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10:10 A.M. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS JANUARY 18 MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.[Emergency/Supplemental items ]
IS THE CLERK HERE? LET'S START WITH WHATEVER YOU NEED.>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. SINCE OUR LAST MEETING WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR CHALLENGES AND THINGS WE ARE FACED IN REGARDS TO UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN PRIMARIES. I'M HAPPY TO COME TO YOU AND COME IN BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND INCORRECT PARTY CHAIR OF US HAVING ROBUST MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS, EMAILS AND ALL THE THINGS TO ALLY TO A DECISION WHERE BOTH PARTIES ARE PRIORITIZING THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT BEING SAID, TODAY WE BRING A RESOLUTION FOURTH BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO A JOINT PRIMARY.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE CLAPPING. [LAUGHTER]. WITH THAT BEING SAID, OBVIOUSLY OUR LARGEST CHALLENGES AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGES AND WE WILL ADDRESS THEM AS WE GO IS ONE, THE FACT THAT WE WILL NEED TO CORROBORATE EQUIPMENT AND WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. WE WILL MEET WITH THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT TEAM TO SEE ABOUT CONTINUE TO GET WHAT WE NEED.
AND WHAT IS GREAT IS THE PREVIOUS DAY WAS ALREADY GETTING THINGS IN ORDER AND WE HAVE CONTINUED THAT. I FEEL CONFIDENT IN SAYING WE WILL OF QUIRE MORE BETWEEN NOW AND THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT BY DOING A JOINT PRIMARY AND ALLOWS US TO USE THE FULL CAPACITY OF EQUIPMENT AND HAVE ENOUGH FOR BACKUP. THE OTHER CHALLENGE HONESTLY WAS SENATE BILL 924 WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT ROBUSTLY IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. THOSE CHALLENGES WILL NOT CHANGE. IT'S A MATTER OF FACT THAT I'VE TALKED TO LEGISLATURES ABOUT BRING THIS BACK IN 2025 AND MAKING AMENDMENTS AND REALLY LOOKING AT HOW NOT ONLY OF HOW IT WILL AFFECT HARRIS COUNTY'S AND OTHER COUNTIES. WITH THAT INFORMATION IN MIND INCLUDING MANY OTHER THINGS AND ABLE TO ADEQUATELY APPOINT AND RECRUIT ENOUGH WORKERS WE HAVE ARRIVED TO THAT AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY AGAIN I COMMEND BOTH PARTY CHAIRS. WE HAVE MANY THINGS TO WORK THROUGH AS WE ARRIVE TO MARCH 5TH AND I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH BEST FOR ALL VOTERS AND I THINK YOU ALL, TO DATE WE WILL BOAT OR YOU ALL WILL TAKE A BOAT , I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU ALL IN INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ALL WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS AS WELL. AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY AND CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS TO FINALIZE
CONTRACT. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES THEN
ELLIS AND GARCIA. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THANK YOU AS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT BOTH PARTIES AND YOUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE WITH EXCELLENCY, TRANSPARENCY AND CAPABILITIES AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THE PARTY CHAIRS. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING TRUE LEADERS AND PUTTING THE BEST INTEREST AS A WHOLE AND OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND PUTTING THE PEOPLE ABOVE THE PARTISANSHIP.
I'M DEEPLY ENERGIZED AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER SO WE CAN ALL BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE ALL CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT AND THE DEMOCRACY WE HOLD SO DEAR.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND I AM SO ENERGIZED AND HOPEFUL ON THE FLOOR TO WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THINGS WITH EACH ELECTION. THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER ELSE AND THEN
DARCY APPEARED >> SO I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OF YOU AND SAYS A LOT ABOUT BOTH PARTIES. AT LEAST TWO OF US HERE ON THE BALLOT AND MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WILL BE ON THE BALLOT AS WELL. WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH ANYTHING WE CAN DO.
APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COURT -- MARY'S COLLEAGUES IN EACH PARTY. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT US AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU ALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, RECRUIT WORKERS, WITHIN THE LAW AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
OF YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN RAMSEY.
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>> CLERK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WORK ON THIS AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE KEEPING US ARE AT LEAST BEING POSTED ON AS THINGS WERE DEVELOPING AND MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO THINK MISSION A RAMSEY, I KNOW YOU PROVIDED LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US GET TO A COMMON PLACE THAT SERVES ARE COUNTING THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. MIKE, THANK YOU AS WELL FOR COMING IN AND BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION
AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I WANT TO ECHO AND THANK YOU CLERK, WELL DONE. BOTH CHAIRS. CINDY AND I HAVE HAD MANY MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. HER LEADERSHIP AND IT'S NOT EASY TO PUT BASICS OF AN ELECTION DETAILS AND NOW GETTING INTO THE DETAILS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY MACHINES DO WE HAVE. HOW MANY LOCATIONS WE HAVE. AND WHAT CAN WE DO? I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT CHAIR SIEGEL IDENTIFIED 11 OR 12 SUGGESTIONS, I WILL CALL THEM. BUT THEY ARE REALLY MORE THAN THAT. THEY ARE IS WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT WORK. HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS ANY VARIATION FROM THAT, WE CAN KNOW THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. AND WE HADN'T SAID THIS YET, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE WILL JUST GO BACK INTO THE SAME OLD THING. THIS IS A HISTORY. FROM A HISTORICAL STANDPOINT, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS WORK. AND I THINK EVERYBODY INTENTION AND THAT'S WHERE WE WAKE UP EVERY DAY TRYING TO BE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THROUGH THAT AS THE EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND THE PARTIES BOTH GOT YOU ALL HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERYBODY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW AND MAKE SURE WE MAKE THIS WORKABLE AND THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S A JOINT, THAT THE PARTIES HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE UNDER THEIR PARTY UMBRELLA TO DO THE JOB. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY
SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. >> THERE WAS ONLY ONE LESS THING THAT I WANT TO DO THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO JUST THAT AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY CLERK SEPARATES HIM OR WATCHING AND SOME ARE HERE TODAY. CAN WE PLEASE -- IT IS A LOT OF LATE-NIGHT WORK. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> IS A SPECIFIC MOTION
LANGUAGE WE NEED? >> ALL RIGHT. LET ME SEE HERE.
IT JUST SAYS APPROVED AS IS. >> I HAVE THE LANGUAGE. MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDUCT OF THE JOINT GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION AND THE JOINT GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION RUNOFF IF NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE JOINT GENERAL PRIMARY RESOLUTION AND TO AUTHORIZE ENTRY INTO, JOINT GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION CONTRACT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> SECOND. >> DOES THAT SOUND LIKE WHAT
YOU NEED? DID YOU GET IT? >> YES, JUDGE.
>> PERFECT. AND SO WHAT DO YOU NEED? GOOD TO GO? SO I KNOW IT WAS A MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. AND IT IS A BIG DEAL. A REALLY BIG DEAL WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE RUN AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN RUN THEM. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PRIMER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN HARRIS COUNTY KNOWS THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND ACHIEVED THE ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE EFFICIENT ELECTIONS. IF THIS HADN'T BEEN DONE, IF YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAD ACCOMPLISHED THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY FOLKS, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IS THEY WOULD HAVE SHOWED UP TO VOTE AND MAYBE WAITED IN LINE TO WAIT FOR A VOTING MACHINE BECOME AVAILABLE WHILE OTHER PARTY HAD VOTING MACHINES LEFT OVER THAT THEY COULDN'T SHARE OR VICE VERSA. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE WOULD HAVE RUN INTO. IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE DO THIS BUT IT IS IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY NOW BECAUSE THE LAW WOULD HAVE ONLY EXACERBATED THOSE DIFFICULTIES.
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SO, IT IS THE IDEAL TIME TO HAVE A LEADER SUCH AS YOURSELF WHO CAN GET US TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE VOTERS. AND I AM SO GLAD THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE MORE EFFICIENTLY WHICHEVER WAY THEY VOTE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE. YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND BOTH PARTIES AND THE LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY.>> THANK YOU. >> ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
AYE. ANY POST? MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY. ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS. THANK YOU, CLICK. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COURT.
[Departments]
ITEMS ON HERE. ONE IS A REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS.[Appearances before court]
AND THE SECOND IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF TAX REFUND PAYMENTS. IS DARLENE KEENE HERE? WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR THE AUDITOR ITEM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT?>> IN ODD. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE IN THE COURT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE BILLS FOR HARRIS COUNTY? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I HAD A 49,658 SQUARE FOOT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT I OWNED IN GARDEN BILLS. I TOOK OUT A LOAN FOR 29,240 SQUARE FEET AND THAT HAS BEEN AFFIRMED BY THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. THE REMAINDER OF MY PROPERTY IS 20,417 SQUARE FEET AND IT IS MISSING. IT IS MISSING. MY PROPERTY IS MISSING. MY PROPERTY ABOUT'S THE SIMS BAYOU. I'M ASKING $200 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR MY PROPERTY. --
>> THANK YOU YOUR TIMES UP. >> WE WILL HAVE THE TAX
ASSESSORS OFFICE -- >> THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE? I'M SORRY? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT.
>> YES. YES. I SAID YES. >> WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU,
>> WAIT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE SOMEONE FINDS YOU AND PUTS YOU
WITH THE RIGHT PERSON. >> MOVING ON.
>> OF MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON ITEMS 1 AND 2. NO MORE SPEAKERS, CORRECT. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. ANY POST? MOTION CARRIES
UNANIMOUSLY. >> DO WE HAVE TO SIGN THIS
TODAY? >> YES. YES, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, PLEASE SIGN. AND THIS IS THE JOINT PRIMARY RESOLUTION.
>> OKAY. SO THAT MEANS IT IS 10:23 AND COMM
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.