*October 2009 Newsletter*
Calendar of Events…
October 2 - Chamber of Commerce 7:00a.m. - Feeding Station
October 5 - City Workshop Meeting 7:00p.m. - Council Chambers
October 6 - Ambulance Meeting 6:00 p.m. - Ambulance Bldg
October 7 - Tekoa Fair Association 7:30 p.m. - Prairie Grain Office
October 12 - Jaycee Club Meeting - Jaycee Club
October 13 - Park and Rec. Meeting 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
October 13 - Senior Pinochle - Tekoa Community Church
October 14 - Caregiver Coffee 10:00 a.m. - Tekoa Retirement Apartments,
Community Room
October 19 - City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
October 26 - Ambulance Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. - Ambulance Bldg
October 27 - Senior Pinochle - Tekoa Community Church
October 29 - Dist. Commodities 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - City Hall
**NOTICES**
~Please note: the City will be having a workshop meeting on October
5 in the council chambers at City Hall to discuss the cemetery and
airport budgets. All citizens are invited to attend.
~BURN BAN STILL CONTINUES!!! YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED ON
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HARDWARE READER BOARDS WHEN
THE BAN IS LIFTED.
~The City of Tekoa is in the process of having their yearly audit by the State of
Washington Auditor’s Office. We welcome their comments and help in order to
keep the city in compliance with the laws of the state. The work the auditor
is doing, should be completed by the end of the month. Unfortunately, their
office is backlogged, so we will not be getting the results of the audit for at
least two to three months. At that time, they will meet with us and do
an exit interview.
~In the coming election, Whitman County Library seeks restoration of
its M & O levy rate, an increase of 5.2 cents per $1000 of assessed value.
The rate has dropped to 44.8 cents as a result of the passage of the
I-747. With 14 county branches and increased usage, the district seeks
these funds to maintain the number of locations, hours and services
residents have come to expect. For more information,
please visit your branch location, online at www.whitco.lib.wa.us or
contact Kristie at 877-733-3365.
~FERAL CAT SOLUTIONS: Trap, Neuter, & Return Program of Humane
Society of the Palouse in Moscow, Idaho. Spay/Neuter Clinic: Oct 18, 2009,
for feral (wild) & barn cats ONLY. No house cats allowed. LAST CLINIC
THIS YEAR. Cost is $25 per cat. Includes spay/neuter, FeLV/FIV test,
FVRCP/rabies vaccines & ear-tipping for identification. Advanced reservations
necessary. Call 509-334-7099, or email hsopfcs@gmail.com.
~Tekoa Empire Theatre News~
New members! Amy and Waverly Warwick, Debbie and Sam Rapp, and Co-Ag
Buck Storm, country gospel singer and story teller, is coming to
the Empire Theatre:
Saturday October 24, 7:00 p.m.
Admission is FREE to the community
~Messages from the Mayor~
Summer is over and fall is in the air! I say this only because I don’t know a better
way to begin my monthly messages!!
~ The Council took action on a variety of items at our September 21st meeting.
We sent a new mobile home ordinance to our attorney for the “legal wording”.
A new lease for the golf course was completed, and council person, Linda Zehm,
reported on her progress to replace “entering Tekoa” signs.
~Dogs running loose and continuous barking
The Council was presented with a petition, signed by 5 city residents, strongly
requesting action with dogs that have a tendency to bark continuously. Our
ordinance describes the continuous barking that disturbs and/or annoys neighbors,
as a public nuisance. Owners of these dogs would be fined no less than
$25.00 per violation! Warning letters were sent to the homes of four dog owners
that were identified in the petition. I have a feeling more letters will be sent to dog
owners who allow their animals to become public nuisances!!
While on the dog issue, I strongly encourage dog owners to always keep the
pet restrained. We get complaints regularly, and if our letters warning dog owners
of this provision of our dog ordinance isn’t effective, expect our animal control
officers to be on the look-out for “unrestrained” dogs! If the dog is not licensed,
it’s a $50.00 fine!!
~Airport manager
As you know from my last newsletter, Jerry Squibb resigned as our airport manager.
Dave Tysz has now been appointed by the Mayor for this position.
~Street Levy
We will be voting on a $50,000 street levy this fall and I wanted to give residents
some information prior to the vote.We received $23,700 in “backfill money” from
the state last year and we anticipating that we will receive about the same amount
in 2010.
-The bulk of the revenue to maintain our city street comes from property taxes
that will be voted on in November.
-Expect our property tax to be less in 2010 than in 2009, because both the
street levy, and parks and recreation Levy, was higher in 2009 than it will be in 2010.
- We are asking for $50,000 which has been a standard figure for a number of years.
Of the $50,000 the city pays:
1) $28,000 for street lights
2) $5,000 for liability insurance
3) $650.00 for audit expenses
4) $3,000 for fuel, gas and oil
5) $11,000 for wages, benefits, for city employees doing street work and
plowing snow.
Add this up and already we have allocated $47,650.00 and we haven’t yet bought
any sand/gravel for the streets during winter nor did any paving work!!
~ We had our first month with only one business meeting and it appeared to
work well. In October, our plans are to study both the Cemetery and Airport budgets
at the October 5 workshop meeting and have our business meeting on October 19th.
As you know, both are open to the public.
|
|