Henderson County enacts 28

Precinct 2 to help chip seal Mabank ISD parking lot

HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted to enact a burn ban starting Aug. 1, which lasts 28 days to line up with a later court meeting, which convenes weekly on Tuesdays.County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg told the court that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) jumped about 70 points this past week. KBDI measures items such as soil moisture, ranging from zero being totally wet to 800 representing absolutely dry conditions, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Renberg said the index is jumping between 8-10 points per day. As of Aug. 1, he said, the index showed a minimum of 570 in Henderson County, one area maxing out at 719, with the county averaging 665 on the index. Renberg said 575 is the threshold for considering a burn ban in Henderson County.The fire marshal said that in July, there were 47 grassfires, but 30 of those came in the last two weeks, “so they are starting to increase,” he stated. Renberg said the Forest Service puts Henderson County in the 97th percentile for a high-energy release, “so our fuel load is extremely bad,” the fire marshal remarked. The outlook for the next two weeks is even worse, Renberg reported.The court also approved soliciting bids to renovate the Henderson County Civic Building (formerly known as the Senior Citizens Building) using funds related to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said the project will double the size of the building. County Judge Wade McKinney said the facility will retain current services offered there and that the AgriLife Extension Service will move to the facility.The court also approved a contract with E3, also related to ARPA. This deals with HVAC improvements to the Athens courthouse annex, according to County Grant Coordinator Jessica Brown. E3 County Business Development Manager Jason Brinkley said the project will start in 30-60 days and will last 8-9 months.Also approved was an interlocal agreement with Mabank ISD for the county to chip seal the parking lot at Lakeview Elementary in Gun Barrel City. Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley said Interim Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall requested the county help with the parking lot once the county’s current assistance building a parent pickup traffic road completes. MISD will pay for all materials and the MISD school board has approved the agreement, Tuley added.In other business, the court:• Approved reappointing Lisa Kocian and Ashley McKee to the Henderson County Hospital Authority Board.• Approved a request for overpayment of taxes from the Henderson County Tax Assessor-Collector, issuing four checks totaling $53,990.78.• Approved an amendment from Southern Health Partners for inmate medical and psychiatric care in the Henderson County Justice Center, removing a private psychiatrist from county services, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said.• Approved a request for out-of-state travel from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC) Homicide Conference, to be held Sept. 10-13.• Approved a request from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office to trade 12 seized firearms to Athens Army Navy & Pawn for replacement parts for duty weapons, which Hillhouse said would be a “flat trade” with no expenditures.• Approved an interlocal agreement for labor and equipment use between the City of Poynor and Henderson County.• Approved a contract with Brown Foundation Repair to work on the Henderson County Judicial Complex in Athens.• Approved a right-of-way permit for East Cedar Creek Fresh Water Supply District to bore a water main under Pleasant Drive in the Leisure Land subdivision, located in Precinct 2, which Tuley said addresses low water pressure by tying together two mains.• Approved right-of-way permits for Charter/Spectrum to install about seven miles of fiber-optic cable along County Roads 3913, 3704, 3623, 3620, 3622, 3621, 3518, 3823, 3820 and 3619, located in Precinct 3.• Approved replatting two lots in the Oak Hill subdivision, located in Precinct 4.• Approved paying fiscal year 2023 bills for $299,508.