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Election Choices:
Jamesport places use tax on ballot
a id
oll was a featured s eaker at the first e er
ummit
Lessons shared from water outage Daviess County Emergency Management Director David Roll was one of the presenters at the first ever Midwest Rural Emergency Management Summit held March 22 at the University of Central Missouri campus in Warrensburg. Topics presented at the all-day meeting were Pipeline Accident in Canton, IL; Introduction to the “NEW” National Weather Service; Daviess County Water Outage of 2018; and the Rural Region A Emergency Management. Mr. Roll’s topic was on the water outage of Public Water Supply District #1 of Daviess County Water in 2018. Customers of the water district were out of water for six days last year, starting on Aug. 2. Those customers lived south of the Grand River, and south of the old town of Pattonsburg, including Altamont, Weatherby and Win(continued on page 3 )
Voters in Jamesport will have the opportunity to vote on a use tax at the April 5 municipal election. The Jamesport City Council approved placing an ordinance regarding the use tax on the April ballot during a meeting last December. City Clerk Shelley Page reported the use tax is in regard to internet sales tax. Jamesport is hoping to get a use tax in place in order to benefit from legislation making its way down from the federal government, to the state, to local governments. If passed, only states or local municipalities with a use tax in place would benefit from such legislation. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in December of 2018 that he wants to enact a law enabling the state to collect millions of dollars of new tax revenue from out-ofstate retailers who sell to Missouri residents. In an interview with The Associated Press, the governor said there is no definitive plan yet for the potential new revenue; it could help propel other aspects of Parson’s agenda to boost infrastructure funding and workforce development. The U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for states to rake in greater online sales tax
collections in a June ruling that upheld a South Dakota law. That decision overturned a decadesold precedent stating that businesses without a physical presence in a state — such as a store, office or warehouse — didn’t have to collect sales taxes on behalf of the state. In such cases, customers technically were responsible for paying the tax, but most didn’t. As online commerce has grown, some large retailers such as Amazon already had begun collecting sales taxes for all 45 states that charge them. But others with a physical presence in only a few places haven’t been doing so. “If we’re going to compete with internet sales, it sure ought to be fair with the brick and mortar businesses that are here,” Parson told the AP. “I think we should collect that, and I think we will eventually collect that.” Parson said a state law enabling online sales tax collections could generate between $100 million and $150 million annually for the state, though he emphasized those are only estimates. Missouri charges a 4.225 percent sales tax. But counties, cities, fire and ambulance districts and various other local jurisdictions tack on their own sales
Ready for a rumpus? Family Fun Night on April 4 To promote their passion for reading, Searcy R-5 Elementary School welcomes students and their families to go “Where the Wild Things Are” for Family Fun Night from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. “Promoting reading enhances student engagement in the joy of reading,” says Elementary Principal Nicole Thogmartin. “We want students to not only read to solve problems, but also read because they enjoy it. Family Fun Night provides a place for our kids to share that love of reading with family.” Debbie Sweatman, Title One
teacher at Searcy, says she could not be happier with the support she and her committee have received from the community for this yearly event. “We know that the school could not provide this evening without the help of volunteers, young and old, and the dedication of local educators.,” she says. “Most importantly, we want to thank the parents for bringing their children back to school on a school night. When parents support school activities, they are making a significant statement to their children about education.”
Each room “down the jungle path” is designed to produce excitement with each station. Everyone — students, parents, staff and volunteers — is invited to dress in his/her favorite ‘Wild Thing’ attire. Flights of fancy include the following: “Welcome to the Jungle” in the new gym will test your skills as you participate in obstacle courses. Math sessions include Wild Things from the Past (number bonds) for preschool-K; Wild About Tangrams for 1st-2nd graders; Containing the Wild The Wild Things for 3rd-4th graders. .
What are you wild about? Share your thoughts and post them in the hall for all to see. If you want to learn how to draw some wild animals, find Wild Things Ray and collect your free bookmark. Directions are on the back of each bookmark. CHAMP will be visiting throughout the evening. Bring your camera and snap a picture. This year it will be very exciting to have the Kansas City Zoo and their animal ambassadors visit the school. Stop by and see what wild critters will be waiting for you. For a wild and crazy (continued on page 11)
taxes. A tax table available from the Missouri Department of Revenue shows about 2,350 different sales tax rates in Missouri, making it complicated for retailers who sell products throughout the state. Jamesport’s Use Tax The use tax, if passed, will immediately only affect purchases on the popular online retailer Amazon, which is participating voluntarily. The Use Tax does not apply to purchases made by Missouri residents from a Missouri retailer. The Use Tax applies to purchases from out-of-state vendors only. If a Missouri resident buys a product from a Missouri vendor over the internet, the sales tax based on the vendor’s location would apply to the purchase. The first $2,000 worth of purchases made by an individual annually, which are subject to the tax, is exempt. If the sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax will follow suit. A sales tax and a use tax are not the same thing. The sales tax applies to purchases made at retail within Missouri, while the use tax applies to purchases (continued on page 3 )
Community luncheon for Meals on Wheels Join the A ctive A ging Resource Center in Gallatin for a community lunch to support Meals on Wheels from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 29 , at BTC Bank in Gallatin. The Gallatin R-5 FBLA chapter and BTC Bank are sponsoring the pulled pork sandwich, chips, cookie, and a drink for $ 5. Y ou can join A A RC in celebrating Meals on Wheels with the March for Meals promotion by sponsoring one day’s food for the nutrition programs for $ 200. Send your tax-deductible donation to Meals on Wheels Daviess County, PO Box 27 2, Gallatin, MO 6 4 6 4 0.
Water plant blows its top; city requests road oil quotes
Public Works Director Mark Morey reported that operators have had more issues at the new water plant. Three days after a load of CO2 (carbon dioxide) was received, the valve blew off and released 11,000 pounds of CO2. The contractor is scheduled to be onsite April 1 to revamp the tank. After working with the engineers, it was discovered that the plant should have been engineered for a smaller tank only holding 45 days worth of CO2. The water plant has a large tank and is not using the carbon dioxide at a fast rate, which creates pressure and results in it blowing off. Morey also requested the board consider buying a five-minute rescue mask that would be used to allow the operator to shut off the valves safely. CO2 is recognized as a workplace hazard at high concentrations. It can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness. City Administrator Lance Rains and Mr. Morey will look into grant funding that might be available. Morey presented the following road oil
quotes for the board to consider but no welfare check; one dog at large; one asaction was taken: Coastal Energy Corp sault; two thefts; one child abuse/neglect; $2.68/gallon plus fees; Vance Brothers one runaway juvenile; one vandalism; one $2.70/gallon plus fees. burglary; one fraud; one civil standby; two The board requested Morey to contact medical. There are two dogs in the pound. Vance Brothers to confirm if the city can Chief Richards has started talking with contract road oil at the curpeople regarding cleaning rent price quoted and take up yards and other code delivery in July. Alderman violations. The departDan Lockridge requested ment has been identifythat Morey get a quote for ing broken down vehicles West Grand. and will soon be issuing Additional discussion summonses for continued was held regarding street violations. Chief Richards conditions, street projects, is making contact with street funding, and other people regarding building Some potholes are so deep issues related to repairing they are marked by safety cones, damage over the winter the streets. Street resurthat needs attention. as this one on Maple Street facing bid discussions will All city code ordinanccontinue at the April 8 meeting. Mr. Mo- es are now available online for all resirey reported the cold mix was delivered dents to access following the completion March 25 and crews have starting filling of the codification process. The codes can more potholes. be accessed at ecode360.com/GA3674 and Police Chief Mark Richards submit- the link is also available on the Gallatin ted a report on activity for March 25: two Police Facebook page. suspicious person circumstances; one Bills totalling in the amount of
$39,198.37 were approved for payment. Mayor Ballew read the following cemetery mowing bids: Mike Walker, Lile $50, Brown and Greenwood $700; Legendary Lawn Care, Lile $95, Brown and Greenwood $580; Mitchell Ott, Lile $65, Brown and Greenwood $425. The board accepted the following bids, provided the contractors can provide all necessary insurance requirements: Mike Walker, Lile Cemetery, $50; Mitchell Ott, Brown and Greenwood $425. The board reviewed the People Service Operation and Maintenance Report. Mr. Morey hopes to have the sewer plant clarifier put back together by the end of April. Morey has collected a couple of quotes for the sewer plant blowers and hopes to finalize those bids to present to the board for purchase. City Administrator Lance Rains announced a swimming pool update from Laurie Roll, stating that lifeguards will be able to obtain certification at a cost of $250 through the City of Hamilton pool. (continued on page 3 )