Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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August 11, 2009

Commissioners approve land purchase

Property will be new location for Precinct 1 Joe Hall’s headquarters

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The Henderson County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of land that will be the new location for Precinct 1 Commissioner Joe Hall’s headquarters.

The land is a combination of two lots on County Road 1204. Hall said the 16 acres is being purchased from Rick Justiss at a cost of $75,894. The price will be paid from Hall’s Pct. 1 budget in two equal payments of $37,947. The first payment will be made this year and the final one in February 2010.

“It’s a good move for Pct. 1 to get outside the city limits of Malakoff and expand,” Hall said.

The move should bring an end to complaints from landowners near the present Pct. 1 location, off Texas Highway 31, behind Lindy Mall concerning debris from the demolished Malakoff Middle School Auditorium that has been stockpiled on the property. Hall said the city of Malakoff has a city ordinance that forbids the stockpile of large amounts of materials. He said, however, sometimes it’s in the best interest of the county for him to collect the materials at a low cost when available and save it for replacing culverts and other projects.

Hall said he will first relocate the precinct dump from the current property to the new tract of land. A road will have to be cut from CR 1204 to provide access to the property, Hall said.

In other action Commissioners discussed, then tabled three issues.

Commissioners delayed the allocation of $46,989 in first responder funds when they learned that the volunteer fire departments from Berryville and Coffee City were not on the list. Chris Moore, who currently is serving as chief for both departments said they were overlooked because they have a Frankston mailing address which is in Anderson County. The physical location of the departments however is in Henderson County.

Commissioners also tabled a decision on whether to eliminate the early pay discounts for tax payments made before January 1. Pct. 2 Commissoner Wade McKinney said he would like to wait until after he sees County Judge David Holstein’s proposed budget before making a decision.

If the Commissioners eliminate the discount, the result would be an additional $342,000 in the county’s coffers. The Commissioners have discussed returning those funds to property owners via a lower tax rate. Commissioners are expected to address the issue again on August 18.

The final item tabled Tuesday, was the setting of fees for civil services performed by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department or Constables. The fees for serving the papers were increased in 2008 after having remained stable for several years County Clerk Gwen Moffeit said. Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said he had just received the numbers and requested more time to look at them.

Commissioners also authorized payment of bills in the amount of $179,399.

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