Commissioner Colby Shawn

08/06/2026

Important information from City of Bridgeport about a planned Electrical outage on Tuesday June 9th.

The City of Bridgeport will be conducting scheduled electrical maintenance on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, resulting in a planned power outage for City electric customers on PR 3403 and along FM 920 south and west of town.

The outage is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. and is expected to last until 12:00 p.m.

Please note that only customers served by the City of Bridgeport electric system will be affected. Residents and businesses are encouraged to plan accordingly and protect any sensitive electronic equipment.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we complete these important system improvements.

05/06/2026

Monday, June 8th, will be a historic day in Wise County as the Commissioners Court holds its first meeting in the newly restored courthouse.

While I'm nearing the end of my first term in office, this will actually be my first Commissioners Court meeting as an elected official in the historic courthouse. I stopped by this week to see the new courtroom, and it is absolutely beautiful.

One of the additions I'm most excited about is the upgraded technology. The new microphones should make it much easier for everyone in attendance to hear the discussion, and for the first time, our meetings will be livestreamed. A major goal of the restoration project was to preserve the courthouse's history while integrating modern technology that improves transparency and public access.

I hope you can join us in person for this special occasion. If you can't attend, you'll be able to watch the meeting live or go back and view it later at a time that works for you.

I'll share the livestream link as soon as it is made available to me. Updated link: https://wisecountytx.new.swagit.com/views/908/

It's an exciting day for Wise County, and I'm looking forward to being part of this next chapter in our courthouse's history.

04/06/2026

The Precinct 4 crew has been very busy over the last couple of months, and I wanted to provide a quick update on some of the work they’ve been doing.

The crew did a tremendous job with cleanup efforts following the tornadoes that impacted Runaway Bay and the southern part of Precinct 4. It took approximately four weeks to clear all of the trees and debris. Unfortunately, that put us behind during one of the busiest times of the year for our department, but the team stepped up and is getting the job done.

In Runaway Bay, the crew completed the bridge approaches and wrapped up the county’s portion of the bridge project. Please keep in mind that the bridge approaches are currently gravel and will remain that way for several months while they settle and compact. Please use caution when driving across them. I think you’ll be pleased with the final results. The City of Runaway Bay is painting the bridge structure and installing signage this week, so the reopening of Jim Walters Drive is imminent.

In Paradise, I met with city officials this week to discuss road projects that the county and city will be working together on over the next couple of years. We discussed project priorities, engineering considerations, costs, and scheduling. One concern I’ve heard recently from several constituents is the condition of Mesquite Drive. That was one of the roads discussed during the meeting, and the city manager and I are working toward a solution.

The Precinct 4 mowing crews have also stayed extremely busy. With all of the rain we’ve received, it has certainly been a challenge, but I am very proud of our three tractor crews. They are currently finishing their third complete pass through the precinct and are preparing to begin their fourth. These guys work hard and do a great job. If you happen to pass one of them while they’re working, give them a thumbs up.

The rest of the crew has been focused on preparing roads that will be resurfaced and rebuilt this year. County Roads 3821, 3825, and 3828 in the far western portion of the county have been ground up and rebased as part of a complete reconstruction project. We have also installed numerous culverts to improve drainage in the area.

Starting next week, the crew will begin work in Balsora on County Roads 3621 and 3620, where both roads will undergo complete reconstruction.

We have a great team in Precinct 4, and I could not be more proud of the work they do or the pride they take in serving our residents.

As always, stay alert, drive safely, and watch out for our crews working along the roadway.

03/06/2026

There is currently a large first responder presence at the Bridgeport men’s prison due to an evacuation stemming from elevated carbon monoxide readings and a possible gas leak. At this time, the situation is under control.

Personnel from the Bridgeport Police Department, Bridgeport Fire Department, ESD No. 3, Lake Bridgeport Fire Department, Wise County EMS, and the Wise County Fire Marshal’s Office are on scene assisting with the response.

We appreciate the quick actions and professionalism of all responding agencies working together to ensure the safety of those at the facility. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available.

Please avoid the area if possible to allow emergency personnel to work safely and efficiently.

21/05/2026

I spent the last several days in Washington, D.C. for Infrastructure Week as part of my role on the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee. One of the most important parts of serving in these national roles is making sure counties like Wise County have a seat at the table when federal transportation policy is being developed.

This week the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released the BUILD America 250 Act, the House proposal for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. There are several major wins in this proposal for counties across America, especially rural counties that maintain large amounts of road and bridge infrastructure.

The bill would significantly increase funding for locally owned bridges, increase the amount of federal dollars specifically reserved for local bridge projects, preserve important safety grant programs, and create more opportunities for counties to directly access federal infrastructure funding. If ultimately passed by Congress, these provisions would make billions of dollars in transportation funding more accessible to counties and local governments across America. Those investments can help counties address aging bridges, dangerous intersections, freight corridors, and long-term infrastructure needs without placing the full burden on local property taxpayers.

Throughout the week we had several meetings with House and Senate leadership, federal agencies, and the White House Office of Management and Budget to discuss the legislation and advocate for preserving these county priorities in the final version of the bill. County officials are the closest level of government to the infrastructure challenges people face every day, and it is critical that local governments continue to have a voice in the federal policy process.

I’m proud to represent Wise County and to continue to fight for infrastructure investment. This bill is a strong example of what can happen when counties across America work together and advocate for policies that recognize the important role local governments play in maintaining our nation’s infrastructure.

15/05/2026

This week I had the incredible opportunity to spend the week in Washington D.C. as part of the V.G. Young Institute of County Government Leadership Academy. It was a packed week full of learning, leadership development, and discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing counties across America.

We spent time at the National Association of Counties learning about major initiatives currently being worked on at the national level and how they directly impact local governments like Wise County. We also visited the USDA and met with departments that provide programs and services available to our constituents back home.

One of the highlights of the week was spending a day on Capitol Hill. We had a very productive meeting with Senator John Cornyn and I also had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Brandon Gill and Congressman Ronny Jackson’s staff. We discussed issues affecting Wise County including transportation infrastructure, growth, and data center development. We also received a Homeland Security briefing from Congressman August Pfluger.

It was also wonderful to see Chico native Laine Longacre serving on Senator Cornyn’s staff. Seeing someone from Wise County working in our nation’s capital and doing such a great job was something special.

On Wednesday we traveled to Calvert County, Maryland where we met with county officials and discussed many of the same challenges both of our states are facing, especially surrounding rapid industrial growth and infrastructure demands. We also toured the Constellation Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. It was fascinating to see firsthand how one of these facilities operates and the scale of infrastructure required to support growing energy demands.

Thursday was spent at the George Washington Leadership Institute at Mount Vernon where we focused on leadership principles and what it means to lead “the George Washington way.” It was truly an incredible experience and one I will not forget.

Most importantly, I was excited that Nyree’s schedule worked out so she could make the trip with me and experience our nation’s capital together. It made an already memorable week even more special.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent Wise County and continue learning ways we can better serve our communities back home

13/05/2026

If you were impacted by the recent tornadoes, please take a moment to review this information. SBA disaster assistance is now available countywide for eligible residents, businesses, and nonprofits across Wise County.

09/05/2026

The temporary tree/brush drop-off location at FM 2123 and CR 3655 will close at the end of business today, Saturday, May 9.

Thank you to our Wise County Environmental Services team for manning this site and continuously mulching brush for the past two weeks that was brought in by both the public and county crews.

In Precinct 4 alone, we had 39 county roads impacted by downed trees and debris from the storms two weeks ago. We also want to thank Precincts 1, 2 & 3 for sending staff and equipment to help clear roads and support the recovery effort.

At the 2123 location alone, crews processed and hauled off 1,568,000 pounds of mulch generated from storm debris brought in by both county crews and the public. The amount of debris generated from these storms was tremendous.

Residents can still haul trees and storm debris to the Wise County Decatur Dump Site. Disposal fees will continue to be waived through the close of business Monday, May 11.

Many of you have reached out expressing appreciation for the hard work of our Wise County teams and for providing locations to dispose of storm debris. We appreciate everyone working together throughout this recovery effort.

Just a reminder, Wise County operates five dump sites across the county for your convenience. Please see the county website for locations and hours:

Wise County Dump Site Directory https://co.wise.tx.us/BusinessDirectoryII.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=24

Wise County Office of Emergency Management
County Judge J.D. Clark