September 30, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness month during their meeting held September 23, 2026.
Representing the Family Crisis Center of East Texas were Lizett Mendoza and Brittany Newman as the commissioners were presented with a resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Shelby County.
“These young ladies are here doing a great job and most people don’t even they’re here until they need them, so we do appreciate you,” said County Judge Allison Harbison.
Judge Harbison shared some statistics included in the resolution identifying that in 2024 there were 161 Texans, including 137 women and 24 men killed by an intimate partner ranging in ages from 17 to 70.
Newman thanked the court for its continued support of what they do and for its support of law enforcement.
Mendoza shared that the 4th Annual Passion for Purple luncheon will be held on October 8, 2026, and the keynote speaker of the event will be Melissa Dohme-Hill. It will be held at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin with meet and greet at 10:30am before the luncheon at 11:30am.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved to adopt the resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Shelby County and Commissioner Shannon Metcalf seconded his motion. It carried with all in favor.
Eric Carver with Carr, Riggs & Ingram explained that they have presented the county with a clean, unmodified opinion for the government activities as well as fiduciary activities major funds including general, road and bridge, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Carver explained they were looking at the government-wide report that reflects everything combined together.
"Y'all have a very healthy level of assets from $29 million, about 8.6 million of that is capital assets. What you had during the year was a pretty significant reduction in your cash that went into your capital assets," said Carver. "Overall, your cash and investments are down about $789,000, but your capital assets after depreciation of $1.2 million were of half a million dollars. So basically you converted from cash to long-term assets."
Carver explained that most of the conversion to capital assets was due to the use of ARPA funds, road bridge, and a lot of equipment purchasing.
In highlighting the county's pension, Carver described this past year had earnings of $2,219,117 in the trust and that over the last two years there were pretty significant earnings of almost $4.5 million.
Carver went into greater detail with the commissioners over the report during the meeting, which sounded favorable.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the 2025 Financial Audit Report and his motion was seconded by Commissioner Metcalf. It carried with all in favor.
Judge Harbison proposed the county exchange the Columbus Day holiday for Juneteenth on the 2027 Federal Holidays for County employees, because she thought it would be appreciated.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the holidays with the exchange of Columbus Day for Juneteenth. Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded his motion and it carried with all in favor.
Timpson ISD Police Department to utilize Shelby County Opioid Abatement Funding to purchase and deploy vape-detection sensors in selected high-risk areas at Timpson ISD
“We had a safety meeting here a month or two ago and I mentioned to many of the departments that were here with the schools, and I know Roscoe [McSwain] has reached out to some schools also to utilize this money that is given to us,” said Judge Harbison. “We have a request from Timpson ISD for 20 vape detection systems.”
Judge Harbison explained the 20 units were at a cost of $11,339.80 and Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, confirmed there was over $81,000 available in the Opioid Abatement fund at the time of the request.
John Price, County Attorney, shared with the court that he expects there to continue to be more funds received on that settlement as it’s common to have an initial large amount and then perpetually receive smaller amounts in the future.
Teresa Hughes, County Auditor, agreed that there have been several payments received and only one time has it been used by Excelsior ISD.
Judge Harbison said she has been reaching out to schools and encouraging them to bring a project to court that could be funded with the opioid litigation; however, Excelsior is the only school that has made a request until the one from from Timpson ISD.
“Giving back to the community I think would be great,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to allow Timpson ISD to use the opioid funds in the amount of $11,339.80, and Commissioner Smith seconded his motion. The motion carried with all in favor.
The commissioners discussed the continuation of the agreement between Southern Health Partners and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office with a fixed rate increase of 4% for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The contract period being December 1, 2026 - November 30, 2027.
“I have received no complaints about that service within our department. All I have heard is good things, and we’ve had to train them in a few things where they’re restricted and where they’re not and that’s to be expected,” said Sheriff Corbell. “As far as any comments to the court, I’d say they’re doing the job that we hired them for.”
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to continue with another year contract with Southern Health Partners, he noted the increase in cost and that it’s reasonable in today’s economy. Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
The commissioners were presented with the renewal of the Interlocal agreement with the City of Timpson regarding the Deputy Constable position for consideration and Constable John Pope was invited to provide some details.
“I think everything’s run pretty much to plan how we wanted it to, the city’s pretty satisfied with that and I think everything’s been going pretty good,” said Constable Pope.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to continue the agreement with the City of Timpson contingent upon approval of the Timpson City Council on September 29, 2026. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor.
During the Commissioners’ Court reports portion of the meeting, Commissioner Bellmyer said that he had a call from a woman who was in distress that her father’s home health care provider was unable to access his home due to the condition of his driveway. Commissioner Bellmyer and one of his hands went to investigate the 300’-350’ driveway and he was surprised to see the condition was worse than he expected.
“I made the executive decision that we would go in there and fix that driveway so that home healthcare could access that home,” said Bellmyer. “Typically I would have come to court and asked for permission to go onto private property, but I felt like it was important enough that, because they typically come Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays and they had already missed Monday.”
According to Commissioner Bellmyer, one of the home health provider vehicles had to be pulled out on the previous Monday due to the size of the holes in he driveway.
“We went on private property, we graded it out, I did haul a little bit of rock in there to take care of a couple spots. But, anyhow they can get in and out now. I’m just making the court aware of it,” said Bellmyer. “You can tell me I did bad or not, but I felt like it was something that needed to be done.”
Commissioner Bellmyer commented in jest, “You can throw me out of office I guess.” This is in light that he did not run for his office and will be leaving office after his current term ends.
Judge Harbison asked if he would like to add it to the next week’s agenda for approval, and County Attorney Price commented that Bellmyer had an emergency on his hands.
The meeting adjourned at 10:39am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Weekly expenses. 2. Current payroll. 3. 2025 Financial Audit as presented. 4. Resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Shelby County. 5. Ratify the Burn Ban issued on Sept 17, 2026. 6. FY 2026 Budget Line-Item transfers. 7. 2027 Federal Holidays for County employees, including exchanging Columbus Day for Juneteenth. 8. Workers Compensation Renewal with Texas Association of Counties effective January 1, 2027. 9. Request from Timpson ISD Police Department to utilize Shelby County Abatement Funding to purchase and deploy vape-detection sensors in selected high-risk area at Timpson ISD. 10. Continuation of the Agreement between Southern Health Partners and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office with a fixed rate increase of 4% for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The contract period being December 1, 2026 - November 30, 2027. 11. Renewal of the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Timpson regarding the Deputy Constable position, contingent upon approval of the Timpson City Council. 12. Adjourn. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Discuss and possibly approve a request, from adjoining landowner, to close a portion of County Road 2540 located in Shelby County, Texas; with said portion being the Southerly most end of County Road 2540 being 1,521.41 feet or .29 miles.
