City Manager Jerry Moss reported to the Henderson City Council on Monday evening that he had told Code Compliance Director Corey Williams to wait on demolitions until the city figures out what to do about landfill fees.
Apparently, one landowner has already paid the city for the cost of demolition of a structure on his property. There are other property owners who are depending on demolition prices quoted by the city when they acquired their properties.
Moss informed the council that the city “would have to eat the landfill fee” if the houses were demolished.
Council member Lynn Harper recommended to the manager that since the situation had changed that the property owner’s money be returned.
“We can’t honor those committments,” Harper said. She stated later in the discussion that since more than 90 days had passed between when the demolition was ordered and when the fee was paid that it was unreasonable to expect the city to honor the fee it had originally quoted when circumstances had changed.
She moved that the council support the manager in that course of action, a motion that was seconded.
City council member Elissa Yount asked if landfill costs in Oxford had been explored. Moss reported that tipping fees there were a little less than half of those that had been quoted at the Vance County landfill.
Yount recommended that the city’s business be taken there.
Moss stated that he would like to take [the waste] to the [Vance County] landfill for free.
The city manager told the council that it had not been known until March that the landfill fees would be an issue. He also reported that the city found out after the fact. He told the council that he was attempting to negotiate a solution with the county, calling them two to three times a week.
Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert commented that the city would be hard-pressed to talk about increases with the county in regards to shared budget items without “give” on the landfill issue.
The motion to return money accepted for house demolition and not to accept any more money for that purpose passed without opposition.
Yount commented at the end of the discussion that property owners were still obligated to tear down condemned houses.
In other committee reports:
* Council member Garry Daeke, Chair of the Community Development Committee, reported that his committee had met on Friday, June 16. He reminded members that the council had agreed to bid for a manager for the Community Development Block Grant Davis Street Project.
Seifert reported on a meeting he had held with Davis Street landlords. He informed the council that property owner Mike Inscoe had agreed that selling his property in the area would be “in everyone’s best interests”.
Inscoe’s ownership of property had caused a delay in the project because of his bid to perform work as a housing rehabilitation specialist. A letter had to be obtained from the state because of the potential conflict of interest. It is unclear if that letter was ever received from Raleigh.
Daeke commented that he hoped the city could find people to buy those homes once the rehabilitation was complete.
* Council member Lonnie Davis, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, reported that his group was working on a leash law.
He also told members that a business owner around Coble Boulevard had put up “No loitering or tresspassing after business hours” signs and mended a hole in a fence, as well as cutting back growth behind buildings.
There have been complaints from Coble Boulevard homeowners, led by resident Nancy Bell, regarding disruptive juveniles in the area at night. Juveniles are drawn to the area because of several businesses that cater to young people.
* Bernard Alston, Chair of the Public Utilities Committee, reported that Bob Sepe of Action Audits, LLC had drafted a third and final draft of a Cable Franchise Ordinance. At the time of the council meeting, Moss was still waiting to hear from Sepe.
Alston also reported on the progress of the Interbasin Transfer.
City Attorney John Zollicoffer advised the council that the public hearing for the cable franchise ordinance may have to be re-advertised.
* For the Journal Committee, Chair Elissa Yount asked for a vote on whether the council wished to adopt an ethics policy modelled on that which has been adopted by the state.
That motion passed without opposition.
Yount also proposed that a disclaimer be placed immediately upon the city’s website regarding the accuracy of the information it contains. She told members that it was standard on all municipal websites.
A motion to include the disclaimer also passed without opposition.
* For the Land Planning and Development Committee, Chair Bobby Gupton told the council that he had not yet heard back from realtors regarding properties the city has put up for sale. The deadline was set for June 20.