Board of Commissioners Meetings

222 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session Meeting on December 4, 2025 A Special Called Work Session of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Henderson, Kentucky, was held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., prevailing time, at the Municipal Services Center located at 1449 Corporate Court, Henderson, Kentucky. There were present Mayor Bradley S. Staton, presiding: PRESENT: Commissioner Nicholas E. Whitt Commissioner Kelsey Hargis ABSENT: Commissioner Rodney Thomas Commissioner Robert N. Pruitt, Sr. CITY STAFF MEMBERS included: Dylan Ward, City Manager; Dawn Kelsey, City Attorney; Jenna Basham, Project Manager; Jeannie Quattrocchi, Project Coordinator; Chelsea Mills, Finance Director; Daniel Lehman, Police Officer; Megan McElfresh, Human Resources Director; Chad Moore, Assistant Fire Chief; Travis Owens, Assistant IT Systems Director; Sam Lingerfelt, Safety & Training Coordinator; Michael McFadden, Safety & Training Coordinator; Jessa Brandon, City Clerk; Holli Blanford, Public Relations Director; Billy Bolin, Police Chief; Robert “Bob” Shoultz, Deputy Police Chief; Thomas Kenney, Parks & Recreation Director; Chris Stachewicz, Parks & Recreation Superintendent; and Briscoe Edwards, Police Officer. ALSO PRESENT: Bobbi Jo Marx; Nivea Carter; Dwight Williams; Matthew Reynolds; Reverend Charles Johnson; Kristie Randolph; Jay Randolph; Jason Beasley; Kevin Gibson; Adam Blythe; Kacee Campbell; Ron Alexander; Stacey Gilbert; Michelle Chappell; Lillie Pruitt; Jayme Greer; Lindsey Williams; Lisa Fulkerson; Bobbie Jarrett; Regina O’Neal; James Pryor; Danielle Anguish; Kelsi Dunham-Johnston; Stephanie Dossett; Britney Smith; Taylor Heady; many inner city residents; and Vince Tweddell, Publisher/Editor, the Hendersonian. ________________________ THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED: INNER CITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROPOSED PROJECTS FINAL VOTE AND BUDGET MAYOR STATON explained that as an attempt by the City to improve upon the Inner City Improvement Plan Initiative, this work session will be live streamed, and voting will be open online throughout the entire month of December to enable for voters to ask questions of the committee members and City staff. Mayor Staton gave a presentation reporting on the progress of prior year projects from the Inner City Improvement Plan Committees, explaining that the projects being voted on at this time will be for fiscal year budgeting allocation, and will be slated for completion at future dates. Regarding process changes, Mayor Staton explained that the City will enable the community to choose the focus areas for future years and empower the community to utilize those focus areas to name the next committees. Mayor Staton reiterated that the presentations given at the called work session will be made available online, that the live stream will be available for viewing after as well, and that online voting will continue until January, 2026. A total of nine projects were presented by the five committees.  Public Safety Committee  Kristie Randolph presented the Solar Lighting Project, which would address residents’ concerns of poor lighting facilitating criminal activity within the inner city. She explained that the goal of the project is to provide peace of mind to residents who believe additional lighting will provide more personal safety. She added that the Solar Lighting Project could also aid the doorbell cameras given out in relation to a prior year project of the Public Safety Committee, to increase visibility of the cameras. Solar lights to be installed on the outside of residences would be distributed to residents who indicated interest at no cost to them, upon completion of an application form requesting the light, and with the option of  223 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session Meeting on December 4, 2025 professional installation given as well. The total estimated project cost is $7,500.00, estimating for 100 lights at $50 each, and installation estimated at $50 for approximately 50 lights. The lights proposed are solar motion-detecting lights, which include a 2200mAh battery which charges within 4 hours of solar exposure, detects motion within a 120 degree angle, and can detect motion up to 32.8 feet away.  Kristie Randolph also presented the committee’s proposal of Food Insecurity Cooking Classes which seek to address the ongoing issue of food insecurity by offering cooking classes to residents, which incorporate ingredients that can be found at food pantries and like-places and can be made with limited ingredients and materials. The cooking classes would feature instructor-lead cooking; offer attendees the opportunity to sample the recipes; enable attendees to take home a recipe card for what they learned to cook during the class, which would feature ingredients, number of servings, and directions; and learn how to create meals for their families with limited resources. Furthermore, the recipes can be made into a cookbook, printed, and sold to fund future success and facilitate the sustainability of the program.  Kristie Randolph lastly presented the proposal of Blue Light Safety Poles to be placed in locations within the Inner City in accordance with areas of greater saturation on a crime map provided by Henderson Police Department. The poles would be a direct line to emergency services for children, homeless, or any individual in need without adequate means of communication to contact 9-1-1 emergency services. The proposal originated during Mock City Government, a program in which the City of Henderson enables fifth grade students from all Henderson County Schools to participate in a simulation of local government process, by electing a Mayor and Commissioners, in addition to choosing a City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk, in order to host a simulated City Commission Meeting and determine solutions to two residential complaints. At the Mock City Government in 2025, Brycen Gish, AB Chandler fifth grader, when asked by the Mayor what students would like to see added into their parks, answered Blue Light Safety Poles. MAYOR STATON invited Brycen Gish to the podium to recognize and thank him for his insightful proposal.  Blight & Affordable Housing Committee  Michelle Chappell presented a proposal for Blight & Affordable Housing Trainings, which seeks to assist residents in transitioning from renting to homeownership by providing the knowledge and the tools to assist, with the overall goal of creating a more vested interest in the community and, ultimately, creating a more sustainable community. A series of 5 trainings will be offered, with two date options each, and Zoom options available as well to best accommodate all schedules. The five trainings will be: Building Financial Foundations; Renters’ Rights and Responsibilities; Transitioning to Homeownership; Maintaining and Sustaining a Home; and Long-Term Stability & Engagement. Upon completion of the full series, participants will qualify for a $1,000.00 incentive, to be given directly to a landlord or financial institution on their behalf for the purpose of down payment assistance or rental deposit. The incentive is to be used within 6 months of initial qualification, with the possibility of extension up to 6 months in extenuating circumstances.  Economic Development Committee  Adam Blythe presented a vision to expand upon the Small Business Incentive Package presented by the prior year’s Economic Development Committee to aid new business ventures by alleviating or lessening the costs associated with start-  224 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session Meeting on December 4, 2025 up (building rent, utilities, etc.). The expansion, which the committee is calling the “Business Empowerment Package,” will enable the inclusion of existing businesses within the Inner City to facilitate growth and success by empowering the business owners already operating within the Inner City.  Adam Blythe presented the committee’s vision of “Refresh the Block”, which seeks to identify “epicenters” or common destinations within the Inner City, or alternatively, gateways to the Inner City, and improve upon those areas to support local business, while also encouraging and attracting new business and tourism to the area. Mr. Blythe explained that a map will be available at the committee’s table for residents to mark areas they feel would be best suited for this project, and to suggest improvements that could be made to those areas.  Neighborhood Empowerment Committee  Bobbi Jo Marx presented a request for more funding to be given to the Neighborhood Action Projects facilitated by Audubon Kids Zone. She explained that the City had previously afforded $10,000.00 to the program, which was then distributed as grant money, given directly to Inner City residents from Audubon Kids Zone (AKZ) through a sort of grant program administered by AKZ. The applications for which were given to and reviewed by AKZ and scored using a rubric to measure community impact. She continued that Neighborhood Action Projects can garner fast, observable, and measurable results, and furthermore, empower residents to bring their own visions for the community to fruition.  Reverend Charles Johnson & Lillie Pruitt presented a proposal for a Community Fun Day which seeks to create neighborhood pride by bringing families and neighbors together, and enabling kids to play and have fun, while simultaneously utilizing public spaces within the Inner City to facilitate the community engagement. The event would include games, crafts, bounce houses, food, music, DJ, dancing, a guest speaker, booths showcasing helpful programs and resources; and would incorporate businesses and organizations within the Inner City. Regarding a guest speaker, the committee proposed Mr. Courtney Johnson, of Evansville’s Young and Established, U.K. Basketball players, and historic American track and field athlete, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.  Youth Enrichment & Engagement  Jason Beasley presented the committee’s proposal for “Mentorship Begins With You,” a project that lays the groundwork for employers to enable and encourage their employees to donate their time and service to volunteer agencies that support and facilitate youth mentorship. The project is utilizing the City of Henderson’s new Community Service Policy as a guideline to create a model for other businesses and agencies to utilize, with the vision that mentorship and youth engagement will increase substantially as a result, with the City spearheading the initiative. MAYOR STATON explained that regarding the future of the Inner City Improvement Plan Initiative, the City will be making and facilitating changes to the process in order to inspire more feedback from residents, community engagement, and actionable, meaningful change. Voting will remain open throughout the entire month of December 2025 to enable voters to ask questions and thoroughly gain an understanding of each project before voting. Mayor Staton continued by encouraging everyone to speak to the committee members present, join the team for future years, and help guide the initiative as it moves forward. NO FORMAL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.  225 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of Called Work Session Meeting on December 4, 2025 MEETING ADJOURN: MOTION by Commissioner Whitt, seconded by Commissioner Hargis, to adjourn the meeting. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Whitt ------ Aye: Commissioner Thomas --- Absent: Commissioner Hargis ----- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ------ Absent: Mayor Staton ----- Aye: WITHOUT OBJECTION, Mayor Staton declared the Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:03 p.m. ___________________________ Bradley S. Staton, Mayor December 16, 2025 ATTEST: ______________________ Jessa Brandon, City Clerk