Letter to the Editor: Cassville street taxes and animal control
November 13, 2019
To the residents of Cassville,
Many of us are noticing the slow progress that is taking place in the repaving of all the city streets. Many are also noticing the lack of any progress on the new water lines and sewer lines that has been in the works for the last six years. Well, it's my opinion that these two go hand-in-hand and not by accident.
Anytime one asks about the paving, the most common response is that a great number of streets have to wait until the water and sewer lines are completed, simply to make certain that the new paving won't have to be torn out to work on underground utilities. But why is the start up on the underground utilities taking so long? It is my opinion that there is a hidden reason for this.
In the beginning, we were led to believe that the city would pave 10-12 miles of streets a year. Since the total mileage of all streets combined is around 72 miles, this would result in all streets being paved in six years.
In 2016, the paving tax brought in $319,532, yet only $160,000 of that was used for paving. About one half the collected amount. The rest of the funds end up as sort of a "toy fund."
Since 2016, the amount of the funds allotted for paving has been a smaller percentage every year. Why? Well, when the city only spends one half of the collected amount, the remaining half is then spent on other things that may not even be related to street resurfacing. What does this have to do with the lack of a start up on the city water and sewer lines? When you think about it, it all adds up. The fact is that once all the water lines and sewer lines are updated, the city will have no excuses not to spend the entire collected amount on paving, as it was intended. This would result in them losing their "toy fund." For this reason, they are making certain that any progress on the water and sewer lines are as gradual as possible.
Now, the city is discussing using this same type of funding for the "non-existent" animal control. But I must warn you not to fall for this, as you know that whatever means of funding they decide on, the monies will be diverted to other places just as they have been with the paving tax.
If we had animal control under the Greg Beavers Administration, we can have it now, and at no greater expense than it was then.
-Gail Purves, Cassville
To the residents of Cassville,
Many of us are noticing the slow progress that is taking place in the repaving of all the city streets. Many are also noticing the lack of any progress on the new water lines and sewer lines that has been in the works for the last six years. Well, it's my opinion that these two go hand-in-hand and not by accident.
Anytime one asks about the paving, the most common response is that a great number of streets have to wait until the water and sewer lines are completed, simply to make certain that the new paving won't have to be torn out to work on underground utilities. But why is the start up on the underground utilities taking so long? It is my opinion that there is a hidden reason for this.
In the beginning, we were led to believe that the city would pave 10-12 miles of streets a year. Since the total mileage of all streets combined is around 72 miles, this would result in all streets being paved in six years.
In 2016, the paving tax brought in $319,532, yet only $160,000 of that was used for paving. About one half the collected amount. The rest of the funds end up as sort of a "toy fund."
Since 2016, the amount of the funds allotted for paving has been a smaller percentage every year. Why? Well, when the city only spends one half of the collected amount, the remaining half is then spent on other things that may not even be related to street resurfacing. What does this have to do with the lack of a start up on the city water and sewer lines? When you think about it, it all adds up. The fact is that once all the water lines and sewer lines are updated, the city will have no excuses not to spend the entire collected amount on paving, as it was intended. This would result in them losing their "toy fund." For this reason, they are making certain that any progress on the water and sewer lines are as gradual as possible.
Now, the city is discussing using this same type of funding for the "non-existent" animal control. But I must warn you not to fall for this, as you know that whatever means of funding they decide on, the monies will be diverted to other places just as they have been with the paving tax.
If we had animal control under the Greg Beavers Administration, we can have it now, and at no greater expense than it was then.
-Gail Purves, Cassville
Disclaimer:
The editor of the Barry County Advertiser reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of the Barry County Advertiser or its staff. Email your letters to [email protected].
The editor of the Barry County Advertiser reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of the Barry County Advertiser or its staff. Email your letters to [email protected].