Travis County Commissioners Court
February 7, 2012 (Agenda)
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next.
and this item gives residents an opportunity to address the court on any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
john hutchinson number 1, speaker number 2 joys trohson.
speaker number 3 christina kubek.
if I could get these three individuals to come forward.
we've got plenty of chairs and as one speaker finishes, I will call another.
good morning.
>> good morning.
Commissioners, judge, john hutchinson, walnut place neighborhood association territory and we were the neighborhood that
>> [inaudible] to drop a tornado on.
and in regards to that I want to say thank you to Travis County, tceq's people that came out and helped us with the debris removal.
I lot pretty much two huge trees and spent 20-something hours chopping trees and it was very nice the county came out and used their claw bucket to move it away for me.
I really do appreciate it.
it was really great and I give kudos to Travis County sheriff's department for putting officers out, closing the neighborhood because we had so many trees down.
two of my trees fell into the right-of-way and I could make it so people could get in and out of the neighborhood and clean up driveways.
to that regard, I want to point out that you've heard me here many times speaking about the traffic problems in our neighborhood.
well, this was a prime example.
the deputies and I were talking and looking over the debris and when the road opened up around 10:30 or so, we had people shooting through our neighborhood and I am not kidding, a lady drove through our neighborhood at upwards of 60 miles an hour in a 30-mile an hour residential street in the middle of a natural disaster with police cars sitting there.
the police officers, deputy stepped into the roadway to stop him -- her, and she literally drove into the oncoming lane of traffic, drove around him and never even batted an eye, just basically said kiss me and drove on through.
a gentleman drove through the neighborhood, the deputies stopped him, asked him why he was going 45 miles an hour and he says I've got friends down the street.
he said then you know there's been a disaster.
yes.
don't you think it would be smart to drive the speed limit and the guy says basically he didn't care.
so it goes back to when I speak about the poor driving behavior of the people that cut through our neighborhood, this is a prime example.
but I do again thank the sheriff's deputies for being out there and stopping the less than intelligent people that were cutting through our neighborhood and I do appreciate their efforts in protecting.
we had deputies cruise the neighborhood.
we've had a minor case of looting but nothing, just stupid looting, they lot something was a throw-away and were taking it out of the house but we got that stuff back.
thank you to Travis County and all the people that put the effort to help us after that hit the fan.
thank you.
>> thank you have.
ms. Thorson is next and would morris priest come forward.
>> I'm joyce thorson, from walnut place neighborhood association.
john has pretty much said everything that I have to say.
I just came to thank you.
we really appreciate all the help from Travis County, the Commissioners, Commissioner Davis came out.
I'm sorry he's not here for us to thank him personally.
steve manila got his t.n.r.
staff out there.
they are still coming out on a regular basis and I don't know how we would have gotten rid of all the branches and debris that we had fall and be blown through the neighborhood if it weren't for your help.
we also appreciate the Travis County sheriff presence in all the chaos because that made us feel a lot better.
and especially those of us who didn't have that much damage, but we had a lot of things to get rid of.
that was a tremendous help to us.
so thank you again and I'm glad I'm not here to complain this time.
>> thank you.
ms. Kubek is next.
>> hi, I'm christina kubek.
I'm from walnut place neighborhood and I also would like to thank Travis County and Commissioner Davis for coming out and helping us.
there was just such a tremendous amount of debris you just didn't know where to start.
and so it really helped us a lot.
the creek, I wanted to give you an update, it did jump its bank by about 15 feet, but it didn't hang out.
you know, the water didn't just hang there so it was flowing.
the wall that was constructed is doing its job.
I'm glad to see you are working on strengthening your water quality requirements because I did get an enormous amount of silt, like I have a sandy beach on top of the wall now.
but I didn't get any entertaining things this time around.
I just got a tire or two.
when the creek floods.
but thank you for -- for that too, the wall.
that's all.
thank you.
>> thank you for coming down.
mr. Priest is next.
>> thank you, judge, Commissioners.
morris priest speaking on my own behalf.
I did get contact from the Texas lions.org organization and they are encouraging people to order license plates and promoting the loving option of adoption wherever they drive.
of course, many people were very interested and involved in the fast track items that the governor had on the agenda.
of course, we see one of those items being reported in the statesman where the federal judge locally, Sam sparks, upheld the constitutional sonogram law.
and, of course, many people are encouraging people to thank our governor for standing up to the obama administration, and if you want more information call him at 477-1244.
I talked to pokey from the trailer park last night, he called me and asked me what I'm doing and I said I'm watching peggy venerable.
one of the producers wanted me to do a show called the comedy of politics.
seen a lot of funny things lately.
one of them being the wort comedy and tragedy sometimes blends itself but the ridiculous news how the city has handled occupy Austin and cost a million dollars.
the ridiculous what we see by the hire from the come poe board, maureen mccoy with policy on backup materials and other issues.
we see how government can be involved in such petty issues as signs on clinics.
of course, we saw that situation where the city repealed an ordinance for signs on clinics and how people prevailed on that matter.
and you know, we see thousand things are done so it's a pr policy which keeps us from talking to our elected officials in open meetings.
and we see the open meetings violations and we see the by law violations and we see other violations that are continually.
and sometimes we address them and sometimes we address them in our forums and we're always very successful.
but I do think that I did want to bring up one thing that's not posted on your agenda, but I see oftentimes from our elected officials and law enforcement is selective prosecution or persecution.
judge, I would like to you post something on the agenda in the future about the fact that we have these signs out in the hall.
I was here and Commissioner Eckhardt was two years ago and we had countless people out here.
we have apd and the place was literally packed with just hundreds of people.
and only 50 or so were allowed, it was during the abortion issue with central health.
I've never been disturbed by people out in the hall talking --
>> [buzzer sounding] -- and I just think that, you know, these signs out in the hall that, you know, the situation, you know, I would like you to call me, but I did contact david escamilla's office about the campo situation, but you know, whether we can get it resolved here, there's other courts and arenas and I would like to get a call from somebody on that, judge.
>> thank you, mr. Priest.
mr. Manuska is next.
and --
>> I'm maurice --
>>
>> [inaudible].
>> I'm maurice maliska.
we own property and some property in east part of Travis County fronting on
>> [indiscernible] road from 17087 on albert drucker road.
the back south end is located in the flood plain.
dry creek runs through part of the property.
on Tuesday, January 24th, we had a heavy rain and a flood in that area.
located just to the east of our property lies a five-plus acre tract that the operator is -- has a salvage yard crushing automobiles, transporting them.
apparently there was another operation there that involved a bunch of salvage tires.
on the Thursday after the flood we had, I went out to repair my fences that were down from the flood.
that afternoon I walked on our property toward the east end of it and I was shocked what I had found.
since then I have counted them, but there is approximately 425 tires distributed on the south end of our property.
anything from automobile tires to cub tires.
there is also a drum, a 55-gallon drum that is half full of oil.
there's numerous 5-quart containers of that -- that were oil containers that have crude oil, old oil in them.
there is old rusted propane tanks.
freon bottles.
and debris of all kind all strewn out all over the south end of our property.
on Friday, the 27th, I called -- no, Friday the 27th, I was so upset I went out there and I took pictures of all -- all of the area and all the tires and everything that are strewn all.
the dry creek that runs through is full of tires --
>> [buzzer sounding] -- that have washed in the creek.
our property has approximately 422 tires left strewn all over the property.
I don't know how many is in the creek because there's water still running this the creek and you can't tell how much they are.
that Friday I took the pictures and that Monday, January 30th, I called the sheriff's department, and t.
rob brown, a deputy, he came out --
>> I'm afraid we're out of time.
why don't you give us your phone number and we'll get somebody from our transportation staff to call you.
and see if we can help.
>> I'm sorry, could I make one statement?
short statement.
>> okay.
>> I am physically not able to remove these tires.
we're financially not able to have someone do it.
our concern is is there any county or agency or enforcement agency that can aid us with the removal of this debris off of our property.
>> if you will put your phone number on here, we'll try to answer that question for you.
but we need somebody to come out and take a look at it first.
>> it sounds like we've been talking about this sort of stuff this morning's public hearing.
>> or if you have a card, just leave that.
>> edith is coming down so we can also try to get with you and with county staff and see how fast we can address this.
>> judge and Commissioners, just a --
>> [inaudible].
just to clarify, we have all his contact information.
we visited with him most of the morning on Friday and we are coordinating with appropriate officials within the county and with tceq to see what we can do to remedy this matter.
I agree with him, it's a fairly significant degradation of our environment.
>> thanks so much.
>> miss pearington is next and mr. Reeferseed.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, cindy pearington, hrmd.
I'm here to give you a report on what we're doing with the long-term care.
this is a new benefit that we're trying to add to our benefit plan.
as you know, we've been in our initial enrollment period for about four and a half weeks.
we have one week remaining.
we do have a minimum 10% enrollment that is required of active employees which equates to about 450 active employees need to enroll in this product for us to move forward with it.
we are sitting at about 70 enrollees as of yesterday.
the interest is very high, it's higher than any level of interest I've seen on any benefit that we've offered so far.
however, we do need people, if they want this program, to go ahead and enroll no later than next Tuesday, drop deadline to even control online.
for those of you listening, there has been confusion this is the same thing as long-term disability.
it's a totally different type of benefit.
this is long-term care.
this provides assistance for you if you lose two of the six activities of daily living or become cognitively impaired.
it's really not a function of how old you are, it's when you become unable to perform the activities of daily living or get alzheimer's, something along that line.
the actives are supposed to enroll online at the website I have been sending out and I'm going to send another update out today.
and if you need assistance, we really wanted to offer h.r.'s assistance in enrolling.
some people aren't comfortable doing things on the computer still and we'll be glad to help anyone that needs assistance.
if you just have a question, email me or call the benefits line.
don't let this opportunity pass us by because if we do not get the minimum 10% enrollment, we cannot offer this product and it won't be offered again.
this is everyone that has asked for this product, this is their opportunity to go ahead and enroll.
it's a very, very good program.
we've compared it against many others before we offered it to Travis County employees.
so we're on the last week.
you know how we like to wait until the last minute to do things.
I'd like to challenge the Travis County employees to see if we can get 100 employees to enroll each day of this week.
and if we do that, we'll meet our goal that we have to have by next Friday.
I mean next Tuesday, February 14th, is the deadline.
family members and retirees and family members are not under the deadline because they enroll with a paper enrollment.
this is guarantee issue for the Travis County active employees which mean they don't have to undergo medical underwriting.
that's a huge thing because this type of policy is never offered without medical underwriting.
so we have a lot of seriously ill employees as we know from the experience on our health plan, this is their activity to get this coverage without medical underwriting.
so -- thank you.
>> mr. Beal is next.
can we get gus pena to come forward.
>> my name is john beal.
I'm here right now with the wilbarger creek conservation alliance.
we've got pictures taken mostly by maurice about the problems last -- on January 24th.
-- 25th.
this occurs on albert belker road.
the address is elgin but it's just before you get to county line road out there.
we had two rains about a week apart.
this is actually pictures of the second rain which is one inch.
the first rain was about six inches.
off in the distance there you see one of two 300-gallon storage tanks that were used by the car recycling operation.
this, gone, is a week after the big rain.
we'll come back to that 55-gallon drum and show you what's in it.
later on in this sequence.
there's the first picture of the property owned by the recycling operation.
quite a few cars were crushed in between the first rain and the second rain.
and again, the water that you see here is from the second rain.
not the big rain.
55-gallon drum after it floated away still had quite a bit of waste oil left in it.
the rest of that oil and the other petroleum products have probably made it all the way down to the colorado river.
these are pictures of maurice's property.
I guess there's a good thing about mesquite trees, they will capture the tires before they can float down.
our question is, is the owner going to bear the responsibility or is the burden of this going to fall on his neighbors and the taxpayers.
there's the second --
>> [buzzer sounding] -- container.
in dry creek.
we know who it is.
Travis County knows who it is.
thank you very much to the Travis County health department, Travis County sheriff's department who have been very responsive and helpful.
I've asked some questions which I leave with you.
will that new environmental rule include provisions to ensure that something like this does not continue or happen in the future.
thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Beal.
mr. Reeferseed is next.
can we get ms. Rio to come forth.
mr. Reeferseed.
>> thank you, sir.
yes, I'm ronnie reeferseed.
yelling freedom of speech.
the first amendment.
there's not a whole lot more basic to the freedom we all enjoy.
yes, here and now judge Biscoe has evidently just decided just how much freedom of political speech he is going to allow.
no, judge Biscoe, our precious us constitution, the extreme law of the land that is correct tyranny shattering weapon bestowed by founding fathers is not you to destroy.
to express my love tore the words of dr. Ron paul is not subject to your veto, sir.
brave men and women fight and die to preserve liberty for you and me every single day.
and guess what?
more veterans and active duty personnel who again put their lives on the line every single day contribute money to and support the ideas of dr. Ron paul.
than all those other candidates combined.
it doesn't really matter.
if any of you are sick of my signs or sick of my love for dr. Paul's ideas, my freedom of political speech is not subject to your approval, judge.
each and every one of you Commissioners should instead pat me on the back for my bothering to show up here to help save our precious u.s.
constitution, which by the way is under constant attack by among others so-called president peace prize.
my own father, a silver star recipient in the u.s.
army was my bigger contributor when I ran for u.s.
congress years ago.
was it because he agreed with everything I said politically?
heck no, it was because he believed in my right to express political ideas.
sadly some in this room still cannot seem to grasp that.
it's our first amendment.
try grasping it.
some day let's hope and pray that all have come to their senses.
in the meanwhile, let's celebrate our very own revolution of love for liberty and our precious u.s.
constitution epitomized by none other than dr. Ron paul.
he has been doing way more to promote liberty.
rejoice because-perhaps partly because of our shamelessly scheming lame stream media attempt to ignore dr. Ron paul.
dr. Paul's devoted support continues to explode.
it's blossoming.
it's the youth of our nation who are at the core of the Ron paul revolution of love.
why?
because young minds have not been polluted as much by the years of propaganda promoting endless wars for our military industrial bankster complex of criminals.
stop paying for and watching this garbage.
stop the killing.
>> [buzzer sounding] kealing people around the world does not make us more secure, it does just the opposite.
let us agree killing innocent people is a bad idea.
thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Reeferseed.
mr. Pena.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners.
gus peen I can't recollect proud native east Austinite, proud united states marine corps.
unemployment rate is way over 8%.
people gave up, don't apply.
the unemployment compensation -- I'm sorry, reapply, they are not included in the unemployment rate.
it is not acceptable.
economic development, job creation with good wage.
we would ask over $10 an hour with benefits.
a small business, but this is what the people need.
increase funding for programs for the youth.
increase positions, keep our youth busy in a productive manner during the summertime.
and you have a better student that is prepared for school.
mentors, tutors for students in need of help, please volunteer your time to help math, reading or history.
these are some of the tough is that we all times for students.
they have a -- it's tougher than
>> [inaudible].
volunteer and leroy nellis I want to thank him for his mentor and tutor and approach to the east Austin community.
thank you, leroy.
please show your appreciation and support for our military personnel, especially those returning from iraq and afghanistan.
this country doesn't do a good job of helping our veterans that are returning back.
they need jobs, they neat ptsd treatment, economic development training and our prayers of the court and affordable housing.
we need to also recognize and remember the distinct needs and health care issues of our female veterans.
they are different from a male veteran.
not enough is being said for our female veterans.
please support them also and show your appreciation for their efforts for our country's freedom, safety and democracy.
Austin energy, their public hearing is Thursday the 9th.
very contentious.
we don't need an increase.
why wait 17 years for an increase.
I told the mayor and councilmembers, educate yourself from their training and their experience and we'll have a better -- better nonrate at the city council.
we don't need it.
a society's worth is measured by its treatment of the less fortunate.
we have too many poor, unemployed.
homeless veterans with families.
not acceptable.
please remember, if you remember anything I say here, I'm a people person.
I love to help out people.
please help them because we're in deep trouble right now.
economic-wise and otherwise.
thank you all very much.
I know you have been a big help.
continue the March.
have a good day.
>> thank you, mr. Pena.
miss rio and mr. Miller.
>> good morning, planning and budget.
I want to take a little time to reintroduce alan miller the the Commissioners court.
the last time he was introduced was 1995.
he has a bachelor degree from the university of Texas.
he worked at the planning and budge it office from 1995 until 2006 where he took an opportunity at juvenile probation.
he's been there since.
and we are looking forward to having his perspective in the office again and just very happy to have him back.
>> welcome back.
>> thank you.
it's nice to be back in the downtown complex and I look forward to working with all of you.
>> I should mention his departments and assignments will include p.b.o., the county clerk, civil, criminal and probate court and j.p.s and records management.
>> thank you.
>> keep you busy.
>> thank you again.
>> thank you.
>> anybody else for citizens communication whether we call your number or not?
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