Jan 05, 2026 Commissioner's Court

[1. Call meeting to order]

[5. Report from Judge, Commissioner or Department concerning an item/report of community interest.]

[00:03:47]

TWO COURSES ON COUNTY ROAD 471 AND WE'RE PAVING ROAD ON COUNTY ROAD 471. MATHIS LAKESIDE AREA ON COUNTY ROAD 483 AND COUNTY ROAD 492. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. YARDLEY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. SO I'LL MAKE A REMINDER AGAIN THAT TEXDOT IS SCHEDULED TO START WIDENING FM 893, WHICH IS MORE AVENUE HEADING WEST OUT OF PORTLAND. SO THAT IS A TEXAS ROAD, BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY IMPACT SEVERAL OF OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE OUT THAT DIRECTION. SO IT'S BASICALLY IN THE AREA OF W.C. ANDREWS SCHOOL HEADING OUT WEST FROM THERE.

IT'S SCHEDULED TO START JANUARY 12TH, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S STILL ON SCHEDULE. I HAVEN'T DIFFERENT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. JUDGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL ONE. I, I JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE APACHE COUNTY ROAD 3755. WE WERE WORKING ON 3677. AND I KNOW THIS IS MOU AREA, BUT WE WE GOT CALLED BY A LOT OF THE FARMERS OUT THERE AND SAID THEY NEED WE GOT A SHORT ROAD. WOULD YOU MIND DOING IT. WE'RE DOING IT. WE GOT NEW SHOP, THE NEW FENCES UP. ALL THE GATE

[00:05:04]

I'M TRYING TO NAIL THEM DOWN TO A BETTER TIME SO I CAN PLAN IT OUT FOR MYSELF. WE'RE HAULING CONCRETE TO ROBSTOWN, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE LISTENING, GETTING RID OF CONCRETE IS IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. USED TO BE BEFORE DOWN IN GRANTS PASS, THEY TOOK IT FOR FREE. YOU JUST TAKE IT DOWN TO THE CHARGING PORT. SO THERE IS A COMPANY OVER IN ROBSTOWN. IF YOU GIVE ME A CALL, GET THAT NAME AND NUMBER TO YOU AND THEY'LL THEY TAKE THE CONCRETE FOR FREE. AND I HAVE TONS OF CONCRETE OUT THERE AND I'M GETTING RID OF. WE'RE MOVING ON COUNTY ROAD 81 RIGHT NOW. AND OTHER THAN THAT, HAVE A GOOD WEEK. GOOD START OF THE YEAR. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE WE'RE IN THE SAINT PAUL AREA. WE'RE MOVING EQUIPMENT OVER THERE. WE'RE GOING TO START COUNTY ROAD 798. WE'RE GOING TO START RUNNING THAT AND ASSESSING THAT, AND WE'LL BE OUT THERE TODAY. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. FIRST, WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH MOVING VOTERS INTO THEIR NEW AND UPDATED PRECINCTS. AS A RESULT, VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS ARE A LITTLE BIT DELAYED. I KNOW IT SAID THAT THEY EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2025, BUT ALL REGISTERED VOTERS ARE STILL REGISTERED. THERE'S NO CHANGES ON THAT END. IT'S JUST A SMALL GAP BETWEEN WHEN WE SEND OUT THE NEW CARDS AND WHEN THE OLD CARDS EXPIRED. BUT ALL REGISTERED VOTERS ARE STILL REGISTERED AND ELIGIBLE, JUST AS THEY WERE BEFORE. AND SECOND, WITHIN THE WEEK, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO POST THE UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND LIST OF POLLING PLACES, SO I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'LL ALSO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON FACEBOOK SAYING THAT IT'S UP AND READY TO GO. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS? OKAY. GOOD MORNING. JUST WANTED TO LET THE COURT KNOW THAT THE OUR GRANT THAT WE HAD FOR THE RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL 27 INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND THE GRANT IS NOW UNDER CLOSEOUT THINGS. SO JUST WANTED TO LET THE COURT KNOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS? OH, ADRIAN. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER. YES, IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR. JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE THE COURT A HEADS UP THAT WE HAVE REGAINED THE GOOD GRACES OF THE JAIL COMMISSION AS SOON AS WE GET THE OFFICIAL LETTER FROM THEM, WE'LL POST IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FOR THE COURT TO, TO RECORD. BUT YES, WE ARE IN BACK IN COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR COMMISSION. YEAH. THANK YOU.

[1. Approval of minutes]

[a. Examination, consideration, and action on approval of all claims against San Patricio County Pursuant to section 113.064, Texas Local Government Code.]

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. THIS IS FOR OBVIOUSLY. OBVIOUSLY IT IS. THEY MISSED THE MARK ON GETTING IT IN TIME. YES. YEAH. THIS IS FOR OUR INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING FOR THE COUNTY I, SIR. SO WE NEED TO ADD THAT TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RISK MANAGEMENT POOL. IT'S INVOICE 00004126. HOW MUCH FOR $287,750. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL SECOND. OKAY. GOT A MOTION BY GILLESPIE, SECONDED BY GONZALEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. 2.2 B IS

[b. Consideration and action on Budget Line Items, Transfers, and Amendments.]

[c. Consideration and action on accepting bank reconciliation, investment reports, and related matters by County Treasurer. ]

[00:10:02]

AND THAT'S IT. MOVE TO ACCEPT TREASURER'S REPORT. SECOND MOTION BY GILLESPIE, SECONDED BY GONZALEZ. ANY QUESTIONS? MISS GARCIA, TREASURER, FOR HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[3. Consent Agenda: All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the Commissioners Court. Members of the Commissioners Court have been furnished documentation on each item, and all such items may be acted upon by one vote without being discussed separately unless requested by County Judge or a Commissioner:]

[a. Consideration and action on request from Mathis Housing Authority for waiver of Payment in Lieu of Taxes payment. Joey Schumaker, Executive Director of Mathis Housing Authority. Tabled from December 22, 2025 Commissioners Court Agenda.]

MOTION CARRIES OKAY. ITEMS BACK ON THE TABLE. OKAY. YES. GO UP TO THE. AND MARCY, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOME BACKUP FOR US. YEAH. HI. GOOD. I'M GOOD. I'M JOEY SHOEMAKER. I AM NEW TO THE MATHIS HOUSING AUTHORITY. TWO MONTHS, SO MY FEET ARE STILL VERY WET. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR LAST TIME MISSING, AND I. I DID SPEAK WITH MARCELLA LAST WEEK. THERE'S SOME CONFUSION WITH OUR PILOT GOING ON. SO AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING TO RETRACT THE REQUEST FOR THE WAIVER UNTIL I CAN CLARIFY WITH MARCELLA AND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE THAT'S BEEN DOING OUR WAIVER FOR THE OR THE THE PILOT AND THE WAIVER REQUESTS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. SO I GUESS AT THIS TIME, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR SOME TIME TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH. WE ARE GOING TO PAY YOU THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR A WAIVER, AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR WITH A WAIVER REQUEST THAT WILL ALSO GIVE ME MORE TIME TO DO SOME RESEARCH IN THE IN THE COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT WHERE NEEDS ARE, WHERE THE NEEDS ARE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT TOO. SO OKAY, SO MOTION TO DENY THE WAIVER. SECOND MOTION SECONDED BY GILLESPIE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU TELL THE COURT HOW IT IS YOU ARRIVE THAT FIGURE? WHAT? THE PROCESS. YEAH. WHAT'S THE FIGURE NUMBER? WELL, THE FIGURE IS 15,358 24. AND IT ARRIVES WITH. WE'RE NOT SURE IF THE PERCENTAGES ARE RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION IS. I DO HAVE 36. NO. LET'S SEE HERE. COUNTY I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS WHERE YOU CAME UP, HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THIS FIGURE. YEAH I

[00:15:03]

[b. Request from Sheriff Rivera to accept the following donations from Occidental Chemical Corporation, aka OxyChem: Donation #1 in the amount of $7500.00 Donation #2 in the amount of $5000.00 Money will be used to replace the required equipment in the Jail. i.e. self-contained breathing apparatus]

OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUS. 2.4 C IS CONSIDERATION ACTION TO APPROVE

[c. Consideration and action to approve the Medical Services Contract between San Patricio County Jail and Dr. Rene R. Acuna, D.O. Contract runs from January 5, 2026.]

MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. YOU GOT A MOTION BY GILLESPIE SECOND SECONDED BY GONZALEZ.

ANY QUESTIONS. DOES THIS EXPIRE IN 20 2720. YEAH. SHOULD BE 27. YES COMMISSIONER. IT'S SUPPOSED TO EXPIRE IN 2027. AND THERE'S A 30 DAY CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. IT RUNS FROM JANUARY 5TH, 2026 TO JANUARY 5TH, 2027. RIGHT. JANUARY 1ST OR WHATEVER. I MEAN, FRANKLY, AS OF LAST WEEK, WE WERE WAITING FOR THEM TO RETURN A SIGNED CONTRACT TO US, AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO DEBBIE ABOUT THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE RECEIVED THEIR SIGNED VERSION OF THAT CONTRACT BACK. OKAY.

ARE THEY GOING TO SIGN? YES, THEY PROMISED US TO RETURN IT TO US. OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE.

AND HE'S BEEN OUR PROVIDER FOR AT LEAST LAST YEAR. YEAH, HE'S BEEN OUR PROVIDER FOR QUITE A WHILE LAST COUPLE YEARS. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND A MOTION A SECOND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED

[d. Consideration and action on awarding a contract with Vested Networks for RFP2025-015 Unified Phone System.]

SECOND, A MOTION BY GILLESPIE, SECONDED BY CHARLIE TO TABLE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES 2.4 WILL STAY TABLED AT

[e. Discussion, consideration, and action on a request from Melanie Cooper, Grants Manager, on Contracting with JE Construction RFQ2025-019 D239 - Sinton & Taft Construction for $7,341,037.50 to provide drainage improvements for the Sinton Channel. This was tabled from the December 29, 2025 Commissioners Court agenda.]

[f. Discussion, consideration, and action on a request from Melanie Cooper, Grants Manager, on Contracting with J. Carroll Weaver RFQ2025-019 D239 - Sinton & Taft Construction for $2,041,724.08 to provide drainage improvements to the Taft Channel. This was tabled from the December 29, 2025 Commissioners Court agenda.]

[g. Discussion, consideration and action on creating a new full time regular Heavy Equipment Operator I/II for Road & Bridge Pct. #3 to be funded with Sealcoating funds.]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY, I GOT A MOTION BY GONZALES SIKORSKY. DID YOU DID YOU SECOND I DID. OH THIS IS OKAY. GOT A SECOND BY GILLESPIE. ANY QUESTION? NO, SIR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES 2.4 H.

[h. Discussion, consideration and action on the 2026 salaries for San Patricio County Elected Officials, Department Heads and County employees. ]

[00:20:01]

SO WHAT WE DID IS WE GAVE HIM HIS CREDIT, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE WHEN WE BOUGHT HIM BACK AS A DEPUTY, AND THEN HE GOT THE 4%. SO THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE ON.

EVERYONE ELSE IS AT 4%, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT ARE AT THE 5%. WHEN WAS HE HIRED? HE WAS HIRED.

ADRIAN. OKAY. HE WAS HIRED MID-YEAR. HE HE WORKED IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IN THE JAIL AND WANTED TO BECOME A DEPUTY. SO HE RESIGNED AS A JAILER, WENT TO SCHOOL IN CORPUS AT SIX MONTHS, CAME BACK. AND WHEN HE CAME BACK, HE CAME BACK AT THE DEPUTY SALARY BUT WAS NOT GIVEN THE YEARS SERVICE. SO FOR THIS YEAR COMING IN IN 26, WE WENT AHEAD AND GAVE HIM HIS CREDIT.

HE WAS FINE WITH NOT GOING BACK DOING THE RETROACTIVE BECAUSE IT IS LAST YEAR AND THEN GET THE 4% ABOVE THAT. SO I ONLY HAVE THAT ONE PARTICULAR ONE. AND IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION IN NOVEMBER, THE MIDDLE PART OF NOVEMBER. THE EMPLOYEE BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT HE THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS SOME AN ISSUE WITH HIS SALARY, BUT HE HADN'T SAID ANYTHING TO US ABOUT IT. HE WAS HIRED AS A DEPUTY JULY 1ST OF 2025, BUT PREVIOUSLY HAD NINE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH US. NINE YEARS. OKAY. VERY GOOD. STEVEN. ANY OTHER QUESTION? EVERY TIME I HAVE IT ON ANOTHER ONE, IT CAN'T GET TO IT. I CAN'T GET ANYTHING NOW. RIGHT NOW.

PHYSICIAN. HEAL THYSELF. IT'S UNDER. OH, SO IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THEN? NO, NOT THIS TIME.

SURE. YEAH. SORRY, STEVEN. I COULDN'T PASS THAT UP. I CAN'T GET TO IT. I CAN GET YOU OR I CAN GET COPY. WHICHEVER THE. I HAVE MY COPY. I HAVE A COPY. IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT.

I'VE GOT A COPY IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT. YEAH, JUST IN YOUR OFFICE. BECAUSE IT'S STILL DON'T WORK. EVERYBODY GOT A COPY OR SOMETHING TO LOOK AT IN MY OFFICE? TOM'S DONE TO ME. AS SOON AS I TRIED TO LOG INTO THAT. CAN WE PRINT SOME OUT OR. NO. CAN'T PULL IT UP. CAN YOU PRINT A COPY, GEORGE? CAN YOUR STAFF PRINT A COPY REAL QUICK? YEAH. STEVEN, CAN YOU SHUT IT DOWN AND BRING IT BACK UP? NOT SURE. OH, THERE SITE IT'S ON THE. YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S COMING UP. YEAH I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO. YEAH, YEAH. YOU WANT TO GO GET COPIES. OKAY.

YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE THAT ONE THEN I DON'T HAVE MY REPORT EITHER. IT'S ATTACHED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE NEXT, A SCANNER THAT COMES IN AGAIN. PUT IT ON THE FLASH DRIVE I'M GOING TO

[00:25:04]

LISA. WAS WORKING. IT WAS WORKING. YEAH. YES. YEAH. YEAH. ABOUT EVERYTHING. I THINK WE'RE GETTING COPIES FOR EVERYBODY. JUDGE, YOU WANT TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS? YOU WANT TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS? YOU WANT TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS? YEAH, WE CAN RECESS UNTIL WE GET COPIES. OKAY, WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE QUICK RECESS OF TEN MINUTES 30 4 A.M.

OKAY. SO NOW OKAY. SO NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN. THE 2025 AND THEN WE PUT IN THE COLA IS THE CENTER COLUMN. IT'S FORMULATED IN AT 4%. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOURLY RATES THE HOURLY RATE PEOPLE, WE ALSO GIVE THEM THE 4% COST OF LIVING, WHETHER THEY'RE FULL TIME, I MEAN TEMPORARY OR REGULAR, THEY GET THE 4%. AND THEN WE'LL BREAK IT OUT FOR YEARLY, MONTHLY FOR PAY AND THEN THE HOURLY RATE ITSELF. AS I SAID BEFORE, THE ONLY ONES, IF YOU SEE ALL THE ZEROS, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE ONLY ONES THAT YOU WILL SEE AGAIN WILL BE DISTRICT COURT. THEY'RE AT THEIR BOARD MEETING. THEY AGREED TO A 5% INCREASE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OURS, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO RUN IT THROUGH COMMISSIONER'S COURT INSTEAD OF DOING A COURT ORDER, WHICH IS ONE BAILIFF, THE COURT REPORTERS AND THE COURT COORDINATORS. AND THEN WE HAVE THAT ONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A DEPUTY. THAT'LL BE ALDER GARZA. YOU'LL SEE THAT CHANGE IN THAT ONE.

LET'S SEE WHO ELSE. THERE IS ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL CATEGORY. I JUST SAW THAT WHEN I LOOKED DOWN ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES, WHICH IS THE CONSTABLE'S, THEY WENT THROUGH THE SALARY GRIEVANCE AND WAS APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THEY ALL WENT TO 66,000. SO YOU WILL SEE THAT CHANGE IN THIS REPORT, BUT IT'S JUST THE CHANGE IN THE SALARY, NOTHING ELSE. OKAY.

MOVING 22 ANYTHING ON S.B. 22. TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN THE EMAIL. AT THE END OF THE REPORT, YOU'LL SEE IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IT WILL BE ON THE SB 22 FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE ARE IN THE SHE IS IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF DOING HER APPLICATION. SHE HAS TWO FULL TIME STAFF AND ONE SUPPLEMENT IN THAT THAT APPLICATION IS PENDING AT THIS TIME. USUALLY THAT COMES THE MONEY COMES IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, AND ONCE IT DOES THEN WE GIVE THAT BACK. THAT'LL BE FURTHER DOWN. LET ME GET IT FOR YOU. FOR 12. IT'LL

[00:30:09]

I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. SO THIS CHART UP HERE IS BASED ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE REQUESTED IN PEOPLE'S BUDGET. NO, NO, THIS IS JUST THE COST OF LIVING REPORT. THE SECOND REPORT IS THE RECLASSIFICATION OKAY. WHEN THE WHEN THE THE WHEN THE 2026 BUDGET WAS DONE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHATEVER PEOPLE REQUESTED FOR STEP INCREASES AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING WAS SUPPOSED TO ALREADY BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE COURT YET. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THAT REPORT. OKAY. IT WAS VOTED ON THE LAST REPORT THE LAST TIME, BUT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THE REPORT. THE COURT DID NOT. OKAY.

SO THE RAISES THAT WERE SUBMITTED AT BUDGET TIME WERE NOT DISCUSSED OR INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET YET. THEY THEY'RE IN A CONTINGENCY AMOUNT PENDING ON WHAT THE COURT DOES WITH THE WITH THE VARIOUS. OKAY. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. NO. NOW THE 4% THAT Y'ALL SEE HERE ON THIS REPORT THAT IS REFLECTED IN EVERYBODY'S BUDGET ITSELF, THE RECLASSIFICATION IS NOT IN THEIR BUDGET. SO THOSE NUMBERS DO NOT MATCH INTO THAT. THAT COMES OUT OF CONTINGENCY SPECIFICALLY. AND DID ANY OF THE RECLASSIFICATIONS GO TO THE EMPLOYEE? WE'LL DISCUSS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT REPORT. OKAY. YOU READY FOR A MOTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR REPORT. THIS IS JUST THE COST OF LIVING REPORT, RIGHT? NO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE COST OF LIVING REPORT AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. SECOND. TO REPORT AND OTHER QUESTIONS. HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE. SIGN. MOTION CARRIED. OKAY. THAT BRINGS US DOWN TO 2.4 I, WHICH IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION ON THE 26 BUDGET REQUEST FOR RECLASSIFICATION ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES. NORMAN. OKAY. ON THIS PARTICULAR REPORT, THIS IS A REPORT THAT I GET FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE THAT GOES GETS DONE DURING BUDGET TIME. THERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTED AREAS, AND THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT DID COME INTO PLACE DURING BUDGET TIME WHEN WORKING ON THIS REPORT ON THOSE RECLASSIFICATIONS, YOU'LL SEE MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE STEPS WHERE THEY'RE ONE STEP OR TWO STEPS. ANYTHING THAT WAS RECLASSIFIED, THERE WERE A FEW OF THEM THAT HAD GONE INTO RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT DID NOT MEET WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAD IN PLACE, THOSE WE WENT AHEAD AND GAVE THE EMPLOYEES THE THE STEP INCREASE AND THEN ARE GOING TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE COMMITTEE SO THEY CAN BE REVIEWED AS WE GO THROUGH. YOU'LL KIND OF SEE GOING THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS, YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAD DONE A RECLASSIFICATION, BUT HAVE NOT HAD A GRADE ACTUALLY ASSIGNED TO THEM. SOME OF THE ONES THAT THE AUDITORS DID GIVE US WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD SOME GRADES THAT DID NOT EXIST, SO WE COULDN'T REALLY COMPARE IT TO WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING. AS DEBBIE KIND OF BROUGHT UP, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAD NOT GONE TO COMMITTEE AND WE HAD NOT LOOKED AT OR THEY HAD NOT LOOKED AT, SO WE

[00:35:02]

YOU'LL SEE IN IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. NOW, SOME OF THE ONES YOU'LL SEE IN THE DEPARTMENTS SAY IF IT'S SAYS TBD TO BE DETERMINED, THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY GET A GRADE THAT IS ACTUALLY SET UP FOR THAT.

YOU'LL SEE ON THE SECOND PAGE, YOU'LL SEE 108 TO 109, 104 TO 108. THOSE ARE ACTUAL GRADES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE. THOSE POSITIONS DO EXIST. SO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL WAS MOVING THOSE DEPARTMENTS INTO THOSE PARTICULAR GRADES THAT DID HAVE AN ACTUAL POSITION IN PLACE FOR IT. Y'ALL CAN GO THROUGH. PATRICK, WERE YOU GOING TO WANT THESE BY DEPARTMENT? IF YOU COULD, THAT'D BE NICE. OKAY. SO IF WE GO BY DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVEN'T SET UP BY THE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE DEPARTMENTS, IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ON EACH PARTICULAR ONES WE CAN ALWAYS BRING THEM UP. SO THEN THAT WAY Y'ALL CAN I CAN CLARIFY AS TO HOW I GOT THE INFORMATION FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. I DO HAVE HOMER HERE IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY HELPS PUT THE REPORT TOGETHER IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. AND THEN PATRICK, OF COURSE, HAS OVERSEEN IT. SO I GET THE REPORT AND THEN PLUG EVERYBODY IN AS FAR AS MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH THE POSITIONS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE BUDGETS THAT WERE SUBMITTED JUST HAD THE POSITIONS THEMSELVES. THERE ARE SOME VACANCIES. IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE REPORT, THERE ARE SOME VACANCIES THAT HAD SOME STEPS THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE, BUT THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN THAT POSITION. SO THIS IS THE ONES WHERE WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HIMSELF. THE ONES THAT ARE TO BE DETERMINED. THOSE STEPS DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST. THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY EXIST. AND WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ACTUAL JOB DESCRIPTION THAT GOES THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO MOVE THOSE INTO IN ORDER FOR US TO FOR THE COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY SAY, YES, THIS IS WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

WE DON'T WANT TO SHORTCHANGE ANYBODY AND SAY THEY PLUG THEM IN AT A 110, BUT YET THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AT 112. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER THE COMMITTEE COMES OUT WITH, WITH A GRADE IS WHERE WE PLUG THEM IN AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT FOR ACTUAL RECLASSIFICATION. LIKE I SAID, MOST OF THESE ARE STEP INCREASES. A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE TWO STEPS THAT COME INTO PLACE. ONE THAT WILL DEFINITELY KIND OF THROW UP A LITTLE HIGHER OUT. THERE IS GOING TO BE IN YOUR CONSTABLE SIX DIVISION ONLY BECAUSE WHEN WE HIRED THOSE TWO DEPUTY CONSTABLES, THEY CAME IN WITH ARPA MONEY. SO THEY CAME IN AT THE BASE WITH NO EXPERIENCE INCLUDED IN THAT. SO WHAT THE CONSTABLE DID IS HE JUST WENT AHEAD AND RAISED THEM UP TO WHAT WOULD BE COMPARABLE. BUT WE DID NOT USE THE SCALE LIKE WE WOULD WITH A SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BECAUSE THEN THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE'S WOULD BE MAKING MORE THAN THE ACTUAL CONSTABLE ITSELF. THAT WAS THE THE NUMBER THAT THE CONSTABLE HIMSELF HAD GIVEN US FOR BUDGET TIME AT THAT 60 000, WHICH NOW THE CONSTABLE'S ARE AT 66. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, DEBORAH? OKAY. WE WE JUST GAVE EVERYBODY A 4% COST OF LIVING INCREASE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS WERE SOME OF THESE PROPOSED INCREASES WERE PUT AS REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET. WE'VE ALSO JUST PAID AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DO ANOTHER SALARY SURVEY. THAT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE AGO, SIX MONTHS NOW. WE'RE TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE TILL JULY AGAIN. WE'RE ALREADY HEARING RUMORS THAT SOME OF THE POSITIONS ALREADY OVERPAID. SO NOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO MAKE AN ACTION THAT COULD BE CONTRARY TO WHAT'S COMING IN THE SALARY SURVEY. SO WE PAID ALL THIS MONEY FOR A REASON. SO WHY ARE WE NOT JUST WAITING FOR THESE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS UNTIL WE GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE SALARY SURVEY? WHEN THE COURT MADE THE DECISION LAST WEEK OR LAST WEEK, THE COURT MADE A DECISION ON HOLDING UP ON THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES AND JUST DOING THE 4% COST OF LIVING. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS. THE REASON WE USE JULY IS MAG HAD GIVEN US A RECOMMENDATION. IF THEY DID NOT DO THE RECLASSIFICATIONS HAVING ENOUGH MONEY IN CONTINGENCY TO COVER EVERYBODY FOR JULY, THAT WAS WHERE THE JULY DATE CAME INTO PLACE. THERE'S NOT A GUARANTEE DOING THIS THERE WILL BE ENOUGH MONEY IN JULY, BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL EVERYTHING GETS IN. NOW, THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECLASSIFIED, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF THEY GET RECLASSIFIED. THOSE WILL NOT BE TILL JULY. THAT'LL BE

[00:40:01]

IN ADDITION TO THAT, NOT CURRENT SALARY, RECLASSIFICATION NUMBER. AND 4%, 4% HAS ALREADY BEEN SET IN PLACE. THIS WOULD JUST BE THE ADDITIONAL PART. RIGHT? OKAY.

OH, SO THERE'S KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. RECLASSIFICATIONS. AND THEN STEP PROMOTIONS. RIGHT? I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ON THE USE OF CONTINGENCY FUNDING, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THESE THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW IN MY CASE, WHEN I SUBMIT MY BUDGET, I PUT MY STEP INCREASES IN MY BUDGET THAT ALLOWS ME TO FLEXIBILITY TO PROMOTE MY PEOPLE IF THEY SO WARRANT IT. SO THAT WAS IN MY BUDGET. SO ALL OF THIS WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET WAS WHATEVER THE COURT APPROVED IN AUGUST FOR THE COST OF LIVING.

THAT WAS WHAT THE AUDITOR PUT IN THE BUDGETS. SO ANYTHING UNDER THE RECLASS, THE STEPS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT COMES OUT OF CONTINGENCY. THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN DONE THE LAST FEW YEARS.

YEAH, THAT'S THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING. SO WHAT WE DID WAS LIKE NORMAN JUST MENTIONED, THE 4% IS INCLUDED IN EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET. AND THEN AS THIS IS PASSED OR NOT PASSED, WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE IN CONTINGENCY. WHATEVER DEPARTMENTS ARE, ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE PASSED. THAT MONEY FROM CONTINGENCY WILL GET MOVED INTO EACH DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S IT'S IN THE BUDGET OVERALL. IT'S JUST NOT IN EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, DEPENDING ON THE PASSING OR NOT PASSING OF OF THESE RECLASSIFICATIONS, WE HAVE A COPY OF THE THE STUDY SURVEY THAT THAT WE TOOK OR THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING RIGHT NOW. SO UNDER OUR CURRENT PAIN CLASSIFICATION POLICY, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I KNOW THAT STEP INCREASES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON PERFORMANCE. AND IT'S YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO THEM AT CERTAIN INTERVALS. MORE SENIOR THE PERSON IS THE LESS OFTEN YOU CAN PROMOTE THEM. SO ARE ALL THESE STEP INCREASES FOLLOWING THAT GUIDELINE? NO, BUT HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT WE'VE HAD DEPARTMENTS THAT COME TO THIS COURT AND ASK FOR THE STEP INCREASE, AND IT'S APPROVED. SO IF THEY ASK FOR THE STEP INCREASES AS THEY HAVE IN THIS BUDGET AND THEY THE STEP INCREASES ARE IN PLACE. IT IS EITHER 4.15. IF IT'S UNDER ONE, TEN, IF IT'S OVER 110 GRADE IT'S 4.50. SO THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A LARGER AMOUNT. SO THEY ARE CONSISTENT ON THAT PARTICULAR PART. BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE TO FAITH AS FAR AS MOVING ANYBODY ACROSS THE COURT HAS APPROVED OTHERS IN THE PAST. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT OPENS THE DOOR. SO IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY BETTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IT AT BUDGET, WHICH THEY HAVE, BECAUSE THE YEAR BEFORE THIS COURT TOLD THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, Y'ALL DIDN'T ASK FOR THE BUDGET TIME. SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT FOR YOUR STAFF THIS YEAR. THEY ASKED FOR THE BUDGET TIME, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE ASKING FOR IT NOW. BUT EVEN IF IT'S ASKED FOR IN A BUDGET, IF IT DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA, THEN I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD NOT BE. SO I'LL I'LL USE MY PRECINCT AS AN EXAMPLE. I'M NOT ASKING FOR A STEP INCREASE FOR MY FOREMAN OR FOR MY OFFICE STAFF, BECAUSE

[00:45:05]

THEY ARE GOING TO START THEIR ONE ON ONES WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. SO THIS IS BASICALLY A BUDGETARY MOVE. AND AT A LATER POINT WE WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE ACTION TO PROMOTE THESE STEP INCREASES. IS THAT NO THESE POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE YES YOU'RE RIGHT. THESE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ON THE PERCENTAGE WISE. THEN WHEN THEY GO TO THE COMMITTEE AS FAR AS GETTING THE RECLASSIFICATION, GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR PART, ALSO ONCE THEY GET THOSE IN PLACE, THEN WE BRING THOSE BACK TO THE COURT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT TILL BUDGET TIME TO GO AHEAD AND DO THOSE. AS SOON AS THOSE GET IN PLACE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING BACK TO THE COURT. IT'S JUST HARD FOR OUR COMMITTEE TO RECLASSIFY AND I'LL I'LL. PAM, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU SHORT, BUT WE HAVE SAY IN PAM'S OFFICE. WE HAVE RECLASSIFICATION FROM 109 TO 113. I DON'T HAVE A 113 IN ELECTION. I DON'T HAVE A 111 OR A 117. SO THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME INTO PLACE WITH THE AUDITORS IS SAYING, HOW WHERE ARE THEY GOING INTO THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION? BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THOSE GRADES THAT COME INTO PLACE. IF IT WOULD HAVE GONE LIKE ON THE CLERK'S, YOU CAN SEE ON THE CLERK'S 104 TO 108 OR 103 TO 105 103 TO 104. THOSE ARE MOVES, BUT THOSE POSITIONS ALREADY EXIST. THAT'S WHERE THE RECLASSIFICATIONS ARE COMING INTO PLACE. THOSE ARE THOSE TO BE DETERMINED ONES. WE HAVE. 1105171051107 OKAY. YEAH. LAST WEEK WAS THAT HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT WHAT WE REQUESTED AT BUDGET TIME FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT WE ACCEPT HIM, WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE PATRICK SAID, $407,000. SO THEY INCLUDED CONTINGENCY 500 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND. AND SO WAS IT NOT IN COURT LAST WEEK, ACCEPTED THAT THEY ACCEPT THE SALARIES THAT WERE REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. THE COURT? IT'S UP TO THE COURT, Y'ALL TELL ME, BECAUSE I'M GOING OFF OF PAM IS REQUESTED GRADES THAT I DO NOT HAVE. SO WE ARE MOVING

[00:50:01]

RIGHT. SO NOW IF WE DO THIS AND THEN THE SALARY SURVEY COMES OUT AND SOME PEOPLE AND WE IMPLEMENT THIS RIGHT AWAY AND PEOPLE START GETTING THAT MONEY AND THEN COMES TO FIND OUT SOME OF THESE POSITIONS ARE OVERPAID. YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT BACK AWAY FROM EMPLOYEES. NO. AND I MADE THAT CLEAR TO THE COURT LAST WEEK. YEAH THAT WHATEVER. IF WE DO IF THE COURT DOES ANYTHING IN JULY, THERE WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD WAS GOING TO GET AN INCREASE, BECAUSE IF THE COURT WENT AHEAD AND APPROVED THIS AND THE SALARY CAME BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PLUG IN THE NEW NUMBERS, IF IT COMES BACK AND THE EMPLOYEE IS GETTING PAID MORE THAN WHAT MARKET VALUE WAS SAID AND WHAT MAG WAS SET UP, WE'RE NOT TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE GOING TO STAY AT WHERE THEY'RE AT. SO THAT'S GOING TO TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT, THEY WILL ALREADY BE OVER MARKET. SAM, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE OVER BUDGET. BUT THEN IF THE MONEY'S ALL USED RIGHT NOW FOR THESE THINGS AND THERE WILL NOT BE INCREASES IN JULY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERPAID. YEAH, YEAH, I BROUGHT THAT UP. NO, NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. GO AHEAD AND START PAYING THE EMPLOYEES THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD ASKED FOR RAISES FOR. THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT IF WE WAIT TILL JULY, THAT CORRECT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH. AND SO THEY AGREED TO GO AHEAD AND PAY. NOW, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR. OKAY. AND THEN THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES IN JULY MAY NOT GET ANYTHING. SO YEAH. SO BASICALLY IN ESSENCE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND PUT OFF ANY SALARY SURVEY STUFF UNTIL 2027. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. LET ME SAY SOMETHING. SINCE I WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION LAST WEEK, OKAY. AND MAYBE I DID THAT BY MISTAKE BECAUSE I ONLY PUT TWO PEOPLE IN FOR RAISES FOR MERIT RAISES, ONE FOR A TWO STEP, ONE FOR SINGLE STEP. AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER PUT TWO PEOPLE IN FOR FOR SINGLE STEP. THAT WAS IT. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE MONEY, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE, A LOT MORE MONEY HERE. LOOKING AT IT NOW ON PAPER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS BEFORE WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, YOUR HONOR, EITHER WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, TO DISCUSS THESE LINE BY LINE, OR WE TABLE THIS UNTIL WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND AND DO LINE BY LINE. SO SECOND, THAT THE. YEAH. DURING THE WORKSHOP. YEAH. DISCUSSION.

WELL LET'S, LET'S LET'S SEE WHAT THE ATTORNEY SAYS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CLOSED SESSION ON THIS. I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYBODY'S FEELINGS, ANY DEPARTMENT HEADS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, IS THIS ON UNDER SECTION 551074. WE CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS ON INDIVIDUALS. LET ME BE SPECIFIC. IT SAYS THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT REQUIRE GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO CONDUCT AN OPEN MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER EMPLOYEE. AND SO THE DEBATE IS, IS THE DISCUSSION OF SALARY PART OF THE EVALUATION?

[00:55:04]

YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS TIME. DISCUSS THIS. YEAH. YOU MADE THE MOTION AND SECONDED THAT. RIGHT. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WANT TO FINISH? JUDGE? DO YOU WANT TO FINISH WITH THE AGENDA AND THEN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT OVER.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO FINISH THE REST OF THE AGENDA, THE PERSONAL ACTIONS. SO WE SHOULD BE KIND TO THE AUDIENCE AND THEN ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE IF THEY WISH. IF THEY WISH TO. OH, OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT TO BOTH OF THEM. YEP. OKAY OKAY. UNDER

[i. Discussion, consideration and action on 2026 Budget requests for Reclassification/Adjustment for San Patricio County employees.]

[3. PERSONNEL-Employment and current employee status changes in accordance with the current personnel policies, County Budget, and State law with notification of such changes to the payroll division of the Treasurer's office.]

[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION PUBLIC NOTICE is given that the San Patricio Commissioners Court may elect to go into Executive Session anytime during the meeting to discuss matters listed on the Agenda, when authorized by the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. To the extent there has been a past practice of distinguishing items for public deliberation and those for executive session, the public is advised that the Court is departing from that practice, and reserves the right to discuss any listed agenda items in executive session when authorized by law to do so. In the event the Commissioners Court elects to go into Executive Session regarding an agenda item the section or sections of the Open Meetings Act authorizing the Executive Session will be publicly announced by the presiding officer. In accordance with the authority of the Government Code, Sections 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberation Regarding Real Property), 551.0725 (Contract being Negotiated), 551.073 (Prospective Gift), 551.074 (Personnel Matters), 551.0745 (Personnel Matters Affecting County Advisory Body), 551.076 (Security Devices), 551.086 (Public Utilities Competitive Matters), 551.087 (Economic Development Negotiations) the Commissioners Court will hold an Executive Session to consult with attorney(s) including matters related to litigation; deliberate regarding real property; prospective gift(s); personnel matter(s), including termination; security devices, and/or economic development negotiations and other matters that may be discussed in an Executive Session. Upon completion of the Executive Session, the Commissioners' Court may in an open session take such action as appropriate on items discussed in Executive Session.]