Board of Commissioners Meetings

12 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session/Strategic Goal Planning Meeting on January 21, 2025 A Called Work Session/Strategic Goal Planning of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Henderson, Kentucky, was held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., prevailing time, at the Henderson County UK Extension Office located at 3341 Kentucky Highway 351, Henderson, Kentucky. There were present Mayor Bradley S. Staton presiding: PRESENT: Commissioner Kelsey Hargis Commissioner Rodney Thomas Commissioner Robert N. Pruitt Commissioner Nicholas Whitt CITY STAFF MEMBERS included: William L. “Buzzy” Newman, Jr., City Manager; Dylan Ward, Assistant City Manager; Dawn Kelsey, City Attorney; Donna Madden, Executive Assistant; Jessa Brandon, City Clerk; Holli Blanford, Public Relations Director; Chelsea Mills, Finance Director; Dawn Winn, Assistant Finance Director; Megan McElfresh, Human Resources Director; Brian Williams, Public Works Director; Trace Stevens, Parks, Recreation & Cemeteries Director; Jenna Basham, Project Manager; Crystal Windhaus, Mass Transit Superintendent; Greg Nunn, Information Technology Director; Travis Owens, Assistant Information Technology Director; Billy Bolin, Police Chief; Robert “Bob” Shoultz, Deputy Police Chief; Chad Moore, Assistant Fire Chief; Tim Clayton, Gas System Director; Jordan Webb, Emergency Communications Director; Steve Davis, Code Administrator; and Sam Lingerfelt, Safety & Training Coordinator. ALSO PRESENT: Brad Bickett, Henderson Municipal Power & Light General Manager; Bart Boles, Henderson Water Utility General Manager ________________________ THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED: Departments and Utility Partner Presentations ✓ Each department and all Administrative divisions were represented, presenting updates on previous goals and presented goals and capital expenditures for the next two to five year period and beyond in many cases. Several issues/items were brought forward that will need planning and funding well into the next five to ten years. In the forefront, was the issue of succession planning with many key positions within the organization having retirements over the next one to three years. Also, several capital projects for upgrades for parks and recreation and municipal facilities building maintenance projects. ✓ Henderson Water Utility and Henderson Municipal Power & Light general managers presented updates on previous goals and presented goals and capital expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year and beyond. Both utilities have major projects underway which include, for HUW, a pump station for the sports complex, necessary changes to continue being compliant with new EPA requirements, replacement of a 20” Water Main at Washington and Vine, and Phase 4 of the storm water drainage project in Country View; and for HMPL, a new facility to serve new development at Bentley Point, a plan to replace 250 poles per year, upgrades to a substation, new substations to better serve The Hills, replacing meters, and new development from Wathen Lane. ✓ Commission Members listed their top goals/priorities, which included-but were not limited to: affordable housing needs; economic development/entrepreneurship, how to stay relevant and competitive; tangible Inner-City development, to include revitalizing its parks and attracting new businesses; continued collaboration between departments and outside agencies/governmental entities; ensuring the sustainability of the Sports Complex operation; installation of a boat dock; maintaining low utilities costs; long-term vision planning, anticipating the impact of I69 completion and how to remain in good financial standing while simultaneously achieving goals; how to  13 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session/Strategic Goal Planning Meeting on January 21, 2025 better incentivize city staff, in effort to lower the turnover rates; revisit the code of ethics for a potential re-write; increase crime prevention efforts, particularly with juveniles; and address the issues that arose during the ice storm event, in regard to more quickly restoring power to citizens. NO FORMAL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. ________________________ MEETING ADJOURN: MOTION by Commissioner Pruitt, seconded by Commissioner Thomas to adjourn. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Hargis Aye: Commissioner Pruitt Aye: Commissioner Thomas Aye: Commissioner Whitt Aye: Mayor Staton -------------- Aye: WITHOUT OBJECTION, Mayor Staton declared the work session adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m. ATTEST: ________________________ Bradley S. Staton, Mayor ________________________ February 11, 2025 Jessa Brandon, City Clerk