July 23, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners recognized $400,000 in interest to the budget during their meeting held June 26, 2024.
The commissioners considered a FY2024 budget amendment to recognize additional interest income and increase the courthouse repairs expense budget.
Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, outlined three projects that total around $350,000 in expense to the county.
“Three things that have happened that constitute making this budget amendment, one, annex repairs which have been extensive and are still ongoing. The elevator basically the rebuild that we're going to do, and then the roof at the Annex which we just discussed. So, those three things are over $350,000,” said Porterfield.
The commissioners were provided with details reflecting an interest income received over budget of $426,751.56, bringing the total to $726,751.56.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to increase the Courthouse Repairs fund by $400,000 with money from the Interest fund as presented by Auditor Porterfield, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout. The motion carried.
Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, commented on a couple of invoices received and the first was for repair to the elevator in the active courthouse from American Elevator Technologies in the amount of $4,952.87, and she also referenced receiving an invoice from A-lert Roof Systems in the amount of $56,615, which was under the proposed amount for repairs to the Courthouse Annex building.
Blackwell stated that even though the majority of the SWEPCO utility bills arrive in enough time to be paid around the same time, there are some that can come in later. She referenced two received fro the Historic 1885 Courthouse, at an amount of $1,681.44, and for the active courthouse, at an amount of $2576.44, for a total of $4,257.88 Blackwell asked to be added to the weekly expenses for payment.
Commissioner Stevie Smith, moved to pay the weekly expenses including the two additional bills, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Tom Bellmyer. The motion carried.
The commissioners were presented with a memorandum of agreement to consider between Burke Center and Shelby County for the purpose of receiving grant funds to be utilized by the Sheriff’s Department to establish a mental health deputy program.
Melanie Taylor, Burke Center CEO, said that five counties partnered with Burke Center on the grant and that $750,000 per year for two years has been approved for the program.
“There's five counties that partnered with us to do the grant, and we got $750,000 per year for two years, and we're very optimistic that the grant will be extended,” said Taylor. “The legislature solved a need. Our crisis intervention has increased dramatically over the last few years, not only the number, but the severity. I mean, the Sheriff Department can attest to that and most of the time the first responder to a crisis is your law enforcement officer.”
Taylor explained the application was made for the mental health deputy grant and it allows the county to hire a mental health deputy or use a current deputy to have the specialized training in mental health crisis intervention, allowing the Sheriff’s Department and Burke to work collaboratively with their mental health professionals and law enforcement who has a specialized training to help prevent people from living in jail or in emergency rooms. Taylor said it offers 75% and then the county does a 25% match.
“We currently have a mental health deputy who is Jim Ed Matthews. He basically anytime night or day he responds to a mental health crisis that we may have he's also over probably 90% of our mental health transports at this time,” said Shelby County Sheriff Chief Deputy Chad Hooper.
Chief Hooper said that while the meeting was ongoing, Matthews was transporting someone to Conroe while another officer was transporting individuals “in crisis” to Lufkin.
“I think the grant is a great asset to us why not let the state help pay for these issues. It would free up another deputy position, not that we have people meeting at our doors to fill them, but I think coming up with 25%, if they're going to pay the 75% would be great,” said Hooper.
Hooper explained the grant would pay for everything an officer needs, including a vest, computers, patrol car lease, fuel for transportation. He said that 99% of the people they transport are to Conroe, or south of Houston, which is expensive aside from the pay for the deputy, wear and tear on a vehicle and fuel.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved for the county to engage in the agreement with Burke Center contingent on the corrections County Attorney pointed out, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Roscoe McSwain. The motion carried.
The commissioners considered requesting bids for four belly dump trailers for the Road and Bridge Department to be paid from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Commissioner McSwain moved to request bids, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:08am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. FY2024 budget amendment to recognize additional interest income and increase courthouse repairs expense budget. 3. Memorandum of Agreement between Burke and Shelby County for the purpose of receiving grant funds to be utilized by the Sheriff’s Department to establish a mental health deputy program. 4. Request bids for four belly dump trailers for the Road and Bridge Department to be paid from ARPA funds. 5. Adjourn 10:08am.
