Travis County Commssioners Court
December 7, 2004
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is first. And two citizens have signed in. One citizens
announcement for Travis County employees, they have the brown santa's t-shirts
available for sale in this building at the great discount price of $5.
>> all right. I think that you get a goodie bag with that
$5 t-shirt.
>> with the $5 purchase they are going to go selling until
noon, judge.
>> okay. If you were not able to walk, crawl or run in Sunday's
event or even if you were and have a need for another t-shirt, come to the
first floor leab, bring -- first floor lobby, bring $5 and get a t-shirt or
bring more than 5 with one t-shirt. I understand they have shirts of all sizes?
>> which is fair and democratic.
>> there you go [laughter]
>> on Sunday, Commissioner Daugherty represented us on the
run piece and I handled the crawl and walk piece in the race. [laughter]
>> congratulations to both of you.
>> trimble was also a runner in the race, saw him multiple
times.
>> signed up for citizens communication is cecilia burke,
joined by sheryl brown and danny hobby. And mr. Carlson is here, but I don't
think you are here with these -- with these county folks, are you?
>> no, sir.
>> all right. You will be next then.
>> good morning, judge, commissions, I知 cecilia burke, director
of the domestic relations office. All of these people here have been serving
with us on the combined charities campaign committee this year. And I知 happy
to report that as of this morning, we probably have collected about $108,000.
And I want to remind everyone that our goal this year was $150,000. And --
and there are some departments that have not reported yet and sheryl and danny
are going to talk a little bit about that, but I think that this year has
been a fun campaign. Our -- our festival that we had over at the -- at in
front of the criminal justice building was a great success. Particularly the
sheriff's office. Had about -- josie mathias had a wonderful haunted house,
so it was a great halloween carnival. We are still looking forward to meeting
our goal this year. And want to urge all county employees to consider signing
up for a payroll deduction. A payroll deduction is a real critical part of
the campaign because -- because it allows employees to give a little bit every
pay period. So the bite is not as bad, but it's also helpful to the charities
that they give to because the charities can plan on income coming in every
month. And can also use that pledged income for grant applications and other
ways in which they leverage their funding. And we want to, especially, thank
the commissions and judge Biscoe, who has headed up our community for their
support this year. Danny? Or sheryl?
>> okay. I wanted to thank the debt departments that have
given thus far, I wanted to recognize real briefly, they are here from each
one of -- they will hear from each one of the court members I知 sure those
who have done well. I have a list of those who exceeded their giving from
last year, 2003. Some who have exceeded their best year in the history of
Travis County since we have been doing combined charities, previously, united
way. Also a few departments that are at 100% giving. That's really quite impressive.
Those who have exceeded last year's giving include counseling and education
services, facilities management, health and human services, human resources
department, justice of the peace precinct 3, justice of the peace precinct
5. Juvenile probation department that also includes domestic relations, district
attorney's office, probate court, transportation and natural resources, criminal
justice planning and emergency services. Those who have exceeded their best
year in the history of Travis County participating, facilities management
again, health and human services again, justice of the peace precinct 3, justice
of the peace precinct 5, district attorney's office and the probate court.
So you hear those names again. That's just quite impressive. I also -- some
of the smaller departments might not can give as much as some of the larger
departments, of course. But I wanted to recognize those departments that are
at 100% giving, meaning each one of their employees participated. County Commissioner
precinct 3, Gerald daughter, you have a lot -- Gerald Daugherty, a lot to
be proud of, probate court, justice of the peace precinct 5, county court
at law number 5 and civil judge sue shepherd's office.
>> Commissioner Daugherty's gave a dollar apiece, right?
>> [laughter]
>> they exceeded -- it was very sacrificial giving. We have
judge Biscoe's way of doing thing, sheryl brown's way of doing things [laughter]
I知 reminded of a biblical quotation whereas -- for whom much is given, much
is required. So if that means anything to anyone, it comes back to you. It
definitely comes back to you, I知 really, really proud of the giving thus
far. But we have about 50,000 more to go.
>> sheryl, I just wanted to say one thing. One department
that we didn't mention because money has just come in this morning that has
exceeded their goal is the sheriff's department. The sheriff's department
has really pulled through a campaign because there's so many employees in
the sheriff's department.
>> that is true.
>> also, for employees who have not given, if you need a
booklet or you need a form or you need information, please call she recall
brown at 854-9555.
>> if I might take a few moments and it will just be a few
moments. In fact to the court to those that are listening, you've heard me
speak before. I a tendency to speak too long, so I have written a statement
that I will try to stay to since I知 limited to three minutes. This will be
very difficult. But I wish to appeal, if you don't mind Commissioners court,
I would like to appeal to the camera up there because I want to appeal to
those who are listening by television and that have not participated yet,
that are Travis County employees, and that have not chosen to participate
yet in this campaign. I do feel like that you have a role. I do feel like
that you have a very important role in being a part of this campaign. Because
there are many needs in our community. One writer estimated over the last
4,000 years of human history that we've only had 300 years of peace. Now,
I知 a student of history, one of the things that I like to know is where i've
been, where I am, where I知 going. One thing that is certain, needs will always
be there and it's up to us as individuals to participate in helping those
that have needs. Our division is call -- has caused things such as ballots
that have occurred that have divided nations and families, that have divided
people of all background and beliefs. It is my personal and my experiences
that we also wage an internal battle within us; that is the battle that we
have that we want for ourselves, versus what we know others need. During times
such as this, hour holiday season -- our holiday season, we have an opportunity
to help other others, we hear of joy and peace on earth, but we also hear
of those deep down that are in sadness and conflicts in their lives. Also
in many parts of the world today we see that. We can play a role right here
in Travis County in our community. Today I ask you to be victorious, however,
in making your primary we for others in your thinking and actions this holiday
season. You can begin by giving to the combined charities campaign because
by your act of giving, you are addressing others who have real needs, real
feelings, real hopes and simply cannot help themselves due to their difficult
circumstances. As has been mentioned, call she recall brown, call -- call
sheryl brown or your coordinator, 854-9555, make that call today. I conclude
by appealing for your grace and for your mercy to help in others. Grace and
mercy, we have received. As babies we receive grace, grace is love expressed
without hesitation, mercy is grace in action. Mercy is love reaching out to
help those who are helpless. Mercy identifies with the miserable in their
misery. And I end with a quote, this is for you and this is for me and everyone
here: though another may have more money, beauty, brains than you, yet when
it comes to the rare spiritual values such as charity, self sacrifice, honor,
nobility of heart, you have an equal chance with everyone to be the most beloved
and honored of all people. So I appeal to you today to make that step, to
make that primary thinking process of where I知 going to consider others in
my community, make that donation, make it a one-time donation, make it a payroll
deduction, but make that call to sheryl brown today or contact your coordinator
in your department and that number is 854-9555. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> can we briefly introduce the faithful, faithful, faithful
committee members who we have standing here and one lady who did not come
to the table. Introduce yourself.
>> sherri flemming, executive manager for health and human
services.
>> of course you all know me sheryl brown with judge Sam
Biscoe's office.
>> dawn coburn emergency services.
>> josie mathias, Travis County sheriff's office.
>> christie vargas, criminal justice planning.
>> mike trimble, coordinator criminal justice planning.
>> we thank you.
>> appreciate you all's work, this is the combined charities
fundraising committee. The deadline is this Friday, December 10th at 5:00,
6:00 or 7:00 in the evening. We did raise about $60,000 since last Tuesday.
>> great.
>> so I知 confident that we can reach our goal this week
if we really try to. Thank you all very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, judge.
>> great job. [ applause ] we have john charles son who signed
in -- carlson who signed in, also.
>> thank you judge, Commissioners. My name is john carlson,
an attorney from elgin, but I tale have a farm that straddles the bastrop-Travis
County line, so I consider myself an honorary Travis County resident. I have
represented now for four years the black land prairie concerned citizens association
and n various matters, but in particular with respect to this cap Texas issue.
I would like to say from the outset my group's decision as to sludge disposal
at that site has not changed. We vigorously oppose any sort of disposal out
there. However I would like to talk with you about an agenda item coming up
later in your executive session. I believe. There's been a proposal put out
by cap Texas in connection with the pending proceeding which in fact is slated
to go to hearing at sowa tomorrow. Captex has put on the table a notice of
an intention to withdraw its pending registration application for sludge.
There's still some other things out there that aren't even in play, but the
proposal is -- is without prejudice to refiling. I just want to tell the Commissioners
my group last Thursday actually agreed to this and we would recommend to the
Commissioners that -- that you all strongly consider doing the same.
>> okay.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you all.
>> that is an executive session item.
>> this is an executive session item, so -- so a lot of things
to -- to be asked at that time. For legal as far as the existing language.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
>> anybody else for citizens communication? That is to address
the court on any matter not on the agenda?
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 2:18 PM