Athens —
Requests by two Volunteer Fire Departments to set boundaries for proposed emergency services districts ran into a snag at the Henderson County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday when a portion of their boundary maps overlapped.
The Baxter Volunteer Fire Department is seeking to create ESD No. 7, while the Murchison VFD wants to form ESD No. 8. Tuesday’s agenda included an action item on whether to accept the proposed boundaries for ESD 7 and a vote on whether to set a public hearing concerning the boundaries on ESD 8. The disputed area is located near Lake Athens.
Commissioners took action to schedule a public hearing for February 26 concerning the Baxter area ESD boundaries. The court then tabled a vote on boundaries for ESD 8, hoping the departments can iron out the boundary agreement. Commissioners Court must approve the boundaries by March 1 to be in time to set a May election on the ESD proposal.
Supporters of each of the ESD proposals have gathered signatures from citizens in their coverage area. Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin is concerned that some residents in the contested area may have signed one petition while others signed the competing document.
ESD elections have become common in the county in recent years because they allow the body to impose a tax to help fund volunteer fire departments keep up with the rising cost of equipment and insurance. There are now 24 fire departments in the county and five ESDs. County Judge Richard Sanders said the most recent ESD election was in November 2011 when voters narrowly defeated Emergency Services District No. 6 by a 49 to 41 count. The district was proposed to serve a section of the county south of Chandler, near Lake Palestine.
In other action Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-1 to amend the county cell phone policy to allow elected officials a $50 stipend to apply toward their phone bill. Commissioners had discussed giving each person who uses a cell phone for county business an allowance to apply to their phone bill, but opted to still issue county phones to all but the elected office holders. Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney voted against the change.
Commissioners also voted to:
• approve adding the Friends of the Library to the list of organizations to which jurors can donate their pay;
• spend $30,440 to re-carpet the Clint Murchison Henderson County Library;
• authorize payment of bills in the amount of $90,276.26 for 2013 bills and
• authorize payment of bills in the amount of $57,780.95 for 2012 bills.
Local News
Yours, mine or ours?
ESD plans hit snag due to turf dispute
- Local News
-
-
Millionaires Club
Tom Denton, who has led efforts to gather tabs from cans, continues the battle to provide housing for parents of children hospitalized while they are away from home.
-
Good as gold
The Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour pulls out Tuesday morning as it has for half a century, but this time, from a new location.
-
A little Hope for West
On Thursday, April 18, West, Texas changed. The small community was shocked and devastated with a fertilizer plant explosion. Lives were lost, hundreds were injured and homes and buildings were flattened.
-
AISD trustees approve agreements at meeting
Action items were all approved Thursday by the Board of Trustees of Athens Independent School District. The approvals were made at their regular meeting.
-
A future investment
Harry and Patti Hogue present a check for $500 to go toward the Splash Pad at Kiwanis Park in Athens. The fund-raising effort is nearing the finish line for the $220,000 project, although donations are still being sought. The Splash Pad is expected to be open some time this summer.
-
Ultimate sacrifice
Peace officers from across Henderson County gathered on the courthouse square Thursday afternoon to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
-
Ideas on display
Charles Parker can do some pretty fancy things with your kitchen utensils and old golf clubs.
Parker’s ideas can be seen on display Saturdays at the Athens Farmers Market. This is his third year to bring his crafts to be sold. -
iPads trim costs
Keeping pace with new technology, Henderson County Justices of the Peace can potentially save thousands of dollars through the use of iPads.
-
Fly-in to help with awareness of airport
Mark your calendar for June 1. Athens will be busy with the Old Fiddlers Reunion and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes events.
To make the day complete, the Athens Municipal Airport will be hosting a “Fly-in” on Saturday, June 1. According to organizer Charles Tidmore, the event will give the local community a better awareness and appreciation of the Athens Airport. -
AISD hires PBK architects
Athens Independent School District Blake Stiles believes one of the biggest considerations rendered at Thursday’s school board meeting was to choose a company that will carry out construction for security at Athens High School and Athens Middle School. The contractor is known as a construction manager at risk.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
