Luke Fortkamp

The Court approved the agenda and proceeded with public comments concerning county history, racism, and specific agenda items. Key actions included approving routine consent agenda items, accepting a $50,000 donation from Global Motorcars of Houston, LLC designated for the Constable Precinct 3 for purchasing surplus police vehicles, and approving the appointment of Orval Rhoads to the HGAC Transportation Policy Council. The Court also voted to rescind the Burn Ban. Actions related to the Juvenile Probation involved approving the Texas Juvenile Justice Department State Aid and Targeted Grant Contract. The County Engineer's agenda included transferring funds for building maintenance and approving a utility permit for an AT&T buried fiber optic cable. A public hearing was held regarding designating property at Houston Executive Airport as a reinvestment zone and considering a tax abatement application and agreement with WCF, LLC. The Court also recorded the withdrawal of a private tax resale bid and approved payments for legal services related to Pintail Landfill and CenterPoint Power Lines objections. The Auditor's items covered approving official documents, inventory transfers, and amending the 2015 Budget to accommodate capital lease proceeds for a dump truck.

The Commissioner's Court meeting included the approval of the agenda and subsequent consent agenda items, excluding two withdrawn requests. Key actions taken involved the approval of a vendor, Aftermath Disaster Recovery, for debris removal services upon the Fire Marshal's recommendation. The Auditor's section addressed and approved several line item budget transfers for the Maintenance, Extension Office, and Tax Office departments, as well as approving a payment of $41,325.10 for the Library project to Dahvar Construction and Design. The Court also approved the Engagement Agreement for redistricting services with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP and authorized an amendment to the agreement with AccessHealth for COVID-19 testing services. A portion of the meeting was conducted in executive session to deliberate on business and financial issues related to real property in Precinct 2 and for consultation with legal counsel.

The Court meeting addressed several items, including the approval of Accounts Payable and the Treasurer's Monthly Report as part of the consent agenda. A community outreach update was provided regarding Small Business Creation and Digital Marketing for Businesses. In the main agenda, the Court discussed and approved a resolution for a capital lease financing agreement with Government Capital Corporation to purchase Road & Bridge equipment. An executive session was held for consultation with the District Attorney and outside counsel.

The meeting addressed several key administrative and operational items. The agenda was approved with an amendment to include a change to Agenda Item #13 effective January 1, 2018. Public comments concerned the realignment of Diemer Road and early voting polling locations. The consent agenda included approvals for various payments to vendors, the Treasurer's Monthly Report, transfer of fixed assets to the IT Department, an agreement with AT&T for internet bandwidth cost savings, and approval/ratification of Accounts Payable. Key actions taken outside the consent agenda involved approving the continuation of Auto Liability, Auto Physical Damage, and General Liability coverages through the Texas Association of Counties, approving a Service Agreement Renewal with Appriss (VINE) for crime victim notification services, approving a fund transfer for Juvenile Probation, approving a contract to sell functionally obsolete equipment via auction, approving the Road and Bridge Department Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2018, and purchasing radios for the Constable, Precinct 3, with funds drawn from Contingency. The Court also approved designating representatives for the HGAC 2018 General Assembly and approved an Interlocal Agreement with Harris County for Postmortem Examinations. Finally, the Court approved the publication of notices for a Jail Bond Referendum and authorization to publish RFPs for disaster recovery services.

The regular session addressed several items under the Consent Agenda, which included the approval of the minutes from the January 4, 2017 Regular Session, payment approvals for the Waller County Economic Development allocation and the Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas pro rata share, approval for a utility permit for a gas main extension, and action regarding the transfer of fixed assets to the Maintenance and Elections Departments. Key actions taken outside the consent agenda included authorizing the County Treasurer to receive funds, setting salary supplements for District Attorney staff for calendar year 2017, and approving a budget transfer within the District Attorney's Budget. The court also accepted a donation for the purchase of a K-9 Ballistic Vest package for the Sheriff's Department and approved placing a Public Notice regarding a Texas Department of Agriculture Grant. Finally, the Auditor's items included approving quarterly reimbursement of Juror Payments, an inventory transfer, and amending the 2017 Grant Budget for the Family Place Library Project Grant. No bids were received for jail food products, and no executive session was deemed necessary.