IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

February 25, 2008

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the 25th day of February, 2008, 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 #082/08:  It being nine a.m., County Judge Jon Burrows, called the regular meeting of the Commissioners' Court to order and called to the Courts attention that the minutes of February 19, 2008, regular session had been received.  After due discussion, these minutes were approved as presented.
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2a - County Engineer

• MINUTE ORDER #083/08:   County Engineer Richard Macchi presented for approval the 2008 Annual Seal Coat Program.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner John Fisher, the Court unanimously approved the program.
      
  
  
  

3. Agenda #2b - Letter of Credit Number 1029

• MINUTE ORDER #084/08:   After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved releasing Letter of Credit No. 1029, First Texas Bank, in the amount of $17,000, for the Warranty of Improvements in the Village of Armstrong Addition.
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #2c - Awarding Bids for Purchase of Eight (8) Ten Foot Shredders

• MINUTE ORDER #085/08:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved awarding the bid for the purchase of eight (8) ten-foot shredders to Equipment Depot of Waco in the amount of $7,850 each for a total of $62,800 for eight shredders.               
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #3 - Personnel

   • MINUTE ORDER #086/08:    Upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved all employee status report forms, the same being attached hereto and made part of these minutes.   
     
     
     
     

6. Agenda #4 - Early Voting Location and Hours

   • MINUTE ORDER #087/08:    The Court received a reminder announcement from County Clerk Shelley Coston of Early Voting locations and hours:
             a.  February 19, 2008 thru February 22, 2008 (Tuesday thru Friday) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
             b.  Locations:   
                     1.  Belton - Bell County Courthouse Annex, 550 East 2nd Ave
                     2.  Harker Heights - Parks & Recreation Center, 307 Millers Crossing
                     3.  Killeen - Bell County Annex, 301 Priest Drive
                     4.  Killeen - Killeen Community Center, 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd.
                     5.  Temple - Bell County Annex, 205 E. Central Avenue
                     6.  Salado - Salado Civic Center, 601 North Main Street
                     No action taken.
     
     
     
     

7. Agenda #5 - Annual Sheriff's Office Awards for 2008

   • MINUTE ORDER #088/08:    Sheriff Dan Smith presented the Annual Sheriff's Office Awards for 2008.  A copy of said presentation is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  No action taken.
     
     
     
     

8. Agenda #6 - Annual Law Enforcement Contract with Corps of Engineers

   • MINUTE ORDER #089/08:    Murray McCarley with the Corps of Engineers, presented for approval the Annual Law Enforcement Contract with the Corps of Engineers for the Bell County Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement services on area lakes.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner John Fisher, the Court unanimously approved this matter.  A copy of said contract is attached hereto and made part of these minutes.      
     
     
     
     

9. Agenda #7 - Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Block Grant for Precinct 4

   • MINUTE ORDER #090/08:    Constable Edd Melton, Precinct 4, presented for approval the submission of a grant application for Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) block grant for Precinct 4 Constable's office.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved this grant application, a copy of which is attached hereto and made part of these minutes.     
     
     
     
     

10. Agenda #8 - Severe Weather Awareness Week

    • MINUTE ORDER #091/08:    After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved Proclamation designating the week of February 25 as Severe Weather Awareness Week and announced the 2008 Bell County Severe Weather Seminar on March 1 at the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium at Central Texas College in Killeen.   
      
      
      
      

11. Agenda #9 - Aging Advisory Council of the Area Agency of Aging

    • MINUTE ORDER #092/08:    After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Eddy Lange, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved the appointments to the Aging Advisory Council of the Area Agency of Aging of Paul Thompson of Temple for the Professional category and Emily Campbell of Belton for the Family Caregiver category.
      
      
      
      

12. Agenda #10 - Bell County Investment Policy for 2008

    • MINUTE ORDER #093/08:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved the Bell County Investment Policy for 2008 presented by Charles Jones, Bell County Treasurer.  A copy of said policy is attached hereto and made part of these minutes.            
      
      
      
      

13. Agenda #11 - FY 2007 Yearly Investment and Interest Report and 1st Quarter FY 2008 Investment Report

    • MINUTE ORDER #094/08:  Bell County Treasurer Charles Jones presented for approval the FY 2007 Yearly Investment and Interest Report and 1st Quarter FY 2008 Investment Report.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Eddy Lange, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved this matter.  A copy of said report is attached hereto and made part of these minutes.            
      
      
      
      

14. Agenda #12 - Minimum General Fund Balance Policy

    • MINUTE ORDER #095/08:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner John Fisher, the Court unanimously approved a resolution establishing a minimum general fund balance policy.  A copy of said Resolution is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
      
      
      
      

15. Agenda #13 - Order Restricting Outdoor Burning

    • MINUTE ORDER #096/08:  The Court received a report from Fire Marshall Steve Casey, a copy of which is attached and made a part of these minutes, to consider the status of Order Restricting Outdoor Burning and consider continuation, modification, extension, or termination of the Order and a finding that circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated area create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning.  Current Burn Ban expires on March 12, 2008.  There was no action taken and the Burn Ban remains in effect.
      
      
      
      

16. Agenda #14 - Claims

    • MINUTE ORDER #097/08:   County Judge Jon Burrows presented the claims for review to the Court.  After proper review, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner John Fisher, 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.