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Shelby County Treasurer Ann Blackwell (right) reports to the commissioners court at last week’s meeting as County Attorney John Price (left) reviews notes. David Danley | Light and Champion
Changing course on roofing bids and approving a sand purchasing contract highlighted the Shelby County Commissioners Court meeting Wednesday, April 10.
After previously approving advertising for bids on replacing the courthouse annex roof and gutters, another option was discussed Wednesday.
“Our county treasurer reminded me that we went through TIPS to do the roof on the jail,” Shelby County Judge Harbison said. TIPSUSA is an online clearinghouse for government entities to request bids from numerous vendors. “We can just put it on the board at TIPS and let them find bidders for us,” Harbison stated.
The court approved rescinding the previous action and to list it on the TIPS-USA website.
Sand Contract After bids were solicited for sand used in making paving material, Commissioner Precinct 1 Roscoe McSwain located a suitable supply of sand. An agreeable purchase price was reached with property owner Darin Borders and a one-year contract drafted by County Attorney John Price, which the court approved.
“My understanding is that the amount of sand that would be purchased would be well below $50,000,” Price said, noting that met county requirements.
Janitorial Services The county’s quest to find a provider for janitorial services continues. After a temporary vendor agreement fell through, county employees have been performing cleaning tasks on their own.
Shelby County Judge Allison said only one bid was received in answer to another round of requests. The returned bid packet did not specify an amount, so the item was tabled.
Soil Conservation District The court reviewed a request from Terry Allen representing the Shelby County Soil Conservation District for a $2,000 to $3,000 increase to the county’s current contribution to the $7,000 annual program.
Harbison suggested having the district brief the commissioner’s court on improvements to the watershed.
Commissioner Precinct 4 Tom Bellmyer said he favored the briefing. “Four of those sites are in my precinct - some of them fairly remote. So, I would really like to have a bit of a presentation.”
The request was tabled pending the district’s presentation.
Financial Reports County Treasurer Ann Blackwell reported for the previous month.
Collections for March 2024 were Tax Assessor- Collector’s office-Property, $357,618.01, and Motor Vehicle, $109,395.21, for a total of $467,013.22; Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk, $37,000.06; Lori Oliver, District Clerk, $12,164.40; Donna Hughes, JP 1, $22,888.30; Marla Denby, JP 2, $1,962.03; Melba Rogers, JP 3, $3,126.50, DeDe Green, JP 4, $2,866; Tracy Broadway, JP 5, $4,865; Zack Warr, Constable 1, $630; Roy Cheatwood, Constable 3, $180; Josh Tipton Constable 5, $180; Sheriff ’s fees, $600.
Total fee office collections were $553,475.51.
For investments, Farmers State Bank CD earned $2,036. Small CDAR at IntraFi earned $2,252.88 and larger CDAR earned $11,051.29. Sweep Account with First National Wichita Falls earned $21,762.07. Farmer State Bank money market, $1.09. TexPool, $52,429.34. Monthly interest earned was $89,532.67 for a book value of $19,424,414.19, Blackwell reported.
Regular interest-bearing checking accounts earned $71.18. Total interest earned for January through March was $264,538.08.
Blackwell expressed pleasure at the amount of interest the county was earning. “I’m happy with the fact that we’re earning over $250,000 a quarter,” she commented.
“That interest … pays for nearly a payroll and a half of paroll,” Harbison added.
Blackwell reported Indigent showing a balance of $1,313,682.54. American Rescue Plan Act funds spent $86,913 62, with a cash balance of $1,0854,197.25. Local Assistance and Tribal Council Fund (LATCF) grant spent $22,500.
Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund is a general revenue enhancement program that provides additional assistance to eligible Tribal governments, eligible revenue sharing counties and eligible revenue sharing consolidated governments.
Blackwell noted that the beginning balance in ARPA was $4,909,178, while to date, $2,977,952.13 has been paid out with $1,327,498.48 pending leaving a cash balance of $1,931,225.87.
A recap of the LATCF showed amounts pending for the courthouse emergency lighting fixtures (total cost $11,075.20). Pending was $9,000 in the courthouse master plan, and the courthouse second floor remodel, $87,320. Balance in the LATCF reported was $47,681.06.
In other business, the court approved the minutes from its March meetings and paying the current payroll and weekly expenses.