Shelby County Today

February 3, 2025 - The month of January 2025 had 11 days of rain for a total rain fall of 4.14 inches.

The weather data for Center, Texas during the past month is as follows:

Lowest temperature - 12.9 on January 22
Hottest temperature - 76.5 on January 5
Number of days with rain - 11 days
Total rain fall for the month - 4.14 inches
Total rain fall YTD for 2025 - 4.14 inches

01/01/2025 - Low of 36.1, High of 57.9
01/02/2025 - Low of 33.6, High of 61.9
01/03/2025 - Low of 47.3, High of 66.6
01/04/2025 - Low of 47.5, High of 61.0, Rain 0.03
01/05/2025 - Low of 29.7, High of 76.5, Rain 0.14
01/06/2025 - Low of 24.4, High of 41.7
01/07/2025 - Low of 27.3, High of 45.0
01/08/2025 - Low of 26.8, High of 46.2
01/09/2025 - Low of 28.9, High of 37.8, Rain 1.38
01/10/2025 - Low of 32.0, High of 37.4, Rain 0.84
01/11/2025 - Low of 25.3, High of 52.2
01/12/2025 - Low of 30.2, High of 57.6
01/13/2025 - Low of 32.5, High of 55.0
01/14/2025 - Low of 27.0, High of 54.7
01/15/2025 - Low of 34.3, High of 63.1
01/16/2025 - Low of 28.8, High of 63.7
01/17/2025 - Low of 31.3, High of 60.8, Rain 0.01
01/18/2025 - Low of 39.9, High of 61.3
01/19/2025 - Low of 24.6, High of 41.9
01/20/2025 - Low of 19.2, High of 39.2
01/21/2025 - Low of 16.3, High of 38.1, Rain 0.01
01/22/2025 - Low of 12.9, High of 45.3
01/23/2025 - Low of 22.5, High of 54.3
01/24/2025 - Low of 21.9, High of 57.6
01/25/2025 - Low of 27.3, High of 59.0
01/26/2025 - Low of 48.4, High of 50.4, Rain 1.28
01/27/2025 - Low of 41.9, High of 54.1
01/28/2025 - Low of 39.9, High of 55.0, Rain 0.17
01/29/2025 - Low of 48.7, High of 65.3, Rain 0.05
01/30/2025 - Low of 53.2, High of 71.6, Rain 0.22
01/31/2025 - Low of 45.3, High of 65.8, Rain 0.01

January 30, 2025 - On 1-28-2025, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Shelbyville public water system, 2100014, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of 1-30-2025.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Alison Rhone at 936-332-4439.

January 28, 2025 - Due to a line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Shelbyville public water system 2100014 to notify customers on FM 417 East to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. 

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes. 

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. 

Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. 

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Alison Rhone at 936-332-4439

January 30, 2025 – The City of Center received notice of a $250,000 grant award this week by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission through its Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant Program. The grant funds are designated for the improvement and renovation project for American Legion Park, which includes the Community House grounds.

“We are excited about another opportunity to further enhance our park facilities and community.” said Center Mayor David Chadwick further adding, “This addition at the Community House elevates one of the city’s historic treasures used regularly for family reunions, meetings and social events.” The Community House was originally completed in 1942 as part of the Federal Government National Youth Administration (NYA) program according to March 19, 1942 edition of The Champion.

This project will expand the patio behind the Community House, adding a shade structure, landscaping, outdoor seating and adjacent areas for lawn games and similar activities. Two pickleball courts will be installed south of the existing parking lot. Additional lawn games and picnic areas will be included along accessible sidewalks and trails that traverse improved areas and connect to Field Street. Site plans and project information can be found on the City’s website. This project will begin construction within the next six to twelve months.

Over the last decade, all City parks have completed major renovations and expansions. During the 2013 Community House renovation, funding was not available to complete complimentary landscaping and additional park amenities. The 2019 Parks Master Plan identified American Legion Park adapting its focus to provide open space, trails, and adult/family amenities that complement the Community House venue. ”The City pursued this grant to provide financial resources to leverage local funds available to enhance the Community House site to provide funds all the park-related improvements,” stated Chad Nehring, City Manager.

This project is the culmination of the Park Master Plan priority for redevelopment of all existing parks. It also includes items from the ranked list of desired park features and amenities the 2019 Parks Master Plan as identified from community surveys that were not already addressed at other parks.

Additional information on this project plan and Parks Master Plan are available at the City website at www.CenterTexas.org.

The Shelby County Commissioners and County Judge are seen seated at the newly istalled courtroom furnitue.

January 28, 2025 - The expansion of a County Road in Precinct 4 was agreed upon by the Shelby County Commissioners during their meeting held January 22, 2025.

Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, provided some detail on the circumstances around the desire of property owners to have the roadway expanded.

Bellmyer explained that several months ago Bobby Bice, owner of BRK Meats in Tenaha, had discussion with Bellmyer about a business expansion to his facility and the ensuing substantial traffic increase. 

“Mainly on large trucks and live animals coming in and of course process of product leaving, and we talked about expanding his road,” said Bellmyer. 

Bellmyer stated there's a chicken farm beyond the BRK Meats facility that has poultry, live haul and feed trucks on it. 

“We talked about expanding his road and part of the discussion along with he and an adjacent landowner, Roland Cross, because he has a housing development between Bobby's facility and the highway that we would need to get an easement agreement for expanding the easement for me to expand the road onto,” said Bellmyer. 

Bellmyer said there have been several conversations between himself, Bice and Cross and they got the county attorney involved in the conversation. 

“[We] talked about what it would take to expand the easement along there, and it's really to protect everyone, protect the county, protect the landowners, me not infringing on their non-easement property and then of course kind of having a path forward on the road,” said Bellmyer.

Bellmyer stated that County Attorney John Price put together an agreement for expanding the easement and Bice and the Cross family have all signed off on it. 

“I’m very comfortable with the language that's in it. It gives responsibility to all the parties. So I think it's pretty clear,” said Bellmyer. 

Bellmyer commented that this can help support business expansion in Shelby County, which helps increase the tax base

County Attorney Price stated Tenaha Mayor O’Neal Jones was also present for the meeting. Price concurred that he had drafted an agreement for the 20-foot expansion of CR 4620.

Roland Cross stated he would like to see the road widened and that a lot has been invested in that area and a wider road is needed for commercial use.

Bice stated, "This has been in the planning for some good time and we actually have another agreement with a very large company that's going to be a little bit of a different type of process out there that is more than likely, it's going to be very big. So our timing is perfect for this to happen right now. So we're very satisfied that we're out there. So we look forward to our growth. As I said before, to some of you that's been in meeting with us, our goal is to move our whole facility out to Tenaha. Once we get the final buildings put in place, we'll move all of our Carthage facilities out to Tenaha and we'll be there.”

Mayor Jones spoke about trying to improve the community of Tenaha and Shelby County through development, and in conjunction with a wage program.

“So with this program, bringing in this facility also increases the cost of living because with this plan, it brings in higher wages. So that's one thing we spoke about bringing this in to help the people in this community, especially in Shelly County,” said Jones.

Commissioner Bellmyer thanked Mayor O’Neal for the work he has done with those involved and doing what’s best for Tenaha.

Bellmyer moved to approve the request as presented by the County Attorney, and a second was heard from Commissioner Shannon Metcalf. The motion carried.

Sealed bids for a haul truck for Precinct 3 were opened with one bid received from Volvo Mack Truck in Waco in the amount of $142,910, and another bid received from Performance Truck in Lufkin in the amount of $147,876.80.

Commissioner Stevie Smith moved to table to item for further consideration, and the bid was seconded by Commissioner Metcalf. The motion carried.

Commissioner Bellmyer has a 2008 CPS Belly Dump Trailer, that has been in his precinct’s fleet since 2008 and he was requesting approval to list the trailer on Purple Wave since he doesn’t need the trailer.

Commissioner Bellmyer moved to list the trailer on Purple Wave, Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion and it carried.

A Case 850D LongTrack Dozer was also requested by Bellmyer to be placed on Purple Wave. Commissioner Bellmyer moved to place the Case 850D LongTrack Dozer on Purple Wave, and a second was given by Commissioner Smith. The motion carried.

The commissioners considered submitting an application for the Texas Preservation Trust Fund Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Program to benefit the Historic Shelby County Jail. 

County Judge Allison Harbison explained the grant is different from the previous one that the county went out for involving the courthouse, and that it is specifically for a smaller project.

Rayford Copelin, Shelby County Historical Commission, described for the commissioners what the grant is for and how much money is potentially available.

“This one is a smaller program. It's called the Preservation Trust Fund. Total state-wide budgeting for this is $330,000, but these grants are open more than just to a courthouse. They're all away from archaeological types of things, buildings and everything,” said Copelin.

He stated there really isn’t funding from the state for a project such as the Shelby County Historical Jail. One focus of needed repair on the jail are the windows and Copelin described their condition.

“Most of the window frames are rotted out. There is gaps from an inch to two inches where the window pane is actually separated from the frame itself. So it's a project that needs to be done and since the jail is a state antiquities landmark, we are required to do the renovation in certain ways so that it meets those requirements,” said Copelin.

Copelin explained that standards established by the Secretary of the Interior, which is a federal group, are what have to be followed involving doing any work to any building on the courthouse square now because of its designations.

“We were we were looking at that project to look at the windows and replacing the windows, and we had a company from Fort Worth who specializes in historic renovations and stuff come down and look at they are in the process of kind of assessing the need,” said Copelin. “We did identify that to do the windows. We're going to take the bars off also and replace them.” 

Copelin stated that when the restoration was done back in the early 90s, it wasn’t done well and the windows were not quality. When they put the bars back in, Copelin said they didn't sink them correctly.

“What we're looking at is taking the windows and replacing them with windows that are more appropriate for the age of the building plus windows that would match the courthouse windows which are paned  windows, there's like 12 panes in one of those windows. The ones in the jail are just two big sheets of glass and I don't think that's anywhere close to being period-appropriate,” said Copelin.

Commissioner Bellmyer made a motion to move forward with the grant application, and a second was given by Commissioner Metcalf. The motion carried.

During the Commissioner Court Reports portion of the meeting Commissioner Bellmyer commented on the two TxDOT bridge projects currently ongoing in Precinct 4 and Precinct 3 by the same contractor.

“They are about 10 days or two weeks ahead of schedule, surprisingly, and I know that the next phase of this bridge is to set the precast concrete beams. So we're right on schedule for that activity to happen,” said Bellmyer.

He stated the contractor has been very good to work with.

Commissioner Bellmyer also noted that there is now activity at the Huber water well project.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:07am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.

2. Expand a portion of County Road 4620 by a width of 20 feet on the East side of said County Road in Pct. 4 for further business development. 

3. Recognize the Certificate of Completion of 20 hours of Continuing Education for Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk.

4. Recognize the 2024 Judicial Education Record of Hours obtained by County Judge, Allison Harbison. 

5. Precinct 4 to place surplus equipment on Purple Wave Auction.  (1) 2008 CPS Belly Dump Trailer, VIN# 5MC1116209PO1OO29 Tx Exempt 911 2546.

6. Precinct 4 to place surplus equipment on Purple Wave Auction.  (1) Case 850D LongTrack Dozer, year unknown, VIN# JAK0002103.

7. Submit an application for the Texas Preservation Trust Fund Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Program to benefit the Historic Shelby County Jail. 

8. Adjourn 10:07am. 
 
Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Open sealed bids for Precinct #3 haul truck, review and possibly award bid.