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

OPEN SESSION:

RESOLUTIONS

1. Consider and take necessary action to adopt a resolution proclaiming June 23, 2026, as “Bullard High School Softball Day” in Smith County.

2. Consider and take necessary action to adopt a resolution proclaiming June 27, 2026, as “Illeana “Illy” Day” in Smith County. 

PRESENTATIONS

3. Receive an overview from Lisa McCaig with Texas Association of Counties Risk
Management Pool regarding Smith County’s Liability and Property Coverage Renewal for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Comments:

Lisa McCaig with the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool gave us an overview of our Liability and Property Coverage renewal for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Liability premium rates increased by $94,490 and property premium rates increased by $16,565. The county has experienced many vehicle accidents and lawsuits, and inflation continues to drive costs higher. The increase also reflects our new courthouse coming online in January 2027.

4. Receive a presentation from Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool representative Harold Hall regarding the 2025 Safety Award.

COURT ORDERS
COMMISSIONERS COURT

5. Consider and take necessary action to accept the Gollob Morgan Peddy Assurance, PLLC engagement letter and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

This is the same firm that has been conducting our Annual Comprehensive Financial Review for more than five years. I spoke directly with the Auditor as I prepared for our upcoming Court meeting and asked about putting the audit out to bid so we could bring fresh eyes on our county finances. The Auditor recommends waiting until after the new financial software is fully implemented.

In court, the County Judge led with that recommendation with his introduction of the agenda item. Once again, the Auditor was not present in Court to discuss it with the Commissioners and Judge in front of the public.

The full engagement letter is included in the agenda packet.

6. Consider and take any necessary action to approve a request from the Texas Department of Transportation for right of entry on Camp Ford property, as needed to facilitate construction of a bridge.

FACILITY SERVICES

7. Consider and take necessary action to approve the uniform and cleaning supplies agreement with UniFirst for the Facility Services and Road & Bridge departments and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

In preparation for court, I spoke with the Purchasing Director and Facility Services Director. The packet contained only the new uniform contract with no historical pricing data, so I could not determine whether we are paying more this year, getting a better deal for taxpayers, or staying the same. No one could provide that information before court.

In court, this item was tabled. I expect it to come back later, and I hope the staff will be able to show us clearly whether costs have gone up, down, or remained steady. We should not routinely approve these types of contracts without understanding the impact on taxpayers.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

8. Consider and take necessary action to approve a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $6,080.13 for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.

9. Consider and take necessary action to approve the purchase of (5) five Axon Taser 10’s and (10) ten Axon Taser 7 for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

CONSTABLE – PCT 4

10. Consider and take necessary action on confirming the appointment of a Deputy Constable for the Smith County Constable Precinct 4 Office pursuant to Texas Local Government Code 86.011.

Comments:

Constable Josh Joplin had submitted a letter recommending the appointment of Leisa Geddie as a Full-Time Deputy with the Smith County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office.

In his letter, Constable Joplin highlights Deputy Geddie’s 18 years of dedicated law enforcement service, her qualifications as a Master Peace Officer, and the profound honor of welcoming her to the team—particularly as the widow of former Precinct 4 Constable Dale David Geddie, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on June 7, 2006.

The full letter from Constable Joplin is shared below for the Court and I hope you will take a moment to read it.

RECURRING BUSINESS
ROAD AND BRIDGE

11. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the county judge to sign the:
a. Re-Plat for Woodland Park, Unit 1, Precinct 1,
b. Re-Plat for the Joey Garrett Subdivision, First Amendment, Precinct 2,
c. Re-Plat for Vista Del Sol, Phase 1, Lot 1, Precinct 3, and
d. Re-Plat for East Shore Estates, Unit 5, Lots 149 and 150, Precinct 2.

12. Receive pipe and/or utility line installation request (notice only):
a. County Road 4191, Oncor Electric, replace two poles, Precinct 3,
b. County Road 3118, Charter-Spectrum, install underground fiber optic cable with
pedestals, Precinct 3,
c. County Road 2147, Sabine Energy, road bore, Precinct 3,
d. County Road 2138, Sabine Energy, road bore, Precinct 3, and
e. County Road 227, Wright City WSC, road bore for service line, Precinct 2.

AUDITOR’S OFFICE

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

PRESENTATION

14. Receive Public Service Agency Funding Requests and Presentations for FY 2027.

Comments:

We received public service agency funding requests and presentations for FY27.

Historically, the Commissioners Court approves over $700,000 for these organizations. Some payments are contractual obligations, but most are not. For context, that amount is roughly equivalent to 17 janitors for the new 268,000 sq ft courthouse, 9 new deputies on patrol, or 10 vehicles.

These are fabulous non-profit organizations doing good and important work in our community. However, I do not support forcing taxpayers to fund them. This is a freedom issue: citizens should decide for themselves where to donate their own hard-earned money — not have government take it through taxes and redistribute it.

I do not understand how we can tell county departments responsible for core, mandated government services that we have no money to fix understaffing, while considering giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to non-profit organizations. Taxpayer dollars should be focused on core county functions.

If you want to hear the presentations, watch the Commissioners Court video and let me know your thoughts.

ADJOURN