Chillicothe City Council members set the city’s 2008 tax rates for real and personal property following a public hearing during their regular meeting Monday night at City Hall. The new rate reflects an increase in both the general fund and park fund to produce a modest $4,728 increase in tax revenues. In the general fund, the city approved an increase from 0.6374 to 0.6451 per $100 assessed valuation and in the park fund from 0.1791 to 0.1813 per $100 assessed valuation for an overall increase of just less than a penny per $100 valuation (0.8165 to 0.8264 per $100 assessed valuation). Assessed valuations are down slightly from 2007 to 2008, according to assessment figures. The report shows a slight increase in assessed valuation for real estate at $63,498,018 in 2007 and $63,810,130 in 2008. Assessed valuation for personal property was $26,661,166 in 2007 and $25,841,126 in 2008. Total assessed valuation figures are $90,159,184 in 2007 and $89,651,256 in 2008.

Council members on Monday also passed a resolution declaring the intent to annex the Chillicothe Municipal Utilities water treatment property south of Chillicothe. This amounts to 95 acres. The resolution states that the land is an area that is appropriate for incorporating into the city and has been identified as being reasonable and necessary for the physical growth and development of the city. The perimeter of the area is at least 15 percent contiguous to the current city boundary, the resolution stated.

The matter must be considered by the city’s planning and zoning board prior to annexation.
Also Monday night, council members were introduced to Carole Hobbs, the new director of Hope Haven Industries. Hobbs talked briefly about the services offered by Hope Haven and about the new “e-recycling” program. This program allows the public a free, easy and effective way to dispose of all obsolete or outdated computers, cell phones, printers and much more, either working or not working, that are used in offices, schools, homes and by people on the go. She said Hope Haven accepts almost any small appliance that has a cord. For more information, contact Carole at 646-5172 or 247-1967.

In other appearances Monday night, Hedrick Medical Center’s CEO, Brian Johnston, discussed several new services being offered through the hospital. These included lymph edema services which started on Monday, a wound care program which was to begin today (Tuesday) and psychiatric services which are scheduled to start in September. He also said that an ear, nose and throat specialist is coming on board early this fall to provide that service via telemedicine and through on-site clinics and surgeries. Johnston said that the hospital continues its efforts to recruit a second obstetrician/gynecologist, a family practice physician and an internal medicine physician. The hospital is turning 120 years old this year and special events are planned for September, Johnston said.

In other business Monday night, council members accepted the bid from Alamar Uniforms of North Kansas City to provide class A dress uniforms for the 22 Chillicothe Emergency Services Department employees. The uniforms, to be used on special occasions, are estimated to be $475 each. Representatives of the EMS were present and told council members that Chillicothe's department is one of only a few departments its size without dress uniforms.

Mayor Chuck Haney presided over Monday night's meeting with the full council present. The council on Monday also:

• Approved the low bid submitted by Victor L. Phillips, of Kansas City, for a Case skid steer in the amount of $18,563 for the parks and recreation department. Delivery is expected within 45 days of the purchase date.
• Approved the bid submitted by APAC Missouri, Inc., for maintenance repairs at Chillicothe Municipal Airport. Among work to be done is cleaning and sealing joints and cracks on a runway and paving the parking areas and access roads. The total amount of the project is $361,097.25. The city is responsible for paying 5 percent with the balance being paid for through 2004 federal entitlement funds.
• Passed an amendment to increase the DREAM Initiative payment from $47,736 to $52,834.
• Passed an ordinance amending the memorandum of understanding with the firefighters union returning the work schedule from a 13-day cycle to a 19-day cycle to reduce the amount of overtime.
• Heard a request from a city resident who wants the city to allow use of utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on city streets. UTVs are a cross between a pickup truck and an ATV. They started out as work-based vehicles, but have grown in popularity as a sport and utility vehicle. The matter was taken under advisement and is expected to be discussed at a later date.
• Changed the Sept. 8 regular council meeting to Sept. 15 due to a conflict with the Missouri Municipal League.
• Approved the payment of invoices, $260,082.91, and payroll, $130,192.39.