08/18/2026
The Jasper County Commissioners Court met on Monday, August 17th, 2026 in a Regular Session and covered the following agenda items:
First, the Court discussed the offer made by Mr. Mark Harken to donate the property and buildings near the Patron Grill in the City of Jasper adjacent to Fletcher Street. The Court noted that Sheriff Havard and County Judge Mark Allen had been in discussion with the Harken family and their attorney about the uses of the property, estimated to be approximately $400,000.00 in value, and that it had been determined that the location would be ideal for off-site law enforcement operations and storage.
The Court accepted the donation, made in honor of Tom & Melba Harken and Family and designated it for use by the Sheriff’s Office, and to use one of the offices in the building for physical fitness and training for officers and employees, then thanked the Harken family for the generous donation, which will benefit the citizens of Jasper County for generations to come.
The Court then accepted another donation comprised of window tinting projects on two Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles, provided by Guardian Auto & Industrial Detailing out of Buna. The Court thanked the owners of Guardian for assisting the Sheriff’s Office in tinting the windows of their vehicles.
Next, the Court heard from Sheriff Chuck Havard, who requested that the Court authorize his office to apply through the Department of Justice for a grant to obtain new patrol body cameras for his personnel. Sheriff Havard elaborated that these would be Getac brand cameras that would work with existing infrastructure at the Sheriff’s Office, which the Court approved.
Sheriff Havard then provided the monthly Jail report, advising that Jasper County had invoiced a total of $70,155.00 for housing inmates from the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, as well as from Liberty, Newton and Tyler Counties.
In other law enforcement business, the Court discussed the proposed FY2027 Sheriff’s & Constables fees, and after discussing the current fees established with Sheriff Havard, along with Constables Nichols, Poindexter, Hutchison and Christopher, the Court opted to keep the fees the same as FY2026 with no changes.
Concluding law enforcement matters, the Court voted to renew Jasper County’s agreement with the Spindletop Center for the Mental Health Liaison position, which Jasper County funds. Spindletop Center then provides a Qualified Mental Health Professional to work alongside Jasper County’s Mental Health Deputy to assist with individuals in crisis.
Next, the Court voted to appoint Juvenile Probation Department Chief Edeska Barnes to fill a two-year temporary term as a representative of rural counties on the Spindletop Center board of directors.
In grant related matters, the Court voted to award a construction contract to G&G Enterprises out of Beaumont, Texas for the Texas General Land Office Community Development Block Grant project to build the Dixie Resource Center off FM 2799 north of Jasper. The contract amount awarded was $1,416,460.00 to construct the facility in Precinct 1.
In other grant related business, the Court authorized Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Smith to apply for the next round of TCEQ Local Emergency Planning Committee grant funding.
Concluding grant related matters, the Court voted to upgrade Mr. Wade Peek’s employment status to fulltime at an hourly rate of $24.50 per hour, which is 100% funded by Jasper County’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant and will run through July, 2029. The Court noted that Mr. Peek is presently hired as a temporary employee but would soon begin working fulltime with the Court members and the Emergency Management Coordinator on wildfire defense, mitigation, and public education programs under the terms of the grant.
In other business, the Court set the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles local county fees for FY2027, leaving them the same as FY2026 on motor vehicle registrations.
The Court then heard from County Clerk Holly Thomas, who presented her list of election judges for the September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027 election terms, which the Court approved.
District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy also presented her monthly criminal and civil fee reports, which the Court approved, then County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis and County Auditor Maegan Pope provided their finance reports, which the Court also approved.
In budget related matters, the Court considered the FY2027 proposed budget and voted to set the proposed tax rate at $0.59255, limiting the Court to working within this rate or below during the final budget preparation and adoption.
The Court noted that the current proposed budget included primarily increases in law enforcement, including three additional fulltime Jailer positions for the Sheriff’s Office, a 5.5% salary increase for Sheriff’s Office law enforcement officers and the Jail Administrator, and a $10,000.00 annual salary increase for both the Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy and the Sheriff’s Office Major.
A one dollar per hour cost of living increase was proposed for all other county employees.
The proposed budget also included increases in fuel allowance lines, bilingual pay for officers and employees with second language proficiency, higher education incentive pay, and small adjustments in other offices such as a $5,000.00 extra help budget line for the County Treasurer’s Office.
During the budget workshop phase, the Court heard from Constables Cody Christopher, Niles Nichols, Christie Hutchison and Mike Poindexter who advised that they would like to receive county salaries equal to Deputy Sheriffs. Constable Hutchison also requested a new body camera.
The Court also heard from Justices of the Peace Gina Cleveland – Precinct 4, Mike Smith – Precinct 3 and Raymond Hopson – Precinct 2, as well as the clerk for John Cooper – Precinct 1, who requested approximately $13,000.00 in extra help funds each to assist their fulltime clerks with operations in their offices. The Court also heard from JP Precinct 2 Clerk Julie Scheibe who advised that her own workload had increased tremendously.
The Court was advised that Justices of the Peace Brett Holloway – Precinct 5 and Steve Conner – Precinct 6 were not requesting additional funding for extra help to assist their clerks. The Court concluded the budget workshop with no other elected officials or department heads requesting changes in their budget.
Concluding the Court meeting, the Court considered the proposed FY2027 Appraisal District budget. After a great deal of discussion, the Court voted against approving the FY2027 budget, noting a need to include line items for building repairs or upgrades in the budget and details regarding unencumbered funds. The Court discussed the next year’s budget with two JCAD members who were present and did get the impression that next year’s budget would more than likely be more detailed, then thanked the JCAD board for returning $336,640.00 back to Jasper County in the form of a billing credit, and also thanked the members who volunteer their time to serve on that board.
Due to the dry conditions, we are asking that everyone use extreme caution when burning brush or household waste. Although there is not currently a burn ban in place in Jasper County, ensuring that a water hose or other reliable water source is nearby and monitoring a fire closely until it is fully extinguished will help with preventing fires that can get out of control. Also taking precautions not to burn near homes, buildings or wood lines can save property and possibly lives.
That covers it for this Court meeting. 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
