Smith County

05/29/2026

Smith County Engineer Frank Davis addressed Grass Roots America – We the People’s Road Bond Program claims regarding Phase 1 and 2 completions and expenditures during an update presentation at […]

05/29/2026

Traffic patterns will change for Downtown Tyler, Texas drivers on Monday, June 1! West Erwin Street and North College Avenue will open as two-way streets!
West Ferguson Street will be closed.
East Ferguson Street will have one lane open.
The portion of Spring Avenue directly behind the current Courthouse will be closed but county employees will still be able to enter their parking lots on the north and south sides of the Courthouse.
The county and city parking garages are open and accessible!

05/29/2026

Early Voting for the City of Tyler Mayor Runoff Election is set for June 1-9.
Current City Councilmember Stuart Hene and former City Councilmember John Nix are running for the position.
Early voting hours will be:
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 1-5
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9.
There will be six polling locations for early voting. They include:
• Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Road, Tyler
• The Hub: 304 E. Ferguson Street, Tyler
• Pollard United Methodist Church: 3030 New Copeland Road-Adult Building Room A2, Tyler
• Tyler Fire Department-Station 1: 801 W. Gentry Parkway, Tyler
• Tyler Junior College Central Campus-Rogers Student Center-Apache Room 1: 1401 E. Lake Street, Tyler
• Tyler Police Department at Faulkner Park: 574 W. Cumberland Road, Tyler
There will be 11 voting locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, June 13.
For more information about voting locations and times and what is on the ballot, visit: www.smith-county.com/233/Current-Election-Information
You can also find what’s on your ballot and what polling place is near you by entering your address on our interactive map: www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/0d307973630e40d28fc25468814fb44b

05/28/2026

We wanted to share this wonderful feedback we received about our Smith County Animal Control Supervisor Colten Parsell and his staff from Whitehouse Police Department Chief Paul Robeson.
“I wanted to let you know how great it has been working with Colten at Smith County Animal Control. They have become an organization that is a pleasure to work with! They constantly go above expectations. We recently had the most aggressive dog we have ever had to take in. When we called and asked for advice, not only did he give advice, he and his team came to our shelter and helped us in this difficult situation. Please let them also know how much we appreciate their professionalism and willingness to help.”
Thank you Chief Robeson for the kind words and thank you to our amazing Smith County Animal Control & Shelter staff!

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Smith County Engineer Frank Davis gave an update on the Road Bond Program during Commissioners Court on Tuesday, May 26.
He went over completed and upcoming projects on the lists for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the voter-approved Bond Program.
The update included roads that are under construction, have been completed or are being planned and paid for with bond funds.
There is about $15 million in bond funding remaining for large road projects that are being planned or constructed.
Some of the smaller, overlay projects in the bond program have been done in-house by Smith County Road and Bridge Department crews.
Phase 1 of the Smith County Road Bond was approved by voters for $39.5 million in 2017 and resulted in 204 miles of county roads being repaved or reconstructed.
Phase 2 of the Road Bond was approved by voters in 2021 for $45 million and included plans for 282 miles of roads to be improved. Davis has since added some projects, resulting in a total of 295 miles scheduled for improvement.
The Road Bond Program list of roads is a fluid document that has been changed by the Road and Bridge project when conditions of roads change. Each road project is brought to Commissioners Court to approve the project, contractor and its completion.
Davis also talked about how the cost of asphalt and materials has gone up by 60 percent, resulting in road projects costing more than originally expected.
Davis agreed with Smith County Judge Neal Franklin that an engineering study of the conditions of all 1,200 miles of county roads would be a good idea since the last one was done in 2015.
To view Davis’ presentation that was presented in court, visit: www.smith-county.com/258/Road-Bond-Program

Photo: County Road 313, north of Tyler, was recently reconstructed and repaved as part of the Smith County Bond Program.

05/26/2026

Kari Kamin is celebrating 20 years with the Smith County Sheriff's Office.
She began as a detention officer and transported inmates to and from different agencies.
In 2008, she graduated from the police academy and then became a transport deputy and later became the Sergeant over transports.
She left to work in evidence for the Sheriff’s Office before returning to the jail as a sergeant detention officer.
After a few years she become part of the Courthouse Security Team and a roving bailiff, filling in where needed. When a position for a full-time bailiff became available, she became the bailiff for County Court-at-Law 2.
“I have been able to work with wonderful people and have had the ability to travel across the United States during my time in transports,” she said. “I am thankful for the opportunities working extra jobs over the years as well.”
Thank you for your service!

05/26/2026

Sarah Bales Mikkelsen was recognized during Commissioners Court for 10 years of service to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Jacob Putman said Mrs. Mikkelsen is an appellate attorney and although she isn’t seen by the public much, she does a lot of work for his office. He said she is a hard worker and does everything with a smile. She also helps train new attorneys.
“We are very grateful to have her in our office.” Putman said.

05/26/2026

Blake Sanderson was honored during Commissioners Court Tuesday for 10 years of service to Smith County.
Sanderson started out as a detention officer in the jail, working for the Sheriff’s Office in 2016.
In 2019, he became a maintenance mechanic for the Facility Services Department. He worked as a mechanic in the jail for five years before he began primarily taking care of the Courthouse, Evidence Building and Facility Services Department Building.
Facility Services Director Ed Nichols called Sanderson a capable, reliable and dependable employee who has completed 21,000 work orders since 2019.
“He is an invaluable part of our team,” he added.
Sanderson served in the U.S. Army for eight years before joining the county.