Florence citizens to vote on sales tax resolution
People who live and shop in Florence may be paying higher sales taxes in the future.
At the Monday night meeting of the Florence city council, the members unanimously approved a resolution by city attorney Bob Brookens to bring the question to a vote of Florence citizens on Nov. 4.
The tax would add three-quarters of a cent to all retail sales generated in the city. If the proposal is approved by voters, the added tax will go into effect Jan. 1, 2004.
The council reached a decision to put the additional tax to a public vote after wrestling for months with budget shortfalls and the need to find funds to keep the city running.
Several community meetings are planned between now and the election to inform voters of the necessity of the added tax.
Mayor John Lehman reported on a meeting earlier Monday with state Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller. Miller and several staff members were in Florence to address the problem of the U.S.-50/77 intersection and the number of accidents that have occurred there.
Miller told the assembled group that the state is looking at a roundabout for the intersection as a long term solution. She also announced that KDOT staff will hold a community meeting in Florence Oct. 7 to further explain the solution to the community.
The city originally had hoped a bypass could be built, but Miller told them the price tag for that would be nearly $8 million, while a roundabout could be put in place for about $1.5 million. Miller also said KDOT is looking at lowering the speed limit on the approaches to the intersection.
Councilman Mills expressed the council's gratitude that the secretary took the time to come to Florence to make the announcement. He said they felt encouraged by her interest and her willingness to address the problem on site.
In a related matter, acting Chief of Police James Parmley told the council that the Kansas Highway Patrol has been maintaining a more obvious presence around the intersection in recent weeks.
In a matter tabled several weeks ago, the council approved a new resolution for handling water leaks. In the past, each person was allowed a one-time "pass" on one-half of the amount of an unusually high water bill caused by a leak.
After research, the council altered the previous resolution to allow a single "pass" per resident per year as long as the resident meets certain criteria, including making sure the leak has been repaired.
The council adopted the revised resolution effective Monday. Applications for relief of the charges are to be made to the city clerk in the future, not to the city council.
The council also moved toward creation of a city planning commission with the appointment of a seven member commission.
Linda Britton, Mike Sigwing, Randy Savage, Vickie Covarrubias, Cathy DeForest, Sue Klassen, and Judy Mills were appointed to staggered terms on the commission.
In other business, the council
— gave tentative approval to the Labor Day committee for placement in Veteran's Park of a memorial stone and plaque dedicated to Florence veterans.
— appointed councilman Tim Parmley as the council's representative to the Florence Economic Development advisory board for a one-year term.
— approved the appointment of Sue Klassen as chairman of the new PRIDE committee and heard from Klassen that there will be a community organizational meeting Oct. 5. The committee will host a chili feed, explain the program, and recruit volunteers at that time.
— agreed to place additional ads in area and urban newspapers to advertise for a police chief. Contact also will be made with colleges that offer a degree in that field to see if any suitable candidates are available.
— heard from Florence ambulance director Scott Zogelman that the "sheet drive" by the ambulance department had been less than successful so far. The ambulance crews are in need of new sheets which they use to transfer patients from the ambulance to hospital beds. None have been donated although the drive has been on for several weeks.
— heard that a group of Marion High School honor students will be in Florence Sept. 26 to paint fire hydrants as a community service project.
— approved the acceptance of Terry Britton and Joe Box as members of the Florence Fire Department.
— agreed to appoint city clerk Darla Gore to the position of Standard's Board secretary.
— approved payment of Chamber of Commerce membership dues and meals for Sarah Cope and Darla Gore, who will be representing the city with that group.
