HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted Sept. 3 to extend the burn ban for 28 days, to Oct. 1, before the ban issued Aug. 20 expired the day after Labor Day.
According to the court’s discussion, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index as of Sept. 2 averaged 657 across the county, with a reading of 525 in the eastern end and a mark of 720 in the western part. County Judge Wade McKinney said County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg recommended the burn ban continue.
“We’re thankful for the rain today, but I think that we still need to be underneath the burn ban,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley said.
The court also approved a request for a special budget amendment for the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace’s (JP) spending blueprint. That JP has been “unavailable to tend to his duties for quite some time now and the other JPs have been picking up the slack,” according to County Auditor Ann Marie Monk, which McKinney clarified is putting a demand on other JP courts’ budgets as those judges must travel to that area (Seven Points). McKinney said the budget move ensures other justices’ travel budgets don’t overrun.
The court also approved amending the current contract with Southern Health Partners for inmate medical care at the Henderson County Jail. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the budget amendment will assist with the mental health program at the jail, bringing more doctor hours to the contract.
Instead of one day per week, health professionals will be there three days per week, the sheriff stated. McKinney and Hillhouse said the money has been accounted for in the 2025 county budget. Jails across the state have become the mental health authority, the sheriff said, with waiting periods of up to two years for inmates to be deemed competent to stand trial.
“If we can start addressing their mental health situation, then hopefully they’re not in the jail that long, we can get them established and get them back before the court,” Hillhouse explained.
Remarked Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam, “It’s a sad situation in the state of Texas when the jail becomes a mental health facility.”
Also approved was an interlocal agreement between Henderson County and the City of Brownsboro for labor and equipment use to overlay approximately 1,300 feet of County Road 3603, located in Precinct 3. The materials will be purchased by the City of Brownsboro.
Related, the court voted to accept a donation of $40,000 for material used for that interlocal agreement with Brownsboro.
In other business, the court:
• Approved a right-of-way agreement for Payne Springs Water Supply Corp. to bore along Pin Oak Drive, located in the Summerall Addition, which is in Precinct 2.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Leagueville Water Supply Corp. to bore along County Road 3520, located in Precinct 2.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Leagueville Water Supply Corp. to bore along County Road 4330, located in Precinct 4.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2024 bills of $379,004.58.