Council approves two property sales, adds downtown motorcycle event and tables compensatory-time policy

At its March 9 meeting, the Henderson City Council approved several floor actions: authorization to sell the city‑owned parcel at 405 Neathery Street and to advertise for upset bids under NC General Statute 160A-269 (Resolution 26-06-A); authorization to sell two small office parcel subdivisions of the former Faulkner complex on Young Street and to advertise for upset bids (Resolution 26-15); approval to amend the 2026 City‑sponsored events calendar to include a downtown motorcycle-themed pilot event, 'Bikes, Blues and Food' (Resolution 26-12); and tabling of a personnel policy change removing compensatory time from the Administrative Policy (Resolution 26-13).

City Manager Paylor Spruill summarized that the Neathery Street offer had been increased by the prospective buyer from $2,000 to $6,000, addressing a prior deficiency versus the 40 percent assessed-value requirement. Councilmember Garry D. Daeke moved to authorize the sale and advertise for upset bids; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Tami Walker and recorded as approved by unanimous vote in the minutes.

For the Young Street parcels (former Faulkner complex), Manager Spruill said the combined tax value of the small office buildings was roughly $20,000 and that the proposed sale could bring in about $100,000; Councilmember Tami Walker moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Michael Venable, and the motion was recorded as approved unanimously.

On the events calendar, Mayor Melissa Elliott proposed adding the 'Bikes, Blues and Food' event to support downtown activity; staff estimated direct City costs around $1,600 (excluding possible overtime). Assistant to the City Manager Kendrick Vann clarified the event would not include alcohol under current City‑sponsored event insurance and that department-level changes had been made to the application. Council discussed liability, measurement of economic impact and treating the event as a one‑year pilot; the Council approved the amendment by a 6–1 vote with Councilmember Sam Seifert recorded as voting no.

Council also agreed to table Resolution 26-13 (removing compensatory time) so staff could examine potential impacts on Police Department personnel prior to returning the item for future consideration.

The meeting record shows these actions as approved at the March 9 meeting. Where the minutes use the phrase 'approved unanimously' but also list vote names that include 'no' votes, the minutes contain an internal inconsistency; this article reports the recorded individual votes when provided and flags the inconsistency for the municipal record.