Government-Henderson County Now

TVCC to purchase Central Park and old armory from City of Athens

Press release

Trinity Valley Community College and the City of Athens have reached an agreement for the college to purchase the property known as Central Park and the former National Guard Armory now being used as the City’s Development Services Center and Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The purchase was approved by the Athens City Council and by the TVCC Board of Trustees at their respective meetings held Monday, November 28.

After the decision Monday night, Athens Mayor Jerry Don Vaught said, “City Council is very pleased to have come to a fair agreement on the purchase of the Central Park property with TVCC. We feel strongly that the college will have the best use for the property with possible future expansion of college facilities. This will be a great benefit to the Athens community and the future prosperity and growth of Athens overall.”

Continue reading “TVCC to purchase Central Park and old armory from City of Athens”

AMWA, City of Athens schedule joint meeting

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow

The Athens City Council and the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) have scheduled a joint work session next week, according to agendas posted by both entities.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, November 28, at the Athens Partnership Center.

The agenda calls for the two entities to:

– “To open a dialogue and discuss matters pertaining to the agreement between Athens Municipal Water Authority and the city of Athens, including: facilities, operations, and management of all water related issues.”

Continue reading “AMWA, City of Athens schedule joint meeting”

City, AMWA clash over letter

(Editor’s Note: Audio from the City Council’s discussion on this issue is embedded below.)

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow

The City of Athens and the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) aren’t working together very well at the moment — a fact that spilled out into the public at the Athens City Council meeting Monday night.

Currently at issue is the administrative handling of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) violation letters.

Continue reading “City, AMWA clash over letter”

What I Learned: Henderson County Election Day 2016

I spent Election Day traveling all over the county, visiting more than half the polling locations and sitting in the lobby of the Elections Office as the votes were counted. Here are some of the things I learned:

* There was no massive turnout.

After early voting broke records with more than 19,000 votes being cast, many thought there would be a huge turnout in Henderson County, me included. That didn’t happen, however, at least not to the levels expected.

Slightly more than 57 percent of registered voters turned out for the election, with 30,470 voters casting a ballot as of Tuesday night’s unofficial totals. In the last presidential election in 2012, the county saw 27,627 voters go to the polls. This year we experienced an uptick for sure, but I expected more after the lines we saw during early voting.

* Every vote counts locally.

There was never a question that the county would go for Donald Trump in big numbers — more about that later — but there were several local races in which a handful of votes decided winners.

Continue reading “What I Learned: Henderson County Election Day 2016”

Friday is First Responders Appreciation Day

https://www.facebook.com/hendersoncountynow/videos/936125849865865/

Henderson County Commissioners Court proclaimed Friday, November 4, as First Responders Appreciation Day at its regular meeting this week.

The proclamation was suggested by Kindred at Home – Home Health in Athens. Kindred at Home will be treating first responders to lunch Friday at Bacon Chevrolet in Athens.

We caught up with Commissioner Scotty Thomas and got his comments.