IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

AUGUST 18, 2003

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 18th day of August, A.D. 2003, the County Commissioners Court of Bell County, Texas, met in the Commissioners' Courtroom in Belton, Texas, in regular session with the following members of said Court present, to-wit:

1. Agenda #1 - Minutes

• MINUTE ORDER #314/03:  It being nine a.m., JUDGE BURROWS called the meeting to order and waived the presentation of the minutes of August 11, 2003, at the present time.        
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2a #1 & 2 Public Hearing on Traffic Control Devices

• MINUTE ORDER #315/03:  JUDGE BURROWS opened a public hearing on the installation of traffic control devices on Pritchard Road at Reeds Lake Road and West Hillyard from Old 81 to the McLennan County Line.  He asked if there was any public comment; there being none, he closed such public hearing.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved the installation of a yield sign on Pritchard Road at Reeds Lake Road and the installation of a 55 mph speed limit on West Hillyard from Old 81 to the McLennan County Line.   
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #2b - Awarding bid on striping and raised pavement marking

• MINUTE ORDER #316/03:   The County Engineer presented his recommendation on the awarding of bids on striping and raised pavement marking (the same being attached hereto) and thereafter, upon motion of  COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved awarding such bid to D.I.J. Construction of Bertram, Texas.       
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #2c - Abandonment/Release of Drainage & Utility Easement

• MINUTE ORDER #317/03:  The County Engineer presented the request of a landowner in Tanglewood Subdivision Lots 486 and 487 asking that the Court approve the abandonment of the utility easement between the two lots so that he had building on the two lots.  The McLennan County Electric Cooperative, Moffat Water Supply, Central Telephone and the Homeowner's Association has all agreed to such abandonment and the lots have been checked to make sure that the abandonment will have no impact on drainage and therefore the Engineer recommended the approval of the abandonment of such easement.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved such abandonment.    
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #2d - Ecker Addition Subdivision Plat

• MINUTE ORDER #318/03:  The County Engineer presented the final plat of Ecker Addition Subdivision and recommended its approval.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by, COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved the final plat of Ecker Addition Subdivision and ordered the same filed for record.         
  
  
  
  

6. Agenda #3 - Personnel

• MINUTE ORDER #319/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved all employee status report forms, the same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.       
  
  
  
  

7. Agenda #8 - Equal Employment Opportunity Plan

• MINUTE ORDER #319/03:  JUDGE BURROWS presented a resolution concerning the adoption of the Bell County 2003-2005 Equal Employment Opportunity Plan.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved the same.  All according to a copy of the same attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.        
  
  
  
  

8. Agenda #9 - Payment by GE Capital to AT2 for Phone System

• MINUTE ORDER #321/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, on the recommendation of Assistant County Auditor Russell Williams, the Court unanimously approved the payment to AT2 under contract for the County-wide voice-over phone system. .       
  
  
  
  

9. Agenda #4 & 7 - Report on County Indigent Health Care Program

• MINUTE ORDER #322/03:  Ms. Rita Kelley of the Bell County H.E.L.P. Center in Killeen, gave a report concerning Bell County's Indigent Health Care Program from September 1, 2002 through July 30, 2003, the same being attached hereto.  She gave a report on the 2003 Legislative impact on CIHCP and State, regional and local responses.        
  
  
  
  

10. Agenda #5 - Optional County Indigent Health Care Program

• MINUTE ORDER #323/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved the inclusion of designated Optional County Indigent Health Care Program Services during the state FY 2004.        
  
  
  
  

11. Agenda #6 - Administration of the County's Indigent Health Care Program

• MINUTE ORDER #324/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, the Court unanimously approved the continued administration of the CIHCP according to policies described in the County Indigent Health Care Program Handbook, which is written, updated and distributed to CIHCP counties by the Texas Department of Health.  Continuation of this level of administration includes adherence to the minimum eligibility criteria outlined in the handbook and provision of basic health care services and adopted optional health care services as outlined in the handbook.        
  
  
  
  

12. Agenda #10 - Interlocal Agreement with CTCOG Database Maintenance Expenses

• MINUTE ORDER #325/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved the Interlocal Agreement with Central Texas Council of Governments for Database Maintenance Expenses for FY 2004.        
  
  
  
  

13. Agenda #11 - MOU with Local School Districts

• MINUTE ORDER #326/03:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, the Court unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Independent School Districts concerning 2003-2004 school year operation of the Bell County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program.        
  
  
  
  

14. Agenda #12 - Analysis of costs for Jail/Courts Project

• MINUTE ORDER #327/03:  JUDGE BURROWS made a presentation and discussed the comparative analysis of costs for jail/courts project if constructed on the 75 acre site of Loop 121 versus in downtown Belton. .       
  
  
  
  

15. Agenda #13 - FY 2003-2004 Budget Hearing

• MINUTE ORDER #328/03:  JUDGE BURROWS presented, in accordance with the laws governing such matters, the FY 2003-2004 budget for Bell County and thereafter opened the public hearing on the same.  He asked if there were any comments from the public; there being none, he closed the public hearing.  The Court further discussed such budget and further, in accordance with the Texas Property Tax Code, the Commissioners' Court discussed the tax rates for Bell County and the Bell County Road District with the intent to not exceed the current tax rates.        
  
  
  
  

16. Agenda #12 - Claims
    

• MINUTE ORDER #329/03:  The County Auditor presented all claims for the review of the Court.  After proper review, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved all such claims.  All according to a copy of the same being of record in the office of the County Auditor.  



         (The Court then went into workshop session to discuss those items on the workshop agenda with 
          no action being taken on any item.)    



          There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.