Travis County Commissioners Court
November 6, 2007
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next. This item gives residents an opportunity to address the Commissioners court for up to three minutes on any matter not on the agenda. Any matter not on the agenda. Number one is jimmy castro. Number two is skip cameron. Ms. Russell is here on number 3, right?
>> yes.
>> okay. Judge, I知 on number 3 rather than citizens communication.
>> you are mr. Cameron.
>> okay. We'll get to you real soon.
>> gus pena is not here on three, here for citizens communication. If mr. Pena would please come forth. Terry banks on the bcp item. Sam
>> [indiscernible] on the bcp item, too. If mr. Pena would come forth. Anybody else who is here for citizens communication, that's to address the court on any matter not on the agenda, come forward at this time whether you signed in or not. Whether you signed in or not. Yes, sir?
>> thank you judge. Good morning judge Biscoe, Commissioners, staff. My name is jimmy castro, here on speak on my own behalf. I知 here to encourage everyone to take the time to vote on the election. I知 here to speak in support of proposition 1. Texans have an historic opportunity by voting yes on proposition 15 to save lives and make our state a world leader in the fight against cancer. If passed, proposition 15 will authorize up to $3 billion in state general revenue bonds to fund cancer research, prevention, early detection and controlled programs. Cancer claims the lives in more than 37,000 texans each year. And more than 95,000 will be diagnosed with some form of the type of disease this year alone. Maybe you, your child, your spouse, your parent or dearest friend or even yourself. There is no one that has not seen the damage, heard the heart break or felt the pain. At the heart of the matter lies a very simple fact, it is far more cost effective to prevent cancer than it is to treat it. As a state we face an historic decision that can directly affect the lives of our families, friends and neighbors. Whether to make an investment in the health of those we love or keep waiting for others to find solutions and the cures. Thank you, judge, Commissioners.
>> thank you. Mr. Pena is next. Followed by paul reynolds. And is hill available?
>> judge, I知 -- I would like to speak to item no. 3.
>> okay.
>> thank you.
>> good morning judge, Commissioners, gus pena, proud united states marine corps veteran. Remember the sacrifices that have been made by the military veteran. I served six years in the marine corps in the vietnam war. Many sacrifices were made by the veterans. We tend to forget about -- about the veterans on veterans day and memorial day. Shouldn't do that. Just like remembering our moms on mother's day, our dads on father's day and your birthdays. All of the military veterans served at the pleasure of our country. Gladly. Some volunteered. Some were drafted. I would gladly do it again. It was tough training. But I loved it. Please remember the plight that the military veterans have encountered in life housing. The need for housing, affordable housing, health care, comprehensive job training and jobs. A lot of our military veterans that served in vietnam have mhmr problems. They are out in the streets homeless. A lot of homeless veterans out there in the streets that need help. And not too much is being done. Outreach is being done. November the 10th, 1775, our glorious united states marine corps was born. 232 years of serving faithfully our country in peacetime and war. To keep freedom for not only the united states of america but throughout the world. Please remember the veterans. I don't think any veteran has asked for a handout, merely a handout. Help in the time of need, also. Remember them every day, not just one day in memorial day in veterans day. This is my book, over 36 years I carried this. And I love my marine corps. I miss it. But I tell you what, I would gladly serve again. I will tell you this much and this will be closing, somebody's hero, everyone.
>> [indiscernible] my fellow classmate, johnston high school, infantry man, last to die in vietnam, rodriguez my classmate, also, at johnston high school perished and died in vietnam among thousands, over 58,000 that died. Please remember the plight of the veterans. We gave everything for our country. We don't ask for anything, any handout. Just help when we need it. Thank you very much, happy united states marine birthday.
>> thank you, mr. Pena.
>> paul reynolds.
>> good morning, judge, county Commissioners. Do they all have time to speak?
>> [laughter] I wanted to take this opportunity, by the way, paul reynolds, assistant chief with Travis County emergency service district 4. It's that time of the year again and we wanted to -- to let you see the cadets that were selected for class number 8. I do -- do they have time to introduce themselves?
>> we can do that.
>> okay.
>> this class getting a lot larger than the others.
>> this one a little bit larger, sir.
>> I know they look a lot brighter
>> [laughter]
>> my name is megan grier.
>> shea driskill.
>> chris pena.
>> phillip nicholas.
>> larry marshal.
>>
>> [indiscernible] buck.
>> jessica martinez.
>> joel mace.
>>
>> [indiscernible] pollard.
>> mccray.
>> michael burnet.
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> andrew
>> [indiscernible]
>> john olimar.
>> gaston tullison.
>> eric flores.
>> carly sheffield.
>> matthew selby.
>> matthew jonesy.
>> dennis villereal.
>> richard prada.
>> so this class is where we train hopefully professional firefighters?
>> yes, sir, that's correct. But it started out at volunteers, they volunteered in many different organizations. But once they're done graduating in April, they will be certifiable by the state of Texas and as you know, well no, many of our graduates have already found employment.
>> I think that you had told us that -- at one time, we --
>> that the number I -- I have -- I can't recall exactly the growing November of persons that have received employment throughout the county -- well, throughout the state and actually out of the state. So that number continues to increase and --
>> it does.
>> what's the latest, if you can --
>> I知 going to give you some rough numbers as you can well -- my hair is gray for a reason, I知 only 28 years old
>> [laughter]
>> I hear ya.
>> at that last class we were at about 100, 120 that we have trained. Out of the 120 we are -- the latest number we are probably at 100 have been employed, found full-time employment.
>> that's great.
>> we are at like 92, 93%.
>> very good to hear.
>> and -- they have found employment as firefighters?
>> yes, sir.
>> yes.
>> in the state of Texas and each of them in each of your districts that you represent you will find firefighters from this academy. And across the state. I can't not go without saying this would not be possible without you. We certainly appreciate the opportunity that you are giving to these young men and women and to us to be a part. This is what we do. And so once again, thank you and you'll get to see us one more time just before graduation, this is what they looked like as individuals and -- in civilian clothes. The next time that you see them they will be a well-oiled machine.
>> the last time you had some folks here it was at the end of this -- the tour of service -- of getting to be employed by --
>> yes, sir.
>> by the different departments. I知 going to give these folks an applause now, I知 going to applaud them when they come back to us again, I want to thank you all.
>> [ applause ]
>> since you have such a large audience here. Traditional you don't have when you bring the cadets in. Real quickly, how do you find them, what is expected of these young folks for how long it takes them to get through this, just, you know --
>> exactly.
>> because I知 sure people out here are going I really wish I knew how that happened. How did you find them?
>> they come from all across the county. We have a waiting list. We've never had a waiting list in the past. We have to sort through probably 40 to 60 applicants to pick 20, which are funded. So they come from each district. Word of mouth is how they -- is how I guess we can say that we advertise. This is a six-month commitment for each of them. And I知 very demanding.
>> they don't get paid.
>> they don't get paid. They do receive a $300 a month stipend which is that money that you provide to this class. They get it back. That's the money that rolls back into these cadets so they get paid for fuel. Six months without employment is pretty tough. So that the $600 kind of offsets some fuel costs. But it is a six month commitment that comes from all across the county. Usually word of mouth. And expectations are high. They work Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 6:00 and almost every Saturday. This Saturday we do our first live, we start at 8:00 in the morning, I told them don't expect to be back in town before midnight.
>> how many of them really do have jobs beyond 6:00, you were thinking a lot of them will try to make some money.
>> I don't think any of them do. Sometimes they ask me can I have a part-time job. I say that's your choice. However the commitment that you make, this is very strenuous, very taxing on your time. So if you can do both I知 happy. If not you'll hear from me.
>> that's a big congratulations, that's a lot of -- there's a lot of asking for these folks.
>> also through your support systems backing you up through these six months, air applause to them, too.
>> thank you.
>> we expect to see each and every one of them back here in the spring.
>> so do i. If I do my job just right, you will see every last one of them.
>> you have 21 in this group, you only have 20.
>> the esd is actually picking up the tab on the extra person.
>> great.
>> thank you so much.
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, November 7, 2007, 18:30 AM