Courtesy Photo
Sept. 17, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court proclaims the county as a Purple Heart County, associated with the Military Order of the Purple Heart (a medal which wounded or killed American soldiers receive), which was spearheaded by Caring for America of Henderson County. Shown are Pct. 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson (from left), Pct. 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam, Ginger Morton of Athens, Elvis Allen of Athens (a Purple Heart recipient from the Vietnam War), Caring for America of Henderson County President Ben Pate, County Judge Wade McKinney, Pct. 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey and Pct. 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley.

HENDERSON COUNTY—Sept. 17, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court approved matters related to the county’s lease agreement for the public boat ramp on Cedar Creek Lake in Caney City, which means the county will likely pay the property taxes on the parcel in future bill payments, according to the court’s discussion.
County Attorney Clint Davis told the court that the county received the request from the tract’s owner, Cadiz Capital Inc. (a Dallas company), which he said is owned by Don McNamara (Long Cove’s developer), for payment of the taxes. Davis said the county has had a lease agreement on the ramp since 1996, which he stated was renewed in 2010 and has language for the county to pay the property taxes.
Davis said that has never been done but costs now total $28,345.94 over 14 years. Davis said the company called the failure to request reimbursement from the county an “oversight.” Davis said his research shows that since 2010, the property was valuated at about $19,000 per year, but today, it’s valuated at $619,000. That now translates into taxes of more than $10,000 annually, the county attorney said.
“Is that something we want to take on so we have a public boat ramp?” Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said, pointing out the county does not charge for its use. Davis said it’s the only public boat ramp on the south end of Cedar Creek Lake.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey said she’s in favor of keeping the boat ramp, which her precinct maintains. Spivey said the land was mistakenly noted by the appraisal district to have had a garage built on it in 2020, when in fact, she said, that parcel with the garage is in Brownsboro.
County Judge Wade McKinney said the Athens hospital has a similar agreement of the county paying its taxes. Davis said Cadiz has given no indication that it will stop letting the county lease the property for the boat ramp, but that he thinks not living up to the agreement about paying the property taxes would “sour the relationship.”
The court also approved a task order with Velvin & Weeks Engineering of Athens for a topo and site plan for Trinity River slope repair. McKinney said it’s related to repairs and reconstruction in Precinct 1 on river slopes. Assistant County Attorney Kenneth Strawn said it’s located on private property and is being done to meet regulatory requirements by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Spivey said the area is located off River Road north of Trinidad and is linked to erosion control being done by Precinct 1 “for many, many years” but “found out last year it’s something that shouldn’t be done, so we’re getting it fixed.”
Strawn said it is related to TCEQ definitions of hazardous materials, which he said can include wood. McKinney said it had to come before the court because the engineering cost is estimated to exceed $25,000. Once the engineering plan is in hand, it will be sent to TCEQ for approval before work begins.
The court also approved a proclamation declaring Henderson County a Purple Heart County. McKinney said hopes are to unveil signs designating the county as such on Veterans Day. The judge said there’s been unofficial verbal discussions with the Texas Department of Transportation about erecting Purple Heart signs along state highways entering the county.
In other business, the court:
• Approved extending the current contract with VOTEC (used since 2006) for election and voter registration software and support services for the Henderson County Elections and Voter Registration Department.
• Approved a request to spend funds from the vending machine reserve to purchase employee holiday gifts, which County Auditor Ann Marie Monk says an annual action and that the reserve holds $16,000.
• Approved a fiscal year 2025 regional interlocal agreement with the Andrews Center Behavioral Health Care System, an annual agreement with the county for its jail and which costs $88,000.
• Approved an invoice from East Texas Mortuary Service for a hold on a body ordered by Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams, which Monk said is related to an investigation and the expenditure of which McKinney said is “outside” county policy.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Brightspeed of Arkansas, LLC to place fiber-optic lines along County Roads 1412, 1703, 1704, 1708, 1709, 1710 and 1712, located in Precinct 1.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Atmos Energy Corp. to widen a temporary driveway on County Road 3519, located in Precinct 3.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2024 bills of $562,014.17.
• Approved paying a fiscal year 2025 bill of $188,225.66, which Monk said is the purchase of the county’s new election facility on Larkin Street in Athens.
• Approved a final plat in Willow Bend subdivision creating five lots, located in Precinct 1.
• Approved a replat creating two lots from one within the private subdivision of Spring Valley Acres, located in Precinct 1.
• Approved a replat creating two lots from one within Bonham subdivision, located in Precinct 4.
• Approved the final plat of Grace Haven subdivision, located in Precinct 4.
• Approved the final plat of Lake Towns at Lake Palestine subdivision, located in Precinct 4.