Henderson City Council approves annexation review, housing closure, water-main contract and park grant

Henderson City Council on March 11, 2019 unanimously approved a series of routine and project-specific measures affecting housing, utilities, public safety and parks.

The council directed the city clerk to investigate the sufficiency of a voluntary annexation petition for 429 Birch Street and 432 Bobbitt Street by adopting Resolution 19-09. City Manager Frank Frazier said the petition would leave only two or three parcels in the Birch/Bobbitt block that could be annexed.

Council also approved Ordinance 19-10 authorizing the closing and vacating of 607 Young Street after Development Services Director Corey Williams reported the house—owned by DSV SPV2 LLC of Columbia, S.C.—had broken windows, unsecured entrances, gray water and accumulated trash. Mr. Williams said condemnation was not necessary at the time and that windows could be boarded; City Attorney D. Rix Edwards noted a 30-day appeal period but advised enforcement could proceed once the ordinance was adopted.

The council awarded a $35,371.40 contract to Jacobs Construction and Development, LLC for a 300-foot extension of the Dabney Drive water main to eliminate a dead-end section and improve system reliability, contingent on Public Water Supply permit approval. City Manager Frank Frazier said “this small project would have a huge impact on the area.” The award was approved by Resolution 19-10.

Recreation and Parks Director Kendrick Vann described plans for a centrally located multi-use park at William and Montgomery streets that would include a splash pad, bike/skate features, fitness elements and an open-air market. Mr. Vann said the request is for a $500,000 North Carolina PARTF matching grant and that “part of the match can be with in-kind services.” Council authorized the application under Resolution 19-15.

Police Chief Marcus Barrow requested the purchase of six portable radios, five mobile data terminals and 17 Surface Pro computers to complete the department’s equipment upgrades and to ensure compatibility with a new voiceless 911 dispatch system. Staff proposed transferring $38,000 from the State Asset Forfeiture Fund to cover the cost; Chief Barrow said the fund would retain roughly $32,000 after the purchase. Council approved the purchase and Ordinance 19-09 authorizing the transfer.

Council members also adopted Ordinance 19-11 to amend Section 15-82.1 concerning inflow and infiltration (I&I), shortening the timeframe for private-property corrections while preserving flexibility for extensions. The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included amendments to the state archives retention schedule, designation of disaster-assistance contacts for Hurricane Michael reimbursement (with Vance County Emergency Management Director Brian Short and Finance Director Joseph Fuqua named primary and secondary agents), and tax releases and refunds for January 2019 totaling $23,177.54.

Most measures passed on unanimous votes with Council Members Elliott and Simmons recorded absent. The meeting included a single public comment from property owner John Noel, who raised a façade-reimbursement dispute with the local downtown development organization. The council recessed to closed session for attorney-client and property matters and later met in a work session before adjourning at 7:19 p.m.

Next steps: the annexation item will proceed through the clerk’s sufficiency review; enforcement of the 607 Young Street closure is subject to the 30-day appeal period; the Dabney Drive contract remains contingent on state permitting; and the PARTF grant application will proceed as authorized.