The Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen met on Nov. 13 in regular session, with all aldermen present.
It was announced that the annual City Employee Christmas Lunch is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all City Hall and Utility Offices will be unavailable during this time.
Henderson residents Jeff McEarl and Zach Malone attended the meeting to voice their concerns regarding the lack of city gas and water from 3700 to 4560 on Wilson School Road. Utility Director Darryl Green determined that it would be possible for the city to direct gas to their location, but, due to strict Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulations, it is not presently feasible to get approval to extend water to their residence. While discussions on the accessibility of city water may continue, the aldermen unanimously approved the extension of city gas.
The meeting then moved on to discuss upcoming opportunities for grants, focusing on the necessary steps for applications and the different opportunities each could present. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was considered for either replacing the water main in W. Main Street, fire safety enhancements for the water system by replacing water lines that cannot support fire hydrants and placing fire hydrants in new locations or enhancing Henderson’s sidewalks and walkability to ADA compliance. Next, the possibility of utilizing a Local Park and Recreation Fund (LPRF) Grant for the construction of 4 pickleball courts was discussed at length. The cost of the pickleball courts would be expected to fall within the $500,000-$600,000 range, and the grant would cover 50%. It is anticipated that the decision on whether or not to apply for these grants will take place during the public hearing at the next City Board meeting on Dec. 11.
The Board then considered the Cyber Security Matching Grant Program, a grant offering a $2,000 match on anything related to cyber security. As the program is first-come-first-serve, applying for this grant in a timely manner was of importance. After a roll call vote, applying for this grant was unanimously approved by all aldermen.
Jay Madi Beverages Inc, owned by Pragneshkumar Patel and Kartik Patel, applied for a Certificate for Retail Package Liquor Store. This application is for Oden’s Liquor on 383 N. Church Avenue. As the application met all requirements, and Pragneshkumar Patel’s background check was free from concern, it was unanimously approved.
As the meeting was adjourned, the Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen took time to express their sincere gratitude toward the efforts of Henderson Police Department and all city officials.
Directly following the regular board meeting, the Henderson Beer Board began its session. The Beer Board considered an application for a Beer Permit for Retail Package Beer Sales. This application was made by Jay Umiya Foods Inc, also owned by Pragneshkumar Patel and Kartik Patel, for Oden’s Marathon on 375 N. Church Ave. As the application met all requirements, and their background checks were free from concern, it was unanimously approved.
