June 7, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved the declaration of June as Elder Abuse Prevention Month during their Wednesday, May 31, 2023, meeting.
Tracey Belin, Adult Protective Services, spoke with the commissioners about June being Elder Abuse Prevention Month and described some of the things for which her organization is responsible. Belin said she has been with the agency 24 years this summer.
“You guys have been instrumental with making sure that our program runs the way it’s supposed to,” said Belin. “Adult Protective Services, as you know our sister agency is Child Protective Services (CPS).”
Belin pointed out that CPS, since it represents children, is a little more well-known than APS; however, APS in the counties they serve, including Shelby County, is necessary to safeguard and protect the rights of elderly individuals 65 and older and disabled individuals 18 and older. APS works to make certain these individuals know their rights and if they don’t, APS can step in and make sure they make the best decision for those individuals with the information they have.
“Our program investigates abuse, neglect and exploitation in elderly and disabled adults,” said Belin. “We do a lot of different things in that realm of it, we investigate exploitation which is the taking and receiving of somebody else’s money without their consent. We do physical abuse, we do self-neglect which is inappropriate spending of their money, unable to pay their bills with their monthly income.”
Belin stated that their intakes have increased, and there isn’t actually a representative specific to Shelby County, Lakeisha Holden handles San Augustine and Shelby County. Belin explained her job involves community engagement.
“Just want to thank the commissioners and Judge [Allison] Harbison for always making sure our mental health warrants get signed,” said Belin.
Belin also expressed gratitude to law enforcement and their assistance in help APS to get their jobs done.
A motion carried by the commissioners to declare June as Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
Melanie Taylor, Chief Executive Officer for the Burke Center, spoke with the commissioners about services the Burke Center provides to Shelby County.
Taylor addressed a change in the Burke service area that was impacted by redistricting in the state.
“Jasper County ended up with Speaker [Matthew] Phelan is their representative, which also serves the Beaumont region,” said Taylor. “So they ended up moving from the Deep East Texas Council Of Governments to the Southeast Texas Council of Governments.”
The commissioners had on their agenda, for consideration, an interlocal agreement including changes to Burke’s service region to no longer include Jasper County as of September 1, 2023 and allow the County Judge to sign documents to this effect on behalf of Shelby County.
Earlier during Taylor’s presentation, she gave some history on the Burke Center and that it was formed in 1974 by Commissioners’ Courts across the state, and then as a result the state provides funding.
Every three years the Commissioners’ Court selects a representative to be on the Burke Center board, and John Howard is Shelby County’s representation. Taylor said Howard is very active in that position.
“You probably see every year when you do your budget a line item for Burke, and it may be immaterial to your big budget, but what that is about is when you formed us each county agreed to provide match to draw down state dollars,” said Taylor. “So that first $8,000 is the match that you give us to draw down to provide services that we do.”
Taylor said 15 to 16 years ago the counties got together and addressed a crisis situation, which in turn an emergency crisis center was built. The counties agreed to contribute 25% of that cost and Shelby County contributes around $16,000 to that, according to Taylor. She said they are able to draw down 75% state revenue with the funding from the county.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the changes to Burke’s service region.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Changes to Burke’s service region to no longer include Jasper County as of September 1, 2023 and allow the County Judge to sign documents to this effect on behalf of Shelby County. 3. Proclamation declaring June as Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. 4. Allow the County Clerk to replace the fluorescent light fixtures in her office with LED fixtures. 5. Insurance payment for the Road and Bridge #3 excavator that was destroyed by fire which includes a $1,000.00 deductible to retain the salvage and from this point on to allow the elected official to make the determination to retain salvage or to take insurance payment for salvage. 6. Rescind motion from last week on agenda number 8, Pct. 3 Road and Bridge to seek bids through the BuyBoard for an Excavator. 7. Road and Bridge Pct.#3 to seek bids through the BuyBoard for the following equipment: Excavator equipped with Hydraulic Thumb; Quick connect; 36’ digging bucket; over more than 50 hp; Less than 21,000 pounds operation weight; Outside track width less than 91 inches. 8. Road and Bridge Pct. 3 to sell a Volvo-G930 Maintainer on Purplewave. (VIN VCE0G930T00040069) 9. Adjourn. Agenda items tables during the meeting include: 1. Table until June 14: Sealed bids that were opened on May 24th on a 2012 through 2022 Truck Tractor tandem-axle 400 plus HP in good condition used or new for Commissioner Pct. 3.
