Sweet Springs aldermen approve requests for use of 'bed tax' funds

The aldermen of Sweet Springs approved two requests for funds from the tourism tax -- or so-called "bed tax" -- fund during their regular meeting Monday evening, July 13.

One request came from the Sweet Springs Chamber of Commerce with plans to use the funds to purchase a sound system for use at community events, such as the upcoming Street Fair.

The system would include installation of eight speakers in groups of two on the exterior of the Sweet Springs City Hall and First Community Bank, a wireless microphone with a 150-foot range, a mobile unit including a separate receiver, two tower speakers, a five-disc CD changer and an iPod input and will come with a five-year warranty, said Robert Franks of Evolution Custom Audio, the business from which the Chamber planned to purchase the system.

The mobile unit could be used for "anything that anybody would possibly want to use it for, like the Winter Festival," said Tara Brewer, who spoke on behalf of the Chamber.

Al Hartman, also representing the Chamber, said, "We want the city to have 100-percent control over this," and went on to request that this mobile unit be stored on city property to prevent vandalism.

Brewer said this would not require the creation of a new position to manage this equipment, because anytime there was a need to use it, a member of the Chamber would be responsible for moving it.

The total cost for this equipment is $4,000.

"We don't know what portion you can help us with, but that's why we're here tonight," said Hartman.

He also called the Chamber's planned expenditures an "excellent use of money."

The funds from the motel tax are to be used "to promote tourism in the community," said Mayor Raymond Kinney.

"We feel like this will benefit everything," replied Hartman.

Hartman added, "Once we've got it paid for, we'll work on getting it reimbursed for you."

He went on to say that the Chamber has already voted to spend a certain amount of money on a sound system.

The second request came from Sweet Springs Revitalization Inc. for $1,400 to be used to promote 2009's Oktoberfest celebration held in Sweet Springs, which, a letter from SSR read, "brings many from out of town to our all-day festival."

At the end of June, reported City Clerk Ronda Nienhueser, the balance of the savings account holding the funds from the tourism tax was $3,962.77.

"I feel like both parties have a legitimate request," said Kinney. "... Both will promote the town, in my eyes."

"We can still honor both requests, just one now and one later," said Alderman Lewis Bybee.

After further discussion, the board approved disbursement of $3,000 to the Chamber of Commerce and the full $1,400 to Sweet Springs Revitalization Inc.

"I think we're going to approve some more next month," said Kinney.

The board also accepted a bid of $72,912.32 from Higgins Asphalt Company Inc. for road work on one block of Union Street and all of Grant Street, including curbing.

The board received two other bids for the project from Tandem Paving Company and APAC Missouri Inc. The bid from Tandem was not considered because the company did not include proof of workers compensation insurance. The bid of $97,367 from APAC was examined closely at length, but finally rejected in favor of the bid from Higgins.

Higgins Asphalt Company President Keith Higgins and APAC Missouri Inc. Senior Estimator Don Nelson were both present at the meeting.

The board voted to accept a trash hauling bid from Waste Corporation of America, which will charge the city $10 per home for waste pickup, and will also provide a wheeled receptacle. The company will pick up recycling one weekend per month from a centralized location.

Residents will still be able to put refuse at the curb in old trash cans.

The contract with WCA will last three years.

The swimming pool fund is over budget, said Kinney.

"The only department that goes over its budget every year is the pool, basically," he said.

"Every year, we're told it isn't a moneymaker," responded Alderman Billie Clevenger.

"There needs to be something of an oversight on the pool to make sure they stay within their budget," said Kinney. "... Someone to say, 'No, you don't need this.' ... I'd like the council to look into, not necessarily what we can do this year, but what we can do next year."

The board voted to accept a bid from Larry Hawkins of Sweet Springs for purchase of the 1972 dump truck for $100 and the 720 Champion Road Grader for $333.

Superintendent of Public Works Doug Haesemeyer gave board members a report on the Public Works Department's activity for the last month, telling them there had been three water line breaks during the month, including one service line in the park, which has since been repaired and had a meter installed.

"We lost quite a bit of water," Haesemeyer said.

He also told the board that he had filled a resident's pool using a fire hose at a rate of one cent per gallon, and suggested that, during hydrant flushing, the city offer services of this nature in order to get some usefulness out of the water shooting from the hydrants.

Kinney said that he had asked a previous superintendent of public works to do just that, but it had not been done.

A public hearing on the 2009 tax levy was set for Monday, August 10, at 6:45 p.m. in City Hall at 324 S. Miller St.

Besides Clevenger and Bybee, other board members present included Michelle Schlichting and Jim Lindemann.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 10, at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net