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BRAZOSCOUNTY
BRYAN,TEXAS
NOTICE OF MEETING
1 t fi L' l< 1 b P J
Y CLERK
BRAZOS COUNTY COMISSIONERS COURT
WORKSHOP SESSION
THE BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL MEET IN A
WORKSHOP SESSION ON THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2005 AT 10:00 A.M.
This Workshop will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Brazos County
Courthouse, 300 East 26th Street, Suite 115, Bryan, Texas for the purpose of discussing
subscriptions for the law library.
1. Call to Order
2. A review of the options available to Brazos County for the law library hard copy,
CD and online subscription.
3. Adjourn
The Brazos County Courthouse is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign
interpretive services must be made two business days before the meeting. To make arrangements, call (979) 361-4102-
Mice of the County Judge • 300 East 2e St. • Suite 114 • Bryan, Texas 77803 • Fax: (979) 361-4503
COMMISSIONERS' COURT
WORKSHOP SESSION
DECEMBER 22, 2005
The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas met in a
Workshop Session in the Commissioners' Courtroom in the
Courthouse in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 10:00
a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2005, with the following
members of the Court present:
Randy Sims, County Judge, Presiding;
Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1;
Duane Peters, Commissioner of Precinct 2;
Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3;
Carey Cauley, Jr., Commissioner of Precinct 4;
Karen McQueen, County Clerk.
Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in,
attendance.
The Commissioner's Court met to review the options
available to Brazos County for the law library hard copy, CD
and online subscription. The following spoke:
a) Eric Caldwell, Director of the Information Technology
Department reported his findings and handed the members
of the Court, a summary of the responses to an online law
library.
b) Commissioner Cauley says it seems people still like to
use the law desk according to the summary answers.
Vol Page
Commissioners Court meeting December 22, 2005
2
c) Mr. Caldwell responded that he has gathered that the
general opinion is that the law desk is very cumbersome
and not used often.
d) 85th District Court Judge, J.D. Langely, said that he
can't see any real justification for maintaining the law
desk/CD stack.
e) Commissioner Mallard, would like to see it go all
electronic. He would rather have someone there to help
those technically challenged than maintain a large space
with hard copies.
f) Commissioner Cauley said that he would like to see
hard copies maintained for those technically challenged.
g) Melissa Langley Precinct 4 JP Clerk, noted that she
has used the law library at Blinn and the only downside
is that when school is closed during the holidays the
library is also closed.
h) Margi Lalk, Assistant District Attorney, said the
reality is that you just can't do the research
electronically that you can do with hard copies. She
agrees with Commissioner Cauley on maintaining hard
copies.
Vol 4 Page 3
Commissioners Court meeting December 22, 2005
3
i) Mr. Caldwell stated that it seems we can agree that
the CD subscription is not a wise use of county funds.
And he asked if we wanted to maintain hard copies.
j) Commissioner Peters asked about doing dual Lexis/Nexis
and WestLaw for a while.
k) The apprehension with WestLaw seems to be that while
the package looks good now, history has shown that
WestLaw will raise the cost as soon as possible.
1) 361st District Court Judge, Steve Smith, has always
felt that WestLaw has superior products to Lexis/Nexis.
m) 85th District Court Judge, J.D. Langely, agrees with
Commissioner Peters about trying both services
(Lexis/Nexis and WestLaw) and then discuss this again
next year. He said, removing the CD stack alone will take
care of the cost to run both services.
n) Eric Caldwell, Director, Information Technology
Department said that actually, it would cost an
additional $3,000.
o) Commissioner Mallard thinks rather than dual service
for everyone, (most likely they will use one or the
other) poll everyone and let them choose whichever
service they prefer.
Vol 7 4 Page
Commissioners Court meeting December 22, 2005
4
P) Eric Caldwell, Director of the Information Technology
Department said even though money shouldn't be the
primary focus, WestLaw will drop 'i~ the cost if everyone
signs on.
q) District Court Judge, J.D. Langely, asked why, are we
even discussing this if it isn't going to save money?
r) Commissioner Cauley doesn't think money should be the
focus right now.
Vol -7 Ce Page
The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Workshop
held December 22, 2005, have been examined and approved in
open Court this the day of 2006, in Bryan,
Brazos County, Texas.
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Gt~~i e_ vtc - .
Duane Peters
Commissioner,
Precinct No. 2
arey Ca ey, Jr. r
Commissi ner,
Precinct 4
Attest:
G
Karen McQueen
County Clerk
Lloycf Wassermann
Commissioner,
Precinct No. 1
Kenny Ma11a
Commissione
Precinct No. 3
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BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT /1
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