Commissioners Court Notes
Please note: All agenda items are considered PASSED unless indicated otherwise.
OPEN SESSION:
COURT ORDERS
COMMISSIONERS COURT
1. Consider and take necessary action to appoint/reappoint five board members to serve two-year terms on the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone Board for the Smith County Reinvestment Zone #1.
Comments:
We reappointed the 5 county board members.
- Neal Franklin – Smith County Judge – Term: December 31, 2026
- Scott Herod – Smith County Commissioner – Term: December 31, 2026
- Jeff Warr – Smith County – Term: December 31, 2027
- Frank Davis – Smith County Engineer, Road & Bridge – Term: December 31, 2027
- JoAnn Hampton – Retired – Term: December 31, 2027
2. Consider and take necessary action to approve a change order for Watson Commercial Construction in the amount of $11,091.00 for contract # 06-25 Facility Services Improvements utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and authorize the county judge to sign all related documentation.
Comments:
This change order covers issues found during the City’s final inspection to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy for our new Facilities Services building (Gulf States Building):
- Fire Marshal requirement: fire alarm upgrades for the paint booth and shop fans
- Additional compaction testing due to unknown concrete beams removed from subgrade
- Fencing/security changes for pedestrian safety
Original cost: $2,689,900
Change order: +$11,091
New total: $2,700,991
The increase is funded with savings from a completed ARPA road project that came in under budget. These updates ensure code compliance, safety, and allow the facility to open.
PURCHASING
3. Consider and take necessary action to approve to authorize the Purchasing Department to advertise, solicit, and receive sealed proposals for RFP # 20-26 Courthouse Furniture.
Comments:
We passed on this item. The RFP was not ready yet.
HUMAN RESOURCES
4. Consider and take necessary action to approve a budget transfer from the Animal Control Officer salary lag to the Animal Shelter part time fund.
Comments:
We were supposed to consider a routine budget transfer to support animal care operations at the county Animal Shelter. Specifically, the item requested moving approximately $14,500 from existing salary lag in the Animal Control Officer budget line to fund a new part-time Kennel Technician position – at $15/hour.
This is not a request for new funding, nor does it involve any tax increase or additional expenditure beyond the county’s already-approved budget. The dollars are already allocated and available due to salary lag — savings created when positions remain vacant longer than anticipated or when staffing changes reduce payroll costs temporarily.
Why this Position was Needed
Our Animal Shelter faces predictable, daily workload demands tied directly to the number of animals in our care. We use a standard productivity model: each dog requires an average of 0.92 staff hours per day for feeding, cleaning, exercise, health checks, and other essential care tasks. With full-time employees providing 8 hours of work per day, we can calculate exact staffing needs based on current and typical animal populations.
Recent analysis showed that our current full-time Kennel Technician staffing sometimes falls short of what is required to deliver consistent, high-quality care every single day — especially during higher-volume periods. Adding one reliable part-time position would allow us to schedule three Kennel Technicians on duty together for at least five hours on most days of the week. This improves:
- Daily feeding, cleaning, and sanitation
- Animal health and well-being
- Readiness for adoptions
- Overall facility cleanliness and safety
If you are looking at the packet, a sample weekly schedule demonstrates how this part-time role, combined with continued limited use of Jail Trustee assistance on select days, would close most coverage gaps without overstaffing or adding new costs.
Background on the Funding Source
During the transition following the departure of the previous Animal Control & Shelter Director — and while we restructured to create separate Animal Control Supervisor and Animal Shelter Coordinator roles — several positions became vacant, generating significant salary lag (unspent payroll funds). We had already eliminated one Kennel Technician position earlier to help fund the supervisory split. Even after that adjustment, more than $90,000 in salary lag remained available in the Animal Control budget at the time of court. The requested $14,500 transfer represented only a small portion of those existing, unspent funds.
What happened at Court
The agenda item was properly posted on January 28, giving several days for review. Unfortunately, just minutes before the Court session began, the Auditor raised a concern suggesting there might not be sufficient available funds for the transfer. Without time to verify or resolve the question on the spot, the Judge prudently chose to pass on the item to allow for further confirmation.
After Court concluded, a review confirmed that ample salary lag was indeed present and available for this purpose. The Auditor’s last-minute concern appears to have stemmed from information that was not fully checked in advance of the meeting.
Next steps
This important item has been placed back on the agenda for consideration on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. If approved, the part-time position can be filled quickly, allowing the shelter to maintain more consistent daily staffing and continue providing excellent care for the animals entrusted to us — all within the existing budget.
5. Consider and take necessary action to reclassify the existing Animal Control Officer Position to Animal Control Dispatcher in the FY26 Salary Plan.
Comments:
Similar to the previous animal shelter staffing item, we also passed on this reclassification proposal during the most recent meeting. It has now been placed on the agenda for consideration on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
This item remains a strong, taxpayer-friendly proposal that saves you money while improving service delivery—no new funding or tax increase is required.
The Animal Control Supervisor’s proposal was reclassifying one currently vacant Animal Control Officer (ACO) position into an Animal Control Dispatcher role in the FY26 Salary Plan.
- The original ACO position carries a higher salary range (approximately $40,857–$43,580 annually, or roughly $19.64–$20.95/hour).
- The Dispatcher role would be filled at a lower range ($37,440–$39,700 annually, or about $18.00–$19.09/hour).
- This creates an immediate savings of roughly $2.00/hour (or $3,400–$4,000 annually, depending on the exact step).
Key benefits to taxpayers
- Modest but real cost savings — Filling the role at a lower pay scale reduces payroll expenses compared to hiring a full ACO at the higher rate. The department operates more leanly without cutting service.
- Better use of existing resources — The ACO position has been vacant for an extended period, so the County has been holding the full budgeted amount without the role being active. Repurposing it creates a dedicated Dispatcher.
- Improved efficiency and public service — A Dispatcher can handle many non-emergency calls by phone (triage, education, referrals, documentation), which means:
- Fewer unnecessary field trips by officers -saving time, fuel, vehicle maintenance, and mileage.
- Quicker responses and information for the public.
- Field officers stay focused on priority work: enforcement, investigations, rescues, and safety issues that require in-person presence.
This is a responsible, no-cost reorganization that delivers small savings, smarter staffing, and faster public service—all within the already-approved budget for the vacant position. It strengthens Animal Control operations without asking taxpayers for more. I look forward to seeing this back for approval on February 10. As always, my goal is transparent, efficient management of county resources to best serve the community and the animals we care for.
RECURRING BUSINESS
ROAD AND BRIDGE
6. Consider and take necessary action to authorize the county judge to sign the:
a. Re-Plat for “L” Cra-Mar Estates, Unit 2, Precinct 1,
b. Final Plat for Legacy Ranch Phase 1, Precinct 3, and
c. Final Plat for Legacy Ranch Phase 2, Precinct 3.
7. Receive pipe and/or utility line installation request (notice only):
a. County Road 2175, 2197 and 2343, Metronet, install fiber optic cable, Precinct 2,
b. County Road 233, Jackson Water Supply, install water line, Precinct 3, and
c. County Road 4232, Metronet, install fiber optic cable, Precinct 4.
Road & Bridge Town Hall:
Come as You Are – Let’s Fix Our Roads Together!
As the Commissioners Court’s liaison to Road & Bridge, my work starts with the facts-and that comes from you. That’s why I’m hosting this open Town Hall: our first big step in rebuilding trust and working side-by-side to get our roads back to where they need to be—great again. No fancy speeches, just real conversation, your real concerns, and real solutions.
Come share what’s frustrating you:
- Those potholes that wreck tires and chip teeth
- Ditches that don’t drain
- Culverts that cause flooding
- Roads crumbling too fast
We will:
- Get an update on the requested forensic audit of Road Bond Projects
- Hear your stories and issues one-on-one
- Fill out a simple Road Story Form so we can dig into the issue and designate priorities
Everyone from every corner of the county is genuinely welcome—no matter your precinct, city, or neighborhood. Bring your family, your neighbors, your ideas (and yes, even your complaints!). Light appetizers and beverages will be there to make it comfortable and friendly.
Let’s sit down, talk openly, and start turning things around—together.
- Monday, February 16th
- 6:00 PM
- Texas City Music Grill 5424 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler
- Appetizers & Beverages Provided
Can’t wait to see you there. Your voice matters, and your concerns will be heard. Let’s make Smith County roads the best they can be—for all of us!
AUDITOR’S OFFICE
8. Receive County Auditor’s Report and Executive Summary.
Comments:
Click the button below to review the report. Dive in if you’re a number nerd.
9. Consider and take necessary action to approve and/or ratify payment of accounts, bills, payroll, transfer of funds, amendments, and health claims.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
10. Receive report on status of Smith County jail operations, inmate population, employee overtime, and employee vacancies.
ADJOURN