November 20, 2025 - Cyber Security was a subject of consideration during the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court Wednesday, November 19, 2025 meeting and Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, highlighted the importance of county officials and employees participating in training.
“I just think we need to be a lot more diligent in our cyber security awareness,” said Blackwell.
Blackwell said there is a cost to the county of $5 per person for the training and it will include everybody that has access to email or who does county business through their phone. Some of the training will also be face-to-face.
“If you’re on the computer and you’re doing county business on the computer, you need to have cyber security training,” said Blackwell.
Offices in the county where staff may not have individual emails, will need to have group training as Blackwell described, so they are aware of what safety measures are necessary.
Blackwell described several scenarios of email phishing that are utilized of which employees and officials would need to be aware to help prevent them being hacked.
“We’re going to do the best we can do to try to make everybody aware, and just aware of those little small details when you get something that doesn’t look just quite right,” said Blackwell.
As an example, Blackwell stated, “I know the judge isn’t going to email me and tell me to wire somebody some money, I know she is not going to do that.”
In 2018, Shelby County was the target of ransomware in the District Clerk's office which was eventually resolved. Earlier in 2025, Shelby County employees and officials were targeted through an email hack, which also spread through their contacts. These previous incidents demonstrate a perpetual need for vigilance as suggested by Blackwell.
Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2, moved to approve registration for the 2026 Cyber Security Training and a second was heard from Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4. The motion carried.
The commissioners agreed to have an auction of surplus and scrap items and or other materials December 19, 2025, in the DPS parking lot at the Precinct 1 County Barn in Center at 10am.
This sale would include items from several of the commissioner yards, and potentially items from the Sheriff’s Department.
Precinct 1 items listed as of the meeting are: 1982 International flat bed truck; 1999 Ford flat bed truck; 2001 Mack truck; 2008 Ford pickup truck; 2009 Ford; 2007 Dodge; Fiat loader purchased sometime in the 80s; two tagalong dump trailers with Davis dump beds.
Precinct 2 items listed as of the meeting are: 20-foot 7.75 width Gooseneck trailer; shop built trailer.
Precinct 3 items listed as of the meeting are: 2003 Ford pickup truck; 2011 Ford pickup truck; 3-point PTO tiller; 6-foot bush hog; bridge materials 7x12; 8-foot roller.
McSwain stated the old pugmill will also be listed with its conveyor and ramp at a starting bid of $100,000. Items listed on Purple Wave will end on December 16, and if they don’t sell there they will be added to the December 19 auction.
Commissioner McSwain moved to set the date for December 19, at 10am in the DPS parking lot by the county barn including all the items listed during the meeting, surplus and salvage materials will be involved in the auction and the pugmill, conveyor and ramp will have a minimum bid of $100,000 or it will not sell and if the Sheriff’s Department has things they want to add to the sale it will be listed the following week of the meeting and promoted via media sources. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.
Mike Hanson, Shelby County Chief Deputy, introduced biographical information to the commissioners as they considered accepting John E. Cash as a reserve deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. Hanson stated that Cash started his law enforcement career in 2003 in the DFW Metroplex, stayed for several years, and in an effort to make more money for his family entered into the oil and gas industry. During that time he let his peace officer’s license lapse and became inactive. In 2023, he went through a second police academy. Most recently he was a reserve with Cherokee County after being a full-time patrol deputy with that agency. He lives in Shelby County now and continues to work in the oil and gas industry.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve John E. Cash as a reserve deputy and Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion. It carried
During Commissioner Court reports, Commissioner Bellmyer commented that the fiber optic crews working in Precinct can be overwhelming, and that water departments are having to contend with some water supply issues as a result.
“Dealing with a couple water districts in the precinct they’re having a hard time keeping up with water lines that are getting cut,” said Bellmyer. “This morning when I came in I got a call they cut a gas line and the gas company’s out, actually shut down a road for a while back down off [FM] 415 at [CR] 4123 back in that area.”
Commissioner Bellmyer commented that the fiber optic crews have been doing a pretty good job of erecting warning indicators and cones on county roads, but their presence can “overwhelm a road.”
“They’re on at least 12 roads with about 20 crews that are working, so I think they’re moving to the east if you would to Precinct 3 next,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
Another subject of concern for Commissioner Bellmyer was the repairs to the courthouse elevator that the county has been anxiously awaiting for over a year and a half.
“We approved and we’ve actually sent in excess of $48,000 of a down payment to the elevator company,” said Bellmyer.
To his knowledge the company hasn’t performed any of the contracted work to the elevator.
“I’m requesting, with approval from the court whether we put it on the agenda next week or we can talk about it today. I really think it’s appropriate for the county attorney to send them a letter that we sent them at their request in good faith, I think it’s $48,700 so that they gather the parts and materials and whatnot,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
Commissioner Bellmyer feels that they have been patient enough. Commissioner McSwain agreed it needs to be addressed and it’s gone on for too long.
County Treasurer Blackwell agreed the county sent funds to the company in July 2024.
An item Commissioner McSwain brought to the attention of court was the county sick leave policy and comp time policy, as well as, cashless Justice of the Peace offices. He said the sign-up time for sick leave will be in December.
“We have a one-year mandatory service time before you can sign up,” said McSwain.
He said that someone could wait for a year right now if they were to hire in January before being added to sick leave. McSwain offered the idea of changing that to a sign up every six months so that someone could sign up in the middle of the year.
Going cashless with the Justice of the Peace offices would be something McSwain remarked would make the auditors happy, especially since they indicate every year that the current way of operating with cash carries with it a potential risk.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Weekly expenses. 2. Current payroll. 3. Registration of the county for the Annual CyberSecurity training through TAC. 4. John E. Cash as a Reserve Deputy for the Sheriff’s Department. 5. Set December 19, 2025 at 10am for the live auction for all surplus equipment and/or materials. 6. Adjourn 10:08am.
