HENDERSON COUNTY—Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted Feb. 6 to approve applying for two grants related to law enforcement equipment for the sheriff’s office.
First, the court approved an application for a Body Worn Camera Program Grant for fiscal year 2025, which County Judge Wade McKinney said totaled $10 million available across the program. The county will submit the application for up to 50 cameras, according to County Grants Coordinator Danielle Vaughn. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse told the court that his deputies have only in-car cameras and no body cameras at this time.
McKinney said that the storage for the video files is a large part of the cost, which Hillhouse clarified is $400,000-$500,000.
The court also approved applying for a Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This grant is for 75 officers, according to Vaughn. McKinney said the county currently uses a federal grant that does have a grant match, while this one requires no match.
“All of our rifle-resistant armor is out of date,” Hillhouse explained.
The court also discussed (without action) the amending of the Henderson County Purchasing Policy to increase the three quote threshold from $5,000 to $10,000. McKinney said this policy had been included previously within the purchasing manual, but the verbiage within that manual is “slightly conflicting.”
In addition, a request from Precinct 5 Constable Brad Miers to appoint as a reserve officer an additional deputy constable, Lonny Yarbrough, failed for the lack of a motion. McKinney said that in the past, the county has “shied away from” having an extra reserve deputy constable because of “complications” including liability and extra expenses. 
In other business, the court:
• Approved a request for refund of overpayment of taxes from the Henderson County Tax Assessor-Collector, issuing nine checks totaling $64,343.01.
• Approved accepting the Racial Profiling Report from Henderson County Precinct 2 Constable Jason Ramsey for filing purposes only. The report claims an exemption.
• Approved three fire alarm monitoring service contracts with CMT Security of Wills Point for the courthouse, annex and judicial complex in Athens, costing $52 per month per site.
• Approved unanimously a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable along County Road 1408, located in Precinct 1.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable underground along County Roads 3611, 3612, 3613, 3614 and 3615 in Precinct 3, with that precinct’s commissioner, Chuck McHam, complaining about the company damaging water lines and leaving equipment, threatening to stop issuing the permits if the problem isn’t fixed. Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley voted against the measure.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable along County Roads 3600 and 3606, with Tuley voting no.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable along County Road 3413 in Precinct 3, with Tuley voting no.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable underground along County Roads 3613, 3617, 3600 and 3618 in Precinct 3 (Tuley voted no).
• Approved a right-of-way permit Charter Spectrum to install fiber optic cable underground along County Roads 4325, 4330, 4331, 4334, 4828, 4829, 4830, 4831, 4832, 4833 and 4835 in Precinct 4 (Tuley voted no).
• Approved a right-of-way request for Virginia Hill Water Supply Corp. to perform emergency water main repairs along County Roads 4700 and 4800 in Precinct 4, which McKinney said was caused by Spectrum Communications.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2024 bills of $2,239,759.87, which McKinney said includes a $1.4 million second payment of a total of more than $3 million for repairs to the county jail’s water and HVAC systems, which Hillhouse said should be finished early next month.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2023 bills of $65,435.01.
• Approved replatting two lots in the Park Harbor subdivision in Precinct 2, which McKinney opposed.
• Approved going out for bids for three Precinct 2 pickup trucks.