[0:10] Amen. >> And amen.

[0:14] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:20] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:26] justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One

[0:33] state under God, one and indivisible. Brother Rogers, thank you, sir, very

[0:38] much.

[0:42] » All right. Well, the time is 9:03. We do have a quorum, so we will call this

[0:47] meeting to order. Are there any citizens comments?

[0:51] We have received one. uh is asking to speak during the time of which we

[0:58] discuss uh item number 11. So we will hold that until that time. There any

[1:04] others? I will state that there were two emails sent in wishing to um have their

[1:12] names on the record of being against. That did not it does not follow our

[1:17] public participation policy of how to come in because there is no address. But

[1:22] I will state the names. McKenzie Brown and a Leanne Emery both um submitted

[1:29] emails against the implementation of item 11.

[1:36] So at this time, are there any court announcements?

[1:41] If not, we'll move to item one, which is consider and take action on minutes of

[1:46] previously held meeting of commissioner's court on August 25th,

[1:49] 2026 and also September 1, 2026. Court will start with the August 25th

[1:57] minutes.

[2:02] Were there any additions, deletions, or comments?

[2:07] And I believe these are the the were corrected set sub submitted before

[2:13] court. Okay, >> court.

[2:15] » We're going to make two motions. >> We'll we'll do 25 and then we'll do a

[2:21] second motion for the next seven minutes.

[2:24] » Hearing none. Judge, I move we approve the commissioner court minutes for

[2:27] August 25th, 2026 as presented. >> I second. Motion made by Commissioner

[2:32] Tulie and second by Commissioner Spivey to approve the minutes of August 25th,

[2:36] 2026 as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes

[2:42] unanimously. The second set of minutes is the

[2:46] September the 1st, 2026. Are there any additions, deletions, or

[2:51] comments? >> Hearing none, entertain a motion. Judge,

[2:56] I move we approve the commissioner's court's minutes for September 1st, 2026

[3:01] as presented. >> I'll second his motion.

[3:03] » Motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by Commissioner Spivey to approve

[3:07] the September 1st, 2026 minutes as presented. Any further discussion?

[3:13] All those in favor. Passes unanimously.

[3:18] Item number two is consider and take action on possible burn ban for

[3:23] Henderson County Court. 28 days ago, the commissioner's court instituted a burn

[3:30] ban for again 28 days. Um, we have been blessed with some rain in portions of

[3:37] the county. As you can see on our information, the

[3:42] majority of the state is currently under a burn ban. It looks like probably 85%

[3:49] 90% when you look at the Texas&M forest service tree map. Um, the Keech Byum has

[3:57] not There he is. I'd like to ask our fire marshall to come up.

[4:05] » Good morning, court. >> Morning.

[4:08] » Morning. >> So, I brought this which judge just

[4:11] showed you pretty much 207 counties are still in a burn ban. Um, mentioned Keech

[4:16] Byum. I'll pull that up. So when we went into a burn ban, our kee buy room was at

[4:22] uh 574. Um we've had a little bit of rain, you

[4:26] know, since then, but we've also had several days of heat and dry weather. So

[4:31] as of right now, as of this morning, our key by room is at 657.

[4:36] So we're still almost 100 points above when we actually went into a burn ban.

[4:42] So, we don't have any improvement since we initiated the burn ban as far as

[4:47] numbers being lower.

[4:53] [snorts] So, yeah, that's still my recommendation to to keep us in a burn

[4:56] band until we get uh get those numbers down, get a significant amount of rain.

[5:02] » Court questions, discussion. Um,

[5:08] since we don't see any rain, do you see a stricter burn ban or when should we

[5:12] get into to that point? >> Right now, I I did pull uh the call

[5:17] sheets which we had 181 fire calls total since we initiated the

[5:22] burn ban on the 11th. Um, [clears throat]

[5:27] out of those calls, we had 18 that were grass related. Either a structure that

[5:32] started grass or lightning strikes. uh different things. Um kind of looking at

[5:39] to see if maybe welders or things like that are causing these fires. We're not

[5:43] really seeing that right now. So, those guys are being uh pretty careful, I

[5:47] imagine. Um did did see a couple of welders out just driving around the

[5:52] county. Uh and they did have spotters, so they were taking care of that. So, I

[5:56] don't see any any reason at this point to to implement something of that nature

[6:01] to restrict them from from welding or continuing to do their jobs.

[6:06] Um, at this time, I think we just keep moving the way we're doing it with

[6:11] a burn ban that's in place. It seems to be helping. Although you can't eliminate

[6:15] everything, uh, it does seem to be helping.

[6:20] Well, it looks like the only part of the county that's in the kind, you know, in

[6:25] the yellow is probably Brownsboro East. >> Yes, sir.

[6:29] » Everything else is still in the orange and and the red.

[6:34] So, like you said, our high number is uh right now in the county, it's 775.

[6:40] » Yeah, our minimum number is at 450. So, there is parts of the county that are

[6:43] that are doing a lot better. uh other parts of the county are are

[6:48] still you know still need that moisture. >> I had a call about some questions about

[6:54] maybe doing a commercial or agriculture burns. Is there any way that we can go

[6:59] through and do that on the eastern side of the county whether uh where we've had

[7:03] some adequate rain if they got the equipment stuff and and you go out and

[7:08] and and look at it and see that they have the means of keeping it under

[7:11] control and doing a commercial or agriculture burn. So, I did do some

[7:15] research on that. Uh, the commissioner's court is the only one since y'all have

[7:18] implemented the burn ban, y'all are the only ones that have the authority to

[7:21] allow that. Now, if y'all send me out there with some kind of order that says,

[7:26] "Hey, if it follows this criteria, if I can create that criteria and meet it and

[7:31] then bring it to you guys as a court for approval on that, but that's that's

[7:36] above me. Unfortunately, it's not something I would have authority unless

[7:40] you guys gave me the authority from my belief. And I could be incorrect on

[7:43] that, but >> under our standard burn ban, it allows

[7:48] for um this order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to

[7:54] public health and safety is authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental

[7:58] Equality for firefighter training, public utility, text dot operations, gas

[8:04] natural gas pipeline, mining operations, planting or harvesting of agricultural

[8:10] crops, or burns that are conducted by prescribed burn managers certified under

[8:17] section 153.048 of the natural resources code. So, um I

[8:24] do believe that our burn ban does allow under those um situations and in the

[8:31] past that has been a contact to the fire marshall's office to get that u more or

[8:38] less um permit to proceed. So, I guess with a filed appropriate

[8:45] paperwork, uh having a a license prescribed burn, uh just filing that

[8:51] with me, then I can approve that based off of y'all's uh layout.

[8:56] But I don't kind of my thought process was can they come to me and and get a

[9:01] get a permit through me? And I believe that I don't have the authority to just

[9:05] give an individual a burn permit. If they have all the required documentation

[9:09] by the court, they could come bring it to me and then I could authorize them to

[9:13] to burn

[9:23] » again. I I sounds like what what you just read gives you the authority.

[9:28] That has been the standard practice on these um is that if they have that

[9:35] permit and it appears to the fire marshall to be you know all precautions

[9:42] are made and solely up to the statutory authority in that and that's why we have

[9:48] we've used this standard burn ban for 20 years at least.

[9:54] So I believe that upon contact with the fire marshall's office that it is

[10:00] » with the appropriate >> licensing.

[10:04] » Again statutoily you're making that determination. The

[10:08] court can't make that determination. Okay.

[10:10] » We do have the ability for for that to happen under these sections in law.

[10:26] Is anything further?

[10:31] Well, here's where we we can go another 28 days or we can go longer. The reason

[10:37] I keep bringing up the 28 days is so that it falls specifically on

[10:42] commissioner's court day where we can >> and at any point during the burn ban if

[10:47] we were to >> hopefully

[10:50] get several inches of rain all over the county, you can take the burn ban off to

[10:56] uh the jud the county judge can take the burn ban on.

[11:00] » Yes, sir. That has been our practice for these many years is that once um the

[11:07] ground moisture in the KDDI gets to a certain level where it is then deemed

[11:15] safe or less dangerous. And with concurrence with the fire marshall's

[11:20] office and getting their recommendation, we have moved forward with lifting a

[11:24] burn band before its expiration.

[11:29] » Usually in the first 28 days, we get 10 inches of rain.

[11:33] » I don't know what we're doing different this year, but usually if we put burn

[11:37] on, we got it half right. All >> right.

[11:39] » Then we'll put it that way. >> Well, we're 100 points above when we put

[11:43] it on last year. >> Mhm.

[11:46] » I mean last week, last month. Yeah, absolutely.

[11:51] » This county has a um because of its geography and how it is laid out, it's

[11:59] two counties wide running east to west. And this isn't the first time that we've

[12:04] ended up with east west. Um it's much drier on the west side than it

[12:10] is on the east side. And that that follows form.

[12:16] So >> court,

[12:20] » what will be the uh next court on 28th? >> October the 6th.

[12:26] » Mhm. October 6th.

[12:33] Anything further? Entertain motion. I'll make the motion to uh renew the

[12:41] burn ban until October the >> 6th

[12:44] » 6th >> for Henderson County.

[12:49] » Second >> motion made by Commissioner McCam and

[12:51] second by Commissioner Tulie to continue to impose a burn ban for another 28 days

[12:57] until October 6th. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor?

[13:03] » Passes unanimously. Thank you, sir.

[13:10] Let me get rid of some of this stuff.

[13:16] Item three is consider and take action on 2026 nominating resolution for the

[13:22] Henderson County Appraisal District Board of Directors

[13:27] Court. We each received a um notification from the appraisal district

[13:33] concerning um two resignations that had taken place on the board and they're

[13:38] requesting nominations from all of the taxing entities. Uh we touched on this

[13:43] briefly a couple of weeks ago. There a couple of entities have already made

[13:48] their nominations and um it is now our turn.

[13:54] Um, at this at this time we will open for nominations.

[14:01] I know there are two individuals that have expressed an interest in this

[14:06] position is uh Ginger Morton and as I expressed um different times

[14:14] myself I would be interested in sitting on that position. We often thought that

[14:18] it was not allowed to have sitting taxing authorities on that board, but if

[14:27] you are a member of the governing body, you are allowed.

[14:39] » I move to nominate Ginger Mortyn and Wade McKenna. I second to appraisal

[14:43] board your motion. Motion made by any other nominations.

[14:53] » Do we need to appoint them for the different terms?

[14:58] » That's a that's a very good point. Um, we have terms expiring December 31 of

[15:04] 29, December 31 of 27. Does the court have the pleasure of

[15:10] which locations? I'll I'll put Wade McKenna on expiring December 31st, 2029

[15:17] and Ginger Morton expiring December 31st, 2027. I'll second

[15:23] » motion made by Commissioner McCam, second by Commissioner Spivey to

[15:28] nominate Wade McKenna for the December 31, 2022

[15:35] expiration nomination position and Ginger Morton for the expiring December

[15:41] 31, 2027 nomination.

[15:44] Is there any further discussion? All those in favor?

[15:50] Oppose? I abstain. Passes 40 to1. Thank you court.

[15:59] Item number four is consider and take action on interlocal agreement for

[16:04] conducting the November 3rd 2026 elections with the following entities.

[16:10] Crossroads ISD, Malikoff ISD, Brownsboro ISD, City of Coffee City, City of

[16:18] Enchanted Oaks, Gunarrel City, City of Tulle, Emergency Service District number

[16:24] one, city of Trinidad, and the city of Eustace. Miss Lucky,

[16:29] » good morning, Court. So, we have 10 cities, schools, and one ESD that have

[16:33] asked to contract with us for their November elections. Um this will include

[16:37] pole worker um equipment rental and programming fees. Um and that will be

[16:42] reimbursed at the rate of the cost to us. So um this our standard contract um

[16:47] I've provided that to the county attorney. He's reviewed them. Um so I'm

[16:51] just asking for court approval. >> Courts.

[16:59] » Is this uh is that uh estimated cost? Is that the cost per entity?

[17:05] » Yes, per entity. So I a rough estimates $38,000 that that we'll recoup back from

[17:10] them. Um so it helps with our pole workers, but they pay all of their um

[17:15] programming fees. So that's a big portion of it um because we um use ESNS

[17:19] to program our ballots and that's what a big portion of that cost is. So we'll

[17:25] pay that and then they reimburse us after the election.

[17:32] And this will incorporate those elections into the midterm elections,

[17:37] the November 3rd that the county puts on. So therefore, it's no

[17:42] [sighs] additional demand for equipment. >> That's correct. So that that people that

[17:47] live in those entities and will it'll come up on their ballot style. So

[17:50] they'll have the countywide, the statewide, the federal, and their entity

[17:53] on that same ballot. >> Yes. It's all incorporated.

[18:01] » And this election, will there be

[18:06] a break between is there early voting anymore or is it is it gone?

[18:12] » Yeah. Well, we can get into that with the notice of election, but uh

[18:15] » I'm sorry. >> We have a notice of election as our next

[18:17] agenda item, but Okay. Yes. Um this one will include the break. So, Senate Bill

[18:21] 2753 have has not went into effect yet. So, there there'll be a break between

[18:26] early voting and election day. >> Okay.

[18:28] » Is that answer? >> That's what I was looking for. We'll

[18:31] discuss that more on the next one. Then court concerning these interlocal

[18:35] agreements. Um there are um several signatures. So I'll remind you necessary

[18:41] signatures on any motion please. Is there any further discussion?

[18:45] » Do these um there won't be any added voting locations. They have to use our

[18:50] locations. Correct. Yes. That we're at. >> Yeah. And a lot of them we use their

[18:54] facilities anyways. So they help out on that aspect. Any

[19:02] further discussion?

[19:06] » So move to approve with all necessary signatures.

[19:09] » I'll second the motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner Spidey and

[19:12] second by Commissioner Richardson to uh approve the interlocal agreements for

[19:18] the conducting of the November 3rd, 2026 elections with the aforementioned

[19:23] entities with all necessary signatures authorized. Is there any further

[19:28] discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[19:33] Item number five is consider and take action on notice of election for the

[19:37] November 3rd, 2026 general election. Miss Lucky.

[19:41] » Okay. So, this is the notice of election for the November 3rd um election day. It

[19:45] sets our locations for election day. The early voting locations we approved back

[19:49] in June. Um so, those are the same as what was previously approved. Um it's 15

[19:55] vote centers throughout the county. Um the only difference from last year is

[20:00] the Merkusen ISD. So we're going to vote at the senior citizen center will

[20:05] incorporate that 3M voting location. So um we'll have 15 uh voting vote centers

[20:11] open. Um early voting will have five locations. So each corner of the county

[20:15] will be covered for early voting and then centrally here in Athens. So, um

[20:20] we're given plenty of opportunity and there's there will be a gap. So, we'll

[20:24] finish after um early voting will um end on Friday and then we'll have election

[20:29] day on Monday or on um Tuesday. We'll set up Monday. Uh next year um Senate

[20:36] Bill uh 2753 will go into effect where we won't have a gap. We'll stop early

[20:40] voting on Monday at 7 and then we'll start election day on Tuesday. So,

[20:47] » and that's pretty big change. It is. It's going to be a big big change. And

[20:50] we won't start early voting till Thursday. So early voting won't start on

[20:54] Monday. It'll start on Thursday and go all the way through

[20:58] » for the November 3rd. >> Not this one.

[21:00] » Okay. I want >> No, that's that's the big change next.

[21:03] » Yeah. The next round. Okay. That that is a big change. It's going to change how

[21:08] we conduct elections and also the demands on the pole workers. It's going

[21:12] to be pretty extensive. >> Yes.

[21:15] » Okay. court concerning this notice of election for the November 3rd. Are there

[21:20] any questions, comments?

[21:24] If not, we'll entertain a motion.

[21:29] » So, move to approve with all the necessary signatures.

[21:32] » I'll second the motion. Motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by

[21:36] Commissioner McCam to approve the notice of election election for the November

[21:40] 3rd, 2026 general election. Uh with all necessary signatures authorized. Is

[21:47] there any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[21:52] Thank you, ma'am. Item six is consider and take action on

[21:57] the fiscal year 26 Texas Indigent Defense Commission formula grant in the

[22:03] amount of $57,692.

[22:07] Miss Vaugh, >> good morning court. Yes. So this is the

[22:10] Texas Indigit Defense Commission for the fiscal year 2026 in the amount of 57,900

[22:15] or excuse me $692. Um this is just a formula grant uh so

[22:21] that we can meet our mandates uh with indigent defense for the county

[22:27] » court questions. >> Has this uh this continued to go down

[22:33] over the years hadn't it? >> Um so yeah this year's 57,000 last year

[22:38] was around 63,000 2024 was 48,000 and then 23 was 60,000. Um, so it's based on

[22:47] the county's percentage of state population and the percentage of state

[22:50] indigit defense expenditures multiply by the Texas initent defense commission's

[22:56] budgeted amount for formula grants. So >> you you don't have you don't have a

[23:01] number of what we spend on indigent >> defense, do you?

[23:05] » Yeah. >> 1.3

[23:08] 1.4 million >> $1.3 million. we get uh 60 $57,000 back.

[23:15] » Mhm. >> That's a state unfunded mandate.

[23:19] » Oh yeah, definitely. Definitely.

[23:23] It's been a a discussed issue for a very long time.

[23:30] believe it was it began 2001 2002 somewhere right in there when

[23:37] uh

[23:40] this process was created and uh it stayed pretty consistent in that dollar

[23:45] amount over the last 25 years

[23:51] » 1.4 million >> 1.4 4 million.

[23:56] » They they then they were good enough to give us 57,000 back. Yes, sir.

[24:00] » We appreciate it.

[24:06] » Court, further questions or comments? >> If not, entertain a motion.

[24:14] » I move to approve the motion on the 2026 Texas Energent Defense Commission

[24:18] Formula Grant in the amount of $57,692. [clears throat]

[24:24] Second >> motion made by Commissioner Spivey and

[24:27] second by Commissioner Tulie to accept the fiscal year 2026 Texas Indigent

[24:32] Defense Commission formula grant in the amount of $57,692.

[24:39] Is there any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[24:44] Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you.

[24:47] Item number seven, consider and take action on designation of Southern Cement

[24:53] Slurry LLC to be the sole source for liqufied

[24:58] cementuous products for Henderson County. Commissioner Richardson, you say

[25:03] that name, that word. [laughter]

[25:08] » Uh yes, Cord. Uh there's a times that we're putting a

[25:13] cement product in the uh in our subs soils and stuff to stabilize the ground

[25:18] and uh run across this uh liquefy it. Actually, it's a a slurry that's already

[25:23] had the water go uh put in it. So, we don't have to haul as much water. We're

[25:27] having trouble finding water uh to put in the soil right now because

[25:32] everything's so dry. So, run across this uh company here that that that uh makes

[25:37] a slurry and it cuts the dust down, too. That cement dust is is not the best

[25:43] thing in the world to be breathing. So, I'm looking at uh getting this uh super

[25:48] slurry that's already liquefied to put on the soil. That way, we can uh blend

[25:53] it in and uh when we reclaim the roads. court questions.

[26:01] It is hard to find even in good times when we got lots of water. It's getting

[26:07] harder that um we're able to access because it does take a large volume of

[26:13] water in this process, does it not? >> Yes, sir.

[26:15] » Okay. >> This just speeds it up a little bit

[26:19] where we've already got it wet and don't take quite as much to go in there and

[26:24] work it, get the road laid down a lot quicker. So I know one of the biggest

[26:28] complaints we have is the dust. So we cut that down a little bit.

[26:36] » Court further discussion hearing. None. Entertain a motion.

[26:41] » So move to approve. >> I'll second the motion. Motion made by

[26:45] Commissioner Richson and second by Commissioner McCann to approve the

[26:49] designation of Southern Cement Slurry LLC to be the sole source for liqufied

[26:57] cementuous products for Henderson County. Is there

[27:00] any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[27:07] Item number eight is consider and take action to accept elected official bond

[27:12] for the tax assessor collector to be filed with the county clerk's office.

[27:18] Miss Monk. >> Yeah, this is just the standard

[27:20] procedure since the bond is payable to the court.

[27:29] » Courts.

[27:33] If not, entertain a motion. >> So move to approve.

[27:38] » I'll second the motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner Spivey and

[27:42] second by Commissioner Richardson to accept the elected officials bond for

[27:46] the tax assessor collector to be filed with the county clerk's office. Any

[27:52] further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[27:58] Item number nine is consider and take action on the Henderson County Emergency

[28:02] Service District number 7 fiscal year 2025 annual financial statement in

[28:08] according with HB 3764 for filing purposes only court. This was submitted

[28:16] these financials for number seven were submitted um actually a couple of months

[28:20] ago to us. There was some discussions that were had in the interim concerning

[28:26] the affidavit. Um

[28:32] yeah, consider considering the affidavit and we feel pretty confident in what is

[28:39] presented from the audit office. You have your office has reviewed and has

[28:44] put stamp of approval on. Correct.

[28:49] Okay.

[28:52] Court questions

[28:57] if not entertain a motion. >> I'll make the motion.

[29:04] » Second. >> Motion made by Commissioner McCam and

[29:07] second by Commissioner Tulie to accept the Henderson County Emergency Service

[29:12] District number 7 fiscal year 2025 annual financial statement in accordance

[29:16] with HB 3764 for filing purposes only. Is there any

[29:20] further discussion? >> I would I would like to say that this

[29:23] was in before the June 1st deadline. >> Correct.

[29:27] » And the uh the questions about the affidavit were a wording question

[29:32] uh where the wording in the affidavit kind of gave a if you was looking at it

[29:38] in legal terms kind of gave a kind of a wishy-washy

[29:42] uh view of it. And so we got that fixed. >> Yes. and but uh this was turned in

[29:48] before the June 1st deadline. >> Yes, sir.

[29:53] Any further comments? All those in favor of the motion? Passes

[29:58] unanimously. Item 10 is consider and take action on

[30:01] the Henderson County Emergency Emergency Services District number 11 fiscal year

[30:07] 2024 and 2025 annual financial statement in accordance with HB 3764

[30:15] for filing purposes only. uh court. This u affidavit came in before September 1

[30:24] and has met review from the county auditor's office and is ready to go.

[30:32] Commissioners, are there any questions or discussion points?

[30:36] I know some of the discussion, some of the questions we've had from uh the

[30:40] public and constituents is a lot of them think the September 1st date or the June

[30:45] 1st date is when removal, but it they're due June 1st.

[30:53] If they're not in before September the 1st, then the the the president and the

[30:59] secretary treasure have to be removed from the ESD. And this was turned in

[31:04] before that date al before the September date

[31:08] also. So >> yes

[31:10] and one um very strong point of of discussion that has been the last couple

[31:16] of years is in that section of law it does speak of the automatic removal of

[31:22] the president and the treasurer in many cases secretary treasurer depending how

[31:27] they have them uh constituted. That removal is does occur in law, but

[31:36] through many discussions with the county attorney and we we got um very detailed

[31:42] in it the last couple of weeks, the hold over position provision within the Texas

[31:48] Constitution keeps them in place until they a qualified successor is seated. Is

[31:54] that not correct? >> That's correct.

[31:57] » Okay. Um, you know, I don't concede arguments pretty easily and I've fought

[32:02] that one for a long time. But, um, I will concede that the president and

[32:08] treasurers are still able to continue their functions until replaced by the

[32:15] court. So, I wanted to say that publicly.

[32:19] And I'd like to say also too that uh we have to appoint 55

[32:25] » 55 of these commissioners. We have 11 ESDs.

[32:30] We have very few volunteers. Most of these people, we call them

[32:35] volunteers, but they were approached. They didn't they didn't volunteer.

[32:42] They were approached and agreed to do it. So, I mean, if we have anybody out

[32:48] in the public that is willing to take some of these jobs, we'd sure like to

[32:52] have some names. They're few and hard to come between.

[32:57] These guys have to do lots of work. Uh the regulations have increased yearly on

[33:03] the things that they have to do and uh you know that that are required by law

[33:08] just like he just stated. They're required by law that they do these

[33:12] things and uh you know they have to have websites and they have to do you know

[33:16] somebody's got to maintain that. Uh these guys are volunteers. They're doing

[33:20] it on their own time and you know some of them are just like us. They have

[33:27] family situations that come up. They have job situations that come up. They

[33:31] they have all kind of life situations that come up and they may get behind on

[33:36] some things. But I'd be willing to take some names if anybody gives my office a

[33:42] call and would like to volunteer for some of these jobs.

[33:47] One of the presidents of the ES one of my ESDs told me Friday that he puts in

[33:52] 30 yards a week on his ESD.

[33:58] Well, it the demands have grown along with um

[34:04] the advalorum tax that is collected. Um you know, they're they're up totally

[34:10] collectively almost up to $8 million. >> So, I mean, we appreciate that's a

[34:15] responsibility that they take on that is daunting.

[34:19] » And we we've been uh adamant that they get things turned in over the last

[34:24] couple of years. got most of them caught up. Some of them were behind. They're

[34:28] all caught up on on their uh audits and financials, which they don't all have to

[34:34] have a full-blown audit unless they bring in $250,000

[34:38] or have debt of $250,000. Then they only have to turn in a

[34:44] compiled uh financial. Anything above that, then it's an audit. And uh so

[34:53] like she said uh these guys spend a lot of time at it and they they want to make

[34:58] our fire departments as best as they can be and uh you know as well as I do that

[35:03] they can't get by on uh barbecue and boots anymore.

[35:09] So, but it is a substantial amount of tax money that has to be kept up with

[35:14] and and uh we try we've tried in the last couple

[35:19] years to make sure that those financials and audits have been turned in.

[35:28] » Court, further discussion? >> If not, entertain a motion.

[35:33] I'd like to make a motion to uh accept the uh emergency service district number

[35:37] 11 fiscal year 202425 annual financial statement in accordance

[35:43] with HP 3764 for filing purposes only.

[35:47] » I'll second his motion. Motion made by Commissioner Richardson and second by

[35:50] Commissioner Spidey to accept the Henderson County Emergency Service

[35:55] District number 11 fiscal year 2024 2025 annual financial statement in accordance

[36:01] with HB 3764 for filing purposes only. Any further discussion? All those in

[36:07] favor? Passes unanimously.

[36:12] Item number 11 is for a public hearing that was scheduled to be at 9:15.

[36:18] This is to discuss the proposed 2026 tax rate for the 2027 Henderson County

[36:25] budget. Court, can we have a motion to move into public hearing?

[36:30] » I'd like to make a motion to move into public hearing at 9:39.

[36:35] » Second. Motion made by Commissioner Richardson, second by Commissioner Tulie

[36:40] to move into public hearing at 9:39. All those in favor passes unanimously. At

[36:46] this time, we have moved into public hearing on the proposed tax on the

[36:52] proposed tax rate. Uh at this time, uh Mr. Ronnie Lawrence, um comm former

[36:59] commissioner Mr. Ronnie Lawrence is here. Mr. Lawrence, you uh if you would

[37:05] give your address and again your name for the record. And we got three

[37:08] minutes. >> I'm Ronnie Lawrence, 10276

[37:12] County Road 3405 in Brownsboro. Judge, commissioners, I'd like to start

[37:19] out say I I realize what y'all go through trying to balance this budget

[37:23] and figure out a tax rate, but you killing us old retired people. Now we

[37:30] and as y'all know very well, Henderson County is a retirement center, you might

[37:37] say. I know our

[37:41] homesteads are frozen, but for people like me that has other interest, uh not

[37:48] only is the tax rate, but the killing us the uh appraisals go up and hopefully

[37:55] with two new members, maybe we can get that straightened out. I can't remember

[38:00] a year since I retired that they hadn't went up on my appraisals. Not the same

[38:06] ones every year, but if it don't do this one, they do the other one. And then in

[38:11] the past when I sit up there where y'all are, when the appraisals went up, we was

[38:16] able to lower our taxes. Y'all did just the opposite. Y'all, we raise the

[38:21] appraisals and y'all go up on the taxes. Uh I'm asking y'all to reconsider that.

[38:26] I know it's probably too late, but uh anyway, some of us has had a hard time

[38:33] with it. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Commissioner.

[38:39] » Is there anyone else wishing to speak at this time?

[38:50] I will ask one more.

[38:56] This is the last opportunity to speak on the proposed 2026 tax rate. Is there

[39:01] anyone else? If not court, we have a motion to close

[39:07] public hearing on the tax rate. >> I'll make the motion to close public

[39:13] hearing at 9:42. >> Second. Motion made by Commissioner

[39:17] Spivey and second by Commissioner Tulie to close public hearing on the 2026 tax

[39:23] rate at 9:42. All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[39:30] Item 12 is an additional public hearing that was scheduled for 9:20 and this is

[39:36] to discuss the 2027 county budget for Henderson County Court. Can we have a

[39:42] motion to move back into public hearing at this time?

[39:46] » So move

[39:50] second. Motion made by Commissioner Tulie, second by Commissioner Richardson

[39:56] to convene back into public hearing to discuss the 2027 county budget for

[40:01] Henderson County at I'm waiting for the clock to click to 9:43.

[40:08] At 9:43 all those in favor passes unanimously.

[40:14] We have now returned into o into public sess session for public hearing to

[40:20] discuss the 2027 county budget for Henderson County. Is there anyone that

[40:25] wishes to speak toward the proposed 2027 county budget

[40:43] 4246 County Road 4607 I just want to say thank you. I've sat

[40:48] through some of your workshops. I've sat through several meet uh commissioners

[40:53] courts about the budget. I see you grimace when you have to say this is

[40:57] what we got to do to make make sure our county is great. Thank you for all

[41:02] you've done and thank you for the I'm going to say millions of hours you spent

[41:07] not just in court and not just in workshops but alone with the paperwork

[41:12] studying to see what can we do to make it better. So I just want to say thank

[41:15] you very much. >> Thank you ma'am.

[41:20] Is there anyone else that wishes to speak at this time?

[41:31] I'll make one final call. Anyone wishing to speak in regards to the 2027 county

[41:36] budget? Seeing that no one has put forward, can

[41:42] we have a motion to close public hearing?

[41:45] » I move we close public hearing at 9:44. I second [snorts]

[41:48] » motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by Commissioner Spivey to close

[41:52] public hearing at 9:44. All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[41:59] Item 13 is consider and take action to adopt the preservation and restoration

[42:05] records plans for the county and district clerks for the 2027

[42:12] budget. court we have before us today in this process is the um preservations and

[42:18] rec and restoration records plan. These both these plans have gone through

[42:24] various name changes over the years. Uh this is a budget for the expenditure of

[42:32] funds to do exactly what it says here in the name. Um these fees are added to

[42:38] each filings for the long-term preservation. And as we said the

[42:43] restoration of some documents this has been in place for a very long

[42:48] time on 20 years I suppose court are there

[42:53] any questions

[42:57] miss right there's this is a part of yours do you have anything you wish to

[43:02] say in it okay

[43:08] court if there's no questions or comments entertain a motion.

[43:12] » I did I I have one question. The uh like on uh

[43:19] uh county clerk's official office fee,

[43:24] these are the fees if you come and request this information that you have

[43:27] to pay. So if I come

[43:32] uh let's just say I request cattle brands, it c it's $1.

[43:38] That's that. Yeah, that's the fee that we charge. It's in the fee that we

[43:43] charge for the the grants. >> Okay.

[43:45] » That $1 is solely for the preservation portion. The fee will be higher.

[43:52] » Okay. >> But this is the fee paid for the

[43:54] preservation. >> Okay. This is the fee for the

[43:58] preservation. >> Yes, sir. Yeah.

[44:00] » Just like you see. Yes.

[44:06] » Court. Further questions? Discussion

[44:10] entertain a motion. >> So move to approve.

[44:15] » I'll second the motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner Spivey and

[44:18] second by Commissioner McCam to adopt the preservation and restoration records

[44:23] plan for the county and district clerks as presented for the 2027

[44:29] county budget. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[44:37] Item 14, consider and take action to adopt the 2027 county budget for

[44:42] Henderson County that for the median valued homestead property valued at

[44:48] $211,86

[44:52] would pay a property tax of approximately

[44:55] $72.39

[44:59] in property taxes for the current fiscal year. $727.75

[45:06] in property taxes under the proposed 2027 budget and $690.87

[45:14] in property taxes under a no new revenue tax rate in court.

[45:22] This layout is what is required in statute and there are so many different

[45:28] layouts that we have. You have this one on the median value and then the the

[45:33] posting that is put forth by the tax assessor collector is on the average.

[45:39] There are over the last six years the legislature has pushed very hard to put

[45:48] all the information out for the property owners um to get them a more clear

[45:53] understanding of what's happening. Now from my perspective I think they have

[45:59] muddied the water quite a bit because of using median which definition of median

[46:03] is that property that's right dead center among all the properties versus

[46:08] the average which would be probably 2/3 up. So um in their effort

[46:18] to make things clearer they have also um muddied the water a

[46:24] little bit. So with our discussions here today, what we have been through with

[46:30] the the budget, I want to say that we have seen some

[46:35] demands this year that uh we haven't seen

[46:39] before. Um we have two municipalities u police departments that are u one is

[46:47] non-existent other one is under intense trouble um as far as being able to um

[46:54] exercise certain functions and even though that they are

[46:59] municipalities the constitutional responsibility for law enforcement falls

[47:02] upon our county sheriff and it is difficult

[47:09] when you sit up here in these positions and look at it. I know when I was

[47:15] commissioner looking at it, well, we've got our roads to take care of. They've

[47:18] got their roads to take care of. It's a little bit different when you're talking

[47:22] about law enforcement. Law enforcement doesn't know just jurisdictional

[47:26] boundaries, especially within the um sheriff's realm. Uh this budget

[47:33] has uh [sighs and gasps] taken on several other responsibilities

[47:38] that um go along with it. We're increasing um our support to the um

[47:43] crimes against children, the CAC uh not only with um the building expansion, but

[47:49] also with the additional investigator there. That program has been absolutely

[47:55] phenomenal. It is a program that um is modeled across the state now. It's one

[48:00] of the very first and honestly probably one of the most successful. Um

[48:07] it's sad when you think of just how much that has grown in four years. No, six

[48:13] years I believe it's gone from zero to seven sheriff seven investigators.

[48:21] And it's something that

[48:25] we wish we did not have to do, but it is something that we must do.

[48:32] Oh, there are so many other things in court. I'll I'll let y'all chime in on

[48:36] um your points of view on this budget. we were able to give a a 3% raise to the

[48:42] um employees here um with this budget after u much consternation.

[48:51] So Cord I I'll invite conversation discussion of your points of view on the

[48:56] 27 budget.

[49:00] I did I did just a little bit of research over the last few days because

[49:05] I'm concerned just like everybody else about having to raise tax rates. I mean

[49:08] it's we all feel we live here too. We we had to pay the same taxes as everybody

[49:14] else that has to pay here. But going down through the years

[49:20] like like the speaker said earlier the the the appraisal values have risen but

[49:27] along with those appraisal values rising. This is my 10th year.

[49:33] When I started we was at 47.

[49:38] Today we're at 33. So as they have increased, we have

[49:43] decreased and we've decreased to a number now that

[49:50] really puts us in a position of not being able to supply services that and

[49:56] that's what we do is we're a service provider.

[50:00] We've got down to that level where our growth is not

[50:07] correlating with how much we've dropped taxes over

[50:11] the last 10 years. I mean, we went from 047 to point today 33. So that's 14

[50:18] cents we went down on on taxes. Along with that, Henderson County gains

[50:24] a,000 people a year. Every year we're we're at a growth rate

[50:32] of 1.89 1.9%. So we we gain about a thousand residents

[50:38] a year. Along with those thousand, just like I said a while ago, we provide

[50:44] services. Those thousand people need services.

[50:49] So, in the last eight years since the census was taken, last seven years,

[50:54] let's say 27, we've gained 7,000 residences in Henderson County. So,

[50:59] we're up in that what uh 87 88,000 range.

[51:07] Uh we've been able to do some really good things in the county without asking

[51:13] for more tax money. Just a few. for example

[51:19] that we that we've done the one he just talked about a while ago the P25 radio

[51:24] system that was a huge expense for the county I know back in 20 whenever the

[51:31] jail was was built >> oh

[51:35] » it was a $20 million project >> in 8 um it was 12

[51:40] » and the county bonded eight >> it was it was close to a $12 million

[51:45] project this radio system alone

[51:50] is in that range. And we were we we were able to do it

[51:55] with the way we paid for it as a as they we paid for it as they completed work.

[52:01] We were able to do it without having to go out for a bond or go out for tax

[52:05] money. It's an $8 million project. This year, we've had it about seven or

[52:11] eight years now. This year we got hit with a an upgrade which anybody in the

[52:17] computer business which a P25 digital system is a computer operated system.

[52:23] It's something the federal government has pushed since uh the Twin Towers

[52:29] that they want law enforcement agencies to be able to talk to each other. They

[52:34] found that out in New York that they couldn't do that. All these agencies

[52:39] were talking on different channels.

[52:44] So, they pushed that system. We were able to do that without asking for any

[52:49] other extra tax money. This year, we got hit with an upgrade, which is a computer

[52:53] system upgrade of $1.2 million.

[52:58] And it cost $850,000 a year every year from here on out to

[53:07] maintain this system just in maintainance. The county owns the

[53:12] system. We own five towers. We uh we we we own all five towers. We

[53:20] we lease some of the property that we have them sitting on, but we own all

[53:24] five towers. So, that was that was a a big

[53:28] expenditure that we was able to do. I know the sheriff has has been proud of

[53:33] it. Uh I know all the departments that have it, it has some glitches just like

[53:38] anything else when you move to something new, but it's a lifesaver.

[53:44] It's a lifesaver. These guys can talk to each other inside buildings. they can

[53:48] talk to each other under these trees uh that we have in parts of this county and

[53:55] it it it has been a lifesaver and it will be a lifesaver. So I don't know

[54:00] what what price we put on that anyway. Uh we were able to buy the farmer's

[54:06] building over by the sheriff's department.

[54:09] Uh, we were able to buy the come and take it building. That's going to be the

[54:12] elections department. And it was cheaper to buy the come and

[54:17] take it and remodel it than it was to remodel the building they're in right

[54:22] now to meet the election standards that put out by the state. You know, some of

[54:28] the things that you have to have the uh public's got to be able to view when

[54:32] you're counting. So, you have to have windows and everything. I mean, uh, the

[54:36] storage areas and all that. And I know she can uh our elections director could

[54:40] speak on that all day long, but it was cheaper for us to buy that building than

[54:45] have to redo the other building. And the other building will hopefully eventually

[54:49] be moved as a as a fire marshal. That's where he will be uh positioned. Uh he's

[54:55] in a storage room up here right now. So, and has been for years.

[55:01] Uh we were able to buy the bank building in Seven Points. And if you've ever been

[55:06] to the one the the [snorts] tax office and the constipal's office and JP Court

[55:11] in Seven Point, it's in need of repair. We were able to buy that building and

[55:16] that building will be the Henderson Court and tax office

[55:22] and eventually we hope to put a vote center there and we also next year part

[55:28] of this tax uh part of this budget is put one in

[55:33] chamber. So we'll have a vote center in Chandler and a vote center in 7point. Uh

[55:38] we had have to do that because uh the state has changed the election days

[55:46] to where now next year uh they will have to vote on Sunday. So the church is out.

[55:52] If you're doing early voting in in a church uh building or in one of their uh

[55:57] gyms or whatever, the church is out. Can't vote down there on Sunday.

[56:02] And uh the community center in Chandler is uh a nice building, but the parking

[56:08] is is is not conducive to elections and uh it's it's dangerous down there.

[56:15] Try to get back out on the highway. Uh Seven Points is about the same way. So,

[56:20] we will have a vote center and that building can be used all year long to

[56:24] vote in and then it can be used for uh you know public meetings on any on other

[56:30] occasions, but it'll just be a wide open building that that has a couple of

[56:34] bathrooms in it for the for the election workers. We were able to do air

[56:38] conditions on all these buildings that y'all if y'all have air condition at

[56:44] home, you know what that cost. We were able to do all of that on these

[56:48] buildings. uh in town. We're able to upgrade a lot of things at the jail do

[56:54] with video and the locking systems. Uh utilities.

[56:58] We've decreased the utilities at the jail from upwards of $20,000 a month to

[57:05] down around 11,000 with some of the upgrades we made at the

[57:09] jail that that were in the $1.2 or $3 million range. So over over the years,

[57:15] that's going to save us

[57:19] And we still not been in debt, any kind of debt since 2016.

[57:26] We have no debt.

[57:30] Like I said, we we gain a thousand residents a year.

[57:34] We we were able to give our employees raises over the years, a few raises to

[57:39] keep Henderson County relevant. We're not competitive

[57:46] with the outside world, which I don't think government should be, but we are

[57:50] relevant and and people want to work for Henderson County. You've got to keep

[57:55] employees. Like we said while ago, we're a service organization.

[58:01] The only ones of us that do manual work is the guys that work for Road and

[58:06] Bridge and Magnets. Everything else is service. We supply service to the

[58:11] public. So, I don't think [clears throat]

[58:17] that we spend our money frivolously. I think we try to protect Henderson

[58:22] County money. We've had to make some hard decisions.

[58:27] We've got some things that came this year that we wouldn't wasn't expecting.

[58:32] Uh, and I but I don't think we throw money at stuff. I don't think we just

[58:37] spend money to be spending money. And I think with our tax rate the way it is,

[58:41] that shows that we've been protective of that money. I don't I [clears throat]

[58:46] don't like to compare. And y'all know that whenever whenever

[58:52] everybody comes in asking for stuff when we have our budget meetings, everybody

[58:58] wants to compare Henderson County to Smith County to Kaufman County to

[59:04] Anderson County. And we don't I don't like that

[59:08] because we we offer different things in each county. But I did go back and

[59:14] compare and I just I just did the comparison

[59:18] with the counties that touch Henderson County

[59:23] and I see Vanzant County tax rate at 37. They're asking for 42. That's what

[59:31] they're uh they're asking for this year. 42. Anderson County down below us is at

[59:37] 49. NEA County beside us is at 42. Kaufman

[59:44] County is at 37. Smith County, no, Kaufman County is at

[59:50] 41. Smith County is at 37. Cherokee County is at 049.

[59:59] And Henderson County is at 34. So the closest one to us is Smith County

[1:00:06] at 37. We're

[1:00:09] 6, seven, 15 cents less than the rest of them.

[1:00:14] So I think we spend a lot of time trying to manage our not being in debt. We like

[1:00:19] I said earlier, we're still not in debt. Henderson County has no debt.

[1:00:25] I looked at the those are the counties that touch us. I also looked and I said,

[1:00:29] "Well, a lot of those counties are smaller or way bigger or whatever." So,

[1:00:32] I looked at the four counties in Texas that have 80,000 people, 80 to 90,000

[1:00:38] people populations. Orange County is at 49.

[1:00:46] Corel County is at 044. Angelina County is at 045.

[1:00:53] And again, Henderson County, what we're asking for this year is 34.

[1:01:00] So, I think over the years, and this has not

[1:01:04] been a lot of years, not just the years I've been here, this has been a lot of

[1:01:07] years. I think the county has been protective of the taxpayers money. I

[1:01:14] think we've done a lot of things that a [clears throat] lot of counties would

[1:01:17] have had to go out for debt in. We were able to structure the payments where we

[1:01:22] could pay it over two or three year period and not have to go into debt. we

[1:01:27] we were able to uh have enough in our fund balance

[1:01:33] to pay for some of this stuff and still not be and still not have too much in

[1:01:40] there. uh we were able to move our fund balance

[1:01:44] to a 20% and it instead of a 10%

[1:01:49] which would allow us to operate if something were to happen, you know, if a

[1:01:54] tornado would were to come through. We've seen that in counties beside us.

[1:01:58] We've seen it in our county what it cost. Uh you're talking about millions

[1:02:03] if you have a major disaster, flood. Our our two biggest would be flood or

[1:02:09] tornado. So,

[1:02:14] I think we've I think we've done the things we we needed to do to keep

[1:02:23] the tax rate low, but we've brought it to the point

[1:02:30] to where we we can't go any lower without removing services. And that's

[1:02:36] what we are a service provider. and to do some of the things that we

[1:02:42] want to do that we think will help Henderson County

[1:02:47] in the future. That's what we're all looking for is the future. We can't

[1:02:51] think about today or yesterday. We got to think about growth in the future.

[1:02:57] And with this with this increase, it'll help us be able to do some of the things

[1:03:03] I think the county has to have, not wants. I I mean we

[1:03:09] don't just want it. I think we need it. We need the vote center in Chandler. We

[1:03:13] need the vote center in seven points. We have we need the radio system. That's

[1:03:21] going to be a cost every year. We probably going to need

[1:03:26] the uh the deputies that were added probably just just because of response

[1:03:32] time because it's a long response time when you have to go around the lake to

[1:03:39] get anywhere over in that area. And that's that's our main concern is

[1:03:44] response time in that area. But I know appraisals are up. Mine are

[1:03:49] up too at my house. But our taxes have gone down over the

[1:03:54] years. But we've got to the level that we we

[1:03:59] have to start making decisions to be able to operate. And I think that

[1:04:03] decision today is that one that right at 1% increase

[1:04:11] or not one percent, one penny. So

[1:04:17] that's all I've got to say. court.

[1:04:20] » I had some notes, but he's touched on mine. Thank you, Commissioner McCam.

[1:04:27] » Commissioner. >> Yeah, I think you did a a great job,

[1:04:30] Commissioner McKim, on the ones that um that really uh impacted this this

[1:04:36] budget. the uh as was stated by uh Judge McKenna on the $211,000 home, you know,

[1:04:45] that's the medium home, but you that um for a person that has a $200,000 home

[1:04:51] value in 2025 would have paid 662. this year if this tax increase or or you

[1:05:00] want [clears throat] to call it a tax increase goes to 344

[1:05:04] I'm sorry 34 would pay $686.93 that's $23.94

[1:05:12] and I understand to some that's a you know like a $100 or $1,000 but that's

[1:05:17] $23 and you're getting a million dollar

[1:05:22] radio system and that doesn't seem like nothing to anybody But what it does what

[1:05:27] it does is it gets you a when you call 911, it gets you a sheriff uh deputy to

[1:05:33] your house immediately. Not when you want one, when you need one. Um the

[1:05:38] $800,000. So you're talking almost a $200 a $200 million radio upgrade. All

[1:05:44] the roofs on every county building have been upgraded. Uh a million dollars

[1:05:49] worth of vehicles probably. um a child advocacy center that some [snorts]

[1:05:55] people say, "Well, I don't use that." Um but it's a need in Henderson County.

[1:06:01] when you sat here uh for myself over the last eight years and listen to the

[1:06:06] numbers that we have of that comes across through these uh advoc advocacy

[1:06:11] uh places of how many child uh molesters or or um crimes that are committed

[1:06:17] against child children uh is a need in Henderson County. the um

[1:06:27] the our insurance uh for the county, not employee insurance, but county insurance

[1:06:33] on our buildings, on our cars, uh that kind of stuff, you know, continuously

[1:06:39] increases the uh in road and bridge. I know the diesel prices are up, uh, gas

[1:06:44] is up, steel is has gone through the roof uh, since co and I can tell you

[1:06:53] that I think this uh, gentleman had a half a

[1:06:56] million to $750,000 uh, home on the water

[1:07:02] and he paid $7,500 in uh, in taxes. That was total taxes.

[1:07:09] $5,200 of that went to a school district.

[1:07:13] And in my office, we he uh he paid $93.84.

[1:07:18] Now, this was a couple of years ago. $93.84 cents to Roaden Bridge. That

[1:07:23] won't even get you a bucket of material. Plus, you have to divide that by four.

[1:07:28] So, we divide that $100 and everybody gets 25 bucks. So, uh I believe that it

[1:07:36] was um the 3.6. You can do the math. Yes, there it was a three 3.6% increase,

[1:07:42] but when you get down into the into the budget, into the notes and uh into the

[1:07:48] things that that we've done, you know, over the as Commissioner McCam said over

[1:07:52] the last uh probably I'm going to say 10 or 12 years, the tax rates gone down

[1:07:57] almost 15 to 20 cents. So, I can assure you that that uh my counterparts here

[1:08:03] and myself uh not wanting to to raise the taxes, but it's called a cost of

[1:08:09] living and and it's the cost of doing the job that you want. Now, if we went

[1:08:13] out and cut services and cut this and cut the sheriff's department and cut the

[1:08:18] fire departments and and cut uh the county clerks,

[1:08:22] we'd be griped at too. So to not do a whole uh cutting and to take $25

[1:08:31] um and improve our our county for what our

[1:08:36] county does, I think our commissioner's court now and our commissioner's court

[1:08:41] prior uh have has done a heck of a job to keep to keep Henderson County

[1:08:46] debtree. And commissioner, I'm going to think that uh during budget, Judge

[1:08:50] McKenna said that we've been debtree since 2014.

[1:08:54] uh maybe not 2016, but uh I'll yield to everybody else and uh thank you uh court

[1:09:01] for doing the job well done.

[1:09:06] » I just want to say I have phone calls quite a bit about people's taxes and

[1:09:12] stuff and a lot of people don't understand

[1:09:16] that Henderson County collects the taxes for all these different entities. You

[1:09:20] write out your check to Henderson County And you wouldn't believe how many people

[1:09:25] think that we get all that money to work on the roads or for the sheriff's

[1:09:30] department stuff. The tax assessor collector has to divvy that up and send

[1:09:34] it to everybody that we collect for. So the tax rate that we're proposing today

[1:09:40] is only for Henderson County taxes [snorts]

[1:09:42] and the road and bridge and FMFC taxes. All the other taxes that are on your tax

[1:09:48] statement for the schools, the ESDs, Trinity Valley Community College, and uh

[1:09:53] the cities are are not part of what we're here today to do. That is we only

[1:09:57] collect it for them. They do they go through the same process that we go

[1:10:01] through right here to set tax rates. So, you do pay a big lump sum to Henderson

[1:10:06] County, but we don't get all that money to work with. That that goes to a lot of

[1:10:10] other entities and stuff also. And uh there's a lot of people that that does

[1:10:14] not know that that I have to explain it to them all the time that that money all

[1:10:18] that money does not go to Henderson County.

[1:10:23] » I'd like to add one other thing. Um I want to thank Commissioner Lawrence. I

[1:10:30] want to thank um the two individuals that sent in emails that I received

[1:10:37] because I want to thank you for coming and having us um have this discussion so

[1:10:43] that that information is u more readily available and clear to the public. Um,

[1:10:49] it has the the work that this court has done. Um, and I wasn't going to say

[1:10:56] this, but the work that this court has done over the last 28 years that I've

[1:11:01] been on it. This one follows that same line that that we've done historically.

[1:11:09] Um, there are things that have impacted us and it's no different. We we used to

[1:11:15] say all the time, it's no different than being at the house. everybody gets

[1:11:18] impacted um and everybody's got to find out a way

[1:11:22] to meet those demands and um it doesn't

[1:11:27] fall on deaf ears from the public because uh we know we talk about

[1:11:33] homesteads and um in the public comments there are more properties there are

[1:11:40] other properties than just homesteads and we keep that in mind as well. So, I

[1:11:45] just want to point out and say thank you for the conversation and um

[1:11:52] the big, as you said, the big ticket items was 500,000 for the radio, million

[1:11:57] for um the increases on law enforcement, um a little over 700 for raises, um 11

[1:12:05] vehicles. All that comes up to just those items there comes up to $3 million

[1:12:11] in that. That's not counting the additional stuff that the commissioner

[1:12:15] brought up of the two vote centers, the things that we are working from out of

[1:12:21] cash from um

[1:12:26] disciplined savings, not just this year, but as I

[1:12:31] said, all the previous years. So

[1:12:39] that's all I got to say. So,

[1:12:42] » I'll say one more thing as Commissioner Richardson uh brought it up is I as as

[1:12:49] deep dive as people uh some people have have gone into the uh the budget and

[1:12:55] probably haven't they just looked at the tax rate. But I want you to go look at

[1:12:58] the tax rate of a school district. You go look at the tax rate of of the

[1:13:03] college. you go look at the tax rate of the ESDs

[1:13:07] and and those tax those tax rates and see where how we fit in and how

[1:13:11] Henderson County fits in uh with those and the money they collect. Um

[1:13:18] like I said while ago, a person that paid $7,500 paid $93 to to Road and

[1:13:24] Bridge and uh $5,200 to a school district. So it's um but get down in

[1:13:30] into those. I can assure you that this court right here does her due diligence

[1:13:35] and I appreciate Miss Deetsz for what she said because she's been one of the

[1:13:38] ones to to be here during our uh conversations that we've had and

[1:13:45] um and how how tight we'll take um if somebody's on a fiveyear what is it five

[1:13:51] to sevenyear uh year span that we send that we look at over the budget of a

[1:13:56] spending of how they how people spend and try to go out there and get a $100

[1:14:00] or or $50 or a thousand. It just it's just so tightknit. But anyway, I just

[1:14:07] appreciate the work that we that we've done as a court and um still stay

[1:14:11] debtree and still brought our tax rate down.

[1:14:18] » Any further comments? Well, court um there's a couple of

[1:14:23] things that we need to do with the motion on

[1:14:29] setting the budget. Number one is the salary effective date being December

[1:14:35] 27th

[1:14:38] which we do every year. And the other one is is passing the budget

[1:14:43] categorically. That way that we are it allows budget

[1:14:48] amendments to take place within the category without having to come to

[1:14:52] court. Any outside of that category um continues to come before court. Any

[1:15:07] other thoughts, questions, or comments at this time concerning the 2027 county

[1:15:12] budget? >> Well, if not, entertain a motion.

[1:15:20] I'll make the motion to set the

[1:15:25] Oh, how's the wording on this? To adopt the 2027 county budget for Henderson

[1:15:32] County for the general fund at two at 2845760.

[1:15:41] » Just the budget at this time. We'll we'll set the tax rate on the next one.

[1:15:45] Yes, sir. Just on the >> to set the budget at 3434650

[1:15:53] right >> with

[1:15:55] » categorically with the salaries uh December 27th payroll start.

[1:16:02] We have a second >> motion made by Commissioner McCam and

[1:16:07] second by Commissioner Tulie to approve the amended 2027

[1:16:14] proposed county budget categorically

[1:16:20] with a salary start date of December 27th,

[1:16:25] 2026.

[1:16:29] Is there any further discussion? If not, I will say again, thank you all

[1:16:37] that have been a part of this one.

[1:16:42] There's no further discussion. All those in favor passes unanimously.

[1:16:50] Item 15, consider and take action to adopt the 2026 tax rate for the 2027

[1:16:57] Henderson County budget. and each year. I know that it looks a little off when

[1:17:03] you see um 2026 tax rate. Uh but that is in effect that that is effectively what

[1:17:11] is actually funding the 2027 county budget. It's a little bit of um word

[1:17:17] play, but we are setting the tax rate called the 2026 year for the 2027

[1:17:24] budget. And um that has been a part of this process as we have there are um

[1:17:31] three individual taxes that are imposed by Henderson County. one being general

[1:17:36] fund which handles uh everything u except road and bridge and then those

[1:17:44] items that are funded through fees but there is general fund road and bridge

[1:17:50] fund and um FMFC farm tomarket and flood control. Many people often ask what is

[1:17:57] FMFC? It is a actual tax that was voted on as a referendum many many years ago

[1:18:05] to impose in the county for um not only county and state but it it was for

[1:18:12] transportation issues and it continues to operate to this day. So court with

[1:18:18] that um we have a um propo have proposed a rate of um 343465

[1:18:30] um broken out as general fund is 2.84576 84576

[1:18:36] and road and bridge fund. 017687 and farm to market flood control at

[1:18:43] 041202.

[1:18:47] Again that is the cumulative rate of 343465.

[1:18:54] So with that court discussion, comments

[1:19:00] and if not entertain a motion.

[1:19:06] I will make the motion to approve the 2026 tax rate for the

[1:19:13] 2027 Henderson County budget general fund. 284576

[1:19:22] road and bridge fund 017687

[1:19:30] FMFC 0412

[1:19:37] equaling out to a 343465.

[1:19:44] I have a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second the motion. Motion made by

[1:19:50] Commissioner McCam and second by Commissioner Richardson to set the 2026

[1:19:57] tax rate for the 2027 Bud Henderson County budget budget as a

[1:20:04] cumulative rate of 343465

[1:20:10] with the delineation of general fund at 284576.

[1:20:18] Six road and bridge fund. 017687

[1:20:26] Farm to Market flood control at 0412.

[1:20:33] Court is there any further discussion? If not, all those in favor?

[1:20:39] Passes unanimously. Item 16 is receive financial reports

[1:20:46] court. These are the financial reports from all of our courts. Uh they are will

[1:20:52] be available for viewing after court.

[1:20:57] Item 17 is consider and take action on payroll distributions and accounts cash

[1:21:02] sheet of which we have none. And item 18 is consider and take action on submitted

[1:21:07] contracts of which there are none. Item 19 is consider and take action on

[1:21:13] request for rideway permits. Yes. Precinct one has one, precinct 2,

[1:21:19] precinct 3 has 10 and precinct 4. >> Commissioner SP.

[1:21:25] » Yes, court. This is for proposed utility line activity with bright speed to

[1:21:29] install residential fiber connections within the rightway of Jones Drive which

[1:21:34] is 1562 ft buried. Mason Lane 671 ft buried and

[1:21:42] Austin Circle 732 feet aerial. This is just what we've been bringing to

[1:21:47] court. These are just some different roads.

[1:21:50] » Court questions. >> If not to entertain the motion.

[1:21:54] » I'd like to make the motion to approve the proposed utility line activity with

[1:21:59] broadspeed to do work on the in the rideway to the four mission roads to

[1:22:03] install residential fiber connections with the commissioner's authorization

[1:22:06] assigned.

[1:22:09] We have a second. >> Second.

[1:22:12] » Motion made by Commissioner Spivey, second by Commissioner Tulie to approve

[1:22:16] the routeway request from Bright Speed for the installation of residential

[1:22:21] fiber connections within the rideway the aforementioned locations with the county

[1:22:26] commissioner's authorization to sign. Is there any further discussion? All those

[1:22:30] in favor? Passes unanimously. Commissioner Tulie.

[1:22:36] » Yes. court. Uh mine's with Brat Speed for a one and a quarter interduct at

[1:22:42] 9432 County Road 2514 uh Eustace for a footage of 369 ft.

[1:22:52] » Courts hearing none. Judge, I move we approve

[1:22:56] the rightway uh utility line activity for Bright Speed for a one and a quarter

[1:23:02] uh interduct at 9432 County Road 2514 in Eustace 75124 for a footage of 369 ft uh

[1:23:11] with the commissioner's authorization to sign.

[1:23:14] » I'll second his motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner Tulie,

[1:23:17] second by Commissioner Richardson to approve the rideway agreement with

[1:23:21] Bratspeed for the installation of the 1.25 25 interduct along county road 2514

[1:23:29] uh in Eustace with the commissioner's authorization to sign. Is there any

[1:23:32] further discussion? All those in favor?

[1:23:37] Passes unanimously by those present. Commissioner Mckim.

[1:23:43] » Uh yes, I have I really have 11, but I'm going to do uh one by itself and then

[1:23:48] the other 10 together. >> Okay. Uh this is a notice of proposed

[1:23:52] utility line activity for Brightpreed of Arkansas. It's for the new a new pole in

[1:23:59] place of an existing pole due to a failed inspection. And this is uh

[1:24:10] on Sundown Road which is in Westwood Beach.

[1:24:16] » Questions for the commissioner? Entertain a motion.

[1:24:20] » I move to approve the notice of proposed utility line activity for Bright Speed

[1:24:25] of Arkansas for new pole in place of an existing pole due to failed inspection

[1:24:31] on uh Sundown Road in Westwood Beach

[1:24:40] with a commissioner signature to authorized.

[1:24:44] » Have a second. Second motion made by Commissioner McCam and second by

[1:24:48] Commissioner Richardson to approve the rideway agreement with Bratspeed of

[1:24:53] Arkansas for pole replacement due to failed inspection on Sundown Road

[1:25:00] located in pre with the sorry Sundown Road with the commissioner's

[1:25:05] authorization to sign. Is there any further discussion?

[1:25:09] All those in favor? Passes unanimously by those present. Commissioner,

[1:25:13] » these are uh also with Bright Speed 1.25 interduct which is house connections. Uh

[1:25:22] the first one is at 21329 Dulce Circle in Chandler.

[1:25:31] Next one's at 3575 Peninsula Drive Peninsula in Chandler.

[1:25:40] 3580 Peninsula in Chandler. 3562

[1:25:46] South Island Drive in Chandler.

[1:25:51] 3588 South Island Drive. Chandler

[1:25:58] 21900 Anchorage Drive in Chandler 3546 South

[1:26:05] Island Drive in Chandler. 21008 Lauderdale Lane in Chandler

[1:26:14] and 2984 Nature's Drive in Chandler with a

[1:26:19] commissioner signature and authorized. >> Court questions.

[1:26:25] We have a second. >> Second.

[1:26:28] All those in favor? I'm sorry I didn't I didn't read it out.

[1:26:33] Let me start again. All right. [gasps]

[1:26:36] There were 11. >> Well, 10 we already did.

[1:26:40] » All right. Motion by Commissioner McCam, second by Commissioner Richardson to

[1:26:46] approve the routeway agreements with Bright Speed for the residential

[1:26:50] connections on the aforementioned roads of of the 1.25

[1:26:56] um interduct with the on the aforementioned roads

[1:27:00] with the commissioner's authorization to sign. Is there any further discussion?

[1:27:05] All those in favor? >> I wasn't in here.

[1:27:09] » Okay. Pass. Passes four to one. >> Commissioner Riff.

[1:27:16] Yes, Court. This is a proposed utility line activity for Bright Speed. Also, uh

[1:27:21] they have there's f five locations here. They're all call for rideaways uh for

[1:27:30] connections of fiber going to residential homes and uh they are 20551

[1:27:38] County Road 4402 in Chandler, 515 Cherokee Drive in Chandler,

[1:27:46] 4534 Quail Cut off in Chandler, 4440 Fullside Drive, Building 2 in

[1:27:54] Chandler, in 4380 Poolside Drive in Chandler. [laughter]

[1:28:00] » Court questions. Entertain a motion.

[1:28:04] » I'd like to make a motion uh to approve the proposed utility line activity for

[1:28:08] Bright Speed to install residential fiber connections within the rideway

[1:28:13] uh at the on the four mentioned roads as per plan with commissioner's

[1:28:18] authorization sign. I'll second

[1:28:21] » motion made by Commissioner Richson and second by Commissioner Spivey to approve

[1:28:25] the rideway request with broadspeed for the res the 1.25 residential connections

[1:28:31] on the aforementioned roads per plan with the commissioner's authorization to

[1:28:35] sign. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[1:28:45] Item 20, consider and take action on submitted budget amendments. Miss Monk,

[1:28:50] » I didn't have those today for the court's approval. And I want to be aware

[1:28:54] that there are two items on there regarding roofing that are part of the

[1:28:58] projects that Commissioner Cam mentioned earlier. We're trying to take care of

[1:29:03] and the water litigation donations on there also.

[1:29:13] Court questions. >> I have one that just I just saw on mine.

[1:29:20] I have a line item

[1:29:24] for that facility's ground lease. Is that coming out of Is that coming out of

[1:29:29] uh road material? >> Yes.

[1:29:32] » Well, there's a line item in there for that.

[1:29:34] » There was sufficient funds. So, I had to pull the money from road materials

[1:29:38] recovery. there was in uh

[1:29:43] » I'm increasing the facilities ground lease by $18,000 because there's not

[1:29:48] budget money there. >> Okay.

[1:29:56] [sighs] >> Further questions?

[1:30:01] » If not, entertain a motion. >> So move to approve.

[1:30:06] » I'll second the motion. Motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by

[1:30:10] Commissioner Richardson to approve the budget amendments as presented. Any

[1:30:14] further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[1:30:21] » And take action on payment of bills. Miss Carpenter.

[1:30:24] » Yes, sir. I have two sets for you today. Our first set is fier 2026

[1:30:28] county funded funds in the amount of $3,556.79.

[1:30:35] » Commissioner Scott, any questions? No questions, Judge.

[1:30:38] » Commissioner Tulie, >> I have none.

[1:30:40] » Commissioner McCam, >> I have none.

[1:30:42] » Commissioner Rich. >> No questions, Judge.

[1:30:45] » Entertain a motion.

[1:30:48] » So, move to approve. >> Second.

[1:30:51] » Motion made by Commissioner Spivey and second by Commissioner Tulie to approve

[1:30:56] the bills in the amount of $3,556.79

[1:31:03] as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor?

[1:31:08] It passes unanimously. Next set. >> Our second set is fiscal year 2026 in

[1:31:13] the amount of 686,3118.

[1:31:18] » Commissioner Sty. >> No questions. Judge.

[1:31:21] » Commissioner Tulie. >> I have none.

[1:31:23] » Commissioner McCam. >> None.

[1:31:25] » Commissioner Richardson. >> No questions. Judge, entertain a motion.

[1:31:29] I'd like to make a motion approve the fiscal year 2026 bills in the amount of

[1:31:33] $686,3118

[1:31:37] as presented. >> I'll second his motion.

[1:31:39] » Motion made by Commissioner Rich and second by Commissioner Spivey to approve

[1:31:43] the bills in the amount of $686,3118

[1:31:50] as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Passes unanimously.

[1:32:00] Item 22 is consider and take action on submitted plans.

[1:32:07] » Commissioner Tulie. >> Yes, Court. This is in the Pinnacle

[1:32:11] Club. Uh

[1:32:15] in phase one, section B. It's replatting lot 622 and 623,

[1:32:21] creating lot 622-R.

[1:32:27] Court questions >> hearing none. Judge, I move we approve

[1:32:32] the Pinnacle Club Plat phase 1 section B of re uh of lots 622 and 623

[1:32:41] creating a final plat of lot 622-R for filing purposes only.

[1:32:46] » I'll second his motion. Motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by

[1:32:49] Commissioner Stying to approve the Pinnacle the replat of Pinnacle Club

[1:32:55] phase 1 section B repling lots 622 and 623 creating lot 622R

[1:33:04] for filing purposes only. Any further discussion? All those in favor passes

[1:33:10] unanimously.

[1:33:16] Item 23 is open and consider bids and there are none today. And once we get

[1:33:23] everything signed, we will pick up item 24.

[1:34:26] Item number 24 is consider and take action to adjurnn.

[1:34:30] » So move. I'll second the motion. Motion made by Commissioner Tulie and second by

[1:34:35] Commissioner McCam to adjourn at 10:37. Any further discussion?

[1:34:42] All those in favor? Passes unanimously. Thank you for being with us today.

September 8, 2026 - Henderson County Commissioners Court

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