By Rich Flowers News Editor
The Henderson County Commissioners Court granted a pay raise for election officials who’ll work the polls in the 2010 Republican and Democrat Primary Elections.
Election judges will receive $9 per hour for the upcoming election. Other poll workers will earn $8.50 per hour. County Election Administrator Denise Hernandez said the workers serve a long stretch on election day, often as much as 14 hours.
During the 2008 General Election, judges received $7 per hour. At the time, the judges were paid $9 per hour in Anderson County, $8 per hour in Navarro County and $9 per hour in Wood County, all counties containing less than the almost 50,000 registered voters in Henderson County.
In other action, Commissioners discussed appointments to various boards.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence said with the year coming to a close next month, the terms of many board members will end. Tuesday, Commissioners took preliminary steps to fill slots on the Henderson County Appraisal District Board of Directors, the Andrews Center Board of Trustees, the Henderson County Library Board and the Board of Directors for Emergency Services District 3.
Commissioner Wade McKinney said the procedure for appointing the Appraisal District Board member is unusual. The Commissioners are required to submit the names of nominees to Chief Appraiser Bill Jackson, who in turn will prepare a ballot with those names on it.
The ballot will be sent back to Commissioners Court which will select one of the nominees to serve a 2-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
The court voted to send Jackson the names of C.A. Hawn and Ken Geeslin as nominees for the seat.
County Judge David Holstein invited anyone interested in serving on the Andrews Center, Henderson County Library and Emergency Services District 3 boards to contact his office within the next two weeks.
Regarding another agenda item, Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 28 as Lee Powell and Mary Caroline Everitt Simpson Day. A Texas Historical Marker is being placed at the family homeplace at Mallard Prairie in the Payne Springs community.
Commissioners also authorized payment of bills in the amount of $167,154.
