The Chillicothe City Council approved an ordinance on August 12 to set the 2024 levy for property taxes for general and park funds. Unapproved minutes show the rates are 68.52 cents for general revenue and 1.927 cents for parks and recreation revenue. These rates are the same as those of the last two years.
The approval followed a public hearing in which City Clerk Amy Hess read a memo from City Auditor Allison Jeffries, who was absent from the hearing. The memo explained that the assessed value of real estate rose from its 2023 amount of $82,869,895 to the 2024 amount of $84,006,536. The assessed valuation for personal property increased from its 2023 amount of $34,596,552 to the 2024 amount of $36,251,932.
While the rates remained unchanged, the approximate tax revenues for 2024 increased by $24,411.16 from 2023 due to the rise in the assessed valuation for real estate and personal property.
There were no comments from the public on the valuation or the city auditor’s recommendation to keep the tax rates the same.
The council approved another ordinance to accept the lowest responsible bid for the Meadowland Storm Water Project from M and M Utilities for $812,296. Council Member Weston Baker abstained.
Approval was given to Dave Prather’s appointment to the Chillicothe Housing Board as recommended by Mayor Theresa Kelly.
The council adopted the 2023-2024 audit from Conrad and Higgins LLC, which was presented at the July 29 council meeting.
City Administrator Rozanne Frampton complimented City Auditor Jeffries on her work on the current audit with Conrad and Higgins. She praised Jeffries for reviewing and ensuring the audit was cleaned up and completed before September.
Jeffries has communicated with Bryan Minnis of Maxim Golf about a new scoring system and lane upgrade before an Elks tournament in 2025. The city will soon go out to bid on that project.
Frampton thanked those involved with the Green Hills Golf Course Improvement Tournament, announcing that $19,000 was raised to support various projects.
A tour of the golf course will be scheduled for council members in the coming weeks. After a tennis court project is completed, a tour of the parks will also be scheduled.
Frampton reported that the city is preparing to go out to bid for work on the new industrial park on Commerce Drive.
A Teams meeting was held last week regarding the police department project. Frampton said a draft should be received soon.
A hearing was held on Monday morning, August 12, regarding a Community Development Block Grant for a demolition project. An application is to be submitted in early September, and Frampton noted the city should know the results in October.
Mayor Theresa Kelly reported that Chilli Bay Water Park had its last day on August 11, ending the season with the Doggy Dip.
She congratulated Fire Chief Eric Reeter on receiving the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association Administrator of the Year Award.
Council Member Stacey Soper also congratulated Reeter and thanked him for representing Chillicothe.
City Council Member Tom Ashbrook inquired if the bowling alley is charging a fee to the Elks Lodge for a tournament. He also asked how the funds raised from the Green Hills Golf Course Improvement Tournament would be used.
Council Member Pam Jarding commented that the Hutchinson project required considerable thought.
She requested that the street department be careful when spraying for weeds on the edge of streets to avoid affecting residents’ yards.
Council Member Reed Dupy will attend the Missouri Municipal League meeting on August 15 to prepare for the annual MML conference in September.
City Clerk Hess reported that, to date, only one person had come in to obtain a chicken license. She noted that the deadline is September 27.
An Airport Board meeting was scheduled for August 13 at 5:15 p.m.
A Park Board meeting may be held on August 19 at 6 p.m. Hess said that when the meeting is confirmed and an agenda is received, the agenda will be sent to everyone.
She reported that new copiers will be delivered to the police department on August 14.
Hess will attend a Northwest Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association meeting in Platte City on August 15. There will be a tour of Platte City’s new police department and city hall.
