Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, January 25, 2011,
Executive Session
That brings us to executive session -- did that bring us to executive session, ms. Porter?
can we sound the alarm and horn for the lawyers?
24, an executive session item, receive legal briefing and take appropriate action on proposed permit from Texas commission on environmental quality to synagro of Texas, cdr inc., for the land application of sewage sludge in precinct 4, consultation with the attorney exception.
25, receive legal briefing and authorize county attorney to accept, reject or counter settlement agreement and take appropriate action in alejandra cornelius versus city of Austin and Travis County.
consultation with attorney.
the problem we have in 26 is that we told our lawyers that we would call this item up at 2:00 p.m.
this afternoon, so we'll try to do that unless we notify them over lunch to come down at -- shortly after 1:30 if they can.
so 26 we'll hold off on.
27, receive briefing and take appropriate action on request for financial incentives for solar farm initiative in the village of webberville and that's the economic negotiations.
28 receive a briefing regarding market salary adjustments for executive managers.
that's the -- should be personnel matters exception to the open meetings act, and so we have those four items we can announce at this time and take it to executive session for discussion, but we'll return to open court before taking any action.
>> we've returned from executive session where we discussed the four items that we announced.
no.
24, the matter involving synagro of Texas, the land application of sewage sludge in precinct 4.
I move that we authorize the sending of the comment letter, authorize mr. Manila to sign that letter on behalf of the Commissioner's court and have it delivered to tceq.
second by Commissioner Gomez.
discussion?
>> yes, george, I知 going to oppose this.
the reason eem to oppose it is because of the fact -- I知 going to oppose it is even though
>> [inaudible] restricted possibly to an 80-acre scenario for the vendor, I still do not feel comfortable with the city of Austin human waste being distributed even on this 8-acre site in east Travis County.
I have some strong concerns about it on this, and this is class b type human waste.
so even though we have looked at this very thoroughly and then again I壇 like to let the citizens know that if they still feel that they need to enter into a situation where they oppose the decision that tceq is looking for as far as issuing a permit, they still have a small window of opportunity to participate and protest this particular permit, and I think the date on that -- is that date the 28th?
>> yes, January 28.
>> January 28.
so for those reasons I知 not going to support this motion.
I think the city of Austin can do a better job as far as looking for a site that will not distribute human waste -- their human waste, their facility here in Travis County.
and I oppose it.
>> judge, I知 going to oppose this as well, so maybe we need to wait until after lunch to vote on it.
>> Commissioner -- is not coming back.
>> if we don't I知 afraid trek will approve a much larger area than our 80 acres but if we don't want to notify them of our limitation that we acted on, so be it.
>> well, let me clarify one thing.
the letter says we oppose tceq condoning it.
it's not condoning it but we oppose it, but it recognizes the fact that tceq may issue it anyway, regardless of what we think.
and sort of as a fall-back position we're saying we oppose it but if you do issue it limit it to the 80 acres.
so I don't know if that affects how you might look at it.
sending this letter is in no way saying this is okay with us.
>> well, I think I can support -- I can oppose the project, but I support what is in the letter, so I can -- I can support sending the letter to them and leg them know exactly how we --
>> I知 afraid we may well do more harm by not sending that letter.
>> well, I think it needs to be sent, but I do oppose the way they do these things, but I do -- I can support the letter with the wording that is in here, and I think we need to send that --
>> I知 concluding that sending a letter will help residents more than not sending it.
>> [chuckle] but I understand.
our preference was for this not to come up at all.
>> right.
>> and then our second preference was that it not be done, even if it surfaced.
>> but we're going to assume
>> [inaudible] city of Austin, that if it's going to use vendors to deal with disposal of human waste, and this is a class b human waste, which is a little more -- well, if you want to say mad odorous, much so than class a.
I知 sending a strong message to the city of Austin that as far as I知 concerned I think the city of Austin can do a better job than what they're doing now, especially when they seem to be selective as far as eastern Travis County is concerned, as far as some of the things that go on over there.
>> I couldn't agree with you more.
I know where you're coming from on that.
>> well, for the record we indicate our opposition to the project.
>> yeah.
>> but our support for sending this letter because we think it will help more than it will harm, right?
>> yes.
>> and again, again, judge, we have a narrow window to go to tceq before this permit is rbled.
I think the 28th is -- is issued.
I think the 28th is the last day.
>> well, remind them if they don't know it already.
>> thank you.
>> Commissioner Eckhardt had another commitment.
yours truly voting in favor, Davis voting no.
that carries by a vote of 3-1.
>> > 25 is a matter involving the action by alejandra cornelius versus Austin and Travis County.
I move we approve the settlement of this matter for the amount of $48,500 in exchange for a full release and dismissal of the litigation.
>> I second that.
>> discussion?
all in favor.
that passes by unanimous vote on 26.
we'll meet our legal counsel to get a briefing this afternoon at about 1:40.
27 is a matter involving solar farm initiative in the village of webberville.
we did get our briefing.
no action.
today.
we'll be advised when to put it back on the agenda.
>> let's leave it on for next week.
maybe they'll be able to acquire this information and we can have it on next week's agenda.
>> okay.
then we'll have it on next week.
28, the matter involving market salary adjustments for executive managers.
no action today.
we did get a briefing and discussion, and we'll have this action back on next week with the appropriate -- appropriately worded agenda, item or items. With that I move that we recess until 1:30.
>> second.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous
Now, let's call back to order the voting session of the Travis County Commissioners court.
this morning we covered all of our executive session items except number 26.
which we will take in executive session at this time.
it is to receive briefing from retained outside counsel and take appropriate action, alicia perez versus Travis County.
number 1:11-cv-00019-ly.
and this will be under the consultation with attorney exception to the open meetings act.
so we'll discuss it in executive session and return to open court before taking any action.
We've returned from executive session where we discussed the only item that we announced this time, number 26, the matter involving the perez versus Travis County litigation and outside counsel.
we did get a briefing.
in my view no action today.
>> right.
>> is that okay?
in that casewe've done our busir today.
>> move adjourn.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, January, 2011 2:19 PM
