Shelby County Today

January 12, 2024 - Shelby County Commissioners were updated during their meeting January 10, 2024, on the ARPA and LATCF funds which currently are providing funding for several county projects.

During discussion over the weekly expenses Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, described difficulty with mail delivery relating to the receipt of bills.

“Our mail’s just going everywhere,” said Blackwell. “Juvenile Probation brought over a handful of mail this morning that clearly stated Road 7 Bridge Precinct 4 that was in their box, and one of them was a utility bill.”

As a result Blackwell added Timpson Rural Water for $22 for Precinct 4 Road & Bridge, because it would have been later otherwise. She said there were other bills, and they were able to wait.

“That’s just a constant battle, we spend an enormous amount of time going from office to office looking for our mail and our bills,” said Blackwell.

Allison Harbison, County Judge, suggested it might be better for all of the mail to go into one place and then be sorted.

“I don’t understand why they give us a box number, why? If they’re going to just put it in whatever box they want to,” said Judge Harbison.

A motion made by Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, to approve and pay the weekly expenses with the inclusion of the Timpson Rural Water bill, was seconded by Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, and it carried.

Blackwell gave the officers report for the commissioners and during that discussion she presented the commissioners with a report for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF). She informed the commissioners the cash balance of ARPA was $2,231,688.25.

“We have several projects that are in progress, although there is a fund balance of $1,485,438.89 we have pending projects on the list already approved that would more than use the balance of this many,” said Blackwell. “So, as you're thinking about, you know there’s been a lot of projects that get kind of slid in, so don’t forget about the projects that we already have on here. Think about that before you add new projects.”

Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk, reminded the court the AgriLife building project was removed during the previous week’s meeting.

Blackwell stated the LATCF had a cash balance of $300,470 with $149,926 remaining in that fund. She said the tasers are still to be paid out of LATCF cash balance as well as the Historic Courthouse Master Plan amounts. Blackwell remarked there were a couple of projects that were discussed relating to the LATCF which she personally would like to see happen before the remainder is spent.

A motion by Commissioner McSwain to approve the officer’s report and journal entries submitted by Clint Porterfield, Auditor, was seconded by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and the motion carried.

The commissioners were presented with a Vehicle Inventory Tax (VIT) Fund audit for January, which was sent in to the auditor for audit verification. 

“Thanks to Tax Assessor, [Debora] Riley for submitting her yearly information for this review,” said Auditor Porterfield. “She submitted the December bank statement, an escrow report with a total collection, so she also submitted a monthly report of collections and payments which included interest all of this reconciles to our general ledger fund 28 and there are no variances.”

A motion by Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, record the yearly audit to the VIT fund, and it was seconded by Commissioner McSwain and the motion carried.

Commissioner McSwain moved for the County Judge to apply for the Rural Law Enforcement Grant established under Senate Bill 22 in the amount of $350,000, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith and the motion carried.

A motion by Commissioner McSwain for the County and District Prosecutor's Offices to apply for the Prosecutor's grant funds available under Senate Bill 22, an the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith and the motion carried.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department is interested in purchasing three Ford F150 4WD trucks with police package through the Texas Buyboard, and they were seeking for the purchase be to be conducted with ARPA funds.

Lt. Chad Hooper, representing the Sheriff’s Department, stated Sheriff Kevin Windham is interested in purchasing the three trucks to “clean up” the fleet, and this would be the first step in trying to accomplish that.

Commissioner McSwain moved to deny the request and the court will move forward with it when deemed appropriate, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith and the motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:50am.

Officers reports for the month of December as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer:

• Debora Riley, Tax Assessor Collector - Property: $2,486,926.54; Motor Vehicle: $36,185.85; Total: $2,523,112.39

• Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk - $33,951.62

• Lori Oliver, District Clerk - $7,603.28

• Donna Hughes, JP1 - $14,498.17

• Marla Denby, JP2 - $504

• Melba Rodgers, JP3 - $1,222.70

• DeeDee Green, JP4 - $2,121

• Tracy Broadway, JP5 - $1,035

• Zack Warr, Constable 1 - $1,150

• Taylor Fanguy, Constable 4 - $90

• Total of $2,585,288.16

• Total investments of $17,752,111.20

• Total interest earned on investments of $77,130.39

• Total interest earned on investments for the last quarter of 2023: $272,753.67

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Minutes of December 8, 2023 Special meeting, December 13, 2023 Regular meeting, December 20, 2023 Special meeting, December 29, 2023 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner's Court.
2. Pay weekly expenses.
3. Officers Report.
4. Record the filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund audit for January.
5. Authorize the County Judge to apply for the Rural Law Enforcement Grant established under Senate Bill 22 in the amount of $350,000.
6. Authorize the County and District Prosecutor's Offices to apply for the Prosecutor's grant funds available under Senate Bill 22.
7. Adjourn. 

Agenda items not approved during the meeting include:
1. Discuss and possibly approve purchasing 3 Ford F150 4WD, police package through the Texas Buyboard with the purchase being with ARPA funds.

January 12, 2024 - Strong thunderstorms will impact De Soto, Red River, northwestern Natchitoches and Sabine Parishes, southeastern Panola, eastern Shelby, northeastern San Augustine and northwestern Sabine counties through 6:15am.

At 5:10am CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Stonewall to Bland Lake. Movement was east at 45 mph.

Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

Source: Radar indicated.

Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include: Center, Mansfield, Milam, Many, San Augustine, Coushatta, Zwolle, Logansport, Joaquin, Converse, Shelbyville, Patroon, Bland Lake, Neuville, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Martin, Huxley, South Mansfield, and Hall Summit.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 11am CST for northwestern Louisiana, and eastern and northeastern Texas.

January 10, 2024 - TxDOT crews in the nine-county Lufkin District will begin pre-treatment operations and shift work on Friday ahead of a winter weather event expected late Sunday.

A meeting was held Wednesday morning to plan emergency operations and responses. Crews will begin placing a brine mixture on major roadways, overpasses, and bridges Friday ahead of the predicted winter weather. Crews will re-treat Saturday and/or Sunday, if needed.

If freezing precipitation occurs, crews will begin monitoring and inspecting roadways and bridges and re-treat with brine, if necessary. Should the roadways need to be cleared of winter precipitation, equipment will be staged for quicker response times in local areas. Tier I roadways will be treated and monitored. Those roadways include US 59 and US 259. Bridges and overpasses throughout the district will also be treated, including those on US 69, US 190, US 84, US 287, and US 259, SH 94, SH 103, SH 7, SH 21 and others  throughout the district.

“While we know how unpredictable East Texas weather can be, TxDOT plans to be prepared and respond appropriately should we see extreme winter weather,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “We ask that motorists slow down and give our crews room to work should they encounter TxDOT vehicles and workers preparing the roadways.”

Brine operations is a moving work zone. Motorists should obey all traffic control in place, do not try to pass a TxDOT moving convoy placing brine, and stay alert for the possibility of crews working near the roadways during this time.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

January 9, 2024 - State Highway 7 East outside of Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the crash just under 3/4 of a mile from SL 500 at around 11:54am where the Center Fire Department and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department were in the middle of a house fire training. The fire personnel were able to break away from their training and immediately assist those involved.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, a silver 2015 Chevrolet Cruz driven by Samantha Ann Gordon, 47, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 East on the shoulder when Gordon made a u-turn to go back west. In doing so, the Chevrolet crossed the center line after completing the u-turn and into eastbound traffic. The Chevrolet then struck a red 2004 Pontiac Aztek driven by Elizabeth Miller Bridges, 73, of Joaquin which was traveling eastbound.

The Pontiac came to rest partially in the east and westbound traffic lanes, facing south, and the Chevrolet came to rest in the westbound traffic lane, also facing south.

Gordon and her passenger Stacy Oates, 49, were transported to Nacogdoches Medical - Shelby Emergency Department for medical evaluation.

Bridges refused treatment by EMS at the scene.

Gordon was issued citations for wrong side of roadway not passing and no driver’s license.

Traffic was backed up until the vehicles could be removed from the roadway. Hughes Wrecker Service towed both vehicles from the location.

Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted at the incident location.