The City of Henderson Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Thursday evening in regular session, in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
Aldermen Mark Barber and Michael Phelps were absent.
Attention was called to recognize the 16-year anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle. Captain Cagle was shot while responding to a call on Dec. 10, 2009, and died Dec. 13, 2009 as a result of his injuries.
The Board covered a variety of business topics, discussing grant applications, a food truck ordinance, committee re-appointments, exciting news from the public library and the upcoming retirement for one department head.
Library Director Chrystal Richerson introduced the Board to Leg Up through Bendable, a new pilot program offered through libraries in West Tennessee. Richerson said in addition to a number of free learning courses, Bendable.com now offers Leg Up, partnered with area industries to provide 16-hour training courses in warehousing, manufacturing and healthcare. Each course is free and available online by going to www.bendable.com and following “Find your Bendable” prompt to Tennessee and Chester County. Geared toward job-seeking individuals, completion of a Leg Up course earns a microcredential and a guaranteed interview at area industries, including locations in Chester County.
The Board unanimously approved a motion to move ahead with application and matching funds for the Community Development Block Grant. As discussed in a recent public hearing, the grant application will be written as a plan to hire a company for sewer inspection for inflow and infiltration and complete necessary repairs
No decision was reached on a project for this year’s Local Park and Recreation Fund Grant, which includes 50/50 matching funds. The consensus was to consider bypassing this year’s application and reconsider for next year.
Mobile Food Vendors will now refer to the Henderson Municipal Code; Title Nine; Chapter Six for local requirements and regulations. All members present voted in favor of the addition. Henderson Mayor Terry Bell said the amendment was designed to be relatively uncomplicated, featuring a detailed permit, with input from area mobile food operators.
With terms expiring Dec. 31, 2025, the following members were reappointed: Farris Stout, Planning Commission; Darryl Thompson, Board of Zoning Appeals; Cecil Hearn, Industrial Development Board; Mark Barber, Park Advisory Board.
Mayor Bell shared that Utility Director Darryl Green has announced plans to retire in the coming months. In consideration of the upcoming process of searching for the next director, the Board discussed the current policy stating department heads must live within five miles of City Hall and within Chester County, and similarly the 15-mile residential requirement for most city employees and 10-mile radius for firefighters. Mayor Bell suggested the Board consider the requirements and whether they want to make changes or leave it as is, prior to posting the director’s job opening around February.
