[00:00:06]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M HIDALGO COUNTY JUDGE RICHARD CORTEZ. TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT SUSPENSION IN IN PERSON MEETINGS.
NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS. [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH ALLOWS TWO WAY COMMUNICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST LIVE ONLINE. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS BEING MADE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT A LATER DATE.
[1. Roll Call]
TIME NOW IS 1 MINUTE AFTER 10:00.WE'LL AGAIN WITH A ROLE CALL. >> DAVID FUNTES.
>> EDUUARDO CANTU, DISTRICT TWO. >> EVERARDO VILLARREAL, PREZ
CEMENT THREE. >> ELLIE TORRES PRESENT FOUR.
>> RICHARD CORTEZ, JUDGE. >> LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> LEAD US IN A PRAYER. >> YES, SIR.
AS WE PLACE OUR FAITH IN OUR HANDS, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY BATTLING THIS VIRUS AND TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE. WE ASK FOR YOUR STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE TO OVERCOME THIS EPIDEMIC AND TO CONTINUE WATCHING OVER OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES AND OWL THOSE WORKING THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH ALL THOSE WHO ASK FOR YOUR HELP DURING THESE TRYING TIMES AND PRESENT SOLUTIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP FOR
[4. Open Forum]
OPEN FORUM? >> YES, SIR, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE FOUR PRESENTERS.
I WILL PLEASE ASK THE AUDIENCE TO RESPECT THE SPEAKER'S TIME AT THE PODIUM. THERE'S A 3-MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR EACH PRESENTER. I WILL ADVICE EACH PRESENTER WHEN THERE'S 1 MINUTE LEFT. OUR FIRST PRESENTER IS MS. LAURA GUTIRREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND ALSO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE CAME OUT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID FOR RETRIBUTION BECAUSE THEY WORK IN HOSPITALS AND IN SCHOOLS. YESTERDAY, KEN PAXTON ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THIS, A WAVE OF LAWLESSNESS IS SWEEPING OVER TEXAS AND I WILL STOP IT. IF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENTITY IS CONTINUING TO IMPOSE A MASK MANDATE OR ANYTHING ELSE PROHIBLTED BY GA38, PLEASE WRITE US OR CALL US.
TOGETHER WE WILL KEEP TEXAS FREE AND OPEN.
HE ALSO STATED THIS. GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND NO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WHICH INCLUDES COUNTIES, CITIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY REQUIRE MANDATING THE COVID-19-SHOT, THE SHOWING OF VACCINE PASSPORTS, COVID-19 RELATED LIMITATIONS OR MASK MANDATES.
NO GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS MAY IMPOSE A MASK MANDATE YET TOO MANY LOCAL FISHES CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THIS LAW.
I WILL SUE EVERY SINGLE LOCAL ENTITY, LOCAL OFFICIAL WHO DOES AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO DISABOY, I WILL PURSUE ADDITIONAL LEGAL ACTIONS. THIS IS FROM OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN? DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN? I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE EXTREMELY MISTAKEN.
A GROUP OF PARENTS FROM HIDALGO COUNTY MADE SOME PHONE CALLS YESTERDAY TO THEIR OFFICE AND SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE SCHOOLS DID ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. ONE PARENT SAID I WAS NOTIFIED
[00:05:01]
IN MY CAR ON THE PICKUP LANE THAT NO ONE IS ALLOWED INSIDE THE PREMISE WITHOUT OUR MASK AND THAT ONCE NOTIFIED YOU COULD BE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS A JUDGE'S SIGNED ORDER TO SUE GOVERNOR ABBOTT.>> ONE MINUTE. >> MY KIDS WERE TOLD TO WEAR A MASK, IT WAS VERY HOT, TEACHERS KEPT GETTING AFTER KIDS BECAUSE MASKS FELL BELOW THEIR NOTES. BOTH MY CHILDREN CRASHED OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE SO EXHAUSTED. THEY ARE BEING RESTRICTED FROM THEIR BREATHING. THIS WAS A PARENT.
THEY ARE CLAIMING THEY CAN ARREST PEOPLE AND DEPRIVE THEM OF THEIR FREEDOMS? IS THIS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? DO YOU THINK THIS IS FAIR TO OUR CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE THIS ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. YOU SIT HERE WITHOUT A MASK WHILE OUR CHILDREN ARE REPRIMANDED FOR NOT WEARING ONE: THE REASON SOME OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENCOURAGED IT.
YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS. HERE'S A SMALL CIVICS LESSON FOR YOU. THE PROPER FLOW OF AUTHORITY IS THE FOLLOWING. GOD, MAN, SOCIETY, AND GOVERNMENT. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
WE EXPECT GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTIES AND RIGHTS NOT
>> ONE SECOND. WE WILL NOT COMPLY WITH YOUR UNJUST AND TYRANNICAL ORDERS. YOUR AUTHORITATIVE AGENDA WILL NOT WORK ON US ANY LONGER. WE WILL NOT BEND, WE WILL TAKE BACK OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU. A. OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS MS.
FERN MCCLARETY. >> GOOD MORNING.
COMMISSIONERS, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ACTIONS OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN REFERENCE TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEARING MASKS. ISN'T IT JUST LAST WEEK JUDGE CORTEZ HELD A MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT THE SCHOOLS WOULD CLOSE? ALSO, AT EVERY COURT MEETING SINCE MARCH 17, 2020, THIS COMMISSIONER HAS USED THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER AS A PRETEXT TO USE TELECOMMUNICATION TO CONDUCT COUNTY MEETINGS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE COMMISSION IS SELECTIVELY USING THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS. WHEN AN ORDER IS BENEFICIAL TO YOUR OBJECTIVE, IT'S USED AND WHEN IT'S NOT, IT'S SIMPLY IGNORED, SUCH AS THE ONE I JUST HANDED YOU, HOUSE BILL 2840 AND THIS ONE STATES THAT A GOVERNMENT BODY SHALL, SHALL ALLOW EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO DESIRES TO ADDRESS THE BODY REQUIRING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR AN OPEN MEETING THAT THE BODY, THAT THE PEOPLE CAN ADDRESS IT BUT THAT'S ONE THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T LIKE SO STEP IT ASIDE.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER PROHIBITING GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FROM MANDATING MASKS. THE TEXAS DISASTER ACT OF 1975 CHARGE IT IS GOVERNOR WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MEETINGS UNDER SECTION 418011 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND GRANTS THE GOVERNOR BOARD AUTHORITY TO FULFILL THAT RESPONSIBILITY UNDER SECTION 418012, THE GOVERNOR MAY ISSUE EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVING THE FORCE AND EFFECTIVE LAW.
NOW, THEREFORE, I GREG ABBOTT GOVERNOR OF TEXAS BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS DO HEARBY ORDER THE LEA NOING OF STATEWIDE BASIS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
NO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, INCLUDING COUNTY, CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND NO GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIAL MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO WEAR A FACE COVERING.
>> 1 MINUTE. >> OR TO MANDATE ANY PERSON TO WEAR A FACE COVERING. THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY SHALL READVISE THIS GUIDELINE SUCH THAT EFFECTIVE 11:59 P.M. ON JUNE 4, 2021, NO STUDENT, TEACHER, PARENT, OR ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBER OR VISITOR MAY BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE CAING.
THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT RULED AGAINST MASK MANDATES IN DALLAS AND BEXAR COUNTY. WHY IS JUDGE CORTEZ WORKING SO HARD TO KEEP MASKS ON OUR CHILDREN AND CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS.
COULD IT BE THAT HE IS A DEMOCRAT AND IS TRULY BELIEVING THAT HE WILL PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19? IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY NOT CLOSE ALL BUT THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC FROM THE BORDER? THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE THAT ARE INFECTED ALREADY IN THE UNITED STATES. I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY JUDGE
[00:10:01]
IS BEING PULLED BY MORE FORCES AND NOT THINKING ABOUT THE>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE COUNTY JUDGE IS IF HE'S IN TOWN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS MS.
MIDA BAKER. >> GOOD MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING PRECINCT THREE FOR THE PUMP TRUCKS TRYING THEIR BEST, I SUPPOSE, TO DRAIN OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE A MAN WAS ALLOWED TO FILL IN A FLOOD PLANE AREA ACROSS THE ROAD FROM US.
I HAVE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE FOR 28 YEARS, BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL HURRICANES, NEVER FLOODED IN MY LIFE.
THIS MAN WAS ALLOWED TO FILL IN A FLOOD ZONE SO HE COULD BUILD A SUBDIVISION. WHEN I CALLED THE COUNTY WHEN HE FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE HASN'T SUBMITTED A PLAT, THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH YOUR PROPERTY.
WELL, I BEG TO DIFFER BECAUSE I LOST THE AG EXEMPTION ON MY PROPERTY BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A FENCE SO WE COULD CONTAIN OUR ANIMALS. I'M DRIVING A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT IT. MY NEIGHBORS STILL HAVE WATER IN THEIR YARD, THEIR CHILDREN CAN'T GO OUT AND PLAY.
A MAN IN A DO YOU BELIEVE WIDE STILL LOOKS LIKE A CASTLE IN A MOTE BUT IF THEY PUMP HIM OUT, THEY WILL DRAIN THE LAKE FOR THAT GENTLEMAN. THE BIGGEST THAT WE HAVE NOW IS, OKAY, WE'RE LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER.
I MOWED SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 MONTHS, MOST OF MY YARD, WHAT WASN'T STILL TOO SLIMY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET MORE RAIN? THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX. THE ROAD IS ALL TORE UP BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. YOU DIG A HOLE IN MY PROPERTY NOW AND IT AUTOMATICALLY FILLS WITH WATER.
IT'S SATURATED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HOPE. I'M HOPING GRACE GOES SOME WHERE ELSE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM IF IT DOESN'T. THEY'RE NOT HAPPY, EITHER.
>> 1 MINUTE. >> I'M COMING -- CALLING ON Y'ALL TO COME UP WITH A FAST PLAN, KNOT A SLOW PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. AND OUR LIST SPEAKER, MS. EDMA
MACHACA. >> JUDGE CORTEZ, HIDALGO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS EDMA MACHACA, A PROUD TEXAN. I WILL START AND WEDNESDAY TWO QUOTES AND ONE QUESTION AND I WILL ADD A LITTLE MEAT IN BETWEEN. FIRST COAT, THOMAS JEFFERSON, WHEN TYRANNY BECOMES LAW, REBELLION BECOMES DUTY.
I WILL REPEAT, WHEN TYRANNY BECOMES LAW, REBILLION BECOMES DUTY. EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE, NO JAB NO JOB. TYRANNY INSTILLS FEAR.
I READ ONLINE YESTERDAY THE UNVACCINATED ARE SITTING DUCKS.
MY RESPONSE, THE VACCINATED ARE INFECTED DUCKS AND SOME DOCTORS ARE QUACKS. QUACK, QUACK, QUACK.
WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A SAYS POOL OF FEAR, OF CONFUSION,CESSPOOL OF FEAR, OF CONFUSION, OF MISINFORMATION, OF DIVISION, DISINFORMATION, DESTABLE ASIAN AND DEPOPULATION.
DEPOPU DEPOPULATION? HOW SO. IT CAN MAKE FEMALES STERILE.
IT'S POISON ON OUR ORGANS. THE FEMALE CAN BECOME STERILE, YEP, THAT'S DEPOPULATION. THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY OTHER ISSUES BUT I WILL PICK ONE. MASKS.
THEY ARE A FALSE SECURITY. MASKS DON'T WORK.
IT SAYS SO RIGHT ON THE BOX OF THE MASKS.
THEY DO NOT PREVENT DISEASE, INFEBS, ILLNESS OR DEATH, YET THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW SAY THAT MASKS ARE REQUIRED.
ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS REQUIRING MASKS ARE IN OPPOSITION TO OUR GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER GA38.
QUOTE TWO, HABAKKAH2:13 FROM THE WHOLLY BIBLE.
[00:15:06]
JUST AS THE WATER FILLS THE SEA, THE LAND WILL BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE. WHO KNOW AND HONOR THE LORD.THAT MAPS SOME PEOPLE WILL BE ALIVE.
THERE IS HOPE. IT'S IN HABAKKAH 2:14.
WE'LL KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. WE WILL CALL IT LIKE OUR CREATOR GOD CALLS IT. A, A, YES, HE'S ALSO A HEALER FOR THE INFECTED THERE IS HOPE. ENDING QUESTION.
WILL ALL OF US ASK FOR THE WISDOM OF KING SOLOMON IN THE BIBLE? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU.
>> MR. MAGNUS? >> THAT'S IT FOR THE PUBLIC
[5. Executive Office]
>> NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 5A. >> WHO IS PRESENTING THAT,
JUDGE? >> OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, ISN'T
>> YES, JUNEL, MYJUDGE, MY APOL. ITEM 5 IS DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND ACTION TO APPROVE THE SALE PURCHASE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF HIDALGO, TEXAS AND THE CITY OF EDINBURG PURSUANT OF TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 232.001L 1 THROUGH 3. COUNSELLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION AT HAND WITH THE
CITY OF EDINBURG? >> WE DO NOT.
WE FOLLOWED THE COURT'S TRANSACTION WE HAVE BEEN ASSISTED BY OUTSIDE COUNCIL JONES GALLAGAN AND IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY THEM AND BY US AND IT'S READY TO PROCEED SHOULD THE
COURT WISH TO PROCEED. >> WHAT KIND OF ACTION DO WE
TAKE? >> GO AHAD HAD,HAD, AD, JUDGE.
>> GO AHAD HAD,HAD, AD,D, JUDGE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK WHAT KIND OF MOTION DO WE MAKE, JUST TO APPROVE THE ITEM OR IS THERE
MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE? >> THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AUTHORITY FOR VALDE TO SIGN ONCE THE FINAL VERSION OF AGREEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY
BOTH ENTITIES. >> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE.
DISCUSSION? WHAT THIS IS IS THE COUNTY OWNS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S CLOSE TO OUR NEW COURTHOUSE AND OTHER CITY OF EDINBURG ASSETS THAT THEY HAVE.
WITH THE NEW COURTHOUSE, WE NEED NEW PARKING.
THE CITY OF EDINBURG HAS AGREED TO BUILD SOME PARKING FACILITIES FOR US AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM IS TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS TRANSACTION IS INTENDED TO DO.
>> I WILL MAKE A COMMENT, JUDGE. JUST SO FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION, WE HAVE ABOUT 100 PARKING SPOTS AT THIS LOCATION AND WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRIPLE THAT AND THESE PARKING SPACES WILL BE JUST NORTH OF THE COURTHOUSE SO ALTHOUGH WE MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURG REQUIRED OF US IN PROVIDING PARKING TO THE COURTHOUSE, THIS WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL 200 SPACES AND SO IT'S A GOOD PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROJECT THERE AND I FULLY
SUPPORT IT. >> BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I CALL FOR THE QUESTION ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM 5A2. >> THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZATION FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER MR. VALDE GUERRA TO SIGN ANY AND ALL
PERTINENT DOCUMENTS. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
DO WE NEED TO GO TO CLOSED SESSION?
>> NO, SIR. >> OKAY, I BELIEVE THAT
[00:20:01]
CONCLUDES ALL OUR BUSINESS FOR TODAY.WE THANK EVERYBODY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.