IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

MAY 24, 2004

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 24th day of May, 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 #156/04:  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 May 17, 2004.  He asked if there were any corrections or additions, there being no corrections, the minutes were approved as submitted.             
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2a - Recognition Letter

• MINUTE ORDER #157/04:  JUDGE BURROWS read a letter from Bill Bartlett complimenting the Road and Bridge Department and County Engineer's Office for their work for Bell County. 
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #2b - Receipt of 2003 Safety Award

• MINUTE ORDER #158/04:  JUDGE BURROWS reported to the Court that Bell County had received the 2003 Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties.  Bell County being one of only 37 entities honored this year.    
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #2f - Public Hearing on Cut-Off County Road

• MINUTE ORDER #159/04:  The County Engineer reported to the Court that the Cut-Off County Road had been discussed in the 1970's and 1980's concerning closing such road.  However, the Road had not been closed, but that the County had discontinued maintenance of the same.  JUDGE BURROWS opened a public hearing on the abandonment/vacation of such road.  Mrs. Diane Moore whose mother lives on the road appeared before the Court requesting that the road not be closed.  Mrs. Ross the owner of the road (according to a recent survey) stated that she only wished to fence the road along her property line.  After due discussion, the Court took no action pending further study and discussion with attorneys for Mrs. Ross and Mrs. Moore's attorney.    
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #2c-d-&-e - Public Hearing on Installation of Traffic Control Sign

• MINUTE ORDER #160/04:  The County Judge opened a public hearing to allow comment on the installation of various traffic control devices.  He asked if there were any public comments; there being none, upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCHILLER, the Court unanimously approved the installation of a 50 mph speed limit on Owl Creek Road from Owl Creek Park Road to 0.6 miles west; the installation of a 20 mph speed limit on Woodlake Circle, Windbell Drive, Piping Road, Palisades Point, and Key Largo, all in Woodlake and Cliffs of Woodlake Subdivisions.    
  
  
  
  

6. Agenda #3 - State Homeland Security Program Funding Grants

• MINUTE ORDER #161/04:  Mr. Jim Reid, Executive Director, Central Texas Council of Governments, appeared before the Court to report that the COG had received an award from the Governor's Office of State Homeland Security Program Funding grants of federal funds to Bell County in the amount of $420,306.00 for equipment upgrades at the Bell County Communications Center and $800,000.00 for regional cooperative needs of Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, and San Saba Counties coordinated through the Central Texas Council of Governments, with the funding to be used for equipment, security planning and training to improve homeland security preparedness.     
  
  
  
  

7. Agenda #5 - Personnel

• MINUTE ORDER #162/04:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER FISHER, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved all employee status report forms, the same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes. 
  
  
  
  

8. Agenda #4- Rita Kelley's Appointment

• MINUTE ORDER #163/04:  JUDGE BURROWS announced and congratulated Rita Kelley, Director of the Bell County Human Services in Killeen, for her appointment to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Task Force on Local Health Care initiatives.    
  
  
  
  

9. Agenda #6 - Claims
   

• MINUTE ORDER #164/04:  The County Auditor presented all claims for the review of the Court.  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved all such claims.  All according to a copy of the same on 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 the same. The Court then recessed its meeting until ten a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, and with all members aforementioned present in open Court, the following transpired.)
  
  
  

10. Agenda #7 - Canvass Results of May 15, 2004 Election

• MINUTE ORDER #165/04:  The County Clerk presented the tabulation of votes for the County Wide Bond Election for the Jail/Court Complex and the results of the Local Option Election held in the City of Killeen on May 15, 2004, and the Order Declaring such Results.  After due discussion, upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER FISHER, the Court unanimously approved such tabulation of votes for the County Wide Bond Election and the tabulation of the results of the Local Opinion Election held in Killeen, Texas, on May 15, 2004 and approved the Order Declaring the results of such Local Option Election.  All according to a copy of the same attached hereto and made a part of these minutes for all purposes.   
  
  
  
  



          There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.