Please note: All agenda items are considered PASSED unless indicated otherwise.

OPEN SESSION:

PRESENTATION

1. Receive presentation from David Quin, Program Manager with Texas Conference of Urban Counties, Public Power Pool (P3) regarding the 2025 procurement process and contract award for the purchase of electricity for 2026-2028.

Comments: 

Great news for Smith County! The Public Power Pool (P3) is helping us save on electricity costs for our county buildings. Even with market rates higher than past contracts, P3 secured excellent rates tailored to our current energy needs.

• Winning bid: Champion Energy at just 6.1¢/kWh
• Smart strategy: The P3 Board approved flexible purchasing for up to 10 years, positioning us for lower rates ahead and smoother budgeting.

FY26 Projection (current facilities):

• Estimated usage: 15,063,127 kWh
• Total cost: $1,403,928

Note: The new courthouse will add approximately $580,156 in energy costs starting in FY27. This increase is not yet included in the current plan, giving us time to prepare and adapt. 

Take a moment to explore the P3 Presentation below for a clear view of how these changes benefit Smith County’s energy future!

COURT ORDERS

COMMISSIONERS COURT

2. Consider and take necessary action to approve the following FY26 Indigent Defense Contract for the 114th Judicial District Court, pursuant to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 26.04, with the following individuals and terms:

1. Christopher Grier, in the amount of $10,000, for a 1-month term.
   
2. Kyle Rosenstein, in the amount of $110,000, for an 11-month term.

Comments: 

The 114th Judicial District Court needed to complete payment on one Indigent Defense Attorney contract and then replace that attorney with another. The contract totals $120,000 per year, paid at $10,000 per month. Kyle Rosenstein was approved as the new Indigent Defense Attorney for the 114th Judicial District Court.

3. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the approval of re-sale for struck off property, suit number 25,990-A and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

We authorized a resolution for the resale of a struck-off property under suit number 25,990-A, originally filed as Bullard ISD vs. Nanette K. Evans. The property, consisting of Lots 151-155 in the Lakeway Harbor Subdivision, or 23626 Wateridge Loop, was purchased by FGMS Holdings, LLC for a total of $10,200.44. As part of the transaction, Smith County will collect $1,494.20 in associated taxes.

4. Consider and take necessary action to approve the SRL Clinic Attorney Agreement with Mike Hogan and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

Following concerns raised at the previous Commissioners Court meeting, we tabled this item for further review. After investigating the claims, the Judges identified a new instructor for the Self-Represented Litigant Clinic: Mike Hogan, a family law attorney with 35 years of experience and exceptional qualifications. The updated contract includes strengthened transparency and accountability measures to control costs and clearly demonstrate program success.

AUDITOR’S OFFICE

5. Consider and take necessary action to approve the service agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the 287(g) Program and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

What is the 287(g) Task Force Model (TFM)?

The 287(g) program lets local law enforcement partner with federal immigration officials (ICE) to help enforce immigration laws. There are different versions of this partnership, but the Task Force Model (TFM) is the one our Sheriff has joined this year.  

Under TFM:

• Trained local deputies become Task Force Officers.
• They can identify and arrest people who are in the country illegally during their regular duties (like traffic stops or investigations), especially if those individuals have criminal records or pose a public safety risk.
• All actions are supervised by ICE, and deputies only act within federal guidelines.

This is not about deputies randomly checking immigration status—it’s a targeted tool to remove dangerous criminals who shouldn’t be here.

Sheriff Larry Smith signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ICE for the Task Force Model on February 18, 2025. The Smith County Commissioners Court later approved it on March 4, 2025.

When the program first restarted in early 2025, local agencies had to pay all the costs themselves. That changed on September 2, 2025, when ICE announced a new reimbursement package just for Task Force partners.

Here’s what the Sheriff’s Department can now get back from the federal government:

• $7,500 one-time equipment stipend per trained officer: This covers body armor, duty gear, laptops, and other tools needed for the job.
• Up to $100,000 one-time vehicle stipend: As the Sheriff explained in court, he plans to use this money to buy 2 detective-style vehicles (plain-wrap, unmarked SUVs or sedans)—instead of more expensive Chevy Tahoes typically used for patrol officers. 

He has put 32 deputies through the training as Task Force Officers and plans to train every deputy in the department over time so the whole agency can participate safely and effectively.

Why This Matters to You

• Get dangerous criminal illegal immigrants off our streets faster,
• Equip and train our deputies at no extra cost to local taxpayers,
• And bring up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal reimbursements back home.

Our deputies—the men and women who show up every day to keep Smith County safe—are the ones doing the hard work. With this new federal funding, they get better equipment and vehicles at no extra cost to local taxpayers. That means our incredible officers can focus on protecting all of us, while Washington pays its fair share instead of leaving the bill to you.

Your tax dollars stay in your pocket, and our deputies get the tools they need to do an even better job keeping dangerous criminals off our streets. That’s a win for every resident who counts on these officers to have their backs.

6. Consider and take necessary action to approve the grant application for the FY2026 CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form for the Office of the Governor Public Safety Office Bullet-Resistant Components for Law Enforcement Vehicles. 

Comments:

We just approved a grant to make 25 of our Sheriff’s Department vehicles much safer for deputies.

• The money comes from a state grant run by the Governor’s Office.
• It will pay to add bullet-resistant glass and armor panels to patrol cars.
• Cost: $9,337 per vehicle → total of $203,425 for all 25.
• This grant was set up by the Texas Legislature in House Bill 2217 and the funds were officially budgeted in House Bill 500.

Bottom line: Our deputies will be better protected on the job, and taxpayers get this upgrade at no extra local cost. It’s a smart, common-sense win for public safety.

ROAD AND BRIDGE

7. Consider and take necessary action to accept the completion of the construction contract for RB-17-25, FY25 Seal Coat Program, with an underrun amount of $94,029.30, authorize the County Judge to execute the Reconciliation. 

Comments:

We have accepted the completion of RB-17-25, the FY25 Seal Coat Program, carried out by Texana Land & Asphalt, Inc. The contract was awarded for $905,716.00, and the final construction cost came in at $811,686.70, yielding a savings of $94,029.30. These paving maintenance upgrades covered a total of 15.913 miles of county roads.

PURCHASING

8. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the Purchasing Department to advertise, solicit, and receive sealed bids for the following:

1. RB 11-26 Drainage Culverts,
   
2. RB 12-26 Roadway Striping, and
   
3. RB-13-26 Asphaltic Concrete Patching Material.

Comments:

We approved the Purchasing Department to put out bids for three yearly road maintenance projects:

• New drainage culverts
• Fresh striping on county roads
• Asphalt patching material

These are routine contracts we use every year to keep our roads safe and in good shape. By opening them up for competitive bids, we make sure taxpayers get the best possible price.

RECURRING BUSINESS

ROAD AND BRIDGE

9. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the county judge to sign the:

1. Final Plat for the F.M. 344 South Subdivision, Unit 1, Precinct 1,
   
2. Final Plat for the Jaguar Enclave Subdivision, Precinct 1, and
   
3. Final Plat for The Stableford Subdivision, Phase 1, Precinct 3.

AUDITOR’S OFFICE

10. Consider and take necessary action to approve and/or ratify payment of accounts, bills, payroll, transfer of funds, amendments, and health claims.

Comments:

Budget Amendments:

Dept: Sheriff’s Dept.
Insurance Revenue Proceeds: $6,744.65
Explanation: Receipt of revenue and expenditure on an insurance settlement claim.

The Auditor’s Office is working on finalizing the Fiscal Year 2025 expenditures and rolling encumbrances that will be paid in Fiscal Year 2026. 

Fund 79: Courthouse Construction
Amount: $4,970,377.20
PO # 145904 Hoar Construction: $4,944,419
PO # 145905 Fitzpatrick Architects: $25,958.20

Fund 75: Road and Bridge
Amount: $2,667,298.69
PO# 130399  KSA Engineers, Inc: $5,608
PO# 144086  Fitzpatrick Architects: $4,445
PO# 145910  Fitzpatrick Architects: $15,000
PO# 143709  Texana Land & Asphalt: $322,268.08
PO# 141911  ETTL Engineers & Consultants: $22,636.50
PO# 140667  Miller Construction Co.: $2,032,564.11
PO# 145958  Casey Slone Construction: $264,777

Live Check:
Recipient: District Clerk
Jury Payment: $26,928  

Wire Transfers:
Optum RX for Prescription Claim Cost Billing and Claim Fee Billing fees for 10/16/25 – 10/31/25: $203,139.25

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

11. Receive report on status of Smith County jail operations, inmate population, employee overtime, and employee vacancies.

ADJOURN