Jasper County Commissioners Court

The Jasper County Commissioners Court met in a Regular Session on Monday, March 17th, 2025 and covered the following agenda items:

First the Court adopted a resolution designating the month of April, 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month and thanked representatives present from Jasper County’s Child Welfare Board, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Child Protective Services, as well as Sheriff Chuck Havard and District Attorney Anne Pickle for the work that they do to protect the children of Jasper County from predators, violence and neglect.

The Court took a brief recess to go to the front steps of the Courthouse to release blue balloons in memory of the lives of children lost to violence in the State of Texas in 2024.

Next, the Court adopted a resolution designating March, 2025 as American Red Cross recognition month and thanked the newly appointed Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southeast/Deep East Region Kimberly Cline for her service and willingness to take on the position, and for her years of service and volunteerism prior to the appointment.

The local Red Cross organization has stepped up time and time again to assist Jasper County and our neighboring communities with sheltering operations during major storm, wildfire and winter freeze events.

Next, the Court heard from Sheriff Chuck Havard, who presented his monthly Jail report advising that Jasper County had invoiced a total of $22,485.00 for housing inmates from Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine and Tyler Counties, as well as the City of Jasper in the month of February, 2025.

In other law enforcement business, the Court voted to approve an interlocal agreement between Jasper County, Newton County and the Sabine River Authority for access to a new 300 feet tall radio communications tower scheduled to be constructed on SRA property off of Texas Highway 87.  The Court noted that Jasper County had a previous contract with the SRA on an old tower that is scheduled to be demolished, and that Newton County had plans of constructing the new tower for emergency response communications at the same location.  Jasper County would then be able to utilize the tower site with county-owned radio equipment to improve communications in the far south end of the county in the Gist and Evadale areas.

Next, the Court heard from District Attorney Anne Pickle, who requested that the Court approve contracted cleaning services at the Criminal Justice Center once a week.  Ms. Pickle advised that the Sheriff’s Office has provided inmate labor to assist with a great deal of the cleaning and work done to prepare the building for office use, and that one day a week of contracted cleaning services at $14.50 per hour would be sufficient, which the Court approved.

Concluding law enforcement business, Ms. Pickle requested a grant adjustment to lateral funding over to increase the salary of one of her Criminal Investigators by $6,000.00 and her Executive Administrative Assistant by $4,000.00 for additional duties that they perform.  The Court approved the compensation increases, which were facilitated by transferring funds within the District Attorney’s Senate Bill 22 grant budget line.

Next, the Court heard from Shelia Harris, the District Extension Administrator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office out of Overton, Texas, who introduced Ms. Twana Wilson as Jasper County’s new Family & Community Health Agent, who will be serving alongside Ms. Caitlin Gallegos, who is our current County Extension Agent.  Ms. Wilson graduated from Lamar University in 2009 with her Bachelor of General Studies Degree and in 2013 with a Master of Science Degree in Health Promotion.  The Court welcomed Ms. Wilson and approved the appointment.

In grant related matters, the Court heard from Troy Whitehead of the Schaumburg & Polk engineering firm on the status of the water infrastructure grant projects included within Jasper County’s $13.254 million Community Development Block Grant at the City of Kirbyville and in the Evadale Water Control & Improvement District #1.  Mr. Whitehead advised that the Evadale project, costing approximately $2.5 million, would involve constructing a new elevated water storage tank and installing a new major water production well, which is expected to greatly improve the water quality and service to the citizens of Evadale.

Next, Mr. Whitehead discussed the elevated water storage tank tower project in the City of Kirbyville, which is a partnership whereby Jasper County is allocating approximately $2.1 million and the City has provided approximately $500,000 to construct the tank.  Progress is already well underway on this project with demolition of the old water tower being completed and new construction beginning.

Next, the Court heard from Mr. Jacob Tiemann of the engineering firm of Goodwin, Lasiter & Strong, who provided an update on a separate major grant project improving drainage in neighborhoods along U.S. Highway 96 between City of Jasper and the Buna Community.  Mr. Tiemann advised that the County Road 317 bridge replacement project in Precinct 3 was under construction and moving along as expected, and that his firm was working on obtaining voluntary easement access on a drainage project along Goode Branch in the Buna area.

Mr. Tiemann further advised that the planning was still underway for property acquisition and construction of a large detention pond north of the City of Jasper along Sandy Creek and another detention pond project north of the City of Kirbyville along Davis Creek.  Both major projects are expected to help alleviate flooding during major rain events within both cities.

Lastly, Mr. Tiemann provided an update on Jasper County’s two community center and emergency shelter projects in Precinct 1, located in the Homer and Dixie Communities, noting that his office would soon be ready to publish for construction bids

Next, the Court accepted bids received on skid steer equipment and awarded a contract to George P. Bane Equipment out of Tyler, Texas in the amount of $119,000.00 for use in wildfire mitigation projects to help reduce wildfire threats in rural areas of Jasper County.  This project is funded through a grant in the amount of $10.15 million awarded to Jasper County for wildfire mitigation and planning.

Concluding grant matters, the Court voted to accept a donation of $5,000.00 from the Smurfit-Westrock Paper Mill in Evadale on behalf of Jasper County’s local emergency planning program.  The Court thanked the paper mill leadership for the donation and for all that it does to assist law enforcement and emergency management operations in Jasper County.

Next, County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis provided her monthly financial reports, as well as Jasper County’s investment policy renewal, which the Court approved.

Mrs. Ellis then presented an updated Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy & Procedure, which the Court approved.

In airport related matters, the Court authorized Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Holloway to research updates to the policy regarding agricultural companies parking aircraft at Jasper County’s Bell Field Airport.

Next, the Court voted to publish for bids on a mowing and hay production contract at Jasper County’s Bell Field Airport on several open acres of property at the airport.

Concluding business, District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy presented her monthly civil and criminal fee reports, which the Court approved.

That covers it for this Court agenda.  Have a great week and as always, feel free to give me a call if you need anything my way.

Mark Allen, County Judge

Jasper County, Texas