Tax Rates Approved

By PJ Martin

Editor, The Herald-News

 

The Edmonton City Council met in special session on Thursday, September 3, in what had to be a record for the shortest meeting, of less than 8 minutes. Those in attendance were Mayor Doug Smith, Council members Stacy Beard, Teresa Hamlett, Curt Estes, Cathy Nunn, Faye Word, and Tommy England, Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, 911 Director Jordan Crump, Parks & Recreation Director Brian Garrett, City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore, and PJ Martin from The Herald-News.

Mayor Doug Smith opened the meeting and declared a quorum present.

The minutes from the regular meeting on August 3rd were approved without changes.

Mayor Smith stated, “Tareena Horton of the Edmonton Metcalfe Chamber could not be here today, but has a question to be added to the November agenda.”

The second reading of Ordinance # 2026-2027-02 for the 2027 Motor Vehicle and Watercraft Property Tax rate was heard. The proposed rate is fifteen and two-tenths cents per one hundred dollars of assessed value. (15.2 cents per $100). This has remained the same as last year. The second reading was approved.

The first reading of Ordinance # 2026-2027 Real and Personal Property Tax rates was heard. The proposed rate is 0.82 (8.2 cents per $100) for Real Property and Personal Property. This is down .4 from 2025’s 8.6 cents per $100.  The first reading was approved after motions by Word and Nunn.

Hensley presented the water, sewer, and gas report. “We’ve done five water taps, fixed six leaks, replaced two boxes and centers, done a sewer tap, and replaced two gas meters… We also continue installing the gas radio drive-bys to try to get all those on. Worked on the spillway a little bit; done all the bush hogging. Found a 2-inch valve box that had been here for probably 20 years over at Sunset… We got three employees signed up to take the distribution water test and one employee signed up to take the wastewater test. That’ll be in October 21-22.”

Devore then stated, “I’m asking for approval to apply for the Contemporary Transportation Grant School Program. What that is, is they’ve allotted money for each county and each county seat up to $100,000. piece. It’s a 50-50 matching grant, so if you spend $200, we’re going to get $100 back. But it’s for sidewalk repairs or street repairs. I’ve had Moe looking at the sidewalks, because we have been working on our streets through the, they call it LARP now, and we have road money for that. We can use the road dept money for sidewalks also. We just haven’t in a lot of years, because we’ve been trying to get our streets back. So, if you all would give us permission to apply for this grant, we’d appreciate it.”

The approval was granted after motions by Hamlett and Estes.

Chief Robertson was out on a call, but his August activity report was available. There were 11 arrests, 4 non-injury accidents, no injury accident, 2 alarm calls, 5 animal complaints, 3 domestic calls, served 1 EPO, opened 4 investigations, assisted 2 motorists, 10 medical assists, 46 traffic stops, 2 trash complaints, served 5 warrants, and did 5 funeral escorts. A total of 74 complaints, 13 citations written, and drove 4,099 miles, and used 305 gallons of fuel.

Next was 911 Director Jordan Crump with her August report. The total calls for August were 455; of those, the city received 45.84%, the county received 52.3%, and there were 1.85% other. “I do have myself and two of my other employees going to the state conference next week in Louisville. And I’ve got one going to training in Madisonville today.” Stated Crump.

ABC Administrator Fred Ray stated that everything’s fine and that everyone is in compliance.

Parks and Recreation Director Brian Garrett stated that football season had begun and they had finished their painting project.

There was no other business, and the meeting adjourned.