CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 22, 2010
(funding requests, golf carts, hotel/motel ordinance)

City Council Considers Funding Requests
Constitution-Tribune
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

The Chillicothe city budget process has started and three entities made their formal budget requests to council members during the city’s regular semimonthly council meeting Monday night at City Hall.

Addressing the council were representatives from the University of Missouri Extension Center, the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Livingston County Community Development Corporation (Main Street). Each representative highlighted activities of the past year and provided annual reports to the council.

Mayor Chuck Haney said each of the requests will be taken under advisement as budget work continues. The budget must be approved by March 31, before the start of the new fiscal year, which begins April 1.

Kevin Hansen, program director for the University of Missouri Extension in Livingston County, asked the city to consider budgeting $5,000 for the extension. This is the same amount which was requested for FY2009-10; however, the city approved just $4,000 last year.

Julie Jones, president of the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce, asked the city to increase its budget to the chamber over last year’s allocation of $1,950. The chamber is asking for the $1,950 base amount to remain the same but allocate an additional $3,500 to help cover costs of fireworks during the Chamber’s Freedom Fest on the Fourth of July. In making the request, the council was presented with information from other communities of similar size and how the fireworks are funded at other places.

The third and final request of the evening was made by Crystal Narr, director of Main Street Chillicothe. Main Street Chillicothe is requesting $38,000 from the city, the same amount which the city approved last year.

In other agenda items Monday night, the council approved with a 3-0 vote Mayor Chuck Haney’s recommendation to reappoint the five community members to hospital board. They are Mike Palmer, Rollie Stadlman, Dr. Jane Neal, John Cook and Darrel Rinehart Jr.

The five currently serve as the city’s representatives on the board, which is organized through Saint Luke’s Health Systems, operator of the city-owned hospital.

Community member Patricia Anderson asked why the city did not seek input from other community members who may have been interested in serving on the board. City Attorney Adam Warren said that the hospital board is not a city board and that the mayor has the authority to make the recommendations. The recommendations for this board are subject to council approval and then are forwarded to Saint Luke's for final approval. In addition to community members, the board is comprised of medical personnel as well as representatives from Stain Luke's Health System. Rinehart, who was recommended for reappointment, abstained from voting.

In other action, the council passed an ordinance relating to the city's existing hotel/motel tax. The ordinance gives the city authority at all reasonable times to examine the books and records of hotels and motels as may be necessary to determine the correctness of the reports. The ordinance states that if an error in the amount of tax due the city is discovered in excess of 5% in any monthly period, then the licensee (in addition to the payment of taxes) will be assessed penalties and interest and will be subject to reimbursing the costs associated with auditing the licensee. City Attorney Warren said the ordinance puts a mechanism in place for enforcing the collection of the hotel/motel taxes.

In routine matters, the council discussed approving the minutes of the council's previous meeting, but tabled the matter pending review of minutes from the executive session. City Clerk Roze Frampton told council members that she was not included in that executive session and that no one had forwarded her completed minutes of that meeting.

In other business, the council approved the payment of invoices of $175,440.49 and payroll of $115,200.77. Mayor Chuck Haney presided over the meeting with all council members except 2nd Ward Councilman Maurice Zion present. In executive session, council members approved the promotion of Marvin Peterson to a maintenance 3 position within the city's street department.

Chillicothe Golf Course Preparing for Private Carts

Chillicothe City Council members Monday night heard discussion by Joe Gilliland, clubhouse manager at Green Hills Golf Course, regarding the construction of an attachment to an existing building at the golf course to house golf carts.

In an effort to boost revenues at the city-owned course, council members recently approved the golf board’s recommendation to allow private carts on the course beginning this year.

The new structure, to be 25 feet by 40 feet, will be enclosed on three sides and be able to house between 25 and 30 carts. Cost of materials are estimated at $3,600 which will be paid for by the Friends of the Golf Course. Labor for the building will be provided by the golf course maintenance department. The Friends of the Golf Course board had approved up to $5,000 for the project.

George Laprade, a member of the golf course advisory board, told the council that it has been a goal of the board to ease the city's expenses for operating the course. It is anticipated that the 18-hole course will sell more season passes and have more play by allowing the use of private carts.