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July 11, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court approved spending no more than $2 million in emergency funding to start fixing problems at the Judicial Complex (shown) and Justice Center, both located in Athens.

HENDERSON COUNTY—Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted July 11 to declare a budgetary emergency for repairs to the Henderson County Judicial Complex and the county’s Justice Center (which houses the county jail), both located in Athens, with costs not to exceed $2 million.
That action is tied to a private company’s audit of the buildings to find ways to eliminate problems that have led to high utility costs, with the plan of action to add new equipment and make other fixes. The court also approved that audit and contract July 11.
According to County Judge Wade McKinney, the county has been working for several months on the audit with the company, McKinstry. One issue at the jail is water, with the audit coming up with ways to consider the needs of the jail and to leverage maintenance savings, McKinney stated.
“We actually spend more on water than we do on electricity,” McKinney told the court.
Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse informed the court that he has concerns about what he calls a failing air conditioning system at the jail and agreed that the water bills are “outrageous.”
The plan would bring costs “to a more manageable state,” according to the county judge. The court also discussed the jail’s 14-year-old air conditioning equipment and failing units. Of the $2 million in emergency repair funding, $1.5 million of that will go toward the jail at this time, McKinney said.
The judge said the rest of the money is to go toward “unforeseen” problems at the Judicial Complex building, such as replacing aging and failing sewer lines at the downtown Athens facility, which the judge said was originally a grocery store. “It is in bad shape,” McKinney remarked.
According to McKinney, “We do not have that money in the budget but do have it in the county’s reserve fund.”
Added County Auditor Ann Marie Lee, “If we didn’t have such a healthy fund balance, we’d be going out for debt on this.”
The county judge replied, “It’s moments like this that we’re very fortunate to have it (a substantial fund balance),” adding that by county government spending “efficiently,” the county has enough in reserve to not ask the taxpayer for more funding.
The court also approved the contract with McKinstry to implement Investment Grade Audit (IGA) scope of work into an Energy Savings Performance Contract using an interlocal purchasing agreement through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Cooperative.
McKinstry Account Manager Jorge Moreno said the task was to investigate high water usage and to avoid compliance issues at the jail related to its air conditioning. July 11’s vote would put those “into reality,” according to Moreno. Moreno said the cost for upgrades and repairs at the jail would be $3,124,049. “This is the agreement that gets it rolling and taken care of,” McKinney said.
McKinstry Project Director Dylan Gaisford said it could take 28-30 weeks to get the air conditioning equipment, which McKinney said the $1.5 million would help to get “in the pipeline.” Water savings alone at the jail would be about $100,000 annually, Gaisford told the court. Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said water costs at the jail have been running $240,000-$250,000.
In addition, the court approved accepting a donation of 40 mobile radios from the City of Carrollton. County IT Help Desk Administrator Jody Vincik, who has been a member of the county committee charged with overseeing upgrades to the county’s communications system, said the city has a surplus of 40 L3Harris radios that are “brand new in the box” and which will work with the county’s new communications system.
In other business, the court:
• Approved accepting the resignation of County Veterans Services Officer Ron Lindsey. “We greatly appreciate his time here,” McKinney said.
• Following a public hearing, approved a request to place a gate on County Road 4529 (located in Precinct 4), allowed under state law about gates on third-class roads.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for East Cedar Creek Fresh Water Supply District to perform water main repairs under Lakeland Road, located in Precinct 2.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to place fiber-optic related power supply equipment along County Road 4224, located in Precinct 4.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Charter Spectrum to install fiber-optic lines along county roads in the Fincastle/Frankston/Coffee City area of Precinct 4.
• Approved a replat in the Endo Camino addition, located in Pct.  4.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2023 bills of $846,197.86.