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 unanimously.

The court also approved a discretionary exemption under the county’s subdivision appendix (referred to in the record as Appendix U) for a 37-acre tract in Precinct 4 owned by John C. Wiggins. The applicant asked to divide roughly 2.4 acres from the corner of the tract for sale. Commissioner Richardson noted that development staff had checked floodplain status and confirmed taxes were paid before the court approved the exemption unanimously.

Multiple right-of-way and utility-permit requests were approved. The court authorized Brightspeed Communications to install aerial fiber along county roads near the Eustace city limits — including a 5,020-foot aerial stretch on County Road 2927, a 1,310-foot run on County Road 2938 and a 1,619-foot run on Ridge Road — and a separate 7,800-foot aerial fiber run in the Lake Athens area (County Road 4807, 4910, Dusty Road and Peninsula Drive). The court approved utility repair work for Moore Station Water Supply on County Roads 3603, 3605 and 3607, and a road-bore new-service permit for Leadville Water Supply Company at 13037 County Road 3612; the road bore was described in the record as a 7-foot-deep bore with 2-inch PVC casing and 1-inch polyethylene tubing from property line to property line. All right-of-way and utility permits passed by unanimous vote.

On land-planning business, the court approved the replat of Lots 60 and 61 of Beachwood Estates Section C to create Lot 60-R; all fees for the plat were reported as paid. The court concluded its business with a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Jan. 14, 2025 regular session — moved by Commissioner Tooley; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Refunds (7 checks) totaling $31,149.15 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Accept 2025 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force award, $9,000 — moved by Commissioner Spivey; seconded by Commissioner Tully; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Accept 2024 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program award, $23,119 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Tooley; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Appoint Charlie Howe to Emergency Service District No. 5, term ending Dec. 31, 2026 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Appoint Mark Hammock to Emergency Service District No. 12, term ending Dec. 31, 2026 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Discretionary exemption (Appendix U) for division of a 37-acre tract (John C. Wiggins) in Precinct 4 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Tooley; outcome: approved (unanimous). Development staff reported floodplain check and taxes paid. - Approve payroll/disbursement totals (biweekly 1 and 2) — moved by Commissioner Spivey; seconded by Commissioner Richardson; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Right-of-way permits for Brightspeed Communications (multiple aerial fiber runs — 5,020 ft; 1,310 ft; 1,619 ft) — moved by Commissioner Tooley; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Utility repairs for Moore Station Water Supply (County Roads 3603, 3605, 3607) — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Road-bore new service for Leadville Water Supply Company at 13037 County Road 3612 (2" PVC casing; 1" poly tubing; 7 ft deep) — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Tooley; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Utility line activity for Brightspeed Communications (Lake Athens / 7,800 ft aerial fiber) — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve 2024 budget amendment — moved by Commissioner Spivey; seconded by Commissioner Richardson; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve 2025 budget amendments — moved by Commissioner Tooley; seconded by Commissioner Richardson; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve fiscal-year 2024 bills, $75,064.40 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve fiscal-year 2025 bills, $1,137,678.29 — moved by Commissioner Richardson; seconded by Commissioner Spivey; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Replat Lot 60 & 61, Beachwood Estates Section C (create Lot 60-R) — moved by Commissioner Spivey; seconded by Commissioner Tooley; outcome: approved (motion carries).

Ending

The session concluded after routine business and all motions passed without recorded opposition. The court recessed following a unanimous motion to adjourn.