Sweet Springs voters will have another chance to pass guest tax

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
By TRAVIS WATTS/Staff writer

The Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen passed a series of ordinances -- including another effort to enact a hotel guest tax -- and made several board appointments Monday, Aug. 11, at their regular meeting.

The board unanimously approved a proposed 2008 tax levy on each $100 of assessed valuation as determined by the Saline County Assessor.

This year's levy will be $1.4980, slightly lower than last year's amount of $1.5022.

An ordinance was also passed to put a proposed transient guest tax on the November ballot. The tax will be 5 percent of room costs for anyone who makes hotel/motel arrangements in Sweet Springs.

A guest tax has been considered before in Sweet Springs. A ballot measure to authorize a hotel guest tax failed in 2004; another was approved by voters in 2006, but later was rescinded by the board after the city attorney questioned a provision in the measure that would have set aside a portion of collections for covering the costs of the collecting process.

"We're one of the last towns to do it," said Alderperson Billie Clevenger.

Alderperson Vivian Wiley said it is especially important that residents of Sweet Springs realize this tax will not affect them unless they stay in local hotel or motel rooms.

The board then accepted an ordinance dealing with street addresses and recommendations from the Saline County 911 Commission.

The ordinance requires street addresses to be clearly posted in order to aid emergency vehicles; it also requires changing the addresses of some homes within the city limits.

Residential property must clearly display address numbers that are at least two and a half inches in height. Commercial buildings are required to have numbers a minimum of three feet above the ground with a minimum sign height of four inches.

An ordinance was also passed to have a stop sign posted on the north side of Bruns Street at Mulberry Street.

The Sweet Springs aldermen moved on from ordinances, appointing new members to various board positions.

Brenda Cosgrove was named to the Board of Adjustments, Larry Vick and Andy Schlabach were appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board and Tonya Winfrey was given a spot on the Recreation Board.