Shelby County Today

November 8, 2017 - The Shelby County Commissioners met November 1, 2017 and collectively carried forward $1,339,330.70 in monies from their 2017 budgets.  

Each of the commissioners had a cash balance remaining in their budgets at the end of the budget year and there are options on what can be done with that money. 

Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, suggested to the commissioners they leave at least a portion of their remaining cash balance to help cover end of year expenses for the next year.

"I'm going to ask the court to take action to recognize the year end balances to begin with and then need to take action to decide of that amount, how much each precinct would like to budget as cash forward in their fiscal year 2018 budget," said Porterfield.

He explained that amount would then be budgeted in each commissioners' expenses and can be put into fixed assets, or material purposes at their discretion.

Porterfield let the commissioners know it was acceptable for the full amount to be budgeted; however, he wanted them to bear in mind at the end of next year they have the month of October before tax collections take place, and during that time the commissioners will have bills to still pay. He cautioned that if the full amount was budgeted, there would be future discussions to insure they don't spend the total amount.

Each of the commissioners expressed their wishes as follows:

Roscoe McSwain, Precinct 1 Commissioner, stated he was carrying over $479,330.70 and he chose to budget $429,000 to fixed assets leaving $59,330.70 of that amount un-budgeted.

Jimmy Lout, Precinct 2 Commissioner, stated he would budget $200,000 in fixed assets leaving $76,090.75 not budgeted.

Charles Barr, Precinct 3 Commissioner, chose to move $200,000 to fixed assets and according to financial records that leaves a remainder of $91,944.73. 

Bradley Allen, Precinct 4 Commissioner, elected to maintain $460,000 in fixed assets and leave $56,185.22 not budgeted.

A motion carried to recognize the cash balance of the four precincts and to adjust the cash on hand as each commissioner indicated.

Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison informed the commissioners of a request made by Judge Melissa Crouch, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, for software to be installed on her computer. Her assistant already has the software on her computer; however, Judge Crouch would like to have the software as well, so she may perform tasks with it from her computer.

Judge Harbison said the cost for the additional Serenity Software is $1,409.20. Porterfield informed her there were funds available in the Justice of the Peace Technology fund.

A motion carried to approve the purchase of the software.

Next on the agenda was a resolution for the Indigent Defense Grant Program which Judge Harbison explained has to be considered every year as a formality to get the grant.

"While we spend over $200,000 on legal defense for indigents we usually only get back $20,000-$25,000," said Judge Harbison.

A motion carried to approve the resolution for the Indigent Defense Grant Program.

Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, accompanied by Jason Fulbright with Intelligent Computer Concepts spoke about upgrading the courthouse internet from DSL and U-Verse to a fiber connection.

Judge Harbison explained there are difficulties with the internet at times. Some offices are on DSL and others are on U-Verse.

"DSL never goes down, but it's slow. U-Verse goes down quite often," said Judge Harbison.

Blackwell said she put together numbers because she was asked to figure out what the cost would be to make the change to fiber. She said she knows a lot of businesses in Center are changing over to fiber which she understands is a more reliable option.

The plan which has been proposed would drop the cost of each phone line to $13.30 each using voice over IP (VOIP). Blackwell said that is a great improvement over where she has already been able to decrease the cost. 

In speaking with other individuals about the changeover it was recommended, and Blackwell suggested to Fulbright, the courthouse retain one analog phone line for each main office in the building as a backup in the event the fiber were to go down. Even still she says that will be a savings to the county.

The cost for the new lines would be $1,131 plus taxes and fees likely savings around $200 a month by switching to fiber. According to Blackwell, upgrades within the courthouse would cost around $2,500 and with the savings on the bill she said it wouldn't take long to recoup that expense.

Fulbright explained fiber is more of an enterprise internet solution.

"The U-Verse product, which predominantly a lot of people have, was originally rolled out as a consumer product. Simply because it did offer some higher speeds, businesses, public offices began to adopt it," said Fulbright. "The problem that we've seen with U-Verse is it has a tendency to go down quite often."

Fulbright continued to explain, when the system goes down they aren't sporadic outages, it's countywide and for a long period of time. 

"[Fiber] does obviously cost more but they have what's called a service level agreement of 99.9% access and what it offers is speeds that you cannot get with U-Verse product," said Fulbright.  

He also described the opportunity of future expansion that fiber paves the way for by having it available. Fulbright said with the increase of state agencies doing more online there's going to be a dependency on higher speeds.

"Everything is going to be more online," said Fulbright.

Fulbright detailed how many businesses locally as well as City of Center have already been using fiber. 

A motion carried to go forward and upgrade the courthouse internet service to fiber for a 24-month contract.

Commissioner Barr presented a need to lease a maintainer. He expressed how it wasn't something he intended on having to do at this time; however, his precinct got down to one machine and he's had to use one on loan from precinct 1.

CASE and Caterpillar both brought in demo machines for him to consider.

The total cost for the Caterpillar was listed at $238,414.

A motion carried to lease the Caterpillar for three annual payments, arrears at $38,769.85 with 2,000 hour min run.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:12am.

November 7, 2017 (Local results by precinct)- Shelby County unofficial election results for November 7, 2017 Texas Constitutional Amendments ended with all seven propositions passing. Of the 14,922 registered voters in Shelby County, only 770 ballots were cast. As of 9:32pm, statewide election results show all propositions passing. (Election Night Returns Link)

Proposition Number 1 (HJR 21) "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution."

For - 644
Against - 98

Proposition Number 2 (SJR 60) "The constitutional amendment to establish a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain financing expense limitations for a home equity loan, establishing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads."

For - 596
Against - 155

Proposition Number 3 (SJR 34) "The constitutional amendment limiting the service of certain officeholders appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate after the expiration of the person's term of office."

For - 606
Against - 141

Proposition Number 4 (SJR 6) "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional."

For - 550
Against - 180

Proposition Number 5 (HJR 100) "The constitutional amendment on professional sports team charitable foundations conducting charitable raffles."

For - 432
Against - 297

Proposition Number 6 (SJR 1) "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty."

For - 649
Against - 102

Proposition Number 7 (HJR 37) "The constitutional amendment relating to legislative authority to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to award prizes by lot to promote savings."

For - 384
Against - 349

DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers Felon of the Week Program is asking for the public’s help in locating/identifying suspect(s) wanted from DeSoto Parish Area.

Ladaryl D. Burns of Mansfield, La. Burns is wanted for Felony Probation Violation. Burns is described as a black male, 5’11” tall and weighing 205lb. Burns is 41 years of age.

DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000.00 for information that results in the suspects arrest, anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-505-STOP(7867) all calls are confidential or contact the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318)872-3956. Capt. James Clements.

November 6, 2017 - The President has issued a proclamation honoring the victims of the Sutherland Springs, Texas shooting. The Flag of the United States and all other flags flying with it are to be displayed at half-staff from now until sunset on November 9, 2017.
 
Proclamation can be viewed by clicking here