[00:00:01]
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UM, AND WE'LL START, OR NINE 30 ISH.
AND WE WILL, UH, START WITH THE, UH, PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAGS.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO, PLEASE PRAY WITH US.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY IT IS TO SERVE WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
AND FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVICE US EACH DAY HERE.
GIVE THEM WISDOM AND SAFETY, ESPECIALLY THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THOSE THAT THAT RUN TO DANGER.
I PRAY GOD, THAT YOU'LL BE WITH, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVICE HERE IN ABROAD, LORD, UH, AND THEIR FAMILIES, COMFORT THEM, UH, ESPECIALLY AS, UH, ALL THAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND I PRAY GOD, THAT YOU'LL GIVE OUR LEADERS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND EVEN US WISDOM, GOD, FOR EACH DECISION THAT WE MAKE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE IT IS TO SERVE HERE.
AND WE, UM, WE ASK FOR WISDOM TODAY, IN EACH DAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE THE TEXAS ONE, SAY UNDER GOD ONE.
IT IS NINE THIRTY FIVE AND I CALL THIS JULY 21ST MEETING OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER.
[ Public Comment Period for Agenda Items. The Commissioners Court will conduct a Public Comment Period to allow members of the public, who have properly submitted a Public Participation Form, to address the Commissioners Court regarding specific Agenda Items that are on the Commissioners Court’s Agenda. During such Public Comment Period, speakers shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes to make his or her remarks regarding an Agenda Item. Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners Court to address the Commissioners Court regarding more than one (1) Agenda Item on the Commissioners Court’s Agenda shall be limited to a cumulative maximum of five (5) minutes to make his or her remarks for all such Agenda Items. The maximum overall discussion time allowed for an Agenda Item, regardless of the number of members of the public wishing to address the Court on such Agenda Item, shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. Speaking time, to the extent possible, will be evenly allocated among speakers should more than ten (10) speakers desire to speak on the same Agenda Item. In matters of exceptional interest, the Commissioners Court may, by majority vote, lengthen the maximum overall public discussion time allowed on a particular Agenda Item. The Presiding Officer of the Commissioners Court reserves the right to conduct public comment regarding an Agenda Item at the time in which the item is called for the Commissioners Court’s consideration as opposed to including such public comments during this Public Comment Period.]
UM, WE WILL START WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS. WE'RE GONNA START, UH, WITH JODY, UM, SPEAKING ON ITEMS 42 AND 50.AND AS YOU GET SETTLED, UH, AND YOU'RE READY TO BEGIN, IF YOU'LL JUST, UH, STATE YOUR NAME, IDENTIFY YOURSELF, AND THEN YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
UM, YES, GOOD MORNING, UH, COURT AND JUDGE SNELL.
MY NAME IS JODY BOWL AND I AM IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND WALLBURG SPECIFICALLY, UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I REPRESENT TWO ORGANIZATIONS, UH, PRESERVE WILCO NOW AND WILCO GREENBELT ALLIANCE.
WE HAVE OVER 1200 MEMBERS NOW, AND IT'S GROWING, SO I'LL BE SPEAKING FROM MY MEMBERS AS WELL TODAY.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK DAVE PORTER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PART, UH, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO DEVELOPING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THAT HE WILL BE PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW, UH, ON ITEM 42.
UM, AND I DO SUPPORT AND OUR GROUP DOES SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BUT THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE ECONOMY WE ARE BUILDING, BUT THE LEGACY WE WILL LEAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, YES, IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN AMERICA, AND THAT GROWTH HAS BROUGHT VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT ALSO HAS PLACED ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES AT RISK.
OUR AG LAND, ESPECIALLY THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE SOILS ON THE EAST SIDE OF I 35, THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE IS NOT SIMPLY OPEN SPACE AND AVAILABLE LAND, WHICH I'VE HEARD IT BEING DISCUSSED BEFORE.
IN THAT RESPECT, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES IN NORTH AMERICA.
AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY FORMALIZED AND RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PARTICULAR LAND IS CONSIDERED IN QUOTES, PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND IN YOUR OWN DOCUMENTS.
THAT AREA IS THE DEEP BLACKLAND PRAIRIE SOILS THAT TOOK THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO FORM AND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST RICHEST AND MOST FERTILE SOILS IN THE WORLD.
IT HOLDS WATER AND IT FERTILIZE IT.
IT, IT BASICALLY IS AN AREA THAT HELPS US RETAIN WATER.
ONCE THIS LAND IS COVERED BY CONCRETE, THIS HISTORIC LAND, IT'S GONE FOREVER AND IT CANNOT BE RECREATED FOR ANYTHING.
A BUILDING COULD BE TAKEN DOWN, A COURTHOUSE COULD BE REUSED.
ONCE THIS SOIL IS GONE, YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK.
THIS IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN FARMING, WORKING AGRICULTURAL LANDS, OPEN LAND, IT ABSORBS RAINFALL, RECHARGES GROUNDWATER, REDUCES STORMWATER RUNOFF, HELPS LESSEN DOWNSTREAM
[00:05:01]
FLOODING, AND PROTECTS THE NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT SUPPLY OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES WITH WATER.AS THESE LANDS ARE REPLACED BY IMPERVIOUS SURFACES, WE PERMANENTLY AND FOREVER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE LANDSCAPE'S ABILITY TO CAPTURE AND FILTER WATER WHILE INCREASING THE LONG-TERM COSTS, WHICH I KNOW IS IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY OF DRAINAGE, FLOOD CONTROL, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND TREATMENT.
WE'RE READING A LOT ABOUT THIS NOW.
EVERY ACRE OF PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND AND RANCH LAND THAT DISAPPEARS IS ONE LESS ACRE PRODUCING FOOD FEED FIBER FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS COURT AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WE'RE ALWAYS RIGHT HERE NOW, BUT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LEAVING.
WE ARE WITNESSING THESE ISSUES WITH THE SCREW WORM AND PARASITE PROBLEMS OF OUR FOOD FROM MASSIVE PRODUCERS, NOT LOCAL FARMS. THESE ARE MASSIVE PRODUCERS.
A COUNTY THAT PERMANENTLY ELIMINATES ITS AGRICULTURAL BASE BECOMES INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON FOOD PRODUCED ELSEWHERE, WHILE LOSING THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OF BEING A VITAL FOOD PRODUCER FOR TEXAS AND FOR THE NATION.
THIS IS NOT JUST A GROUP OF LIKE PEOPLE AT AG FARMERS.
THIS IS, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
LESS THAN 1% OF THE ORIGINAL BLACKLAND PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEM REMAINS.
AND TEXAS HAS LOST 4.8 MILLION AREAS OF WORKING AGRICULTURAL LAND IN JUST THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
ONCE THIS LAND IS LOST, IT'S LOST FOREVER.
GROWTH IS INEVITABLE, BUT THE PERMANENT LOSS OF FINITE RESOURCES IS NOT INEVITABLE.
THE DECISIONS MADE BY THIS COURT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE WILL DETERMINE WHAT FUTURE GENERATIONS INHERIT.
A COUNTY THAT'S BALANCED AND PROSPERITY WITH STEWARDSHIP, OR ONE THAT LOOKS BACK AND WONDERS WHY NO ONE ACTED WHILE THERE WAS STILL SOMETHING LEFT TO PROTECT.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE AGLAND, ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST SIDE WHERE IT RESIDES.
AND BY THE WAY, IT'S ONLY IN TEXAS EXCEPT FOR A VERY SMALL PORTION IN ANOTHER, UH, UH, STATE.
BUT WE ARE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE AGLAND HERE.
I RESPECTFULLY THAT YOU, THAT YOU RECOGNIZE IT AND THAT YOU PRESERVE IT, BECAUSE THE LEGACY OF THIS COURT WILL NOT ONLY BE MEASURED BY WHAT WAS BUILT AND HOW MUCH TAX BASE WE CAN GET BY MAXIMIZING THE LAND, BUT CURRENT ASSETS YOU CHOOSE TO PRESERVE FOR OUR FOOD, OUR SECURITY, AND OUR SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, WILLIAM ALEXANDER.
AND, UH, MR. ALEXANDER, I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK NOW, OR I CAN CALL ON YOU WHEN WE START THE ROAD DISTRICT MEETING, UH, AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
IT'S, WELL, I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND COME UP NOW THEN.
UM, I LIVE IN, UH, WILLIAMSON.
WE'RE, WE'RE PART OF, UM, SUN CITY, UM, AND OF COURSE WHAT WE WANTED TO VISIT ABOUT MR. ALEXANDER.
CAN I GET YOU TO PULL THAT MICROPHONE OVER? YEAH.
WHAT WE WANTED TO VISIT A LITTLE BIT, OF COURSE, IS JUST TO KEEP THE CONCEPT OF ROAD DISTRICT, UH, NUMBER FOUR, UH, IN, IN YOUR MINDS AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, NO SENSE RE REITERATING A LOT OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT FAIRNESS.
THERE'S LEGAL ISSUES AND THEN THERE'S FAIRNESS ISSUES.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DAWNED ON ME THE OTHER DAY AS I WAS SITTING READING THROUGH ALL THIS MATERIAL IS, IS KIND OF INEQUITY.
ON TOP OF INEQUITY, WE HAVE A BOND ISSUE TO PAY FOR RONALD REAGAN, WHICH IS A COUNTY USE, IF NOT REGIONAL USE ROAD ON A FEW HUNDRED RESIDENTS IN A, IN A ROAD DISTRICT.
THEN WE GET ANOTHER BOND DISTRICT BILL THAT WE'RE COMING UP TO CONSTRUCT MORE ON RONALD REAGAN.
SO WE, IN SOMER CITY HERE, OUR AREA WILL BE PAYING ON TWO BONDS FOR THE BUILDING OF RONALD REAGAN, WHERE ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY ARE
[00:10:01]
GONNA BE PAYING ON ONE BOND.I WANTED TO THROW OUT JUST A CONCEIVABLE IDEA WHEN I WAS READING THIS IS, WHY DON'T WE USE THE BIG BOND THAT'S COMING UP FOR ALL THIS ROAD CONSTRUCTION, RONALD REAGAN, TO PAY OFF OUR LITTLE BOND THAT PUTS IT ALL FAIR ON ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, NOT JUST ON A FEW THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN THE WRONG LOCATION AT THE WRONG TIME.
SO, CONSIDERATION AS YOU, AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS, I KNOW IT'S NOT PART OF THE BOND ORIGINAL ISSUE, BUT JUST THINK ABOUT THE EQUITY OF IT THEN, THEN WE'RE JUST PAYING THE SAME BOND RATE AS THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING ON THAT PORTION OF THE BOND.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D ALSO LIKE TO DO IS JUST INSTEAD OF JUST ASKING FOR THINGS AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THINGS, MR. ALEXANDER, I HATE TO CUT YOU OFF YOUR TIME'S UP, BUT I'M GONNA CALL YOU BACK WHEN WE START THE ROAD DISTRICT MEETING.
I GET IN TROUBLE IF I DON'T THAT NOBODY, THANK YOU.
WANT EVERYBODY IN TROUBLE? YEAH.
I'M MAKE A NOTE RIGHT NOW TO CALL YOU BACK UP.
MOVING ON TO, THAT'S IT FOR, UM, THE PUBLIC SPEAKING.
[1. Review and approval of minutes.]
TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES.WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LONG.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.
[2. Hear County Auditor concerning invoices, bills, Quick Check Report, wire transfers and electronic payments submitted for payment and take appropriate action including, but not limited to approval for payment provided said items are found by the County Auditor to be legal obligations of the county.]
ITEM NUMBER TWO HERE FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR.GOOD MORNING, NATHAN MEYER WILLIAMSON COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
I'M REQUESTING APPROVAL TODAY FOR THE FUNDING REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY LAST WEEK IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,574,627 AND 60 CENTS.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE ONE ADDENDUM, TWO WIRES, TWO QUICK PAYMENTS, AND ONE BENEFIT PAYMENT TOTALING $2,123,792 AND 30 CENTS.
I'LL SECOND MOTION BY, UH, COMMISSIONER COOKS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOAL IN FAVOR.
[ CONSENT AGENDA The Consent Agenda includes non-controversial and routine items that the Court may act on with one single vote. The Judge or a Commissioner may pull any item from the consent agenda in order that the court discuss and act upon it individually as part of the Regular Agenda. (Items 3 – 38)]
OKAY, MOVING ON, UH, TO CONSENT AG AGENDA, WE HAVE A FEW, UH, CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.WE ARE PULLING NUMBER 13 OFF OF THE AGENDA.
AND, UH, CORRECTION ON NUMBER 22.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, DATES, THEY PUT ZERO ONE DASH 10 AND THEY SHOULD BE 10 DASH ZERO ONE, UM, ON THREE LOCATIONS.
THAT'S OCTOBER ONE FOR THE CORRECTIONS ON 22.
AND THEN, UH, 30, THERE'S A CORRECTION JUST IN THE WORDING.
IT SAYS, WILCO BUILDING FIRE LANE.
AND SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS PRESENTED ITEMS THREE THROUGH 38 WITH PULLING 13 IN THE CORRECTIONS ON 22 AND 30.
ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LONG SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COY.
MOVING ON TO, UH, REGULAR AGENDA.
WE ARE GONNA MOVE ITEM 39 DOWN, UH, A LITTLE BIT.
[40. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on approving the bonds to the State of Texas and to Williamson County, Texas of the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector, Catherine Totty, who was appointed by the Williamson County Commissioners Court on July 14, 2026, to be effective as of July 21, 2026, and to serve thereafter until the next general election (Tex. Tax Code §6.28).]
AND WE ARE GONNA START, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TODAY TO, UM, WE HAVE A NEW, UH, TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND MS. CATHERINE TODDIE.SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO NUMBER 40.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE BONDS.
SO 40 IS DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON APPROVING THE BONDS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR CATHERINE TODY, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON JULY 14TH, 2026 TO BE EFFECTIVE AS OF JULY 21ST, 2026, AND TO SERVE THEREAFTER UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION TAX CODE 6.28.
AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THOSE BONDS ARE FOR $100,000.
MOVE APPROVAL HOUSE MOTION BY, UH, COMMISSIONER LONG SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.
AND SO NOW WE ARE GONNA RECESS AND SWEAR MS. TIDY IN.
IT'S A VERY, UH, BIG DAY FOR THE, FOR THE DY FAMILY.
SO I WILL JOIN YOU DOWN THERE AND WE'LL GET YOU SWORN IT.
WE WILL READ ADJOURN, UH, THIS MEETING AT 9 54.
[41. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action regarding the 2026 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health recognition.]
AGENDA ITEM 41, DISCUSS,[00:15:01]
CONSIDER, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE 2026 GOLD BELL SEAL FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH RECOGNITION.UM, WE HAVE MS. SHELLY LOWRY AND ANGELA FROM HR.
JUST A REMINDER, AS YOU, UM, GET SETTLED, GET READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
GOOD MORNING, SHELLY LOWRY, DIRECTOR OF BENEFITS, ANGELA COLLINS, WELLNESS COORDINATOR.
SO, UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED THE MENTAL HEALTH BELL SILL FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AWARD.
UM, THIS IS A NATIONAL HONOR THAT RECOGNIZES WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS A LEADER IN SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE WELLBEING WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S BEEN AWARDED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, UM, AND AS 2026 GOLD BE SEAL FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH.
THE NATION'S TOP RECOGNITION FOR US EMPLOYERS COMMITTED TO CREATING, UH, MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACES.
THE BELL SEAL IS ISSUED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA.
IT'S THE NATION'S LEADING NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THE US.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY WAS EVALUATED ON ITS POLICIES, ITS PRACTICES IN FOUR AREAS, CULTURE, BENEFITS, COMPLIANCE AND WHOLE HEALTH WELLNESS PROGRAMS. MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA CONSIDERED OUR EAP PROGRAM, STRESS REDUCTION OFFERINGS, MENTAL COVERAGE, LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT TO MAKING OUR WORKPLACE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND AWARDING THE GOLD LEVEL.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST FIRST EMPLOYEES AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORK TO ENSURE THEY UPHOLD THE STANDARDS, THE BELL SEAL FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH SET FORTH.
I'M JUST HONORED THIS, THIS IS, WE WORK VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE THIS, AND WE'RE BLESSED AND FORTUNATE THAT THE COURT SUPPORTS US IN PROVIDING AWESOME BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS NUMBER ONE.
SO, SO, SO, IF, IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WILLIAMS COUNTY AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE EMPLOY RIGHT AROUND 2000 PEOPLE.
UM, WE ARE, WE ARE FORWARD FACING.
SO THAT MEANS IN ADDITION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UM, OUR OUR ROAD CREWS AND OUR TAX ASSESSOR, UM, COLLECTOR EMPLOYEES, WE DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC AND, UM, AND IT, AND WE WORK HARD AT IT.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STRIVE FOR IS THAT THEY, I MEAN, WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE HAPPY AND SATISFIED.
WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TOWARDS THAT, BUT HAVING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND SOMETHING THAT, THAT THEY CAN HAVE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES IS IMPORTANT TO US.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE SHELLY AND YOUR GROUP THAT YOU, WE, WE KEEP STRIVING TO MAKE THAT IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CULTURE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR HR TEAM TO KIND OF STEP UP.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COBY TO APPROVE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
WE HAVEN'T DONE PICTURES BEFORE, SO WE'RE STILL YEAH, WE'RE STILL NAVIGATING HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
SO Y'ALL ARE GONNA HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT THE WHOLE CREW IN FRONT OF US, AND WE'LL STAND BEHIND YOU.
THIS ONE'S A LITTLE TALLER THAN THE LAST.
GONNA GET EVERYBODY, IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT.
YOU CAN SQUEEZE IN THE FRONT ROW.
A I, I FEEL LIKE YOU'ALL LIKE EACH OTHER.
CAN YOU GET IT? THAT'S PERFECT.
[42. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on the annual update from the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership.]
AGENDA ITEM 42, DISCUSS, CONSIDER TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.WE HAVE DAVE PORTER AND SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR PARTNERSHIP HERE TODAY.
[00:20:03]
OH, NO.GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.
I'M DAVE PORTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.
I HAVE A LOT TO TALK TO WITH YOU, TO YOU ABOUT THIS MORNING, BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE, INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
UH, MAYOR SCHMIDT FROM COPELAND.
PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS HERE.
UH, BEN WHITE WITH THE TAYLOR, EDC NICOLE VANCE FROM LEANDER, DANIELLE MORRISEY, ROUND ROCK CHAMBER.
SCOTT SMITH, CEDAR PARK, AND THEN AMBER HERNANDEZ.
UH, OUR OTHER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT THE WILCO EDP.
AND THEN ALSO CAMERON GOODMAN FROM GEORGETOWN IS HERE.
SORRY, CAMERON
SO IN 2025, WILLIAMSON COUNTY EXPERIENCED STRONG ECONOMIC AND POPULATION GROWTH RANKING AMONG THE NATION'S FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES.
AND AMONG THE TOP 10 NATIONALLY FOR JOB GROWTH AT 2.5%.
ITS MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS THAT GREW TO $111,340.
THE SIXTH HIGHEST AMONG THE TEXAS 254 COUNTIES.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAS QUICKLY BECOME AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR TEXAS AND THE NATION.
IT IS HELPING BRING SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING AND THE SUPPLIERS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN ITS GROWTH BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
DELL'S LEADERSHIP IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH NVIDIA IS ALSO ATTRACTING MAJOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS THAT SUPPORT THE AI INDUSTRY.
THE COUNTY IS ALSO EXPANDING TEXAS'S SPACE AND DEFENSE SECTORS BY SUPPORTING COMPANIES SUCH AS FIREFLY THROUGH THE TEXAS SPACEPORT DESIGNATION.
AS JODI MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AGRICULTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY IS GROWING AS WELL IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
VERMILLION FARMS AND COPELAND PRODUCES CROPS EQUIVALENT TO 10 ACRES IN A 4,300 SQUARE FOOT HIGH TECH GREENHOUSE WHILE JOHN DEERE OPERATES A 250 ACRE TEST FARM FOR AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT.
ALRIGHT, SO NOW I GOTTA GET TO THE POWERPOINT.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? OH, IT'S UP
HOW DO I SEE IT?
I DON'T THINK YOUR SCREEN IS WORKING.
IF YOU'LL JUST TELL ANDY NEXT SLIDE, SHE'LL CLICK YOU THROUGH IT.
SO IF WE GO TO THE, UH, GDP SLIDE, WE GOT THAT.
SO THE US ECONOMY IS VALUED AT $30.7 TRILLION.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IS THE TOTAL MONETARY VALUE OF ALL FINISHED GOODS AND SERVICES.
SO THE US ECONOMY LAST YEAR WAS AT 30.7 TRILLION.
THAT WAS UP 2.1% DRIVEN BY CONSUMER SPENDING AND AI INVESTMENTS.
THE TREND SO FAR IN 2026 IS SLIGHTLY DOWN.
THE GROWTH RATES CURRENTLY AT 1.6%.
TEXAS, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS THE EIGHTH LARGEST GLOBAL ECONOMY VALUED JUST UNDER $3 TRILLION.
THE AUSTIN METROPOLITAN AREA, WHICH TRAVIS COUNTY, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, HAYES, CALDWELL, AND BASTROP COUNTIES, THE 51ST LARGEST GLOBAL ECONOMY VALUED AT JUST AROUND $203 BILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, IT HAS GROWN TO 44.6 BILLION.
IF WE WERE A COUNTRY, WE'D BE THE 90TH LARGEST GLOBAL ECONOMY.
JUST FOR REFERENCE, IN 2022, THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY WAS 36 BILLION.
WE'VE GROWN OUR ECONOMY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY BY $8 BILLION IN THAT SHORT TIMEFRAME.
IF WE GO TO THE PARTNER SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE PARTNER SLIDE, THIS SHOWS YOU OBVIOUSLY ALL THE DIFFERENT, THE CITY PARTNERS.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S A BIG COUNTY, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED DRIVING NUMEROUS MILES.
ALSO, THIS IS A BOB DAY, UH, STAT.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 4,500 CENTER LINE MILES OF PAVED ROADS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY FROM ALL JURISDICTIONS.
I THINK I'VE TRAVELED MOST OF THAT
[00:25:01]
UM, THIS IS A DYNAMIC COUNTY AND WE CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED WITH EX, YOU KNOW, STRONG GROWTH AND JOB GROWTH.SO PROMOTING WILLIAMSON COUNTY THIS YEAR.
SO WE STARTED THE YEAR OFF IN OCTOBER, OUR FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER ONE.
ON OCTOBER ONE, WE WERE A SPONSOR AND SPEAKER AT THE AUSTIN REGIONAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION AT KALAHARI.
THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A TRIP TO KOREA.
UH, A JOINT TRIP WITH THE AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER.
JUDGE SNELL LED A MEETING, UH, WITH A MAJOR UNIVERSITY WITH OUR SISTER CITY YOUNG END CITY THAT WAS ATTENDED BY UT TEXAS STATE AND A CC IN ALL.
THERE WERE 25 DELEGATES THAT WENT ON THE TRIP.
UH, WE HAD NINE FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY, AND WE DID OUR OWN SEPARATE AGENDA AND MEETINGS.
JUDGE SNELL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SAMSUNG LEADERSHIP, UH, WHILE THERE TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOGUE AND RELATIONSHIP.
THEN IN, UH, DECEMBER, THE WILCO EDP SPONSOR AND SPEAK WAS A SPONSOR AND SPEAK, SPOKE AT THE A-B-G-A-B-J GROWTH SUMMIT 1,162 ATTENDED THAT EVENT.
THAT'S THE LARGEST BUSINESS JOURNAL EVENT IN THE 44 MARKET CITIES THEY SERVE.
THEN IN FEBRUARY, WE DID A SECOND TRIP TO KOREA.
WE ATTENDED SEMICON KOREA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SEMICONDUCTOR TRADE SHOWS IN ASIA.
THE US EMBASSY INVITED THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, INDIANA, ARIZONA, NEW YORK, AND THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP TO SPEAK AT THE CONFERENCE, WHICH I THINK IS COOL.
THAT'S THE SECOND TIME WE'VE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY WITH THE EMBASSY AND SEOUL.
SO, AND, AND DAVE, I JUST, IN CASE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING, LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO PRESENT WILLIAMSON COUNTY ALONG WITH ENTIRE STATES YES.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY NEAT.
UM, THEN IN, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THEN IN MARCH, UH, 26TH THIS YEAR, WE WERE HELPED SPONSOR AN EVENT AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WITH THE ASIAN CHAMBER.
UH, THE PROGRAM WAS WELL ATTENDED BY, UH, NUMEROUS COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES.
IN APRIL, WE ATTENDED THE SPACE SYMPOSIUM IN COLORADO SPRINGS, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL.
IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL ARTEMIS MISSION AROUND THE MOON.
AND THIS WAS THE WILCO EDP, THE FIRST SIGNATURE SPACE CONFERENCE THAT WE ATTENDED.
YOU SEE SOME PICTURES OF THAT UP THERE IN MAY.
UH, WILCO, EDP AND OUR PARTNERS ATTENDED THE SELECT USA INVESTMENT SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON DC.
THIS EVENT HOSTED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BRINGS COMPANIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE CONSIDERING EXPANDING INTO THE UNITED STATES.
THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP HAD MEETINGS WITH 26 COMPANIES WHILE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE.
AND WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH A NUMBER OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN JUNE.
WE COM THE COMPLETION OF A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH I WILL, UH, TOUCH ON HERE SHORTLY.
AND ALSO IN JUNE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED ADDING THE WILCO EDP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS WELL AS THE HAYES CALDWELL PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS GONNA GIVE US A SEAT AT THE TABLE ON A MUCH LARGER REGIONAL, UH, BASIS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, UH, WE'LL BE PRO PROVIDING INPUT AS WE GO FOR FORWARD WITH OPPORTUNITY.
AUSTIN, UH, THE RESULTS SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
IN TOTAL, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THERE'S BEEN 30 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PRIMARY EMPLOYERS EITHER EXPANDING OR RELOCATING INTO THE COMMUNITIES REPRESENTING 3,467 JOBS AND A $2.5 BILLION NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
THE WILCO EDP WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH EIGHT OF THOSE 30 PROJECTS, AND THOSE PROJECT EIGHT PROJECTS REPRESENT OVER 2200 JOBS AND OVER $500 MILLION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT FROM ONLY THOSE EIGHT PROJECTS.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY WILL RECEIVE 10.3 MILLION IN NET NEW TAX REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
OF THE EIGHT PROJECTS, WILLIAMSON COUNTY INCENTIVIZED THREE, UH, LABAT FOODS AND GERALD PEGATRON AND GEORGETOWN COMPAL, TAYLOR AND GEORGETOWN
[00:30:01]
FROM THE EIGHT PROJECTS.ALL LOCAL TAXING DISTRICTS ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE OVER $212 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, PLUS THE EIGHT.
FROM THE EIGHT PROJECTS ALONE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL RECEIVE 107 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S INVESTMENT IN THE WILCO EDP.
THIS FISCAL FISCAL YEAR IS $500,000.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED IN THE WILCO EDP, THE, THE COUNTY'S RECEIVING $22 IN ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND WITH EDP, YOU'RE GETTING 22 BACK IN, IN NEW TAX REVENUE.
ALSO, IT'S $142 IN TAX REVENUE FOR, FOR ALL LOCAL TAXING DISTRICTS.
PLUS, FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND WITH EDP ON, IT CREATES $23,700 IN NEW ECONOMIC OUTPUT, WHICH IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
SO YOU ARE HELPING INCREASE, OBVIOUSLY, THE GDP OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, THE RATE OF RETURNS OVER 200%, UH, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
I'M GONNA TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE IMPLEMENTATION SLIDES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR NEW FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY FOCUSED AS WE GO FORWARD ON A NEW STRATEGY THAT WILL TAKE US TO 30 20 30 20 31, EXCUSE ME.
LAST YEAR, THE WILCO EDP DID AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY ON HOW TO GROW THE ORGANIZATION, THE VARIOUS ROLES AND PROCEDURES.
THIS YEAR, WE HIRED THE SAME CONSULTANT TO DO A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THAT PROCESS BEGAN BACK IN JANUARY, WHICH IDENTIFIES OUR TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS, OUR TARGET MARKETS, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONAL.
HAS A WORKFORCE COMPONENT AND OBVIOUSLY A MARKETING COMPONENT THAT I'LL BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT.
THE PLAN HAS IDENTIFIED OUR COMPETING MARKETS, OUR COMPETITOR MARKETS, WHICH INCLUDE WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, MARICOPA, ARIZONA, WHICH IS, UH, PHOENIX, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, RALEIGH, DURHAM, AND DENVER.
THOSE ARE THE CITIES THAT WE TEND TO COMPETE WITH MOST IS TENNESSEE.
SO THE DOMESTIC MARKETS THAT THE PLAN CALLS TO TARGET IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, LA, LONG BEACH, NASHVILLE, SEATTLE, UH, PHOENIX, AND THEN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
A LOT OF INVESTMENT HAD BIG TIME INVESTMENT IS OCCURRING IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA AT THE TIME.
OUR TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN WILL MAXIMIZE LIMITED RESOURCES, DRIVE INNOVATION, AND BUILD ECONOMIC RESILIENCE THAT NATURALLY ALIGNED WITH LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE, TALENT, AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, WHICH WILL LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE HIGH PAYING JOBS.
OUR TARGETED INDUSTRY SECTORS IDENTIFIED ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, WHICH INCLUDES SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND COMPUTER AND ELECT ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS IN TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND DESIGN, R AND D, ENGINEERING AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY.
AND I, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE JODI AND ANGELA AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE HELPED US, UH, DO AROUND THE AG TECH COMPONENT.
UH, GOING FORWARD IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WE HAVE BACK OFFICE IDENTIFIED.
BACK OFFICE IS IDENTIFIED AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE BEHIND THE SCENES FUNCTIONS OF A COMPANY THAT DO NOT INVOLVE DIRECT INTERACTION WITH CUSTOMERS.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE IT SUPPORT ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL AND DATA MANAGEMENT.
THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY IS A TARGET AS WELL, UH, UNDER THAT SPACE, AEROSPACE, CYBERSECURITY, COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, THE LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS GROWING BIG TIME IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON METAL, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, MANUFACTURING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING.
OUR INTERNATIONAL TARGET MARKETS, GERMANY, CANADA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
IT IS HEAVY INTO DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, AND THEY ARE A GREAT ALLY, AND
[00:35:01]
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, UNITED KINGDOM, THE MONTEREY MEXICO CORRIDOR, JAPAN, KOREA, AND TAIWAN ARE OUR INTERNATIONAL TARGETS.FROM A PROSPECT MARKETING, WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT OR ENHANCE A DISCIPLINED CRM CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO NURTURE ACTIVE AND WARM PRO PROSPECTS THROUGH A ROBUST AND INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL MARKETING WILL DO DATADRIVEN DIGITAL AND IN MARKET STRATEGIES LAUNCH DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IN TAIWAN AND JAPAN.
ESTABLISH A PRESENCE AT TWO TO THREE INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY EVENTS ANNUALLY.
WE'LL ALSO UPDATE THE WEBSITE AND MARKETING COLLATERAL TO CORRESPOND TO OUR NEW TARGET SECTORS.
ALSO IN THE PLAN CALLS FOR, TO CREATE A UNIFIED COUNTYWIDE MARKETING MESSAGE.
THIS IS LIKE A 32ND ELEVATOR PITCH, WHY WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT WE CAN ALL USE.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON CREATING THAT UNIFIED COUNTYWIDE 32ND MARKETING PITCH.
AND ON THE SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION, THE WILCO SPACEPORT DESIGNATION IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN.
WE WILL DEFINE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP'S ROLE WITHIN THE COUNTY SPACEPORT DESIGNATION.
WE WILL BUILD A TARGET MARKETING PROGRAM FOR BUSINESS ATTRACTION ACROSS ALL MEMBER CITIES, ATTEND RELEVANT INDUSTRY CONFERENCES AND, AND TARGET SPECIFIC SITE SELECTORS THAT ARE INVO INVOLVED IN, IN THE, UH, SPACE AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
ALSO DEVELOPMENT OF IN THE SPACE, UH, WITH THE SPACEPORT DESIGNATION, WE WILL DEVELOP A NEW SET OF COLLATERAL MARKETING PACKAGE DISTINCT FROM THE GENERAL EDP MARKETING.
SO A LOT WILL HAPPEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SPACEPORT YOUNG IN CITY SISTER, THE SISTER CITY PROGRAM WITH YOUNG IN CITY AND KOREA.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SISTER CITIES FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT I THINK THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF MEAT TO IT THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON TO ENHANCE, UH, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'LL WORK ON STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING ACROSS CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY.
AND WE'LL PURSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SISTER CITY PROGRAM THROUGH SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL.
THE LAST SLIDE, IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION SLIDE DEALS WITH WORKFORCE.
THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY CIVILIAN WORKFORCE COMPRISES OF OVER 435,000 INDIVIDUALS EVERY DAY.
OVER 202,000 WILLIAMSON COUNTY RESIDENTS LEAVE THE COUNTY TO WORK MOSTLY IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WHILE 101,000 TRAVEL INTO WILLIAMSON COUNTY EACH DAY TO WORK MOSTLY FROM TRAVIS BELL, BURNETT, BURNETT MILAM, AND HAYES COUNTIES.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS BECOMING A CENTER OF EMPLOYMENT WHERE MORE AND MORE OF OUR WORKFORCES STAYING HERE.
BUT WE HAVE A, A PLAN THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE TO A MARKET JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN WILLIAMSON COUNTY TO KEEP MORE WILLIAMSON COUNTY RESIDENTS HERE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO ARE GONNA LOOK AT IS ESTABLISH A COUNTYWIDE WORKFORCE COUNCIL, A STANDING COUNCIL OF EMPLOYERS, EDUCATION PARTNERS, WORKFORCE ORGANIZATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE WORKFORCE STRATEGIES, A MILITARY TALENT BRIDGE THROUGH THE TAP TAP OFFICE AT FORT HOOD.
CONNECT TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS TO COUNTY EMPLOYERS IN OUR TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS, A YOUTH TALENT PIPELINE.
CONNECT K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS TO CAREER PATHWAYS, AND THEN A STRATEGY TO PROMOTE OUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN WELCO THROUGH LIVE HERE, WORK HERE.
NOW, ALL THESE THINGS WE AREN'T TAKING ON, BUT WE WILL CONVENE, MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER EXPERTS IN WORKFORCE, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
SO WE HAVE STRATEGIES AROUND ALL THESE NEW JOBS THAT ARE COMING IN ON HOW TO TRAIN THEM.
THE ECOSYSTEM ENGAGEMENT THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN CALLS TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, WATER WASTEWATER, ELECTRICITY, AND HIGH SPEED FIBER.
SO A TAKE A LOOK AT, CONTINUE TO LOOK AHEAD AT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE WILL BEGIN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF THIS NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH AGAIN, WE ARE BEGINNING TO NARROW IN AND BE EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[00:40:01]
WE'RE GONNA DO A, A DOMESTIC MARKETING MISSION TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OCTOBER WE'LL HIT LA AND LONG BEACH IN JUNE.WE'LL DO AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP TO SOUTH KOREA IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR TO ATTEND SEMICON KOREA.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S A LARGE ELECTRONIC SHOW IN TAIWAN IN MAY THAT, UH, WE'LL PLAN ON ATTENDING.
SO IN CLOSING, FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE WILCO EDP WAS ACTIVATED AT OUR VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING, WE HAD BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME MET EACH OTHER.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WAS THE HU EDC DIRECTOR.
AND AT THE TIME, THE TAYLOR EDC DIRECTOR, ONLY EIGHT MILES APART, THEY HAD NEVER MET THE WILCO.
WE MEET MONTHLY, WE TRAVEL TOGETHER, AND LIKE MOST LARGE FAMILIES, WE TEND TO ARGUE WE COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER, BUT WE COLLABORATE AND WE WIN.
THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THIS WINNING COMBINATION IS THE WILCO EDP, WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY.
AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DAVE, BUT I JUST, NO QUESTIONS.
BUT, UH, I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM, A LOT OF WHICH ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
THE, THE SLIDES ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS BROUGHT TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAS BEEN AMAZING.
THE DIVERSITY OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT, UM, IS, IS NOT ONLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT IT'S IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION.
UM, IT'S PROVIDING JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE.
SO I JUST, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU, YOU DO.
I KNOW THERE'S, UH, COMPANIES THAT KNOCK ON OUR DOOR EVERY DAY THAT WANT TO COME AND Y'ALL VET 'EM AND Y'ALL BRING THE RIGHT COMPANIES.
UM, I LOVE HOW THE CITIES WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A PROJECT THAT DOESN'T WORK IN ONE CITY MM-HMM
THEY, THEY ALWAYS TRY TO PROMOTE OTHER CITIES, UM, AND JUST, AND JUST KEEP THE COUNTY FOCUSED AND GROWING FORWARD ECONOMICALLY.
SO JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
DAVE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONCERN OF FOLKS AND DIFFERENT CONCERNS.
ONE IS, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO A LOT OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES BRINGING IN FOREIGN INVESTMENT, WHICH THERE'S, UH, A NEED FOR CERTAIN INDUSTRIES TO, UH, BE HERE IN AMERICA FOR SAFETY, FOR MILITARY MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR OUR COUNTRY.
BUT THEN THERE'S THE, THE BALANCE.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
I SAW SOME OTHERS, AND OF COURSE THOSE THAT, UH, OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT WE NEED TO BRING HERE.
AND SO, DIVERSITY TO THE JUDGE'S POINT, I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
BUT HOW, HOW, UM, ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT BALANCING THE, THE NEED TO BRING THESE INDUSTRIES INTO AMERICA? SO WE HAVE, UH, SOME SAFETY, SOME, SOME CONCERN ABOUT A LOT OF THESE INDUSTRIES WITH WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY.
JUST THE, UM, THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR COUNTY AND HOW DIFFERENT WE ARE.
UH, AND THEN THE NEEDS TO, UM, REALLY TO WORK WITH THE LANDOWNERS AND, AND WHERE THESE LOCATIONS ARE.
UH, I KNOW THE CITIES HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH THAT, BUT MANY ARE PULLING OUT OF THE CITIES, UH, FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE, WE HAVE A BALANCE.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU ADDRESS ANY OF THAT, PLEASE? SURE.
THE, UH, THE NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN, YOU KNOW, CALLS FOR A HEAVY INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC MARKETING.
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS INTER IN THE US WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING MORE ACTIVITY INTEREST RIGHT NOW FROM OUTSIDE AMERICA LOOKING IN BECAUSE OF TRADE POLICIES, WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SETTLE DOWN AND THAT WILL START SEEING MORE ACTIVITY, UH, IN AMERICA OF COMPANIES WANTING TO EXPAND AND GROW.
THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR CONTINUES TO LOSE JOBS OVERALL.
WE'RE DOWN ABOUT 77,000 AS A COUNTRY JUST THIS YEAR.
UH, BUT WE'RE SEEING THE UPTICK WITH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, WHICH WE'RE BENEFITING FROM THOSE TRADE POLICIES.
BUT WE'RE GONNA FOCUS BIG TIME.
THE BOARD HAS DIRECTED US, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TARGETING CONTINUE TO FOCUS INTERNATIONALLY, THE FOCUS IS SHIFTING BACK TO THE US.
WE'RE GONNA PREPARE FOR WHEN THINGS START REALLY ROLLING AGAIN, WHICH IT IS, IT'LL, IT'S STARTING TO RAMP UP.
BUT WE'LL FOCUS ON THOSE KEY MARKETS.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SEATTLE, UH, ARIZONA, OF ALL PLACES.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT THEY'RE HAVING CHALLENGES WITH.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON THE, THE DOMESTIC MARKET MUCH, MUCH MORE GOING FORWARD.
WE'RE, WE'RE, IT'S A BALANCE NOT CHANGING THE
[00:45:01]
CULTURE OF WILCO.AND IT'S, NO, WE DON'T WANNA, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS 32 YEARS AGO WHEN WE MOVED HERE ALREADY.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE EAST SIDE, IT WAS BROUGHT UP.
THAT'S WHERE THE, THE FARMLAND IS.
THAT'S THE CLAY ROCKS ON THE WEST SIDE.
WE KNOW WHEN WE TRIED TO PLANT TREES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT'S COMPLICATED TOO, BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS WILCO TO GROW ONLY WITH HOUSES.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP.
SO IT'S, IT'S GOTTA BE A BALANCE.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT.
THE, THE BIG INVESTMENTS WE'RE SEEING FROM THE INDUSTRIAL SIDE, HELP KEEP MY TAX RATE.
I LIVE IN ROUND ROCK DOWN HELPS KEEP YOUR TAX RATES DOWN.
THESE HUGE INVESTMENTS HELP KEEP RESIDENTIAL TAX RATES DOWN.
SO THE BALANCE IS, WE'RE HELPING THE TAXPAYERS BY TRYING TO KEEP THEIR TAX RATES DOWN BY BRINGING IN THESE GREAT EMPLOYERS.
UH, I THINK WE'LL START SEEING A LOT MORE FROM DOMESTIC COMPANIES AS THE ECONOMY IN THE US CONTINUES TO RAMP UP.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER LONG AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND, AND REALLY TRIED TO MAKE A PRIORITY FOR THE TIME AND THE REST OF US TOO, IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DRIVE TO AUSTIN.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WORK HERE WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND THAT'S BEEN WHERE THE PARKING IS FREE.
THAT'S BEEN A, SO FAR, THAT'S BEEN A, UH, A BIG CHALLENGE IN THE PAST, BUT WE, WE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FOCUS ON THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE, THE WORK THAT THE COURT IS DOING IN THAT REGARD.
'CAUSE 35 CAN ONLY GET SO BIG
DAVE, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE REST OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE FROM GEORGETOWN AND TAYLOR AND LEANDER AND CEDAR PARK AND ROUND ROCK.
UM, DID I MISS ANYBODY? COPELAND.
UM, AND TO THE OTHER FOLKS THAT AREN'T HERE, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL ARE, UM, IN THE TRENCHES EVERY DAY, AND I'VE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MANY OF YOU, SO THANK YOU.
Y YOU KNOW, I, I, I, WHEN WE STARTED IT, UM, THERE, THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.
I, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I HAD DISCUSSIONS KINDA LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY NEEDED TO DO MORE, AT LEAST BE ORGANIZED MORE.
AND, UH, AND I STARTED TALKING TO SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS IN THE COUNTY.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE, I MEAN, AND I'VE SAID IT AND THEY'RE GONNA LAUGH, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I SEE THOSE MOVIE POSTERS OF MAYBE LIKE THE AVENGERS, AND THERE'S ALL THOSE SUPERHEROES ALL IN ONE PICTURE, I LOOK AT IT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS, AND THEY'RE ALSO SMART, AND THEY'RE ALSO GOOD AT THEIR JOBS, AND THEY HAVE SUCH A BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE THAT TO ME, UH, WHEN I SEE 'EM ALL STANDING TOGETHER.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THE, YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE A MEME COMING QUICKLY.
I I'M TRYING TO GET THERE AND, UH, UH, AND I, THE QUESTION IS, IS DAVE, DAVE HAS TO BE KEPT IN AMERICA, RIGHT? IS THAT, IS THAT WAY IT WOULD GO
UM, AND, UH, AND AS A COUNTY, WE JUST DON'T NEED TO MESS IT UP, RIGHT? WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.
AND I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR AT THAT.
AND, UH, AND THE, THE COUNTY ENABLING OUR, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS, BUT ALSO GETTING OUT OF THE WAY, I THINK, UH, HAS BEEN A GREAT PATH.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA SAY IS THANK YOU TO YOU, BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED THIS TOGETHER, YOU, YOU, YOU MOVED BACK FROM FLORIDA TO TAKE THIS POSITION GLADLY.
SO, AND, UH, AND, AND YOU'VE ANNOUNCED THAT, UH, COME THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA GO DO SOMETHING ELSE IF, IF, IF THE REST OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS WILL LET YOU.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE THE, THE, THE FINE TOUCH THAT IT TOOK TO KIND OF, TO GET IT TOGETHER, TO SHOW HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WAS ESSENTIALLY YOUR FINE TUNING.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE IT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, I TALK DAILY, OR NOT DAILY, BUT WEEKLY TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL FIND YOU AN ASSET AND A RESOURCE, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, AND, AND I MEAN, AND IT'S, YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IT, BUT YOU JUST START FROM NOT JUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WINS, BUT, UM, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH RELATIONSHIPS, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH SPACE PORTS, AND WE GO ON AND ON, AND A LOT OF THAT JUST HAS YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT.
[39. Hear and discuss an update from the Williamson County Manager regarding the new Williamson County Justice Center Complex planning & development programming and processes, to include, but not be limited to project phase updates, timelines, public engagement, and interim planning efforts.]
MOVING BACK TO ITEM 39.UM, REBECCA, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE AND DISCUSS AN UPDATE FROM THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UH, MANAGER REGARDING THE NEW WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER.
COMPLEX PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING AND PROCESSES TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED, NOT BE LIMITED TO PROJECT PHASE
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UPDATES, TIMELINES, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND INTERIM PLANNING EFFORTS.GOOD MORNING, REBECCA CLEMMENS, COUNTY MANAGER.
UM, I WAS JUST GONNA OPEN BY MENTIONING THAT WE STARTED THIS PROCESS ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN PHASE ONE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WRAPPING UP PHASE TWO, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON PROGRAMMING.
EACH PHASE IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND COURT AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE.
UM, I'VE HEARD FROM A FEW COURT MEMBERS THE REQUEST TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ON, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN WEIGH IN ON THE TIMELINE, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING.
AND SO I AM HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
I, I AM AT LEAST ONE OF THE ONES THAT ASK YOU TO PUT THIS ON.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE'RE STRIVING TO DO BETTER IS COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AND COMMUNICATE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT I KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED IS WITH OUR CONSULTANT KIEL.
UM, THEY HAVE ENGAGED A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FIRM.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE AT THE END OF PHASE TWO.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO STOP, UM, AND GIVE A CHANCE FOR OUR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT TEAM TO START TALKING TO, UM, NOT JUST THE NEIGHBORS OF OUT THERE THAT HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO TALK TO OUR CITIES AND TALK TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, A WE NEED TO LISTEN, UH, THAT THAT'S THE FIRST PART.
AND I THINK IF I WAS GONNA MAKE A BULLET LIST, THE FIRST THREE ITEMS ON THAT WOULD BE WE NEED TO LISTEN.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION, UM, TO, TO, TO SEE HOW OUR, UH, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR CITIES AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
UH, I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, A GREAT TIME, UM, TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHERE THE COURT IS ON THIS.
AND, AND, AND I WANNA SAY IT AT LEAST WHERE I AM ON THIS, IS THAT WHAT THE COURT HAS DONE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NEED SOMETHING MORE IN THE FUTURE CONSIDERING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND, UH, WE'VE GOT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT AND IT STARTS TO GO THROUGH THAT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROCESS.
UM, BUT EXACTLY, I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T AGREED TO, TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE, WE HAVE PURCHASED A SITE, UH, WE HAVEN'T AGREED TO, UM, ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE COURTS OR ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE JAIL.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I SEE THE, THE COURT AT.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT TIME FOR US TO LISTEN.
THERE'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCLUDE AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO, UM, IF THAT JUST TO, I JUST WANNA LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, UM, FROM WHERE I SIT, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LISTEN AND GET SOME GOOD FEEDBACK.
SO I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, AND I THINK THAT IS THE NEXT STEP, UH, IS TO, UH, ENGAGE THE PUBLIC MORE OFTEN.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE DO NEED TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC EVEN MORE.
UM, THE PROBLEM WITH JUST STOPPING IS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY THESE FOLKS TO DO THIS ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO IN LOOKING AT, UM, THE NEXT PHASE, PHASE THREE, THERE'S A WAY TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO PHASE THREE A, UH, WHICH WOULD BE BASICALLY DOING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, AND THAT'S THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
UM, AND SO I I, AND NOT HIRING ANYBODY ELSE, NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH, UM, A, UH, CONSTRUCTION DESIGN, UH, PLAN DETAILED PLANS OR THE, UM, UH, THE, THE C THE, UH, CONSTRUCT THE CONTRACTOR, BUT JUST HAVING THAT ENGAGEMENT TEAM BE ABLE TO FULLY VET THE SITUATION AND VISIT WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, FOLKS THAT LIVE AROUND THE LAND THAT WE PURCHASED.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU JUST LAID OUT.
AND THERE'S A WAY TO BREAK IT DOWN TO WHERE WE DON'T GO PAST A CERTAIN POINT WITHOUT ANY MORE, OF COURSE, COURT DECISION.
AND THAT WOULD BE THREE A IN THE WAY THAT KIEL HAS BROKEN IT OUT.
AND REBECCA, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT, UM, AND HOW THAT LOOKS IF I'VE SAID IT INCORRECTLY.
UM, IF YOU WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THREE A.
SO PHASE THREE FOCUSES HEAVILY ON COMMUNITY, UM, ENGAGEMENT, DESIGN, AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IF WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO PIECES, PHASE THREE A WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW JAIL OR JUSTICE FACILITY.
UM, IT IS INTENDED, UM, FOR CAREFUL PROJECT, UM, DESIGN AND EXPAND PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE THEIR INFORMED FUTURE,
[00:55:01]
UM, DECISIONS.IT'S NOT ANY SORT OF CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, IT DOES NOT APPROVE A FINAL DESIGN, A MAXIMUM PRICE CONTRACTORS.
UM, NOTHING ON THAT WOULD BE IN PHASE THREE.
IT WOULD JUST KEEP THE PROJECT IN A PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAGE WHILE CREATING, UM, SIGNIFICANT AND DELIBERATE, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH, WHICH NEEDS TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
BECAUSE THAT'S, I MEAN, THE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION'S, MY UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH THEM.
UM, SO PHASE TWO ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS WELL, RIGHT? UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS LISTED IN EVERY PHASE.
UM, IT'S JUST WHETHER WE HAVE THE FUNDING OR, OR NEED TO, IT WOULD JUST AMEND STUFF.
IT, IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF, OF MOVING FUNDING FROM WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE IN PHASE THREE, BACK TO PHASE TWO.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO AMEND THE CONTRACT AND MOVE THAT FUNDING.
BUT, BUT NOT HAVING TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WOULD BE TO APPROVE THREE A, WHERE WE WOULD JUST LEAVE IT AS AND DOING THE SAME WORK, NOT CHANGING THE WORK OR ADDING TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
BUT IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE FUNDING WITHOUT HAVING TO AMEND THE CONTRACT.
I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR US TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY THAT WE'RE STILL, BUT WE'RE STILL MOVING, I THINK.
AND, AND I, AND I JUST DON'T SEE THE NEED TO MOVE INTO PHASE THREE.
WE'RE ALLOWED TO BY THE CONTRACT, WE, WE CAN, WE CAN AUTHORIZE WHAT WE WANT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO STOP, FOR US TO STOP, FOR US TO STOP AND LISTEN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR ISD AND, AND DO IT WELL.
'CAUSE I DON'T WHAT AND, AND DO IT.
WELL, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
AND, AND, AND I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU ON WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
I'M JUST SUGGESTING A PATH FORWARD IN SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE EASIEST MOVE FORWARD IS TO APPROVE A SUBSET, UH, SO THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE FUNDING THERE.
AND WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND NOT GO PAST A CERTAIN POINT.
BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO LISTEN, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY GREAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO A POINT WHERE YOU DON'T WANNA GO BASED ON EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID TODAY.
AND, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY ALL WE'RE DOING IS LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC AND, AND BEING ABLE TO PAY THE TEAM THAT KITCHELL HAS HIRED IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD ON AND NOT GO PAST A CERTAIN POINT THAT OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT READY TO, TO MOVE PAST COMMISSIONER COOK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I, I AM FINE WITH SLOWING IT DOWN AND REALLY CONSIDERING.
I MEAN, I, WHEREVER IT FALLS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE AT A PLACE, WHETHER IT'S THE END OF TWO OR THE BEGINNING OF THREE, UM, AT A PLACE TO, TO DO THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, I'M GONNA LEAN ON REBECCA AND HER RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHERE, WHERE THAT FALLS.
UM, IN TERMS OF CONTRACTUALLY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THE CONTRACT OF THE LAND AND ULTIMATELY THE PURPOSE OF THE LAND, UM, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO COME IN AND SPEAK IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THEY JUST SPEAK TO US.
WE DON'T REALLY GET TO ENGAGE WITH THEM.
WE DON'T REALLY GET TO EXPAND THAT CONVERSATION.
AND SO IT LEADS TO, YOU KNOW, A DETERIORATION IN THE TRUST OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS VERY FRAGILE ANYWAY, RIGHT? THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT, THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THAT WE TRULY LISTEN, WE TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN.
AND THEN WHEN THEY DO HAVE CONCERNS, WE TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE, UM, THOSE CONCERNS.
SO ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, INVOLVEMENT FIRM THAT WILL DO THAT WORK FOR US AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT, GIVES OUR CITIZENS, GIVES THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, GIVES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THE TIME TO DO THAT.
AND IT REALLY SHOWS THAT WE'RE AUTHENTICALLY LISTENING.
WE'RE NOT JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA GET ACCUSED OF THAT AS WELL.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT PROCESS WELL AND CONTINUE TO BUILD TRUST AND SHOW GOOD FAITH EFFORT, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEN THEY WON'T BELIEVE US.
RIGHT? AND SO RESTORING THAT TRUST, UM, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE TRULY WILL LISTEN TO THEM AND TAKE THEIR CONCERNS INTO CONSIDERATION, I THINK IS CRITICAL.
NOT JUST IN THIS ISSUE, BUT EVERY ISSUE.
SO THE THING IS TO BUILD A, YOU KNOW, REALLY A GIANT COURTHOUSE FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS, A SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A JAIL IS A BIG DEAL.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE'RE MAKING A 50 YEAR, A HUNDRED YEAR DECISION, WHATEVER THEY, THAT MIGHT BE SLOWING DOWN AND GETTING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT? GET ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT, GET ALL THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
[01:00:01]
NOT ONLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT WHEN WE'RE DOING IT AND GETTING ACCESS TO ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, I THINK IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL TO THE TRUST PROCESS AND MOVING FORWARD APPROPRIATELY.SO I LIKE SLOWING DOWN WHETHER IT'S TWO A PLUS OR THREE A PLUS, IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT, BUT THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE, WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TILL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TRULY TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT IT.
SO COUNTY MANAGER, WHAT ARE YOU RECOMMENDING AND WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU LIKE THE COURT TO CONSIDER? SO IT'S NOT LISTED FOR ACTION TODAY.
UM, TODAY WAS JUST A DISCUSSION SO I COULD GET SOME FEEDBACK ON IT.
UM, WHAT I'M HEARING IS I THINK EVERYBODY'S STAYING SAYING THE SAME THING.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PATHS TO GET THERE.
SO IT'S EITHER WE STOP AND WE STAY IN TWO A, WE AMEND THE CONTRACT AND WE MOVE FUNDING OVER FROM TWO A OR WE MOVE ON TO THREE A WITH VERY CLEAR PARAMETERS AND DIRECTIONS THAT WOULD BE OUTLINED, SAYING THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PHASE.
WE ACCESS THAT FUNDING AND WE ACCESS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
AND WE WORK, UM, STILL, STILL WORKING ON A DESIGN PIECE OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR DESIGNERS WORK IN THE BACKGROUND TO GET SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WANTING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED, WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE DESIGN PORTION, WE'RE STILL ON THE PROGRAMMING PORTION.
THEY HAVE JUST STARTED DOING ROUGH MOCKUPS AND SITE LAYOUTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST THE FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE.
I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FUNDING THAT'S ALSO IN THREE A FOR THAT DESIGN PIECE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THOSE THINGS TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS.
UM, IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, THE CLEANEST AND EASIEST WAY AND NOT PUTTING EXTRA WORK ON OUR LEGAL TEAM, UM, THAT I KNOW IS ALWAYS BUSY IS TO GO INTO THREE A WITH VERY CLEAR PARAMETERS THAT WE ARE NOT PROCEEDING WITH ANYTHING PAST THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTERED PORTION AND OUR DESIGNERS WORKING TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
SO, SO THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.
UM, BUT A CHANGE I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST IS TO THE JUSTICE CENTER COMMITTEE OR THE SMALL JUSTICE CENTER COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED IT LED BY REBECCA, OUR COUNTY.
SHE DOES, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A COURT MEMBER ON THERE.
I I THINK THAT THAT'LL GIVE REBECCA THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US ALL THE INFORMATION ALL AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE GAP THAT I'M MISSING THAT, THAT I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR ONE VOICE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING AND I'D LIKE FOR THE COURT TO GET IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE MEETINGS.
WE, WE START RUNNING INTO QUORUM ISSUES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I THINK IT'S BETTER IF THE JUDGE DOESN'T WANNA BE ON THERE.
I I, I THINK IT'S BETTER, UM, TO LET REBECCA LEAD IT AND TO GUIDE THE, THE WHOLE COURT ALL AT ONE TIME.
YEAH, WELL, IN, IN AND TO THAT, TO THAT POINT.
SO, SO THE JUSTICE CENTER PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN HAS BEEN WORKING FOR HOW MANY YEARS? COMMISSIONER IN, IN PLEASE TWO.
AND COMMISSIONER COVEY IS, WE STARTED IN EARLY 22 TALKING ABOUT A COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THAT'S, UM, WHEN MEMBERS OF THIS COURT WERE VERY PRO STRATEGIC PLAN MM-HMM
AND I EVEN SAID I WASN'T SUPPORTING OF IT UNLESS WE WERE GONNA TAKE ACTION ON IT.
AND THEN WE HIRED S BRAND JULY OF 22.
SO DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, AND GREAT LEADERSHIP THERE.
UM, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S TIME, 'CAUSE THE NEXT ITEM WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, TALKS ABOUT OUR INTERIM PLANS FOR ALL THE MOVES NOW THAT WE'VE MOVED INTO THIS BUILDING.
AND I THINK IN MY OPINION, THERE'S A MUCH GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THE INTERIM PLANS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE BUILD AND WHERE WE BUILD IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED PLANS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS NOW TO, TO FUNCTION IN THAT BUILDING AND CONTINUE TO MAKE JUSTICE WORK IN THAT BUILDING.
UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF BUILDING, IT MIGHT BE TIME TO TAKE THE CONSTRUCTION OUT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND PUT THAT UNDER THE COUNTY MANAGER.
AND I THINK YOU'RE KIND OF DOING THAT, BUT YOU STILL TALK ABOUT IT.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, COMMISSIONER, COY, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THE COURT NEEDS TO CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHERE WE'RE DOING, NOT ONLY DOES THE PUBLIC NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, BUT THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AS WELL.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT DECISIONS MADE IN THOSE COMMITTEES THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE MAY OR MAY NOT SUPPORT.
SO WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT TODAY, AS FAR AS THIS, AND I, I, I KNOW WE'RE NOT TAKING OFFICIAL ACTION TODAY.
UM, I'M HEARING FROM AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO SLOW WAY DOWN AND LISTEN AND GET INVOLVEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC AND ONLY ACT ON WHAT THEY NEED ANSWERS TO IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS.
[01:05:01]
MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I SAID.I SAID PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO, SO FOUR, I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE SAYING THAT YEAH.
COMMISSIONER COBY SAID, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN TOO.
RIGHT? SO WE'RE DON'T MISCONTRUED, I'M JUST TRYING TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT WHETHER IT GETS PAID FOR WHETHER WE MOVE MONEY TO PHASE TWO OR MOVE INTO THE BEGINNING OF PHASE THREE, UM, I THINK THOSE ARE SOME LOGISTICS WE CAN WORK THROUGH.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT TRUST IS A PART OF THE PROCESS BY OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT TRUST IS GONNA BE THERE IF WE MOVE FORWARD IN ANY, IN ANY WAY AS WE'RE TALKING TO THEM UNTIL THEY GET THEIR ANSWERS.
SO IF IT MAKES EVERYBODY FEEL BETTER, WE CAN MOVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID WE NEED, UM, TO PHASE TWO AND FUND IT AND MOVE THE FUNDING AND, UH, CHANGE THE CONTRACT.
IT REALLY WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
BUT, UM, WE WILL, IF EVERYBODY FEELS BETTER WITH THE NUMBER TWO VERSUS NUMBER THREE, THAT'S FINE.
AND, AND I THINK THAT YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF US SAY THE SAME THING, THAT WE WANT TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC MM-HMM
WE JUST WANT TO FUND IT AND BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT NEXT.
SO WE'LL LOOK FOR A FUTURE, UM, AGENDA ITEM THAT ADDRESSES THE FUNDING.
SO, SO WITH THAT AMENDMENT, WOULD WE NEED TO ADD WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ON ENGINEERING SERVICES TWO? I THINK WE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MOVE WHAT SHE JUST SAID THAT WE NEED TO PHASE TWO, SO NOT JUST PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, BUT IT, SO IT'S NOT JUST THREE, SO IT'S NOT A THREE.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THREE.
I'LL JUST FURTHER, UM, YEAH, I'LL KIND OF BEEF UP SOME OF THE STUFF WE HAD IN THREE.
SOME OF THAT WORDING WITH THE DESIGN AND THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT STRONGER THAN IT IS IN PHASE TWO.
UM, I'LL SEE ABOUT ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO PHASE TWO AS WELL AS THE FUNDING.
I'LL WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANT, UM, FOR THAT.
I, I KNOW OBVIOUSLY WE WON'T MAKE THE DEADLINE TODAY FOR NEXT WEEK, UM, BUT MAYBE THAT FIRST AGENDA IN AUGUST WE COULD TRY TO HAVE IT ON FOR THAT.
AND, AND, AND REBECCA AND I HEARD, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID, AND IT, IT MAKES SENSE THAT IN, IN ORDER TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC, WE NEED TO BE, ANSWER SOME DESIGN QUESTIONS.
BUT I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR, I AM NOT IN ANY FORM OR FASHION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DESIGNING.
SO I, I I, I, I'M NOT READY FOR ANY DESIGN, UH, CONCEPT OF DESIGN TO START BECAUSE I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DESIGNING OR HOW WE'RE PAYING FOR IT.
AND, AND I WILL SAY, JUST BECAUSE YOU SAID DESIGN CONCEPTS, PART OF WHAT THE PUBLIC IS WANTING IS TO KNOW WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE, WHERE IT COULD GO ON THE PROPERTY, WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND SO IF WE TAKE THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS IN THE, THAT RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PROGRAMMING PHASE, THAT'S ALMOST COMPLETE.
THEY'RE ASKING TO SEE SOME IDEAS.
AND SO OUR TEAM WOULD HAVE TO WORK ON SOME IDEAS TO SHOW THEM, TO TRY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THEY WANNA KNOW IS IT GONNA BE A 10 STORY BUILDING OR A TWO STORY BUILDING? WELL, JUST BECAUSE WE SAY IT COULD BE 10 STORIES OR IT COULD BE TWO STORIES, DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE, THESE ARE JUST CONCEPTS AND IDEAS.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE PUT INTO IT.
AND ALSO AS WELL, THE PROPERTY, WELL AS COURT DECISIONS BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS, AS ALSO THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE IT'S GONNA GO ON THE PROPERTY.
WITH THE SITE LAYOUTS, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN IN QUESTIONS AND WORKING WITH THE ELEVATION ON THE SITE AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER AND ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR REBECCA ON ITEM 39, BY THE WAY, IF THE CONCERN IS THAT THE WHOLE COURT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WE CAN HAVE THIS ITEM ON EVERY WEEK AND WE CAN GET A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY UPDATE, REBECCA'S HAPPY TO DO THAT.
KIEL CAN COME AS OFTEN AS NEED BE.
AND ALSO THEY'RE TRYING TO MEET WITH ALL OF US INDIVIDUALLY.
IF YOU HAVE MORE CONCERNS AND CALL, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED, THAT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.
I THINK FOR ME IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMITTEE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT AND THE COURT MAKE DECISIONS, NOT DECISIONS MADE BEFORE IT GETS TO THE COURT.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY, I, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN DONE AT ALL.
UM, THE, THE COMMITTEE IS NOT, UH, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
REBECCA, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
WE'RE, WE'RE STAYING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COURT WITHIN THE DOCUMENT, UM, FOR THE PHASING SCOPE.
SO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, POLICY DECISIONS, FUNDING DECISIONS, UM, DECISIONS TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT'S ALL GONNA COME BEFORE THE COURT.
[43. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on interim space plans including, but not limited to, the current Justice Center, historic courthouse, and recently vacated offices in downtown Georgetown.]
43, DISCUSS, CONSIDER, TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON INTERIM SPACE PLANS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CURRENT JUSTICE CENTER, HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, AND RECENTLY VACATED OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN.UM, AGAIN, I JUST PUT THIS ON TO TRY TO HELP FACILITATE A QUESTION, UM, FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UM, REGARDING SOME OF THESE VACATED OFFICES.
UM, ONCE WE HAVE VACANT SPACES, PEOPLE START, YOU KNOW, CIRCLING THE WAGONS, UM, WANTING TO MOVE FOR FURNITURE INTO THOSE SPACES, LOOKING FOR FURNITURE, I'M SURE SEEING WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET FROM THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.
UM, DECISION POINTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
[01:10:01]
I KNOW HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DISCUSSION AND SO JUST FURTHER DISCUSSION.UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KIND OF OVERSIGHT OVER THAT FACILITY AND WHO'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AS WELL AS IF THE DIRECTION IS TO, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS KEEP A SMALL COUNTY OFFICE THERE, UM, FOR THE COUNTY'S USE.
AND THEN IF THE MUSEUM'S GONNA MOVE INTO IT OR KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN THERE HAS BEEN A, A REQUEST IN THE JUSTICE CENTER TO TAKE THE CURRENT SPACE THAT PRETRIAL AND CSCD IS, IS IN AND FINISH THAT OUT INTO A COURTROOM.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO HAD A REQUEST, UM, COME FORWARD.
WE DO HAVE A GROWING STAFF, UM, WITH OUR CSCD TEAM THAT IS PRETTY SOON GOING TO BE OUT OF OFFICE SPACE.
AND SO TRYING TO GET CREATIVE, IF WE WERE TO MOVE THEIR STAFF OUT OF THAT AREA IN THE JUSTICE COMPLEX, WHAT ELSE THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, POSSIBLY USING SOME OF THOSE VACATED AREAS, UM, DOWNTOWN AND THEN MOVING STAFF TO A VACATED AREA OR DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT THAT'S, UM, EMPTY AS WELL.
AND SO I JUST WANTED THE COURT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE INTERIM PLANS AND OPEN SPACES AND STUFF BEFORE, UM, BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT ANY SORT OF TIMELINE OR, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO WAIT, UM, I JUST WANT THE OFFICES IN QUESTION TO BE ABLE TO HEAR IF WE WANNA WAIT UNTIL KIND OF THE DUST SETTLES ON ALL OF THESE OTHER MOVES AND, AND KIND OF TAKE STUFF OFF IN A PIECE BY PIECE APPROACH WHEN THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE UP FOR RECONSIDERATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SPACE FREED UP NOW FREED UP THAT REALLY WOULDN'T BE APPLICABLE TO ANY OF OUR NEEDS THAT WE SHOULD PUT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS? SO IF IN, IN MY OPINION, UM, IF THE MUSEUM WERE TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR CURRENT SPACE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT BUILDING WOULD BE FUNCTIONAL FOR SOMETHING FOR COUNTY USE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE I COULD THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE? I, I WOULD HAVE A, A, A PAUSE ABOUT SELLING JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA BEFORE THE NEW BUILDING'S DONE THAT HASN'T BEEN, UM, VOTED ON YET BY THE COURT.
AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE HOLDING ON TO KIND OF THE REST OF THE BUILDINGS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT JUST IN CASE WE NEED USE.
YEAH, AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, TERRY.
AND, AND JUST MY CONCERN OVERALL, LIKE IF THERE'S BUILDINGS, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT GONNA USE, WE CAN, WE CAN OFFER THEM UP FOR SALE AS AS APPROPRIATE.
UM, BUT IN A FAST GROWING COUNTY, YOU, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE AT SOME POINT WE'LL NEED OFFICE SPACE.
SO WHAT IS THE BEST PLAN TO USE VACANT OFFICE SPACE IN THE MEANTIME? 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THE BUILDINGS TO DETERIORATE.
UM, SO AS FAR AS THE COURT HAD THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, SO, UM, THE PLAN IS FOR THE MUSEUM BOARD TO COME PRESENT TO THIS COURT AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PLANS, UH, TO MOVE INTO THE, TO THE COURTHOUSE IF THE, IF THE COURT IS LOOKING FOR THAT AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE SCOPE OF THAT MIGHT BE, AND THEN WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE COURTHOUSE.
SO WE'LL BRING THOSE PLANS, UM, TO YOU.
I MEET WITH THEM AGAIN TODAY, AND THEN WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE COURT FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND WE EXPECT WHOMEVER MOVES INTO SPACE THERE THAT THEY COVER COST OF THAT BUILDING MAINTENANCE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A COVER, UH, THE LEASE NEEDS TO COVER CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO CAN YOU MANAGE THE BUILDING.
UM, IN TERMS OF COST, IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE, ET CETERA.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF COST TO THE COUNTY TO KEEP THAT BUILDING UP IN THE, IN THE LAWN UP.
SO, SO TALKING WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT, WHAT THE MUSEUM CAN DO AND WHAT THEY CAN'T DO.
SO BE CONSIDERATION FOR THIS COURT.
I THINK THAT CON AND, AND THIS MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN HAD, BUT I THINK THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO INCLUDE GEORGETOWN MM-HMM
I MEAN, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR DOWNTOWN MM-HMM
AND, UM, I, I THINK INVITING THEM IN AS A PARTNER SOMEHOW IN THAT BUILDING.
UM, 'CAUSE THAT THEY HAVE, THEY'RE THE ONES WITH FESTIVALS ALL THE TIME MM-HMM
AND REALLY PUT DEMANDS ON THAT BUILDING.
AND I'D LOVE FOR THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND SURE.
AND WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THAT MM-HMM
AND THEY, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER CONSIDERATION OF DO THEY NEED OFFICE SPACE AND IF SO, THEY COULD BE IN PART OF THE BUILDING AND THEN, AND HELPING AND THEN HELPING WITH THE, THE LAING.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN THAT TOO, SO.
FOR THE PUBLIC, IT IS TRICKY KEEPING THAT LINE UP AND GOING, YOU, YOU CAN GO BY THERE AT 10 O'CLOCK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND THERE'S FULL ON 1111 FOOTBALL GAMES GOING ON OUT THERE.
UM, AND CONCERNING THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND IT'S SENTIMENT.
UH, AND THE COUNTY HAS SPENT, UM, ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY KEEPING IT UP.
WE'VE HAD IT RENOVATED, KEEPING ITS HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
UM, I KNOW WHEN THE MUSEUM HAS USED IT IN THE PAST THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT TOOK COUNTY,
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW, I I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEAR AND TEAR, THE MOVING OF THE PEWS FOR WEDDINGS AND COLLECTING OF THE TRASH AND KEEPING THE BUILDING UP AND, AND IT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WASN'T.I MEAN, IT TOOK COUNTY CREWS TO COME BACK IN AND RESET THAT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ALL MOVED PROPERLY.
AND SO I'M, I'M NOT, LIKE I SAID, IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT UP.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE NUMBER ONE GOAL.
IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP IT UP.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU CAN HAVE A BUNCH OF WEDDINGS, BUT IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE DAMAGING THE, THE COURTHOUSE TO HOLD THOSE WEDDINGS, THEN IT, I, IT IS JUST MORE THAN ANYTHING, I, I WANT IT TO STAY, UM, IN GOOD CONDITION.
SO TO YOUR POINT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND BEFORE JUDGE SNELL BECAME OUR COUNTY JUDGE, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE, I WAS WORKING WITH THE MUSEUM JUST TO SEE WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS WERE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ALLOW THEM TO MOVE.
I MEAN, THERE'LL BE CERTAIN RULES TO, TO BEING IN THE BUILDING AND ONE OF THEM IS NOT MOVING THE PEWS NOT MOVING THE BENCHES, LEAVING THEM AS IS.
THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT AND THEY'RE FINE WITH THAT.
UM, THEY CAN WORK AROUND THAT.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS, UM, HELD IN IN MIND WHEN, WITH WHATEVER DECISION WE MAKE.
AND, AND THE COURTHOUSES A TREASURE, UM, COURTHOUSES IN TEXAS ARE VERY SPECIAL ANYWAY, UM, BUT THE, THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN AND THAT SQUARE IS PRETTY SPECIAL.
AND, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS ACCESS TO THAT BUILDING AS WELL.
SO LETTING IT SIT VACANT IS NOT AN OPTION.
SO THE BEST OPTION, WE'LL WORK FORWARD TO THAT.
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S RULES WITH THE HISTORIC COMMISSION ON THE RESTORATION AND THE MONEY WE HAVE, SO WE WANNA PROTECT THAT INVESTMENT AS WELL.
SO, GOOD POINTS BY EVERYBODY AND JUST KNOW THAT THE MAIN THING IS NO DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITHOUT BRINGING THEM TO THE COURT FOR CONSIDERATION.
WHAT, WHAT ABOUT OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE COUNTY? UM, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION, UM, THAT I MENTIONED WAS BROUGHT FORTH WAS, UM, CONVERTING THE SPACE IN THE JUSTICE CENTER, UM, INTO AN ADDITIONAL COURTROOM.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE AN ADDITIONAL JUDGE AT THIS TIME, SO IT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL FLEX SPACE.
UM, AND IF THE COURT IS WANTING TO LOOK AT THAT NOW OR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, OR AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, IF WE'RE GONNA WAIT TILL KIND OF ALL THE OTHER STUFF IN THE BUILDING HAS HAPPENED AND MOVES HAVE HAPPENED, AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CIRCLE BACK AROUND AND READDRESS IT.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, A NEW COURTROOM AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING, UM, THAT MAY ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE IN THAT BUILDING.
I MEAN, IT WILL, IT'S ONE ADDITIONAL COURTROOM.
UM, AND IF IT WANTS TO BE REVISITED AT THAT TIME, UM, I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENTS AN UPDATE THAT ARE ASKING ABOUT IT.
UM, IF THERE WAS INTEREST AT THIS TIME OR IF WE WERE GONNA WAIT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I MEAN, I, I I THINK YOU WAIT ON THE ADDITIONAL COURTROOM BECAUSE WHEN THE ONE JUST RIGHT OVER HERE BECOMES AVAILABLE, THAT'S GONNA FREE UP SOME SPACE.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER BOWLES, YOU MENTIONED THIS, UM, A NUMBER OF COUNTIES DON'T HAVE A COURTROOM PER JUDGE.
IT IS A RESOURCE THAT GETS ALLOCATED BASED UPON SIZE OF HEARINGS AND TRIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A RADICAL CHANGE FOR OUR JUDGES OVER THERE, BUT I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF 'EM.
THEY, THEY SORT OF DO THAT NOW.
BUT I THINK LOOKING AT THAT MORE FORMALLY BEFORE WE INVEST ANY MONEY IN BUILDING OUT ANOTHER COURTROOM TO SEE IF WE CAN BETTER UTILIZE THOSE SPACES, UM, THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST EVEN HALF DAYS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I, I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT USE AND WITH THE ADDITION OF, OF WHAT'S COMING ONLINE PRETTY QUICKLY.
REBECCA, AND IS, HAVE YOU, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, I BELIEVE AN INTERIM PLAN, UH, TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND.
I KNOW THE DA'S OFFICE AND, AND NANCY'S OFFICE, THE CRIMINAL AND PROBATE AREA.
I DUNNO IF YOU'RE READY TO TALK TODAY, BUT MAYBE WHEN YOU COME BACK YOU COULD, YOU COULD SHOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THAT REGARD TO ALL OF US.
UM, YES, I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH FACILITIES, UM, THE PAST FEW MONTHS ON TRYING TO GET SOME IDEAS TOGETHER.
UM, THAT INVOLVES A LITTLE BIT MORE, SOME PINCH POINTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY'S CLERK'S OFFICE WITH THEIR NEW MOVE, UM, GETTING ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THE DA'S OFFICE.
OF COURSE, HE HAS A STAFF FOR THE FIVE 12TH, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN CRAMMED INTO A VERY TIGHT SPACE, UM, FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND GETTING SOME RELIEF FOR THEM, UM, AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT FOR THE PRETRIAL, UM, GROUP THAT'S IN THERE.
AND I DID WANNA MENTION, UM, AS FAR AS COMMISSIONER LONG'S, UM, COMMENT, I HAVE A REQUEST IN TO THE COURTS, UM, TO GET COURTROOM SCHEDULES.
UM, SO I CAN SEE KIND OF, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A SHELL GAME WITH A LOT OF THOSE COURTS AND MAKING EVERYTHING FIT IN, UM, THEY, THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT AND HAVE ASSURED ME THAT I WILL HAVE THAT.
UM, AND SO I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TOO BEFORE I COME BACK TO THE COURT AND LET THEM KNOW KIND OF SPACE AVAILABILITY AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND IF THE, THE ADDITIONAL COURTROOM SHOULD BE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, WAIT AND SEE AND LET'S SEE WHAT THAT DOES.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT WON'T BE ENOUGH, THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AND SOME DATA WITH THAT.
WELL, AND HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THE COURTROOMS, ESPECIALLY LIKE THE, THE STUBBLEFIELD DOWN IN THE BASEMENT, UH, THE SIDEWAYS COURTROOM, ALL OF THOSE ARE PART OF YOUR, UM, LOOK, IS THAT CORRECT?
[01:20:01]
YES.AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST FINISHING OUT A A A EMPTY SPACE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT, 25, 30 PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE.
TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD END UP SPLITTING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE AND FIND A SPACE FOR.
SO THERE'S THE COST OF THAT AND, AND SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE MIX AND, AND WHAT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY OF DOING THAT.
THANK YOU, REBECCA, WHEN YOU, UH, PRESENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU'LL NEED A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, CAN YOU GET THE COURT A LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED, CHANGES TO THE CURRENT COURTHOUSE TIMELINE INVOLVED IN THOSE REQUESTS? UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF A PRICE ESTIMATE IN THOSE REQUESTS SO THE COURT CAN LOOK AT THAT AND, AND MAYBE PUT A PRIORITY.
I I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN WORKING ON THAT SENSE OF URGENCY, UM, AS WE GROW AND AS STAFF GROWS.
UM, SO THE COURT CAN LOOK AT THE DOCUMENT AS A WHOLE AND MAKE SOME CONSIDERATIONS.
AND YOU'RE REFERRING TO CHANGES MADE TO THE CURRENT JUSTICE CENTER, CORRECT? JUST THE CURRENT JUSTICE CENTER.
AND THEN I'M ASSUMING, I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WE'RE, UM, LOOKING AT THE BOB PHILLIPS BUILDING AND THEN THE OTHER SPACE THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT DO SOMETHING WITH, UM, THAT WE CAN USE AS OFFICE SPACE AS WELL.
IN, IN AND AROUND THE COURTHOUSE.
AND THE BOB PHILLIPS PHILLIPS PLAN WAS, UM, PRESENTED AND APPROVED LAST SUMMER.
UM, THE OTHER SPACE AROUND THE COURTHOUSE.
WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THAT YET.
AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THAT HOLDING PIECE, UM, FOR OFFICE SPACES DOWNTOWN AS WE NEED BASED ON OUR TIMELINE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR REBECCA? REBECCA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
[44. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on advertising and set a date for the public hearing on the 2026-2027 county budget for Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 at 9:30 AM.]
ALL RIGHT.ITEM 44, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ADVERTISING AND SET A DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 20 20 26 20 27 COUNTY BUDGET TO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 AT 9:30 AM MOVE APPROVAL MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LONG.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
[45. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on the vehicle replacement schedule for FY27.]
45, DISCUSS, CONSIDER TECH APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.UM, WE HAVE PLACED ONE CHANGE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THE AGENDA.
WE, UH, WERE CONTACTED BY CHIEF HURLEY AT THE, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKING US TO LOOK AT HIS A CO VEHICLES AS WELL AS HIS LIVESTOCK TRUCKS.
UH, IN REVIEWING WITH THE FLEET MANAGER, THERE WAS NO CHANGE RECOMMENDED ON THE A CO REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.
HOWEVER, ON THE LIVESTOCK TRUCKS, HE IS SEEING A NEED TO POSSIBLY REPLACE THOSE SOONER THAN LATER.
ORIGINALLY IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AND 132,000 MILES.
HE, AND THAT WENT TO 11 YEARS AND 132,000 MILES.
AND LOOKING AT THE REPAIRS AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION, HE IS ASKING THAT WE MOVE THAT BACK TO EIGHT YEARS AND 132,000 MILES FOR REPLACEMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ASHLEY? WOULD THEY NEED A REPLACEMENT THIS YEAR? IF THAT WAS IN PLACE? THERE WOULD BE TWO.
AND THEY ARE WELL OVER THE 132,000 MILES.
SO WE'VE GOT A 20 17 20 18 WITH 160,000 MILES AND 190,000, AND THEY'RE CAUSING A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, UH, A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR, A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AS THEY CREEP UP IN AGE.
AND, AND THOSE GUYS STAY BUSY.
A LOT OF IT IS THE HAULING OF THE TRAILERS.
THEY'RE HAULING THE FOUR WHEELERS, THEY'RE OFF ROADS, SO THEY GET BEAT UP PRETTY HARD.
DO YOU NEED ACTION ON THIS? YES, PLEASE.
UH, WOULD YOU HELP ME WITH A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE AS ATTACHED THE CHANGE TO THE LIVESTOCK VEHICLE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE? THAT IS FROM 11 TO EIGHT, FROM 11 TO EIGHT YEARS.
YES, THAT IS MY, UH, THAT IS MY MOTION.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
[46. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on the approval of a Commercial Contract Amendment to the Commercial Contract – Improved Property between Iglesias Evangelica Latina, referred to therein as Buyer, and Williamson County, referred to therein as Seller, relating to the sale and purchase of approximately 3.772 acres (more or less and subject to final survey) of real property located at 747 County Road 138, Hutto, Williamson County, Texas, to amend the original sales price amount of $5,300,000.00 to $5,053,000.00 and to set an earlier closing date of August 27, 2026; and authorize the County Judge to execute the Commercial Contract Amendment.]
NUMBER 46, DISCUSS, CONSIDER TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF A COMMERCIAL CONTRACT.AMENDMENT TO THE COMMERCIAL CONTRACT.
PROVE PROPERTY BETWEEN I GLACE EVANGELA LATINA, UM, REFERRED TO THE BUYER AS WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
THIS IS THE OLD, UH, HU BRIDGE CHURCH THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT, AND WE'RE REDUCING THE SALE PRICE, 248,000, UM, DUE TO SOME, UH, CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING.
COMMISSIONER BOWLES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS ON THIS.
I, I DON'T, I MEAN, I, THE, THE,
[01:25:01]
THE BUYER HAS FOUND, UM, UH, THINGS THAT WERE NOT KNOWN PREVIOUSLY, HAS DISCOVERED NEW THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, AFFECT THE PRICE THEY'LL HAVE TO REPAIR.AND SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR ADJUSTMENT IN PRICE.
I THINK THE BROKER HAS BEEN, UM, SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COURT.
UM, SO I WILL MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO THANK YOU COURT.
[47. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action approving the filing of a Motion for Rehearing and, if necessary, the filing of a future appeal in relation to Williamson County’s formal protest and request for a contested case hearing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality relating to a petition for the creation of Lakeside Estates Municipal Utility District - TCEQ Docket No. 2026-0568-DIS.]
LIKE TO PULL, UH, ITEM 47 TO GO TO CLOSED FOR, TO CONSULT WITH ATTORNEY, AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AFTER CLOSED SESSION.[48. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action awarding RFCSP #26RFCSP30 Cedar Park Annex Chiller Plant to Southland Industries, Inc. in the amount of Six Hundred Thirty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Eight and No/100 Dollars ($638,338.00) and authorize execution of the agreement (The funding source is 01.0100.0509.004509).]
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 48, DISCUSS, CONSIDER CHECK FOR PRODUCTION REWARDING OR AWARDING, UH, R-F-C-S-P, UM, 26 R-F-C-S-P 30 CEDAR PARK ANNEX CHILLER PLANT TO SOUTHLAND INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF 638,000, UM, $338 TO IMPROVE THE HVAC MOVE APPROVAL AT THAT BUILDING.MOVED BY COMMISSIONER, I'LL SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
[49. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on approving the Guaranteed Maximum Price Proposal GMP01, with awarded RFP 25RFP52 for the WCRAS Building Addition to Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, LLC in the amount of Six Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Six Hundred Forty-One Dollars ($632,641.00) and authorize the execution of the GMP01 (The funding source is P719).]
DISCUSS, CONSIDER TECH APPROPRIATE ACTION ON APPROVING THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PROPOSAL GMP ZERO ONE, UM, WITH AWARDED RFP 25 RFP 52 FOR THE R OR W-C-R-A-S BUILDING EDITION TO BARTLETT CO.GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $632,641, AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF GMP ONE FUNDING SOURCE.
AND THIS IS TO SECURE STEEL FOR THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER EXPANSION.
MOTION BY, UH, AND I'LL SECOND COMMISSIONER COY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
BARTLEY CLARK, UM, CONSTRUCTED THE FRIENDSHIP PAVILION OUT OF THE EXPO AND THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
SO, YEAH, THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB HERE TOO.
IT'S JUST, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE STEEL UNDERWAY.
[50. Receive the July 2026 Road Construction Summary Report and PowerPoint Presentation.]
AT THIS POINT WE'LL WELCOME, UH, MR. BOB DAY, UH, FOR THE JULY, 2026 ROAD CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY REPORT AND PRESENTATION.UH, BOB DAY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THE, UH, JULY ROAD BOND REPORT, UH, FOR PRECINCT ONE.
WE HAVE THE, UH, POND SPRINGS DRAINAGE AREA IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, HAS BEEN INITIATED.
UH, BARRICADES ARE GOING UP, UM, AND, UH, CONSTRUCTION, HARD CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE SEEN, UH, BEGINNING THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, MOVING TO PRECINCT TWO, THE RONALD REAGAN WIDENING.
UH, THIS WILL BE COMPLETE IN ABOUT A YEAR.
YOU'VE SEEN TRAFFIC HAS BEEN, UH, SWITCHED ONTO THE NEW PAVEMENT.
THERE WILL BE SOME DRAINAGE FROM CULVERT, WIDENINGS, UH, UH, AND SOME OTHER KIND OF SHOULDER RELATED WORK ON THE, UH, OLD PAVEMENT.
AND THEN THE, UH, WHOLE PROJECT SHOULD BE, UH, COMPLETED IN ABOUT A YEAR, IF NOT EARLIER.
MOVING TO HERO AWAY, PUTTING UP CONCRETE FORMS, AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT.
MOVING TO COUNTY ROAD 2 58, LEGACY RANCH.
DRIVE THE TURN BAYS AND OVERLAYS PROCESSING BASE, WORKING ON SOME DRAINAGE STRUCTURES, AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT.
NICE LOOKING SCHOOL THERE, JUDGE.
MOVING TO PRECINCT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MOVING TO PRECINCT THREE, WYOMING SPRINGS EXTENSION.
THIS, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK.
FINISHED THIS SUM THIS SPRING, I MEAN THIS FALL.
UH, THE, DOING SOME DRAINAGE WORK,
[01:30:06]
A NICE AERIAL VIEW, SHOWING THE CONNECTION WITH THE SAM BASSEN MOVING TO COUNTY ROAD 2 55, WORKING ON SOME FORM WORK, SOME MORE DRAINAGE WORK.MOVING TO STATE HIGHWAY 1 95 AT RONALD REAGAN, THE RAMP PROJECT.
THIS HAS BEEN PAVED AND I BELIEVE IT IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW.
AND A RIBBON CUTTING IS, UH, BEING SCHEDULED, MOVING TO TORO GRANDE, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CEDAR PARK.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
THE BRIDGES ARE MOVING ALONG NICELY.
BOB, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROJECT? UH, TORO GRANDE.
IT IS CONNECTS, UH, PARER LANE UP TO 1431 ON THE SOUTH, UH, EAST QUADRANT OF THAT INTERSECTION.
AND THERE'S A PIECE OF IT THAT ALREADY GOES NORTH, BUT IT TIES IN UP THERE.
WE'RE FINISHING IT ALL THE WAY TO NEW HOPE, WHICH IS A NEW, FAIRLY NEW ROAD.
YEAH, THAT ONE STARTED OUT IN PRECINCT TWO.
AS THINGS GO, THIS IS, UH, BUILDING SOME RETAINING WALL AND AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT.
MOVING TO PRECINCT FOUR, THIS IS DOING EARTH WORK FOR THE RAILROAD SIDING.
THE ROAD AND BRIDGES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND OPEN, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE WORKING ON THE RAILROAD WORK FOR A WHILE, MOVING TO EAST WILCO HIGHWAY SEGMENT TWO.
RUN SOME PAVING, POURING SOME BRIDGE DECK, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS, UH, KOBE AND LONG, I I WANNA ASK YOU, 'CAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEGMENT ONE OPEN, WHICH IS FROM SH ONE 30 OVER TO COUNTY ROAD 1 37.
UM, AND TO SAY THAT WAS A, A KNIFE FIGHT TO GET THAT PROPERTY AND TO GET THE ROAD CONSTRUCTED THROUGH THERE.
UH, AND IT HAS BEEN LOVED BEYOND OUR WILDEST EXPECTATIONS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, I'M, I'M GETTING THE QUESTION.
IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU BIGGER BUILD IT BIGGER? AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH MAN, IF YOU, IF, IF YOU KNEW WHAT IT TOOK TO GET WHAT'S THERE, UM, I GUESS THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF IT.
AND I TH I THINK, AND I HOPE WHEN WE GET SEGMENT TWO OPEN, WE GET THIS, THE WHOLE BREADTH OF IT FROM ONE 30 OVER TO 79 OPEN, THAT WE, WE WILL GET THAT TRAFFIC, UM, MOVED OFF THAT FIRST SEGMENT EVEN FASTER.
AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAVE MORE WAYS TO DISPERSE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GET CLOSER TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING BY BEING ABLE TO GET, UM, AROUND HU AND TO THEIR DESIGNATION.
I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE CONTINUE TO SAY ABOUT ANY OF OUR CORRIDORS IS WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
IF NOBODY SELLS THEIR LAND AND DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T OCCUR, THEY WON'T GET CONSTRUCTED.
BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SELLING THEIR LAND AND DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN FOR THAT.
AND, UM, THOSE ARE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND, AND DIFFICULT PROJECTS TO, TO, TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VERY FIRST CORRIDOR PROJECT WE DID WAS, UM, HIGHWAY 29.
AND, UM, THERE, UH, WERE SOME FOLKS WHO LITERALLY DID A 180 WHO WERE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO ANY NEW ROADS.
UM, THAT 10 YEARS LATER WERE SAYING, CAN YOU BUILD IT FASTER? YEAH.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING ON THIS, PEOPLE WHO FIRST WERE ASKING ME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT ARE ASKING WHEN I'M GONNA GET IT OPEN NOW.
[01:35:01]
WELL, THE, THE, THE FREEDOM RIVER PARKWAY THAT IS FORMERLY REFERRED TO AS THE LIBERTY HILL BYPASS, UM, WE'VE GOT THE MIDDLE SECTION DONE.WE'RE IN ENGINEERING ON THE OTHER TWO SECTIONS, AND THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE RELIEVER FOR YES, SIR, 29 THROUGH LIBERTY HILL.
UM, AND, UH, IT WAS A DIFFICULT, UH, ALIGNMENT TO GET, UM, ON THE MAP, BUT, UH, THAT'S A VERY MUCH DO IT SOONER.
MOVING TO ONE 12 PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, THERE'S REALLY TWO PHASES OF THAT.
NEXT SLIDE IS INTRIGUING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BUILDING A DAYTONA RACEWAY
TO ME, IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE THAT BRIDGE IS AT A SLANT, BUT, UH, I ASSURE YOU, IT'S, IT'S FLAT
AND THEN WE HAVE NORTH BARKER STREET.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THE THE LIGHTS WILL BE COMPLETED FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL? UH, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, COMMISSIONER? I HATE TO EVEN HAZARD A GUESS.
UH, BECAUSE OF SOME PARTS WE'RE WAITING FOR.
UH, NORTH BARKER STREET, HAPPY DAY WITH A GROUNDBREAKING.
I, I, I WAS AS FAR EAST AS I COULD GET, AND I'M LIKE, MAN, I'VE GOT A, I, I NEED A COWBOY HAT WORKING ON SOME DRAINAGE AND AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT.
THEN THE INTERSECTION WORK FOR EAST WILCO HIGHWAY PHASE TWO THAT COMPLETES THE REPORT.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF ITEMS 51 THROUGH 65.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. DAY ON HIS PRESENTATION? EXCELLENT.
AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT DOES.
[51. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on transferring $13,500.00 from P733 (Misc Signal Construction) to P752 (Pedestrian Beacons at Grovedale Trail). ]
[52. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action to ratify Emergency Purchase Order (PO) #192185 in the amount of $401,615.00 for Kinloch Equipment & Supply, exempting this purchase from the competitive bidding requirements, per Texas Local Government Code Sec. 262.024(a)(3), which allows an exemption when an item is necessary due to unforeseen damage to public property. (Funding source: 01.0200.0210.005700).]
[53. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action regarding the Supplemental Utility Agreement with PEC for utility relocations on the RM 2243 Project, a Road Bond Project in Commissioner Precinct 2.]
[54. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on Contract Amendment No. 1 to the Utility Coordination and Utility Engineering Services (Road Bond and Corridor Projects) contract executed July 22, 2025, between Williamson County and Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc. relating to the 2023 Road Bond Program.]
[55. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on Contract Amendment No. 3 to the Red Bud Lane contract executed March 19, 2024, between Williamson County and Seiler Lankes Group, LLC relating to the 2023 Road Bond Program.]
[56. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on Work Authorization No. 5 to the Utility Coordination and Utility Engineering Services (Road Bond Program) contract executed July 22, 2025, between Williamson County and Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc. relating to the 2023 Road Bond Program.]
[57. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on Work Authorization No. 6 to the Utility Coordination and Utility Engineering Services (Corridor Programs) contract executed July 22, 2025, between Williamson County and Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc. relating to the LRTP/Corridor Program.]
[58. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on an Interlocal Agreement Regarding the participation of the City of Leander, Texas and Williamson County, Texas in the Design and Construction for the Harmony School Driveway Improvements with the Hero Way Roadway Expansion Project. ]
[59. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on an Interlocal Agreement regarding the participation of the City of Jarrell, Texas and Williamson County, Texas, in the design and construction of utilities related to the CR 305 construction project. ]
[60. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on a real estate contract with David G. Howard to acquire 0.096 AC needed as right of way on the CR 201 project (Parcel 53). ]
[61. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on a claim for actual moving expenses with Kimberly Krause (Parcel 10) caused by the acquisition of right of way needed for the Seward Junction construction project. ]
[62. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on a claim for actual moving expenses with Hector Acosta caused by the acquisition of right of way needed for the Ronald Reagan segment C (Parcel 32). ]
[63. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on a claim for actual moving expenses with Kevin Merritt caused by the acquisition of right of way needed for the Ronald Reagan segment C (Parcel 32). ]
[64. Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on an agreed final judgment with Larry Lane Roberts, Christopher M Reeves, and Teena C. Reeves to acquire 0.431 ac needed as right of way on the CR 255 project (Parcel 35). ]
[65. Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on an agreed final judgment with Christopher M. Reeves, and Teena L. Reeves to acquire 0.776 ac needed as right of way on the CR 255 project (Parcel 32).]
I WILL PRESENT ITEMS, UH, 51 THROUGH 65 TO YOU.I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ONE OR ALL OF THEM.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT ITEM NUMBER 52 IS THE RATIFICATION OF THE PURCHASE OF A SWEET STREET SWEEPER.
UM, WE HAD A STREET SWEEPER THAT WAS HIT BY A CAR AND THERE WERE NO RENTALS AVAILABLE, SO WE HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE.
SO, AND THERE, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND IT BECAUSE NOT MANY ARE MANUFACTURED ANNUALLY.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEMS 51 THROUGH 65.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS 1118 AND WE WILL RECESS TO THE, UM, JULY 21ST, UM, ROAD DISTRICT MEETING 1126 AND RECONVENE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
[ EXECUTIVE SESSION "The Commissioners Court for Williamson County reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of this meeting to discuss any of the matters listed above, as authorized by Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (Consultations with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberations regarding Real Property), 551.073 (Deliberations regarding Gifts and Donations), 551.074 (Personnel Matters), 551.076 (Deliberations regarding Security Devices) and 551.087 (Deliberations regarding Economic Development Negotiations)."]
WILL GO TO, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE WILL, UH, TAKE UP 66 ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 5 5 1 0.071, UH, PARTICULARLY 66 B, DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATING TO A PETITION FOR THE CREATION OF LAKESIDE ESTATES MUNICIPAL, UH, UTILITY DISTRICT.
WE WILL DISCUSS ITEM 68, AND THAT IS IN BACK TO 37 ALSO, WHICH IS 60 6:00 PM THE TIME IS 1127.
[ REGULAR AGENDA (continued)]
ALL RIGHT.IT IS 1233 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS RETURNED FROM, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MOVING TO ITEM 47, DISCUSS, CONSIDER, TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON APPROVING THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING AND IF NECESSARY, THE FILING OF A FUTURE
[01:40:01]
APPEAL IN RELATION TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S FORMAL PROTEST AND REQUEST FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING TO THE COMMIT TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, RELATING TO A PETITION FOR THE CREATION OF LAKESIDE ESTATES, UH, MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT TCEQ, DOCKET NUMBER 2 0 26 DASH 0 5 6 8 DASH DIS MOVE APPROVAL.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LONG SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
OUT OF EXECUTIVE, THE COURT IS ADJOURNED AT WHAT TIME? ALL 3, 4, 12 34.