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

OPEN SESSION: 

PRESENTATIONS:
 
ELECTION’S OFFICE
1.Presentation on county election precincts and potential changes in accordance with Texas Election Code, Chapter 42.

Comments:

Michelle Allcon, the Smith County Elections Administrator, is teaming up with the county’s GIS Mapping Department to redraw some voting precinct lines. This is like reorganizing the map of where people vote to keep things fair and manageable as the county grows.

Smith County’s population is growing, and some voting precincts (the areas where people go to vote) are getting too big. Each precinct is supposed to have no more than 5,000 people. A few precincts are nearing that limit, so they need to be split or merged to stay within the rules.

The county can only make these changes every two years during a specific time window, and that time is now!

When redrawing precinct lines, Mrs. Allcon and her team must stick to some important guidelines:

1. Stay Within the “Big 6” Districts: The new precinct lines can’t cross the boundaries of six major elected offices:
   • U.S. Congress
   • State Board of Education
   • State Senate
   • State Representative
   • County Commissioner
   • Justice of the Peace/Constable

This ensures that the people you vote for in these races stay the same, even if your precinct changes.

2. Keep Political Balance: Smith County’s voters are currently about 21% Democrat and 79% Republican, based on the last governor’s election. When merging or splitting precincts, the county has to keep this balance as close as possible so no political group gains an unfair advantage.

You won’t really notice a difference when you go to the polls for your elections.  Your precinct number will definitely change because Mrs. Allcon is also implementing a new numbering system. The first number of your new voting precinct will begin with the corresponding Commissioner Precinct number.  For my district, all our voting precincts will begin with the number 1 followed by two more digits – 103, 106, 109, etc. Your Republican or Democrat Precinct Chair may change. There will be open seats for Precinct Chair now that we have new precincts.  If you are interested in applying to be a precinct chair, please let me know.  I’ll be glad to help you. 
 
Please review her PowerPoint Presentation and let me know if you have any concerns as soon as possible.  We vote on these changes in Commissioners Court on April 29th. 

COURT ORDERS

PURCHASING
2. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the Purchasing Department to advertise, solicit, and receive sealed request for proposals for the following:
          a. 22-25 Smith County Depository, and
          b. 23-25 Smith County Sub-Depository.

Comments:

Mrs. Atonia Rawlings will be our new Smith County Treasurer in August 2025 and she came to speak on the agenda item. This bid proposal is for our bank depository and sub-depository for our Justice of the Peace offices and goes out every 4 years, with a 2 year extension available.

EAST TEXAS AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE
3. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the FY 2026 Smith County East Texas Auto Theft Task Force Grant application and Resolution and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.

Comments:

This is an annual grant through the State of Texas, Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.  This grant funds the operations of the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force. They provide auto theft crime prevention and investigations throughout the ETCOG 14 county region for East Texas.  Lt. Kenneth Richbourg is the Program Director. Smith County’s grant match is $22,134.

RECURRING BUSINESS

COUNTY CLERK
4. Consider and take the necessary action to approve the Commissioners Court minutes for March 2025.

5. Receive Commissioners Court recordings for March 2025.
 
ROAD AND BRIDGE
6. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the County Judge to sign the Final Plat for Mallory Acres, Precinct 2.
 
AUDITOR’S OFFICE
7. Consider and take necessary action to approve and/or ratify payment of accounts, bills, payroll, transfer of funds, amendments, and health claims.

ADJOURN