County: Border controversy with Kaufman County heats up

(Photo: Henderson County Commissioner's Court.)

This podcast was recorded Wednesday, Dec. 23, in the Henderson County Courthouse Annex.

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Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney and I discussed two major stories this week: Henderson County being declared a "high hospitalization area" and Kaufman County Commissioners Court passing a resolution about the the border between the two counties.

I. High Hospitalization Area (1:10)

Monday, the Trauma Service Area (TSA-G) that includes Henderson County saw its seventh consecutive day with COVID-19 hospitalizations at 15 percent or more of  available staffed beds. That means the region has be designated as a "high hospitalization area." That designation comes with restrictions including:

• Businesses currently operating at 75 percent capacity must pull back to 50 percent capacity.

• Bars that were allowed to open with the permission of the county must close.

You can read more about this designation here.

Michael V. Hannigan @mvhannigan

Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney did the following COVID-19 PSA for NET Health.

II. Border Controversy (23:28)

A small section of land near Kemp is in dispute once again, according to Judge McKinney. He said it is just a couple of square miles, but it is right along the Kaufman County and Henderson County border. On the map, this area looks like a small indentation and is known as "the notch."

Kaufman County Commissioners Court passed a resolution on Nov. 24 saying the border between the two counties would be straight as of Jan. 1, effectively moving the land in the notch -- which McKinney says is currently in Kaufman County -- into Henderson County.

Kaufman County Judge Hal Richards wrote a letter to Judge McKinney dated Dec. 4, which McKinney said he received Dec. 21, to inform Henderson County of this action and to advise Henderson County governmental agencies such as the Tax Assessor/Collector or Appraisal District to make the necessary changes.

Judge McKinney said the Henderson County Commissioners Court will hold a special meeting 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, to discuss their response.

Spoiler Alert: Henderson County's answer is going to be no.

III. Commissioner Thomas Leaving (46:15)

Commissioner Scotty Thomas attended his final Commissioners Court meeting this week.

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Michael V. Hannigan @mvhannigan

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