Travis County Commssioners Court
June 29, 2004
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Item 2
...Nine years.
>> stephen williams has been a committed and loyal public servant and advocate for youth and families throughout our commune as well as being a positive role model for his staff and the young people of Travis County through his mentoring and community service as a big brother with big brothers an big sisters of south Texas.
>> whereas stephen has worked with Travis County and city of Austin staff as well as representatives from federal, state an other local government entities. I never knew you were that commd organizations and members of the community at large community participation on projects making positive impacts on the basic needs, health care. Youth and workforce development for the residents of Travis County, whereas stephen has impressed both coworks and the Travis County Commissioner's court. He will be greatly missed by all fortunate enough to work with him and garnered accolades from his staff and state, county and municipal employees, local 1624 for his work supporting and implementing the department's partnership council, a representative that empowers staff utilizing bargaining and mediation principles and discuss and make recommendations on the department policies and decisions, everybody improving productivity, working conditions an enhancing management and staff relation ships, whereas it's appropriate that we take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude to stephen for his service to Travis County and his residents -- its residents. Now, be it resolved that we the Travis County Commissioner's court do hereby extend special thanks to stephen l. Williams for his years of dedicated service to Travis County and extend best wishes to him in all future endeavors and authorize the release of that last paycheck. [laughter] I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning. Travis County children's mental health partnership and it's the children's partnership's pleasure to present this plaque to stephen williams in recognition for his vision antennas at this for children and families in Travis County and for being a pioneer in the development of care in Travis County.
>> I know you were expecting a rolex watch and wal-mart gift certificate probably. By the way, I went to four of stephen's going away parties and I don't know whether people were so happy he was leaving or they were all quite festive. After the fourth one I told stephen I'm not going to another going away party for you and you can't come back to Travis County.
>> we're not going to have three more resolution, are we?
>> today I won't put them on the agenda.
>> stephen, do you have any parting words? By the way, for those who don't know stephen is going to the big city. Harris county, he'll be in charge of a health department down there.
>> houston health an human services department.
>> notice how he corrects the county judge. He will have 3,000 employees.
>> no, i'll have 1380 employees.
>> a billion dollars budget?
>> no, i'll have a $100 million budget.
>> much larger than we were able to trust him with here in Travis County but we certainly wish him well [laughter]
>> stephen, what thoughts would you like to leave us with? Last opportunity. Whatever you say will get to houston sooner or later so pick your words carefully.
>> certainly I appreciate the humor that you always interject into most of the things that do you, except for when I'm asking for money. I'm really grateful for the opportunity that y'all have offered me here in Travis County. I think that i've grown a lot. Certainly all of the times weren't smooth, but I appreciate the fact that y'all stood by me and supported health and human services efforts within this community. I think that -- and Travis County is blessed to have policy makers that actually support efforts to help those that are less fortunate, those folks that are in need. Also appreciate the balance and the challenge that y'all have given us in ensuring that we try to help people become more self sufficient on their own, with as minimum support. I'm grateful for the staff that i've had over the last nine years because certainly as a director you don't do all the work yourself. You have an opportunity to guide and council folks and I think my staff has been excellent and they have grown, we've grown together. Actually there are those in staff that say that they've actually raised me and I think that that is true to a great extent. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the city of houston, certainly the issues they face are the same as here except that they're a lot more intense and the scope is a lot greater, I'm hopeful some of the things i've learned here I can apply in that city to help folks that are in need there.
>> steven, I'm going miss you, really, and not saying that the person coming after you won't do as well as a job, but just the relationship that has been established over that period of time. A good relationship an we've worked a lot of things out and I think we really have brought a better service to the social services and health needs of this community because of a stephen williams and the way you ran this department with hhs, so again Travis County in my opinion is going to lose, but houston is going to gain, but we'll -- we'll sorely miss you. I know I will. Thank you for your service. I really appreciate you, man.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> anything else?
>> very brief statement. I think i've gone to two of your going away parties so I look forward to you moving on to houston, but I think what I would like to highlight is that you are in some sense going from the frying pan into the fire because you do have some serious challenges down in houston, the houston chronicle this morning, there's a huge article about dealing with the clinics down there and some of the challenges down there, I hope that what time you had here will serve you well in terms of the kinds of collaborations that we were able to make possible here and I think some of the most important ones were with the criminal justice programs and with juvenile justice. I so appreciate your work that you put in related to the establishment of the downtown community courts. That will be part of your legacy here. You left the department in very good hands, and I appreciate that in terms of trying to find an interim for you. We had multiple wonderful choices because you have good folks in place over there, and good folks underneath them, so the department will roll on without you. We have been ash insured that if we want to get in touch with you down in houston, all we have to do is put on the envelope "the big cheese." I think even though we are losing you, two of the best things about you remain here in Travis County in your wife carolyn and your lovely daughter jennifer, and we look forward to her graduating from high school.
>> they're staying here?
>> jennifer... [laughter]
>> for one year. Judge. She's a senior in high school and I'm not taking her out.
>> jennifer rules. Jennifer rules.
>> so anyway, I'm not -- i'll see ya'. I know I will see you many, many many times.
>> if you get over there and claim to be the product of the self-made-man plan, we'll come all the way down there just to tell the truth.
>> i'll never make that claim, judge.
>> oh, boy. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. 9 years, stephen williams. [ applause ]
>> I told you I would work in queso grande.
>> good luck to you.
>> if you don't mind, put that in a beautiful frame for us, stephen.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:28 AM