10/19/2026
The Jasper County Commissioners Court met in a Regular Session on Monday, October 19, 2026, and covered the following agenda items:
First, the Court heard from Mr. Chris Lanier, who thanked the Court and Jasper County for allowing the placement of the 9-11 Memorial Monument on the Courthouse Square in 2016, and for being supportive of the annual 9-11 program each year.
Mr. Lanier then read a note from New York City’s Fire Department personnel who visited in last month’s ceremony, which thanked Jasper County and all participants for supporting the program and remembering those that had fallen during the 9-11 attacks twenty-five years ago.
Next, the Court heard from Sheriff Chuck Havard, who provided his monthly Jail report, advising that Jasper County had invoiced a total of $93,075.00 for the month of September for housing inmates from Liberty, Newton and Tyler Counties as well as the City of Jasper, which the Court approved.
In other law enforcement matters, the Court voted to renew Jasper County’s interlocal agreement with the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force. This agreement allows Jasper County to receive investigative assistance from participating task force agencies from Jefferson, Hardin and Orange County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as from the Beaumont and Port Arthur Police Departments.
Following this, the Court voted to renew Jasper County’s application for FY2027 to receive $350,000.00 in grant funding under the Rural Sheriff’s Office Salary Assistance Grant program. These funds are utilized as an added supplement to the law enforcement officers and jailers within the Sheriff’s Office.
The Court also voted to renew Jasper County’s contract with the Spindletop Center for Jail services and competency restoration services. These services allow Spindletop to assist inmates who are enduring mental health crisis situations and also to assist with restoring mental competency for some inmates to enable them to stand trial or make a competent decision when agreeing to a plea bargain.
Regarding mental health services, the Court also heard from the Spindletop Director Holly Borel and Danielle Perdue, their Director of Public Relations, who provided a presentation to the Court regarding the number of Jasper County patients seen, which they estimated to be 992 patients during the previous year, and their current progress on the buildout project of the Spindletop offices located at the J.H. Rowe Resource Center on U.S. 190 within the City of Jasper.
Director Borel advised that the buildout at the Resource Center was funded through a grant received from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, and by utilizing grant funds received under the Rural Health Transformation Program and Christus, they hoped to place personnel at that location soon after construction has been completed.
Returning to grant related matters, the Court voted to renew Jasper County’s application for FY2027 for the Rural Prosecutor’s Office Salary Assistance Grant program to received $250,000.00 in funds for the Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
The Court also voted to renew Jasper County’s applications for grant funding under the FY2027 Victims Assistance Grant program and the Violence Against Women Act grant program, both of which are facilitated through the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission and the Office of the Governor. These are funds are also utilized by the Jasper County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
Concluding grant business, the Court voted to approve a resolution for Jasper County’s grant application with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission for partial reimbursement for Jasper County’s expenditures for court-appointed attorney representing criminal defendants.
The Court then voted to renew Jasper County’s membership with the Texas Facilities Commission Federal Surplus Property Program to obtain federal and state surplus vehicles and equipment for county department operations.
Next, the Court once again took up the topic of the countywide polling location program for future election day voting starting in 2027. The Court heard from County Clerk Holly Thomas, who serves as Jasper County’s Election Administrator, who advised that her office would like to join approximately one hundred counties in Texas in moving to countywide voting on election day, noting that this would make voting much more convenient for voters by being able to vote at any polling location open within Jasper County.
Mrs. Thomas advised that this was already being done during early voting and that doing this on election day would allow her office to handle the increased workload mandated under state law and would reduce any chances for error during election activities.
The Court voted to authorize countywide election day voting for Jasper County and advised that Mrs. Thomas and her staff would work on the logistics of polling locations and the use of paper ballots for voters over the next few months.
Following this, the Court heard from Mr. Enrique Zamora, a representative of Pattillo, Brown & Hill, LLP, who presented Jasper County’s outside audit and financial statements for FY2025, which the Court accepted and approved. Mr. Zanora advised that Jasper County had a healthy fund balance and held approximately four months in reserves in the event that a major disaster occurred.
The Court then heard from Ms. Virna Jameson of the Texas Association of Counties, who provided a presentation regarding their role in providing the Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking Service Program for Jasper County, which is a federally mandated report. The Court thanked Ms. Jameson for providing the information and thanked TAC for providing these reporting services at no cost to Jasper County.
Following this, the Court discussed Jasper County’s hunting and grazing lease on its Pecos County school land. The Court resolved to renew an agreement with Mr. Gary D’rgac of McCamey, Texas, but noted that further contractual discussion of the terms would be needed in a future Court meeting regarding compensation he would pay and his duties performed on behalf of Jasper County managing the property.
In other business, I presented the monthly criminal and civil fee report on behalf of District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy, and the Court then received the monthly financial reports from County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis and County Auditor Maegan Pope.
Next, the Court accepted bids received for surplus and non-functioning county equipment from the online auction service Purple Wave.
Concluding business, the Court voted to renew Jasper County’s local declaration of disaster and countywide burn ban due to the ongoing drought conditions and wildfire danger in Jasper County.
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
