April 21, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners were locked into an almost two-hour executive session with district judges, and prosecutors during their Wednesday, April 15, 2026 meeting.
The commissioners’ court went into executive session shortly after 10am and discussions continued there with Jim Payne, 273rd Judicial District Judge; LeAnn Kay Rafferty, 123rd Judicial District Judge; Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney; and John Price, County Attorney until the executive session released at 11:49am.
When court returned to open session, County Judge Allison Harbison advised that no action would be taken on what had been discussed during executive session and that items related to what was discussed would be placed on the April 22 meeting agenda.
As reflected in the April 22 meeting agenda, the court intends to discuss a new hourly rate of pay for the 273rd Court Coordinator and the resignation of the 123rd Court Coordinator, as well as approve the hiring of a new Court Coordinator at the current budgeted rate.
Shelby County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Mike Hanson presented the court with a request to purchase WatchGuard in-car and body camera equipment from Center Police Department in the amount of $3,625 to be paid from Senate Bill 22 funds.
Included in the purchase would be 16 body cameras, nine single chargers that can go in vehicles or elsewhere, one multi-bay charger that holds around 10 body cameras, 16 uniform clips, and then seven in-car systems.
"Center Police Department has recently went to a new camera system (AXON) both in their cars and for their body camera uses," said Chief Hanson.
Chief Hanson explained the video equipment currently used by the Sheriff's Department primarily is WatchGuard, and he believes one patrol vehicle has a Digital Ally system in it acquired from another agency.
"These camera systems are, they're really outdated. Motorola absorbed WatchGuard some years ago. The systems that we've got, we've got some issues," said Chief Hanson. "They had seven in-car camera systems. Some of that would be used to, this is a band-aid at best, but they would be used to fix some of the camera systems that we've got now."
According to Chief Hanson, one of the cameras they have been using will randomly turn off during a shift without any indication why, or that it has shut off.
Through the acquisition of the equipment from the Center Police Department, Chief Hanson explained parts would be used to hopefully repair current systems.
As Chief Hanson explained, camera systems prove to be very cost prohibitive in general.
"Right after we got there with the new trucks that were purchased, three of them were going to be marked and they were going to have cameras installed. I priced cameras from multiple companies at that time for those three trucks alone, with body cameras, and it was anywhere from $28,000 to $35,000 for three cameras," said Hanson.
The system the Sheriff's Department uses requires the removal of the memory stick from the system and a download be initiated to an external hard drive in a dedicated computer.
Newer systems, like the Center Police Department has, have cloud-based storage that automatically uploads. According to Chief Hanson, that system is in the $130,000 price range.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved to approve purchase of the equipment. Commissioner Shannon Metcalf seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
Chief Hanson spoke to the commissioners about the purchase of a ballistic vest from Center Police Department in the amount of $900 to be paid from Senate Bill 22 funds.
"As the ballistic panels, all of the vests that were [at the Sheriff's Department] when we arrived were either expired, or they expired last year," said Hanson. "We've had to purchase new vests and going through the rep, it's going to be the same rep that Center PD had used."
According to Chief Hanson, when we were sizing ballistic vests for Sheriff's Department deputies, the rep encouraged them to contact the Center Police Department about one of the vests they have because the officer fitted for that vest works at the Sheriff's Department now.
"The vests are about $1,300 a piece. I talked to Center PD they allowed him, he's worked for us for some time now, but they allowed him to use that vest once he come over to our agency, but they priced it at $900. They have a five-year use life once they go into service and his I believe it's less than a year," said Chief Hanson.
Once again, Chief Hanson reiterated the purchase of the vest is a "band-aid" and not the solution yet. He said they hope to address several issues regarding equipment in the coming budget and with Senate Bill 22.
Teresa Hughes, County Auditor, stated that if the purchases are approved during the meeting the Senate Bill 22 money available for the remainder of the budget year would be $35,500.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the purchase of the vest. Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
The commissioners were presented with a request to close a portion of CR 1512 by Jeff Davis, who happens to be the 145th Judicial District Judge in Nacogdoches County, and he was accompanied by his brother Brian.
Davis made the request with the understanding they would provide an area for the county to be able to turn around a maintainer. Also, that if anybody went down that road they'd be able to turn around safely and return to 1510 which is the main road that goes across the big dam.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to allow the closure of that portion of CR 1512. His motion was was seconded by Commissioner Shannon Metcalf, and it carried with all in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 11:53am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Close a portion of County Road 1512 located in Shelby County, Texas; which portion has been surveyed with such survey and plat being attached to the written request to close. 3. Sheriff’s Department to purchase WatchGuard in-car and body camera equipment from Center PD in the amount of $3,625 to be paid from SB22 funds. 4. Sheriff’s Department to purchase a ballistic vest from Center PD in the amount of $900 to be paid from SB22 funds. 5. Adjourn at 11:53am.
