOARD AND THIS IS A TOUGH PART OF THE JOB, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP THE ORGANIZATIONS. WE WANT TO HELP ALL OF THE ISDS, WE WANT TO HELP ALL OF THE AB ABOVE.

BUT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET. I'M LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO MAKE IT AS LEAN AND EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE AND THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT -- ARE POSITIONS THAT WERE CREATED THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL OF THEM MOVED TO OPEN VACANCIES.

WE CAN SAY LET'S MOVE SOME OF THEM.

I WANT TO, LIKE YOU SAID, HAVE THAT DISCUSSION HERE SO EVERYONE WATCHING HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW BECAUSE I WILL FOREVER GO DOWN AS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. I WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SO WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TOGETHER.

>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, DOES THIS ITEM TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY?

>> FIRST ASSISTANT -- THE WAY IT'S WORDED INCLUDES A LANGUAGE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION WE DO HAVE THE PRESENTATION ITEM RELATED TO THE BUDGET YOU COULD ALSO FOR GOOD MEASURE OPENED THAT ONE.

AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT NOW AND OPEN THE WHOLE TYPE.

>> I LOVE IT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT DIRECTION, PLEASE OPEN THE PRESENTATION AGENDA ITEM AND THAT WAY WE ARE COMPLETELY OPEN

AND THAT IS MOST IDEAL. >> DO YOU WANT US TO DO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME AS WELL?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AT THE OPENING OF THE WORKSHOP.

>> PRESENTATION FOR THE BUDGET OFFICER REGARDING FISCAL YEAR

2027 BUDGET PROCESS. >> NO YOUR WIDE OPEN.

>> I HAVE NO INTENTION ON INCREASNG OUR TAX RATE AND I KNOW OUR BUDGET OFFICE HAS DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB BALANCING THE BUDGET, THAT BEING SAID THE WAY THAT IT'S BALANCED AS IT TRULY SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE PULLING FROM THE RESERVES TO COVER CERTAIN ITEMS HERE AND THERE.

IF I WAS BILL GATES I WOULD GIVE EVERYONE RACES, I WOULD PROVE ALL OF THESE BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE WORKING WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AT THE END OF THE DAY AND I HAVE A HARD TIME GOING TO THEM AND INCREASING, TAKING FOOD OFF THEIR TABLE IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO APPROVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.

IT'S A TIGHT SHIP THAT WE ARE RUNNING.

SCOTT, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE A RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THAT WORKS. I THINK EVEN THEN WE TAKE SOME

[02:05:05]

FROM THERE, IT DOES PULL FROM RESERVES, IT DOESN'T SET US UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING EVERYBODY'S THOUGHTS.

>> TALKING ABOUT PULLING FROM RESERVES I WILL GET, TO GIVE IT BACK TO YOU -- I HAVE A LIST OF MAJOR UNFUNDED CAPITAL REQUESTS.

I APPRECIATE SCOTT AND THE TEAM THAT'S ATTACHED, I DON'T WANT TO NEGLECT A COWORKER DOING SO MUCH HARD WORK BUT I'M REFERENCING THE DEPARTMENT HEAD TO. THERE ARE REALLY GOOD REQUESTS ON HERE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO. WHO DOESN'T SUPPORT VOTING, VANGUARD VOTING EQUIPMENT? BUT IT'S $2.765 MILLION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HASN'T EVEN REQUIRED IT OF US.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE BUT WE'VE GOT TO SAY THESE ARE GOOD, THESE ARE NICE, THESE ARE GREAT MOST-HAVES WHEN WE MUST HAVE THEM. WE DON'T NEED THEM RIGHT NOW, LET'S NOT BUY THEM RIGHT NOW. $5.14 A GALLON THAT'S ON MY MIND FOR DIESEL. SINCE WE HAVE A SHORT PAUSE IN A CONVERSATION DO YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING?

>> FOR ME I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO BE PRESENTED WITH THE BARE BONES OF THE BUDGET.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH NO TAX RATE.

I HAVE MORE OF AN APPETITE FOR A SMALL TAX INCREASE TO HELP COVER A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN HAYS COUNTY. A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT ARE DEPARTMENTS ARE SPEARHEADING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. SO I TRULY WANT TO HOLD MY COMMENTS FOR THAT FOR THE WORKSHOP.

I DON'T WANT TO DIVE INTO ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT PERSONALLY UNTIL EVERYONE SEES WITH THE BUDGET LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW. I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT OUR COUNTY BUDGET LOOKS LIKE WITH THE TAX RATES THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

>> THE CHAIR: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, WITH MY DISCUSSIONS WITH SCOTT AND THE BUDGET OFFICER CAMARA COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR I HAVE ALSO BEEN REALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING.

I KNOW IT IS A VERY TIGHT BUDGET YEAR AND MY DIRECTION HAS BEEN LET'S LOOK AT A TAX RATE INCREASE AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED TO ENSURE WE ARE STILL GIVING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO FUNCTION WELL. WE WANT TO ENSURE IF THERE ANY SAFETY MEASURES OR ISSUES THAT ARE NEEDED THAT WE ADDRESS TH THOSE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LEAN YEAR AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS WE MOVE ON INTO THE BUDGET

WORKSHOP. >> THE CHAIR: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I REPEAT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW IT TO BE TRUE.

WE HAVE A CLOUD BACKUP PROGRAM FOR A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, I WON'T MENTION ANY NAMES BUT IT'S NOT DUE UNTIL 2028 -- IF WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY RIGHT NOW LET'S PUSH IT OFF.

THE WORLD IS GOING TO CHANGE AND RIGHT NOW, IF WE DON'T NEED IT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE IT. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH OF LINE OF OBSERVER DISCUSSING.

>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES' ARE POSITIONS I WAS ABLE TO FIND INTEREST EARNINGS IN THE ARPA TO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THOSE EMPLOYEES IN THERE. THEY COULD MAYBE STAY ANOTHER YEAR BUT NEXT YEAR THEY WILL HAVE TO BE MOVED OUT, WHICH WE WILL TAKE YOUR ADVICE AS FAR AS LOOKING AT POSITIONS INTO SEEING IF WE CAN FILL IT IN SOMEWHERE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

>> THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. >> IT'S SMART TO UTILIZE THOSE ARPA FUNDS IF WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT

WE CONTINUE ON WITH THAT. >> THE CHAIR: AGREED.

>> AS FAR AS TALKING ABOUT OTHER ITEMS WE WILL GO DOWN THE LIST HERE OF WHAT WAS LISTED OUT THERE.

THE NEXT ONE -- TO GET SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE COURT, WHAT IS

[02:10:01]

THE APPEAL OF A FREEZE NEXT Y YEAR?

>> THE CHAIR: FREEZE? >> ON ANY NEW POSITIONS.

>> THE CHAIR: COMMISSIONERS, HOW DO YOU FEEL, HE NEEDS THIS

DIRECTION FROM US. >> BUT DON'T WE NEED TO BE IN WORKSHOP TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS? I THINK WE DID SEE THE WHOLE BUDGET FIRST BEFORE WE START SAYING THAT WE NEED TO FREEZE EVERYTHING.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU BUT ONE SUGGESTION, AND I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS QUITE A WHILE.

WE GET THESE PIECEMEAL REQUESTS FOR NEW POSITIONS THAT REQUESTS FOR UPGRADES AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE BANE OF OUR EXISTENCE OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE LOOK AT A MIDYEAR BUDGET UPDATE THAT SCOTT DOES AND VICKI DID AND WE DO OUR QUARTERLY UPDATES AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, I'M NOT TALKING ANY DOLLAR FIGURES HERE WHATSOEVER I'M TALKING AS PART OF THE PROCESS. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND IT WOULD GIVE GOOD DIRECTION TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AT LEAST TO PLAN FOR THINGS. TO SAY LOOK, THERE'S ONE OPPORTUNITY IN A YEAR FOR ADDITIONAL SALARY REQUESTS OR NEW POSITIONS -- I'M NOT GOING TO BE ON THE COURT SO YOU CAN DO IT EVERY QUARTER IF YOU WANT LIMIT THOSE TO A TIME FRAME THAT IS PREDICTABLE AND MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO BUDGET FOR.

FOR EXAMPLE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE PAST FOR THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE WE SAID IF YOU WANT A NEW POSITION AND A VEHICLE, WE ARE GOING TO DO A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, THAT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT FUNDING AND INSTEAD OF HAVING THAT OFFICER FOR THE FULL YEAR WE ARE GOING TO START IT APRIL 1, HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR.

I THINK WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THAT BUT GIVING DIRECTION AND A CALENDAR AS TO WHEN THOSE POSITIONS AND WHEN THE COURT WOULD RECONSIDER REGRADES OR NEW POSITIONS, SAY I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU ALL THE NEW POSITIONS YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND TALK TO US IN JANUARY OR APRIL IF IT'S GOING TO BE APRIL FOR THAT BUDGET OR THAT MIDYEAR BUDGET, THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN DO IT.

IT ELIMINATES THAT MONTHLY PIECEMEAL WE NEED TO UPGRADE AND IT PUTS IT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS WE CAN BUDGET FOR.

>> THE CHAIR: EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT IS PART OF THE OVERALL GOAL. TO HARMONIZE DIRECTION AND GIVE SCOTT DIRECTION AND TELL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID ATTEND I WILL SIT HERE PUBLICLY, IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN SHARE THIS AS A POLICY UPDATE IF WE AGREE ON IT -- I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE LESS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONAL, I WILL CALL US MICROMANAGING UP DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, ALLOW THEM ONCE THEY APPROVE THEIR BUDGETS, GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE AUTONOMY. IF THERE IS A HAND-HOLDING ROUTINELY BABYSITTING CONVERSATION TO BE HAD, THEN WE NEED TO REEVALUATE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THAT SPACE. BUT I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND RESPECT SO THEY CAN HAVE THE AUTONOMY SO THEY ARE NOT PEPPERING US EVERY TIME AS A

COURT MEETING AS WELL. >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE FREEZE SITUATION, I AGREE WITH BOTH MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIME AND PLACE FOR IT I THINK IF YOU DID A FREEZE AND INSTITUTED A FREEZE FROM ONE BUDGET CYCLE TO THE NEX AND APPROVED NEW POSITIONS, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND. I ALSO BELIEVE -- WE AS A COURT SAID THAT WHENEVER WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IF YOU WANTED A NEW POSITION, JUSTIFICATION AND DATA WERE ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE CONSISTENTLY.

I BELIEVE JUDGE SMITH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB SHOWING US CONSTANT NUMBERS, WHY SHE NEEDS POSITIONS AND THAT IS THE ONE DEPARTMENT HEAD AT ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I THINK HAS DONE WHAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HER IN THAT REGARD. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER NUMBERS AND SPREADSHEETS AND DATA THAT SUPPORTS SOME OF THESE POSITIONS I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IF THAT'S THE CASE. THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT WITH YOU, IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN IT IS WITH ME.

BUT SHE HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF LETTING US KNOW AS A COURT ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS. SENTINEL PEAK I KNOW YOU SAID -- SENTINEL PEAK WILL BE OPEN, I'M SAYING THIS, CARL IS GOING TO HATE ME FOR SAYING THIS BUT WILL BE OPEN IN SPRING OF NEXT YEAR

[02:15:01]

AND WITH THAT WE NEED STAFF MEMBERS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WAYS WE CAN JUSTIFY THAT BASED ON REVENUE WE WILL BE RECEIVING FROM THE PARKS.

WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SOMETIMES IT IS EASIER TO SAY NO NEW POSITIONS AND TO FOCUS MORE ON LET'S PAY OUR STAFF BETTER. WE HAVE TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET HAD NOT ASKED THE TAXPAYERS FOR

MORE MONEY OUT OF THEIR POCKET. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE YOU MENTALLY HAVE THE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO GO PAST -- I KNOW I'VE HEARD AND I'VE ALSO PROVIDED PUBLICLY DIRECTION FOR YOU WHICH IS VALUABLE WHICH YOU SEEK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM MEANT WHENEVER WE ARE DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION WE CAN ALWAYS REOPEN IT FOR ACTION AND DIRECTION.

IF YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON OTHER THINGS WE WILL MOVE ON -- GO.

>> WE WILL GET INTO THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA ITEM. THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE THE HASKELL INMATE OUTSOURCING AND REDUCTION TO FEWER THAN 50?

>> THE CHAIR: THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT IS WE HAVE A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HONESTLY TERMINATE THAT ALTOGETHER. BUT I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE SHERIFF WHENEVER I WAS CRAFTING THIS AGENDA ITEM AND I SAID I DON'T WANT TO JUST PUSH SOMETHING OUT THAT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY. HE IS STRIVING FOR THAT AS WELL AND I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DID WE COULD USE OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AGAIN FOR DIMINISHING BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH GREAT WORK COMING FROM OUR COURTS AND EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT WE DO HAVE A DIMINISHING NUMBER OF OUTSOURCING. I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT LOCKING THAT DOWN AND COMMITTING US TO PAY FOR 50 BEDS AND THE OVERFLOW IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WILL MAKE IT WHERE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND LOVED ONES CAN GO VISIT THOSE PEOPLE A LOT EASIER THAN THEY CAN CURRENTLY. THAT'S WHAT THE INTENT IS BEHIND THAT BECAUSE I WILL BE BRINGING BACK AT AGENDA ITEM TO RENEW THE CONTRACT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION UP FRONT AND THIS IS A TOUCH OF THAT TO SAY YES,

BUT LET'S CAP IT AT 50. >> I AGREE WITH THAT AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE CONTRACTS, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND RENEW THOSE OR ESTABLISH THOSE ONCE

AGAIN -- GO. >> FOR CLARITY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THOSE OUT OF COUNTY ONES ARE THOSE SPECIFIC TO HASKELL COUNTY? THOSE GO THROUGH -- THE TERM OF THAT ONE RUNS THROUGH APRIL 2027.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT GUADALUPE COUNTY, SOME OF THOSE FIRST. WE ARE BRINGING THEM BACK, CLOSER TO HAYS COUNTY AND I AGREE IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR REPRESENTATION AND THE FAMILY IS, I KNOW FAMILIES HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING THEM OUT THERE, IT DIDN'T WORK FOR A WHILE. IT STILL IS, BUT IF WE CAN GET THEM CLOSER TO HOME I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT AND THE FAMILIES WOULD TOO. WOULD WE HAVE TO REESTABLISH THOSE CONTRACTS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES?

>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO MUCH FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME THAT ARE ONGOING WE TRY TO KEEP THEM OPEN-ENDED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THEM IF IN THE EVENT THEY HAVE ROOM.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I'M TRY TO GET THE BUDGET AT ALL COSTS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUTSOURCING THEM IT IS ACTUALLY CHEAPER BUT US AS A COURT HAVE DETERMINED -- ISN'T IT CHEAPER, LET ME ASK THAT, IS IT CHEAPER TO OUTSOURCE INMATES IN

HASKELL COUNTY? >> THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER. I WOULD WANT TO RUN SOME ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS BEFORE I GAVE A FOR SURE ANSWER ON THAT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID I BELIEVE THE DAILY RATE IS 115.

>> IT'S LESS THAN THAT. >> IT WAS 95 THE FIRST CONTRACT I THOUGHT IT WENT UP TO 150 DOES THAT NOT RIGHT?

>> FOR HASKELL COUNTY IT'S $102.50 AND OTHER SURROUNDING

COUNTIES ARE AT VARIOUS RATES. >> IT IS CHEAPER FROM THAT

PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? >> I WOULD AGREE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COURT THEY ARE HERE IMPORTANT FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF THAT US DOING THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAVE MONEY BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF

US ON THE COURT. >> I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S

[02:20:06]

DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO END THAT CONTRACT, I DOES A TIMELINE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS ARE WE GOING TO HEAR WHAT THAT CURRENT TIMELINE IS? I KNOW CHIEF BAILEY IS HERE, I'M JUST WONDERING.

>> I CAN GIVE YOU THE CONTRACTUAL TIMELINE BUT AS FAR AS THE OPERATIONAL TIMELINE THAT WOULD COME FROM ME.

DEPENDING ON WHAT TIMELINE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR IF WE SAY 50 IS THAT DOABLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR? IS THAT IN THE SECOND QUARTER? HOW MANY DO WE HAVE THERE NOW? WE CAN'T MAKE A GOOD DECISION I DON'T THINK UNTIL WE HAVE A TIMELINE AS TO WHAT THE FACILITIES WE WILL HAVE READY HERE.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE IT WOULD RATHER HAVE THOSE INMATES CLOSER. THE BIGGEST CONCERN I WOULD HAVE IS WHEN WE ARE OUTSOURCING THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR INMATES TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES YEARS AGO, THE ONES WE WERE ACTUALLY OUTSOURCING TO DID NOT HAVE THE POPULATION GROWTH WE WERE HAVING AT THE TIME. NOW SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES, GUADALUPE COUNTY HAVE HAD EXPONENTIAL POPULATION GROWTH.

IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO GET A CALL FROM A SHERIFF NEXT DOOR AND SAY COME PICK UP ALL YOUR INMATES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AND I DON'T KNOW THE CAPACITY.

THE CAPACITY IS A CONCERN FOR ME I WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT HAVE ANY COME I THINK ALL OF US FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> THE NEXT ITEM FOR DISCUSSION WOULD BE -- I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM THAT, IT WOULD BE A PAUSE ON STUDIES, MASTER PLANNING AT OUTSOURCE UPDATING OF PROJECTS.

>> THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT THAT ITEM IS OF COURSE WE WANT TO BE STUDIED AND PLANNED ABSOLUTELY BUT SOME OF THESE STUDIES CAN GO YEARS OUT AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN SOIL ON SOMETHING FOR MORE YEARS OUT AND THEN BY THE TIME YOU GO TO ACTUALLY TOUCH IT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WE DID UPDATE THIS ASSESSMENT.

I WANT US TO SCRUTINIZE THE ONES THAT ARE NEEDED AND THE ONES THAT ARE SO MANY YEARS OUT WE PROJECT GETS MADE SO WE DON'T SAY WE DID THIS BUT IT'S THREE YEARS OLD WE'VE GOT TO DO ANOTHER ONE. IT'S ABOUT LOOKING AT THEM.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A LIST OF THOSE STUDIES OR PLANS WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, THEN WE CAN MAKE A

BETTER DETERMINATION. >> PERFECT I WOULD AGREE.

>> I CAN PREPARE SOMETHING FOR THE BUDGET MEETING LATER.

>> A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHENEVER WE HAVE THE CONTRACT WHERE LIKE WE'RE KNOCKING TO BE TOUCHING THIS FOR A WHILE THIS SO MUCH IS LEFT IN THE CONTRACT LET'S TERMINATE NOW AND WE COULD TALK

ABOUT IT LATER. >> EXACTLY.

>> THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> THE CHAIR: EXACTLY.

>> WILL SAVE IT FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOP I'VE A QUESTION OVER A CURRENT CONTRACT WE HAVE BUT I THINK IT MAY BE BETTER IN THE WORKSHOP. ARE WE PREPARED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM OR DO WE WANT SOME MORE DISCUSSION? THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE UTILIZATION OF THE JUVENILE FACILITY TO HOUSE OUT OF COUNTY JUVENILE INMATES.

>> THE CHAIR: THE CONVERSATION BEHIND THAT IS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE EMPTY SPACE IN REVERSE OF THE ADULT PORTION THAT WE DEAL WITH IN THE JUVENILE SIDE, SUPPORTS NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND ULTIMATELY I'M HEARING, MAKE

SOME MONEY OUT OF IT. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING AGREE ON. I'M NOT JOKING, THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT CAME UP WITH ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I SAY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH THE MERCK CENTER LOCATED IN MY PRECINCT. DEALING WITH THEM AND WITH SOME BUDGET SHORTFALLS THEY HAD THEY CONTACTED ME AND SAID WE ARE INTERESTED IN HOUSING JUVENILE INMATES FOR HAYS COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH I THINK AT THAT TIME SIX OTHER OUTSIDE COUNTIES TO HOUSE JUVENILE INMATES.

WE DON'T HAVE ONE WITH HAYS COUNTY, WHY IS THAT THE CASE? I TRY TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF MORE WITH THE JUVENILE BOARD AND START LOOKING AT WITH THE DAILY RATE IS AND WHAT OUR CURRENT CAPACITY AND NEEDS WERE AND WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM BECAUSE WE ARE CURRENTLY HOUSING JUVENILE INMATES FROM ALL THE SURROUNDING

COUNTIES. >> THE CHAIR: STATEWIDE TO.

>> THE DAILY RATE ON THOSE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD IT'S --

[02:25:04]

IT'S 350, 370 A MONTH? SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS OPPOSED TO 102 THAT WE ARE PAYING IN HASKELL.

DIFFERENT STANDARDIZATION SAID WE HAVE TO HAVE BUT GIVEN THE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY I THOUGHT WE MISSED SOMETHING IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WHENEVER WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THE JUVENILE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS WE WILL PROBABLY FILL THAT FACILITY COMPLETELY AND HAVE TO LOOK AT AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I SAY NEAR IN GOVERNMENT TERMS -- 5-10 GEARS AND EXPANSION AT THAT FACILITY.

IF WE COULD NOT AT THIS POINT REALLY REASSESS AND TO STUDY WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO AN EXPANSION OF THAT, THEN AT THE TIME AND TO BRING IN THOSE ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL JUVENILES AT THE TIME WE NEED THAT EXPANSION BECAUSE THOSE EXPANDED BEDS, IT HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE PAID FOR A MAJORITY OF WHAT THAT FACILITY WOULD COST. I KNOW THIS CONCERNS WITH THAT BUT OVER TIME IF IT WAS 100 BEDS AND OUR ACTUAL RATE -- SAY WE EARNED 170 OUT OF THAT $370 BACK INTO THE SYSTEM, YOU CAN STOP AND THINK THAT IS $70,000 A DAY THAT WOULD BE GOING INTO A BUILDING FUND FOR THAT FACILITY OR TO HELP OFFSET ADDITIONAL

COSTS. >> ARE THEY ALL IN COUNTY JUVENILES IN THE FACILITY RIGHT NOW?

>> THE CHAIR: WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING SOME REPRESENTATION OF THE COURT ROOM, HOW ABOUT WE HAVE JUST FOR A HALF A SECOND SOMEONE FROM THAT DEPARTMENT TO STEP ON UP AND GIVE -- NAME, TITLE AND A TINY BACKGROUND.

>> JOEL WARE, JUVENILE FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR.

>> THE CHAIR: WILL YOU RESTATE YOUR QUESTION?

>> CURRENTLY AT OUR FACILITY ARE THEY ALL PASTE COUNTY JUVENILES?

>> NO. WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUT OF COUNTY KIDS FROM BEAR COUNTY, CALDWELL -- WE CONTRACT WITH OVER 60 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

>> THAT'S WHY I'M CONFUSED I GUESS WE ARE ALREADY HOUSING OUT OF COUNTY, WHAT ARE WE ASKING HERE?

>> THAT'S MY POINT, WHAT'S THE CURRENT CAPACITY OF THE

FACILITY? >> CURRENT CAPACITY WE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 27 TO 40 KIDS, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INSIDE THE FACILITY, WE HAVE A LONG-TERM PROGRAM AND WE ALSO HAVE A DETENTION PROGRAM AS WELL.

THE COMBINED TOTAL OF THOSE TWO PROGRAMS AVERAGES ANYWHERE FROM

27 TO ABOUT 40 KIDS. >> MY QUESTION WAS THE CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT IS EXTRA CAPACITY, WE ARE HAVING IS OUTSOURCE JUVENILES IN, I THINK THE NUMBERS I LOOKED AT, JUDGE YOU MAY HAVE BETTER NUMBERS THAN I DO BECAUSE THESE ARE A COUPLE YEARS OLD, WE WOULD COMPLETELY FILL THAT FACILITY OURSELVES WITHIN 5 TO 7 YEARS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHAT THE ESTIMATES WERE -- WE ARE GOING HAVE TO START OUTSOURCING OR EXPAND THE FACILITY OR AT LEAST STUDY THE THOUGHT OF DOING IT NOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE COST OF THAT WHEN WE DO FILL

IT OUT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT, IT WAS THE WAY THE AGENDA ITEM WAS WRITTEN I WASN'T SURE BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD OUT OF COUNTY AND IT JUST SAYS TO HOUSE OUT OF COUNTY

JUVENILE INMATES. >> WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE COULD TAKE MORE, AM I RIGHT?

>> I DON'T LIKE WE THE CAPACITY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IN MORE JUVENILES OUT OF COUNTY, I IN COUNTY, THAT CHANGES THE MORALE FOR THE STAFF. YOU HAVE TO BE BUILT TO HANDLE MORE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, AND HANDLE MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS. TAKING IN MORE OUT OF COUNTY KIDS, UNLESS THERE IS AN INVESTMENT MADE TO THE FACILITY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OPERATIONS, APPLIANCES, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE

[02:30:03]

EVERYDAY PROBLEMS. IT IS TOUGH TO TAKE MORE OUT

OF COUNTY KIDS. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T FRAME THIS INSENSITIVELY IS NOT ABOUT JUST TRYING TO HELP NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND ONLY GET THE CAPACITY YOU ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY, EFFECTIVELY MANAGE IT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION ITEM IS ABOUT, THANK YOU, I

APPRECIATE IT. >> I'M MORE INTERESTED IN PREVENTION AND REFORM VERSUS EXPANSION, HONESTLY.

NOT AS A WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY.

MY HOPE IS THE COURT TRULY INVESTS IN THOSE RESOURCES.

>> ONE LAST ITEM LEFT, WE WILL GO OVER IT.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, POSTPONING DATA CONVERGENCE AND SOFTWARE

UPDATES. >> THE CHAIR: WHICH IS WHAT I

AM ASKING FOR. >> I BELIEVE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS I KNOW JEFF MCGILL LOOKED AT THAT AND RECOMMENDED WHAT HE BELIEVES IS NECESSARY.

>> IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGETS THAT I WILL BE PRESENTING LATER I DID TALK WITH I.T. AND ANYTHING THEY RECOMMENDED MADE IT INTO THE BUDGETS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EXPERTS THERE I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY PUT THE COUNTY AT RISK. THAT BEING SAID THERE ARE NO LARGE ITEMS LIKE THE FACT CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET.

>> THE CHAIR: THIS WAS A GENERIC DOCUMENT LIKE COMMISSIONER SMITH, I DON'T -- I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY% INTEREST IN THE FRAMING THAT I WANT TO EXPAND -- I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN EXPANDING IT AND I WANTED YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU DO THAT. IT'S PART OF MAXIMIZING THE DOLLARS NET SPACE AS A COUNTY WIDE TO BUDGET TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HOLE AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO SIT THERE AND SAY THERE IS A FLAG TO EXPAND THE JUVENILE CENTER FLYING UP HERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

>> I KNOW WE HAVE -- WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION IN 5 TO 7 YEARS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND IT JUST BECAUSE OF SPEAKING WITH THE COUNTY COURT JUDGES OVER THE LAST TO GO TO MARKET THREE YEARS, WE ARE GETTING A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF JUVENILE CASES. SERIOUS CASES.

NOT THE CASES WE SAW TEN YEARS AGO.

THEY DO REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF DETAINMENT.

THAT BEING THE CASE WE KNOW WE CAN SEE IF THAT IS COMING ON THE HORIZON, THAN PREPARING FOR THAT I THINK IS THE BEST THING TO DO AT A VERY -- AT A BARE MINIMUM I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US -- AT LEAST HAVING OUR STAFF LOOK AT WHAT IS THAT TIME FRAME, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AND PREPARING NUMBERS FOR US TO SAY IN THREE YEARS WE GO FROM HAVING -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER WOULD BECOME A 50% OF THOSE JUVENILES, COUNTIES PAYING US FOR THOSE JUVENILES TO GUESS WHAT, NOW WE ARE PAYING 75% INSTEAD OF 50% OUT OF OUR BUDGET VERSUS OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER COUNTIES SUPPLEMENT TO GET

TO US. >> I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT WHEN IT WAS SAID TO CLARIFY THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AM I ADVOCATING FOR ANY DETENTION EXPANSION, THE PROGRAMS OBVIOUSLY MOST COMPLETELY THE WAY TO GO, WE ARE GOING TO TABLE

[K.4. Discussion and possible action to consider an Order of the Commissioners Court of Hays County, Texas accepting and approving the 2026 Annual Service Plan Update to the Service and Assessment Plan, including updated Major Improvement Area Assessment Roll, Neighborhood Improvement Area #1 Assessment Roll, Neighborhood Improvement Area #2 Assessment Roll and Neighborhood Improvement Area #3 Assessment Roll for the La Cima Public Improvement District; making and adopting findings; providing a cumulative repeater clause; and providing an effective date. HAMMER]

THIS ITEM AND GO TO K-4. >> DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER AN ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF HAYS COUNTY TEXAS ACCEPTING AND IMPROVING 2026 ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN UPDATE INCLUDING UPDATED MAJOR IMPROVEMENT AREA ROLE -- ASSESSMENT ROLL, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER ONE ASSESSMENT ROLL, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER TWO ASSESSMENT ROLE, AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER 3 ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR THE LESSEE MET PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT MAKING AND ADOPTING FINDINGS FINDING THE MIC PROVIDING A CABLE TO REPEAT HER CLAWS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE

DATE. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> THE CHAIR: COMMISSIONER.

>> THIS AN ANNUAL REVIEW WITH A STATUE IN AGREEMENT WE HAVE AND

P3 IS HERE TO GIVE US MORE. >> THIS ITEM IS THE REQUIRED

[02:35:02]

ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN UPDATE REQUIRED UNDER CHAPTER 372 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. IT CONTAINS THE UPDATED ASSESSMENT ROLLS FOR 2026 FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE UPDATED FIVE YEAR SERVICE PLAN. ALSO UPDATED ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP, PREPAYMENTS WITHIN DISTRICT AND FORMS OF THE BUYER DISCLOSURES THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER TEXAS PROPERTY CODE. IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DOCUMENT AND THE DISTRICT ITSELF I'M HAPPY TO

ANSWER THOSE. >> I'M GOOD.

>> THE CHAIR: ANNUAL UPDATE, THERE IT IS.

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. >> NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE. >> THE CHAIR: ANYTHING ELSE TO

ASK? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT THOSE UPDATES TO THE ASSESSMENT ROLES ARE PROVIDED TO THE TAX ASSESSOR FOR A PURPOSE OF COLLECTING THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRICT.

>> DO WE TAKE ANY ACTION? >> YES PLEASE, IF THIS COURT IS SO INCLINED TO AUTHORIZE THE ORDER, IT'S A VERY LONG AGENDA ITEM, BUT IF THERE IS A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ORDER OF THE COURT ACCEPTING AND IMPROVING THAT PLAN UPDATE, THAT WOULD BE

GREAT. >> SO MOVED.

>> THE CHAIR: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> YES.

[K.7. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of an Agreement for Professional Services between Hays County and Justice Benefits, Inc. related to exploring new or expanded opportunities for state and federal funding opportunities, and authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy for obtaining three quotes. INGALSBE/COHEN/GONZALES/HUNT ]

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN WHEN. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP:

>> YES. >> THE CHAIR: K-7.

>> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND JUSTICE BENEFITS INC. RELATED TO EXPLORING NEW OR EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER FOR THE PURCHASING POLICY

OF OBTAINING THREE QUOTES. >> BY NAME IS MATTHEW GONZALEZ I'M THE HAYS COUNTY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR COME UP WITH A DISCUSSION OF REVENUES THAT IS WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP US DO. SPECIALIZES IN HELPING GOVERNMENTS WITH CONTRACTS RELATED TO FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING AND SPECIFICALLY THIS FUNDING IS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDER CHARITY FUND THAT HAS OPERATED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAID WAIVER WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ONLY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE ALLOWED TO TAP INTO THIS REVENUE POOL IT'S AVAILABLE FOR US.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS AT THE DEPARTMENT IS WE DON'T COLLECT REVENUE FROM OUR PATIENCE ANYMORE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT MONEY THAT WE COULD CHARGE PATIENCE FOR IMMUNIZATION, TB SERVICES OR STI, WE ARE LOSING OUT ON.

WHAT THIS COMPANY WILL DO WHAT HELP US CREATE A POLICY WITHIN THE COUNTY, ASSESS THE CURRENT MARKET AND CREATE A RATE WE WOULD CHARGE PATIENCE BUT IT WOULD NOT CHARGE THEM.

WE WOULD BE BUILDING TO THIS FUNDING POOL AND THEY WOULD HANDLE ALL THE REPORTING, AUDITING AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. IT MAKES IT A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR STAFF. THE CONTRACT ITSELF IS BASED ON A FEE-FOR-SERVICE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE WOULD DO I THINK IT'S 35% LISTED THAT CONTRACT 20%.

IF WE GOT $1,000 IN REVENUE FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDER CHARITY FUND THEY WOULD GET 22% OF THAT REVENUE AS PART OF THEIR FEE. THEY HANDLE ALL THE RECORDS THEY HAD ALL THE POLICIES, IF THERE'S AN AUDIT THEY WOULD HANDLE THE AUDIT FOR US. THAT 22% WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE NOT PASSIONATE FEE ON TO OUR

PATIENCE. >> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I GUESS THIS IS A MORE SPECIALIZED -- WE HAVE GREAT GRANTS DEPARTMENT BUT DOESN'T GO BEYOND THEIR SCOPE, THIS IS A SPECIALIZED?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION, PART OF THE REASON WE HAD TO GET THIS PURCHASING WAIVER IS GBI DOESN'T SPECIALIZE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDER CHARITY FUND REIMBURSEMENT. THE REIMBURSEMENT DOES FALL IN LINE WITH MEDICARE BILLING STIPULATIONS, WE SENT THREE STAFF MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE TRAINING THAT WE HAD A REPORT ON THIS AND IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THE NORMAL GRANT WRITING REVENUE

STUFF OUR AUDITORS DO. >> WHAT SPECIFICALLY COUNTS AS AMOUNTS GENERATED FROM THE PROGRAM.