*Rescheduled to January 29, 2026 because of the Winter Storm

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

OPEN SESSION:

PRESENTATION – Pursuant to Texas Government Code, §551.045(a) the following item was added to address the Declared Disaster and Winter Storm.

1. Receive update from Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator, Brandon Moore on the Winter Storm.

Comments: 

I have attached the after-action briefing that Brandon Moore, our Emergency Management Coordinator, prepared for the Commissioners Court.

It’s a clear summary of how Smith County—and especially Brandon and the first responders who staffed the Emergency Operations Center around the clock—handled the major ice storm called Greenland’s Revenge that hit January 24–26.

It covers the weather impacts, EOC activation and operations, the toughest challenges, like dangerous roads and life-safety risks, the teamwork with first responders, TxDOT, volunteers, and state resources, the solid public updates, and why the response succeeded so well with minimal outages or shelter needs.

Basically, it’s Brandon’s official “here’s what happened and how the team pulled it off” report to keep the Commissioners informed. All credit goes to him and the dedicated folks at the EOC and on the front lines.

COURT ORDER

COMMISSIONERS COURT –Pursuant to Texas Government Code, §551.045(a) the following item was added to address the Declared Disaster and Winter Storm.

2. Consider and take any necessary action regarding the January 23, 2026, Declared Disaster and Winter Storm.

Comments:

The County Judge declared a disaster on January 23, 2026. 

Judge Franklin declared a local disaster before the ice storm hit mainly because the law allows it when there’s an imminent threat of widespread severe damage, injury, loss of life, or property damage from the weather—based on reliable forecasts from the National Weather Service and state operations centers. Doing it proactively activated the county’s Emergency Management Plan right away, got the Emergency Operations Center up and running smoothly, sped up coordination with first responders and partners, and made it much easier to request and receive state resources quickly if things got bad. It positioned the county to respond faster, protect people and infrastructure better, and minimize harm rather than waiting until roads were iced over or power lines started snapping. In this case, since the storm passed without needing an extension after the automatic 7 days, it worked exactly as intended — preparation paid off without overreach.

RESOLUTION

3. Discuss and take necessary action to adopt a resolution proclaiming January 31, 2026, as “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founders’ Day” in Smith County.

PRESENTATIONS

4. Presentation of employee recognition, longevity certificates, and service pins.

Comments:

Judge Franklin was recognized for his five years of dedicated service to Smith County. The county also celebrated 15 other employees who reached significant service anniversaries of 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 years. While Judge Franklin was present to accept his recognition in person, the other honorees were not in attendance that day.

5. Receive report on Road and Bridge Phase 1 Bond.

Comments:

The Road and Bridge presentation arrived on my desk around 9:00 AM in printed form only—no digital version was included. I requested an electronic version on Wednesday after noticing it was not provided in the Commissioners Agenda Packet, but I still have not received one.

With limited time before the meeting, I was unable to review the printed report thoroughly, compare it to prior versions, or prepare targeted questions. County Engineer Frank Davis delivered the presentation to the Commissioners Court. For the full details, you can watch the archived video of the meeting via the link at the beginning of this report.

The $7 Million Dollar Mystery still exists:

• Originally reported expenditures of $39.5 Million on Phase 1
• On March 11, 2025 presentation reflected expenditures of $32 Million on Phase 1
• This printed presentation indicated a total Phase 1 cost of $41 million, though I have not yet had sufficient time to compare the breakdowns or summaries against previous versions for consistency.

Given how important these bond-funded projects are to our taxpayers and the absolute priority of keeping government transparent and accountable, I believe we must move forward with an independent forensic audit. This would get to the bottom of the numbers, explain every difference, and give commissioners and the people we serve full confidence that every dollar was spent exactly as promised.

COURT ORDERS
PURCHASING

6. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the Purchasing Director to advertise, solicit, and receive sealed bids for RFP # 17-26 Independent Auditing Services – Road Bond Expenditures and Compliance.

Comments:

The Request For Proposal itself, including the crucial Scope of Work outlining what firms would be expected to examine and deliver, wasn’t included in the Commissioners Agenda Packet. I had to request it directly from Purchasing Director Jaye Latch so I could review exactly what we were planning to send out to potential auditors. It was solid overall but fell short of fully addressing the specific requests Grassroots America – We The People (GAWTP) had made in their letter to the Council of Judges, particularly around forensic and compliance elements.

Why The Other Commissioners Had Not Seen the Amendments
Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, I couldn’t share my proposed amendments with the other Commissioners ahead of time, so they only saw them during the meeting (though Purchasing and the Auditor had them in advance). I proposed four straightforward amendments to strengthen the RFP:

• Confirming the firm would verify that proper procedures were followed in project documentation.
• Ensuring the firm could perform on-site reviews, since not all records are digitized.
• Requiring the firm to demonstrate independence from Smith County over the last five years—no contractual relationships, no financial interests in county projects, no familial ties to county officials, and no financial contributions to elected officials.
• Asking if the firm has specific experience in forensic and compliance audits.

These were modest additions aimed at making the process more thorough and credible. Unfortunately, the Court postponed the vote to allow time to check whether those questions could be legally included in the RFP. If I’d had assurance of a second on a motion, I could have moved to add them one by one—perhaps three or four would have passed—but without a second, that wasn’t possible.

The RFP is now set to come back before the Court on February 10. Hopefully, the amendments will be incorporated by then—if not, I’ll certainly address it openly in court.

This audit effort addresses two key questions:

• Were the bond funds spent correctly and legally? 
• Did the county follow proper procedures while delivering quality road projects? 

The financial piece is what this RFP targets, but the second part—verifying engineering and construction quality—would require a separate Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from a specialized engineering firm. That’s a battle for another day.

Taxpayers are on the hook for over $100 million in debt over the next 20 years. Even if an independent audit costs around $500,000, it’s a small price for the peace of mind that every dollar was handled properly.  The people deserve a certified, professional forensic audit for the significant commitment they’ve made through these bonds.

This whole discussion ties into bigger questions about public trust in government. During Thursday’s Commissioners Court meeting, Commissioner John Moore commented that he’s never heard from anyone who doesn’t trust their government. For the full context of his remarks, you can watch this clip:

In highlighting the need for this audit—no matter the cost—I was emphasizing that restoring public trust is essential. The reality many people feel is that government isn’t always transparent, doesn’t consistently enforce the rule of law, or hold people accountable when issues arise. 

I spend a lot of time directly with the public: hosting Coffee with the Commissioner every Wednesday from 8-10 AM at Blakeney Hardware, holding a monthly Town Hall since I took office, checking on roads firsthand, meeting with citizens about their concerns, answering my cell phone and office line, and always calling people back if I miss them and they leave a voicemail. 

I work for the people, plain and simple.

Commissioner Moore’s comment was directed at me—he doesn’t hear from people the way I do. In fact, I’ve stepped in to help some of his constituents when they couldn’t get a response from him, because they reach out to me asking for assistance. I simply can’t turn someone away if they need help from the Commissioners Court; that’s not who I am.

He’s not running for re-election, which may be the best outcome for many. The people deserve representatives who are accessible and responsive, and they won’t have to deal with this disconnect after 2026.

I asked him after court if he’d like me to send the people that don’t trust their government to him.  He confirmed that he needed me to bring him facts. So, if you would – please take a minute to share your own perspective directly with Commissioner Moore, please call his direct office line and leave a voicemail at:

903-590-4602

(He asked not to share his cell phone number.)

Generally, I see that he is in his office 8-11 AM on Mondays and 8AM – whenever we finish Commissioners Court on Tuesday.

7. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the Purchasing Department to advertise, solicit, and receive sealed bids for the following:
a. RB-01-26 – Road Improvements to CR 129 (CR 113 to US 69),
b. RB-02-26 – FY26 Seal Coat Program,
c. RB-03-26 – Road Improvements to CR 452 (US 69 to FM 2710),
d. RB-04-26 – Road Improvements to CR 1143 & CR 1145,
e. RB-05-26 – Road Improvements to CR 334 (US 69 to FM 2015),
f. RB-06-26 – Road Improvements to CR 471 (US 69 to SH 110) & CR 433 (CR 471 to SH 110),
g. RB-07-26 – Road Improvements to CR 1139 (SPUR 364 to Dead End),
h. RB-08-26 – Road Improvements to CR 1130, CR 1127 & CR 1141, and
i. RB-09-26 – Road Improvements to CR 1354.

Comments:

We authorized Purchasing to solicit these bids.

COMMISSIONERS COURT

8. Consider and take necessary action to reappoint Alejandro Gauna as the Smith County representative to serve on the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) Board of Directors, for a two-year term beginning February 2, 2026, and ending February 1, 2028.

Comments:

We reappointed Alejandro Guana as the Smith County representative on the NETRMA Board.  There were no other applications submitted for the position.

9. Consider and take necessary action to appoint a Smith County Budget Officer, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, Section 111.062.

Comments:

I’m pleased to introduce Timothy Hollis, our new Budget Officer. A Lufkin native, Timothy brings solid experience in governmental accounting and financial stewardship. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and his MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce. From 2018 to October 2025, he served at Angelina College, advancing to Assistant Controller where he led a team of seven, handled budgeting, purchasing, financial reporting, and daily operations for a multi-fund public entity. After a brief time as a senior financial analyst with Brookshire Brothers in Lufkin, he chose to return to public service, because his strengths and goals align perfectly with responsibly managing taxpayer dollars. He’s also a certified Texas contract developer and contract manager. Welcome, Timothy—I’m confident your expertise will help us keep Smith County’s budget transparent, efficient, and focused on serving our residents right!

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

10. Consider and take necessary action to approve the purchase of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for the courthouse from DataVox, Inc. utilizing TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Program, contract # 230105, in the amount of $160,557.18 and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

We approved purchasing and installing a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) from DataVox, Inc. for $160,557.18 through the TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Program as part of the new Smith County Courthouse project. The DAS is required because the building’s concrete, steel, and secure construction blocks standard cellular signals. Antennas and boosters on each floor will ensure reliable cell service for employees, visitors, attorneys, jurors, and the public. Using TIPS gives us competitive pricing and best practices—another smart step toward a modern courthouse that works well for everyone.

11. Consider and take necessary action to approve the following projects and purchases related to the Capital Improvements Plan for Technology Projects totaling $943,000.00 and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation:
     a. Server and Supporting Infrastructure for the Emergency Operations Center  – $175,000,
     b. Network Switch Enhancement / Replacements – $143,000,
     c. Wireless Access Point Replacements – $110,000, and
    d. Peripheral Replacements – $515,000.

Comments: 

Don Bell, our Chief Information Officer, requested approval to transfer funds for several delayed IT-related projects that were originally part of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), approved by Commissioners Court in August 2025.

During the budget process, these projects were moved from the regular IT budget into the CIP budget. To get them started without further delay, IT asked for the full amount upfront, since purchases and implementation will take place over the rest of this fiscal year.

Moments before the Commissioners Court meeting, the Auditor presented a budget transfer document that only included $604,981 of the $943,000 originally requested. That partial transfer was what ultimately passed as part of the Bill Pay agenda item.

Mr. Bell accepted the adjustment at the time. The remaining balance of the requested funds will come back to Commissioners Court for separate approval in a future meeting.

ROAD AND BRIDGE

12. Consider and take necessary action to approve the revised cost of Hot Mix Asphalt, Type D on Exhibit A of the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Winona and Smith County from $88.00 to $103.00.

Comments: 

In my October 21, 2025 report, I explained that there was an error on the compensation amount for Hot Mix listed in the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Winona and that Road and Bridge was working on the amendment. This was the amendment coming forward for approval.

321ST DISTRICT COUR

13. Consider and take necessary action to approve a contract with Reann Stewart for legal services for indigent criminal defendants for the 321st District Court, pursuant to Texas Family Code, Chapter 107, Subchapter A, and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments: 

We approved the contract with Reann Stewart for the 321^st District Court.  She is filling a vacancy in a contract attorney position.

*The agenda item should have indicated that this was for legal services for indigent parents or individuals.

RECURRING BUSINESS
ROAD AND BRIDGE

14. Receive pipe and/or utility line installation request (notice only):

1. County Road 2175 and 2197, Metronet, install fiber optic cable, Precinct 2,
   
2. County Road 3183, Oncor Electric, LLC, aerial work on power poles, Precinct 4,
   
3. County Road 431, Metronet, install fiber optic cable, Precinct 3, and
   
4. County Roads 471, 427, 489, 1138, 490, 429, 493 and 468, Metronet, install fiber optic cable, Precinct 3.

TREASURER’S OFFICE 

15. Consider and take the necessary action to approve the Treasurer’s December monthly report as received.

Comments: 

Mrs. Rawlings, Smith County Treasurer, was not in court to give her report. Please review pages 131-138 of the Agenda Packet that will be posted on this report on my website: 

The report shows the current balances in each fund and investment accounts. 

AUDITOR’S OFFICE 

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

ADJOURN