Phaseoneofalong-awaited pavilion in downtown Hennessey was approved by the town board last week.

Thanks to donations of more land and construction work totaling $90,000, it will cost the town $49,900 to get the pavilion frame erected in the multi-phase project.

Town Trustees accepted Richard Simunek’s donation of 11 lots during their Thursday, June 15, meeting.

Simunek, a preservationist and former town trustee, donated his land located south of the town’s nine lots at the former Roy Johnson Lumber yard. The adjoining properties are off Main Street west of the alley near the railroad tracks.

In addition to Simunek’s property, valued at $50,000, two other local businesses are making donations: Hennessey Metal Building Systems, $30,000 (includes naming rights), and Lightle Sand & Construction, $10,000.

That’s what Jack Quirk told the board during his “Discover Hennessey” promotion program talk last week. How long - and how many phases - it will take to complete the pavilion will depend on finances, he said.

The town’s $49,900 will come from the restricted sales tax charged hotel/motel customers.

Park Signage

The pavilion was one of five projects Quirk suggested.

He asked trustees to select two and the other one they chose was park signage.

This is a continuation of the town’s new signage logo at Town Hall, entrances into town and direction signs to the schools, rodeo grounds, library, etc.

The park signage will cost $7,800 and includes a sign at both Bull Foot and Memorial parks on Main Street, Quirk said.

That cost includes two 4x8 signs at $5,800 and then $2,000 for installation.

He suggested they could add signs later at Pat Hennessy Park and the Boy Scout Cabin Park.

Curb Cleaning

The grass and weeds have grown over the curbs and it would cost $8,000 to have them edged to the entrances. One property owner said he was afraid to do it because of the traffic, and his age, Quirk said.

Trustees agreed to have town employees start on that project, after checking on the town’s insurance.

Projects Not OK’d

The board took no action on suggestions to stream lights across the light poles on Oklahoma Avenue for $13,093 after Trustee Randy Bohnstedt suggested they “revisit it later.”

The board also passed on the purchase of banner frames to be used for special events for $3,713.

Lions Club Flag Project Board members agreed to help with a flag project in cooperation with the Lions Club.

Memories of American flags flying on Main Street years ago started talk for Lions Club’s downtown project.

The club has asked town employees to drill two holes in the sidewalks in front of every business to hold up flags. One hole is for the American flag and another for use by the business owner.

The Lions Club plans to have a fundraiser to buy the flags and place them in the holes during holidays and special events.

A factory six-inch deep sleeve and cap will be needed to put in the holes, trustees were told.

Trustees agreed to have the holes dug by town employees and Vice Mayor Harold Shaw said, “I have a hammer drill they can use.”

Funding for Projects

Trustees asked how much money is in the town’s “tourism money” (hotel/ motel sales tax that could be used for promotion projects). That information wasn’t available that night.

Trustee Bert Gritz said the town only expects $30,000 in hotel tax income for 2023-24.

Trustee David Jones asked Quirk how long he is scheduled to work on the town’s project.

Quirk said two years and he has worked on it one year and is paid $3,500 a month for his work and promoting the town on his All About Hennessey site.

All Trustees were at the meeting: Mayor Clif Vogt, Bohnstedt, Gritz, Shaw and Jones.