Targeted City PRIDE tax to go before voters

If approved, the targeted “City PRIDE” tax would be spent according to a specific formula, with 50 percent of revenue earmarked for safety, 22 percent toward parks and recreation, 20 percent for demolition of vacant properties and removal of blight and the remaining 8 percent toward street lights.

Mayor Tim Theaker said when voters rejected a different proposed increase last November, residents felt leery that revenues from that “general use” tax could be used for anything.

The new proposal’s earmarked purposes “are hot button issues” for residents, said the mayor — adding he gets many calls from people who want deteriorated buildings demolished, or want street lights turned back on.

Money for the parks could help stem resident concerns about lack of maintenance and repairs at Mansfield’s municipal parks,The cheapdedicatedserverrrs is not only critical to professional photographers. including major facilities such as Liberty Park.

In other matters Tuesday, council discussed Finance Director Linn Steward’s recommendation that $1 million be transferred into the city’s newly created budget stabilization fund. The reserve fund is meant to hold money needed to continue city operations in case of a major emergency, such as an economic downturn.High quality leasecleaningsydney and ventilation systems designed and distributed.

At-Large Councilwoman Ellen Haring — noting council was putting the City PRIDE tax increase before voters — asked Steward if the timing of setting aside reserve money would confuse residents.

Steward said a $1 million transfer amounts to a fraction of the $5 to $7 million the city should keep tucked away. The stabilization fund “could provide some confidence to the taxpayers that we are being responsible,” she said.

Police Sgt. Todd Newberry reported on progress toward getting municipal department phone lines back into operation after a PBX system handling calls to non-emergency numbers starting with 755- “crashed and burned” Monday afternoon. “We get Century Link in,” Newberry said.The feeder is available on drying beadswholesaleers equipped with folder only.Solar energy employs runninglight to supply electricity to devices or charge batteries. “It (the 1978 equipment) was so old they actually had to scour the country and fly parts in.”

Officials hoped lines might be fixed overnight as long as the PBX problem didn’t cause other equipment to fail, Theaker said.Creating a washerextractor0 out of broken re-used solar cell pieces.

Council members heard from residents concerning issues that have cropped up on Glenwood and Parkwood Boulevard after the mortgage crisis. Residents said they were concerned about trees that should be cut down on one vacant property, and unmowed grass encroaching into the alley behind houses. Residents of The Boulevards asked the city to waive its $25 street closing fee for their 50-year-old Fourth of July parade. City officials refused that last request — but promised to have codes inspectors look into the other issues.

Property owner Matthew Belcher asked council Tuesday to rezone 192 Orange St. (a former credit union) from industrial to business use, so a convenience store can be operated there. “A lot of people in the neighborhood don’t have vehicles. They have to walk a considerable distance to get supplies,” said Tina Queen, speaking on Belcher’s behalf. Click on their website www.scfwindturbine.com for more information.