March 21, 2024 - Shelby County Jail inmates being housed in Panola County continue to be a heavy expense to the county and Shelby County Commissioners were informed of the continuing monthly expenditure during their March 13, 2024 meeting.
Ann Blackwell reviewed some of the bills with the commissioners as she gave the officers’ report, with a very notable expense being for Shelby County prisoners housed in Panola County at a total of $26,450 for the month from February 1 to February 29, 2024.
Another expense she highlighted was one for $17,583.78 to Motorola Solutions, Inc. for regular annual maintenance to the Spielman program for the Sheriff’s Department.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer stated, “Looks like we've got a pretty good bill to Panola County, we’ve got several folks housed there now?”
Blackwell confirmed there are more than several being housed in Panola County.
“We do, and he has, and I believe that he's brought all he can back to the jail. The jail is full, I believe,” said County Judge Allison Harbison.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to approve the weekly expenses, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout, the motion carried.
During Blackwell’s financial report to the commissioners, she reported the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund expenses for February leading up to March was $283,097.88 and leaving an ending balance at that time of $1,941,110.87.
The Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) expenses for the same time period as previously referenced were $26,543.26, leaving an ending balance for the fund of $191,076.64.
Blackwell referenced worksheets provided to the commissioners relating to the LATCF and ARPA funds. This includes the new trucks the commissioners are planning on using ARPA funds to purchase, and the potential price tag on those referenced at the previous meeting ranged from $180,000 each to $250,000 each. This would potentially be a $720,000 to $1 million expense.
A fence, at a cost of $10,000, at the Jackson Paxton Water Supply well project was all Blackwell says remains on that project. An update on Huber water well is also anticipated.
Blackwell stated the election equipment project is completed and the projects for AgriLife and the gym have been removed from the list.
According to Blackwell, the fund balance including the estimated trucks for the commissioner precincts, would be $603,271.27.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the officers’ report and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout, and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned to executive session at 9:46am and returned to open session at 10:24am
Commissioner Bellmyer explained, one of the items the court discussed during executive session was a piece of property adjacent to the precinct four barn.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to move forward with the condemnation process on that property and go out for an appraisal with an independent appraiser for the value of that property. Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded the motion, and it carried.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain sought approval to purchase sand from Darin Borders for the pugmill. He stated it was discussed in the past by the court that they were going to purchase sand somewhere in Joaquin this year for temporary use and then move around if we needed.
“That sand did not test out to be usable for the pugmill. So I've moved to a different location in Precinct 1 off of Highway 96 South, close to where the mills been, and done soil samples of an open field that have no trace, nothing to remove, said Commissioner McSwain.
He stated that land is owned by Mr. Darin Borders with a good oil field road access to the property already in place.
Commissioner McSwain said he would like to have the project locked down for a two-year contract.
Commissioner McSwain made a motion to move forward with getting a contract together and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout, the motion carried.
The commissioners considered the purchase a license at a yearly cost of $3,000 for the Guardify Program for storage and access to forensic interviews performed at the CAC for the benefit of the District Attorney and District Courts.
Judge Harbison said the program transcribes interviews and Karren Price, District Attorney, said to her it would be invaluable for her office in their work.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to purchase the software license as requested at a yearly cost of $3,000, out of the District Attorney budget, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain. The motion carried.
Judge Harbison said there is someone that has agreed to do temporary custodian work two to three days a week. And whenever we do open the bids for the bid packets and everything and set a date for a new custodian to work, she's just agreed to work until that time.
“She has worked with the previous custodian in the past, and I think she'd be a really good fit,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to enter into an agreement with the person through a contract for $2,400 a month County Attorney John Price has put together, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain. The motion carried.
“My secretary has asked to go on a part-time. She would like to keep indigent health care and be the website coordinator,” said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison confirmed it’s probably not more than 20 hours a week, and that it’s an hourly position.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the indigent health care coordinator and website administrator on a part-time basis and set the rate of pay at its current rate. Commissioner Lout seconded the motion and it carried.
“Just as a matter of policy, as a point of reference, we have a pay scale at the [Sheriff’s Office], and it has a starting rate and an ending rate,” said Clint Porterfield, County Auditor. “We've also done this in a couple of other situations, where a person goes from full-time to part-time, they usually give up first of all their benefits. And then they usually go back to the starting pay rate of that position or the starting pay rate or the base rate. That’s all I want to say.”
Commissioner Bellmyer explained his position on the pay, “I guess for me, I understand looking at a part-time individual and full-time individuals, but to have a person that is going back to part-time from a full-time position, you have a certain amount of training and experience that you're paying for.”
Porterfield said it’s no different than any of the other positions.
The motion carried.
“I would like to hire an administrative assistant and set the pay rate at the $14, which is the beginning rate of clerical for courthouse,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Lout moved for Judge Harbison to hire an administrative assistant, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:39am
Officers’ reports for the month of February as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer:
Fees for the month of February 2024
- Debora Riley, Tax Assessor Collector - Property: $1,602,617.12; Motor Vehicle: $207,777.47; Total: $1,810,394.59
- Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk - $38,429.04
- Lori Oliver, District Clerk - $14,307.30
- Donna Hughes, JP1 - $21,112.00
- Marla Denby, JP2 - $927
- Melba Rodgers, JP3 - $3,246.00
- Dee Dee Green, JP4 - $5,098.70
- Tracy Broadway, JP5 - $10,406.65
- Zack Warr, Constable 1 - $1,060.00
- James Hagler, Constable 2 - $90.00
- Roy Cheatwood, Constable 3 - $250.00
- Taylor Fanguy, Constable 4 - $91.00
- Josh Tipton, Constable 5 - $450.00
- Sheriff’s Fees - $795.00
- Total of $1,906,657.28
Total investments of $20,524,881.52
Total interest earned on investments of $92,184.79
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of February 7, 2024 Special meeting, February 14, 2024 Regular meeting, February 21, 2024 Special meeting, February 28, 2024 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Pay current Payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Move forward with the condemnation process on a property beside the Precinct 4 barn and go out for an appraisal with an independent appraiser for the value of that property. 6. Commissioner Pct. 1 to purchase sand from Darin Borders for the Pugmill. 7. Purchase a license at a yearly cost of $3,000 for the Guardify Program for storage and access to forensic interviews performed at the CAC for the benefit of the District Attorney and District Courts. 8. Compensation for the temporary custodian of $2,400 a month and set a pay rate and requirements. 9. Allow the Indigent Health Coordinator to move to a part-time position and set the rate of pay at the “current pay rate.” 10. Allow the County Judge to hire an Administrative Assistant and set the rate of pay at $14 an hour. 11. Adjourn at 10:39am.
