Commissioners approve $211K for IT upgrades
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County commissioners approved a big-ticket expenditure of $211,109 for IT upgrades and replacements during its regular meeting on Monday morning, Jan. 27.
The court also spent some time in closed session to review a presentation by local deputy Jason Price regarding the county’s “standard compensation and overtime compensation practices.”
Computer Equipment
The county’s IT consultant, Sam Goldsmith of Goldsmith Solutions, presented a prioritized list of equipment replacements, with a big chunk of the $211,109 total price tag needed because of Windows 11 obsolescence, or “end-of-life,” coming up in October 2025.
Also needed as soon as possible are replacements for battery backups that are already in the “failed” column at the law enforcement center.
The commissioners had requested at a previous meeting that Goldsmith list the items in order from most to least pressing, but after discussion, ended up approving the entire amount, noting that the equipment on the highest priority list ($139,105) added up to more than half of the total.
Only $70,000 is in the current budget for IT.
Cody Jordan made the motion to approve the entire list with “emergency budget adjustments,” seconded by Lanham Martin. The motion passed unanimously.
Justice of the peace James Breeden and county clerk Cheri Hawkins informally approved the eventual use of restricted funds from their departments, with limits.
County treasurer Tammy Brown suggested that budget adjustments be made as needed.
Goldsmith stated that he felt the final total could be lower.
Compensation
Questions
Deputy Jason Price asked that the portion of the meeting dealing with his request for review of the county’s payscale practices be held in closed session because his personal payroll information would be discussed.
After a 15-minute closed session, a motion passed to have the treasurer send “sample” paystubs for a three-month period for local deputies, to be presented at the next commissioners meeting for further review.
There was no other action.
Public Defender
Service
Former county judge Bob Skelton agreed to serve another two-year term as the county’s representative on the Oversight Board for the Concho Valley Public Defender’s Office.
Current judge John Viertel said that the public defender’s expense and use is being monitored until July, when the commissioners will review the numbers and decide if they want to keep the service.
Online Auction
Commissioners decided to dispose of several used county vehicles by placing them with an online auction that the county has used in the past with good results.
Two separate motions deemed eight vehicles as surplus and authorized their sale.
Other Business
•There was no action on the county-wide burn, with no ban currently in effect.
•The required annual racial profile from the sheriff’s department was read and approved.
•A similar report from the constable was approved, although the constable is exempt because he does not patrol as part of his regular duties.
•The December treasurer’s report was approved.
•Sheriff Ed Miller commended his staff for their efforts during last week’s jury trial, stating that despite being short-handed, they had covered every aspect of the trial, including an unexpected last-minute trip to Beaumont to pick up a witness.
