Shelby County Today

April 16, 2024 - The owner of this mower is offering $2000 cash, for the return of his property.

It is a Grasshopper 333VG5, 33 HP, 61° cut. serial #7113103.

Your name will remain anonymous contact Inv. Aaron Jones at Shelby County Sheriff's Office

Office 936.598.5601; Cell 936.572.7559; Fax 936.598.7893.

When the Sheriff gets the property, you will get the cash.

May 1, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners took further action Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to move forward with purchase of haul trucks using ARPA funds.

The commissioners then were presented with an update on the bid process for Road and Bridge haul trucks to be purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Judge Harbison said contact was made with Jessica Johnstone, GrantWorks, and her opinion was the best course of action to be taken is to send out requests for quotes, rather than going through the buy board.

“[Jessica's] working on that now and as soon as she gets it to Ann, she'll publish it and send out the packets to the large truck dealers in the surrounding areas and this process will take four to five weeks,” said Judge Harbison.

Commissioner McSwain moved to go forward with seeking the bids at the recommendation of the grant consultant. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout, and it carried.

A quote from Parkway Chevy for the purchase of three vehicles, two Chevrolet Tahoe’s and a pickup truck, for the Shelby County Sheriff Department was considered by the commissioners; however, they were hesitant to move forward without presence from the Sheriff’s Department during the meeting.

“It was requested by the sheriff, and I feel like that he wanted this to come out of the grant money that we received,” said Judge Harbison.

Judge Harbison was speaking about the grant funding the county has received from SB22, and through which the commissioners recently were able to provide additional raises at the Sheriff’s Department.

“It's kind of hard to have a discussion if the requestor is not here to at least present their case,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.

Commissioner Roscoe McSwain was concerned the request was for over $50,000 in value, which would require the county to seek bids to fulfill.

“Even though this has a buy board number, and this is grant money from the state, it doesn’t matter where the money is from. We should bid this out,” said McSwain. 

McSwain encouraged anyone to explain to him why, since it was a value over $50,000, bids shouldn’t be requested.

Commissioner Bellmyer reminded the court, that two months  previous, the Sheriff’s Department requested three vehicles, and at that the request was for F -150s and with the change in the request, he felt clarification is needed. Judge Harbison agreed clarity is needed before making a decision.

“I want clarification why we're not going out for bids, if their argument is ‘hey, these people have these vehicles in stock,’ that don't give you an out for not going out for bids if we need to go out for bids,” said McSwain.

Taking the future into consideration, Commissioner Bellmyer brought up the Sheriff’s position and the possibility action taken during the current administration would impact the future sheriff-elect, whoever they may be.

“Whoever it is, is going to inherit these vehicles and I think they ought to at least have a little influence on which way it goes too,” said Bellmyer.

Commissioner McSwain moved to table the Sheriff’s Department vehicles; Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.

The commissioners acknowledged and recorded the completion of a 12-week Enterprise Cyber Security Leadership Master Certificate program by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer/Cybersecurity Administrator, through the National Association of Counties Professional Development Academy.

“She had numerous activities and actually 200 activities in this leadership class that she had to complete and pass, and she did pass with flying colors,” said Judge Harbison.

Commissioner Stevie Smith moved to record the accomplishment, and it was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer. The motion carried.

Commissioner Tom Bellmyer referenced bills that were presented during the April 24, 2024 meeting, and he stated he misspoke in reference to signage he was billed for and for which he had not received the signs. Instead, the bill he referenced was for previous signs that have been installed and he was under the impression the bill was for a different order.

Bellmyer wanted to indicate the mistake was his, and not that of the vendor.

When the commissioners voted on this item at the previous meeting, they did vote to pay the current expenses and did not in that motion move to hold the payments of the bill presented.

A motion by Commissioner Stevie Smith was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer, and it carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:48am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Go forward seeking bids at the recommendation of the grant consultant for Road and Bridge haul trucks to be purchased with ARPA funds.
3. Acknowledge and record completion of 12-week Enterprise Cyber Security Leadership Master Certificate program through National Association of Counties Professional Development Academy for Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer/Cybersecurity Administrator.
4. Adjourn 9:48.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Discuss and possibly approve the quote from Parkway Chevy for the purchase of 3 vehicles for the Shelby Co. Sheriff Department.

April 29, 2024 - Ballot information for the upcoming May 28th Republican Party Primary Runoff Election is below. 

Voters from all precincts in Shelby County will have the same ballot for the Sheriff race. Voters in precincts 3 and 5 will also have the Constable, Pct 3 race on their ballots.

PRECINCTS 1N, 1S, 1SE, 1SW, 1W (Center), 2 (Excelsior), 4 (Huxley), 6 (Dreka), 7 (Shelbyville), 8 (Tenaha), 9N, 9S (Timpson)

PRECINCTS 3 (Sardis), 5 (Joaquin)

April 26, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners considered a property tax exemption during their meeting held Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and donated equipment for the Precinct 5 Constable’s office during their meeting held Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

The tax exemption being considered was for qualifying child-care facilities allowed under Senate Bill 1145 and Senate Joint Resolution 64 which was authorized with the passing of Proposition 2 in the 2023 Constitutional Election.
 
“Most counties are not adopting this tax exemption until somebody applies,” said Judge Harbison. “We have had an application and catch two it is, they can't qualify this year unless we do it by the 30th of this month.” 

Judge Harbison said she sent it to County Attorney John Price to look at it and research it. 

The Crayon Box has applied and there are several requirements they have to meet.

“The qualifying child care facility has to participate in the Texas Workforce Commission Rising Star program and I have certification that they do,” said Judge Harbison. “They have to have at least 20% of the total number of children enrolled in the facility. They have to receive subsidized child care services.” 

Judge Harbison confirmed for Commissioner Bellmyer, The Crayon Box exceeds the 20%, with 89 children enrolled and 32 of those receiving childcare assistance.

The abatement states the percentage tax exemptioon adopted by the governing body cannot be less than 50%. Price confirmed it could be greater, but not less than 50%.

“The daycare facilities in our county are few and far between, good daycare facilities and from what I understand this one is a good daycare,” said Blackwell.

Commissioner Lout move to approve the property tax exemption. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.

Commissioner Bellmyer then moved to approve the resolution adopting a property tax exemption for qualifying child-care facilities at 50%. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout and it carried.

The commissioners considered a donation of equipment by the City of Timpson to benefit the Precinct 5, Deputy Constable.

“This is a mobile in-car printer for the deputy constable to write citations and give out tickets and court dates for the deputy criminal trespass and things like that and the city of Timpson is going to be purchasing it,” said Judge Harbison.

Commissioner Bellmyer confirmed it means the constable would be performing traffic stops and he commented that he looks forward to reports on that.

Judge Harbison said she would to Constable Tipton now that his office will be performing traffic stops, a racial profiling report would need to be provided.

Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the City of Timpson making a donation to support the deputy constable. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith, and the motion carried.

The commissioners approved a property proclamation declaring April 28 through May 5 as Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Program Week. 

The proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, fertile soil and clean water provide us with our daily sustenance, and
WHEREAS, effective conservation practices have helped provide us a rich standard of living, and
WHEREAS, our security depends upon healthy soil and clean water, and 
WHEREAS, stewardship calls for each person to help conserve these precious resources,
Therefore, I, do hereby proclaim the week of April 28- May 5, 2024 as
Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week.

Commissioner Smith moved to approve the proclamation, and it was seconded by Commissioner Lout. The motion carried.
 
During the meeting Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, reported making the final payment on the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse in the amount of $9 ,000.

Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, mentioned having a lot of tree expense due to a hail storm. $10,000 this week and an additional $6,000 expected in the following week.

Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, said they would be doing the exact same thing in his precinct.

A part for the heating system at the Sheriff’s Department was reported at a cost of $4,800.

Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, referenced a bill for signs in his precinct which he has not yet received. Blackwell agreed to hold the check and not pay yet.

Two bills from SWEPCO, one for the active courthouse, and another for the Historic Courthouse were just received the night before the meeting and were added to the bills at $3,437.79.

A motion by Commissioner Bellmyer to approve and pay weekly expenses was seconded by Commissioner Lout. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:58am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Current Payroll.
3. Property Tax Exemption for qualifying Child-Care Facilities allowed under Senate Bill 1145 and Senate Joint Resolution 64 authorized with passing of Proposition 2 in the 2023 Constitutional Election.
4. Resolution Adopting a Property Tax Exemption for Qualifying Child-Care Facilities.
5. Donation of equipment by the City of Timpson to benefit the Precinct 5, Deputy Constable.
6. Proclamation declaring April 28th – May 5th, 2024 as Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week.
7. Adjourn