September 1, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners met with outside council during an executive session on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Accompanying the commissioners was Robert S. Davis with Flowers Davis PLLC, as well as Shelby County Sheriff Gerald, Chief Mike Hanson, and Captain Cameron Nichols.
The executive session indicated it was for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel Robert S. Davis, and his legal staff, regarding the in-custody death of James Perry Jr. and pending, threatened or reasonably anticipated litigation.
There were two executive sessions on the agenda, and the first one began at 9:55am lasting until 10:48am when Sheriff Corbell, Chief Hanson, Captain Nichols and attorney Davis exited from the meeting room.
The commissioners continued in closed session and John Price, County Attorney, was called in to participate. The meeting returned to open session at 11:40am.
Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, shared the court met in executive with outside counsel and no action would be taken on that item.
The second executive session did however require the commissioners to take action on sick leave time.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, referred to “employee number five” as having a lengthy illness and he moved to and for the court to designate 111 hours of sick time toward that employee on an as-needed basis to get through the September 25 pay period. As-needed, amount needed, if not all needed will be left in the pool. His motion was seconded by Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2. The motion carried with all in favor.
Earlier in the meeting when the commissioners considered weekly expenses Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, shared that Rowdy Green, Constable Precinct 4, needed to acquire some equipment since he is the new constable in the area at a cost of $1,590.55. This included items such as a safety vest, duty belt, cuff case, hand cuffs, and a mag pouch. Blackwell recommended Green be allowed to make the purchase and correct his budget later in the year with a line-item transfer.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, moved to pay the weekly expenses with the addition of the equipment for the Precinct 4 constable. Stevie Smith, Precinct 3 Commissioner, seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
The commissioners accepted the unclaimed property Capital Credits for Counties in the amount of $35,606.24 through a motion by Commissioner McSwain that was seconded by Commissioner Metcalf.
Commissioner Bellmyer then moved to disburse the funds from the capital credits to the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center (SCCAC).
Denise Merriman, SCCAC Executive Director, commented to the court on the continuing support by the county, “Thank y'all again. This is another way that we appreciate the support, and how important it is for us to receive the grant that shows that we have community support, so we appreciate y'all's financial support in that way for the capital credits.
The commissioners considered a quote from Technology Solutions for the County technology upgrades as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer.
Blackwell reminded the court that several weeks previous to the meeting Joey Orellana, [Technology Solutions], spoke with the court about a lot of needed upgrades for county computers, especially in circumstances where computers are so old they are incapable of upgrading.
Since that time, Orellana has been diligently going from office to office and checking computers, according to Blackwell, and he upgraded those that could. Alternatively, he notated those that would need replacement.
"The one that has the oldest, the District Clerk, she's got five machines that need to be replaced. They are that old. They're $735 a piece, so that would be $3,675 for the District Clerk," said Blackwell. "Judge Harbison has one that needs to be upgraded for $735. I have one that needs to be upgraded for 735, and the [Sheriff's Office] has two that need to be upgraded, and that will get us all up to par."
Blackwell stated that these upgrades have to be done in part due to the high level of online attacks that have been being received by county computers.
"Just this week, I can't tell you how many emails I've gotten myself, and from everybody else, I mean, the scammers and the phishers are, are at it hard and heavy. I mean, we're getting emails from lawyers, from companies saying, "Look at your ACH receipts." Well, first of all, we don't make things by ACH. So, we don't have any ACH receipts."
Blackwell begged for county employees and officials to not click anything in an email, even if they think they know the sender, and instead to call or text the person that sent the email first to confirm that whatever was sent was in fact legitimate.
The total of the quote relayed from Blackwell was $6,615, and she suggested each office absorb the cost and then make adjustments at the end of the year.
Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk, commented that she could share from her technology fund if need be since her computers are all compliant.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to accept the quote and for all department to absorb the cost of their upgrade, and Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion. It carried with all in favor.
The commissioners approved entering into an inter-local agreement between Shelby County and the Joaquin Independent School District for the use of county equipment and personnel to spread and/or remove excess dirt from school property left from construction of the softball field for the school.
Commissioner Smith moved for the court to allow Precinct 3 to take county equipment onto school property and spread two bobtail loads of dirt that’s causing a problem and can’t be maintained properly. Smith said he’s going to level it out so it can be mowed. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
John Price, County Attorney, explained this is not an ongoing local agreement and is purely for the purposes of eliminating the road, and health hazards and that it benefits the county, as well as the school.
“The school simply doesn't have the equipment to deal with it, and they made the request for the commissioner, and as I say, it's beneficial,” said Price.
Price further stated that once Commissioner Smith has completed the removal, it will be up to him to determine when the job is completed. Once that's determined, that will be the end of the agreement.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:47am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Weekly expenses. 2. Current payroll. 3. Continue the current burn ban. 4. Accept the unclaimed property Capital Credits for Counties in the amount of $35,606.24. 5. Disburse the Capital Credits funds to be received to the SCCAC. 6. Quote from Technology Solutions in the amount of $6,615 for the County technology upgrades as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer. 7. Pct 4 Commissioner to advertise for sealed bids on a 2014 F150 Ford Pickup VIN # 1FTFW1EF1EKE5442, with sealed bids being due by noon on September 15th. 8. Enter into an inter-local agreement between Shelby County and the Joaquin Independent School District for the use of county equipment and personnel to spread and/or remove excess dirt from school property left from construction of the softball field for the school. 9. At the request of Attorney Robert S. Davis, who has been appointed by Texas Association of Counties to represent Shelby County regarding the in-custody death of James Perry, Jr., asks that the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court vote on the following provision: “For the purpose of the Executive Session with Attorney Robert S. Davis and his legal staff under Sections 551.071 (1) and (2) of the Texas Government Code, the following individuals, whose interests are not adverse to Shelby County’s Interests and whose participation is necessary to the matter under discussion, be allowed to participate in the Executive Session: 1) Misty Paul, or her designee, as the Claims Representative for the Texas Association of Counties’ Self Insured Risk Management Pool; and 2) Sheriff Gerald Corbell and/or his designee; 3) Chief Deputy Mike Hanson and 3) Cameron Nichols, Captain of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. All other persons will be excluded from the meeting so that the Attorney/Client privilege will not be waived, the “work product privilege” of its Counsel Robert S. Davis and his legal staff will not be waived, and any potential conflict of interest will be avoided. 10. Discuss and possibly make a decision on issues discussed in Executive Session. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, referred to “employee number five” as having a lengthy illness and he moved to and for the court to designate 111 hours of sick time toward that employee on an as-needed basis to get through the September 25 pay period. As-needed, amount needed, if not all needed will be left in the pool. His motion was seconded by Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2. The motion carried with all in favor. 11. Adjourn 11:47am. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Discuss and possibly approve the bid received from 4C Electrical for the installation of flood lights at the Agri Life Campus.
