Sweet Springs aldermen wrestle with funding requests

The board heard a request from Sweet Springs Revitalization Inc. for "bed tax" funds.

The funds requested were for a "bounce house" for children, souvenir T-shirts and mugs, radio and newspaper advertisements and a banner and fliers to further advertise the event. With the understanding that the board might not have the full $2,800 requested on hand, SSR's Kathy Dohrman, the author of the request, noted SSR would be "glad to receive additional funds later," but asked that the $1,400 for advertising be approved and disbursed as soon as possible.

Mayor Ray Kinney said the request included a textbook example of "what the money is for," but said any resale of items purchased with these funds would be illegal.

"You're supposed to be spending the money for tourism. You're not supposed to be using the funds to make money," said Kinnney.

Tonya Winfrey, an employee of The Sweet Springs Herald, was present at the meeting and contacted Dohrman by phone during the meeting. The employee returned with instructions from Dohrman to strike funds for souvenir mugs and T-shirts from the request, bringing the total to $1,600.

The board approved the request for $1,600.

Al Hartman addressed the board on behalf of the Sweet Springs Chamber of Commerce regarding the chamber's request for "bed tax" funds during the board's July meeting.

Hartman reported that the chamber had realized its request for funds for a mobile speaker system did not fit in with the requirements that these funds be used to promote tourism within the community. Because of this, the chamber paid for that system without using "bed tax" funds.

Because the stationary speaker system ended up costing more than the chamber had initially heard it would, Hartman requested that the board approve another disbursement to the chamber of $604 to reimburse it for this additional expenditure.

Hartman also spoke to the board about the misunderstanding chamber members had experienced, stating there ought to be some sort of requirements laid out for what these "bed tax" funds will be used.

Ron Hinton, owner of Ronald Hinton Dental Clinic, addressed the board to request that it install and pay for a ramp on the sidewalk in front of his business to provide easy wheelchair access to his services.

He read aloud a letter from the Missouri Coordinator of the Donated Dental Service program, which, he explained, provides free dental care to persons who are "disabled or elderly, and as a result, have limited, if any, income potential."

The letter read, "Unfortunately, Dr. Hinton has been limited in his ability to help disabled and elderly citizens ... because of lack of (a) handicapped-accessible" ramp.

Hinton estimated the cost of this ramp at $2,000 to $3,000.

"It'd be a benefit to the town," said Hinton. "The town's already had issues in the past with handicapped-accessibility, and it's been on CNN, and I don't think we want to go that route again."

Kinney said the problem was that paying for such a ramp for one business would likely mean other businesses would ask for the same support.

As the discussion between board members and Hinton continued, Kinney agreed that wheelchair access would help Hinton's situation, but went on to say that he saw nothing that obligated the city to pay for such a ramp for a business.

He also stated that it is unlawful to spend tax dollars to improve private property.

Kinney later said he felt like he was "stuck in between a rock and a hard place" before offering to supply labor for the project.

The discussion ended with the board tabling the discussion and asking Hinton to return with a detailed drawing of what needs to be done.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net