Friday, Jan. 20, 2012
Peculiar returns to voters with gas tax question
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By Allen Edmonds, The Democrat Missourian
Peculiar’s city leaders are hoping, for their roads’ sake, the third time will be the charm.
The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Jan. 17 to place a 1-cent gas tax on its April 3 municipal ballot for a third time in recent years. Both previous attempts failed, although a majority of voters approved the measure each time. The tax requires a two-thirds majority, however, for enactment.
City staff presented the aldermen three separate bills for consideration this week – one allowing the proceeds from the tax to be used for construction, maintenance, repair, policing, signs, cleaning and lighting of roads, in addition to verbiage allowing the proceeds to be used for debt service on future bonds that could be taken out to perform major road projects.
Another measure allowed all but bond payments, committing the city to use the funds on a year-to-year basis, and a third stripped the policing, signs and lighting language from the proposal.
Aldermen voted unanimously for the least restrictive of the three. City Administrator Brad Ratliff recommended the version aldermen eventually passed.
“It’s better to have the ability to do what you need to as a governing body,” he said.
Alderman Bob Fines agreed.
I’d like to see the ability to have a bond issue at some point in time,” in order to take on larger projects at once, Fines said.
Without the ability to use the funds for principal and interest on bond indebtedness, the tax revenue could only be used in annual increments based on the proceeds from that year. In 2011, aldermen presented an ordinance to voters that did not allow for bond indebtedness.
“I don’t have a problem with the bonding portion of it, as long as it deals with roads,” said Alderman Jim Antonides. “I want to make sure it goes to the roads, and the roads only.”
Ratliff reminded Antonides that future aldermen would have the power to decide where to spend the proceeds.
The 2009 proposal drew a 56 percent positive vote total, while the 2011 drew 58 percent. Ratliff said the proposal needs 66 percent to pass.
“And legally, we can’t campaign. All we can do is send out information, and tell people what the tax is for.”
In the past, city leaders have emphasized that the majority of the tax proceeds would come from out-of-town drivers who stop in Peculiar to fill up.
The board also agreed in principle to an agreement with the Downtown Peculiar Arts and Culture District to take over ownership of the historic Cornerstone Chapel and Friendship Hall downtown.
The city has owned the building for six years, and staff is concerned with the expense involved with a number of upcoming maintenance issues on the building.
Under the plan, the building will be turned over to the Peculiar Charitable Foundation, which will simultaneously deed it over to DPACD. The closing is scheduled for Jan. 31. Following the closing, the city will execute a memorandum of understanding with DPACD regarding the dedication.
Ratliff told the board that DPACD is in a better position to solicit donations and volunteer service toward upkeep of the facility than the city is, and the estimated need for repair is greater than the city can handle.
In exchange, the city will continue to pay for utilities in the building for the next two years.
According to DPACD President Brenda Conway, the organization will continue to host major community events, such as the Christmas Tree Lighting, at the facility, as well as its own events. In addition, DPACD will conduct private rentals.
“I think it’s better for the community in their hands than it has been in our hands for the last six years,” said Alderman Donald Turner. “I’m all in favor of preservation, and if we can help out in some way to preserve what we have, this is a good thing.”
The board also finalized the hiring of former Presiding County Commissioner Gary Mallory’s firm, Government Professional Service Management LLC, to represent the city in economic development activities.
The agreement calls for the firm to be paid $35 per hour, not to exceed $10,000 for the remainder of the year, for its services. The contract stipulates that Mallory may not simultaneously represent other political subdivisions in Missouri or Kansas within 100 miles of Peculiar.
