The Smith County Commissioners Court reviewed key updates, approved board appointments and discussed ongoing projects during their January 14 meeting. (Contributed Photo)

The Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday received an annual report on racial profiling along with various monthly department updates.

During its weekly meeting, the court received the Smith County Sheriff’s Office 2024 Racial Profiling Report, while department heads gave monthly updates and the court approved board seats and projects.

The office reported a total of 8,335 traffic stops in 2024, according to the report. Of those, approximately 67% of the stops were made on male drivers. In terms of race, 45.24% of the drivers stopped were White, 28.10% were Black and 24.52% were Hispanic.

Over half of the stops, 4,917 or 58.99%, were initiated by moving traffic violations.

There were 1,142, or 13.7%, of stops that led to a search, with 506 of those searches conducted based on probable cause, according to the report.

Probable cause means that a reasonable person would believe a crime has happened, is happening or will happen. Law enforcement officers can use what they see, smell or hear, as well as other evidence like facts or circumstances surrounding the situation.

Among these searches, 46.44% were conducted on Black drivers, while 36.17% were conducted on White drivers, according to the report.

Of the total traffic stops that led to a search, contraband was found 3.5% of the time. In most cases the contraband found was drugs.

Other business

Animal Control, the Pretrial Release and Bonds Office, Judicial Compliance, Facility Services and the Veterans Service Office each presented their monthly reports to the commissioners.

Animal Control worked 113 complaints in December, issuing 21 citations and impounding 26 dogs. Over 7,000 miles were driven by the department, and four out of the six fleet vehicles needed maintenance building, an oil change, an alignment and more.

The Pretrial Release and Bonds Office interviewed 180 inmates, and processed 632 bonds. Judicial Compliance reported 231 cases in which court costs, fees and fines were assessed during the quarter, totaling $159,788.37. Of the total, $97,351.52 was collected.

The Veterans Service Office has 173 total office visits and 220 phone calls. There were 25 initial claims filed, and 24 appeal filed, as well as 131 miscellaneous including, DD-214 requests and burials.

The court was asked to appoint a member to the City of Lindale Reinvestment Zone #3 Board for a two-year term, from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 2026. The board oversees a TIF plan to finance infrastructure for Lindale Business Park, and former Commissioner Terry Phillips was appointed by the county.

County Judge Neal Franklin recommended Precinct 3 Commissioner J. Scott Herod serve on the board, as Lindale falls within his precinct. The suggestion was approved by the court.

Smith County has two appointments on the Tyler Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee: Judge Franklin and Precinct 1 Commissioner Christina Drewry.

The court reappointed Keith Youngblood to Position No. 2 and Brittney Nichols to Position No. 1 on the Andrews Center Board of Directors for a two-year term, ending Oct. 31, 2026. The Andrews Center recommended these reappointments.

The court approved the Purchasing Department to advertise, solicit and receive proposals for the Smith County Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Action Plan. This action follows the meeting on June 12, 2023, and the grant, provided by the General Land Office, offers reimbursement up to $100,000.

Ralph Caraway, Sr. proclaimed Jan. 18, as “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founders’ Day” in Smith County. This declaration honors the founding of the sorority, which was established on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is the first African American sorority and has had a significant impact on communities through service and leadership initiatives. The proclamation recognizes the organization’s contributions to social, cultural and civic engagement both locally and nationwide.

Also, the court approved the following plats:

• The re-plat of East Shore Estates, Unit 7, Precinct 2.

• The re-plat of Emerald Bay Lake Subdivision, Unit 1B, Precinct 1.

• The final plat of Adoni Acres, Precinct 3.

The court approved various pipe and utility line installation requests, including:

• A road bore for aerial fiber optic cable by Lawley Contracting LLC on County Road 1346, Precinct 4.

• An upgrade of utility poles and lines by Oncor Electric LLC on County Road 4122.

• A road bore for buried fiber optic cable with pedestals and vaults by Frontier Communications on County Road 122, Precinct 1.

• Road bores for buried fiber optic cable with pedestals and vaults by Frontier Communications on several County Roads, including 2187, 2188, 2193, 2324, 2328, and 2277, Precinct 2.

• Additional road bores for buried fiber optic cable with pedestals and vaults by Frontier Communications on County Roads 2171, 2319, 2317, 2172, and 2330, Precinct 2.

• Road bores for buried fiber optic cable with pedestals and vaults by Frontier Communications on County Roads 137, 314, 1333, and 1272, Precinct 1.

• A road bore for buried fiber optic cable with pedestals and vaults on County Roads 1298 and 1246, Precinct 1.