IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

September 12, 2005

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 12th day of September, 2005, 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 - Reports on Hurricane Katrina

• MINUTE ORDER #367/05:  It being nine a.m., Judge Jon H. Burrows, called the special session of the Commissioner's Court to order and presented an update on the Bell County response to Hurricane Katrina.  Judge Burrows spoke of the importance for victims of the hurricane to register with FEMA to be eligible for benefits.  He stated that it is the states goal to have everyone out of shelters and into housing by October 1, 2005 with the help of FEMA and HUD Housing.  All of this is according to the same document attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  Judge Burrows asked the local cities to give updates on their part of response.  Maureen Jouett, Mayor for the City of Killeen spoke of their shelter and stated that they had approximately 3,000 victims housed in the shelter.  She also presented a pictorial slide show of the shelter and their efforts in this process.  Chief Wallace with the City of Temple spoke of the relief efforts in the city of Temple, with Temple College, Temple Free Clinic, and Temple Workforce all assisting victims.  Chief Pritchard, with the city of Belton stated that Belton had not opened a shelter.  Gregg Pearson with First Baptist Church, Belton, spoke on their efforts with sending busses full of food, air mattresses, etc. to Louisiana and that about 20 families traveled back with the church and are now staying in the First Baptist shelter.  With no further discussion, the court took a 10 minute recess.   
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2 - Minutes

• MINUTE ORDER #368/05:  It being eleven a.m., Judge Jon H. Burrows called the regular meeting of the Commissioner's Court to order and called to the Courts attention that they had received the minutes of August 29, 2005, September 2, 2005, and September 9, 2005.  After due discussion, the minutes were approved as submitted. 
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #3 - County Engineer

• MINUTE ORDER #369/05:  At this time, there were no issues for discussion.    
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #4 - Personnel

• MINUTE ORDER #370/05:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER LANGE, 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.  
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #5 - Interlocal Assistance Agreement -- Regional Auto Theft Enforcement Task Force

• MINUTE ORDER #371/05:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER CORTESE, seconded by COMMISSIONER BROWN, the Court unanimously approved the Interlocal Assistance Agreement-Regional Auto Theft Enforcement Task Force with Travis County and other counties, with Travis County as Manager, to continue the Sheriffs Combined Auto Theft Task Force and to pool resources and coordinate individual efforts to combat auto theft more efficiently and effectively. 
  
  
  
  

6. Agenda #6 - FY 2005-2006 Budget

• MINUTE ORDER #372/05:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved the FY 2005-2006 Budget for Bell County.   
  
  
  
  

7. Agenda #7 - Bell County's and Bell County Road District's Tax Rates for FY 2005-2006

• MINUTE ORDER #373/05:  Upon motion of COMMISSIONER BROWN, seconded by COMMISSIONER CORTESE, the Court unanimously approved that property taxes be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.3760.  The tax rates include Bell County's $0.3465 and Bell County Road District's $0.0295, for a total of $0.3760.  THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND DEBT SERVICE THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.  THE TAX RATE WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND DEBT SERVICE ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $15.00.  
  
  
  
  

8. Agenda #8 - Claims

• MINUTE ORDER #374/05:  Judge Jon H. Burrows, County Judge, presented the claims for review to the Court.  After proper review, upon the 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.