More Funding For Scout Mountain Project OK’d

PROPERTY TAX ISSUE TO BE ON APRIL BALLOT

The Noel City Council, at its meeting Tuesday night, approved an expenditure on the Scout Mountain project. Scout Drive is now undergoing repairs for damage sustained in last year’s spring floods.

Mayor Lewis Davis said the contractor, Granger Dirtworks of Neosho, was cleaning out a ditch when it discovered an additional portion of the road that had been washed away that was not previously known. The contractor recommended putting in a curb at a cost of $3,815, bringing the total cost of the project to around $45,000. Davis said FEMA will pay for 75 percent of the project and the city will pay the other 25 percent. The council approved the increase of $3,815.

Davis reported he received a draft of a letter from the Harry S. Truman Foundation explaining to Noel residents why the city needs a property tax. The council has put the issue on the April ballot.

City Clerk Tina DePriest said Southwest City is also putting a property tax on the ballot and plans to get the county to collect its property tax for the city.

Davis said, “It’s less of a legal

hassle if the county collects it.” He said he believes the city should talk to the county about collecting the tax for Noel.

City Marshal Paul Gardner reported two police cars were recently in accidents. One was wrecked when a driver ran a stop sign, and another was damaged when a drunken driver, upon being stopped, put her car in reverse and rammed the police car, he said.

Noel resident Camille Graves told the council the marshal’s office floor is in “horrible” shape due to being flooded multiple times. She said she thought she could get a discount on some laminate flooring and asked if the city could pay for some of it.

Davis asked Gardner if he had any funds in his budget this year for maintenance. Gardner said he did, but they were intended for a new roof for the marshal’s office.

Street Superintendent Christopher Craig said he would donate some money from his budget.

Graves said she would be willing to donate toward the flooring. She also noted she would be glad to help the council with a campaign to get the property tax passed.