Fire marshall put on unpaid leave; garbage rates increase

Following a closed session in Monday night’s meeting of the Henrietta City Council, aldermen voted to place City Fire Marshall Larry Heaton on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into theft of funds from the Henrietta Volunteer Fire Department. 

As the fire marshall, Heaton is paid $600 per year for the inspection of public buildings. During Monday’s meeting, it was discovered that Heaton’s license to conduct inspections was expired.

Heaton serves as treasurer of the department. In January, the finance committee for the HVFD’s ongoing capital funds campaign noticed discrepancies in the department’s books leading to an investigation by Texas Rangers. See related story.

Garbage collection rates for Henrietta residents will soon increase after city aldermen passed a resolution.

With the new rates in place, residential services for a single rollout poly-cart will be $13.81 per month, an increase of 90 cents. Additional poly-carts are $3 each, an increase of 23 cents per month. The increase is designed to cover a fuel surcharge collected by IESI waste management company.

The increase is the first since November 2004. Commercial rates will remain the same.

Aldermen approved the closure of two alleyways in Henrietta, one running north-south on block 21 of the Original Town of Henrietta, and another on block 23 of the Earle’s Addition of Henrietta.