County Considers Tax Abatement for Fertilizer Facility

January 25, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners considered a tax abatement agreement with Sustainable Energy Soil Solutions, LLC. at their meeting held on Monday, January 25, 2016; however, a motion was carried to table the item until the next meeting. Morgan Barnett, general manager of the business, spoke with the commissioners about the process of making the fertilizer. Judge Allison Harbison remarked the business has already started working on the project, which may be an issue, as the adopted guidelines for tax abatements by the county include the project or business seeking the abatement not be in progress. Judge Harbison stated that will be for the commissioners to decide, and then move forward with a public hearing.

The business is located at the old Bruce Armstrong location off FM 699. The process includes taking raw poultry litter, composting, and then pelletizing the material so it can be bagged and marketed for fertilizer. Travis Rodgers, Commissioner Precinct 3, asked if there would be a smell to contend with emanating from the facility. Barnett stated they have 1400 tons of the chicken litter on the site for four months and they have had no complaints on the odor from anyone living nearby.

Shelby County is one of many counties in Texas which has been mandated to convert their filing system to digital, called e-filing. According to Lori Oliver, District Clerk, the process of e-filing began January 1, 2016. She believes the Supreme Court's goal is for the county to eventually be paperless and this means paper pleadings will no longer be accepted in the future. During court proceedings, when documents are filed, they will be scanned immediately into the computer system and the hard copy will be returned to the submitter.

The District Clerk office and County Clerk office will be purchasing computers for their clerks, but this will not cover all needed computers.

"There's not enough money in the judge's budget to purchase the computers and they're also asking for additional technology, or hardware so that [the District Judges] can write digital docket sheets," said Oliver.

A motion was carried to pay for the needed court technology out of the contingency fund.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.

Agenda items receiving approval include:

   1. Pay monthly expenses.
   2. Approve and renew Investment Policy.
   3. Approve to pay for Court Technology out of the county contingency fund to meet the E-file mandate.
   4. Appoint Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, to the DETCOG board.
   5.  Allow lease on the JP and Constable, Precinct 2, office building between Farmers State Bank and Shelby County which will extend automatically until February 1, 2017 to continue.
   6. Approve the Order authorizing Texas Independence Day Fireworks Sales.
    7. Adjourn at 10:05pm.

Items tabled during the meeting:

    Tax Abatement Agreement with Sustainable Soil Solutions, LLC.
    Approve FY2016 Interlocal Cooperation Act Contract between UTMB and Shelby County.