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Colleyville municipal court staff preview services, diversion program and technology upgrades
Summary
Court staff reviewed municipal court functions, a dual service agreement with Keller, a recently launched diversion program, clerk certification achievements and an upcoming migration to a new case management (Encode) system to improve reminders and online payments.
City court staff on Sept. 3 gave the council an overview of the Colleyville Municipal Court’s role, operations and recent initiatives, including a diversion program and a planned technology migration to improve compliance and customer service.
Deputy Court Administrator Aaron Gunther said the court’s primary focus is public safety and compliance, not revenue collection, and outlined alternatives the court offers to promote compliance, including deferred disposition, driver safety courses and diversion options. Gunther said the court handles criminal (municipal offense) matters such as traffic violations and that it does not have civil jurisdiction.
The court operates under Chapter 45 of the relevant criminal procedure code, Gunther said, and staff highlighted professional training and certification efforts: Denise Romero, a clerk, recently completed court-clerk certification, and additional staff are pursuing higher levels of certification. The staff also described a diverted-case program launched earlier in the year to offer alternatives for eligible defendants.
Dual-court agreement and location: Staff noted the court serves both Colleyville and, under agreement, the City of Keller; the court’s physical address is on Riverwalk Drive. Gunther and staff emphasized the court’s role in building community trust, citing the municipal court’s day-to-day interactions with residents.
Technology migration and customer service: Gunther said the court is migrating its case-management system (Encode) to a newer version. Once completed, the court expects to deploy automated reminders and an improved online payment system to drive higher compliance and reduce staff workload. Staff said awards and customer-service feedback show the office’s focus on accessibility and transparency.
Public comments and council praise: Several council members praised court staff for improved operations over the past decade and described individual cases in which staff helped residents navigate court processes. Staff said the court maintains open dockets and encourages council members and the public to observe court proceedings.
