December 11, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners covered several utility maintenance issues during their December 3, 2025 meeting, as well as discussing the need for a funeral home transport policy.
When the commissioners reviewed the weekly expenses and Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, stated the county would be paying the funeral home bill from the previous week’s bills.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain commented further on the payment of the policy and considering alterations to the county policy on funeral home expense.
“I’m fine with going ahead and paying that bill today, but I do want us to research and decide exactly what our policy is going to be and what we are going to pay and not going to pay,” said Commissioner McSwain.
Blackwell commented that once they do that all funeral homes, and Justices of the Peace can then be informed as to what the policy is.
“If a JP (Justice of the Peace) orders an autopsy, you know we may have an obligation that we have to pay the pickup, but if it’s a pickup from home or anywhere else we shouldn’t be involved in that,” said McSwain. “I don’t care if it’s beside the road or home, or the hospital, if it’s not an ordered autopsy pickup for transfer somewhere we ain’t the ones gonna pay to pickup no matter who you are, we shouldn’t be paying it.”
Commissioner Stevie Smith moved to pay the weekly expenses with the addition of the funeral home invoice from the previous week. A second was heard from Commissioner McSwain and the motion carried.
The commissioners reviewed the payroll and County Judge Allison Harbison asked Sheriff Gerald Corbell if the Sheriff’s Department is still 100% staffed.
“We’re short in dispatch, we had a full-time employee resign,” said Sheriff Corbell.
Sheriff Corbell stated the spouse of the dispatcher passed away, and it was necessary for the dispatcher to resign.
“We still have that vacancy and we’re still having to fill it with people that are on their days off or however we can,” said Sheriff Corbell.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved to approve the payroll and Commissioner McSwain seconded the motion, which carried.
During the Commissioners Court Reports portion of the meeting Judge Harbison shared that the gas supply to the AgriLife building had inadvertently been shut off as other portions of the old Center Elementary School campus where the office is located were disconnected.
Judge Harbison said that a plan is underway by Isch Plumbing, Co. to reconnect the gas to the AgriLife building.
The HVAC at the Historic Courthouse was another issue that Judge Harbison brought to the attention of the commissioners and that it would be on the following meeting agenda and she said she had a quote at that time for around $19,000 to repair the HVAC system to resolve a leak issue.
Ann Blackwell commented that all large events, such as weddings, have been canceled at the courthouse until the courthouse is in better shape.
Judge Harbison commented that people who are familiar with the building, such as the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, can utilize the building for the time being.
Commissioner McSwain commented that Casey Anderson has been working diligently on a slideshow for the upcoming county auction that they will be featuring on social media, and that it would be shareable. It was the commissioner’s opinion that social media would be how the county would reach “the people,” and he encouraged everyone to share the event.
Commissioner Bellmyer stated that the contractor for the Huber water well had been to the site installing the electrical that is required and that it was projected to take a few days.
The contractor, Jeff Dean, who is going to be constructing the new Precinct 4 office should have a floor plan for review soon.
Commissioner Bellmyer confirmed with Sheriff Corbell that Southern Medical will begin servicing the Shelby County Jail, and they began to become acquainted with the facility on December 1.
Commissioner Smith announced the closure on Thursday, December 4, 2025, of CR 3267 between the Lone Cedar and Campti Communities.
He said that a delivery truck struck a bridge railing and that it was in need of repair. Commissioner Smith said the project was planned to start in the morning following the meeting and that it was projected to last for eight hours until completion.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Pay current Payroll. 3. Adjourn at 9:51am.
