Always putting YOU first!
Serving Smith County – Precinct 1
Government Transparency & Accountability
If you are interested in regular updates from Commissioner Christina Drewry, please send the info below.
PRESS RELEASE
Statement on the FY2027 Budget & tax rate vote
I am not a politician. I am an EMPLOYEE of Precinct 1. I see my BOSSES every month — whether it’s my weekly Coffee with the Commissioner, my monthlyTown Halls, checking on road issues or their replies to my weekly emails. They know what’s happening with their money because I tell them. And they told me, plainly: Don’t raise my taxes. Trim your own budget first.
The latest update
October 13, 2026 – Commissioners Court
Commissioners Court Notes
Please note: All agenda items are considered PASSED unless indicated otherwise.
OPEN SESSION:
RESOLUTION
1. Consider and take necessary action to adopt a resolution proclaiming October 13, 2026, as “Antioch Baptist Church Day” in Smith County.
2. Consider and take necessary action to ratify a resolution proclaiming October 9, 2026, as “Hope Roars for the Silent Day” in Smith County.
COURT ORDERS
CONSTABLE – PCT 1
3. Consider and take necessary action to approve a donation from Whataburger for certificates worth $568 to Smith County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office for its new program “Precinct 1’s Little Champions.”
Comments:
We approved a donation of 100 certificates (worth $568) from Whataburger to support Precinct 1 Constable’s new “Little Champions” program for elementary students.
The program recognizes students who make positive choices, show kindness, treat others with respect, lead by example, and help make their school a better place. The tagline is “Recognizing Character. Celebrating Champions.”
Constable Caraway and his team brought this forward as a community partnership. This kind of investment in our young people strengthens relationships between law enforcement and the community at no cost to taxpayers. I’m encouraged by the local partnership.
FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE
4. Consider and take necessary action to adopt the Smith County Emergency Support Function 3, Road and Bridge, update and allow the county judge to sign all related documentation.
Comments:
We adopted the updated Emergency Support Function 3: Public Works and Engineering / Road and Bridge annex. Brandon Moore brought this forward because of state changes in damage assessment reporting procedures.
This keeps our emergency plan current so Road and Bridge can respond more effectively after storms—clearing roads, assessing damage, and restoring infrastructure. I’m grateful for the ongoing work to keep these plans ready.
COMMISSIONERS COURT
5. Consider and take necessary action to approve the following $120,000, 12-month term Indigent Defense Contracts for the Appellate and the 7th, 114th, 241st, 321st, and 475th Judicial District Courts, pursuant to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 26.04:
- Amy Blalock – Appellate
- David Colley – Appellate
- Rusty W. Drake – 7th
- James Patrick “Jim” Wheeler – 7th
- James E. Williams – 7th
- Michael Yarbrough – 7th
- Mishe Boren (1/2) – 114th
- Kurt Knoll (1/2) – 114th
- Kyle Rosenstein – 114th
- Cheryl Wulf (x2) – 114th
- Donald Davidson – 241st
- Zachary Davis – 241st
- John Jarvis – 241st
- Clifton Roberson – 241st
- Karen Bretzke – 321st
- Jeremy Coe – 321st
- Amy Daughtrey – 321st
- Jennifer Deen – 321st
- Kyle Rosenstein – 321st
- Zachary Davis – 475th
- John Jarvis – 475th
- Madaline Porter – 475th
- Ryan Sorrells – 475th
Comments:
We approved the annual indigent defense contracts. Each contract is $120,000 annually. Kurt Knoll was removed from the list in court.
This is the first time we have approved two contracts for the same attorney in the same court granted to Cheryl Wulf in the 114th District Court. Judge Jackson explained the practical reason:
- When one attorney has contracts in different courts, cases have to be reset because the lawyer cannot be in two places at once.
- That delays justice for victims, delays the defendant, and keeps inmates in jail longer—costing more taxpayer money.
- Assigning both contracts to one court should allow more cases to be resolved for the same cost.
Ms. Wulf is voluntarily giving up her other private practice clients to focus solely on this work under the contract. She is double board certified—one of a very small percentage of lawyers in Texas who hold that distinction. That experience and focus should help the court move cases more efficiently.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
6. Consider and take necessary action to reclassify Sheriff’s Office position #127 from Criminal Investigator to CID Sergeant resulting in a budgetary increase of $2,162.
Comments:
This item was pulled by the Sheriff and Judge Franklin. This is the second week in a row it has been pulled.
The Sheriff is seeking to take an open Investigator position and reclassify it as a new position: CID Sergeant over the Gang Unit. That would add a new command staff position outside the normal budget process.
It is our duty to protect the integrity of the budget process. There’s more to this than meets the eye. If or when it comes back on the agenda, I am prepared to ask the common-sense questions taxpayers should have answers to before any new position is created.
RECURRING BUSINESS
COMMISSIONERS COURT
7. Receive monthly reports from Smith County departments.
Comments:
These monthly reports continue to show real results for your tax dollars. Here are some of the September highlights:
- Facility Services: 1,515 work orders completed in September. Over 18,055 for the fiscal year.
- Judicial Compliance: Over $1 million collected in fees and fines for the fiscal year, including more than $106,000 in September. They earned a statewide award with an 85% collection rate.
- Pretrial Release: Processed 637 bonds, collected $6,700 in fees, and had zero failures to appear.
- Veteran Services: Saw 246 people in person, handled 702 calls, and filed 75 new claims.
- Law Library: 336 visitors.
- Animal Control and Shelter: Responded to 123 calls, facilitated 28 adoptions, and completed 21 transfers to rescue partners.
I appreciate the work these departments are doing. You deserve to see what your tax dollars are producing.
ROAD AND BRIDGE
8. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the county judge to sign the final plat for the Rivera Subdivision, Precinct 2.
9. Receive pipe and/or utility line installation request (notice only):
- County Road 414, CenterPoint Energy, install gas line for service, Precinct 4,
- County Road 419, CenterPoint Energy, install gas line for service, Precinct 4; and
- County Road 427, Kinetic Solutions, install aerial fiber optic cable, Precinct 4
TREASURER’S OFFICE
10. Consider and take necessary action to accept the Treasurer’s August monthly report as received.
AUDITOR’S OFFICE
11. Consider and take necessary action to approve and/or ratify payment of accounts, bills, payroll, transfer of funds, amendments, and health claims.
Road & Bridge
FY26 Completed Work Order Report
ADJOURN
Events
Recurring Meetings
Coffee with the Commissioner – Precinct One
Join us each Wednesday* at 8 am
at Blakeney Hardware
* unless otherwise noted
Lindale Republican Club
Meets the 1st Thursday of each month
Grassroots America – We the People
October 13 – Topic: The Texas Property Tax Showdown after Three Decades of Debate
November 10 – Speaker: Loren Spivak, national speaker & author
December 8 – Speaker: State Sen. Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate State Affairs Committee
Smith County Republican Club
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month
Smith County Republican Women
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month
Potpourri House
3320 Troup Hwy, Tyler
Our September Town Hall was PACKED!
Grateful for these patriots who gave up a Friday night to learn how their county actually works and ask the questions that matter. We talked budget, the higher tax rate, and how we fight together for a better FY28.
This is you using your power. I work for you. I report to you. You ask the questions and tell me how you feel.
That’s accountability. That’s a job review — and that’s how this job is supposed to work.
October 23 @ 6:30 pm – Town Hall
My Town Halls…
are held monthly for members of the community to gather together to discuss issues, concerns and ideas. These meetings can provide the citizens with information about the decisions of the Commissioners Court, capital improvement projects, road repair updates and other county business. You can’t do anything about what you don’t know!
From time to time, other elected officials or department heads may want to give a special presentation and/or take questions. I want to encourage any elected official that would like to engage with the public to join me.
Town Hall meetings serve as a way for me to gather feedback about our decisions, input on proposed policies or projects, and address concerns raised by the community. This is my job review! I answer to you.
Just as our founding fathers, I believe in the consent of the governed and I support your right to free speech. I encourage you to come as you are and engage with your elected official about your community. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend.
*No food or drinks will be served at this meeting.
*This is an informal meeting.
*We will not live stream or record.
I hope you can join us!
Remember…
County Commissioners have a duty to:
Protect our citizens’ natural rights against rogue actions of the state or federal government;
Prioritize obtaining “consent of the governed” through transparency and citizen participation;
Ensure every election is secure and the results for every vote cast in every race or ballot initiative can be verified;
Ethically manage county business;
Uphold the rule of law at all times;
Prioritize public safety through effective law enforcement and the court systems;
Represent the people of our precincts over special interests;
Properly maintain county infrastructure (roads, bridges, drainage, buildings, vehicles, equipment, county data, and human resources);
Utilize tax revenue effectively and efficiently, ensuring the highest quality for the best price;
Set a tax rate with the burden of the taxpayer at the forefront of our minds.