No increase in property taxes
Bruce Sullivan addressed the council asking for water access to his property.
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met in regular session on Monday, October 7th without Council members Wayne Wilson and Austin Bragg, and City Attorney Sharon Howard.
The second reading was held on the 2019 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Ordinance #2019-20-03. The ordinance passed unanimously. As of January 1, 2020, the real estate and personal property tax rate will be .0.85% per $100 of assessed value. This rate is unchanged from 2018.
Second readings were also approved for Budget Ordinance #2019-20-04 appropriating funds to the City of Edmonton for the Edmonton Memorial Park in the amount of $24,841 and Budget Ordinance #2019-20-05 appropriating funs to the City of Edmonton for the Edmonton Fire Department in the amount of $96,830.
Water and Gas Department
Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley introduced Metcalfe residents Bruce and Gloria Edwards Sullivan who are requesting water access on the Robert Edwards Road. The couple have lived on her great-grandfather’s farm around 16 years and “The only water the house has ever had is a spring. The spring house is continuing to deteriorate…threatening our steady reliable source of water,” according to Sullivan.
There are three other homeowners on the road who would like access to water. Hensley stated that it is around ¾ of a mile and the engineer will need to look at the access. There was some uncertainty about the price and customer percentage to run the water lines. Hensley estimated the cost of the city installing the water lines to be around $21,000, including engineering costs.
Mayor Doug Smith said, “We need to get together what our protocol is.”
Councilmember Curt Estes stated, “We need to do some additional research on this and see what we usually do on that.”
Police Department Report
Assistant Chief Michael Hamilton filled in for Chief Delaney Wilson who is on vacation. Hamilton presented the departments September activity report as 55 traffic stops, 54 complaints, 8 arrests, 30 citations written, 1 animal complaint, 3 warrants served, 5 domestic calls, 11 non-injury accidents, 1 injury accident, 4 new investigations opened, 3 incomplete 911 calls, 1 fight, 8 summons served, 1 alcohol intoxication, 7 drug-related, and 19 medical assists for a total of 161.
ABC Report
ABC Administrator Fred Ray stated that all the businesses are in compliance and there are eight days remaining for those businesses to turn in their regulatory fees.
Fire Department Report
Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons presented the number of fire runs for September as 24. They were 9 medical assists, 1 cat in a tree, 2 accidents with injury, 2 accidents without injury, 3 lift assists, 2 special details, 1 controlled burn, 1 grass fire, and 3 radio test calls.
As discussed at the September meeting, Superintendent Hensley advised that repair work on the fire department is due to begin around the first of November after speaking with contractor Kenny Shirley.
Chief Clemmons thanked the mayor and council for repairing the air conditioning at the fire department.
Other items
Trick or treat hours within the city limits of Edmonton have been set at 4 – 7 p.m. on October 31st. The Chamber of Commerce Trunk or Treat around the Square is being held from 4-6 p.m. on October 31st.
