City Council Member Jerry Smith Announces Departure after 14 Years of Dedicated Service to Hendersonville

Council Member Smith

At the Hendersonville City Council meeting on October 5, 2023, Council Member Jerry Smith announced that he will be stepping back from his role as Council Member. His resignation will be effective at the end of his previously scheduled Council Comp-versation meeting on October 9, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at the Health Sciences Building located at 805 6th Avenue West. 

“For the past 14 years, I have been able to meet the needs of my family while also serving as a council member,” said Council Member Smith during the Thursday night Council Meeting. “Upon deep reflection and much prayer, I have decided that I have to step away from council in order to take care of my family and my parents.” He went on to express what an honor it has been to serve the community as a City Council member and underscored the importance of municipal government in an effective democracy. 

Following Council Member Smith’s announcement and heartfelt speech, Mayor Barbara Volk presented him with a Resolution of Respect and Appreciation for his service to the City of Hendersonville. 

Jerry Smith joined the Hendersonville City Council in December of 2009 and since then has been a devoted proponent of park, greenway, and trail development in Hendersonville, supported quality of life enhancements for the community as well as City of Hendersonville employees, promoted government transparency and the provision of excellent local government customer service, and championed operating at top-notch water and sewer utility for approximately 80,000 customers across Hendersonville and Henderson County.   

During his tenure on the City of Hendersonville City Council, Jerry Smith was instrumental in:  

  • Implementing a Five-Party Agreement Between the City of Hendersonville, Henderson County, Wingate University, Blue Ridge Community College, and Pardee Memorial Hospital for the construction and lease of, and relative interests in a building to be situated at 747 Sixth Avenue West for a Health Sciences Facility.
  • Serving as a member of the Apple Country Greenway Commission, three years as chair, he advocated for and pursued the construction of the Oklawaha Greenway Phase II project.  Additionally, serving as a member of the Parks and Greenspace Master Plan, adopted by City Council in 2011, he paved the way for numerous park improvements including the expansion and construction of the Oklawaha Greenway Phase III project.  Combined, he implemented the construction of over 2.6 miles of greenway.
  • The visionary investment in the construction of Fire Station #2, purchase of multiple fire apparatus, hiring of over 15 firefighters and life safety personnel, rehabilitation and construction of Fire Station #1, the purchase of land for Fire Station #3, and critical investments in a resilient water system, resulting in the achievement of an ISO Public Protection Class 1 rating for all residents and businesses within the City of Hendersonville.
  • Investing millions of dollars in downtown infrastructure including the implementation of Main St. streetscape improvements, public restrooms, a public parking deck, resurfacing of public parking lots, façade grant improvements, small business pivot grants, multiple downtown events including Rhythm and Brews, and signage improvements.
  • The construction and reimagination of the Laura E. Corn mini golf at Edwards Park, reactivating a long-vacant park and parcel.
  • Supporting the sale and redevelopment of the Grey Hosiery Mill into workforce housing and putting it back on the tax scrolls.
  • Advocating for City employees’ salaries, benefits, and service excellence.
  • Dedicating additional tax base to street resurfacing, implementing a schedule to have roads repaved every twenty years.
  • The construction of the new Police Station on Ashe St. and investment in a home repair program to maintain the community character of the neighborhood.
  • The installation of the City’s current Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI), installed in 2011, at the time an innovative and visionary technology that placed Hendersonville on a solid foundation to improve water loss, inflow and infiltration, and future water and sewer improvements throughout the county.
  • Implementing a water/sewer rate structure and utility extension policies to provide more equitable funding of future utility projects.

The City of Hendersonville thanks Council Member Jerry Smith for his years of dedicated service and wishes him the best. 

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