Tag Archive for: #hendersoncitycouncil

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Public Safety Committee to Discuss Fire Redistricting – TOMORROW

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to the Board, Vance County

The Public Safety Committee (Commissioners Wilder, Brummitt and Faines) will meet tomorrow, Wed., July 25, 2018, at 3 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss fire service redistricting, fire service restructuring and EMS matters.

Tony Bailey, OSFM, will be in attendance.

The meeting is open to the public.

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Food Trucks in Downtown Henderson Still a Possibility

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On Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program, Downtown Development Director Kaine Riggan addressed the recent discussion on allowing food trucks to park and operate in the downtown Henderson area.

At their July 9 meeting, with a vote of 5-3, the Henderson City Council nixed a proposal to allow food trucks to operate in designated areas downtown.

Gavin Jackson, owner of Gavin’s Grub Hub, proposed parking and serving food from his food truck in the City-owned parking lot at the corner of Garnett and Orange streets, next to Gupton’s Sporting Goods.

Garry Daeke, a member of the Henderson City Council, called in during Town Talk to provide insight into the Council’s initial decision. Referring to the Council, Daeke explained, “I don’t think anybody is afraid of having food trucks downtown. Most of us are fairly progressive and we think it is a good idea.”

According to Daeke, the outcome of the vote was simply a matter of the City Council not having enough information. “It comes down to having the information to make an informed decision,” said Daeke. “At the last meeting, we didn’t have enough information to make a decision.”

Riggan explained that he moved quickly when he learned of Jackson’s interest in bringing his food truck downtown. “I went at the speed of light to the City and said ‘hey, let’s make this happen.’ So that was a five-day process and I think that ended up being what caused us to get slowed down.”

A typical procedure for such a request, according to Daeke, involves a proposal that goes before a committee to review for liability issues, a discussion on fairness to other businesses, a public hearing to allow the community’s opinion to be heard and then a vote from the City Council.

In reference to the disappoint that the community has expressed in the initial vote, Daeke said, “I think if that process had been done, none of this would be going on now. If we had that process, it would have come up at our August meeting and we would have voted for it and moved on.”

Riggan agreed with Daeke’s sentiment and stated, “That was my first presentation for the City Council, so I’m still learning. I walked out of that meeting and got some advice from the Assistant City Manager about some things I could probably have done differently.”

All hope is not lost for downtown food trucks, as Daeke said he felt sure there would be an upcoming public hearing to discuss the matter further. “We’ll get that ordinance, probably at the next [City Council] meeting and it will have details about the responsibilities of both parties, then a public hearing and then a vote.”

Both Riggan and Daeke expressed their appreciation for all of the local talk this issue has generated. “This has created some great discussion and a lot of community input. We just didn’t get it in the format that we could act on,” said Daeke.

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Downtown Food Truck Vote Has Folks Talking

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At Monday night’s meeting, with a vote of 5-3, the Henderson City Council nixed a proposal to allow food trucks to operate in a designated area of downtown Henderson.

Gavin Jackson, owner of Gavin’s Grub Hub, proposed parking and serving food from his food truck in the City-owned parking lot at the corner of Garnett and Orange streets, next to Gupton’s Sporting Goods.

Jackson’s food truck has been a regular at various events in the community as well as a fan-favorite at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Jackson is also the former chef at the Henderson Country Club.

City Council members George Daye, Melissa Elliott and Mike Rainey represent the three votes in favor of allowing the food truck to operate downtown.

In a phone interview with WIZS, Rainey said, “You see these trucks in all other big cities. It’s a thing. It’s just a way of getting people downtown for one thing. It gives [people] another outlet to find their lunch or whatever the case may be, and it keeps them downtown. People who work downtown have a [place] to go eat; they can go anywhere they want to, but this gives them another avenue for lunch. It’s just another business trying to establish itself in the City of Henderson.”

Henderson City Council member Sara Coffey, who voted against the food truck proposal, told WIZS News by Facebook message for publication, “We were not given the complete information about the trucks. The restaurants that would be affected were not given a chance to voice their opinions. They were not given complete facts either. To me when someone comes in and buys a business and puts down roots to serve our public such as [Uncle] Lews and [Next Door] Bistro have done, I think it’s only fair they share their opinion. They are employers, taxpayers, water users, pay electric bills and have waitresses that depend on tips to feed their families. Even though I’m not against food trucks, I do believe restaurants should weigh in on their placement. I don’t want any business harmed that has invested in our city by a mobile unit that is here today, gone tomorrow without having input.”

In an article titled “While the iron is hot” written for The Daily Dispatch and republished in part, with permission, Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Director Kaine Riggan expressed his frustration with the Council’s decision:

I know all of the council members who voted “no” did so out of what they consider to be the best interest of the city they also love, but I can’t help but wonder what makes them say no to anyone who wants to open a legal business on Garnett Street.

It ain’t exactly an easy sell, folks. And businesses are moving out faster than they are moving in. Southside Office Supply left last month. Gupton’s Gun Shop is closing next month after 60 years. And another upcoming big departure is so fresh a wound that I can’t even make it public yet.

Opposing votes voiced opinions that it might hurt the other restaurants.

Rainey, longtime owner of City Tire, made a point that all the new, used tire places popping up aren’t exactly great for his business, but we can’t stop them from opening because of it.

I have been meeting with Henderson’s merchants, studying successfully revitalized downtowns and listening to advise for almost 12 months, now, and one thing is clear: While we are saying no and closing stores, neighboring towns are saying yes and reaping the revenue as a result.

This past weekend, I hosted Leon Steele, Kinston’s Downtown Development director, for a lunch on Kerr Lake and a tour of our downtown. In his town, with similar demographics to ours, he has full city and county support, revenues from a Municipal Service District tax and historic tax credit renovation projects peppering his Main Street program. In total, a $400,000 annual budget for Kinston’s downtown efforts compared to Henderson’s $52,000. I wanted to know his secret.

He credits a codes department and planners willing to find a way to make things work as the key to their success, as well as the city’s willingness to embrace change. “It takes leaders who think the downtown is important enough to start saying yes to things,” Steele said.

I think we have those leaders at the city level, we just need to work on being more aware of the speed of our process so as not to lose good leads when we get them.

Meanwhile, Jackson can park his truck in downtown Oxford or downtown Warrenton within the week.

“I can’t wait around for months for them to decide whether or not to let me run my business and pay my taxes,” Jackson said when I told him about Monday’s council decision. “It shouldn’t be this hard to get started.”

I would like to thank Mayor Ellington and the city staff for pushing the “food truck ordinance” forward very efficiently. I expect that it will make it through committee and back before the council in coming months and will most likely pass the next time. I just hope we still have a prospect on deck when it does.

Elaborating on his opinion, Jackson stated in a Facebook message to WIZS, “We pay for all kinds of permits, inspections, county and city inspections, registration on the vehicle and mobile kitchen, environmental health permit; we buy fuel and propane from local businesses, which is my source of power. We do pay property taxes on the truck and mobile kitchen and the property taxes on our home because this business allows us to live here. We plan to employ [other] people and is it not important to employ me? My family? We all work at this business.”

In a recent poll on WIZS Radio’s Facebook page, 98 percent of 358 participants voted in support of food trucks in downtown Henderson.

Please visit WIZS’ Facebook page [click here] to express your opinion on the food truck topic. You can leave your comments on the posting for this article or from yesterday’s thread. We would love to hear from those both for and against food trucks in downtown – especially from downtown restaurant owners.

The Monday, July 16 edition of Town Talk will also feature more discussion on the food truck debate. Feel free to call in at (252) 492-5594 to share your opinion.

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Henderson City Council’s July Meeting to Include Public Hearing on Annexation

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-Public Notice, courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

The Henderson City Council is scheduled to hold their regular meeting on Monday, July 9, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536

Agenda items include:

1. Holding A Public Hearing on the Question of Annexation, Pursuant to North Carolina G.S. 160A-31 and

  • Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-28, Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Henderson, North Carolina;
  • Assignment of Newly Annexed Area to Ward 4; and
  • Directing the City Attorney to Record the Annexation Map with Vance County Board of Elections, Vance County Register of Deeds and the North Carolina Secretary of State.

2. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-04, Amending the Zoning Ordinance Section 903.2 Site Plans and Other Requirements, 903.2.2 Single Family Residence and Duplex, and 903.3 Complete Application.

3. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-12, Amending the Zoning Ordinance Section 909.1 Criminal and Penalties.

4. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-26, Order of Demolition for 200 Parham Road, Former Kerr Lake Inn Hotel.

5. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-44, Approving a Water Sales Agreement as Amended with Vance County and the Vance County Water District.

6. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-45 Amending the Joint Funding Agreement for the Perry Memorial Library.

7. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-29, Amending Schedule of Streets Set Forth in the City Code, Section 7-66 Relative to Replacing Yield Signs Throughout the City Limits to Stop Signs.

8. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-46, Approving the Use of Urban Homesteading Properties for Rehabilitation by the Triangle Literacy Council and Constructing Pathway to Prosperity Program Students.

9. Consideration of Approval of 1) Resolution 18-47, Approving the Execution of a Design Contract with CDM Constructors, Inc., for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Plant Improvement Project Phase 1B; and 2) Ordinance 18-30, FY18 BA #26, to Establish the Budget for the Above Mentioned Project.

10. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-19, Establishing Uniform Guidance and Updated Procurement Policies and Procedures.

11. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-49, Establishing a Mobile Food Unit Operating Zone along Orange Street.

12. Consideration of Approval of Resolution 18-43, Appointments to the Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, Airport Authority, Community-Wide Advisory Committee and the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Commission.

13. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-31, Closing Out the 2017 Governor’s. Crime Commission ICACA Task Force Grant.

14. Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-32, FY18 BA# 27, Amending the FY 17- 18 Budget as Part of the Year Ending Budget Reconciliation Process.

15. Consideration of Approval of 1) Resolution 18-48, Authorizing the Acceptance of the 2017 BJA Grant in the Amount of $19,590; and 2) Ordinance 18-33, FY19 Budget Amendment #1, Establishing the BJA 2017 Grant Project Budget.

16. Tax Releases and Refunds from Vance County for the Month of May 2018.

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Henderson City Council Adopts FY 2018-19 Budget

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Without further ado, the Henderson City Council adopted the proposed FY 2018-19 budget at their Monday, June 11, 2018, meeting.

After hearing a brief summary of the overall budget from City Manager Frank Frazier, who thanked council members for the meetings and work sessions that were held to get to that point in the budget process, the approximately $44 million budget was approved.

Frazier said he felt encouraged about the budget thanks, in part, to an increase in the amount of sales tax collected this past fiscal year. “We were slightly ahead of projections,” Frazier reported. “Whereas some projections by different agencies increased that [collection rate] to 4%, we used a more conservative approach at 2%.”

Frazier also reported an increase in the personal/real property tax collection rate as performed by the Vance County Tax Office. “This collection helped increase our revenue projections for the upcoming year and staff worked hard over the last several years in becoming a safer workforce and obtaining a better worker’s comp rate,” said Frazier.

The increase in tax collection has also helped to offset the less than 1% lower personal property value from the previous fiscal year.

Budgeted funds for the final phase in a five-year pay class study allows for a 5% pay increase for City employees effective August 9, 2018. According to Frazier, “This helps us to reduce our turnover rate and also helps us compete with our neighboring jurisdictions.”

As previously reported to WIZS by Henderson City Councilman Garry Daeke, the turnover rate for City of Henderson employees has dropped from 20% to 5% since the implementation of the five-year study.

This year’s budget was approved with no tax rate increase, keeping the rate steady at approximately 71 cents per $100 of property value. Sanitary sewer and sanitation rates also remain unchanged.

A 5% water rate increase was approved, which will allow for the completion of several infrastructure projects with streets, water and sewer as well as equipment purchases.

As Frazier stated in previous budget documentation “Whereas not all needs are met, as in most budgets, I believe this budget represents further positive steps in areas not funded previously, which will help the City continue to grow and reach its full potential again.”

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Remainder of Henderson City Council Budget Sessions Canceled

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

During the Public Meeting Budget Work Session on Monday, May 21, the Henderson City Council concluded its budget deliberations; therefore, the remainder of the budget work sessions have been canceled.

The City Council will formally approve the budget during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 11, 2018.

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Henderson City Council has Full Agenda for May 14 Meeting

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-Public Notice, courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

The Henderson City Council is scheduled to hold their regular meeting on Monday, May 14, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536

Agenda items include:

  • Recognizing retiree Wanda Ball.
  • Consideration of holding a public hearing on the question of annexation for the Salvation Army.
  • Consideration of approval of Ordinance 18-07, 1) Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Henderson, North Carolina; 2) Assignment of Newly Annexed Areas Ward 2, and 3) Directing the City Attorney to Record Annexation with Vance County Board of Elections, Vance County Register of Deeds and the North Carolina Secretary of State.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-05-A, Approving a Supplemental Agreement for Funding with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for the Beckford Drive (SR 1165) Widening Project with High Impact Funds in the Amount of $400,000.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-27, Reimbursement of Special Use Permit Fees for Greenhouse Structures.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-24, Awarding a Contract to North State Water and Sewer Inc. in the Amount of $159,300 for the ROBCO Manufacturing Water and Sewer Line Extension Project.
  •  Consideration of approval of Ordinance 18-17, FY18 BA #18, Transferring Funds from General Fund Non-Departmental to Public Buildings and Grounds Budget for the Ash Tree Treatment Program.
  •  Consideration of approval of 1) Resolution 18-28, Approving Execution of a Hydraulic Water Modeling Contract with Hazen and Sawyer in the Amount of $66,900; 2) Resolution 18-31, Approving a Contract with Stantec to Develop a Financial Planning and Member Rate Analysis; 3) Ordinance 18-18, FY18 BA #19, Transferring Funds From KLRW Reserves to Contracted Services and 4) Ordinance 18-22, FY18, BA #22 for the Hazen & Sawyer Contract.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-26, Accepting a Grant/Loan from DWSRF for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Plant Improvement Project in a total amount of $15,000,000.
  • Consideration of approval of 1) Resolution 18-34, Awarding Change Order #1 for the Newton Dairy Road, Birch and Bobbitt Project; and 2) Approval of Budget Ordinance 18-20, FY18 BA #20, Amending the Budget for the CDBG Infrastructure Project #14-I-2658.
  • Consideration of approval of 1) Resolution 18-33, Approve Change Order #2 to Replace Water Services to HG Reynolds for the Newton Dairy Road, Birch & Bobbitt Project; and 2) Ordinance 18-21, FY18 BA #21, Amending the Budget for the CDBG Infrastructure Project 14-I-2658 (Newton Dairy Road/Birch and Bobbitt Street Sewer Extension Project.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-32, Authorizing the Demolition of 314 Hillside Alley.
  • Consideration of approval of Resolution 18-35, Authorizing the Application for a State Farm Community Grant by the Henderson Fire Department in the Amount of $25,000.
  • Consideration of approval of Ordinance 18-16, Establishing a No Parking Zone on Zeb Robinson Road.
  • Tax Releases and Refunds from Vance County for the Month of March 2018.
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Pavilion, Water and Redevelopment on City’s Plate

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Garry Daeke, Henderson City Council member and chairman of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk call-in show to discuss updates concerning the City of Henderson.

Breckenridge Pavilion

The proposed Breckenridge Pavilion, to be located near the Henderson Police Department in downtown Henderson, will serve as the last piece of the overall Breckenridge Commons project and as the corner piece of the block.

According to Daeke, the landscaping plan for the sited area is expected to be completed and submitted to the City for review within a week. Landscaping work will include, among other tasks, grading, debris removal and parking lot repair.

Groundbreaking is expected to begin on the pavilion this fall, with the City already making plans for future operating procedures. “The City Council has had discussions with the Embassy Foundation about overseeing the booking of events for the pavilion,” Daeke said. “They have been receptive to that.”

Kerr Lake Regional Water System

The Kerr Lake Regional Water System is currently in a two-phase expansion process aimed at increasing the system’s access to the lake’s water supply.

Daeke explained that the first phase of the plan is to increase supply by two million gallons of water. The second phase will bring even greater expansion with up to 20 million gallons of water.

“We can draw from the lake and would pay a fee to have access to the water,” said Daeke. “This is going to give us an increased supply for our partners in Henderson, Oxford and Warren County.”

While the City currently has funding earmarked for the first phase of the project, a new $15 million loan may help the second phase come to fruition.

The proposal to accept the $15 million loan will be discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting.

“We will be able to pull water from Kerr Lake, treat it and send out some of the best water in NC to our customers,” Daeke said.

City Redevelopment Plan

A redevelopment plan to include approximately a quarter of the City, from I-85/Hwy 39 into the downtown area has been in the discussion phase for some time.

“This is the main area for people coming off the interstate and driving into the downtown area and the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center,” said Daeke. “We are trying to do some incredible change in terms of bringing business and industry in, rebuilding houses and revitalizing neighborhoods.”

According to Daeke, the Council hopes to have the redevelopment plan finalized within a year.

“I think this type of planning is what we have to do to help make changes in our whole community – to make it healthier and to draw investment for economic development.”

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Henderson City Council Committee Meetings 4-24-18

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— submitted by Esther McCrackin, City Clerk

Henderson City Council Committee Meetings

The Henderson City Council’s Human Resources Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to discuss issues relating to health insurance and other benefits. This meeting will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue.

The Henderson City Council’s Intergovernmental Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to discuss changes relating to the Rec Players. This meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The public is welcome.

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Public Works Committee Meeting 4-3-18

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— submitted by Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk

The Henderson City Council’s Public Works Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, to discuss a possible stormwater ordinance and fee initiative, as well as budget discussions related to Public Works. This meeting will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue.

The public is welcome.