1) Prioritize the city’s infrastructure needs.
Mayor
James David (Pete) O’Geary (no incumbent in race): No response submitted.
Jeanne Hight (no incumbent in race): 1. WATER AND SEWER MAINTENANCE. THERE ARE STILL MANY LEAKS IN THE CITY’S WATER LINES, HOWEVER THE SEWER LINES ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE CITY OF HENDERSON’S SEWER LINES HAVE BEEN SPUTTERING RAW SEWAGE FOR YEARS. THE ONLY THING THAT THE CITY DOES IN THROW LIME OVER THE RAW SEWAGE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE STATE OF N. C. HAS NOT ALREADY DEMANDED THAT THE LINES BE FIXED AND FINE THE CITY OF HENDERSON, I’M TALKING OVER TWENTY YEARS. WHY DIDN’T THE CITY FIX THE SEWER LINES YEARS AGO WHEN THEY HAD THE MONEY. IN MY OPINION THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY ARE FORCE TOO.
2. POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHY ARE THE POLICEMEN DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR JOBS. THE RUMORS ARE THE NUMBERS HAVE REACHED TWELVE ALREADY.
3. KERR LAKE REGIONAL WATER PLANT. IF THE DROUGHT CONTINUES WE’LL PROBABLY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE PUMP AND INTAKE PIPES AT KERR LAKE. WE NEED THE EMPLOYEE AT THE KERR LAKE REGIONAL WATER PLANT TO STAY ON THEIR TOES.
4. CODE COMPLIANCE. IF THE COO PASSES THE CITY WILL NEED THE SERVICES OF A CODE INSPECTOR. WE SHOULDN’T WAIT AT THE LAST MINUTE TO START LOOKING. THE DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ON HOW MANY HAS TO BE HIRED AND AT WHAT COST TO THE CITY.
5. PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY GARAGE. THE MEN AT PUBLIC WORKS IN MY OPINION ARE NOT KEEPING THE CITY AS CLEAN AS THEY COULD. THEY ARE LEAVING TRASH CANS UNEMPTIED.
SPENDING A GREAT DEAL OF TIME PICKING UP TRASH LIKE LARGE CHAIRS, SOFA, ECT. MOST WHAT I HAVE SEEM COMES FROM RENTERS. MY BUSINESS WAS TOLD BY THE CITY THAT IF THEY PICKED OUR LARGE TRASH UP WHEN WE CLEANED UP OUR DISPLAY IT WOULD COST US $300.00. DOES THE CITY GET 300.00 FROM THE RENTERS OR LANDLORD?
Editor’s Note: Ms. Hight also submitted a second, shorter list of infrastructure needs which appears below.
1. WATER AND SEWER MAINTENANCE
2. POLICE DEPARTMENT
3. FIREANDRESCUE
4. KERR LAKE REGIONAL WATER PLANT
5. CODE COMPLIANCE
6. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
7. PLANNING, COMMUNITY, AND DOWNTOWN
8. PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY GARAGE
9. FINANCE DEPARTMENT
10. ADMINISTRATION
11. CITY COUNCIL
12. WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
13. HENDERSON-VANCE PARKS AND RECREATION
14. HUMAN RESOURCES
Ward 1
Mary Emma Evans (Incumbent): No response submitted.
George W. King, Sr. (Challenger): Safety is most important. There is a need for more jobs for the economy and cleaner community with sewage issues. We need less crime among other things. These go hand in hand to improve Henderson.
Ward 1 At Large
Bernard Alston (Incumbent): No response submitted.
Sara Coffey (Challenger): The sewer system is in dire need of repair. The sewerage treatment plant is in need of updating and street repairs need to continue forward.
Ward 2
Bobby Gupton (Incumbent): Reduction of crime. Upgrade the sewer plant, repair or replace broken or clogged sewer lines.
Mike Rainey (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 2 At Large
Lynn Harper (Incumbent): As a preface to this answer, may I say that to oversee the work on all of these infrastructure improvements, the City must hire a Professional Engineer with experience in water systems. The City of Henderson is the Managing Partner of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, a big business that is responsible to provide safe drinking water for this entire region. The City is now advertising for this position.
The first priority is the city’s sewage pipe system. We are under a state mandate to fix the sewage system immediately or be fined. Pipes in some sections of the city are over one hundred years old. Some sections have collapsed. Rainwater leaks into the system in many places–normally rainwater flows through the storm sewers into the creeks. When it leaks into the sewage pipes, it must be processed with expensive chemicals at the Water Treatment (Sewage) Plant just as though is sewage. The Infiltration and Inflow (I & I) Team budgeted this year by the city is working hard to eliminate rainwater from flowing into the Sewage System.
The second priority is the Water Treatment Plant itself. Staff indicates that the equipment and the process are outdated. The process also uses a lot of expensive and caustic chemicals. Replacing this plant will be very expensive–up to $30 million.
The third priority is expansion of the processing capability of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System. Henderson is the 60% owner and Managing Partner of this system. With maximum adjustments, the plant can now process 15 million gallons of water per day. With demand for water predicted to grow ever greater in the coming years, expanding the processing capability of this plant becomes a priority.
The fourth priority is the water pipe system in the city. As with the sewage system, many pipes are over 100 years old.
The fifth priority right now is the streets and sidewalks. Repairs and resurfacing done each year are paid for with Powell Bill Funds–based on the taxes paid on gasoline in this area. The Public Works Committee has ridden the streets with Staff to be sure that the streets and sidewalks that need it most get repaired. This is my fifth priority because our streets will be in good shape after paving to be done this fall.
Michael Inscoe (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 3
Garry Daeke (Incumbent): 1. Sewer, especially the sewer plant that needs upgrades in functionality and technology, estimated to cost near $30 million. The council is presently addressing the I &I ( inflow and infiltration) of storm water into the treatment facility with the I & I team, under the SOC with the State.
2. Sewer and water lines inside the city.
3. Continue the paving of roads citywide.
Frank Terry (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 3 At Large
Brenda Peace (Challenger): No response submitted.
Elissa Yount (Incumbent): The first infrastructure priority would be to map, replace and repair the failing underground pipes that carry our sewage and storm water and all the problems related to the inflow and infiltration that comes from having these collapsing systems. The second priority would be blighted neighborhoods with the problems of housing and livability issues that come with poor quality housing. The third priority would be to work toward getting the IBT permit to allow us to expand our water plant for future water supplies.
Ward 4
Horace P. Bullock (Challenger): No response submitted.
Lonnie Davis (Incumbent): No response submitted.
Ward 4 At Large
George Daye (Challenger): No response submitted.
Lora Durham (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ranger Wilkerson (Incumbent): SEWER – full concentration needed before too late.