Centerville discusses property tax exemption

kriner@sunmulti.com

The senior citizen property tax exemption was the most talked

about item on Tuesday’s agenda for the Centerville City Council.

Councilman Edward Tucker said he wants the issue to remain

as a regular agenda item.

“I want to keep this topic fresh,” Tucker said.

Tucker told the rest of the council about a conversation he

had with a Centerville resident and noted that the resident didn’t opposing

having to pay property taxes.

“City services are not cheap,” said Councilman Cameron

Andrews.

The Council cannot do away with the exemption on its own,

but can put the referendum question on a ballot to have residents decide the

matter.

According to councilmembers, approximately $1.5 million have

been lost in revenue since implementation of the exemption in 1991.

Andrews said if the exemption continues, city officials will

be forced to reduce services.

In other business, the council voted to rescind an ordinance

that requires alarm permits.

Police Chief Sid Andrews said the problem of too many false

alarm calls that prompted the ordinance is no longer a problem.

Andrews also told the council the ordinance was very

difficult to enforce.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting councilman Jonathan Nichols

spoke to his fellow councilmembers and apologized to the mayor for “making a

mistake.”

Nichols said he is seeking the position on the Board of

Education that was recently vacated by Tom Walmer. He said if given the

position he would resign his post on the Centerville council; if not he would

stay on council.

Councilman Randall Wright gave his closing comments and said

that the annual citywide clean up day will be held on April 6.

Wright said anything that citizens wish to dispose of should

be curbside by 8 a.m.

April 13 is the make-up day scheduled in case of rain.

HHJ News