By Holly Roeder
Staff Writer
The City of Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, with Alderman Jason Rhodes and Donna Butler absent.
City Police Chief Gary Davidson presented Officer Danielle Cook with an award for lifesaving actions performed while on duty in February of 2023. See the adjoining photo and story for complete information.
Matt Wood of ATA addressed the board, reporting the City and Utility Department had a clean June 30, 2023 audit with no findings. Alderman Keith Smith later commended city department heads on carefully managing their budgets and others involved in the budget and reporting process, which has resulted in a continuation of clean audits. Mayor Bobby King added the city has lowered its debt by 80% since 2009.
The board passed the following:
- The final reading of an ordinance to set the to-be-elected mayoral salary to $89,500, all in favor and Alderman Mark Barber abstaining; per the requirements of Henderson Municipal Code, Section Five, the board must set the salary 180 days before the mayoral election, for the entire four-year term;
- The final reading, unopposed, to rezone Jacks Creek Street property owned by Chester County Board of Education from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to B-1 (General Business);
- A resolution to eliminate the six-month probationary period for new employees before they are enrolled into the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, unopposed; as well as the first reading of an ordinance amending the personnel policy to reflect the change, unopposed;
- Approved the utility department purchase of concrete barriers to create storage areas for sand, gravel and salt;
- Approved a motion to purchase gas meters to stock for customer convenience;
- Approved to extend the COVID leave allowance for employees who have not yet used this time. The previously approved allowance expired Dec. 31, 2023. This allowed up to 40 hours pay for employees who test positive for COVID, who have not yet used the COVID allowance. The board approved unopposed to extend the allowance for 6 months;
- Approved contract with A2H to begin design Feb. 1, in conjunction with the LPRF Parks and Rec grant for Gene Record Memorial Park.
In other news, Chief Davidson commended his officers for hard work during a recent period of short staffing and illnesses through the holidays.
Finally, Brent Beshires, Building and Zoning Official, informed the board that as the 1995 city property agreement with Stolls Woodcraft on Hwy 45N includes a restrictive covenant requiring any changes to the property to be approved by the city board, Stolls has requested approval to update signage on the property. The board approved unanimously.
