Tyler

By ADRIENNE GRAHAM
Staff Writer

Smith County Commissioners Court Monday nominated two of its own members to devise what they hope is a workable and feasible jail plan, after a $125 million bond proposal was voted down on Nov. 6.

Precinct 4 commissioner JoAnn Hampton and Precinct 1 Commissioner JoAnn Fleming will compose the official statement on a course of action for drafting a new jail plan.

After approving the canvassed votes from the failed bond election, Commissioners discussed what could be done to make the next plan succeed. Voters rejected the bond package 69 to 31 percent.

"I believe a survey would be a good place to start," County Judge Joel Baker said. "We need to find out what the citizens want."

Mrs. Fleming said moving forward with the plan will be a "two-pronged approach," requiring an outreach to those who opposed the last bond and a focus on meaningful and measurable improvements in county government.

"A considerable amount of goodwill must be built into the community before taxpayers will support a bond election," she said. "Goodwill cannot be built with good intentions alone. Taxpayers want and deserve results."

Precinct 2 Commissioner Bill McGinnis suggested focusing on a phased approach to improving jail facilities.

"We need to find a number that citizens will vote for during a bond election, but we also need to be practical about the cost of building a jail that is of standards," he said.

"We need to focus on a phased-in approach. We need to stay realistic."

Baker suggested building onto some of the existing facilities in the downtown area to lower the price tag.

"We have existing facilities downtown, and while it may not be the most desirable option, I believe in building onto the downtown structure," he said.

Commissioners agreed the next plan will be more in-depth and include more information such as the cost of feeding inmates in a new facility and medical facility costs.

"The plan we had was the most comprehensive so far, but we can still get there. We are going to be much more methodical this time," Baker said.

"We tried to get everything in under the gun (on the Nov. 6 bond). We set a deadline, and we rushed it," Precinct 3 Commissioner Bobby Van Ness said.

In other business on Monday, commissioners approved:

Payment of bills and payroll, transfers of funds, health claims and budget transfers.

Standard letter agreements for disposal of dredged materials.

Plats and easements.

Utility line installation requests.

Presentation from Meals on Wheels.

Hearing for changing the name of County Road 128 (Neighbors Road) to CR134.

Application for a Homeland Security grant.

Interlocal agreement with the city of Arp.

Yearly investment presentation.

2007 investment policy.

Temporary assignment compensation policy.

Appointment of board members to the East Texas Housing Finance Corp.

Reschedule Oct. 17 workshop for Dec. 3.

Revisions to the animal control ordinance.

Request funding from the 2008 Municipal Solid Waste Grant.

Report Smith County jail inmate status.

Executive and public sessions concerning a lost personal property claim and fence boundaries in Flint.