Constable Josh Joplin (Precinct 4) gave an extended presentation to the commissioners describing high growth in his rural precinct, heavy civil-process and bailiff workloads, and an array of requests including additional deputies, vehicle replacements and a reallocation proposal for the justice-court security fund.

Scope and staffing: Joplin said Precinct 4 covers roughly 322 square miles and compared its area to several U.S. cities to illustrate scale. He said the precinct has seen new housing subdivisions, RV resorts and commercial parks that increase calls for service and that he currently operates with four deputies, one administrative employee and two part-time staffers.

Operational examples and safety: Joplin described numerous incidents and enforcement responsibilities, including evictions, animal-cruelty investigations, high-volume traffic enforcement on state highways and frequent requests from other agencies for civil-dispute assistance. He said that without a night- or courthouse deputy, courthouse lobbies and remote precinct courthouses can be unmanned during critical calls. He asked for a courthouse security deputy (bailiff) and a deputy-constable position to provide regular coverage.

Courthouse security fund: Joplin cited Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 102 (he referenced article number 102.017), which permits a justice-court building security fund in counties with justice courts outside the county courthouse. He said Smith County collects courthouse-security revenues and suggested the fund be separated visibly in five portions and allocated to each constable for courthouse security purchases and training rather than pooled invisibly.

Vehicles and equipment: Joplin requested replacement of two aging Chevrolet Silverados or, alternately, acquisition of Dodge Durango police-package vehicles that he said are cost-competitive and reliable; he described reuse of lights, radios and camera equipment to reduce upfitting costs.

Costs and return on investment: Joplin provided a high-level fiscal estimate for adding a courthouse deputy and a deputy constable including fringe benefits; he said vehicle and upfitting line items would be required but that many items could be reused from retired vehicles to save county dollars.

Commission feedback and next steps: Commissioners asked how the county could apply justice-court security funds and whether LEO training funds could help; some commissioners supported the idea of visible line-item accounting for courthouse-security revenues. No formal appropriation was made; the requests will be considered in budget deliberations.