By Holly Roeder
The City of Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Thursday, April 11, with all members in attendance. The regularly scheduled meeting included approval of a new TIF agreement for the hotel project, a change to HPD policy and the implementation of a city spay and neuter program.
Following the April 2 City of Henderson Industrial Development Board meeting, a motion was unanimously approved by roll call vote, adopting a resolution extending the tax increment financing (TIF) agreement for the Hunt property hotel project at Main St. and US Hwy 45. The date was extended due to difficulty with environmental challenges. Details will primarily remain the same and will include no additional properties. The maximum reimbursement is $2 million, over twenty years, must still be approved through county commission and comptroller
A motion was unanimously approved to accept the low bid on behalf of Keestone Academy for a playground project to be funded through a CDBG grant. This grant has no matching funds and does not impact the city, but this type of grant must be applied for through a city or county, as a channel for the funding. The purchase will require no out of pocket funding from the city or Keestone.
Henderson Police Department Chief Gary Davidson approached the board requesting a change to the HPD policy regarding tattoos, which specifies no tattoos are to be visible while in uniform. Chief Davidson requested this policy be adjusted to state that tattoos may be visible between the wrist and the hem of a short sleeve shirt, including a ring finger tattoo, and excluding a full sleeve tattoo. The board approved with none opposed.
The board also unanimously approved the implementation of a spay/neuter program for city of Henderson residents, and to benefit dogs from the city animal control center. A line item was set aside for $3,000 (funds transferred from maintenance to a new program) to begin the program. City residents or someone wishing to adopt a dog from the city pound may apply through animal control for a voucher. The voucher will be good for a half-price spay/neuter, which will require a $50 payment by the applicant. A portion of the funding will return to the fund balance to continue the program.
In other items, the board unanimously approved the request by Bart Hunt to build a structure on his Magic Valley property, the purchase of a garbage truck cart tipper for $7,800 and the purchase of two gear drives for utility department lagoon aerators at $3,800 and $5,717.24. Utility director Darryl Green said the purchase is necessary to prevent problems with algae, etc.
