Judge Brett Bray called the Blanco Commissioners Court to order at 9 a.m. Tuesday with Commissioners Tommy Weir, Chris Liesmann, and Paul Granberg present.
After the pledge of allegiance was recited, a moment of silence followed in remembrance of Dr. Craig Manifold, who recently passed away unexpectedly. Dr. Manifold was appointed as Blanco County’s local health in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he also served on the Emergency Management board.
Next, Kenneth Welch took the floor for public comments and expressed concerns with the lack of transparency in the budgeting process. According to the citizen, there was only a six-day notice for the public hearing regarding the proposed budget instead of the mandatory ten-day notice and the proposed salaries for full time elected officials varied throughout the budget discussion. “I don’t understand your hesitance to comply with the Texas statutes, leaving your constituents in the dark...Your continual non-compliance with statutes together with your deceptive public communications have led me to this dichotomy,” said Welch.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by the commissioners. There were six line item transfers presented. Liesmann moved to approve the line item transfers and Granberg seconded and the motion carried. The outstanding bills in the amount of $107,208.55 were approved.
Granberg moved to authorize Bray to sign the Government Capital loan documents and for the funding to commence. Liesmann seconded and the motion carried. The court acknowledged the administrative order setting compensation and expenses for the Blanco County Auditor, Assistant Auditor, and court reporters for fiscal year (FY) 2020-21. The total budget for the Blanco County Auditor totals $88,223 which includes the salary for the auditor and assistant auditor. The annual salary for the official reporters for the 33rd and 424th District Courts totals $70,013 (each).
Bray was authorized to enter into a contract with Neffendorf & Knopp, P.C. to perform the outside audit for FY 2019-20. Weir moved to authorize the judge to enter into a three-year contract with Spectrum Enterprise to provide interest service for the courthouse complex and law enforcement center. This is a new internet service. Granberg seconded the motion and it carried.
Next, the court discussed the different options for autopsies which include: Travis County, Central Texas and Bexar County. Central Texas has the lowest prices, but is not accepting new business at the moment. Travis County is the most expensive. Liesmann moved to authorize Blanco County to contract with the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies. Granberg seconded and the motion carried. The county judge was authorized to sign the workers compensation renewal questionnaire with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).
Wayne Gosnell, president of Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky and Hill Country Alliance (HCA) Night Skies member, asked for the court’s approval of the proclamation declaring Oct. 2020 as “Hill Country Night Sky Month.” He explained that protecting the night sky is essential and will even contribute to tourism. There are eight other counties that have developed their own “Friends of the Night Sky” groups and this is a Hill Country wide movement. Bray explained that Blanco County encourages developers to protect the night sky while working on their plats which Gosnell said is part of the “Night Sky Friendly Neighborhood Recognition Program.” Weir moved to approve the “Hill Country Night Sky Month” proclamation and Granberg seconded; the motion carried.
The proclamation states, “...The Blanco County encourages citizens to enjoy the night sky and to participate in the Hill Country region’s events and programs celebrating the night sky and promoting the ways in which communities are working to preserve it. The Blanco County encourages citizens to learn about light pollution and why it matters, night sky friendly lighting, and lighting recommendations, and to implement practices and lighting improvements that will reduce light pollution, thereby preserving our night skies…”
The commissioners authorized Judge to enroll all elected officials and employees to TAC’s annual state mandated cybersecurity training course for 2021. This will not cost the county and is required by Texas Government Code 2054.5191. Liesmann moved to authorize the judge to sign the resolution to seek grant funding from the Center of Tech and Civic Life to offset the expenses for equipment and expendables required for elections in Blanco County. Granberg seconded and the motion carried.
Bray was also authorized to sign the renewal of the interlocal cooperation agreement between Blanco County and Burnet County for jail inmate services for the upcoming fiscal year. The “Non-Entering Twenty-Four Hour Terminal Agency Agreement” between the Blanco County’s Sheriff’s office and the Blanco Police Department was ratified. Weir made a motion to approve the final plat of the Red Oak Mountain subdivision and Liesmann seconded; the motion carried. The commissioners authorized payment for the Closner Equipment Co. invoice which was for repairs to an asphalt distributor. The total invoice is $1,082.34. The asphalt distributor is owned jointly by all the presidents. The preliminary subdivision plat of “Round Mountain Reserve” was approved.
The court approved and adopted the Elections Systems & Software’s electronic voting equipment to encompass new voting procedures. “...This voting system will be used in Early Voting by personal appearance and on Election Day. Optical scan ballots will still be used for mail voting, provisional voting, and limited ballot voting,” states the order. This is pursuant to the Texas Election Code Sections 123.001 and 123.002.
The burn ban will remain off at this time and the meeting was adjourned at 9:24 a.m.
