Monitor Photo/Ashlee Sawyer
Tool City Council approved the immediate demolition of this unsafe building located at 331 Tepeto Drive in Tool. 

TOOL–The City of Tool is one more city added to the growing list who have joined the Crimes Against Children Task Force. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, Criminal Investigator Buddy Hill and HELP Center and Maggie's House Program Director Sheila Davis attended the council meeting and spoke on behalf of the task force. Hillhouse stated that this was an idea that District Attorney Jenny Palmer developed once she took office in January 2021 and saw the need for then brought the idea to the sheriff’s office. “Crimes against our children are on the rise. Unfortunately, across our county, across our state and even across our nation. Last year alone, the Henderson County Child Advocacy Center interviewed around 400 children who have allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect with the average age of the children interviewed at Maggie’s House was nine years old. This task force would be the first of its kind in Henderson County and would be available to all agencies or municipalities that wish to participate. “Their law enforcement agency would go out and take the initial report and then contact the on-call investigator with the sheriff’s department who would take the case from there and handle all aspects of the investigation,” explained Hill. 
Hill stated that during his 29 years with the Athens Police Department, with 14 of those years as Chief of Police, he wished the department would have had something like this task force to help relieve the burden on the staff and the intense amount of man hours required to properly investigate these crimes. Cities interested in joining the task force are asked to contribute $10,000 to the task force, which Hillhouse says he hopes to have officially up and running Jan.1, 2023. Four of the planned six investigators who would be solely dedicated to investigating crimes against children, have already been dedicated to the task force. These investigators will observe the interviews of the children, assist with search warrants, forensics and any other needs that come up with the cases. “The Child Advocacy Centers of Texas is currently looking at the program that we are proposing and trying to get off the ground as a pilot program for the entire state of Texas, which is very encouraging,” stated Hill. The council was responsive to the idea and later moved to adopt Resolution 2022-03R Crimes Against Children Task Force which was approved unanimously. 
City Council also held a public hearing to receive testimony for two unsafe building structures. The first building, is located at 331 Tepeto Road. Neighbor Terry Fenwick spoke about the conditions which have resulted in the death of four of his trees. Building and Code Official Allen Anderson stated that he began the process with this property May 13, warrants issued May 31 and 79 pictures of the inside and outside of the home were taken. Animal and human waste was inside the property, along with extremely dilapidated conditions. “This house is falling down from all sides,” said Anderson. After the public hearing was closed, Council Member Mike Dumont made the motion to demolish the property immediately which was approved. 
Another property located at 1216 South Tool Drive was also up for testimony which a representative for the property attended. He spoke about the problems they have had evicting the squatter who is currently residing there and that legally he has to provide 30 days, then another five days plus filing the eviction with the Justice of the Peace to remove the squatter. Council ultimately provided the owner until Thursday, Oct. 20 to follow through with the eviction process and make an effort to clean up the property.  
 In other business, council members:
• Approved minutes from the July 12 special meeting and July 21 regular meetings. 
• Approved consent agenda items “A” through “G” including monthly activity reports for July 2022 as presented, (A) municipal court, (B) police, (C) financial and expenditure, (D) maintenance, (E) building, (F) code enforcement and (G) animal control.  
• Tabled the proposed Ordinance 2022-04 Accessory Use Buildings for revision.
• Tabled the proposed Ordinance 2022-05 Garbage Containers within city limits, requesting two separate ordinances for garbage containers and construction debris cleanup be brought back to council. 
• Tabled the proposed Ordinance 2022-06 Removal of dead trees, limbs, tree trunks, etc. for further discussion.
• Tabled the revised city employee job descriptions.
• Approved the adoption of amendments to the employee handbook. 
• Approved as presented and held a record taking vote of the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 budget.  
• Approved and held a record taking vote of the proposed FY 2022-23 tax rate.