Smith County

FY 2011/12

Organizational Flow Chart

Honorable Judge Baker, Commissioners, Officials and Citizens;

Smith County departments are, as ever, both committed and advancing, on all fronts, toward the county’s objective: Striving for

Excellence. Whether well verified through more than a million dollars coming from the Collections Department, giving service as

Board of Director of the Texas Public Purchasing Association, yielding assistance with revising Smith County’s Records

Management Order, or implementation of County’s digital infrastructure by our Information Technology Team, one then sees that

a genuine sense of real fulfillment and progress is manifesting.

Smith County has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 40 years and the rendered level of seamless services is mostly outpacing

staffing levels; nonetheless, though this gap is producing a real strain, significant efforts, do remain quite remarkable under these

difficult and mission-critical circumstances.

A wide range of achievements took place in 2011, as examples, providing training sessions for local vendors, receiving the

“Achievement of Excellence” in Procurement Designation from the National Purchasing Institute, obtaining valued consulting

services for requisite departmental-operational review, implementing GIS solutions for Elections and Road and Bridge, and

showing concerns for our customers and the environment, by having forms available on the County’s website and Intranet site;

eliminating paper use.

Physical infrastructure, another clear instance, was aided by the rebuilding of two bridges and more than fifteen miles of work

completed on the Surface Treatment Project; and, a further demonstration of such ongoing commitment is the case of how the

Collections Department received the “Most Innovative Program Award” at the 2011 CGAT Conference. The paradigm of

achievement witnessed is incorporating best practices, benchmarks, and core competencies for the better empowerment of

visibility across all departments.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Further evidence of significant achievement and the continued effort of “Striving for Excellence” was the completion of the new Smith County Sheriff’s Office Building extensively using Physical Plant resources and inmate labor. The building historical integrity was maintained and is a definite showcase of the County commitment to support the growth of Smith County.

These cited accomplishments and directional efforts, among many, are just a slight sampling of how your Smith County

departments seek both true sustainability of dedication and a citizen-centric approach; this is toward the needed work of

advancing excellence, providing transparent services, building community, and yielding tangible value for the people of Smith

County, and its viable future.

Respectfully submitted:

Smith County Department Heads

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Highlights Of Success

FY11

Smith County Department Heads

• Assisted with developing the revised Smith County Records Management Order

• Obtained outside consulting services for departmental-operational review and survey

• Started publishing of RSD departmental newsletter and issuance of training bulletins

Records

• Held “How to do business with Smith County” training sessions for local vendors.

• Elected/Served as Board of Director of the Texas Public Purchasing Association.

• Received the “Achievement of Excellence” in Procurement Designation from the National Purchasing Institute.      

• Surveyed internal/external customers to receive departmental efficiency feedback.

Purchasing

• Project for elimination of paperwork within various county operations by having forms available on the Smith County website and Intranet site.

• Smith County continues to be a leader in implementing Technology infrastructure thru server virtualization, Virtual Desktop and Disaster Recovery for continuity of operations.

• Implemented GIS solutions for Election and Road and Bridge.

• Successfully moved all Smith County law enforcement laptop to new air cards vendor and link into DPS.

Information Technology

• Smith County Collections Department collect $1,294,562 in revenue.

• Smith County Collections Department received the “Most Innovative Program Award” at the 2011 CGAT Conference.

• Provided a smooth transition in obtaining some of the Collection Department duties and responsibilities to ensure compliance with the Office of Court Administration (OCA)

• Generated $22,198 in bond revenue.

Pre-Trial/Collections

• Completed 4072 work orders thru the general maintenance system at an average of 346 work orders per month.

• Completed Surface Treatment project on 15.278 miles.

• Rebuilt two (2) bridges in the county.

• Divided the R&B workforce into 5 work groups . Four (4) for General maintenance and one (1) for major work needed and to assist the other work groups when needed.

Road & Bridge

• Purchased 68 Electronic Poll books.

• Staff member completed 5 out of 12 Election Center Certification Classes

• Participated in the County Shred day

• Disposed 34,336 inactive bonds and records.

Elections

• Maintained the Emergency Management Plan to the Advanced Level of preparedness which provides for Mitigation, Preparedness, Response & Recovery actions before, during, and after times of disaster.

• Provided fire prevention educational literature to 9,000 school students in grades pre-K thru 12th grades at no cost to the County.

• Coordinated the development and publication of the daily Smith County Situation Report which included daily status of the KBDI and a daily analysis of the wildfire potential for Smith County.

• Coordinated with the 14 Counties in the ETCOG region in an Interoperability

Communications exercise which tested our communications capabilities.

Fire Marshal/EOC Coordinator

• Remodeled building, predominately using Physical Plant personnel, for the relocations of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office using .

Physical Plant

Strategies for Success

FY12

Smith County Department Heads

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Support County Clerk in evaluating new Records recording software. Support migrations should new vendor be selected. 3/12 Completion•Move the SCOB IT hub for sale of building and build the IT infrastructure for the Smith County Departments relocations. 7/12 Completion•Continue to implement VDI initiative to various County Departments that fall into the business model for operational improvement. 100 additional users. 6/12 Completion•Incorporate responsibility of the Juvenile Detention Center for all IT needs and issues in reducing outsourcing cost to the County. 1/12 completion•For Continuity of Operations in the even of a disaster, document all process, procedures, contacts, phone and guidelines into IT Run Book . 9/12 completion•Develop and implement a user’s knowledge base for top help desk calls for self help to improve Departmental efficiencies and improved customer service. 9/12 completion•Implement various GIS solutions to improve County data and operational issues using the IT 2-5 implementation plan. 8/12 completion•Expand the County’s web site for departments not currently utilizing their page on the web site. 6/12 completion•Deploy Windows 7 operating system throughout the County for increase productivity and standardization. 8/12 completion•Do a thorough evaluation of Judicial Software/CAD+Moblile software packages for replacing current replacing current software. 9/12 completion•Replace Barracuda Security Appliances with Cisco Iron Port. 1/12 completion•Develop Juvenile Operations Run Book for IT. 5/12 completion•Replace laptops purchased in 2006 for law enforcement. 3/12 completion

Information Technology – Harvy Tanner

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Rollout NEOGOV online application tracking & management program  to all hiring managers and related staff, by January 31, 2012, to increase efficiencies in the applicant screening and interview selection processes across all departments

•Enroll in E-Verify and establish E-Verify as a required step in the New Hire Process, by March 1, 2012, to ensure all employees working for the county are legally authorized to work in the United States

•Use the Lean Sigma methodology to analyze the current New Hire Process, by June 30, 2012, to show the quantitative value of streamlining and digitizing the New Hire Process

•Establish county-wide procedures and guidelines to handle employee separations, by August 31, 2012, to reduce Smith County’s potential risk exposure to various separation related matters

•Strengthen brand awareness of our company motto “Striving for Excellence” through the increase use of digital and social media, by September 30, 2012, to further communicate to county employees and citizens the core principles that guide Smith County

Personnel Department – Leonardo Brown

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Utilize current departmental assets to achieve greater holistic efficiency – completion 6/12•Adopt a core competency of a robust customer-centric work attitude – completion 6/12•Promote best practices favoring essential records protection for the County – completion 3/12•Maximize copier emailing feature to help environment by reducing paper usage – completion 3/12•Hold classes on proactive records management (RM) training and education – completion 9/12•Seek ways & means of utilizing RM technologies for upgrading department – completion 6/12•Rearrange interior shelving space of main Records Center (RC) areas – completion 8/12•Seek improved intellectual control over all permanent records series – completion 9/12•Investigate possibilities of potential records conversion projects – completion 6/12•Improve overall physical safety and ambience of the RC environment – completion 6/12•Revamp operational procedures and methods for improving work tasks – completion 4/12•Consolidate all archival supplies to just one central RC location – completion 8/12•Alert researchers and others concerning RC historical resources – completion 9/12

Record Services – Joseph Settanni

Goals & Objectives for FY2012 :

•Identify the location of our Bridges by GPS location and tying that information into our mapping system in the CarteGraph computer system. This will allow us to track the cost and life of our bridges more efficiently. 9/12 Completion

Road Administrator – Doug Nicholson

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Facilitate the adoption of the FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan which was developed for Smith County and the 10 cities with in it. 2 Qtr. FY12

•Develop and maintain the Smith County Fire Marshal web page to provide educational  information to the citizens about Fire Prevention and Emergency Management protective actions. 1st Qtr. FY12

•Develop and provide Emergency Management National Incident Command System training to elected officials and department heads assigned duties in the Emergency Operations Center. 2nd Qtr. FY12

•Provide for systematic and scientific fire and arson investigations, collect and preserve evidence of fire, arson, or related criminal acts and to provide for fire prevention code inspections. FY12

Fire Marshal– Jim Seaton

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Implement the use of electronic poll books in all Election Day polling locations, which will provide real time voting throughout the county.

•Work towards receiving Certified Elections Administrator status through the Election Centers Professional Education Program.

•Expand the Elections website to include information regarding the new Voter I.D. requirements.

•Track and provide statistical voting data by polling location

Elections Administrator – Karen Nelson

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•Assist the County and Justice Courts with compliance of the State mandated collections improvement program as provided under SB 1863.

•Work with Perdue Law Firm , TSG and IT to organize case files and reports in an effort to create departmental efficiencies.

•Prepare the courts for the upcoming state compliance audit to achieve successful completion.

•Update the Collections Department website to increase information and communication.

Collection Department – Arvilla Banks

Goals & Objectives for FY2012: •Organize/communicate the approved Capital Improvement Project schedule for timeliness and efficiency of projects.

•Hold “Purchasing Internal Resource Guide” training sessions for internal customers.

•Increase HUB/MWBE program development and awareness. (FY11 Goal)

•Perform a county wide inventory review to further organize the county’s inventory system.

Purchasing Department – Kelli Davis

Goals & Objectives for FY2012:•To be able to go to every Veteran organization within Smith County to explain benefits to Veterans and set up a good phone contact list for Veterans to talk to each other.

•Create a new tracking system with Texas Veteran Commission to better track process of Veterans claims. Calling the 800 number is painful waiting 20 minutes to talk to a representative.

•Work with local organizations on creating a better outreach for the homeless Veterans and their families. Tom Miller is providing assistance in clothes. Kelly Perry is with the Salvation Army who is currently assisting 1 of our homeless Veteran’s.

• To increase the number of applications at the VA clinic so we can receive a 30,000 square foot clinic, to help reduce the cost of Veterans driving to Dallas to receive some treatments.

•Implement a new information board for all Veteran’s to read and be up to date on current VA laws, and changes to benefits.

Veteran Service Officer: Jeremy Nicodemus

Goals & Objectives for FY2012 :•Implement new process to receive, sort, scan, input data in the computer, distribute and dispose all bonds received by PBO within 72 hours of receiving them.

•Provide direct supervision to defendants released on Pre Trial Release bonds by monitoring defendants’ court dates and bond conditions to assure maximum court appearances and condition compliance.

•Incorporate electronic process to maintain all information for the bondsmen and the Bail Bond Board.

•Update the Pre-Trial Release Office website to increase information and communication.

Pre Trial – Arvilla Banks

Goals & Objectives for FY2012 :•Finish the construction of the new Physical Plant Office in existing Crescent Laundry “Dome Building”.

•Begin construction of Pct. 1 JP and Constable offices.

•Construct area for “Evidence” per Sheriff’s Office instructions in County building.

•Rebuild major section of the T. B. Butler Fountain Plaza flower beds.

•Continue cross training of Maintenance personnel to broaden Departments skill sets.

•Upgrade the lighting in Records Services located in the CottonBelt Building.

•Implement new Work Order and Preventative Maintenance software.

•Maintain all county run Facilities.

Physical Plant – Steve Christian

FY11 Work Load Statistics

&

Performance Measurements

Smith County Department Heads

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011Actual

Number of Customer Supported 645 661 764 729Number of Software Application Supported

30 34 36 40

Number of Computers Supported 525 686 688 668Number of Servers Supported 25 30 40 70Number of MDT’s Supported 61 94 115 106Number of printers Supported 235 320 330 144Number of Help Desk Calls Processed 3146 3889 4025 3847

Number of Help Desk Calls Closed 3148 3885 4022 3835

Information Technology – Harvy Tanner

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011Actual

Ave. Calls processed/Help Desk Personnel/Mo.

87.4 108.2 118.2 245

Visits to County Website 275,534 546,437 1,021,800 626,717 Help Desk Calls Response      Responded to Within 4 hours - Goal 97% 95.6% 96.5% 97.2% 96.5%Close Within 8 hours – Goal is 95% 94.5% 97.4% 99.6 95.6%Number of Viruses/Spam Prevented 6,100/Day

Ave.6,800/Day

Ave.7,800/Day

Ave.17,500/Day

Ave.

WORKLOAD MEASURES FY2008Actual

FY2009Actual

FY2010Actual

FY2011 Actual

Applications/resumes processed 965* 1344* 2305** 3213***Employees hired 205 193 115 101# of HR Service Desk issues opened N/A N/A N/A 2248# of HR Service Desk issues closed N/A N/A N/A 2246Unemployment Claims Processed N/A 35+ 65+0 49Total Benefit Charges Received $59,785 $84,979 $202,887Unemployment Hearings facilitated N/A 4+ 13+ 7Injury reports processed 93 104 102 98

Total number of claims requiring payment

50 55 51 40

Cost of Incurred claims N/A $217,767 $96,188 $170,048

Personnel Department – Leonardo Brown

*Number displayed does not include online submissions as data could not be retrieved.** Online submissions accounted for 72% of applications submitted.*** Online submissions accounted for 89% of applications submitted. (Effective 10/1/11 – we will only accept online applications, except in cases where ADA or ADAAA rules may apply.)+ Corrections have been made to reflect the appropriate data collected as verified by TALX Corporation

Efficiency Measures FY2009Actual

FY2010Actual

FY2011Actual

Avg. # documented issues processed/HR employee/Month

N/A  N/A  94

Avg. # First Call Resolutions – Goal 33% of issues processed/Employee/Month

N/A N/A  29 = 31%

Avg. # Issues Reopened N/A N/A 0HR ServiceDesk Response Time Avg. time before initial response is made to an opened issue – Goal 1 hour

N/A N/A  1hr 1min

Avg. time to successfully resolve the opened issue – Goal 4 hours

N/A N/A  1hr 29min

Avg. % compliant in meeting response goals N/A N/A 97%Overall % of unemployment claims won 90% 85% 91%

Total liability avoided or suspended $182,183 $160,189 $108,389

Personnel Department – Leonardo Brown

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Records destroyed (pounds) 44,219 lbs. 43,967 lbs 16,207 lbs 8,750Records destroyed ( by volume) 2,210 cu. ft. 2,198 cu. ft. 810 cu. ft. 497 cu. Ft.Records pulled (to/from Courthouse ) N/A N/A N/A 40,211Publications and forms created N/A  N/A N/A 63Total files for walk-in customers N/A N/A 2407 1325

Record Services – Joseph Settanni

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Records requests filled within 24 hrs. 99% 99% 99% 97%

Gained greater efficiency in new shelves 100% 100% 100% 100%

Utilized ABLETERM Bar Coding Yes Yes Yes YesAccuracy in retrievals & deliveries 99% 99% 99% 97%

Accuracy in fee collections 100% 100% 100% 100%

Workload Measures FY08 Actual FY09 Actual FY10 Actual FY11 ActualNew driveway culvert installs, and driveway culvert repaired

$ 333,052 $ 445,326 $ 393,521 $144,604

Road Patching $ 662,956 $ 1,094,625 $ 1,293,776 $1,110,052Right of Way Mowing $ 220,850 $285,703 $ 156,051 $151,937Field work orders completed 4631 4912 4122 4078

Cost of Field Work Order Completed $ 5,543,122 $ 7,348,848 $ 7,104,257 $3,213,895Shop work orders completed/for all departments

Unknown 3,743 3,221 2,960

Cost of Shop Work Orders completed Unknown $618,558 $760,733 $535,395

Road Administrator – Doug Nicholson

Efficiency Measures FY08 Actual FY09 Actual FY10 Actual FY11 ActualRoad Reconstruction /Oil Dirt $ 1,677,647.22 $ 921,086.48 $ 854,343.86 $0Overlays $ 520,323.47 $ 841,018.47 $ 1,309,703.07 $55,399Contract Surface Treatment Not Used $ 1,340,604.80 $ 953,127.18 $413,169Concrete Bridge Construction $ 138,656.26 $ 109,462.05 $ 199,304.52 $143,101

Program Statistics & Workload Measures

FY2008 Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010Actual

FY2011-Projected

Incident Investigations 496 490 470 790 Felony Offenses 20 25 28 30 Cleared By Exception / Arrest 01 02 03 07 Misdemeanor Offenses 47 34 16 190 Filed in Justice Court 14 02 05 130 Warned (Written / Verbal) 31 28 10 54County Owned Structure Inspections 4 0 02 05Non County Owned Structure Inspections

191 202 243 252

Evacuation & Tornado Planning Inspections

3 2 02 05

VFD Calls for Service 6,057 5,835 5,994 6,893Civilian Injured / Killed 0/0 6/0 0/0 1/1Firefighter Injured / Killed 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0

Fire Marshal – Jim Seaton

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Registered voters 119,741 119,426 120,154 116,178Changes processed 17,391 11,592 8,445 15,927New applications processed 8,514 9,650 4,309 4,785Elections supervised 9 11 12 12

Elections Administrator – Karen Nelson

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Number of judges and clerks trained 300+ 75 200+ 175

Cost per registered voter $3.47 $2.99 $3.41 $3.50

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Total collections $1,361,639 $1,595,493 $2,042,384 $1,294,562Payment agreements 3,034 3,544 2,540 1,797Postcards mailed 11,465 12,996 12,453 5,878Cost Benefit/Return on Investment $1,206,112 $1,434,623 $1,875,087  $1,227,035Collections per employee $453,880 $531,831 $680,795 $1,294,562

Collection Department – Arvilla Banks

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Automated phone calls   N/A   N/A 20,804 26,503

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Purchase orders Issued 6423 7474 8002 7373 (to 9/23/11)

Property items tagged 72 1003  412 313Annual contracts awarded 34 28 27 25RFP/RFQ’s awarded 5 12 12 6Online requisitions submitted 230 626  2893 3500 (to

9/23/11)

Purchasing Department – Kelli Davis

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Avg. days to process PO’s against contracts 14 14 14 14

Average costs of purchase orders $.05 $.05 $.05 $.05Average days to process sealed bids 21 21 21 21Average days to process RFP’s 45 45 45 45

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Number of Bonds Processed 12,221 12,525 10,687 10,714Number of Bonds Disposed 9,513 9,687 11,110 34,336Number of Payment Plans Entered N/A N/A N/A 496

Revenue generated from Bond Fees $26,562 $26,746 $37,017 $22,198

Pre Trial – Arvilla Banks

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011 Actual

Average cost to process bonds $10.32 $11.12 $12.97 $13.27

Workload Measures FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011

Client Office Visits 2,794 2,716 2,543 2,614

Correspondence Received 1,317 1,490 2,277 2,435

Correspondence Originated 1,105 1,602 2,052 2,113

Records Created 334 400 456 287

Records Edited 5,360 6,187 6,481 4,357

VA Forms Generated 1,783 2,005 2,203 2,362

Total VIMS Client 5,694 6,587 6,937 9,983

Home/Hospital Visits 65 61 46 42

Veteran Service Officer: Jeremy Nicodemus

Program Statistics 2008

Actual2009

Actual2010

Actual2011

ActualSmith County Veteran Population 16,645 16,515 16,328 Not Avail. 

Comp and Pension Dollars Expended $29,799,000 $37,826,000 $37,866,000 Not Avail.  Education Dollars Expended $1,880,000 $2,618,000 $2,623,000 Not Avail.  Insurance & Indemnity Dollars Expended $980,000 $971,000 $973,000 Not Avail.  Medical Services & Administration $15,905,000 $19,408,000 $19,428,000 Not Avail.  

Total VA Expenditures $48,563,000 $60,822,000 $60,890,000 Not Avail.  

Workload Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009 Actual

FY2010 Actual

FY2011Actual

Work orders Completed 11,551 5,703 6,037 5,039

PM’s Completed 2,401 2,335 2,189 2,497

Physical Plant – Steve Christian

Efficiency Measures FY2008Actual

FY2009Actual

FY2010Actual

FY2011 Actual

Work Orders per staff hours worked $.06 $.37 $.30 $.18

PM’s per staff hours worked .07 .19 .09 .35

Smith County Department Leaders Representing:•CIRA Advisory Committee Chairman

•Ex-Officio member of CIRA Board of Directors

•Board of Director of the Texas Public Purchasing Association

•Board of Directors for Governmental Collectors Association of Texas

•Smith County Bail Bond Board Coordinator

•Vice-Chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Committee of ETCOG

•Serve as voting member of the Smith County Emergency Food & Shelter Board

•Clean-up Committee

•Grievance Committee

•Serve as member of the Smith County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee

•Served as a member of the Tyler Junior College Fire Protection curriculum advisory committee

•Member of Smith County LEAN Consortium

Smith County Department Heads

Appendix

Information Technology

CTO: Harvy TannerHarvy Tanner has been the CTO for the Smith County IT Department starting May 2005. Mr. Tanner has a BS and MBA from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

IT Responsibilities:This Business Plan outlines three key focus areas and sets forth both five-year goals and one-year objectives. The key focus areas represent the critical strategic areas in which we need to channel our energies and actions. The focus areas derived from the business needs are: Enhancing the County's IT Infrastructure Expanding Electronic Access to County Services Managing IT from a Countywide Perspective

Department Mission:Provide efficient, reliable and cost effective information management services through the application of computing technology and related information resources. Provide planning and technical support for County-wide data processing. The purpose of Information Technology is to enable the County to achieve its business goals, priorities and objectives. Staff:Brian ChouWill ChristianTerri GerberLinda HomerMorgan RascoNathan McFallsJason Davisson  Contact Information:200 East Ferguson St., Suite 203Phone: 903-590-4650Fax: 903-590-4758

Director: Kelli Davis, CPPBKelli Davis has worked for Smith County in different capacities for approximately 17 years. Starting as a part time receptionist she moved to buyer and Assistant Purchasing Director doing each job she now oversees. Mrs. Davis was raised in Tyler where she graduated from High School and College.  

 

Purchasing Responsibilities:Centralized purchasing for all departments

All formal bidding processes

Contract administration

Claims administration

Project Management

Auctions

Cooperative purchasing program

Travel registrations

Department Mission:The Purchasing Department exists to provide the best service possible to all County Departments in a fair and equitable manner and to protect the interests of the Smith County Taxpayers in all expenditures.

Staff:Buyer: Kim Gould, CPPB

Buyer:

Part time Clerk:

Contact Information:200 East Ferguson St. 414

www.smith-county.com/purchasing 

Phone: 903-590-4720

Fax: 903-590-4723

Purchasing

Director: Steve Christian Steve Christian has served with Smith County almost 10 years, as the Director of Physical Plant Operations and has 30 years total in maintenance craft.

Physical Plant Responsibilities:•Our responsibilities are to maintain the County run facilities for proper operation and the execution of County business.

•Currently the building total is 23 with approximately 713,000 Sq. Ft. This is accomplished with 9 men tasked mainly with maintenance and 3 m en primarily assigned construction. Our work force is augmented by 3 to 4 trustees from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. We have a Housekeeping staff of 9 who attend to all buildings.

•We also are tasked with new construction and remodels of the County buildings.

Department Mission:

The Smith County Physical Plant is committed to providing management of the county’s physical assets while creating an environment conductive to excellence in public service through the effective implementation of facility maintenance, capital improvements, professional design, and energy management.

Staff:

Glen Taylor

Natasha Jamie

 

Contact Information:

 210 E. Ferguson

903 590-4760

Physical Plant

Director: Joseph SettanniHe started his position on March 7, 2011, with 35 years of professional experience. He has both a Masters Degree and a Certificate of Archives Management from New York University, New York, besides being a Certified Records Manager and Certified Professional Consultant.

Department Responsibilities:•Improve efficiency of recordkeeping procedures

•Preserve permanent records and protect essential records

•Uphold all State records retention requirements

•Save historical, genealogical, and land records

•Provide quick and efficient records retrieval

•Modernize Records Center (RC) operations

•Reduce potential County liability by disposing of obsolete records

•Provide records management training for County personnel

•Monitor RC physical and environmental conditions

•Produce monthly newsletter and training bulletins

•Serve as Records Management Officer for Smith County.

Department Mission:Servicing of County personnel and external customers, as to record services operations, in providing efficient, cost effective, secure, and reliable storage and retrieval of inactive County records.

Core values, core competencies, and a vision statement exist on the RSD Section of County internet website.

Staff:Assistant Director of Record Services:

Sandra Lyles

Records File Clerk: Henry Brown

Contact Information:

Smith County Cotton Belt Building

1517 West Front Street

Room 150

Tyler, Texas 75702

Phone: 903-590-2961

Fax: 903-590-2965

Email: jsettanni@smith-county.com

Records

Administrator: Karen NelsonKaren Nelson has worked for Smith County in different capacities for 9 years. She began serving as an Early Voting and Ballot Board Clerk in 2001. In September 2004 she began working part-time as a Deputy Mail Ballot Clerk. In January 2005 she was given the full-time position of Assistant Elections Administrator and served in that position until the summer of 2007 at which time Mrs. Nelson was appointed as the Elections Administrator.

Responsibility:•Coordinate polling places

•Hire election workers

•Train election workers

•Build and prepare ballots for programming

•Test and program voting machines

•Tabulate and post election results

•Maintain a non-partisan office at all times

Department Mission:Maintain accurate voter registration records while also protecting the voting rights of the citizens of Smith County to ensure that every vote cast will be effectively tabulated.

Staff:Administrative Assistant: Joanna Stanfield

Deputy Clerk: Edna Morris

 

Contact Information:200 East Ferguson St. 500

Tyler, Texas 75702

knelson@smith-county.com

Phone: 903-590-4777

Fax: 903-590-4778

Elections

Administrator: Doug NicholsonDoug Nicholson has worked for the county for approximately 18 years. Starting as a part time employee in January 1994, in 2001 became the Engineer’s Assistant and now over see the operations of the Road & Bridge Department as the Road Administrator.

Road & Bridge Responsibilities: 

•Maintain: 1,189 miles of County Roadways

•Maintain: 140 Bridges

•Maintain: 5280 Cross Culverts

•Review platting of land in the county

•Oversee any proposed development in a Flood Zone in the county

•Maintain all county owned equipment

Department Mission: The primary mission of the Road & Bridge Department is the care and maintenance of the public right of ways allotted under our system of laws.

Staff:

Assistant Road Administrator: Charley Miller

Office Administrator: Ann Somerville

Other Office Staff: Anna Colby Stephanie Ball

General Foreman: David Potter

Shop Foreman: Ken Butler

Asst. Shop Foreman: Scott Crum

Contact Information:

1700 W Claude

Phone: 903-590-4801

Fax: 903-590-4802

Road and Bridge

Director: Leonardo Brown•Leonardo Brown has worked for Smith County for approximately 2 years. Leonardo brings over 13 years of management and leadership experience gained in the private sector to his role as HR Director. Leonardo’s vision for the HR Department is to “Be the Bridge”, the bridge that helps to close the gap between people and performance, between communication and consistency, between learning and leadership, between executives and execution.  

HR Responsibilities:

•Assist w/Recruitment and Selection

•Process and Maintain all Employee Forms

•Develop and Facilitate Training

•Assist w/ Performance Management

•Consultant on Employee Relation Issues

•Maintain Workers Compensation Program

•Coordinate Safety Programs

•Monitor Unemployment Claims

•Maintain Compensation Program

•Preparation and Implementation of Personnel Policies and Procedures

Department Mission:Demonstrate excellence and leadership by developing and applying human resource solutions with a customer-first attitude, a team-work based philosophy and a proactive mindset, in order to ensure a high performing workforce.

Staff:

Human Resources Assistant: Jaye Lynn Collins

Contact Information

200 East Ferguson St. 202

personnel@smith-county.com

Phone: 903-590-4644

Fax: 903-590-4640

Personnel

Director: Arvilla BanksArvilla Banks has worked for Smith County for 22 years. She started as a deputy clerk in Child Support then Bookkeeping in the District Clerk’s Office. In 1995 she became the Assistant Director then promoted to Director of Pre Trial Release and Bond Office. In 2011 she was appointed Director of Collection for Smith County. Ms. Banks was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended and graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, then moved to Longview and on to Tyler, where she has lived over 33 years.

Responsibilities: 

•Receive, Sort, Scan, and Input Bond Data

•Distribute and Dispose Bonds

•Interview, Investigate, and Submit All Referred Inmates’ Folder to the Judges/Magistrates

•Maintain and Keep all Information and Records for the Bondsmen and the Bail Bond Board

Department Mission: Smith County Judges and Magistrates with information on defendants charged with felony and/or misdemeanor offenses by conducting interviews and investigations. Bonding for defendants considered for release to assist in the reduction of the jail population pursuant to Texas Jail Standard Compliances and to help save Smith County Taxpayers.

Supervision and notification of upcoming court dates to defendants released on Pre Trial Release Bonds geared toward assuring court appearances and heading off unlawful behavior

Staff:

Lynda Swann – Bond and Payment Plan Coordinator

Verna Carroll – Bond Investigator

Contact Information:

200 E Ferguson St., Suite 213

Email: Office Phone: 903-590-2620

Fax: 903-590-2626

Pre Trial

Director: Jim SeatonJim Seaton has worked for Smith County for 23 years. Starting as the Assistant Fire Marshal, he was promoted to the Fire Marshal / Emergency Management Coordinator position in 1999. Marshal Seaton is certified as a Master Peace Officer, a Fire & Arson Investigator, a Fire Code Inspector, and a Firefighter. Marshal Seaton served in the Marine Corps and is a Vietnam veteran.

Department Responsibilities:

•Enforce state & local regulations related to fire, explosions or damages caused by fire or explosion

•Investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of fires within the county which damages or destroys property

•Coordinate fire prevention & suppression activities with local county and state firefighting and fire prevention units

•Maintain a workable emergency management plan designed to provide for emergency services, shelter, and food in times of disaster through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Department Mission:The Fire Marshal Office exists to provide the best service possible to reduce physical and monetary loss caused by fires through systematic and scientific fire prevention inspections and investigations and to enforce existing fire laws and regulations. Maintain the emergency management plan to the advanced level of preparedness.

Staff:

1st Assistant Fire Marshal: Oren Hale

Deputy Fire Marshal: Connie Wasson

Administrative Assistant: Mary Thompson

Volunteer Deputy Fire Marshal:

Jay Brooks, Eric Lowry

Contact Information:

11325 Spur 248

Phone: 903-590-2655

Fax: 903-590-2647

Email: jseaton@smith-county.com

Fire Marshal/EOC Coordinator

Director: Arvilla BanksArvilla Banks has worked for Smith County for 22 years. She started as a deputy clerk in Child Support then Bookkeeping in the District Clerk’s Office. In 1995 she became the Assistant Director then promoted to Director of Pre Trial Release and Bond Office. In 2011 she was appointed Director of Collection for Smith County. Ms. Banks was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended and graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, then moved to Longview and on to Tyler, where she has lived over 33 years.

Department Responsibilities:

•To assist the Smith County Criminal Courts with compliance of S.B. 1863 Collections Improvement Program.

•To assist with the collection of Court-ordered fines, court costs, and attorney fees.

•Provide financial assessments and verification on applicants for payment agreements.

•Payment agreement compliance monitoring.

•Initiate phone and mail contact on delinquent payment agreements.

•Send recommendations to courts for alternative remedies on defaulted payment agreements.

•Monthly collections reporting to the OCA.

Department Mission:

It is the mission of the Smith County Court Collections Department to enforce compliance and maximize the collections of court-ordered fines and fees on criminal cases from the Smith County Courts.

STAFF:

Sheryl Keel – Compliance Officer

 

Contact Information:

200 E. Ferguson , 3rd Floor

Phone: 903-590-4624

Fax: 903-590-4623

Collections