hroeder@magicvalleypublishing.com
By Holly Roeder
Senior Staff Writer
The City of Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Thursday, July 11, in regular session, with all members present.
All items on the agenda were approved, including the final reading on the “use permitted on appeal” ordinance for electric substations. The board also discussed a response from FirstBank to the city’s offer for purchase of the FirstBank North Branch property located behind City Hall.
These approvals included the following:
- An ordinance amending the text of the Henderson Municipal Zoning to allow electric substations as a use permitted on appeal in residential districts was approved on final reading with a roll call vote. All members who voted did so affirmatively, with Alderman Jason Rhodes recusing himself due to his employment by TVA.
- An ordinance amending the 2023-2024 (previous year) budget to account for ongoing grant projects was accepted on final reading with a unanimous roll call vote.
- Low bids were unanimously accepted for a number of materials and/or services through Dec. 31, 2024. These included bids for asphalt, milling, gravel, sand, stone and concrete, accepting bids from Arrow Paving Co. Inc., Fowler Paving Co., Wayne County Rock, Shaw Concrete and Southern Concrete, as well as a bid for culverts and bands from Michael Frank Culverts, Inc.
- Milling and paving of N. Washington Ave. and North Ave., from Main St. to Fourth St. was approved unanimously. City Recorder Jim Garland said the city’s total paving budget is $367,000, and he expects this project to come in around $300,000.
- A quote from Stoll’s Woodcraft and Metals was unanimously accepted for $14,904, on a structure to house public works department gravel, cold mix and salt.
- The purchase of a tractor for the utility department was approved unanimously, to be purchased through First Choice Farm and Lawn for a total price of $59,411.90, which includes a Sourcewell discount of $16,451.93. The board also approved ordering two trucks on state contract, the funding for which had previously been approved but are only now able to be ordered. Also for the utility department, the board unanimously agreed to send to bid the purchase of water plant flocculators (slow mix process apparatus), giving authority to Mayor Bobby King and Utility Director Darryl Green to accept the low bid.
- A resolution approving application for an employee safety grant was unanimously approved with a roll call vote. The maximum grant amount is $2,000 and carries a 50% local match.
- Unanimous approval was granted to the Henderson Fire Department to give surplus used fire hose to the Chester County Fire Department. The city fire department recently received a grant to replace a quantity of firehose. The used hose was first offered to other city departments and the remainder will be given to County Fire.
In other business, during the June meeting of the city board, the city voted to make an offer on the North Branch FirstBank property located behind City Hall for an appraisal price of $190,000. During Thursday’s meeting, Garland informed the board that FirstBank had responded to the offer with a purchase agreement, noting the agreed price, but also included a 20-year restriction clause with points such as “financial institution”. After some discussion by board members, Garland and City Attorney Jerry Spore about the restrictions, the bank’s apparent intention to protect their business’ interests, and future limitations for the city’s use with the purchase. The board unanimously agreed to reject FirstBank’s agreement to purchase, leaving the option of negotiation open and authorizing Garland to discuss the board’s concerns and interests with bank representatives, returning to update the board at the next meeting.
