As County Judge, Neal has built strong partnerships that make Smith County better.
Working with the Tyler Economic Development Council, Neal led efforts to build CR 3344, a new county road that was instrumental in bringing new businesses like Yellawood to Smith County - an investment expected to bring over 100 jobs and an initial capital investment of over $40 million.
In another partnership with the Tyler Economic Development Council, Neal supported CR 334, an existing county road that was redone as part of the road bond package. Since the completion of the road, Amazon has purchased acreage in the North Tyler Commerce Park and will soon be in operation, adding another $50 million capital investment and resulting in 100 full-time jobs and several hundred part-time jobs.
Working with several other groups, the Smith County Commissioners Court helped make the Miracle League Field possible, providing the rubberized surface for the inclusive baseball field at the City of Tyler’s Faulkner Park so athletes of all abilities can play ball.
Partnering with the City of Tyler, under Neal’s leadership, Smith County is pursuing a generational project to transform and revitalize downtown, including the voter-approved new courthouse as well as additional infrastructure and green space.
Through a collaborative effort with The University of Texas at Tyler, Smith County helped remodel the vacant Behavioral Health Center, and in exchange, will have access to 10 much-needed crisis beds that will keep mental health patients out of our jails and law enforcement officers out on the streets.
Neal led efforts to partner with the Children’s Advocacy Center to establish a mental health wing in their new facility.
Working closely with the Smith County District Attorney and District Judges, Neal has helped identify County resources to reduce the jail population and decrease the backlog of inmates awaiting trial. This not only saves taxpayer money, but also ensures those who need to be in jail stay in jail, keeping our communities safe.
Alongside Sheriff Larry Smith, Neal has worked to increase the number of detention officers at the Smith County Jail. This investment reduced overtime payments, making it an efficient use of resources. But more importantly, it will keep our hard-working jailers and our citizens safe.
P.O. Box 8521
Tyler, TX 75711
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