Tim Perry of Hennessey got the nod from Hennessey’s Board of Trustees to use the town’s gym for youth basketball lessons, camps and clinics.

The board decided to charge Perry’s H-Town Hoops Academy $40 an hour for use of the gym that’s located on Main Street, south of the public library.

Members took the action in a special meeting Tuesday morning at Town Hall.

The board had tabled action on the matter in the previous week’s meeting.

All board members were present for the special meeting: Mayor Mike Shaw, Vice Mayor Bert Gritz, Wes Hardin, Keith Meek and Clif Vogt. Also at the board table were Curtis Turner, public works director, and Kati Walters, recording secretary.

Perry also attended. ›

Pool Design Contract

Once the town board approves designs for Hennessey’s new aquatic center, it will take nine months for completion “if all goes OK.”

That’s what Shaw said after the board approved a design contract with Carrothers Construction.

The new pool is expected to open in May 2020, said Gritz.

“That means we’ll be without a pool another summer,” said Shaw, who pushed for the pool and goes off the board in April.

The board approved the construction contract last week with Carrothers for the $2.1 million pool/bathhouse/features. The Paola, Kan., company is responsible for hiring an engineer and architect for the project.

Code Enforcement Officer

Jerry Allen was retained for $700 a month as the town’s code enforcement officer starting in the spring, but not without comments.

Hardin said there needs to be “some consistency” in the enforcement because he’d heard that lots of people were ticked off.

“There also seems to be some confusion over the red tags (denoting violations),” said Hardin.

“I got one of them,” said Shaw. “So did Bert.”

Meek said some of the citations were issued after storms and people hadn’t been able to clean up after them.

Other Business

The board approved $8,458.30 in repairs to a pumper fire truck with work by Myder Fire Support Services, and the purchase of four man-hole covers from Ferguson Waterworks for $5,567.12.

After a 15 minute executive session, the board raised police officer Mike Jones’ pay from $15 an hour to $16.25, and dispatcher Matt Bruner from $9 to $10.