August 27, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners were updated Judge Allison Harbison on the non-compliance designation of the Shelby County Jail applied by the Texas Commission of Jail Standards during the Commissioners' Court Reports portion of their meeting August 14, 2024.
“We did get another letter from jail standards, and it appears that I will be spending a lot of time in Austin, because we have to be there every time. Every quarter they meet, Shelby County has to have a representative there until all delinquencies are met. That's really all I have to say about that,” said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison indicated for the commissioners a copy of the letter from TCJS was included in their meeting information for reference and she invited any of the commissioners to attend as well, if they would like, and for the sheriff to be there.
“There will be some things on the agenda next week, I didn't put them on there this week because there was not going to be a representative from the sheriff's office, so we'll get that on there next week to correct a couple of physical problems over there (in the jail) with the lighting and wiring and things like that,” said Harbison.
Judge Harbison indicated that only one of the items they have to address could actually be fixed with someone making repairs.
“The rest of them were just record keeping and and things like that, so I think the media already has a copy of it because I saw it on [Shelby County Today] this morning,” said Judge Harbison.
She stated news media is also seeking comment from her on the issue of the non-compliant jail.
Judge Harbison informed the commissioners the information is available in her office for review and items related to it would be added to the following week agenda. She invited comment from the commissioners on the subject and Commissioner Tom Bellmyer accepted the invitation.
“The initial letter, I mean it goes back from March of [20]23 and we've been in and out of compliance and I know that you (Judge Harbison) and the previous chief deputy and had to actually go to Austin, but I guess what hurts my feelings some is if you look at the letter, the cover letter, the governor of Texas is copied on this letter. Greg Abbott actually gets a copy and knows that Shelby County is not in compliance,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
He further stated he would be glad to go to Austin to help represent Shelby County.
“I will tell you, they were doing the jail inspection the day we came back from College Station, and I spent the afternoon up there. And the new jail inspector is a great guy, and he explained everything to us. So I don't feel like this was knit-picking, I think it was things that really need to be fixed,” said Judge Harbison
She reiterated the remaining issues are paperwork and “jailers doing their job.”
On another subject, Commissioner Bellmyer stated that on the Friday previous to the meeting, an engineer, driller and Billy Askins met at the Huber Water Well site and the driller liked the site he said that Askins had prepared it properly and he told them that he would move in on the project in two weeks.
“That was good news we've been kind of waiting on that, and so hopefully we'll get a new water well there for the folks in Huber,” said Bellmyer.
Sherry Riley, Veterans Service Officer, updated the commissioners on VA expenditures for Shelby and San Augustine Counties for the fiscal year 2022-2023 which she stated always runs a year behind in reporting.
According to Riley, the veteran population in Shelby county has decreased by 42 the total benefits received by Shelby County veterans increased by $123,000. Compensation increased by $278,000 Education and Vocational Rehabilitation decreased by $4,000 while insurance and indemnities decreased by $39,000. Medical care decreased by $111,000 and unique patients increased by five. Overall, benefits received by Shelby County veterans through the following of compensation and pension benefit claims in fiscal year 2023 is $18,105,000.
The San Augustine veteran population increased by 11 and total benefits received by San Augustine County veterans decreased by $472,000. Compensation decreased by $129,000. Education and Vocational Rehabilitation decreased by $34,000, insurance and indemnities increased by $4,000, medical care decreased by $314,000 and unique patients decreased by 24. Overall benefits received by San Augustine county veterans through the filing of compensation and pension benefit claims in fiscal year 2023 is $7,856,000.
Riley then referenced specifics of her of her office, “There's been 64 total claims filed in the past 12 months, of these claims eight were awarded at 100 percent, three were awarded at 90 percent seven at 80 percent three at 70 percent three at 60 percent three at 50 percent, and five were awarded under 50 percent,” said Riley. “Five of the total claims were DIC claims, also known as widow's pension. Four of those have been awarded, which enables these widows to have a monthly income for the rest of their lives and health insurance and one of those claims is pending.”
Of the 64 claims that have been made, 15 claims are pending decision, and seven claims have been denied.
Judge Harbison questioned if those that were denied were appealing those decisions and Riley said some of them were appealable issues while others were not.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:57am.
Officers reports for the month of June as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer:
Fees for the month of June 2024
Officers reports for the month of June 2024 as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer:
- Debora Riley, Tax Assessor Collector - Property: $126,474.56; Motor Vehicle: $31,351.1; Total: $157,825.71
- Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk - $37,598.60
- Lori Oliver, District Clerk - $12 ,673.85
- Donna Hughes, JP1 - $22,487.10
- Marla Denby, JP2 - $1,546
- Melba Rodgers, JP3 - $2,121.50
- Dee Dee Green, JP4 - $2,429.00
- Tracy Broadway, JP5 - $4,654.25
- Zack Warr, Constable 1 - $345.00
- James Hagler, Constable 2 - $90.00
- Roy Cheatwood, Constable 3 - $250.00
- Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4 - $180.00
- Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5 - $90.00
- Sheriff’s Fees - $1,005.00
Total of $243,296.01
Total investments of $16.288,011.56
Total interest earned on investments of $81,594.46
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of July 3 Special Meeting, July 3 Budget Workshop, July 10 Regular Meeting, July 12 Emergency Meeting, July 24 Special Meeting and July 31 Special Meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Weekly Expenses 3. Payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Adjourn - 9:57am.
