Travis County Commissioners Court
February 12, 2008
Item 3
3. Approve resolution recognizing dan smith, executive assistant in the county judge's office, for his many years of dedication and service to Travis County. The proclamation reads -- where is dan? Dan was masquerading with a suit and tie on, I didn't recognize him. I thought it was a dan smith look alike. It reads whereas dan smith began his tenure with Travis County on January 1st, 1989 as an executive assistants to the newly elected precinct 1 county Commissioner, Sam Biscoe. I was a young man at that time. As was dan by the way. And began his tenure as an executive assistant to county judge Sam Biscoe on February 1, 1999. Dan has been associated with judge Biscoe's political and public service career since March 3rd, 1987, including all six of his political campaigns. Whereas dan has the public service passion instilled in him by his parents that "people come first and community and public service are not just a job but a calling" and dan has worked to improve the livings of many county residents that are less fortunate than some of us. Whereas over the years in addition to all of his other administrative duties and responsibilities dan has assigned -- has been assigned some of the most difficult and challenging projects in the county judge's office, including organizing the effort to increase children's health insurance plan, chip enrollment, the 2006 census test project, collection of delinquent fines and fees, development of affordable housing policies, drug court, coordinating the effort of the 254 county judges in Texas to defeat legislation eliminating sovereign immunity for counties, managing the corporation and creation process for three new cities, two emergency services district and two library districts, drainage easement cleanups and a provision of water service to direly needed -- so direly needed in the north ridge acres subdivision and other parts of the county to name a few. By the way dan it's too late to ask for a pay increase. His institutional and historical knowledge and amazing memory will be greatly missed. Whereas dan, not being the traditional bureaucrat has adopted the motto that no job is too big, too difficult or too time consuming to tackle. Has amended it also to include we deliver meat and potatoes government and taxpayers are not an interruption of our work, they are the reason for it. And whereas after much reflection, dan has decided to consider other career opportunities, both in the public and private sectors. To spend more time with his family and friends and to take a long deserved vacation since he has not had one since January of 2002. Thank you, sheryl, for taking care of dan.
>> [laughter] now therefore be it resolved that we the members of the Travis County Commissioners court do hereby proclaim Thursday, February 14th, 2008 as dan smith day in Travis County and extend special thanks to dan smith for his years of dedicated service to Travis County and extend best wishes to him in all future endeavors and I move approval.
>> second.
>> dan has many friends who have come down. Dan, do you want your friends to comment first?
>> yes.
>> with his -- would his supported and friends come stand before him so the camera can see all that?
>> I知 constable precinct 2, judge, the resolution pretty much named everything that I might have brought up. But the drive down here this morning made me think of the other phrase, in like a lion, out like a lamb. I want to assure Travis County that that does not apply to dan.
>> [laughter] he came in like a lion, he fought like a lion for Travis County for all of these years with the county. And -- and he knows how much I appreciate his help for these years.
>> thank you.
>> I agree with the resolution completely. I think we're going to miss dan's passion, energy and perseverance. I don't think there was a stronger advocate for poor people. Dan, I -- with the constable here, if you don't want to hear an honest opinion don't talk to dan because he always told you what he thought. There's a book out called the power of one, that was barbara carlson's favorite book. Dan embodies that, if you just keep working hard and percent severe you can accomplish something. I知 going to miss you, dan.
>> I知 bill, dan knew how to be a friend.
>> get on the microphone.
>> I知 joel bennett. The thing that I appreciate dan is he knew how to be a friend. I can remember some political fights that we've had over the years and I always wanted him by my side.
>> [laughter] congratulations.
>> thank you.
>> you want to go?
>> I知 melissa vasquez, I work in judge Biscoe's office. I want to say it's been a pleasure working and knowing dan. Whenever dan comes in a room, he always brings a light with him. Very energetic. Exciting to work with him.
>> I知
>> [indiscernible] with its. I wanted to -- to thank dan for just being the image to me of Travis County. When I think of Travis County, I will think of your hair, dan
>> [laughter] and I want to tell you that I think going into politics and service to the citizens and the constituents of Travis County for many years, that I have to tell you that I believe your reason was the most sincere ever. You care about people. You care about Austin, Texas and you care about Travis County. And we'll miss you a lot.
>> thank you.
>> don't go to morocco.
>> vacation.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, my name is nettie brown, I知 president of north ridge acres homeowners association. I知 one of those people that dan has worked so hard to help the whole neighborhood. Dan has been in charge of the north ridge acres water project. I cannot tell you the problems and obstacles that he's faced, but he kept us from giving up year after year. For the -- for the public who doesn't know about north ridge acres, we're a small community located in both travis and Williamson county who's had to rely on a fire plug for water for seven years. Once we got judge Biscoe involved, and we are very thankful to you, judge, he put dan in charge of our project because we had no place else to turn. Dan has fought the battles for us. Constantly. I mean, I cannot begin to even tell you the gratitude that we have towards judge Biscoe, the Commissioners court, especially dan. So I知 here to wish dan the best and let you know that we really appreciate everything that the Commissioners has done and everything that dan has done and we'll miss him greatly.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> and I知 sheryl brown, I知 dan's co-worker. And I知 going to miss him terribly. In addition to the things that you had in the proclamation, I made a statement to someone you never saw as many proclamation paragraphs as you saw today. He has an incredible memory for detail. Memory from oh, I can remember back in 1956 when so and so -- dan really remembered it. Another person who had a similar memory like that was the previous judge, al sure. I don't know what that -- aelshire. I don't know what that says. I知 going to miss dan for selfish reasons. Because when the judge brought dan -- when he came back to town and brought him back on, I was very appreciative because with him in the office I was considered the quiet, congenial one
>> [laughter]
>> mr. Schnieder?
>> my name is kenneth schnieder, north ridge acres subdivision. You know I致e been at north ridge for a long time. Trying to get help out there.
>> [indiscernible] obstacles just like I did all down the line. But we did come close to getting the water in. Hopefully live long enough I don't know. Now that dan is leaving we don't have anybody to fight for us outside of judge Biscoe right now iguess. But it's been an uphill ballots for us out there and everything. Hoping to get water and sewer in there shortly. It's been many, many years. Me and my wife both health is getting way down. I guess
>> [indiscernible]
>> we're going to finish the project.
>> are you?
>> we are going to finish the project.
>> October, I keep hearing October, October, October. So many years.ta us, out of all of the year th iavp a evytng d,t'ki hd - h go and everything because I would like to see him finish the project out there and everything with us. But everything changes and everything. But I think that he'll still help us. Whatever we need he's going to try to help us, I知 sure of that. Even out of office I think that we will help. We need water and sewer out there desperately. Judge Biscoe, he's doing everything in the world for us and everything, but I know there's so much political stuff in this area. Finding money for everything else, grants and everything. I知 afraid we're going to have the same problem, building all around us out there. I do believe we will get something done. I do thank dan for everything that he done for us. So much paperwork involved and stuff like I say. But we can't really stand it any longer. We need to get something done. I hope that I live long enough -- I don't want to sell out out there. We have been out there about 30 years, probably about 30 years already. But --
>> we expect that project to be completed this year. Thanks to dan and the court has been supportive.
>> I know that --
>> dan has been the point person for us out there, really doing the work and interacting with residents. But we expect that project to be completed this year. Plus dan will insist -- we'll insist that dan leave a forwarding phoneum d drs
>> [laughter]
>> we had our up and downs and everything, but we always ended up getting, adng t it on w o other, we always worked the problems out. We have been out there quite a bit. One thing dan he don't take no for an answer. He works at it and everything. I知 sure they give him a lot of problems, too, th couldn't get any more problems than myh, healthll dying out there anyway. The water that we've got. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Schnieder.
>> I would like to thank dan for asking me to help him over the years with individual constituents cases, some of the more rewarding things that I致e didn't over the years. Continuing congressman pickle kel's grand tradition of responding to each and every constituent, I just like to thank dan for letting me help him.
>> anybody else?
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> hi, tamara armstrong, assistant county attorney. I agree with the resolution. I would like to thank dan for his compassion. The fact that he cared so much for the people of Travis County. I知 going to miss him. His stories, his -- his sense of humor and I believe the county is going to miss him. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> good morning, cyd grimes, county purchasing agent. I remember the first time I met dan. He wasn't even a county employee. He had just left, I believe the judge's office. I had just started. He came in and that was my first introduction and I knew everything wrong with purchasing.
>> [lghter] what needed to be fixed. Over the years dan and my office have developed a good working relationship. We have been intimately involved on these water projects and just to repeat what everybody said, dan has great passion for the people and that's what it's all about. We all need to take his lead and remember that's who we serve. So I can -- assure these folks that he will be in our office until your project is finished out there. So -- so he'll be there pushing us along, even when he's not here. Thank you, dan.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> hi, my name is
>> [indiscernible] I don't normally come to these things like this, but for dan I would walk a mile for that guy. I don't have the words to say. Just -- I was on the phone, a problem, I was mad as -- the next voice that I heard was dan. My problem disappeared. Got on the phone begin recently with a problem. I had a mud hole in the driveway, couldn't get to the front door of my house. He picked up the telephone, dan was on the line. Next thing I know the contractor that made the mud hole was at my front door and he solved it. Damn it, man, I知 going to miss you.
>> [laughter]
>> I知 not going far.
>> I知 afraid. Man, you got a lot of shoes to fill here! I don't see how the hell you are going to do it. This is a rare commodity, a rare commodity. Don't go!
>> [laughter] wait until I move, man, wait until I leave the state, don't go, please.
>> [laughter]
>> [ applause ] I知 going to be lost without you, dan. Like I say, I don't do this, god bless you, man.
>> anybody else? Last call? Before dan has his say.
>> uh-oh.
>> dan?
>> good morning, your honor, judge, Commissioners.
>> that's the first time I ever heard you call me your honor since I was the county judge, dan, you are getting soft on your way out
>> [laughter]
>> I want to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to have this item on the Commissioners court agenda. This decision was not an easy one for me. Over the years I致e enjoyed the challenges and experiences associated with this position and with county government and government in general. And I have enjoyed many years of -- of being associated with public service. I would like to thank everybody that I have worked with, I remember I -- I was reading this last night, and this is the county's organizational chart. And when I think former county Commissioner Sam Biscoe and I came here in 1989, it would probably take up a third of this page. But I致e had the pleasure to meet, to work with all of these departments. Every single one of them. On some issue, some matter, some -- some issue associated with county government. And -- and if I start thanking individuals, I知 going to leave somebody out. So I would like to thank everybody that I ever called, all my go-to folk in t.n.r., health and human services out in the centers, purchasing, cyd and her folk have been great in terms of getting us to contract stage now for the instruction of the water project, which hopefully we'll have on the court's agenda next Tuesday if not the following Tuesday and then we'll issue a letter to proceed to finish the water project. I would like to thank the people -- the people that see me every day. Melissa velasquez, sheryl brown who I think has been associated with the judge as long as I have,
>> [indiscernible] candice --
>> right there.
>> very sharp inspirational young. And then this is -- this is probably the hardest part. Judge samuel t. Biscoe, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Travis County, during your tenure as county judge and county Commissioner. The success that I have had in this position would not have been possible without your support. And your trust you provided me. You have also helped me to develop a keen sense of community and public service. That I plan to continue as a citizen in Travis County. It has been truly an honor to serve under your direction. I notice the respect -- yesterday I noticed the people your former boss came by the office yesterday. Jim hightower. And I noticed the respect and deference you showed him. I will always show you that same respect. And deference. I wish you nothing but the best as you continue to serve the citizens of Travis County. And if I can ever assist you in the future, please do not hesitate to call me. Thank you, thank you very much.
>> [ applause ] very quickly, on Thursday of this week in the same room between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00, we will have a sort of a little going away reception for dan. So everyone present and those who are -- who are within our listening audience, would you please -- you know, you're welcome to come. This coming Thursday, that's valentine's day, and between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 in the Commissioners court room. So long, goodbye reception for dan.
>> for the record, I never claimed to be the great man that dan described. But for the record I have never denied it either.
>> [laughter] but dan and I did not grow up together in east Texas. I was in east Texas, he was on the east coast in the new york-new jersey area when he was young. I met dan in 1987 when I was running for office the first time after swearing that I would never run for office for 40 years. But dan was one of my campaign managers, we've had a close working relationship since. And when he's not around I tell everybody that he's sort of been like a father to me. And he and jim hightower were the reasons I知 not rich today
>> [laughter] or a preacher. And I thought of that yesterday. But he'll be greatly missed at Travis County by the county judge and many, many, many employees of county government. Last opportunity. Anybody else?
>> judge, let me -- let me say something about dan. There truly are few people that most of us meet in life that we really consider to be really extraordinary. I started to come down there a while ago when the judge said, you know, all of the friends come down here and stand behind dan because I probably deserve being over there more than up here. There's been a guy that I致e always gone to that my office has gone to and that I think that we have a very special relationship in precinct 3. You know, with dan. You are a good man. You are a man that -- that like everybody says will be hard, hard, if not impossible to replace, dan, but we all know you well enough to know that you won't get out of reach. And I just want you to know that I really sincerely appreciate the friendship that you have always shown me, even before Commissioner you and I have circled the block many a time other than this political world that we find ourselves in. I just want you to know that I think that you are a great guy wherever you end up. It won't take those people very long to figure out how special of a guy you are, you -- you are truly, you know, a good guy and somebody that was put on this earth I think to lead by example, by passion, you and I both probably have a little bit of a unique same characteristics of having people be just as upset with us as they can appreciative of the things, you know, that we do, but I will tell you that your numbers of -- and your -- your just the overall expression that you all have shown people in this community stands, you know, alone with you, dan smith, and -- and good luck to you, bub. I mean, I知 -- I will probably live a little vike carriously through -- vicariously through you, it will be up and down the halls, do you know where dan is and what the hell he's doing? You will be doing well, good luck in whatever you do, I appreciate your friendship.
>> thanks so much, dan. I wish you all the luck. With your energy I think that you will do well. I especially appreciate the fact that -- that there's room here for all kinds of opinions and -- and I知 glad that we were able to work together in this county. I致e always appreciated that of Travis County and so I think we all grow from that. So thanks so much. And good luck.
>> thank you.
>> briefly, my first experience of dan was in the county attorney's office where -- where he would come through like a blow torch yelling this is an outrage! And I really appreciate you for that.
>> thank you.
>> [laughter]
>> so when sympathizers tell county employees to be like dan, they mean be frank and work hard.
>> [laughter] all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Dan, we requested a role election watch for you
>> [laughter] that -- rolex watch for you, that was turned down by purchasing. We do have this beautiful certificate.
>> [laughter]
>> remember you're on payroll through Friday.
>> got a camera?
>> yeah.
>> Commissioner eckhardt goes I was afraid that you were going to ask that.
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, February 13, 2008 8:09 PM