HENDERSON COUNTY–Commissioners’ Court of Henderson County decided not to implement a county burn ban Oct. 18 but urged the public to continue exercising caution.
County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg told the court that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for Henderson County dropped 38 points because of recent rains. As of Oct. 17, the county’s drought index average was 578, which he said was “right at that threshold of putting on a burn ban. I still think we’re in great shape.”
According to Renberg, there have been a couple of fires within the county but they haven’t moved fast as before during drier conditions. Renberg recommended waiting another week before considering starting a burn ban. 
“The next fuel load change we’re going to see is when we get a freeze,” Renberg continued. “When we get a freeze it’s going to kill anything (plants) that’s still alive out there, it’s going to die down and hopefully by that point we’ll start to get more rain. If not, we’ll be in a better position to put a burn ban on.”
More rain in the forecast will help, Renberg said. “I know this time of year people are trying to get some burning done,” he remarked.
County Judge Wade McKinney restated part of Renberg’s recommendation as “to continue to request for the public to exercise caution,” to which Renberg added, “Watch the winds.”
The court also approved declaring certain roads within the Brierwood Bay subdivision as public and accepting them into county road maintenance. Roads that are included are Forest Hill Drive from Driftwood to Elm Street along with Valley View Drive in front of Lots 50A and 51A.
The roads are in Precinct 4 on Lake Palestine. Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson said the county will provide the labor and the Brierwood Bay Property Owners’ Association will provide road materials and culverts. He also said that in the past, the county has accepted other roads within the subdivision into county maintenance. In addition, the court approved accepting a $11,377.40 donation from Brierwood Bay for asphalt for road reconstruction.
Further, the court approved appointing County Judge Wade McKinney, Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey and Crescent Heights Water Supply Corp. (WSC) Manager Charlie Luse to a selection committee to choose another grant management firm for the 2021-22 Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund water system improvement project for Crescent Heights WSC. McKinney said the original firm selected, GrantWorks, chose to “discontinue the services and exit the contract with us.”
In other business, the court:
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Oncor Electric Delivery to upgrade equipment and poles along Key Ranch and O’Neal roads in the Key Ranch subdivision.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2022 bills in the amount of $856,959.56, which McKinney said included $500,000 worth of purchases related to the county’s radio system upgrade.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2023 bills in the amount of $8,582.30.