City Council Members Present from L to R: Brian Hiebner, Teri Pollet, Mayor Corbin Tessman, City Clerk Connie Brown, Kevin Friesen, and Mitch Huxoll.
Here are a few highlights and key items of interest from the Henderson City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 8th.
Brandon Lehman from Perennial Public Power reported to the council about the upcoming rate increases and the reasons for them.
He stated that the last rate increase occurred in 2013, and last fall, they hired a rate consultant to complete a cost-of-service and rate design. He cited several reasons for the increase, including inflation, a 140% rise in transformer costs, an increase in insurance, fuel, poles, and other operational expenses.
Councilman Brian Hiebner asked, “Why did you wait so long? I mean, wouldn’t it have been better to have been raising them incrementally instead of so much now?” Lehman said that was a really good question, and it had to do with several factors, including board decisions. He explained how, before COVID, pricing was pretty steady, but all that changed afterwards with increased costs.
Henderson residents will see an average 5.7% rate increase effective October 1.
A “Henderson Mom” group presented preliminary plans to the council for new playground equipment at the downtown park. Jacqueline Goertzen was the spokesperson for the group, explaining their plans to remove all existing playground equipment and presenting drawings for three options to create an updated playground.
“We haven’t started any fundraising or looking for grants yet because we wanted to make sure the City Council approved this project,” said Goertzen.
The City Council discussed ways to fund the project by utilizing the Henderson Community Foundation as a means of gathering donations. They assured the group that the City would be on board for the project, but wouldn’t be able to fund it entirely; however, they would be able to include something in next year’s budget to help.
“You’ve got our blessing to promote it and proceed,” said Mayor Corbin Tessman.
Mainstay Communication employees Matt Enns and Jordan Hiebner presented information about the upcoming plans for Smart Town Henderson.
Hiebner explained how Smart Town will work in Henderson, allowing Mainstay subscribers to have public access to the Internet throughout the town in public spaces beyond their own homes.
“We are doing a sort of soft roll-out of this new feature and are asking the City Council for permission to set it up at the Henderson Aquatic Center for the rest of the summer. This will be a good testing spot for everyone to get a taste of how it works,” said Hiebner.
The City Council approved for Mainstay to proceed with using Smart Town at the Henderson Aquatic Center.
Reed Miller from Miller & Associates reported to the council updates on water and sewer extension plans to Hiebner Body Shop and S. 15th and Ash Street. After discussion and questions for Miller, the council approved the most cost-effective of the three options presented for providing water only to South 15th and Ash Street. The extension is needed for the new Mainstay building north of the golf course and Derek Hiebner’s building.
The council discussed the 40 ft. driveway approved by the State for entrance into the south end of the Custom Wood Products building on Spur 93A. Clerk Connie Brown explained that a business had rented a portion of the Custom Wood Products building and needed a more extended driveway to accommodate large semi-trucks that would enter and unload their products on a monthly basis.
“I don’t like this at all since this area is such a high-traffic area, but we can’t do anything about it, and we can’t override what the state has already approved,” said Councilman Hiebner.
After approving an ordinance for extending the speed zone on Spur 93A as requested by the State and hearing reports, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.