HENDERSON, Ky. – The City of Henderson Board of Commissioners passed the first reading of an ordinance that would increase residential fees for collection of household refuse and other related fees at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
If passed on second reading, the residential rate for collection and disposal of garbage will increase from $17 to $19.50 per month and will include a $1 per month earmark for recycling services. The last increase in residential collection was in July 2013.
The ordinance also sets a new fee for special pick-up of heavy trash or brush: $30 for a small load (pick-up truck or 1-ton dump truck) and $60 for a large truckload (single axle dump truck). The rate, set in 1995, has been $20.
Other increases related to sanitation services were approved Tuesday night by municipal order:
Fee to dispose refuse at the landfill: $7 (up from $5) to dump up to 400 pounds. The per ton charge increases to $35 from $25.
Commercial two-yard dumpster collection and disposal: $40 per month up from $35 for once-weekly pick-up, which has been in force since 1995. Each extra pick-up during the week will be $35.
Commissioners also finalized an ordinance adding an administrative department for Emergency Communications and amended the employee manual to exempt the emergency communications director position from Civil Service.
They approved a municipal order hiring Jordan Webb to the newly created position. Ms. Webb has been with the City of Henderson Communications division since June 2013.
In other business, the commission:
–Passed first reading of ordinances that would allow the Henderson Police Department to rehire retired police officers and that would amend the pay plan to set the rate for hiring them.
–Approved an agreement that will allow the replacement of a stormwater culvert under the CSX railroad tracks.
–Heard a report and approved the audit of the Henderson Water Utility.
–Received a refund check of surplus funds from Henderson City-County Planning Commission Director Brian Bishop in the amount of $18,000.
–Recognized the Tri-County Council of Labor for the 450 hours they volunteered in constructing The Perch pocket park, which recently won an award from the Kentucky Chapter of the American Public Works Association.
–Heard a presentation from Brianna Carroll of Kentucky League of Cities, who presented the Friend to Kentucky Cities Award to State Sen. Robby Mills, a former Board of Commissioners member.
–Heard a quarterly report from Charles Johnson, director of the City-County Human Rights Commission.
The next meeting is special called session scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, in the third-floor Assembly Room at the Henderson Municipal Center.