Jasper County Extends Burn Ban, Appoints New Constable, and Advances County Projects

Rita Shipp
Oct 20
3 min read

Jasper County — The Jasper County Commissioners Court met in regular session Monday, October 20, covering a wide range of county business — from law enforcement updates and grant projects to extending the local disaster declaration and countywide burn ban amid worsening drought conditions.

Christie Hutchison Appointed Interim Precinct 3 Constable

Commissioners voted to appoint Christie Hutchison as the interim Precinct 3 Constable, filling the vacancy left by Scott Jacks, who recently joined the District Attorney’s Office as a criminal investigator.

Hutchison, a longtime employee of the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace office, was recently deputized by Sheriff Chuck Havard to serve civil papers. She told commissioners she would accept the interim role and assist in training a new clerk when hired.

County Judge Mark Allen administered her oath of office immediately following the vote, allowing her to assume duties without delay. The Court also thanked Sheriff Havard and his staff for covering constable duties in the interim.

Sheriff’s Office Updates and Approvals

Sheriff Havard brought several items to the Court for consideration, all of which were approved:

Boat Donation Funds: Commissioners approved rolling over unused boat donation funds into the FY 2026 budget to cover outfitting costs for a newly acquired boat and trailer.
Donations: The Court accepted 12 pairs of work boots for inmate trustees donated by Pastor Tommy Cunningham, and a used ambulance from Allegiance EMS to serve as a mobile command or support vehicle.
Vehicle Purchases: The Sheriff’s Office received approval to purchase two used Chevrolet Tahoes from Scott Jacks and David Hall for law enforcement use.
Jail Report: The Sheriff reported Jasper County invoiced $37,960 in inmate housing for Liberty, Newton, and Tyler counties, as well as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, during September 2025.

Voting Precinct Boundaries Adjusted

A public hearing was held to address redistricting between Justice of the Peace Precincts 4 and 6, after updated mapping clarified long-standing boundary discrepancies from 2001.

Legal counsel assisted in reviewing the changes, and the Court approved the adjustments to place affected residents back in their correct precincts.

County Projects and Grants

Commissioners discussed a TxDOT-funded bridge project in Precinct 3 requiring the purchase of approximately ¾ acre near County Road 456 for proper bridge placement. Commissioner Willie Stark was authorized to negotiate a fair market price and return to the Court for approval.

The Court also authorized County Auditor Melissa Smith to begin procurement for grant administration and engineering services under the 2024 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Related Local Communities Program, which allows jurisdictions to apply for up to two projects worth $5 million each.

Judge Allen, Commissioner Kevin Holloway, and Auditor Smith will serve on the scoring committee for the grant process.

County Renews Local Disaster Declaration and Burn Ban

Due to extreme drought and heightened wildfire risk, the Court renewed Jasper County’s local disaster declaration and county wide burn ban, effective October 20.

The official order, signed by Judge Allen and County Clerk Holly Thomas, prohibits all outdoor burning of trash, brush, storm debris, and open campfires until conditions improve or the order is rescinded.Violations are classified as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $500.

Exceptions apply only to:

Activities related to public health and safety authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Controlled burns conducted under approved natural resource management plans through the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The declaration will remain in effect for up to 24 days unless renewed by the Court.

Airport and Board Appointments

Commissioners reviewed a request from Allegiance EMS to place a mobile home for flight crew housing at the Kirbyville Airport in anticipation of a medical helicopter base. Legal counsel advised that both the FAA and TxDOT Aviation Division must be notified before approval. The Court took no action pending a proposed lease and notification filings.

The Court also reappointed Olen Bean of Trout Creek as Board President of the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District, while tabling the appointment of a replacement for Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Ted Smith, whose term expires at the end of 2025.

Financial and Administrative Business

County Treasurer Rene’ Ellis presented the renewal for the County Choice Silver retiree insurance supplement, a Medicare program provided at no cost to the county, which commissioners approved.

The Court also approved District Clerk Rosa Norsworthy’s monthly fee reports and Treasurer Ellis’s financial report.