UPDATE: Jasper County Judge Mark Allen

The Jasper County Commissioners Court met in a brief Special Session on Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 to handle the following end of year agenda items:

First, the Court voted to adopt a contract amendment between the Spindletop Center and Jasper County for mental health services in the Jasper County Jail. The contract amendment outlined changes in licensed counseling credentials, but no increase in cost for Jasper County.

Next, the Court followed up by approving an Interlocal Cooperation contract between the Spindletop Center and Jasper County, outlining Jasper County’s commitment to providing a Mental Health Deputy to assist with responding to mental health crisis calls and handling mental health situations in the Jail.

The Court noted that Jasper County has already been funding a Mental Health Deputy position for several years and that the contract obligations would be at no additional cost. The Court also noted that the Spindletop Center has been in the process of seeking additional grant funding for a second Mental Health Deputy for Jasper County as well, placing two officers on the street to provide mental health services.

Next, the Court voted to approve Jasper County’s participation in a class action opioid lawsuit captioned, “In re McKinsey & Co. Inc. National Prescription Opiate Consultant Litigation, Case No. 3:21-md-02996-CRB”, currently filed in the Northern District of California. The Court noted that this opioid lawsuit involved a probable $200 million nationwide settlement of which only jurisdictions with populations of 10,000 or more citizens are eligible to participate.

Concluding business, the Court voted to approve the purchase of a used Dodge pickup truck from Weaver Brothers for Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Holloway’s road and bridge operation.

That covers it for the last Court meeting of the year. Have a great week and feel free to give me a call if you need anything my way. We wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year in 2024.

Mark Allen, County Judge

Jasper County, Texas