Silver Creek voters defeat sewer-system proposal

April 08, 2008 11:32 pm

— By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
A $3 million revenue-bond issue for a sewer system for Silver Creek Village failed Tuesday by a vote of 119 “yes” to 129 “no.” But village voters approved a half-cent sales tax for other capital improvements.
Pat Worley, chairman of the village Board of Trustees, took the results in stride.
“That’s why we vote, to find out what the citizens want,” Worley said. “That’s the purpose of democracy.”
Worley said the vote kills plans for a sewer system in the village any time in the near future. The revenue bonds would have been used to build a sewer system, and the village would have been authorized to assess user rates and other fees for debt service on the bonds.
The half-cent sales tax was approved, 139 votes in favor to 104 votes against, according to complete, unofficial returns. It will be dedicated to general capital projects. It is expected to generate about $12,000 a year. The tax would not expire.
Each issue required a simple majority for approval.
Silver Creek resident Lonnie O’Dell said he voted in favor of both issues.
“I think it’s something the village needs,” O’Dell said of the sewer system. “In the long run, it will probably increase our property values.”
Silver Creek resident Dee Malinowski, a retired schoolteacher, said she voted against the sewer project and didn’t vote on the sales tax. She said she lives on a fixed income.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea at all,” Malinowski said. “I can’t really afford another $50 to $80 a month.”


Monthly cost

Pat Worley, chairman of the Silver Creek Board of Trustees, has said the average monthly charge for a household would have been between $52 and $55 for a sewer system. That figure included a $16 monthly processing fee assessed by the city of Joplin.

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