Midland County Commissioners Court met Jan. 3.
Here are the minutes provided by the court:
Be it remembered that on Wednesday the 3rd day of January 2024 at 9:00 a.m. a meeting of the Midland County Commissioners Court was called to order in the Commissioners Courtroom, located at the Midland County Courthouse, 500 North Loraine Street, Midland, Texas. The following members were present:
Terry Johnson, County Judge;
Scott Ramsey, County Commissioner Precinct No. 1;
Jeff Somers, County Commissioner Precinct No. 2;
Luis D. Sanchez, County Commissioner Precinct No. 3;
Dianne Anderson, County Commissioner Precinct No. 4
Recorded by Alison Haley, County Clerk.
1. Call to Order.
2. Invocation given by Judge Mark Henry Dettman, County Court at Law
3. Pledges of Allegiances.
4. Discuss and take action authorizing Sheriff to sign Cybercheck Case End User Agreement.
Presented by Sheriff Criner. This is a revised contract.
Motion that we authorize the Sheriff to sign the Cybercheck Case end user agreement for the amount of $28,500.00.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 9-18
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
5. Discuss and take action on Senate Bill 22.
Presented by Sheriff Criner. $500,000.00 has been placed aside by the State for Midland County to increase the base salary for Sheriff’s Deputies. Veronica Morales, Auditor joined the conversation and explained the need for $136,000.00 for next year’s budget. The Sheriff presented about a 7% increase. This will be of no cost to the County. Judge Johnson stated that the purpose of this grant was for deputies and jailers and the proposal presented does not include the jailers. The Sheriff stated that we have some of the best paid jailers in the State. Commissioner Ramsey stated that he believes our jailers are doing well due to the previous increase in salaries.
Motion to approve the County Judge applying for this Senate Bill 22 grant.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Sanchez Exhibit: 19-25
For: All (5) Against: Abstaining:
6. Discuss and take action raising salaries of Sheriff’s Office employees.
Presented by Sheriff Criner and Veronica Morales, Auditor. The conversation continued about the way the $500,000.00 would be distributed. There was a discussion about allowing the court to digest this information before making the decision. The Auditor mentioned a 5% increase. The restrictions on the funds has not been put out yet. There was some discussion about the District Attorney’s Office. If the 7% increase is approved the court will need to budget $136,000.00 next year to carry on with this grant. Sara Gray, Treasurer joined the conversation. This is affecting 95 individuals. We want this to be effective this Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Motion to raise the salaries of the Sheriffi’s Office employees as suggested by the Sheriff.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 26-32
For: Ramsey, Somers Against: Johnson Abstaining: Sanchez, Anderson
Motion to raise the salaries for the Sheriff’s Office employees as stated by the Sheriff effective January 7, 2024.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 26-32
For: Ramsey, Somers Against: Johnson Abstaining: Sanchez, Anderson
7. Discuss and take action on donation in the amount of $25,000.00 from Occidental Petroleum Corporation for Sheriff’s Office.
Presented by Sheriff Criner. This will be for safety equipment.
Motion to approve the $25,000.00 check from Occidental Petroleum Corporation for the Sheriff’s Office.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 33-37
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
8. Discuss and take action on budget amendment in the amount of $25,000.00 from Occidental Petroleum Corporation for Sheriff’s Office.
Presented by Sheriff Criner.
Motion to approve budget amendment in the amount of $25,000.00.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Sanchez Exhibit: 38-39
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
Call item 23 and 24.
9. Discuss and take action on court minutes from December 13 & 19, 2023. Presented by Alison Haley, County Clerk.
Motion to approve the minutes from December 13 and 19, 2023.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 40
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
10. Acknowledge the required annual meeting of the Investment Advisory Committee, adopt investment policy and list of qualified brokers per Texas Government Code Chapter 2256.
Presented by Sara Gray, Treasurer. No changes recommended.
Motion to acknowledge the annual meeting and adopt the policy and recommended broker list.
Motion by: Somers Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 41-53 For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
11. Acknowledge Quarterly Sick Leave Pool Report.
Presented by Sara Gray, Treasurer. July through September 2023.
Motion we acknowledge the quarterly sick leave pool report for July 1 through September 30, 2023.
Motion by: Anderson Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 54-55
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
12. Discuss and take action on personnel memoranda.
Presented by Sara Gray, Treasurer.
Motion to acknowledge the payroll change summary.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 56-57
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
13. Discuss and take action on line item transfers.
Presented by Veronica Morales, Auditor. No exceptions.
Motion to approve all line-item transfers.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Somers Exhibit: 58-60
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
14. Discuss and take action on bills and wire transfers.
Presented by Veronica Morales, Auditor. There was one wire transfer for the County Clerk’s office. There were a few exceptions. Two additional bills for Pilot. One for $15,614.33 and $1,399.98.
Motion to pay all the bills and wire transfers.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 61-68
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
15. Discuss and take action on use of County credit card to activate data plans for new trail cameras.
Presented by Tim Telck, DA Environmental Investigator. This is budgeted.
Motion to approve the use of the county credit card to activate the data plans for the new trail cameras.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 69
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
16. Discuss and take action on use of Horseshoe on March 11-12, 2024 for Harassment Training for Midland County employees.
Presented by Robert Segura, HR Director. The training will be done by TAC.
Motion that we approve the use of the Horseshoe on March 11-12, 2024 for the Harassment training for Midland Couty Employees at no cost.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 70
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
17. Acknowledge Horseshoe donations.
Presented by Ken Olson, Horseshoe Director.
Motion to acknowledge Horseshoe donations.
Motion by: Somers Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 71-72
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
18. Discuss and take action on budget amendment for November Ludus donations check of $47.75.
Presented by Ken Olson, Horseshoe Director.
Motion to approve the budget amendment of $47.75 for the donation check.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 73-74
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
19. Discuss and take action on bond for Elections Administrator. Presented by Ken Colston, Risk Manager.
Motion to approve the Elections Administrators bond.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 75-81
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
20. Discuss and take action on Risk Management claims.
Presented by Ken Colston, Risk Manager and Veronica Morales, Auditor. $4.6 million needed. There are funds in the water source project in Capital Projects.
Motion that we approve the Risk Management claims having the money come out of Capital Projects from the water source to cover the $4.6 million that is needed.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 82-89
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
21. Acknowledge damage and fleet accident reports for December 2023. Presented by Ken Colston, Risk Manager.
Motion to acknowledge the fleet accident report.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 90-98
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
22. Discuss and take action on purchase of vehicles and upfitting for District Attorney’s Investigators.
Presented by Kristy Engeldahl, Purchasing Agent. These are budgeted funds.
Motion that we approve the purchase of vehicles and upfitting for District Attorney’s Investigators vehicles.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 99-105
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
23. Discuss and take action on weeds/clean-up at 2700 SCR 1140.
Presented by Eddie Melendez, Facilities Director. Clean-up of approximately 24 acres. Motion that we approve the weed/clean-up at 2700 SCR 1140.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 106-107
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
24. Discuss and take action on new LEB & SWAT renovation.
Presented by Eddie Melendez, Facilities Director. There was some discussion about the existing conference room.
Motion that we table this and re-agendize it for Burns to present drawings and plans at a future court.
Motion by: Johnson Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 108-193
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
Call item 9.
25. Discuss and take action on change order to Parkhill Work Authorization #PRK2023- 007 for turning movement analysis to support signal design at SCR 1232 and WCR 120 intersection.
Presented by Jesse Ferguson, Public Works Capital Projects Manager.
Motion that we do a change order to Parkhill Work Authorization #PRK2023-007 for turning movement analysis to support signal design at SCR 1232 and WCR 120 intersection.
Motion by: Sanchez Second by: Anderson Exhibit: 194-202
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
26. Take action on submitted applications for permits to use county right-of-way for utility and line installations, driveway construction, road dedication, and mailbox construction.
Nothing presented. No action needed.
27. Discuss and take action on Task Work Order PRK2024-003 for SWPPP Permit Renewal and Certified Flood Plain Management consultation.
Presented by Andrew Avis, Public Works Director.
Motion to authorize the execution of the Task Work Order for SWPPP and CFM services with Parkhill.
Motion by: Somers Second by: Ramsey Exhibit: 203-205
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
28. Discuss and take action on agreement and payment of budgeted funds to approved non-profit organization.
Presented by Jenny Hilton, County Court Administrator.
Motion to approve payment to Humane Coalition.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit: 206-214
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
29. Adjourn.
Motion to adjourn.
Motion by: Ramsey Second by: Somers Exhibit:
For: All (5) Against: None Abstaining:
Adjourn at 10:16 a.m.
A Meeting of the Midland County Commissioners Court will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, on or after 9:00 a.m., in the Commissioners Courtroom, located at the Midland County Courthouse, 500 North Loraine Street, Midland, Texas.
https://www.co.midland.tx.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01032024-416