(0:00 - 0:22)
We're ready to get started here. And we have a quorum, so we will begin with Regent Cotton with our invocation and pledge to the United States flag and the Texas flag. If you would join me please.

(0:24 - 0:37)
Our great God, we thank you for this opportunity to come together to do good in our community. We ask that you would bless our efforts, keep us and guide us, give us wisdom. We ask that you would bless those who are not here with us tonight, bring them home safely.

(0:38 - 0:48)
Keep us and guide us in our community, dear Lord, and keep your hands upon us. Give us wisdom. In your most holy name we pray, amen.

(0:49 - 1:07)
Join me with the American flag. 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. Now for the Texas flag.

(1:08 - 1:34)
On the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. Okay, do we have any public comment? We do not, Mr. Chairman. New business.

(1:39 - 2:05)
If it's big enough so my eyes work. Okay, agenda item, consideration of resolution and order amending exemptions for disabled adults and adults 65 years or older. The administration recommends that the board approve the increase to the ad valorem exemption for disabled adults and adults 65 or older to $120,000 on certain residential homesteads.

(2:06 - 2:22)
Do we have a motion? Second. Motion by Regent Cotton and a second by Regent Alfaro. Should we have recused our six-year-old? Conflict of interest? There's not going to be a quorum, though.

(2:23 - 2:35)
This is true. This is true. Any discussion? Have we discussed it enough at the workshop? Okay, all in favor say aye.

(2:35 - 2:44)
Aye. Any opposed? The motion passes unanimously. Do we have executive session? No, sir.

(2:44 - 3:06)
Okay, then final item is matters of concern for future agenda. Does anyone have anything? I have something, but does anyone else have anything? I do, too, but it's not really per se for agenda. But when we had our retreat, we had board goals that were going to be typed up and given out and we were going to talk about those things.

(3:06 - 3:22)
And I would just like to see us move forward with that. I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. When we, at the retreat, we had board goals that we discussed that would be typed up and then we would, you know, work on those board goals.

(3:22 - 3:42)
And we just haven't, I just don't want us to get too far away from the retreat that we go, well, what was that we even talked about? So, we discussed moving forward with that, so I'd like to see us move forward with that. Not tomorrow, but, you know, just so that we don't let it slip away from us. Okay, very good.

(3:43 - 3:59)
Okay, the matter that I have is I was handed prior to this meeting a letter of resignation from Pete Alfaro. I will read it. I, Pete Alfaro, want to resign from the board on June 1st, 2023.

(4:01 - 4:30)
I was elected to the board February of 2006. So, regretfully, I have signed his resignation as per policy. I will direct all of the regents to our policy BBC that covers vacancies, and it's a process, so we'll get into it in more detail.

(4:30 - 4:53)
But, Pete will continue to serve as a regent until a replacement has been found. But, I would like to thank you, sir, for your many, many years of service, not only to Lee College, but to this community at large. Pete was the first Hispanic elected to the Lee College board.

(4:53 - 5:10)
Pete has had a lot of firsts in his life. He has been the true definition of a trailblazer, in my opinion, and a mentor to me. And, good luck with everything you choose to pursue, and you will be missed, sir.

(5:12 - 5:36)
Thank you very much, Darrell. It has been an honor to serve, to be a board regent, and help student success, and work with many people we've got. Just to let you know, the primary reason is my wife's health and the things that are going on, and I have to spend more time with her.

(5:36 - 5:51)
And, it's been very, very difficult. That's why I resigned from being chairman of the board for various homeless shelters, and now I'm having to do this also to continue to move on. But, my sincere thanks to each of you.

(5:52 - 6:02)
Really, we have accomplished a lot, and I know that you're all going to accomplish even more. So, may God continue to bless each of you. Thank you very much.

(6:02 - 6:20)
Thank you. And, our final item is adjournment. Don't move.

(6:22 - 6:23)
Vote with your feet.