June 19, 2017 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved the purchase of camera equipment needed for the Constable Precinct 4 office by way of the combination of forfeiture funds from the District Attorney's Office and Constable's office.
Jake Metcalf, Constable Precinct 4, explained for the commissioners that as a result of previous lawsuits involving Tenaha, it's a requirement for the Precinct 4 Constable's office to have camera equipment capable of time/date stamping within the vehicle for traffic stops. The camera is to record GPS coordinates and radar readings as well.
"The system I currently have is no longer working. We don't know what has happened to it, if it was so old it just quit working or what," said Constable Metcalf.
Metcalf presented the commissioners with a quote for $4,620 for the DVM-800 Complete kit camera system and VuVault software, which he said includes everything needed to comply with the lawsuit. The current system has used DVD for capturing video, and the new system will record straight to an SD card.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison explained the equipment is something that is required for Constable Metcalf to perform his duties. She said using money from the county contingency fund was being considered.
"You need to make sure everybody understands on court that this goes back to the Tenaha lawsuit that if you are to do any interaction with anyone, otherwise you go home and sit and draw you a check. You've got to have this," said Roscoe McSwain, Precinct 1 Commissioner.
Constable Metcalf commented he didn't think it would be good for the county tax payers if he sat at home and drew a check. He explained he has to send in 10% of the videos of any of the interaction he has with the public to the federally court appointed monitor for review.
Clint Porterfield, Shelby County Auditor, remarked the Constable 4 forfeiture account has a little over $3,000. He also referenced an opinion letter written by Shelby County District Attorney Stephen Shires in February 2017.
"In February of this year we purchased some equipment out of our forfeiture account. Mr. Shires was gracious enough to write us an opinion letter, which stated what the decree requires and doesn't require," said Porterfield.
In abiding with the opinion of Shires, the purchase of equipment was made by way of funds from the forfeiture account. In light of the opinion presented by the District Attorney, Porterfield proposed using the funds to purchase the equipment for the constable's office.
Shires was in court on the day of the meeting and he stated, "yes, absolutely," regarding the use of the funds for purchase of the equipment.
"I could use my forfeiture account to pay the balance as well," said Shires.
A motion was carried to pay for the equipment and its installation out of the Constable Precinct 4 forfeiture fund and the District Attorney forfeiture fund.
At a previous meeting of the commissioners tabled considering reimbursement of travel expenses to county employees. Judge Harbison said anything overnight is $40 a day and anything under 12 hours employees must submit receipts for their meals. Two options were presented with option 1 reimbursing up to $8 for breakfast; $14 for lunch; and $18 for dinner. Option 2 would reimburse up to $40 regardless of what meals it may goes towards.
A motion carried approving option 2.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:53am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Minutes of the May 8 regular meeting and May 22 special meeting of Shelby County Commissioners' Court.
2. Pay monthly expenses.
3. Amend personnel policy by adding $40 a day travel expense for meals.
4. Patrol camera equipment for Constable Precinct 4 at a cost of $4,620.
5. Adjourn at 9:53am.
Items tabled include:
1. DETCOG Regional Mutual Aid Agreement.
Officers' report
Fees collected per office for May:
Deborah Riley, Tax Assessor/Collector, office: Property: $200,043.31; Motor Vehicle: $27,605.26 for a total of $227,648.57
Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk: $53,523.88
Lori Oliver, District Clerk: $23,242.20
Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1: $7,738.00
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2: $2,080.10
Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3: $5,954.00
Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4: $3,692
Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5: $2,296
Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1: $1,155
James Hagler, Constable Precinct 2: $0.00
Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3: $0.00
Jake Metcalf, Constable Precinct 4: $180
Robert Hairgrove, Constable Precinct 5: $0.00
Grand total: $326,174.75
Interest and Sinking Fund generated $0.00 for a total book value of $34,886.72
Insurance Fund generated $0.00 for a total book value of $25,507.00
Money Market CD#1 generated $245.65 total market value of $427,205.76
Money Market CD#2 generated $245.23 total market value of $426,469.24
Money Market CD#3 generated $244.80 total market value of $425,733.98
Money Market CD#4 generated $0.00 total market value of $485,287.00
Total CD Transactions $735.68 at a total market value of $1,764,695.98
Shelby County Money Market value of $25,038.06
Total Interest earned on investments $61,166.73
Total investments of $1,789,734.04
Interest Bearing Checking Accounts for May 2017
General Fund: 0.10% - $901.21
DA Forfeiture Non-Traffic: 0.05% - $0.82
DA Forfeiture - Traffic: 0.05% - $0.15
County Attorney Collections: 0.10% - $.70
County Clerk Account: 0.10% - $2.58
Tax Assessor VIT: 0.10% - $2.14
Tax Assessor Property: 0.10% - $23.81
DA Forfeiture Fund 37: 0.10% - $0.44
Total Interest Collected: $931.85
Jake Metcalf - Constable Precinct 4 May 2017 Activity Report - Click here to view
