Today's
Feature
No One Rides
for Free.
The Carthage City
Council in Tuesday’s meeting rejected a
request to waive back taxes on two lots slated
for donation to Habitat for Humanity.
Finance/Personnel
Committee Chair Diane Sharits reported on the
Committee meeting of earlier that day bringing
one item for Council consideration. Sharits said
that citizen Danny Ross wished to donate two lots
on North Maple to Habitat for Humanity and wished
the City to waive City taxes, penalties and
interest on the property prior to the donation.
The properties were purchased by Ross at the
Jasper County tax certificate sale after which
they were discovered to have real City tax debt
in the amount of $680.91 in addition to tax
liens, interest, mowing and demolition costs in
the amount of $13,963.70. Sharits said that the
committee had approved the donation and waiving
of fees and made a motion for Council approval.
Citizen
representatives for Habitat for Humanity Tami
Adams and Connie Shull spoke briefly to Council
about Habitat for Humanity, saying that the
organization requires donated lots, on which
homes are built by the prospective homeowner,
volunteers and trained supervisors. Financing for
the projects is internally provided by Habitat
for Humanity.
Council member
Ronnie Wells noted that he had opposed the
waiving of taxes in the committee meeting because
he felt it would establish a trend. Wells said he
felt that some percentage of the amount owed
should be paid, regardless of the organization to
which the property was being donated. He
recommended that the item be sent back for the
committee to decide a percentage of payment that
would be beneficial for the City. Wells said that
people who buy property in the County sale should
understand that there may be costs incurred on
the property, adding that he felt those people
should be prepared to pay the costs.
Council member
Cindy Curry said she felt the tax debt should be
forgiven for the cause of creating housing in
"distressed" areas of Carthage.
Council member
Mike Harris said he agreed with Ronnie Wells that
to forgive the debt would set a precedent for the
City.
"I do have
some qualms about it," said Harris.
Council member Tom
Flanigan also agreed with Wells, saying he
didn’t feel it was the City’s place to
be underwriting individuals for the sake of a
donation to a good cause.
"If you do it
for one group, what about others?" Flanigan
asked.
Council member
Bill Johnson said he though that it would not be
a loss to the City to waive the debt, because if
the property had not been purchased and donated,
the debts would still not be paid. Johnson said
that it wouldn’t cost the City anything to
waive the debt.
Diane Sharits
spoke again saying that she was not comfortable
with the amount of time the Finance committee was
given to make the decision. Sharits said she was
uneasy with the idea of a decision setting a
precedent for the City in a 2 hour time-frame.
After further
discussion, Sharits withdrew her motion to waive
the fees.
Harris made a
motion to allow the donation and waive only the
penalties, leaving the $680.91 real tax fee.
After a voice vote with Council members voting
for and against, Mayor Jim Woestman stressed the
importance of the issue by requesting a show of
hands.
The motion to
allow the donation contingent on the payment of
the real City taxes was approved in a 6 to 2
vote. Those in favor included Diane Sharits, Bill
Welch, Dan Rife, Tom Flanigan, Ronnie Wells and
Mike Harris. Those opposed included Cindy Curry
and Bill Johnson. Larry Ross and Claude Newport
abstained from voting as both are related to
Danny Ross.
Update
on Excessive Emissions.
As reported in the
Mornin’ Mail on Thursday, November
16, 2006 a Notice of Excessive Emission was filed
against Renewable Environmental Solutions (RES)
by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
(DNR).
According to a
recent update from a DNR Representative, the
notice was officially filed on November 15. From
that date RES had 15 days to respond with
information about the emissions, including
whether the cause was related to a startup,
shutdown or equipment malfunction.
The response was
provided and received by DNR on Monday, November
27th. At that time, the Air Pollution Control
Division of DNR began its review process.
According to DNR
representatives if the written response from RES
is sufficient, no further action will be taken by
DNR. If the response does not meet
qualifications, the notice will be upgraded to a
violation.
Each violation
cited to RES will result in a $25,000 fine,
following the guidelines of a Missouri Attorney
General lawsuit settlement from this summer. That
settlement, according to Attorney General Press
Secretary John Fougere, resulted in RES paying a
$100,000 fine for repeat violation of State odor
regulations and DNR permit regulations. The
$100,000 figure was the largest ever received in
a Missouri case of this nature. The funds were
paid to the State for deposit in the Jasper
County School Fund, and the ruling specifies that
if subsequent violations occur, $25,000 be paid
by RES until the amount of $75,000 is reached.
Also due in part
to this settlement the City of Carthage and
Missouri Attorney General’s office dropped
its joint lawsuit against RES.
A press release
dated August 28, 2006 from Missouri Attorney
General Jay Nixon to Carthage Mayor Jim Woestman
states the following;
"Rest
assured, though, that we will not hesitate to
refile the nuisance lawsuit if the company fails
to live up to its obligation of being a good
neighbor to the people of Carthage."
Odor emissions
have also been reported since the November 16th
filing. On Wednesday, November 29th multiple
complaints were received at the Mornin’
Mail office throughout business hours and
from several different locations around Carthage.
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