HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted Dec. 20 to enter into an interlocal agreement with the City of Athens for the Crimes Against Children Task Force, the fifth entity in the county to join the task force.
The agreement is for five years, with Athens paying $50,000 annually to assist with paying for an investigator, according to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. The sheriff also said he plans to add a fifth child crimes investigator to the task force starting Jan. 1. Hillhouse also believes “several cities” will be joining the task force in the future, which he said would allow a sixth investigator to be added.
The court also approved an application for a fiscal year 2024 Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) traffic safety STEP grant. Texas’ Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) is a federally funded law enforcement grant program run by the TxDOT Traffic Safety Division.
County Grant Coordinator Jessica Brown said the grant would give $30,000 to pay for overtime for county deputies to work areas that are high in major accidents and fatal crashes. Brown said the grant has a required 20% match from the county.
Hillhouse said this is the first time the county has applied for this particular grant and that using the money, his office will work specific zones and increase manpower in those areas, enforcing traffic laws.
The court also approved updates to the county’s standard bid packet template. Assistant County Auditor and Grant Coordinator Jennifer Nicholson told the court the updates add special terms and conditions and includes a conflict of interest questionnaire, disclosure of any lobbying activities and divulgence of small and minority business information.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam indicated the additions are related to Henderson County receiving federal funding, notably money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 
In other business, the court:
• Approved a request to allow a Sheriff’s Office child crimes investigator to travel to San Diego, Calif., for the 38th-annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, with all expenses paid for by the Henderson County HELP Center, Hillhouse said.
• Approved an administrative services contract with Traylor & Associates of Tyler for a 2021 Texas Community Development Block Grant for Crescent Heights Water Supply Corp. system improvements.
• Approved reimbursement of travel expenses of $110.62 for AgriLife Extension for a conference in Nacogdoches.
• Approved reappointing Ivory Givens, Charlotte Slaton and Dr. J.D. Morton to the Emergency Services District (ESD) 7 Board of Commissioners, located in Precinct 3, for terms starting Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved appointing David Monk, Kari Bersano and Danny Bristow to the ESD 12 Board of Commissioners, located in Precinct 3, for two-year terms starting Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved appointing Cody Seale and Nancy Bertholf to the ESD 12 Board of Commissioners, located in Precinct 3, for one-year terms starting Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2023.
• Approved a request for overpayment of taxes from the Henderson County Tax Assessor/Collector, with two checks issued for $10,502.22.
• Approved a final replat of two lots into one, located in Red Bridge Cove in the Pinnacle Club, in Precinct 2.
• Approved a replat of two lots into one within the Pinnacle Club, located in Precinct 2.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2022 bills in the amount of $874,840.25.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2023 bills in the amount of $7,508.