Henderson County commissioners approve refunds, grants, ESD appointments and multiple utility permits

At its Jan. 2025 meeting, the Henderson County Commissioners Court approved a slate of routine finance, personnel and permitting items, including payment of fiscal-year bills, two grant awards, appointments to emergency service district boards and multiple utility right-of-way permits.

The court voted unanimously to pay county bills totaling $75,064.40 for fiscal year 2024 and $1,137,678.29 for fiscal year 2025. Commissioner Richardson moved both measures; Commissioner Spivey seconded the motions and all present commissioners voted in favor. The court also approved 2024 and 2025 budget amendments after brief staff review.

County staff brought two grant awards before the court. A county staff member identified in the record as Miss Vaughn said Dallas County’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force awarded Henderson County $9,000 for 2025. Miss Vaughn also reported that the U.S. Bureau of Justice-funded State Criminal Alien Assistance Program awarded the county $23,119 for fiscal year 2024. Both grants were accepted unanimously.

The court approved a refund request from the Henderson County Tax Assessor-Collector totaling $31,149.15. The assessor-collector’s representative told the court the request covered seven refund checks submitted for approval.

On appointments, the court filled two emergency-service-district board seats. The court appointed Charlie Howe to Emergency Service District No. 5 (Brownsburg ESD) and appointed Mark Hammock to Emergency Service District No. 12; both terms end Dec. 31, 2026. Both appointments were approved…