January 3, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners moved forward with the purchase of tasers for the Sheriff's Department and County Constables during their meeting held December 29, 2023, and they heard updates on ARPA projects which they have previously discussed.
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The commissioners considered the weekly expenses as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, who commended Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, for work their crews did on qualifying gravel covered by a grant by the Forest Service.
An invoice which was in need of paying was for the Historic Courthouse Master Plan, and Blackwell explained a determination needed to be made of where the $22,500 was going to be sourced to pay the bill. The contingency fund had been considered before; however, it has no funds available to cover the expense. The total of the expenditure is around $90,000 and the initial payment would be 25% of that amount. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, encouraged the funds to be sourced from the Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) and he said that would relieve some funding from the Contingency Fund, and “put it in the black.”
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Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, moved in accordance with the statement of McSwain in reference to the Master Plan being paid from the LATCF and Commissioner McSwain added the motion is to pay all of the weekly expenses with the exception of the Master Plan on a normal basis, and Commissioner Lout seconded the motion.
The commissioners discussed an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects which have been approved and considered in the past. One of the most notable projects was a water well for the Huber Water Supply Corporation, which Ann Blackwell stated has been on the list for two years now, and it doesn’t seem to be moving forward. The original amount that was earmarked for the project was $280,000.
“We have an estimate now of $650,[000] plus $200,000, plus engineering fees,” said Blackwell, and she continued to elaborate, “That project’s almost two years old and it hasn’t moved anywhere.”
Commissioner Bellmyer remarked the Jackson, which came later that the Huber project, is almost ready to be up and running.
Commissioner Bellmyer gave an update on the project being performed on CR 4356.
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“The north side of the bridge has got all the piles driven, pile caps in place, welded out. All of the head walls are in on it,” said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer said he expects completion is going to be close to be ready for a school bus to be able to travel over the bridge by January 8th, but all of the materials are on site, and with the cooperation of weather the project is going to be close.
In reference to tasers for the Sheriff’s Department, the commissioners approved the issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County.
John Price, County Attorney, researched what options were available after the previous meeting.
“I did find an attorney general’s opinion that convinces me that this commission has the authority under 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to order an exemption or find an exemption based on the issue of preserving and protecting the public health and safety,” said Price.
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Price said this would make it so the county wouldn’t have to comply with the provisions of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code which references the bid process.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the issuance of the order and Commissioner Lout seconded the motions.
The commissioners considered a contract for the purchase of tasers in the amount of $60,350.40 and a motion was made by Commissioner Bellmyer to approve the purchase with funds from the LATCF and for Commissioner McSwain to sign the contract, a second was given by Commissioner Smith.
The IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 was considered by the commissioners and a motion by Commissioner Lout to approve the new rate of 67 cents a mile was seconded by Commissioner Smith.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. ARPA funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance finalized contract amount for the new pug mill from Pug Mill Systems including additional options wanted on the machine. 3. Issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County. 4. Purchase of Tasers for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Constables. 5. IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 of 67 cents per mile. 6. Adjourn.
