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Delayed hospital sales tax discussed in city council
A regular session of the City Council of Nevada was held in the council’s chambers Tuesday, Jan. 7. Mayor Dr. George Knox called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Council members Carol Clyde-Gallagher, Ryan Watts, Lyndon Eberhard, and Brian Leonard were all in attendance.
It was motioned and seconded that the minutes of the Dec. 17, regular session meeting be approved. This passed unanimously.
In consideration of bids, the council reviewed Bid No. 2020-01. Runway lights at the Nevada Municipal Airport have been inoperative due to the failure of a regulator, the piece of equipment that controls the runway lights. Bids were sought and received from the following companies: Graybar Electric, Joplin — $16,297.34; Flightlight, Sacramento, Calif. — $12,787; and Strukel Electric, Girard — $5,500. The best bid, from Strukel Electric, is a rebuilt regulator, as opposed to the new regulators bid by the other companies, which resulted in large savings. The regulator from Strukel meets all the requirements and has a one-year warranty. A motion was made to ask approval of the council for the lowest bid from Strukel Electric, it was seconded and the bid was approved from Stukel for $5,500.
In unfininshed business:
• The council voted 5-0 to place on first reading Bill No. 2019-045 authorizing the execution of an agreement with Dock Dogs, Inc. for a special event scheduled on Oct. 3, 2020. The Parks and Recreation Department is planning the 2020 Flannel Fest event on Oct. 3, which includes the Dog Dogs Canine Aquatic Show. The overall cost of the aforementioned show is $6,000, which is budgeted as part of the 2020 Tourism budget. To secure the date of this popular, nationwide attraction, a deposit of $3,000 is necessary. Therefore, the department is requesting approval of the attached contract so the deposit payment may be made immediately, thus securing the proposed date.
• The council voted 5-0 to place on first reading Bill No. 2019-046 authorizing the execution of an agreement with DLW Timberworks Lumberjack Show for a special event scheduled on Oct. 3, 2020. The Parks and Recreation Department is beginning to plan the Third Annual Flannel Fest special event on Oct. 3, 2020, which again will include the Timberworks Lumberjack Show. The overall cost of the afore-mentioned show is $5,900, which is budgeted as part of the 2020 Tourism budget. To secure the date of this popular, nationwide attraction, a deposit of $1,000 is necessary. Therefore, the department is requesting approval of the attached contract so the deposit payment may be made immediately, thus securing the proposed date.
In old business:
• Council member Carol Clyde-Gallagher motioned to table the conversation for the second reading of Bill No. 2019-056 approving and authorizing the execution of Amendment No. 5 to the contract between the City of Nevada, Mo., and Alliance Water Resources, Inc. The motion was seconded. More in depth coverage of this item will be in the Friday edition of the Nevada Daily Mail.
In new business:
• The council then motioned and seconded to place Bill No. 2020-001 amending Chapter 19 of the Nevada City Code pertaining to no parking zones on first reading. This ordinance will amend section 19-123 of the Municipal Code, updating the designated no parking zones throughout the City of Nevada. Revisions to several designated no parking zones have been requested by the Nevada R-5 School District and Cottey College while other modifications are based on a comprehensive review by the Nevada Police Department.
• The council then motioned and seconded to table Bill No. 2020-002 authorizing and directing the transfer of a tract of real estate to the Nevada Animal Shelter Corporation, a Missouri Nonprofit Corporation, to accommodate financing on an animal shelter for the City of Nevada. Several community members were present to speak in opposition of the selected tract of land. More in depth coverage of this item will be in the Friday edition of the Nevada Daily Mail.
• The council then motioned and seconded to place Bill No. 2020-003 approving a lease agreement with the Nevada Animal Shelter Corporation, a Missouri Nonprofit Corporation, and authorizing and directing the execution thereof on first reading.
• The council then motioned and seconded to place Bill No. 2020-004 calling an election on a revenue bond question in Nevada, Mo., on first reading. More in depth coverage of this item will be in the Friday edition of the Nevada Daily Mail.
• The council then motioned and seconded to approve Resolution No. 1547 authorizing a waiver of the provisions of Section 23-86 of the Code of the City of Nevada, Mo., to permit a Tourism Promotion Event. Nevada Tourism is co-hosting a Hunting and Fishing Expo on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at the Franklin P. Norman Community Center. To allow the display of Hunting and Fishing items on City property requires a waiver from the Municipal Code Section 23-86.
In miscellaneous matters, council member Eberhard wanted to address the issue of the delayed hospital sales tax. “I have a question,” started Eberhard, “What happened with the sales tax? Can somebody walk me through this just for a minute?” In response, Interim City Manager Mark Mitchell stated, “I guess it’s breakdown of communication – that’s all I know. And I’ll be completely honest with you, that’s all we know.” Eberhard continued, “So, there wasn’t an order given from the top? What happened?” Mitchell maintained his stance. “Honestly, I cannot answer that,” he stated. “I do not know – I don’t. I don’t know what happened prior, all I know is today going forward.” Council member Leonard gave some input as well. “I guess my concern is, we worked on this hospital thing for over seven or eight years trying to get them back where they are,” stated Leonard. “The committee that we formed last year with Dr. Lovinger, I know we busted our tails trying to get this passed. It’s going to be about $200,000 lost, that the hospital will not have. That’s my concern. We had several things put in a row, and once it was approved by voters, the voters were told it was going to be available. I was even asked by three local business people when they were going to start charging tax because they have not been informed because the Missouri Department of Revenue had not informed them. It’s just sad and I would like to know some answers too.”
“I think it’s unfortunate,” added council member Gallagher. “I think the difficulty is that we had a change in leadership at that time and I don’t know that a blame-game at this point will solve the problem. I would like to make sure that we have some policies and procedures in place so that something like this doesn’t happen again. We can’t fix it, but we need to figure out how to move on most effectively.” Adding to this, council member Eberhard stated, “According to all the paperwork I’ve got, we still had the Commander-In-Chief the 31st day of December. So, there was no confusion about who was the leader at that time. I don’t know that a blame-game is what we’re doing here. I think the people deserve a right to know what happened. After the election, was the city required to do certain things and who was required to do them?”
Interim City Manager Mitchell stated, “I can’t answer your questions. I know you want answers, but I don’t know the answers. I’m not trying to skirt the issue – I would tell you if I knew it.” To this, Eberhard replied, “I completely understand that and I’m not implying that you did something wrong.” Mitchell continued, “I’m going to be completely honest with you. With the public here, I have no idea what former administration did – I have no idea. You can make a phone call if you want to try to get some answers, but I don’t know what they are.” Apologies were then expressed to Nevada Regional Medical Center C.E.O. Steve Branstetter who was present at the council meeting. “We did turn paperwork in,” stated Mitchell. “Kristie’s (city treasurer) is in conversation with the DOR (Department of Revenue) and soon as we get an answer, we’ll pass information on to the council and to the hospital.” The city is projecting April for the sales tax to start taking effect.
The regular session of the Nevada City Council adjourned at 8:09 p.m.