County considers tasers, pug mill, and ongoing projects

An update on meetings with GrantWorks and purchasing Tasers for the sheriff ’s and constables’ offices topped discussions the Friday, Dec. 31 special meeting.

Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Pct. 1, presided over the meeting in the absence of County Judge Allison Harbison.

GrantWorks is the county’s administrative agency for American Relief Plan Act funds. A representative from the company updated the court on current projects.

Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, reported on topics discussed during the meeting including work planned for the old Center Elementary buildings renovation for county use.

Revisions for the layout are reportedly underway that are “probably are not going to make a lot of difference,” according to County Treasurer Blackwell. The estimated cost for the AgriLife building restrooms was reported at $300 to $350 per square foot.

“For the gym re-model it’s in the $75 to $325 square foot range,” Blackwell continued, noting that included the heat and air. She said a firm price could not be determined until construction is started, so the contractor is going to provide the revisions and schedule a workshop if needed.

Purchases of tasers for the sheriff ’s and constables’ offices and a county-wide pug mill After the court approved and paid its weekly expenses, Next up was discussion on the purchase of a pug mill for county- wide road and bridge maintenance.

Blackwell noted court approval was needed to solicit bids for a pug mill for county-wide use. “The estimate is $501,000 plus options totaling $10,000, electric machine required, not hydraulic,” Blackwell said. “Only one vendor makes automated.”

McSwain confirmed that bids were not needed, just a firm bid with one company. “Yes, we can get bids from the others,” Blackwell said, but added others probably wouldn’t bid because the county requires an electric mill no one else makes one.

McSwain stressed the need to proceed with the bid process so that the purchase could be completed as soon as possible.

Concerning the purchase of Tasers, Blackwell noted that she was not part of that conversation, but that Judge Harbison had told her the GrantWorks representative noted that County Attorney John Price could do a letter for emergency procurement.

On voting machines, Blackwell said, “We ordered those. I haven’t heard anything … so we don’t know the time frame.

“Do you have any update on the barn?” she inquired of Stevie Smith, Commissioner Pct. 3 who reported that the slab is done, and they will be moving in material the first part of January.

Blackwell the Huber well project was “just been muddy water evidently.” She said the estimate was now $650,000 plus $200,000, plus engineering fees,” she said. “We’re still waiting. That project’s almost two years old.”

The purchase of new tasers for the sheriff ’s department, placed on hold pending a best price, was updated. A bid was submitted to the county, but had a deadline of Dec. 31 to lock in discounts for 2023. In order to take advantage of that offer, the court had to determine that the purchase was in the best interest of the safety and health of the residents of Shelby County so that it would be able to proceed with the purchase without having to go through the bid process.

“We talked about this issue of finances for the tasers last week and Mr. Price was considering whether we could move forward with that in regard to public health and safety for residents of Shelby County,” McSwain said.

Price replied, “There’s not a lot of opinions or citations on this. We did find an attorney general’s opinion that convinces me that this commission has the authority to order an exemption or find an exemption based on the issue of preserving and protecting public health and safety.”

Price said the court can decide and issue an order to move forward on the bid process. “I’m satisfied with the research we’ve done that you can do so, but first thing you would have to do is order an exemption or find a basis for an exemption,” he concluded.

“You’ll note in this contract (provided to the court) the deadline is this Friday (Dec. 31) to lock down this price. They will go up $9,000 next year.”

Ruth Gonzalez, Shelby County Sheriff ’s Office Chief Deputy noted that in her conversation with a representative of the company the Tasers are being purchased from she was assured that the county would receive the new equipment in a timely manner. Gonzalez added that she had contacted another company that would have had a much longer delivery timeframe.

McSwain reiterated the court’s approval for an order for public health and safety for the residents of Shelby County and the officers of this department, adding “so I think we should look at paying for this out of LATCF funds. That way we can make the order and move forward.

The Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF ) is a general revenue enhancement program providing additional assistance to eligible Tribal governments, eligible revenue sharing counties and eligible revenue sharing consolidated governments.

McSwain also reminded the court it would need to authorize him to sign contract in the absence of Judge Harbison due to it having to be entered that day. The court agreed and included that proviso to make an emergency exemption in the interests of public safety and to go ahead with the purchase of the Tasers at a cost of $60,350.40.

In other action, the court approved matching the IRS standard mileage allowance rate projected for 2024 for use of a personal vehicle by county employees.

Clint Porterfield, County Auditor explained, “We were at 65.5, the new rate will be 67 cents.”

The court also approved payment of weekly bills.