diff --git a/app/lib_sql_crud.py b/app/lib_sql_crud.py
index 971acd9..531b1c9 100644
--- a/app/lib_sql_crud.py
+++ b/app/lib_sql_crud.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError, OperationalError, ProgrammingError
 from app.log import log, logger_reset
 # CRITICAL: Import the core module to access current global state
 from app import lib_sql_core
-from app.lib_sql_core import sql_connect, set_last_sql_error
+from app.lib_sql_core import set_last_sql_error
 
 # log.setLevel(logging.DEBUG) # DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, EXCEPTION, CRITICAL
 
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@ def sql_update(
     except OperationalError:
         if trans: trans.rollback()
         log.error('Operational error (gone away?). Retrying once...')
-        sql_connect()
         try:
             with lib_sql_core.engine.connect() as conn:
                 trans = conn.begin()
@@ -343,7 +342,6 @@ def run_sql_select(
             return conn.execute(sql, data)
     except (OperationalError, ProgrammingError) as e:
         log.error(f'DB Error: {e}. Retrying once...')
-        sql_connect()
         try:
             with lib_sql_core.engine.connect() as conn:
                 return conn.execute(sql, data)
diff --git a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
index 457734f..57a8f7b 100644
--- a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
+++ b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 ## 🔌 DB Connection Hardening (April 2026 Audit)
 > Identified during pre-show review. Issues 1 and 2 likely explain observed random connection lags.
 
-- [ ] **[P1] Remove zombie `db_connection.py` import** — `app/routers/api.py` imports `db` from `app/db_connection.py`, creating a parasitic second SQLAlchemy engine at startup that is never updated by `reconnect_db()` after bootstrap. The imported `db` is only used in a commented-out line (`api.py:268`). Fix: remove the import; delete or archive `db_connection.py`.
-- [ ] **[P1] Fix retry mechanism in `sql_update` / `run_sql_select`** — On `OperationalError`, both call `sql_connect()` → `reconnect_db()` which calls `engine.dispose()`, nuking the entire connection pool mid-flight. Under concurrent requests this kills other in-flight connections. Fix: remove the `sql_connect()` retry call; SQLAlchemy's `pool_pre_ping=True` already handles stale connections — just open a fresh `engine.connect()` for the retry without disposing the pool.
+- [x] **[P1] Remove zombie `db_connection.py` import** — `app/routers/api.py` imports `db` from `app/db_connection.py`, creating a parasitic second SQLAlchemy engine at startup that is never updated by `reconnect_db()` after bootstrap. The imported `db` is only used in a commented-out line (`api.py:268`). Fix: remove the import; delete or archive `db_connection.py`.
+- [x] **[P1] Fix retry mechanism in `sql_update` / `run_sql_select`** — On `OperationalError`, both call `sql_connect()` → `reconnect_db()` which calls `engine.dispose()`, nuking the entire connection pool mid-flight. Under concurrent requests this kills other in-flight connections. Fix: remove the `sql_connect()` retry call; SQLAlchemy's `pool_pre_ping=True` already handles stale connections — just open a fresh `engine.connect()` for the retry without disposing the pool.
 - [ ] **[P2] Add retry logic to `sql_insert` and `sql_select`** — Both are missing the `OperationalError` retry that `sql_update` and `run_sql_select` have. A DB blip during an INSERT (scan record, badge log, etc.) fails silently and returns `False` with no recovery attempt.
 - [ ] **[P3] Guard `db = engine.connect()` in `lib_sql_core.py` with try/except** — Line 48 is a bare connect at module load time with no error handling. If MariaDB isn't ready (Docker race), this throws unhandled and crashes the worker. Wrap in try/except like `db_connection.py` already does.
 - [ ] **[P4] Expose `pool_size` / `max_overflow` as env vars** — `create_ae_engine()` calls `settings.DB.get('pool_size', 10)` but `settings.DB` property doesn't include those keys, so they're always hardcoded 10/20. Add `AE_DB_POOL_SIZE` / `AE_DB_POOL_MAX_OVERFLOW` to `config.py`.