Monitor Photo/Jody Vincik
Henderson County Commissioners’ Court, county officials and members of nonprofit organizations gather April 11 after the county’s governing body proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted April 11 to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Before reading the proclamation, Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer told the court the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is new and meets quarterly to talk about services that can be provided to adult survivors of sexual assault.
“We are very excited about the things we are doing here,” Palmer said.
The proclamation reads that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in Henderson County, including men, women and children of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances, and that the “crime occurs far too frequently, goes unreported far too often and leaves long-lasting physical and emotional scars.”
Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey stated, “I’d like to thank all of you that are involved in this. If it helps one person, that’s a win.”
Added Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson, “I’d just like to thank you personally, the D.A., for stepping up personally and pushing these cases and getting them taken care of, and the task force that y’all created, Crimes Against Children. And the HELP Center, y’all do a great job on awareness and stuff in this situation. Thank you.”
Palmer echoed thanks to nonprofit organizations such as the HELP Center, also mentioning East Texas Crisis Center. “Without all the people that are in here today, we would not be successful,” Palmer remarked.
The court also approved a request from the District Attorney’s Office to amend the District Attorney Seizure Fund budget. Commissioners’ court is only involved with the fund when discussing salary or compensation, County Judge Wade McKinney said.
Palmer said the amendment was for $5,000 in compensation for attorneys to handle appeals after an initial conviction. Palmer said her office does not have a prosecutor to handle appeals. “It is something that is very labor and time-intensive,” the district attorney said.
The money will come from seizure funds to pay two lawyers from the County Attorney’s Office as “a temporary solution,” according to Palmer.
The court also held the opening and recording of responses to the 2023 county depository and sub-depository bid for 2023-25, which McKinney said would be considered for approval or selection at a later date. County Treasurer Michael Bynum said the deadline is May 31.
In other business, the court:
• Approved reappointing Mark Hannan and Jody Vincik to the Henderson County 911 Communication District Board of Managers for a two-year term beginning May 1.
• Approved a request from the Henderson County Tax Assessor-Collector to issue nine checks totaling $52,078.04 to refund overpayment of taxes.
• Approved transferring a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe from the Sheriff’s Office to the Precinct 1 commissioner.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Spectrum to install fiber-optic cabling beside County Roads 1099 and 1104, located in Precinct 1.
• Approved a right-of-way permit East Cedar Creek Fresh Water Supply District to lay a two-inch water main down Inca Drive, located in Indian Harbor in Precinct 2.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Gulf Coast LLC (a Spectrum contractor) to perform utility line activity to install fiber-optic cabling on County Road 3901, located in Precinct 2.
• Approved a right-of-way permit for Gulf Coast LLC to perform utility line activity to install fiber-optic cabling on County Roads 3909, 3910, 3911, 3821, 3822 and 3923, located in Precinct 3.
• Approved a replat of two lots into one in Cedar Branch Park, located in Precinct 2.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2023 bills in the amount of $185,207.61.