At Monday night’s council meeting, Henderson City Council member Mary Emma Evans introduced a motion to increase funding to the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library from $277,000 to $300,000.
The motion was seconded by council member Lonnie Davis.
Council member Elissa Yount immediately inquired as to where the money would come from.
Evans responded, “We’ll work on it.”
Council member Lynn Harper commented that the council had already spent twelve hours working on the budget.
Evans stated that all she had done was ask for a vote.
Harper commented that the council should know where the money is coming from.
Evans said that Harper had asked for $20,000 for the Appearance Commission, and she did not know where that was coming from.
Harper replied that that had occured during budget deliberations.
“I’m not going to let you all intimidate me,” Evans said. “I put a motion on the floor. It’s up to us what we do with it.”
Yount recommended that the council find out where the money is coming from. She suggested that the council give up its health insurance. She said she was not willing to allow employees or departments to give up any money.
Evans replied that it would not be a problem for her.
“I will not allow you all to run this city by yourselves,” Evans said. “I have some input too.”
Davis, however, expressed that he works very hard for the city and that he was not about to give up his health insurance because he needs it.
Health insurance for city council members comes to about $32,000 annually, according to City Manager Jerry Moss.
Yount continued to insist that the council know the source of the revenue before voting on the motion.
Council member Garry Daeke commented that the budget was a big document.
“Picking one thing out like that and using it against a council member is wrong,” Daeke said, referring to the health insurance item discussed by Yount. He stated that there were hundreds of things to look at in the budget.
Council members Harper, Bobby Gupton, Yount, and Ranger Wilkerson voted against the motion. Members Evans, Bernard Alston, Daeke, and Davis voted for the motion. The deciding vote cast by Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert granted the library the additional $23,000 in funding.
The vote was the third tie vote of the evening and the fourth in the history of this city council.