IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

FEBRUARY  23, 2004

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 23rd day of February, A.D. 2004, 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 #053/04:  It being nine a.m. JUDGE BURROWS called the meeting to order and called to the Courts attention the fact that they had previously received copies of the minutes of February 9, 2004.  The minutes of February 20 were waived at the present time.  He asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes; there being none, the minutes were approved as submitted.          
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #4 - Certificate of Appreciation

• MINUTE ORDER #054/04:  JUDGE BURROWS recognized Linda Green with a Certificate of Appreciation for service as a Board Member on the Bell County Exposition Center Board from 1992 to 2004.          
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #2a - Bids for Railroad Flatcars

• MINUTE ORDER #055/04:  The County Engineer reported to the Court that the had received and opened bids on February 10 the two railroad flatcars on Guyton.  One bid was $2553.00; the other bid was $627.75 each for the two cars on Bottoms.  His recommendation was to award the bid at the above amounts to Mr. Dick Hight and Harold Frank respectively.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved accepting the recommendations of the County Engineer and so awarded such bids as indicated. 
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #2b - Final Amended Plat for Lots 16-19, Blk 2, Mill Creek Springs, Phase III

• MINUTE ORDER #056/04:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved the final amended plat for Lots 16-19, block 2, Mill Creek Springs, Phase III as recommended by the County Engineer, and ordered the same filed for record.         
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #2c - Road and Bridge Department Annual Report for 2003

• MINUTE ORDER #057/04:  The County Engineer presented the annual report for the year 2003 of the Road and Bridge Department, such report being attached hereto.         
  
  
  
  

6. Agenda #3 - Personnel

• MINUTE ORDER #058/04:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved all employee status report forms, the same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  
  
  
  
  

7. Agenda #5 - Certification of the Two Killeen Local Option Petitions and Order

• MINUTE ORDER #059/04:  MS. SHARON LONG, Tax- Assessor-Collector appeared before the Court to present her certification of the necessary number of signatures for "The legal Sale of Beer and Wine" and " The legal Sale of Mixed Beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only."  Ms Long certified to the Court that there were sufficient number of signatures for the call of a Local Option Election on these two issues.  A copy of the same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  Thereafter, upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved an Order calling such Local Option Election on May 15, 2004, and authorized the holding of joint election with the City of Killeen and the Killeen Independent School District.  All according to a copy of such order attached hereto and made a part of these minutes. 
  
  
  
  

8. Agenda #6 - Order Calling Election for Bond Issuance for Jail/Court Complex

• MINUTE ORDER #060/04:  JUDGE BURROWS presented the matter of calling a bond election for May 15, 2004 for the purpose of issuing forty-six million dollars for the jail/courts complex.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved such order calling such election.  All according to a copy of the same attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.    
  
  
  
  

9. Agenda #7 - Joint Election Agreement with City of Killeen and KISD

• MINUTE ORDER #061/04:  JUDGE BURROWS presented the matter of a joint election with the City of Killeen and the Killeen Independent School District for the May 15, 2004 elections.  He pointed out that since this was the election date for all Cities and Schools that in the interest of saving voting machine use, there needed to be joint elections.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved such order for a joint election with the City of Killeen and the Killeen Independent School District.  The same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.    
  
  
  
  

10. Agenda #8 - 4ID Welcome Home Ceremony and Budget Amendment Therefore

• MINUTE ORDER #062/04:  JUDGE BURROWS presented the matter of financial support of the 4ID Welcome Home Ceremony and requested the Court to amend the budget in the amount of $2500.00 for Bell County's participation in such ceremonies.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, the Court unanimously approved such amendment to the budget.   
  
  
  
  

11. Agenda #9 - EMS Service Contract with Scott and White Hospital

• MINUTE ORDER #063/04:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved amending the EMS Contract with Scott and White Hospital and amending the budget therefore in the amount of $100,000.00.  All according to a copy of the same attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.    
  
  
  
  

12. Agenda #10 - UMHB Promotional Video

• MINUTE ORDER #064/04:  Ms. Carol Woodward appeared before the Court to present a new promotional video for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.    
  
  
  
  

13. Agenda #11 - Family Protection Fee

• MINUTE ORDER #065/04:  JUDGE BURROWS presented the matter of implementation of the $15.00 Family Protection Fee pending the results of an Attorney General Opinion request for an opinion as to whether or not such fee was legal.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved placing such fees in escrow until such time as the Attorney General Opinion can be rendered.    
  
  
  
  

14. Agenda #12 - Date for County Auction

• MINUTE ORDER #066/04: Upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved setting April 24, 2004 for the County's annual auction.   
  
  
  
  

15. Agenda #13 - Dictaphone Radio Recorder System for Communications Center

• MINUTE ORDER #067/04: JUDGE BURROWS reported to the Court with respect to the purchase of a radio recorder system from Dictaphone and the fact that such purchase is exempted from the purchasing requirements as outlined in LGC 262.024, item 7a.  The same becomes a sole source purchase because the system needs to interface with the Dictaphone Freedom Recorder currently in place, and Dictaphone is the only vender that can meet the specifications.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, the Court unanimously approved the purchase of Radio Recorder System for the Communication Center as an exempted item of purchase as a sole source item.   
  
  
  
  

16. Agenda #14 - Replacement Postage Machine

• MINUTE ORDER #068/04: The court discussed the purchase of a replacement postage machine and thereafter, upon motion of COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved the amending of the budget in the amount of $24,400.00 for the purchase of a replacement postage machine.   
  
  
  
  

17. Agenda #15 - Request for Qualifications for Construction Manager Services

• MINUTE ORDER #069/04: JUDGE BURROWS presented the matter of authorizing the County Auditor to advertise for request for qualifications for a Construction Manager-at-Risk for Bell County's District Courthouse, Jail, Annex Office Renovation and Existing Jail Kitchen Renovation Projects.  He explained that the law allowed Governmental entities to choose a delivery method for construction that would allow the County to be provided the best value for their project.  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved authorizing the County Auditor to advertise for requests for Qualifications for a Construction Manager Services for the District Courthouse, Jail, Annex Office Renovation and Existing Jail Renovation Projects.  Further, it was the finding of the Court that the best value for providing this service was to obtain the services of a Construction Manager-at-Risk.   
  
  
  
  

18. Agenda #16 - Authorize County Judge to bid for Property

• MINUTE ORDER #070/04: Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously authorized JUDGE BURROWS, to make an offer for the acquisition of Lot 3, Block 7, Original Town of Belton, also known as 201 North Main, Belton, Texas, where the present Bell County Museum is located.    
  
  
  
  

19. Agenda #17 - TCEQ Hearing

• MINUTE ORDER #071/04: No action was taken on a response on the TCEQ hearing on the pending application by WCID #1.    
  
  
  
  

20. Agenda #18 - Claims
    

• MINUTE ORDER #072/04:  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.