commission approves incentive for up to 1,000 citizens receiving COVID vaccine

HENDERSON, Ky. – The City of Henderson Board of Commissioners approved a financial incentive program for previously unvaccinated adult City of Henderson residents who receive full doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Up to 1,000 unvaccinated adults who become fully vaccinated between Sept. 22 and Oct. 22will receive a $100 gift card paid for with American Rescue Plan funding.
The incentive is available only at T&T Drug Store (1331 Clay St.), Midway Pharmacy (Eastgate Shopping Center on Outer Second Street) and Health First Community Health Center (700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave).
The commission took the measure in an effort to help increase the local vaccination rate percentage, which was 47.36 percent on Tuesday, and “to assist in stopping the COVID-19 virus outbreak and provide some relief to area hospitals” and health-care workers that are under stress.
Henderson County has been in “the red zone” with a high COVID caseload since late July.
Among other business, the commission:
–Tabled for additional research first reading of an ordinance that would amend the employee manual and add one paid floating holiday for city employees that could be selected from Washington’s Birthday, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day or Inauguration Day (or future designated federal holidays.)
–Approved first readings of two ordinances that create a position of Public Safety Officer within the Henderson Police Department. The position helps address staffing and training challenges in the department.
–Approved the employment of Tim Clayton as director of Henderson Municipal Gas. Clayton succeeds Owen Reeves, who retired at the end of August.
–Heard a report from Special Projects Manager Dylan Ward about the Build-A-Pool Conference he attended in August at the direction of the commission. A proposal for building a competition aquatics center was presented by a citizens group earlier this year.
The next meeting is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28.
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