Monitor Photo/Jody Vincik
Henderson County Commissioners’ Court proclaims June as Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month during their June 4 meeting, featuring Texas Adult Protective Services (APS) investigators Erika Aguilar Cruz (front row, from left), Lori Plunkett, Roxanne Lewis and Sonya Williams, APS Community Engagement Specialist Shelly Shaw and APS investigator Kelli Garza. Joining them are Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson (rear, from left), Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam, County Judge Wade McKinney, Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley and Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey.

HENDERSON COUNTY—Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted June 4 to proclaim June as Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
Texas Adult Protective Services (APS) Community Engagement Specialist Shelly Shaw stated that the U.S. Census Bureau says 2034 will be the first year in American history that adults 65 and older will outnumber younger people. Shaw said research shows 1 in 10 older Americans are abused or neglected each year.
“Elder abuse has implications for all of us and it’s so important for us to find the right solutions to it,” Shaw commented. 
One proclamation reads that elder abuse is a community concern, with 120,069 reports of abuse of the elderly and disabled in Texas in 2023. An additional proclamation read by County Judge Wade McKinney says that elder abuse is “grossly underreported” and happens to people at all income levels and within all walks of life.
Also, the court considered responses for the Henderson County Civic Building American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federally funded project, which McKinney explained is the bidding to expand and remodel the Senior Citizens Building at the Regional Fair Park in Athens into a Civic Building.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam added that the plans also feature moving AgriLife Extension from the courthouse to the fairgrounds into a separate office building for more public accessibility.
County Grants Coordinator Danielle Vaughn informed the court that three bids were opened April 8 ranging from $3.1 million to $3.5 million, with the project’s budget set at $2.4 million.
McHam stated the county doesn’t have excess funds to cover the higher-than-expected bids. ”It’s been a trying project, it’s been a long-term project” and the county still has six months to work on it, he continued, adding that the court might go out for bid on two separate projects in the future.
The court voted to reject the bids, with McKinney remarking that the county should have two bids ready in late June.
In other business, the court:
• Approved a request by the Henderson County Tax Assessor-Collector to refund tax overpayments, issuing four checks totaling $59,126.99.
• Approved a request from AgriLife Extension for approval of out-of-state travel to the Oct. 15-17 National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Conference in Boise, Idaho.
• Approved a bid by Clifford Power Systems for backup power maintenance (two generators at the county jail and another generator at the county barn used for emergency response).
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Oncor Electric Delivery to replace two power poles along St. Paul Drive near Malakoff, which Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey explained is in conjunction with the construction of the new Malakoff High School.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Atmos Energy to put in temporary driveways while abandoning natural gas pipelines along County Roads 3514 and 3520, located in Precinct 3.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber-optic cable and associated utilities along County Roads 3202, 3300, 3302, 3310, 3400 and 3402, located in Precinct 3.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2024 bills of $343,320.99.
• Approved awarding the county’s fiscal year 2024 road materials bid to all vendors, with the fiscal year 2024 haul and transport bid going to Aggregate Haulers as the primary provider and Dodson Trucking as the secondary.