On Tuesday, April 15, Judge Porter and the Gray County commissioners held their bi-monthly meeting, starting off with public comments from Sena Brainard.
“On the building next door at 300 Kingsmill, it wasn’t on the agenda last time so I couldn’t speak about it, but the trees on the south side of the building do not belong to the Gray County commissioners court. They belong to the City of Pampa and it is their responsibility to maintain those trees on Kingsmill street. Having had dealt with the City of Pampa concerning the layout of downtown Pampa, the buildings on Cuyler, Kingsmill and Foster are on the property line and it is in this courthouse and on the surveys. Y’all need to check those surveys and if you look at those trees, you can tell that they don’t belong to you because the sidewalk has been cut out and those trees have been planted there. So the city needs to take care of those trees, not the Gray County tax payers. You should have received a survey when you bought the building, and if not, Josh can look it up for you just like my attorney did. I even had a survey and numerous building owners on Cuyler had surveys and we became tired of the City of Pampa saying we owned sidewalks and trees that we did not, opening us up to frivolous lawsuits from them not maintaining their trees and their sidewalks. And the other thing on that, I know y’all are thinking of different things for the building and stuff like that, but I just don’t understand if juvenile probation can’t have anyone around, if the motor bank was good enough for Gaye Whitehead when she was in office and the plan at one time was to put her out there, why can’t juvenile probation go to the motor bank and be out there? I also wonder, we have a beautiful lot over there-do y’all not own that lot? I just don’t understand why we bought that when we have all of that. That’s just my opinion. On this interlocal agreement with the City of Pampa, I’m always going to give credit where it is due, I like how the City of Pampa has all of their meetings live on YouTube. If I have a thought, I don’t have to go to the City of Pampa’s meeting. A person down in McLean, if they want to know what’s going on here, if y’all would make this like the City of Pampa on YouTube, it could be such transparency in government. I could be at work and tune in later and hear what this is about and not have to come here and sit through the whole meeting. I think that has helped so much with people understanding what’s going on with the City of Pampa. They’re probably not getting as many calls and if someone asks me something that is untrue, I immediately take them to the City of Pampa YouTube and I play it to them and tell them, ‘that is a lie, here it is on Youtube.’ Also, the City of Pampa whenever they’re going to do an ordinance or anything like that, it’s there so I don’t have to call. I can read it and if I’m concerned about it, I can send it to my attorney and have my attorney explain it to me. It’s just a great way of information. Someone from McLean isn’t going to have to drive up here, Lefors isn’t going to have to drive up here. Not everyone is fortunate like me and can take time from their life and see what’s going on when there’s an item I’m concerned about. Also on that, I want to make sure we are going to be in compliance with Ken King’s law that protects individuals outside the city limits from cities.”
After the public comments, the court quickly went through the first items on the agenda such as considering the minutes of the previous meeting, paying the bills as presented by the County Auditor, considering any line-item transfers or budget amendments, accepting the County Clerk’s report, and accepting the County Treasurer’s monthly and quarterly report; all were considered and approved.
Next was to discuss and consider a change within the Gray County Fair Labor Standards Act-Safe Harbor Policy involving Non-Exempt Employees. After an agreeing to change the wording within the policy, the motion was approved.
Next was to discuss and consider any necessary action concerning the County-owned building at 300 W. Kingsmill with Parkhill.
While the plans had been halted due to differences in the functionality of the building and what county departments can go where and whether or not to renovate the current building or start from scratch, the court and representatives of Parkhill made progress on how they wish to proceed that will be budget-friendly, and quotes are expected to be given to the court at a later date.
Next was to discuss and consider any necessary action concerning projects at the Perry Lefors Airport for the Night Approach and Main Runway Lighting Projects. The item was postponed to a later date until all parties can be present.
Next was to consider the Interlocal Agreement between Gray County and the City of Pampa for Subdivision Jurisdiction in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Pampa.
The commissioners expressed concern over the decision-making process between the county and city and that both parties should know what the other is wanting and planning to do. Commissioner Haley mentioned that he would also like to see power lines be moved underground, to which Judge Porter agreed. After some deliberation, the commission decided to take no action on the item.
Next was to accept the anonymous donation of $1,000 to Gray County for Wildfire Disaster Relief, and it was graciously accepted.
Next was to consider approving a tax bid for struck off property at 413 E. Craven in the amount of $510 with the original taxes due amounting to $2,433, which was approved.
Last on the agenda was to declare a Woods 15’ Rotary Motor Model BW180XQ in Precinct 1 Surplus, which was approved.
Before the meeting adjourned, Judge Porter made a few final statements.
“I would like to just briefly go over something-we are a court. We are not a commission or a board of trustees, we are a court. We have contemptable items in this courtroom.”
“That’s why we have the rules posted there in the front-to let people know it’s not just for criminal proceedings, but for all proceedings.”
“When we start talking about recording and things of that nature, that would require us to record everything inside this courtroom including misdeamenor procedures, and at the time we can’t find court reporters for most of our jury trials, and we have to guarantee a $750 reservation fee for them to come in.”
“In this courtroom, you can still hear feedback in it. We’ve been on this a few times to get that corrected. You can see the modernization of how I have tried to make it where everyone can hear. The carpet was an expense that seemed to take the echo out of the room and the microphones have also helped. This is a process and if there was an unlimited amount of money, we could get the courtroom to where it could have things that were recorded and transcribed, but at this time, we are not ready to make that for all courtroom proceedings in this courtroom.”
“I go to great lengths and Carla goes to great lengths to make sure everything is transparent. We have had discussions in here that could’ve been protected by Executive Session privilege that I feel is not right to do and so we have it in open court.”
“Statutorily, it states that we only have to report the minute by the minutes and the first motion, the second, and the vote and what that vote is for and that’s why the County Clerk is in here and why it’s imperative that we check the minutes and make sure they’re accurate.”
