April 03, 2009 09:42 pm
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By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
PINEVILLE, Mo. — Tuesday’s election in McDonald County features ballot propositions in Goodman and Noel, and a handful of races in other towns.
Goodman
Goodman residents will be voting on ballot propositions to make the city tax collector an appointed office, to increase the city’s operating levy and to impose a half-cent sales-tax increase.
The city tax collector currently is an elected office, although no one filed to be a candidate for the office this election. The officeholder collects personal and real property taxes for the city, and is paid a small percentage of what is collected.
Mayor Calvin Wilson said collectors always have set their own hours, and this has caused some inconveniences for the public and added expenses for the city when city employees are forced to receive tax payments in the officeholder’s absence and mail back tax receipts.
“We could actually save money by hiring a collector to work a few hours a week during the three to four months of the tax season,” Wilson said.
It will take just a simple majority of voters to change the office to an appointed position with passage of Proposition 1. The current collector, Mandy Lewis, is not seeking re-election, but the proposition could be delayed until the next election if voters write in someone’s name on the April ballot, the mayor said.
Wilson said Goodman is struggling to keep revenues up with expenses for basic services. Sales-tax revenues fell about $12,300 this past year and property-tax revenues about $4,500. The city was forced to eliminate one of its three police officer positions.
Proposition 2 is aimed at increasing revenues by raising the operating levy from 60.83 cents per $100 valuation to the maximum of $1 allowed by law. The increase would raise the annual taxes the owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 pays the city from $115.58 to $190.
The money would go to the general fund for police, municipal court, administration and recreation services.
Proposition 3 seeks to hike the city’s sales tax from 1 cent to 1.5 cents for street and infrastructure upgrades. The existing sales tax all flows into the general fund.
The mayor said the increase is needed to repair streets that were cut up when the town’s new water pipes were installed. He said the city clerk’s research shows that a majority of towns in McDonald and Newton counties have a half-cent sales tax for transportation purposes.
“They’re fair,” Wilson said of Goodman streets’ overall condition. “They’re not tore up. But they’re getting rough.”
There is just one city race on the ballot in Goodman.
Incumbent North Ward Alderman Kristin Windsor is being challenged by Dean Freund in her bid for re-election. A two-year term awaits the winner.
Noel
Noel voters are being asked to renew the Noel Water Co.’s rights to supply and distribute water within city limits, and to continue operating a tower for video and radio communication signals on company property. The renewal is for another 20 years.
There also are contested races for mayor, marshal, collector and two aldermanic posts in Noel.
Three candidates have filed to run for mayor in the wake of incumbent Mayor Paul Gardner’s decision not to seek re-election. They are Lewis Davis, John Lafley and Bill Austen. The winner receives a two-year term.
Incumbent Marshal Ellsworth “Ozzy” Amos III is being challenged by Les Schatzley for a four-year term, and Collector Karla Meador has a challenger, Stephanie Ehlers, in her bid for re-election. The collector office is a two-year term.
Richard Sederberg and incumbent Michelle Amos are vying for Noel’s North Ward aldermanic seat, while Bobbie Wolf, Francis “Skip” McKenna and Amy Finley are seeking the South Ward seat of incumbent Lafley, who is running for mayor. Both seats are for two years.
R-1 School District
Five candidates are seeking two seats on the McDonald County R-1 School Board. Incumbents Sammy Helm III, of Pineville, and Tammy Clark, of Anderson, are being challenged by Harold Stephens, of Stella; Lynn Schlessman, of Pineville; and LaSandra McKeever, of Seligman. The two posts each carry three-year terms.
Anderson
Anderson Aldermen Art Fields and Darren Pierce are not seeking re-election, but there is interest in both of their seats. In the East Ward, Colleen Epperson and Frank Royce are facing off. In the West Ward, the contest is between Leatress Gideon and Ray Cooper. Two-years terms await each winner.
Pineville
Pineville has races for mayor and South Ward alderman.
Mark Rice is running against appointed incumbent Mayor Patricia Beshears for a one-year, unexpired term. Jack Gaughenbaugh, the incumbent alderman in the South Ward, is being challenged by Ann Crowder-Sanders for a new two-year term.
Lanagan
Mayor Edna Billups must get past challenger Dan Hudgens to win another two-year term in Lanagan. Alderman Brian Skaggs has competition in his re-election bid from Carol O’Roake in Lanagan’s North Ward. Noah Madden and Christina Jackson are running for the South Ward aldermanic seat being vacated by incumbent Michelle Miller. Both aldermanic seats are for two years.
Southwest City
Janie Turner and Jerry Thatcher are squared off in a race for a two-year term as collector in Southwest City. Incumbent Patsy Vinson decided not to run. Southwest City voters also will choose between incumbent Judith Pendergraft and Wendell Jones in a race for West Ward alderman. A two-year term is at stake.
Jane
Robert Townsend will not seek re-election to the Board of Trustees in Jane.
Travis Horn and Kenneth Haynes are running against each other for a two-year term in the vacated seat.
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