Jasper County Commissioners Address Grants, Jail Contracts, and Credit Card Payment Failures in February 9 Meeting

Jasper, Texas — The Jasper County Commissioners Court convened on Monday, February 9, 2026, to conduct a regular session covering a broad agenda that included law enforcement reporting, federal grants, equipment bids, and financial systems updates.

Jail Housing Revenue Tops $63,000 for January

The session began with a report from Sheriff Chuck Havard, who detailed the Sheriff’s Office Jail Report. Havard noted that Jasper County had invoiced $63,920.00 in January 2026 for housing inmates on behalf of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, along with Liberty, Newton, Trinity, and Tyler Counties. The Court approved the report.

Civil and Criminal Fee Reports Approved

District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy also presented her monthly civil and criminal fee reports, which were subsequently approved by the Court.

Major Grant Activities Underway

In a significant step for county-wide safety and resilience, commissioners approved a proclamation to initiate a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan will be funded through a $250,000 federal grant via the U.S. Forest Service, using a development process similar to the County’s previous Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The Court also appointed Maegan Pope to a procurement rating committee for the Texas General Land Office’s CDBG Local Communities Program 2024 Disaster Recovery Grant. She joins County Judge Mark Allen and Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Holloway on the panel.

Jasper County is eligible to submit two competitive grant applications, each potentially worth up to $5 million. However, final project selection has been postponed pending further eligibility criteria expected later this month from the General Land Office.

Executive Session Establishes Wildfire Grant Coordinator Role

The Court entered executive session to discuss the appointment of a grant-funded Wildfire Grant Coordinator. Upon returning to open session, commissioners voted to establish the position as a part-time role for the remaining three and a half years of the grant's duration. The employee will report to County Judge Mark Allen and assist with right-of-way clearing operations and project tracking.

A selection committee was also formed to tailor the job description, publish the opening, and oversee hiring. The committee includes Judge Allen, County Auditor Maegan Pope, County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis, and administrative assistants for each commissioner.

County Equipment and Procurement Updates

Commissioners authorized the County Auditor to seek bids for a used backhoe for Precinct 2, and to publish bids for contracts on standard materials and services such as tires, fuel, culverts, and road supplies. The Court also moved to facilitate public or online auctions of outdated equipment in county precincts.

Payment Processing Issues Affect Multiple County Offices

Tax Assessor-Collector Joe Hawthorn informed the Court of a technical issue with Gov.Pay, the County’s financial credit card processor, that affected the processing of tax and motor vehicle registration payments. The issue reportedly occurred over a few hours on a single day and has impacted multiple counties across Texas.

As of the meeting, $3,135.27 in automotive registration payments and $936.76 in tax payments remained uncollected. Hawthorn said his office is working with affected individuals and the company to recover the missing funds. The law allows the county to cover such losses by deducting from collection fees if necessary.

County Clerk Holly Thomas and District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy reported minor shortfalls of $99.00 and $2.00, respectively, due to the same glitch. Both offices are continuing recovery efforts.

Following discussion, the Court authorized the use of collected fees to offset any unrecoverable losses and approved terminating the county’s contract with Pay.Gov. A new agreement with Govolution, LLC was approved, offering more modern payment methods, including contactless transactions, and lower credit card surcharges for citizens.

Financial Reports and Renewals

County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis presented her monthly financial report and submitted continuing education and compliance certifications, all of which were approved.

She also introduced a renewal agreement for Affordable Care Act Reporting & Tracking Services through the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) — a federally mandated service offered to the County at no cost. The Court approved the renewal, along with a website hosting and technology services contract extension also through TAC.

Recurring Payment Authorization

Finally, the County Auditor presented a proposal to streamline operations by authorizing recurring payments between court sessions. The Court approved the measure to ensure timely payment of invoices.