May 17, 2023 - The following article includes details from several meetings during April and May of the Shelby County Commissioners Court. At times, some issues addressed were covered in multiple meetings.
Just previous to the opening of the April 19, 2023 meeting of Commissioners Court, Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison opened bids received for the Precinct 3 Barn, which included two separate bids from Donnie Fountain, and one bid from Cornerstone Construction.
Judge Harbison stated there would need to be a “Consult Meeting” between herself, County Attorney John Price, County Treasurer Ann Blackwell and Commissioner Stevie Smith to review the bids. Commissioner Roscoe McSwain advised Smith to not look at the bids just after they had been opened.
The April 19 meeting went into open session immediately after that.
The commissioners revisited the Precinct 3 building during the May 10, 2023 meeting and there was discussion about the bids and the course of action that needs to be taken.
Commissioner McSwain remarked the process has been confusing and he stated he still has not looked at the bids, because he wasn’t going to do so until it was time to move forward.
“We have opened the bids, I would suggest we cannot accept a document that’s dated May 10, and we opened the bid packet two weeks ago,” said Clint Porterfield, County Auditor. “That would be no different than somebody submitting piece of paper that says they’re lowering their bid.”
He suggested the possibility of starting from scratch and seeking over once again a submission of bids.
“I agree with Clint, I think this has kind of been not everything done exactly right from the word go so I personally like to see us just start over, and we just need to be more specific [with] everything we want them to do so that everybody’s bidding on the same thing,” said Blackwell.
A motion carried to decline the bids that have been received and move forward to re-seek bids, add electrical to what is being sought, make sure plumbing is in the scope in the new bid packet and start over. An opening date will be added this time, and bids will be due June 6 and opened June 7 in Commissioners Court.
Bids were opened from vendors in response to IFB 03-2023 for the purchase of a compact track loader, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Precinct 4. Only one bid was received, and that was from ASCO in the amount of $115,692.25 for a track skid steer with five attachments.
A motion carried to accept the bid from ASCO on the equipment listed on the bid document in the amount of $115,692.25.
Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, discussed with the commissioners about going out for sealed bids on timber that is cut off the property of the Pct. 3 Stock yard; however, after the exchange it was decided it would only be two truckloads and not worth it to anyone, so he instead decided to burn the timber.
Debra Smith, Timpson Mayor, was in the audience and expressed a “thank you” from Timpson to the Sheriff’s Department, TDEM, Commissioners who helped after a storm hit the area.
“I just don’t know what we would have done without everybody chipping in and helping,” said Smith. “It was fast and massive, but thank y’all.”
The commissioners were presented with an invoice from A-Lert Roof Systems for $319,631.30 for work completed thus far.
A motion was carried to table the payment for a week to give an opportunity for there to be a walkthrough of the facility by two commissioners before payment is rendered.
Sheriff Kevin Windham proposed to the court on May 3, 2023, the need to be able to offer current and future employees at the jail and dispatch an increase in pay and benefits.
“Our concern is trying to get people to come to work for Shelby County and staying, and you see that we did put some numbers together,” said Sheriff Windham. “Our surrounding counties, if you’ll notice that the pay that is given to jailers are very comparable to that of road and bridge crew.”
He stated that he was asking the court to consider the worth of his employees.
“I’m not berating, belittling anybody’s hands, I’m proud any money that anybody gets their pay,” said Sheriff Windham.
He stated it would be nice for Shelby County to be getting employees from other areas instead of the other way around.
Sheriff Windham was seeking $21.47 across the board for everyone, but a pay scale was what Porterfield was recommending. With there being seven open deputy spots, Commissioner McSwain offered the possibility of shifting some of those salaries to the jail employees.
The commissioners were considering revisiting the discussion at the next meeting, and before that was decided Porterfield made some calculations to give an idea of what amount of money they would be considering. After calculating, the highball figure was around $75,000.
Porterfield stated for the record what the pay scale was before the meeting and that was as follows:
- New hire is at $15.44
- After six months, $16.14
- After one year, $16.94
- After 18 months, $17.56
With the two-dollar increase:
- New hire, $17.44
- After six months, $18.14
- After one year, $18.94
- After 18 months, $19.56
Commissioner Bellmyer asked Sheriff Windham if, with the recent resignation of the jail administrator, the jail would be in compliance and Sheriff Windham assured him in the absence of the jail administrator the sheriff becomes the jail administrator.
He stated the jail now has a lieutenant from Angelina County who is helping until a new jail administrator can be found. Bellmyer further asked if the jail is in compliance and will be in compliance and Sheriff Windham stated after providing three good weeks of cell checks then they will be in compliance with the Texas Division of Jail Standards, because that was how they fell out of compliance.
Porterfield continued by explaining there are different avenues the county can take to help fund the pay increase at the Shelby County Jail.
“We have revenue we could budget, recognize the revenue and budget if we need it, and I just want to go ahead and give our treasurer credit for some things she has done and implemented and worked with,” said Porterfield. “For the court’s knowledge we have to this date, we have revenue recorded of $350,000 in interest that we have not recognized and we have not budgeted.”
A motion carried to make the adjustment for the pay scale of the jailers and dispatchers by scale.
Sheriff Windham thanked the court.
Treasurer Blackwell spoke to connecting the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 office to the Sheriff’s Office fiber line to improve internet function.
“Any of our offices that still have [AT&T] U-Verse are just awful, and their internet is just so unreliable,” said Blackwell. “We’re looking at the JP office first, because this is what it would take for Pineywoods Telephone to run/connect the Sheriff’s Office fiber, which they’ll never even know they’re on it. It’s not going to affect their service at all.”
She said the line would provide reliable internet to the Justice of the Peace office and that they could still keep one land line there, but then they could have a VoIP through the internet connection instead of AT&T.
Judge Harbison commented they have great difficulty at the Justice of the Peace office with their case management system through the internet.
“U-Verse is terrible, and the next step after them is the Juvenile Probation, because she can’t even do her reports,” said Blackwell.
She said there is a possibility of running the fiber from the courthouse to the Juvenile Probation, but it is a little more complicated in that it would have to run overhead. She commented the Juvenile Probation office is right next door to the ETEX building.
“I saw their representative at DETCOG the other day and I mentioned it to him that we’re very interested in connecting AgriLife and Juvenile Probation,” said Judge Harbison.
Blackwell said she reached out to them as well, and encouraged the company to reach out to the county when sales begin.
A motion carried to change the internet for the JP1 office, and pay for it out of the Courthouse Repairs fund.
During the April 12, 2023 meeting a motion carried to accept the resignation of Josh Ritter from the office of Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4. The commissioners accepted his resignation via a letter, and they were notified the federal lawsuit brought by Ritter was being dropped.
The letter from Ritter read as follows: “Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4. My last day of employment will be 03/31/2023.
“After careful consideration and prayer, I have decided to leave the world of politics and return to work as an attorney. It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Shelby County; I have learned so much from my time and will not forget the experience.
“I wish the citizens of Shelby County and the future Justice of the Peace for Precinct Four all the best moving forward. The work before you is detailed, difficult, but very rewarding. It is my sincere hope that Shelby County prosper and grow. I look forward to the future success of the county and precinct four.”
Agenda items approved during the April 12 meeting include: 1. Minutes of March 1, 2023 Special meeting, March 8, 2023 Regular meeting, March 15, 2023 Special meeting, March 22, 2022 Special meeting, March 29, 2023 Special meeting, March 29, 2023 Public Workshop of the Shelby County Commissioner's Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Current payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Commissioner Pct. 4 request to purchase a Skid Steer and attachments with ARPA funds. 6. Interlocal Agreement between the Counties of Panola and Shelby Concerning the Holding of Shelby County Prisoners in the Panola County Jail at $50 a day, per prisoner. 7. Resignation from Josh Ritter Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 effective 3/31/2023. 8. Lease a plotter printer from Innovative Office System to print plats for the County Clerk's Office to be paid out of the Records Management Budget. 9. Adjourn at 11:03. Agenda items approved during the April 19 meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Donation of 2012 Sierra Travel Trailer to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office from Wellby Financial and allow to place on Purplewave in the future. 3. Commissioner Pct. 2 to go out for sealed bids on 2012 through 2022 tandem-axle 400 plus HP truck tractor in good condition used or new. 4. Adjourn at 9:40am. Agenda items approved during the April 26 meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Current payroll. 3. Interlocal Cooperation Contract between Department of State Health Service and Shelby County. 4. Commissioner Pct. 3 to Auction off 2013 Truck Tractor on Purplewave. 5. Commissioner Pct. 3 to go out for sealed bids on 2012 through 2022 Truck Tractor tandem-axle 400 plus HP in good condition used or new. Bids to be in by May 23 and opened on May 24. 6. Adjourn at 10:01am Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Review bids received and possibly select contractor for Pct 3 Road and Bridge Maintenance facility. Agenda items approved during the May 3 meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Make an adjustment for the pay scale of the jailers and dispatchers by scale. 3. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 1440 at Irish Creek. 4. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 3689 at Cypress Creek. 5. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 1049 at Straw Creek. 6. Connect Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 office to Sheriff’s Office fiber line to improve internet function. Also discuss converting to VOIP phones, eliminating ATT service at the office. 7. Adjourn 10:29am. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Discuss, consider, and approve the selection of respondent(s) to IFB 23-02 for the purchase of a prefabricated metal building for Precinct 3, to be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Agenda items approved during the May 10 meeting include: 1.Minutes of April 5, 2023 Special meeting, April 12, 2023 Regular meeting, April 19, 2023 Special meeting, April 19, 2023 Public Workshop, April 26, 2022 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Current payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Revised Purchase Order to Alert Roofing Systems to include an additional $4,458 for Bond fees. 7. Bid received from ASCO in response to IFB 03-2023, in the amount of $115,692.25 for the purchase of a compact track loader, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 8. Adjourn 10:10am. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Payment of invoice from A-Lert Roof Systems for $319,631.30 for work completed thus far.
