Taxes, Bids, and Dog Tags
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met in a special called session on Monday, September 8th at the Edmonton City Hall. The only person absent was Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons.
Mayor Doug Smith reminded the council that since it was a special-called meeting, only the items on the agenda could be discussed.
The minutes from the regular meeting on August 4th were approved, along with the minutes from the special called meeting on August 28th.
The second reading of Ordinance #2025-2026-02 setting the 2026 Motor Vehicle and Watercraft property tax rate was held. The rate will remain unchanged from last year, with a tax rate of 15.2 cents for every $100 of assessed value. The second reading was approved, making it official.
The second reading of Ordinance #2025-2026-03 setting the 2025 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax rates was heard.
The 2025 tax rate for real and personal property is.086 per $100 assessed value. The 2025 personal property tax rate was set at .086 per $100 of assessed value. The second reading was approved for, making them official.
After Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley gave his report, bids for the street blacktopping work were opened. City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore opened the two bids received.
“Scotty’s Construction was a total of various streets…Scotty’s total was $124, 300 and Cleary’s is $167, 698, 80.”
The bid from Cleary’s Construction was itemized by street, but Scotty’s was not, so an itemized quote will need to be requested from Scotty’s. “We can’t do them all. Obviously, that wasn’t our intention,” explained Devore, adding, “We are getting $86,000 for River Road and Hill Street, because that was some of the discretionary money.”
Devore explained that if paving those two streets only cost $50,000, they would not get the remaining $36,000 to use.” This means an itemized list needs to be submitted by Scotty’s Construction before the council can make a decision.
A surplus items list compiled by Hensley was approved as surplus, and it was approved to advertise for sealed bids on the items.
Edmonton Police Chief David Robertson presented his August activity as 16 arrests, 11 non-injury accidents, 1 injury accident, 3 alarms, 2 animal complaints, 7 domestic violence, 2 DUIs, 2 EPOs, 2 fights, 5 incomplete 911 calls, 5 new investigations opened, 6 motorist assists, 9 medical calls, 1 drug complaint, 68 traffic stops, 2 warrants, 2 escorts (1 volleyball team and 1 funeral), total complaints were 61 and total citations were 26. The department patrolled 5,182 miles.
The one bid received for a new police cruiser was opened. Devore read the bid, “We got one bid from Bachman Auto Group. They are out of Jeffersonville, Indiana. They bid a 2026, Durango Pursuit V8 all-wheel drive, black for $43,548, and a 2024, Durango Pursuit V8 gold all-wheel drive, and it is $40,400.”
The cost of installing lights and equipment was discussed before the motion was made to accept the bid for the 2026 Durango Pursuit. The motion was approved.
The 911 Dispatch Center report was presented next by Director Jordon Crump, “for the month of August, for Edmonton police department, we did a total of 277 calls. For the Sheriff’s Department, we dispatched 354. Edmonton fire department was 50 calls, North Metcalfe had 23, and Summer Shade had 33.”
“There’s a few others here and there, but mostly overall, a little over 50% we dispatch the county, and around 45 to 50% for the city. And this past week, I was in Louisville for the Kentucky Emergency Services Conference. Did a lot of continuing education, got caught up on some stages, updates for where we would like to move on in the future.”
Mayor Doug Smith speaking to Crump, ‘Well, I myself appreciate how you took a new Department and grabbed the bull by the horns. I know it’s a little bit more rough…I’m sure the council agrees.”
ABC Administrator Fred Ray stated that all the businesses were in compliance.
Park & Recreation Director Brian Garrett stated, “The month of August, the middle school football season started at the park. We had eight teams for a scrimmage first of the month… we pressure washed the bleachers on the home side…and completed our dugout top project.”
City Attorney Brian Pack began, “We are in the process of really going through our ordinances… But one of the things that’s popped up, as we’ve looked at, is the animal regulation.”
An ordinance exists requiring dogs in the city to be licensed yearly; however, this has never been enforced, so the question is whether to enforce it or take action to remove it.
During the discussion, it was noted that a fee would need to be set, tags for the dogs, and someone to take care of the license process. A member of the animal shelter board was in attendance and explained that it would be an easier process at the shelter if dogs were licensed. The owner could be located more easily.
It was stated that there has always been a problem with dogs running freely in Edmonton and on the square, because there have never been any consequences to the owner.
Pack told the council that they would have to eventually decide whether to keep the ordinance or have a cancellation ordinance written.
Pack then asked to go into closed session to discuss litigation. After approximately 10 minutes, the council returned to open session, and it was stated that no action was taken.
The meeting was then adjourned.
