July 24, 2019 - Construction of a new building for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 office was approved by the Shelby County Commissioners during their July 24, 2019 meeting.
The proposed building construction is set to begin October 1, 2019 at the beginning of the new budget year. The company awarded the bid for the construction was EZ Way Services out of Shelbyville.
The commissioners collective opinion is a structure built on site would be more beneficial to the county than a pre-fab building which Commissioner Tom Bellmyer suggested would potentially have the county revisiting the issue again in 15-18 years.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the $73,815 project by E-Z Way Construction to build the new Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 structure.
At this time the property the county is considering placing the new structure on is just next door to the current location on Nacogdoches Street and was donated to the county by Rick Campbell in 2018.
The representative of EZ Way Services stated it should take 30 days once they begin construction to complete the project.
It was also brought up by Commissioner Bellmyer, there may need to be some additional alteration to the new Shelby County Sheriff's Department fence in relation to the new Justice of the Peace office.
After the motion was approved for the construction of the new structure another motion carried to reject bids previously presented to the commissioners for the remodel of the Juvenile Probation office building.
Commissioner Bellmyer proposed adding reduced speed limits to some of the county roads in his precinct. He said without posted speed limits, as is the current state on most county roads, there isn't much ability to enforce the speed limit.
He said there is a section in the transportation code which would allow for the county to adjust the speed limits on those roadways. (Click here to view the transportation code).
"It gives the county the right to set a lower speed limit than the maximum set by the state," said Bellmyer. "It needs the discussion and it needs approval by the court and it allows the commissioner or the road superintendent to establish those lower speed limits."
Bellmyer says he has some roads in his area that are more narrow than would be preffered and some that are high traffic. He just said he would like the ability to help slow some of the traffic.
Commissioner Jimmy Lout agreed he would like to be able to make similar adjustements in his precinct.
A motion carried to table the item for further investigation and discussion.
Members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas spoke with the commissioners about their tribe and the positive impact of Naskila Gaming on Deep East Texas. Representatives of the tribe have been traveling east Texas seeking support.
Quinn Poncho, with the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, spoke about supporting the gaming facility so it can stay open.
Judge Allison Harbison remarked the majority of the counties in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments have already signed resolutions of support.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council issued a letter which was shared with the commissioners to explain their desire of support.
The following pertains to the bill which the tribe was seeking support of: The resolution is in support of H.R. 759 amending the tribe's 1987 Restoration Act under Sec. 301. Rule of Construction: "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude or limit the applicability of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) This bill will clarify the Pueblo and Tribe are permitted to offer Class II electronic bingo, under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ("IGRA"), just like the other federally recognized tribe in Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas in Eagle Pass, in operation since 1996. H.R. 759 is specific to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe and will have no impact on any other federally recognized Indian tribe.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve supporting the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe.
The meeting was adjourned.
Agenda items approved during the meeting incluide: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Current Payroll. 3. Resolution Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas to address the court. 4. Commissioner Pct. 1 to purchase a new Cataerpiller Motor Grader Model 140M3. 5. $73,815 project by EZ Way Services to build the new Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 structure. 6. 2 year extension on the current Depository Contract with Farmers State Bank. 7. Resolution for 2 year extension on current Depository Contract with Farmers State Bank. 8. Enter into an agreement between the State of Texas (TXDMV) and Shelby County to issue license plates and audit paper. Angela Norton was also named custodian. 9. Renew annual agreement with Computer Information Concepts for Tax Office. 10. Adjourn. Tabled: 1. Speed limits on some of Pct. 4 County Roads.
