Tag Archive for: #hendersoncitycouncil

City Council Tables Vote On Opioid Advisory Board Members

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The Henderson City Council tabled Monday action on appointment of an opioid advisory board.

Interim City Manager Kendrick Vann provided Council members names of seven individuals who had expressed interest in being a part of the board, but some Council members had concerns about all wards not being represented.

Council member Geraldine Champion said there should be a representative from each of the city’s four wards and also said she’d like to see individuals with “life experience” with overcoming opioid use.

Mayor Melissa Elliott agreed. “I think it’s imperative that we have at least one person on that board who has overcome” opioid addiction.

The council decided it was best to table a vote on individual applicants because they didn’t know which wards some of them live in. One applicant lives in the county.

Vann said the call for advisory board members would go back out into the community; the wording of the CAF will need to be changed to reflect the council’s desire to have balanced ward representation, since that was not originally specified.

Once established, the opioid advisory board will assist the council in decisions about how to spend the allocations from the multi-billion-dollar opioid settlement.

City Of Henderson Forming Opioid Settlement Advisory Board

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The city of Henderson is accepting applications through July 31 for individuals interested in serving on an opioid settlement advisory board.

At its July meeting, the Henderson City Council voted unanimously to create an advisory board upon a recommendation from interim City Manager Kendrick Vann.

Vann stated that other cities and towns have formed advisory boards to provide direction on how to allocate funds from the multi-billion dollar opioid settlement.

Prospective advisory board members include individuals with professional backgrounds in drug addiction/treatment, health care and mental health and public health fields.

Submit applications to Tracey Kimbrell at traceykimbrell@henderson.nc.gov or call 252.430.5705.

For more information about the advisory board, contact Brandi Dukes at

brandidukes@henderson.nc.gov or call 252.430.5702.

Water Line Extension Promotes Economic Growth For Henderson-Oxford Airport, Regional Presence

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With the sound of small aircraft in the background and a corporate jet parked nearby, local officials gathered Monday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a water line extension project at the Henderson-Oxford Airport.

Or, to borrow Airport Manager Amanda Welsh’s term: Hotel November Zulu. HNZ – the airport’s official 3-letter code.

Welsh and husband Chris established flyHNZ in 2018 and are the fixed-based operators at the local airport situated in Granville County near the Vance County line. The couple, along with Chris’s father, handled everything at first, but Welsh told those gathered at the airport to officially kick off the $1 million-plus project on Monday that it now takes a full-time staff of 8 to manage the operation.

Granville County Economic Development Director Charla Duncan said although project involves less than a mile of water line, it represents a critical infrastructure investment that is needed to keep up with growth and support economic development.

The whirr of plane engines at times drowned out speakers at the podium, but as Golden Leaf Foundation representative Scott Hamilton noted, “That’s the sound of money.”

The airport got a $600,000 grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation for the project to go along with the initial state appropriation of $500,000 that then-N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon was instrumental in securing. But the airport authority learned pretty early in the process that it would need at least that much again, if not more, to see the project to completion.

Granville County Commissioner Rob Williford represents District 2, where the airport is situated. He told those in attendance that he learned a lot about the airport from Airport Board Vice Chair Jon Carver, who painted a rosy picture for the future of an airport with appropriate infrastructure.

To see growth, there needed to be infrastructure, Williford said. For the airport to grow and be able to provide hangar space for corporate jets, there needed to be adequate fire suppression. And that meant having public water.

Williford, a Democrat, said he and fellow commissioner Russ May, a Republican, worked together across the aisles of the legislature to seek additional funds. “We went to see them all together,” Williford said, referring to state legislators of both parties. “They all listened. They all understood. And they all said, ‘We can’t get you the money.’”

But the Granville County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to provide up to $300,000 for the project and then the Golden Leaf grant came through, so the project is set to begin.

With dozens on the wait list for hangar space, Duncan said there’s a focus on promoting the concept of a regional airport.

She said as RDU looks to move away from general aviation services, HNZ could be a good option for businesses and individuals for hangar space,  flight training and more.

“We want to be able to say that our transportation facilities – whether it be highways or whether it be general aviation resources – can compete with the Piedmont Triad, with the Sandhills as well,” Duncan said.

Welsh said the aviation industry continues to grow, but there’s a pilot shortage and a support personnel shortage.

And flyHNZ is poised to train and bring up the next generation of aviation professionals.

“Once the water service is in place, our business in and of itself hopes to add additional services,” she said, from flight school and training options to the heavier restoration of older aircraft.

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Henderson City Council Adopts FY 27 Budget

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The Henderson City Council voted unanimously to adopt the FY 2026-27 budget at a special called meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting lasted about 35 minutes, during which Finance Director Joey Fuqua shared with Council that he and staff had identified an additional $794,000 in savings.

Calling that amount “a pretty good chunk of money,” Fuqua said those savings will be achieved by reducing from 25 percent to 17.1 percent a cushion from the retirement line.

Interim City Manager Kendrick Vann reassured Council that the city is in good financial stead as far as the reserve funds go – the Local Government Commission recommends that municipalities maintain at least an 8 percent fund balance and Henderson’s sits right at 25 percent.

Fuqua said the $5 million earmarked from fund balance in the proposed budget has dropped to roughly $3.4 million because of the additional savings that staff and department heads had found.

Council member Lamont Noel made a motion to adopt the budget, which was seconded by Council member Sam Seifert.

Before the vote was taken, however, there was discussion about returning the position of the mayor’s assistant to the budget. It had been the only position cut, and Mayor Melissa Elliott said, “it seems to me to be very targeted.”

In making a motion to restore the position, Council member Michael Venable said, “If we haven’t cut anybody else’s position, I want to make a motion that we put the mayor’s assistant back in place.”

Council members Geraldine Champion, Catherine “Kitty” Gill, Tami Walker and Venable voted yes; Council members Garry Daeke, Kenia Gómez-Jimenez, Noel and Seifert voted no; Elliott cast the tie-breaking vote to restore the position to the budget, which adds $22,000 to the bottom line.

Special Called City Council Meeting June 17; Budget and Closed Session Personnel Matter

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Public Notice — from the City of Henderson

The Henderson City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The purpose of this meeting is to consider and discuss the adoption of the FY 27 budget and to enter into closed session pursuant to NCGS § 143-318.11(a)(6) a Personnel Matter.

The meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers, 134 Rose Avenue. This meeting is open to the public.

(The text of this public notice was originally published on WIZS.com and broadcast on WIZS Radio on June 12, 2026.)

(If you would like to learn more click play for the 6-15-26 “The Local Skinny!” broadcast and continue reading below.)

A big question heading into Wednesday afternoon’s meeting is what has shifted since last week? Since Interim City Manager Kendrick Vann was the assistant to now terminated City Manager Paylor Spruill, what have Vann and Henderson Finance Director Joey Fuqua talked about since last week?  At the June 8 regular meeting, it was left that the city manager and the finance director would come back with recommendations of things to cut and would be prepared to have a discussion with the council.  Will there be cuts and/or additions or adjustments?  As previously reported, the main cuts so far had been giving the departments fewer of the items on their budget wish lists.  Will more now be taken including salaried or part-time worker positions?  Could training and travel lines be added back?  The assistant to the mayor position, which was previously cut, could it be added back?  After the meeting, WIZS will report details and let you know if a City budget is passed?

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Emergency Meeting Wednesday Regarding City Manager

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Editor’s Note: “The City of Henderson and The City Council and Staff” TownTalk broadcast was added June 11 just below. Click Play to listen. The written report of the City’s emergency meeting follows the audio and was posted June 10, 2026.

When the Henderson City Council met Wednesday to hold an emergency meeting, it took formal action regarding the city manager’s employment, and that action came in three parts based ultimately on three separate motions made by Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker.

The employment contract for City Manager Paylor Spruill was terminated. Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department Director Kendrick Vann, who has been an assistant to the city manager, was made interim city manager until the city can find a permanent manager. The assistant to the city manager position that Vann had been occupying was eliminated.

With all eight members of the City Council present, the board took action to, as City Attorney Dan Hertzog put it, memorialize the action which stemmed from Monday night’s closed session.

In the matter of ending Spruill’s contract, the council voted 4 to 4, with the tie broken by Mayor Melissa Elliott to end the contract. Similarly, the council voted 4 to 4 to appoint Vann as the interim manager, with Mayor Elliott casting the tie breaking vote in favor of Vann holding the position. As to the matter of Vann’s previous position of assistant to the city manager, the vote was unanimous to eliminate the position.

Overall, the proceedings were necessarily formal to protect the release of any personnel information. It also became necessary for the council to go into a closed session for about 20 minutes.

The net result of the meeting is virtually the same as what members of the community have been talking about for several days.

Voting for Walker’s motion to end Spruill’s contract, which was seconded by Geraldine Champion, were Champion, Michael Venable, Catherine Gill and Walker. Voting against the motion to end Spruill’s contract were Sam Seifert, Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Garry Daeke.

Voting for Walker’s motion to appoint Vann as interim manager until a permanent manager is selected, which was seconded by Venable, included Champion, Venable, Gill and Walker. Voting against the motion to appoint Vann as interim manager were Gomez-Jimenez, Noel, Seifert and Daeke.

To open the proceedings, Hertzog said, “So at the last meeting we had a closed session discussion, which I cannot reveal the closed session discussion, but pursuant to general statute … any final action on a personnel matter needs to be taken in open session.

“So we will need to vote consistent … with the board’s discussion on Monday night. That needs to be memorialized in a vote in open session. So that’s why we’re here today.”

The council went through the necessary steps to get its wording right and to hear and vote on the correct motions to accomplish the task at hand, which at one point included withdrawing a single, initial motion and breaking it into three parts so the result was clean and clear.

Click Play if you would like to hear more WIZS Radio coverage of the City Council and the budget from before the meeting.

Public Notice: Emergency City Council Meeting Regarding City Manager’s Employment Noon Wednesday

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Update 3:33 P.M. Tuesday, June 9, 2026

From the City Clerk, City of Henderson:

“The Henderson City Council will hold an Emergency Meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. to take formal action regarding the City Manager’s employment.”

The meeting location is not listed, but all the City Council meetings occur at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue.

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Voted, Approved Motion NOT To Pass Budget

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Despite previously reaching a consensus to adopt the FY 26-27 budget, the Henderson City Council on Monday night heard, duly seconded and passed a motion NOT to pass the budget.

Mayor Melissa Elliott voted yes, to not pass the budget, in order to break a 4-4 tie otherwise.

The motion to not pass the budget was made by Geraldine Champion and seconded by Catherine Gill at the regular June 8 monthly meeting.

Champion said she could not approve the budget the way it looks.

Members who voted in favor of not passing the budget included Champion, Gill, Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker, and Michael Venable.

Members who voted against the motion were Garry Daeke, Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert.

The City Attorney reminded that a budget needed to be passed, and the City Manager suggested a special called meeting. The date and time of that special called meeting has not been announced, and it will require at least a 48-hour notice be made to the public.

Champion used an analogy to make the trimming of the budget akin to cutting down a tree, and she took issue with “starting at the bottom,” near the root. In Champion’s analogy the money to be cut, the big money, was at the top of the tree.

She said very rarely does a person start at the root with cutting because it’s going to fall and cause damage.

“That’s what I see that happened in this particular budget. You started at the bottom. You’re trying to cut a $22,000 a year job, but you didn’t go to the top of the tree. And at the very top of that tree is where the tremendous amount of money is.”

The big money Champion is talking about is cuts to staffing.

“It’s just my opinion that some of those departments don’t need all those people,” she said, citing, “That’s just my opinion. I don’t work there. I’m not the expert on that.”

The $22,000 a year job, referred to by Champion, is in her analogy down at the root, important, and that job is the position of Assistant to the Mayor.

Champion said of Finance Director Joey Fuqua, “Yes. You have been thorough with what you’ve done. You’ve said everything you need to say.”

Gomez-Jimenez said after Fuqua reviewed the timeline, including strategies to save throughout FY 26-27, it’s “not a feel-good budget but a culmination of paths to this point.” She spoke of an opportunity to improve the City’s organization and told Fuqua, “You have produced a good budget.”

On May 11, 2026 the FY 26-27, a balanced recommended budget was presented to the City Council followed by two budget work sessions on May 12 and May 14, a public hearing on May 21 and a final work session on May 28.

To hear more, including audio from the June 8 regular monthly meeting, please click play!

Henderson Mayor Explains Rationale For May 29 Called Emergency Meeting

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(This post has been updated on June 2 at 9:30 a.m. to include an additional clarification by Mayor Melissa Elliott. You will find it in bold italics below the original text before the audio file.)

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott told WIZS News Monday morning that she called last week’s emergency meeting in an effort to protect employees mentioned in an email that called for the city manager’s removal and immediate replacement.

Elliott briefly interrupted the City Council’s budget work session Thursday to set up the meeting. Council Member Tami Walker sent an email – using her city email address – to her colleagues on the Council, Elliott, City Manager Paylor Spruill and the city attorney – that called for Spruill to be fired and to make Kendrick Vann interim manager for the next six months. Vann, director of the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department, also is assistant to the city manager.

“I called a meeting because I got 76 text messages concerning Kendrick Vann,” Elliott said Monday.

The city employees were put in “a very precarious position that should have never happened,” she said.

Both Spruill and Vann “should be protected by law” as employees, she said. “What shouldn’t have never happened was a Council member sending that to a newspaper…that’s wrong,” she said.

The emergency meeting was called because there were numerous people inquiring about what was going on and why, she explained. “It was called for the email and for the protection of employees. I did not call the meeting to have anything to do with anyone being fired or resigning – that is not what Melissa Elliott did,” she said.

Four Council members were present for the Friday emergency meeting – Geraldine Champion, Catherine “Kitty” Gill, Michael Venable and Walker. Not present were Council members Garry Daeke, Kenia Gómez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert.

The emergency meeting lasted for about an hour, with no action being taken when the Council returned to open session.

When asked for what happens next, Elliott said, “there is a next step and I can share that,” but provided no details.

In a follow-up message, Elliott said that while she is deeply concerned about the attention being put on “internal city controversies and distractions,” the larger issue facing the community is the issue of regional water resources.

“As Mayor, my priority is protecting Henderson’s long-term water interests, defending local decision-making, and ensuring that our residents maintain access to a resource that is critical to our economic future, public health, and quality of life. Regardless of political affiliation, I believe our community deserves transparency and a full public discussion about any actions that could impact our water system and regional authority.”

Elliott told WIZS Tuesday morning, June 2, “I would like to make a correction and clarification regarding a statement I made.

“After listening to the recording, I realized that I misspoke when referencing an email. I stated that the Mayor Pro Tem sent an email to the newspaper. That statement was incorrect. What I intended to say was that the Mayor Pro Tem sent the email to members of the City Council and the Board.

“For the sake of accuracy and transparency, I want to be clear that I do not know which individual ultimately provided the information to the newspaper. It was not my intention to attribute that action to the Mayor Pro Tem, and I regret the error.

“As Mayor, I believe it is important to correct the record when mistakes are made. I take responsibility for my words and want to ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that facts remain at the center of public discussions.

“I apologize for the confusion my statement may have caused and appreciate the opportunity to make this clarification.” – Mayor Melissa Elliott
City of Henderson

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Mayor Elliott Emergency Meeting for Personnel Matter After Mayor Pro Tem Walker Email Calls for Firing City Manager

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UPDATED 7:20 p.m. May 29

The Henderson City Council held an emergency meeting Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. in Council chambers for the purpose of going in to closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

Four Council members were present – Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker, Catherine “Kitty Gill, Michael Venable and Geraldine Champion – and four Council members were absent – Garry Daeke, Sam Seifert, Lamont Noel and Kenia Gomez-Jimenez.

When Council members and Mayor Melissa Elliott returned to open session after more than an hour in closed session, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded. No action was taken by Council.

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UPDATE 10 a.m. May 29

Henderson Mayor Melissa Ellliott has called an emergency called meeting of the City Council for Friday (May 29, 2026) at 5:30 p.m. in reference to a personnel matter.

Elliott abruptly made the announcement during the City Council’s budget work session on Thursday afternoon. She said she had received numerous text messages regarding information published by the local newspaper.

The Dispatch posted on social media Thursday an email sent by Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker that was sent to other members of the Council, as well as to Elliott, City Manager Paylor Spruill, the city attorney and the city clerk.

WIZS obtained a copy of the email Thursday, which calls for the removal of Spruill as city manager and makes Kendrick Vann, currently an assistant to the city manager, interim city manager.

Following is the email, in its entirety:

Good morning everyone!

At this time, I am requesting the termination of our city manager Paylor Spruill.

Immediately making Kendrick Vann interim city manager for 6 months or until a new city manager is hired. Letting Christy Lipscomb remain as Assistant City Manager and immediately eliminating the position of assistant to assistant [sic] city manager.

WIZS News reached out to Walker and Spruill for comment; we’ll update this story as information becomes available.

Stay tuned to WIZS for updates.