Henderson County commissioners approve Texan polling‑site rental, affirm precinct lines and clear multiple county actions

Henderson County Commissioners Court on a day in May approved a series of administrative, procurement and land‑use actions that affect voting access, county roads, personnel pay and vendor contracts.

The court approved a rental agreement for the Texan venue to be used as a polling place for the November constitutional election, granting the county access the day before, the day of and the day after the election for setup and teardown. Mr. Strong, a county staff member who presented the agreement, said, “This is for the constitutional election this November.” The motion to approve the Texan rental with the county judge’s authorization to sign was made by Commissioner McCam and seconded by Commissioner Richardson and passed unanimously.

The court also reviewed county election precinct boundaries and determined the 2021 precinct lines remain in compliance with section 42.031 of the Texas Election Code. Mr. Strong explained the statutory hierarchy examing sections 42.005, 42.006 and 42.007 and said, “We are, the 20 21 lines are in compliance with that statute.” He noted the county is not fully in compliance with 42.007 — which requires cities over 10,000 to be wholly inside their incorporated limits — because parts of the City of Athens, the airport and Lake Athens fall within county precincts; the staff recommendation was to leave the 2021 boundaries unchanged. Commissioner Tooley moved to approve the determination and Commissioner McCam seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

On land division, the court granted a discretionary Appendix U exemption for a proposed division of property (Property ID 228075) in Precinct 2 belonging to Nolan and Emily Belcher, allowing a 2.597‑acre parcel to be cut from an approximately 8.2‑acre tract. Planning staff noted the portion being sold lies north of a floodplain, while the southern residual parcel contains developed areas outside the floodplain; any future work within the mapped floodplain would require a separate floodplain permit. The court approved the split contingent on receipt of paid school‑tax receipts (Maybank ISD) from the owner; the motion (approve contingent upon receiving the paid tax receipts) was made by Commissioner Tooley and seconded by Commissioner Richardson and passed unanimously.

Personnel and payroll actions included approval to move Road and Bridge employee RB208 in Precinct 2 to pay grade 380, step 5, to reflect a foreman assignment after the retirement of longtime Precinct 2 superintendent Barry Hudgins (retired March 30). Commissioner Tooley moved the change; Commissioner Stivey seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The court set a public hearing to consider imposing a 35 mph speed limit on County Road 3713 in Precinct 3. Mr. Strong summarized the scheduling rules for such hearings, saying once the court sets the hearing it must publish notice “in the newspaper between 7 and 30 days.” The court set the public hearing for May at 9:05 a.m.; the formal publication window and exact May calendar date will follow the statutory posting requirements. The motion to set the hearing was made by Commissioner McCam, seconded by Commissioner Spivey, and passed unanimously.

Procurement and finance items approved by the court included: • a right‑of‑way permit for Encore Electric Service to change a utility pole on County Road 2931 (motion by Commissioner Tooley, second by Commissioner Schieve; passed unanimously), • award of the fiscal‑year 2025 tire bid naming Southern Tire Mart LLC as primary and Goodyear as secondary supplier (motion by Commissioner McCam, second by Commissioner Tooley; passed unanimously), and • acknowledgment of three responses to the 2025 RFQ for architectural services (Level 5 Architecture, TSK and Goodwin Lassiter/GLS) so the selection process can proceed (motion by Commissioner Spivey, second by Commissioner Tooley; passed unanimously).

The court approved payment of fiscal‑year 2025 bills totaling $410,499.88 (motion by Commissioner Richardson, second by Commissioner Spivey; passed unanimously).

The court convened an executive session under Texas Government Code §551.072 to discuss purchase of real property and later returned to open session at 11:18 a.m.; no action from the executive session was reported in open session. The meeting adjourned at 11:18 a.m. after a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance • Approve minutes (Apr. 1, 2025): Motion by Commissioner Tooley; second Commissioner Spivey; passes unanimously. • Texan venue rental agreement for November constitutional election (three‑day access): Motion by Commissioner McCam; second Commissioner Richardson; approved unanimously. • Determination that county election precincts are in compliance with Texas Election Code §42.031: Motion by Commissioner Tooley; second Commissioner McCam; approved unanimously. • Appendix U discretionary exemption — property ID 228075 (2.597‑acre split from ~8.2 acres) — contingent on paid Maybank ISD tax receipts: Motion by Commissioner Tooley; second Commissioner Richardson; approved unanimously. • RB208 (Precinct 2) moved to pay grade 380, step 5 (foreman assignment): Motion by Commissioner Tooley; second Commissioner Stivey; approved unanimously. • Public hearing to set 35 mph on County Road 3713 (Precinct 3): Motion by Commissioner McCam; second Commissioner Spivey; hearing set for May at 9:05 a.m.; approved unanimously. • Right‑of‑way permit — Encore Electric Service, pole change on County Road 2931: Motion by Commissioner Tooley; second Commissioner Schieve; approved unanimously. • FY2025 tire bid award — Southern Tire Mart primary, Goodyear secondary: Motion by Commissioner McCam; second Commissioner Tooley; approved unanimously. • Acknowledge RFQ responses for architectural services (Level 5 Architecture; TSK; Goodwin Lassiter/GLS): Motion by Commissioner Spivey; second Commissioner Tooley; acknowledged unanimously. • Payment of FY2025 bills totaling $410,499.88: Motion by Commissioner Richardson; second Commissioner Spivey; approved unanimously. • Executive session convened under Tex. Gov. Code §551.072 to discuss purchase of real property; reconvened to open session with no action reported.

Ending Several actions require follow up before becoming final: the Appendix U approval is conditional on the owner providing proof of paid school taxes; procurement awards proceed under standard contracting processes; and the 35 mph speed‑limit proposal will be determined after the public hearing and required newspaper notice. The court did not announce additional dates for a follow‑up meeting on these items during open session.