[0:19] So that that might
[0:22] Yeah,
[1:16] All right, good morning, everyone. Today is Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The time is
[1:20] now 9:30 a.m. This meeting of the commissioner's court is now in session. I declare
[1:24] a quorum is present. All legal notices have been posted, and the court is duly called
[1:29] this morning. Commissioner Carraway will lead us in an invocation and pledges. Please
[1:32] stand.
[1:35] Let us pray together Eternal Father, we are so grateful for the loving kindness and
[1:40] tender mercy of this day. God, we declare how great and how awesome you are. Father,
[1:45] we ask that you would protect and cover our law enforcement and all of our first
[1:50] responders. Father, we pray that your blanket will cover our county with your strength,
[1:55] with your wisdom, and God, all of your help. Lord, we realize that we are nothing
[2:00] without you. All of the glory belongs to you. All of the power belongs to you. And
[2:06] Father, we are so grateful. And we pray for our nation, we pray for our state, we
[2:10] pray for our county, we pray for our community. Because God without prayer, we're
[2:15] literally nothing. And so Father, we totally depend on you today to guide lead us
[2:20] and direct us. Give us your grace, give us your script, give us your power, God,
[2:24] please give us your might and above everything else, God, give us your understanding.
[2:29] We ask all of this now in the name that is above every name. In Jesus' name we pray.
[2:35] Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
[2:42] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[2:48] justice for all. Under the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state
[2:56] under God, one in indivisible. OK
[3:03] All right, thank you again for joining us today. Uh, one quick announcement, our
[3:07] burn ban, if you didn't see yesterday, is off for Smith County. Uh, we, uh, got some
[3:12] well-needed rain, so that's off, and, uh, we've got beautiful weather outside. We
[3:17] ought to move the meeting outside today, but we're not going to. So we have one speaker
[3:22] today, uh, Ms. Delilah Reynoso. Ms. Reynoso is gonna speak on item number 15. Are
[3:28] you gonna wait? OK, she's gonna wait until 15. Make sure you remind me. All right.
[3:35] Let's see. Agenda item number one. Commissioner Drey will help us with this in just
[3:39] one moment, but it's considering to take necessary action to adopt a resolution proclaiming
[3:44] the month of October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Smith County, and
[3:49] we have Jeremy Flowers with East Texas Crisis Center and, and I believe and team
[3:54] with you. So Jeremy, if you'll come forward, please.
[4:04] Good morning, Judge and commissioners. Um, thank you all for having us this morning
[4:08] and thank you for recognizing October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Um, as
[4:12] you said, I have my team here. I wanna introduce them. Uh, we have, uh, Scotty Smotherman,
[4:17] our housing coordinator, uh, Daisy Salgado, our director of emergency shelter, Mary
[4:23] Crow, our domestic Violence High Risk Team coordinator, and Serena Holland, our advocacy
[4:29] Services coordinator. Um, every year we come together during this month to raise
[4:34] awareness, honor the lived experiences of survivors. And remember those we've lost.
[4:41] We do that by prioritizing survivors' voices, sharing stories, and remembering that
[4:47] behind every statistic is a human being. And just one weekend last month, police
[4:53] received calls reporting that a boyfriend threw his girlfriend to the ground, a boyfriend
[4:58] refused to leave his girlfriend's apartment after a dispute, and a husband hit his
[5:02] wife while holding their child. This is just in a two-day period, and we know that
[5:08] domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes. The resolution this morning
[5:13] gives us an opportunity to acknowledge that domestic violence is happening right
[5:17] here in our community and that addressing it is a community issue and requires a
[5:24] community response. Today is a chance for us to say to survivors in Smith County
[5:30] that you are not alone. At the East Texas Crisis Center, we see daily the challenges
[5:35] and barriers that survivors face in reaching out for help. The difficulty in navigating
[5:40] risk and the courage of taking the first step. Listening to survivors matter. Their
[5:47] stories shape the conversation, lead change, affect policy, and remind us that they're
[5:53] the experts in their own life. Our presence here this morning sends an important
[5:57] message to the community about who we are and what we stand for. We wanna say to
[6:03] survivors. That it's not your fault and you matter this month as we do the important
[6:08] work of bringing attention to the issue of domestic violence, let us please remember
[6:13] that survivors need more than our words alone. They also need our action and they
[6:18] need to know that Smith County stands with them. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Flowers,
[6:24] and now I'm gonna turn it over to Commissioner Drew with a resolution. First, I just
[6:29] wanna say we're so lucky as a community to have East Texas Crisis Center and the
[6:33] work that you do is so valuable to us. And I just want to tell you I appreciate you.
[6:39] All right.
[6:43] To be able to see here. At a regular meeting of the Smith County Commissioner's Court
[6:48] held at the Smith County Courthouse annex Tyler, Texas, at which a quorum was present,
[6:53] the following resolution was adopted. Whereas every October we recognize Domestic
[6:58] Violence Awareness Month by honoring the lived experiences of survivors, lifting
[7:02] their voices, remembering those we have lost, raising awareness, and recommitting
[7:07] ourselves to create a community where every person can live a life free from violence.
[7:11] And whereas in 2025 the East Texas Crisis Center stood alongside 331 survivors of
[7:18] domestic violence in Smith County, a reminder that no community is immune from the
[7:23] impact of abuse and that justice must be accessible to all, and whereas survivors
[7:28] show us every day through their resilience and courage that healing and hope are
[7:32] possible when communities come together to listen, believe, and support them. And
[7:37] whereas advocates, counselors, law enforcement, prosecutors, healthcare providers,
[7:43] clergy, educators, government officials, and community members each play a vital
[7:48] role in building a coordinated response that places survivor safety as a priority
[7:54] and holds those who cause harm accountable. And whereas the citizens of Smith County
[7:59] share a responsibility to stand against domestic violence by refusing to be silent,
[8:04] offering support, and taking action in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and
[8:09] places of worship. Now therefore be it resolved that the commissioner's court of
[8:14] the county of Smith, Texas, through adoption of this resolution does hereby proclaim
[8:19] October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Smith County and commits to
[8:25] being a community of hope in which survivors are believed, supported, and. Howard
[8:30] and where together we can take action to hold perpetrators accountable and work to
[8:35] create a future free from domestic violence. Witness our hands this day, 6th day
[8:40] of October 2026, signed by the judge and all four commissioners. All right, now I
[8:45] would entertain a motion to adopt that resolution as read. So moved. That's motion
[8:50] by Commissioner Drury. Do we have a second? Second by Commissioner Carraway. All
[8:54] in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Now if y'all will come forward,
[8:59] your team members come forward, we'll get a picture.
[9:57] All right, uh, item number 2 is considering to take necessary action to adopt a resolution
[10:02] proclaiming the week of October 5th through the 9th, 2026 is manufacturing Week in
[10:07] Smith County, and we have with us Scott Martinez and Tara Ellis from the Tyler Economic
[10:13] Development Council. If y'all will come forward.
[10:20] Good morning, Judge and commissioners.
[10:24] Thank you for recognizing Manufacturing Week and the companies and employees who
[10:28] contribute so much to Smith County. Manufacturing provides good jobs, supports local
[10:33] families, and brings investment into our community. This week we're helping students
[10:37] see those opportunities firsthand through visits with local manufacturers and Tyler
[10:41] Junior College. We appreciate Tyler ISD, AP ISD, Chapel Hill ISD, and Lyndale ISD,
[10:48] along with Tyler Junior College for partnering with us. Together we're showing students
[10:53] that they can build a rewarding career right here at home. I also want to recognize
[10:57] Chair Ellis, who's with me today, our director of industry and workforce initiatives
[11:01] for coordinating these visits and the employers opening their doors to our students.
[11:06] Thank you for Smith County's continued partnership and for helping us celebrate the
[11:11] people who make things and make a difference in our community. We'll take several
[11:15] 100 high school students to manufacturing facilities this week in Smith County, and
[11:20] there would be some with us today, but they're doing tours, so. Um, this is a way
[11:25] for us to expose high school students to manufacturing as a career opportunity if
[11:29] they so choose. Let them know they can do it right here at home. Yeah, thank you,
[11:33] uh, Mr. Martinez, and thank you, Ms. Ellis, and, and I'm excited because I get to
[11:37] play another little part this week, uh, uh, with this group. So I'm gonna read the
[11:42] resolution right now. Ms. Ellis, were you gonna say anything? Oh, here it is. You're
[11:45] OK. All right. All right, whereas manufacturing plays a vital role in the strength
[11:50] and economic prosperity of Smith County, providing quality career opportunities and
[11:54] supporting businesses, families, and communities, and whereas local manufacturers
[11:59] and processors contribute to the growth of our community by creating jobs, investing
[12:04] in our local community, producing essential goods, and support. industries throughout
[12:09] East Texas and whereas Manufacturing Week provides an opportunity to recognize the
[12:14] manufacturers, skilled professionals, educators, and the industry partners who contribute
[12:18] to the continued success of Smith County and whereas Smith County recognizes the
[12:24] Tyler Economic Development Council, Tyler Junior College, and the independent school
[12:29] districts of Tyler, Chapel Hill, Lyndale, and White House for their collaboration
[12:34] and commitment to connecting students with industry educational. Opportunities and
[12:38] career pathways and whereas during manufacturing week local students have the opportunity
[12:44] to tour Smith County manufacturing facilities interact directly with the industry
[12:49] professionals and explore educational pathways that can lead to rewarding careers
[12:54] and manufacturing and the skilled trades. Now therefore be it resolved that the commissioner's
[12:59] court of the County of Smith, Texas through adoption of this resolution does hereby
[13:03] proclaim. October 5th through the 9th, 2026 as manufacturing Week in Smith County
[13:09] encourages residents, educators, students, businesses, and community leaders to recognize
[13:14] the importance of the manufacturing to our local economy and the valuable career
[13:19] opportunities available within this essential industry and it's signed by me, the
[13:24] judge, and all the commissioners, and it would be my motion to adopt that resolution
[13:29] as read. And we have a 2nd by Commissioner Harriet. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any
[13:36] opposed? Motion carries. Now if y'all come forward, we'll get a photo.
[13:50] Mhm
[13:52] If you want to share it. Oh, that's,
[13:57] That's good.
[14:06] Thank you.
[14:33] All right, that takes us to item number 3. Considering take necessary action to adopt
[14:37] a resolution proclaiming the week of October 4, 2026 as Texas Extension Education
[14:44] Association Week in Smith County. We've got quite a few people here, but Amy Shavely
[14:48] is gonna come forward to speak. And she will introduce her team.
[15:02] Good morning, Judge. And commissioners and everyone present. I'm Amy Shively. I'm
[15:07] the family community health agent for Smith County. The Texas Extension Education
[15:12] Association, known as TEA, would like to express our appreciation to County Judge
[15:16] Neil Franklin and the entire commissioner's court for their continued support for
[15:20] our programs and for being here to share this special week with us. Throughout the
[15:25] year, our ladies have been working on various projects such as craft making and Scholars
[15:29] for Dollars to provide scholarships for 4H youth, community volunteer programs, as
[15:34] well as numerous other programs to strengthen our community. Ladies, please call
[15:39] when I stand your name. Here with me today for the court's resolution proclaiming
[15:43] the week of October 5th as Texas Extension Education Association Week is Smith EEA
[15:49] County Chair and Saint Louis Club member, Robin Smith. Smith, EEA County Vice Chair
[15:57] and Saint Louis Club member, Dawn Green. They are here to represent a mock check
[16:03] to the court for their volunteer hours totaling 3,630.5 hours of service to Smith
[16:11] County for 2025-2026 and the amount of $36,355.81.
[16:19] We thank the court for your time this morning.
[16:27] All right, uh, if you will stay right there, Amy, uh, were you complete? Are they
[16:31] gonna bring it forward? OK, yeah, we're gonna, um, I'm gonna turn it over to Commissioner
[16:36] Harry now to read the resolution. All right, would y'all like to bring the check
[16:39] forward? And y'all can stand with Ms. Shavely and we'll read the resolution.
[16:48] Had an opportunity to see some of the wonderful work they do that the entire extension
[16:54] does, and they do it with enthusiasm, passion, and oftentimes some good food. So
[17:00] it makes it really fun to visit. At a regular meeting of the Smith County Commissioner's
[17:04] Court held at the Smith County Courthouse annex Tyler, Texas, at which a quorum was
[17:08] present, the following resolution was adopted, whereas the Texas Extension Education
[17:13] Association of Smith County believes strong families are the basics to the well-being
[17:17] of Texas and whereas they have educational programs that address critical needs impacting
[17:23] Texas families and communities, and whereas they see education as a lifelong learning
[17:28] process. They believe volunteers and opportunities for volunteer development are
[17:32] important and whereas they develop leadership that offers opportunities for personal
[17:37] growth and development and cultural and ethnic diversity in programs and membership
[17:42] and whereas global awareness is recognized and whereas the Texas Extension Education
[17:47] Association cooperates with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to attain mutual
[17:53] goals. Now therefore be it resolved that the commissioner's court of the county of
[17:57] Smith, Texas, through adoption of this resolution does hereby proclaim the week of
[18:02] October 4th, 2026 as Texas Extension Education Association Week. In Smith County
[18:08] and encourages all citizens to recognize the important work that is done for the
[18:13] Smith County community through the Texas Extension Education Association of Smith
[18:17] County. It is signed by the judge and all four commissioners. And I would entertain
[18:21] a motion to adopt that resolution as read. That would be my motion. That motion by
[18:26] Commissioner Harrod, seconded by Commissioner Carraway. All in favor say aye. Aye.
[18:29] Any opposed? Motion carries. All right, y'all come forward. Thank you.
[19:10] Yeah
[19:14] If I'm being honest.
[19:21] I want to,
[19:37] All right, that brings us to item number 4, considering take necessary action to
[19:41] adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of October 4th, uh, 2025 as National 4H Week
[19:47] in Smith County, and we have with us Skyler Shavely, come forward, sir. And he'll
[19:52] introduce his team members. As well.
[19:59] Mm.
[20:04] Good morning. We're glad to be here this morning and recognize our young people that
[20:09] are with us. I'm Skyler Shively, the Smith County Extension agent for 4H and youth
[20:14] development, my colleague Erica Davis with Praview A&M Cooperative Extension. So,
[20:21] we're certainly glad to be here and it's always fun to get to recognize the hard
[20:25] work that our young people do. Um, this year through our efforts and the efforts
[20:32] of our volunteers we've had over 100,000 educational contacts in 54 different subject
[20:38] areas through outreach programs, educational events, and curriculum enrichments in
[20:44] the schools right here in Smith County. So we're very proud of the, the number of
[20:49] contacts that we have. We have over 20 adult volunteers that do a great job of helping
[20:56] to deliver the 4H and extension message, and we have 200 club members that meet in
[21:03] community clubs all across Smith County. So, uh, we're, we're very pleased to see
[21:08] that we've had growth in our programs and that there's a. Strong interest in furthering
[21:14] their education in different uh subject areas that 4H supports. One of our biggest
[21:22] project areas is always our livestock projects and so that's a number that's easy
[21:28] for us to quantify and so I love to share that number when I have the opportunity
[21:34] and uh our economic impact just in Smith County from our livestock projects is over
[21:40] $281,000 for our youth that raised those projects and so we certainly want to recognize
[21:47] that we know that we have uh economic impact. With some other things, it's just a
[21:52] little harder to, to quantify with a robotics project or with the dog project or
[21:57] even public speaking or photography, but uh we can certainly put that dollar figure
[22:03] on our livestock and so we wanna, wanna take that opportunity as well. So we have
[22:08] a, a great group that came with us this morning. Um, I have an adult volunteer, Cassie
[22:14] Rodriguez. She's actually one of our club managers. I have Riley, who's a club president,
[22:20] Fallon, who's a club vice president, and Olivia, who's a treasurer. And so, uh, as
[22:25] we get our picture today, we're glad to have them with us, and we want to thank the
[22:29] court for the opportunity that we have to do the work here in Smith County and this
[22:34] opportunity to recognize the kids and adults for all the work they put in throughout
[22:38] the year. Uh, Mr. Shively, we appreciate everything you guys do. It's amazing, uh,
[22:44] with all the students, and we appreciate the volunteers as well. Thank y'all so much
[22:48] and thank you, uh, students for being here, for participating in all the events.
[22:52] So I'm gonna turn it over to Commissioner Carraway. Thank you, Judge. Whereas this
[22:57] year's National 4H Week theme Beyond Ready, reminds us that 4H is building a ready
[23:04] generation in a world of change, equipping young people with skills for the future
[23:08] while meeting them where they are today. Whereas 4H is America's largest youth development
[23:14] organization, supporting 6 million youth across the country, helping them to become
[23:19] engaged successfully and independent. And where 4H programs are delivered by the
[23:24] cooperative extension System, a community of more than 100 public land grant colleges
[23:30] and universities across the nation, providing experience for young people to learn
[23:35] by doing. Whereas 4H connects with young people and adults to their community, preparing
[23:41] them for work and through experience and acquiring basic learning while providing
[23:48] emerging research for positive youth development, as well as expanding from its strong
[23:55] agricultural roots, 4H help young people explore the world around them, grow into
[24:01] productive adults. And whereas 4F, future leaders, scientists, architectures, excuse
[24:07] me, agriculture and community leaders are important and imperative to the US Department
[24:12] of Agriculture and National Institution of Food and Agriculture for 4H. Therefore,
[24:17] be it resolved. That the commissioners' Court of the County of Smith, Texas, to thoroughly
[24:23] adopt this revolution and hereby do declare October 5th through the 11th, 2026 as
[24:29] National 4H Week in Smith County and encourage all citizens to recognize 4H. For
[24:35] its significant impact that it has in our community, empowering young people with
[24:41] the skills they will need for a lifetime. Witness our hands this 6th day of October,
[24:47] AD 26, by the judge and all of the commissioners. All right, and I would entertain
[24:52] a motion to adopt that resolution as read. That would be my motion motion by Commissioner
[24:57] Carraway. Second by Commissioner Harriet. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
[25:02] Motion carries. All right, 48 guys, y'all come forward.
[25:07] We'll take it right
[26:07] All right, that was some great resolutions this morning. We takes us to item number
[26:12] 5, and I've already kind of stolen your thunder, but Fire Marshal Hoag is here to
[26:16] give us a, a burn ban update.
[26:27] Good morning, Judge and commissioners. As y'all know, the, the burn ban was ended
[26:31] yesterday. And uh we returned to our normal status of just following the Texas Commission
[26:38] on Environmental Quality, um, burn outdoor burning rules. So we received 2 to 3 inches
[26:46] across the county, some places maybe a little bit more than that. Our KBDI yesterday
[26:51] was 536, so significantly dropped from where we were at. So we're happy to see that.
[26:58] Um, we almost completed 7 weeks under a burn ban. We were a day short and that's
[27:03] fine with us. Um, outdoor, um, Fire calls in the 7th week, we had 26.
[27:12] Uh, none of those required citations. Did give one warning and that was it. The burn
[27:17] ban was ended yesterday, October 5th. All right, comments or questions from the court?
[27:24] All right, thank you. Marshall Hope, item number 6, considering to take necessary
[27:28] action to accept completion of the construction contract for the Roadway Improvements
[27:32] County Road 172. That's, uh, Farm to Market FM 349 to FM 2493 with an underrun in
[27:39] the amount of $31,839.62. Authorize county judge to execute the reconciliation
[27:47] change order and authorize final payment to AE Schul and Company Inc. and that, um,
[27:53] I'm gonna turn to Mr. Davis. Yes, Judge and commissioners, uh, the Road and Bridge
[27:58] Department is requesting, uh, the commissioner's court to accept the completion of
[28:02] RB-34-25 roadway improvements to Counter Road 172 as performed by AE Schul and Company.
[28:10] The original contract was in the amount of $462,256.05. The final construction cost
[28:18] is in the amount of $430,416.43. This results in an underrun of $31,000.
[28:26] $839.62. Uh, the majority of this underrun is due to tech. work at the southern end
[28:33] of County Road 172 at the intersection of FM 2493. Uh, they're transitioning for
[28:39] grade and for drainage purposes extended 400 ft into our roadway, so we were able
[28:44] to shorten that, uh, uh, the, the work that was done by our, our contractor about
[28:48] 400 ft. So that's the reason why there was such, such significant, uh, underrun.
[28:53] The project provides for the improvements to 1.572 miles of county roadway, and we
[29:00] recommend approval. All right, comments or questions for Mr. Davis on this item.
[29:08] All right. Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to accept the completion of the
[29:11] construction contract for County Road 172 from FM 349 to FM 2493 with an
[29:18] underrun of $31,839.62. That's a motion by Commissioner Drury.
[29:26] Second by Commissioner Carraway. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.
[29:33] We're gonna pass on item number 7 that takes us to item number 8. Considering take
[29:38] necessary action to approve a lease purchase contract with Exxon Enterprise Incorporated
[29:43] in the amount of $16,881.36 via by board cooperative purchasing program for tasers
[29:50] for the sheriff's office and authorized county judge sign all related documentation
[29:54] documentation, and we have Chief Jones. Good morning, Judge Commissioner. Uh, this
[30:00] is, uh, to. Uh, have tasers for the newly approved deputies that will be for judicial
[30:07] services at the courthouse. All right, comments or questions for Chief on this. I
[30:12] just wanna, I just wanna say thank you for adding the cost in the agenda language
[30:17] that helps me so much. I think it's great for the public. Thank you. And this is
[30:22] coming out of fund 12, right? That's correct. OK, thank you. All right. Any other
[30:28] comments or questions? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to approve that lease
[30:33] purchase contract with Axon Enterprise Incorporated in the amount of $16,881.36.
[30:41] That's a motion by Commissioner Drury. Second by Commissioner Carraway. All in favor
[30:46] say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item number 9. Consider and take necessary
[30:51] action to approve a contract between Smith County. And the Texas Department of Public
[30:56] Safety for Texas Conviction Reporting TXCR and interlocal cooperation contract and
[31:02] authorized county judge sign all related documentation and we have Ms. Karen Phillips,
[31:08] our county clerk, come forward.
[31:21] Good morning Judge and commissioners. Uh, basically this is just an interlocal cooperation
[31:28] contract between Texas Department of Public Safety and our office. Excuse me, it
[31:33] is for the entire state. Uh, Texas Department of Public Safety is moving away from
[31:38] a paper submission of convictions into an electronic submission, and it's real time.
[31:45] Uh, once the contract is, uh, signed, it will provide us access to submit all of
[31:50] our final convictions through the, the portal which is TCR, uh, which stands for
[31:57] Texas Conviction Reporting. So, all right, comments or questions for Ms. Phillips.
[32:03] I just wanna, um, I didn't see any cost to us, no budgetary impact, OK. All right.
[32:12] Any other? I would entertain a motion to approve that contract between Smith County
[32:17] and uh Texas Department of Public Safety for the TXCR and interlocal cooperation
[32:23] contract authorized county judge sign all related documentation. So that's motion
[32:28] by Commissioner Drury. 2nd, 2nd by Commissioner Herod. All in favor say aye. Aye.
[32:33] Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. All right, item number 10, considering to
[32:38] take necessary action to approve a $5400 part-time budget request for Justice Peace
[32:43] Precinct one, and I'm gonna turn it over to first to Judge Derek Choice. Welcome,
[32:50] sir. Thank you. Good morning, Judge and commissioners. I have asked to be placed
[32:55] on the agenda, uh, for the court to consider, uh, $5400 to the Office of Justice
[33:02] of the Peace currently. I have a clerk who is out on extended medical leave and uh
[33:08] we have two clerks that will leave us two full-time clerks and so uh if you guys
[33:15] approve this, it will help my office with the efficiency and uh keep up with the
[33:20] day to day operations. All right, any comments or questions on this? Well. The money
[33:27] is available, um, Mr. Isabel, if you'll comment on that part of it. About the availability,
[33:33] this money. Right, so we're asking um it to be Uh, from Tim's office, I guess Tim
[33:40] would have to help where the money, the money's coming from. Um, as far as I know,
[33:43] this is a full-time employee, um, that is out, and he's needing some part-time money
[33:49] to facilitate until January. Um, we don't anticipate a salary lag at this point.
[33:56] We're trying to work around some, um, medical situations there, but that's why we're
[34:01] asking. Um, I asked the auditor's office to pull from, I'm not sure what fund it's
[34:06] coming from.
[34:09] Sure. So we, we have two options. We can um Hold off on the budget
[34:16] transfer because the funds are in there now for payroll to be processed and then
[34:21] towards the end of fiscal year 2027, um, we could move the funds. Uh, into the department.
[34:29] We don't anticipate salary lag from this, but there's a possibility that for some
[34:34] other reason, it could accumulate in this fund, and if we move it from the contingency
[34:38] into this line item now, then it would kind of, uh, earmark it and, and go unused.
[34:44] So my advice would To the court would be to allow him to continue to use the budget
[34:48] he has and then we'll the auditor's office will keep track and assess and we can
[34:54] move it towards the end of the year if we need to to cover but that would allow him
[34:58] to go ahead and and get the help he needs, right? He would still be able to get the
[35:02] help. OK, OK. All right. And as far as the future plan, this person, uh, my understanding
[35:08] is they're gonna bump up to 30 hours a week. Once your other employee returns in
[35:12] January, do they stay at 30, or are they gonna go back to their normal schedule?
[35:18] Once the other employee returns, hopefully they'll return, then the part-time goes
[35:23] away. Yeah.
[35:27] All right. Uh, I would, uh, entertain a motion then to approve that $5400 part-time
[35:33] budget request for JP1. That's a motion by Commissioner Carraway. Second by Commissioner
[35:39] Harriet. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Judge.
[35:44] Thank you, Judge and commissioner. Item number 11. Considering to take necessary
[35:49] action to amend the on-site sewage facility fee scheduled to raise the commercial
[35:54] permit fee from 400 to 600 and authorize county judge sign all related documentation.
[36:00] Mr. Trace Stanley is here. If you'll come forward, Mr. Stanley, uh, he contacted
[36:04] me, um, this past week and, uh, and was telling me all about this, explaining it,
[36:10] and showed me, uh, average of what. Uh, other locations were charging for these,
[36:16] uh, and what it entailed, so I'm gonna let him explain that to us today. Um, OK,
[36:23] so before I took over the, uh, commercial permit fee was $500 my bid was at $400
[36:30] along with residential was also $400. I didn't see a need for there to be a difference
[36:34] in price between that, um, about two months in I saw that need, uh, because a lot
[36:39] of these commercial projects, RV parks and stuff like that take 4 or 5 trips to do
[36:44] the, uh, inspection. They might set tanks and then a couple of weeks later, uh, run
[36:50] sprinkler heads and it's all in stages. So it's, it's a multiple trips out there
[36:54] to do the inspection. And uh so I called around to counties around us just to see
[37:00] what their pricing was and um. I don't know if you want me to say what that is or
[37:06] well there were several that were. That were higher and then a couple that were lower,
[37:12] correct? Yes, yes, there's 2 that were lower and all of the rest were higher out
[37:17] of 7. Around us and so you, you landed on the 600, OK. Any
[37:25] comments or questions from the court for Mr. Stanley? I just have a comment for Mr.
[37:29] Stanley. I've sent a number of constituents y'all's way, and you have taken care
[37:33] of them. I get nothing but good feedback, and I just want to say thank you for what
[37:37] you're doing. Appreciate it. Yeah, I'll echo how professional and responsive you've
[37:42] been. It's been amazing from my perspective as well as the individuals that have
[37:47] dealt with you and I know you put a lot of thought and scrutiny into this, and you
[37:53] try very hard to keep it as simple and inexpensive as possible. So, uh, seeing a
[37:58] lot of these type facilities coming up in Smith County and Precinct 3, I see the
[38:03] need. And I, I, again, I would echo, I don't receive the calls that I used to receive,
[38:10] uh, in the past, and that's made a big difference because I know they're getting
[38:14] handled correctly, so we appreciate that. And when you, when you signed up for this,
[38:18] you told us that that's one of the things that you were customer service was gonna
[38:21] be something you focused on and it's showing, so we appreciate the work you're doing.
[38:26] I'd entertain a motion then to amend that on-site sewage facility fee to raise that
[38:31] commercial permit fee from 400 to 600 authorized county judge sign all related documentation.
[38:37] That's a motion by Commissioner Drury. Second by Commissioner Harriet. All in favor
[38:41] say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Stanley. All right. Item
[38:47] number 12. Considering to take necessary action to approve the county judge assigned
[38:51] the A replat for Dove Ridge Phase 2, Precinct 4, and B replat for the Stapleford,
[38:56] uh, phase 1, Precinct 3. Mr. Davis, yes, Judge and commissioners, uh. A, the replat
[39:04] is, uh, this is a replat of one lot in adjacent homeowners association common area
[39:09] into four lots. This is on a private road located off of County Road 438. Uh, B is
[39:16] a replat of 3 lots and an adjacent unplatted property into 3 lots. This is located
[39:21] on 41, excuse me, County Road 4119. Both these items meet the requirements of the
[39:26] subdivision regulations, and we recommend approval. Uh, comments or questions for
[39:30] Mr. Davis on these replats. I would entertain a motion then to uh authorize county
[39:37] judge to sign both of those replats as described. That's a motion by Commissioner
[39:42] Carraway, seconded by Commissioner Harriet. All in favor say aye aye. Any, any opposed?
[39:48] Motion carries item number 13. Receive pipe and or utility line installation request.
[39:53] This is notice only. A County Road 129 Cherokee County Electrical Electric Co op,
[39:59] uh, Cooperative Association Road board for fiber optic cable Precinct 1, B County
[40:04] Road 188 and 1353 Bright Speed install fiber optic cable Precinct 1. C County Road
[40:10] 1178. Right Speed install fiber optic cable Precinct 1, D County Road 1110, Wright
[40:17] City Water Supply install water line with road bore Precinct 2, E County Road 336
[40:23] and 334, Fritcher Construction Services install water line with road bore Precinct
[40:28] 3. F County Road 46 Center Point Energy install gas line for service Precinct 4 and
[40:34] G County Road 1149 Encore Electric replace pole in Precinct 4. Comments or questions
[40:41] on that for Mr. Davis. I, I just have a, a short question for Mr. Davis just for
[40:46] the benefit of the public. The road and bridge department doesn't get a plan for
[40:52] the year from Bright Speed or Cherokee County, right? That's correct. On any, any
[40:59] of the uh uh fiber optic companies that are installing, they have uh. Uh, areas that
[41:06] they have been authorized to, uh, put, uh. Cable in or fiber optics or whatever,
[41:13] but we don't have a, we don't have a plan out for where they're going to, uh, to
[41:17] do in the next, you know, 6 months other than the permits they do send in for that,
[41:21] but we don't have a, have a master plan from them. And what would be the timeline
[41:25] on the permits? How soon do you know they're gonna be? They usually about 6 months
[41:29] from when they give it to us because they will, uh, it depends on their workload,
[41:33] but also depends on whether like that. Uh, we have one right now that is we're extending.
[41:38] Because they have not started within their time frame, but it does still meet the
[41:41] requirements. Thank you for that clarification for the public. I appreciate it. All
[41:46] right, any other questions for Mr. Davis? All right. Hearing none, we go to item
[41:52] 14. Considering take necessary action to approve and or ratify payments, accounts,
[41:55] bills, payroll, transfer of funds, and health amendments in health claims. And we
[42:00] actually have three that I'm gonna list IT department, miscellaneous equipment, $25,713.07
[42:08] to equipment. And the same amount, uh, this is the PEO could not be split code funded,
[42:15] so we're transferring from one fund code to another and then we've got, uh, department
[42:22] 10.409 and 10.515. This is at a contingency of $17,125 for
[42:30] indigent health care, two indigent healthcare for the same amount, and then we have.
[42:36] This one's multiple. Um, this is Smith County Fund 10, uh, fiscal year 27 budget
[42:42] transfer. We've got, uh, HR salary and wages, uh, full-time 27,000 JP 2 salary and
[42:49] wages full-time 45,000 JP 2, insurance fringe, 8500 JP 3 salary permanent
[42:57] part-time, 20,000. The salary permanent part-time at $20,000 and then the DA's office
[43:05] salary and wages full-time $65,000 judicial services insurance fringe $120,000 capital
[43:13] contingency of $319,737 and this is all being transferred to Tyler Family Circle
[43:20] of Care and $50,000. Meals on Wheels of 5 15,000, Andrews Center of 170,000, Saint
[43:28] Paul Children's Foundation of 5000, Alzheimer's Alliance of 11,808, and uh Children's
[43:35] Advocacy Center of 50,000 Economic Development TEDC of $75,000 CASA $50,000 Historical
[43:43] Commission of $33,750 Civil Air Patrol, $6000 PAS $6000. Uh, this
[43:51] is facility services salary and wages full time $80,000 facility services insurance
[43:56] fringe $46,839. Uh, JP 3 salary and wages full time $20,000
[44:04] salary and wages full time $20,000. Agrilife salary and wages full time, uh, $13,487.
[44:11] Agrilife insurance fringe is $2,353. Uh, and that's for a total of
[44:18] $625,237 and this is from the auditor. So comments or questions on
[44:26] that, uh, for Mr. Hollis. Mr. Hollis, for that large transfer, can you break that
[44:32] down for the public? What's happening here? Sure, so, um, I'd kind of put out a narrative.
[44:39] Uh, I don't know if it was shared with the public, and it went through each transfer,
[44:43] um, ultimately. Uh, a big portion of the transfer, um, came from the fact that the
[44:51] court decided, um, later on in the budget process to fund the public service agencies
[44:56] using reserve funding. That capital contingency. Account was actually earmarked to
[45:04] go away because we hadn't used it historically. However, I left funds in it in the
[45:10] proposed budget and the adopted budget because um it pulled from reserve funds uh
[45:17] to contribute towards these public safety or I'm sorry, public service entities.
[45:23] The appropriation for the public service entities had been made. Under that category
[45:29] and so some were funded the this funds the remainder of those the salary and wages
[45:35] so. Um, as everyone on the court knows, the, the pay scale is approved at
[45:43] the same time as the budget, and so when you're doing the budget, obviously there's
[45:48] some, uh, kind of forecasting and estimate estimates, so that paired with there was
[45:54] a few, um, positions that, uh, needed to be modified, uh, the amounts were, were
[46:02] off or after the final pay scale or. There was um Uh, something
[46:10] missed in the transit between ClearGov and the, the actual budget spreadsheet, um,
[46:16] you know, ClearGov was new this year, does a lot of kinks to work out, and then,
[46:20] you know, going back and forth between Excel and ClearGov, um, judicial services,
[46:25] for example, that's another big one to explain that the fringe, um, had originally
[46:30] been budgeted for at the full amount of all the positions that were requested for
[46:35] judicial services for the courthouse, those. Um, uh, some of those were approved,
[46:42] but not all, and so this kind of pulls that back into, um, the contingency fund that's,
[46:49] that's then used to fund the public service agencies. Thank you for that. All right,
[46:55] thank you, sir. Now I would, uh, entertain a motion to approve and or ratify payments
[47:00] of accounts, bills, payroll, transfer of funds, amendments, and health claim. So
[47:04] move. That's a motion by Commissioner Carraway. 2nd, 2nd by Commissioner Harriet.
[47:08] All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. And now we have Ms. Delilah
[47:13] Reynoso. She's gonna speak on item number 15. Receive report on status of Smith County
[47:18] jail operations, inmate population, employee overtime, and employee vacancies. Ms.
[47:23] Reynoso Good morning commissioners and judge. Our elected officials have a responsibility
[47:31] to be good stewardess of taxpayers' money. Taxpayers deserve to know what they are
[47:36] paying for and how much it costs, whether it's working. This requires consistent
[47:41] data collecting and public, um, reporting. I'm asking this court to designate or
[47:47] to create or establish a committee with clear responsibilities and deadlines. Collect
[47:53] data on behavioral health needs in our jails, treatment delays, diversion services,
[47:58] and the full cost associated to local taxpayers. We do appreciate the sheriff for
[48:04] including the numbers of individuals sitting in our county jail who are currently
[48:08] on the forensic waitlist. This is an important step moving forward. Taxpayers deserve
[48:14] to know regular reporting how long these individuals have been waiting and once.
[48:18] The full costs associated of keeping them incarcerated in our county jail. This court
[48:24] should lead efforts to ensure finding inform in the next budget cycle. The new Andrews
[48:30] Center Behavioral Diversion Center creates an opportunity to connect people with
[48:34] services. Its announcement described the stabilization up to 23 hours in additional
[48:40] residential support at the Hope House up to 10 days. We need. To measure what happens
[48:46] and many of those individuals end up in our county jail for how many people are awaiting
[48:52] treatment for how long? What are the full costs associated? What are the short term
[48:58] care? Are people connected to the continuance treatment or are they returning back
[49:02] to the jails or to their emergency rooms? Without meaningful reliable local data,
[49:08] we cannot clearly show our state. Representation of unmet needs and the cause being
[49:15] carried by us Smith County local taxpayers to make a stronger case for the state
[49:21] when we go back into session. Before the next budget cycle, the public deserves deserves
[49:28] a clear accounting of what we spend and how we spend it, who we serve, and what the
[49:33] outcomes are achieved. Good student requires more than approving expenditures. Which
[49:39] member of, of, uh, which commissioner is going to take the lead effort in providing
[49:45] and collecting this data information? Thank you, Delila Reynoso. Thank you Ms. Reynoso.
[49:53] All right, now we have Chief Pinkerton come forward if you would.
[50:11] Good morning, Judge and commissioners. The Smith County jail population summary as
[50:16] follows. Federal inmates 18, other 26. Smith County count 845 out of the county
[50:24] 14. Total population 859. Scheduled for TDC this week is 28. Forensic waitlist minimum
[50:31] 32, maximum 10. Paper ready 123. Expenditure budget for 26
[50:38] $180,860. Federal inmate per diem, 800,000, 470,
[50:46] 440. Federal inmates this year, 6880. Peak Smith County, 871.
[50:54] Peak population 885. Provis 8. Provis new charges, 18. Child support one. Child support
[51:02] new charges 2, 64, misdemeanor pretrial waiting. Uh, pretrial felons, 371. Pretrial
[51:10] state jail felons, 152, 46 since the state jail county jail time. Since the TDC not
[51:17] paper ready, 46 since the state jail not paper ready, 13. It makes the emergency
[51:22] room 1711 openings. We have two that have turned their resignation in, uh, coming
[51:28] to work in 2 weeks. All right. Comments or questions for Chief. Chief, I just want
[51:35] to ask about the inmates that have gone to the emergency room. That's 2 weeks in
[51:39] a row we've almost hit, well, we've exceeded 10. Let's just say that we're at 19.
[51:44] In one report we're at 17. Is there, is there a breakout of a virus or something?
[51:50] We have 10 women in jail that are pregnant. 03 have been multiple times, and we had
[51:56] 2 that had chest pains that, um. And then one had to have actually have a little
[52:00] heart procedure, so oh my goodness. That's terrible. Um, on the
[52:08] committee work that Ms. Raynosa was talking about, do, do y'all have a report that
[52:13] you put out every year? Is there any documentation that you could just provide to
[52:17] the Word as a briefing. I didn't hear all what Ms. Reynoso said. She said so much.
[52:23] Uh, she was, she was wanting to get the actual cost of mental health patients on
[52:29] the county, um, taxpayers. And so I'm just, I don't know if y'all, I would like to
[52:35] assume that you already turn in some kind of report to the state. Is there something
[52:40] that could be translated to the court as a briefing? So what what you're asking is
[52:45] for the cost. So as far as the cost of a mental inmate who have mental health issues,
[52:50] yeah, there is a cost. I would tell you that it averages $165 a day to house an inmate
[52:57] to have mental health issues versus inmate that doesn't have any medical issues is
[53:01] $75 a day. OK. Is there a briefing that comes out of the meetings at
[53:09] the jail on the um Forensic waiting list, is there a briefing that you could supply
[53:15] to the court? Lieutenant Shoemaker is a part of that. I don't go to the meetings,
[53:21] but he can probably give you an update. But we have to be careful because this we
[53:25] are talking about people who have mental health issues and so we can't say too much.
[53:29] And so basically I, I put the best way I can put it is that as we know there's not
[53:35] a lot of mental health beds and so when a person come to jail have mental health
[53:40] issues, we treat them. But one of the things we do is once the court finds someone
[53:45] incumbent to stand trial, then they go to the forensic waitlist and they take a number
[53:50] and, and with 254 counties in the state of Texas, we're all awaiting game and there
[53:56] are inmates on the list at number 500 and so we have, like I said, there's 38 on
[54:01] the list right now and so it, it's, it's case by case. All right, thank you. And
[54:07] commissioner, this is one of the things that's on my list. I'm speaking with our,
[54:11] our reps and our senator soon along with a couple other people, but one of the things
[54:16] is the forensic waitlist because that's a serious issue and the state's the only
[54:19] one that could really, uh, change that for us and I like. The idea of getting the
[54:24] numbers in, uh, I'm gonna, I'm gonna talk to, uh, Donna Henry about the possibility
[54:29] of her working on some of that, some of that statistical data so that we can maybe
[54:34] work with, uh, Lieutenant as well, uh, on that. So thank you, sir, yep. Thank you,
[54:40] Chief.
[54:44] All right.
[54:47] That concludes item number 15, which is our last agenda item today. The time is now
[54:53] 10:23. Uh, y'all have a blessed before you do that, would you make mention. Oh, just,
[55:00] yeah, yeah, and, and we, we are missing one of our commissioners today. He's, he's
[55:04] had a death in his family. So please be in prayer for John Moore and his family if
[55:09] you would. Yeah, thank you. All right, it's 10:24 now. We're adjourned.
[55:19] You need to.