The Town of Hennessey Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Trustees Randy Bohnstedt, John Peach, David Jones, and Harold Shaw were present, and the consent agenda was unanimously approved. This included last monthโs meeting minutes, approval of claims, and several key items of business.
A major agenda item was the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement with Hennessey Public Schools to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) for the upcoming school year. Trustees also received a quarterly financial report from Crawford & Associates and voted to engage Arledge and Associates to conduct the fiscal year 2024โ2025 annual audit.
During public comments, Jack Quirk of All About Hennessey and Discover Hennessey extended appreciation to dozens of individuals and town departments who contributed to the townโs recent community events. He praised the success of the go-kart races, car show, and fireworks, crediting Harold Shaw for organizing one of the townโs largest two-day events, which drew nearly 800 attendees and encouraged overnight stays.
Quirk addressed criticism over holding the fireworks show after July 4th, explaining that the date was selected for practical reasons and ultimately drew the largest crowd in 20 years. He also recognized the efforts of town staff, police, fire, volunteers, and organizations such as Hennessey United for their support.
Town Administrator Tiffany Rowen reported on several administrative items, including ongoing grant projects. Updates included the Municipal Road Drilling Activity Fund for Mitchell Road (awaiting state and federal funds), upcoming REAP bid deadlines (July 22 at 10 a.m.), and a construction meeting for the RIG grant water station on July 25. The swimming pool will close for the season on August 10, and a staff appreciation pool party is scheduled for July 31.
A significant citizen complaint was raised by Kelly Bullis during the Hennessey Utility Authority portion of the meeting. Bullis cited multiple instances of water overbilling at commercial properties, including a recent discrepancy at 1341 South Main. Bullis called for a correction based on actual readings, verification of meter IDs, and a full review of billing anomalies at three properties. She criticized the townโs response to previous concerns, including explanations involving leaks or hose usage, and argued that citizens should not bear the burden of proof.
In council remarks, council member Harold Shaw expressed frustration that the mayor, Randy Bohnstedt had previously apologized for comments made by Shaw during phone calls. The mayor responded that those statements, made in an official capacity, reflected on the entire board and thus warranted clarification, adding there were no hard feelings.
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