Speaking for the Holden Sesquicentennial committee at the November meeting of the Holden City Council, Karen Christensen explained that plans for the upcoming 150th anniversary of Holden have been finalized.

A kickoff event has been set for January 19, 2008, to be held at Holden High School with the school’s drama class portraying some of Holden’s notorious people from 1858 to the present.  There will also be a fashion show at the event.

She also stated that commemorative coins, mugs, plates and calendars should be available shortly.  Christensen mentioned that business sponsors are still needed.

In another area, city mayor Mike Wakeman told the council that he is aware of two very interested business/developers who want to buy the business park.  He continued that they know the minimum price for the 20 acres.  The park is 26 acres, but the city plans to retain six of the acres for public safety use. 

The council agreed to advertise the property for four weeks, with Tracy Brantner, executive director of the Johnson County Economic Development Corporation, helping to write the property description and the bid specifications.

During the discussion, the council also agreed to decide which six acres they wanted to retain.

According to Wakeman, the party who buys the park will have to submit building plans for any development to the planning and zoning committee and the city engineer before they can begin construction.

During the resolutions and ordinances portion of the meeting, a first reading was held on an ordinance which would explain grounds for vacancies and forfeiture of office by council members.

The ordinance stated that the office of a council member shall become vacant up the member’s death, resignation, recall or removal from office in any manner authorized by the chapter or by law or upon forfeiture of the office.

It also states that a council member shall forfeit his or her office if the member at any time during their term of office lacks any qualification for the office, is convicted of a felony, fails to pay by its original due date without out valid reason any valid tax or assessment that is owed the city; or fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the council or more than 25 percent of the council’s regular meetings during any twelve-month period without being excused.

Created vacancies would be appointed by a majority vote of the council for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Council member Karl Timmerman, an attorney, stated that he had serious reservations about the forfeiture provision of the ordinance and that he felt that he would much rather have a judge decide than the council.  He also moved that the council table the measure to allow members to think about it more.

During discussion of the bill, council member Veronica Burt said that the ordinance was about her.  She has been absent four of the eight regular meetings held since her election in April. 

Wakeman responded that it may be about her in this instance, but the council had been talking about an ordinance for years.  “Even if you don’t agree, you can’t just not show up at meetings,” he added.

“I have no protection in these meetings,” Burt stated, speaking of repercussions that might occur from the nepotism charges brought against the mayor.

Wakeman said “If you don’t show up for work, your boss is going to fire you.  If you don’t show up here we’ll take it to the citizens.”

The council voted to table the first reading until the next regular meeting.

In other business, the council agreed to give the mayor authority to contract with Integrity Correction Center (ICC) for holding prisoners who must be placed in 12-hour protective custody at a cost of $45.50 per prisoner. 

The contract with ICC will save Holden police officers time and money over taking prisoners to the Johnson County Jail where they must be taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.

By Steve Sullins
Editor


Merchants are preparing their best bargains, trolleys are ready to run and Santa is on his way to Holden to celebrate the business community’s annual Customer Appreciation Night Friday evening in the downtown area.

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. when a number of businesses will be offering “Door Buster Specials” until 6 p.m. Featured will be some great sale items which will give shoppers an early start on their Christmas lists.

Signaling the start of other festivities will be the arrival of Santa at 6 p.m. Arriving courtesy of the Holden Fire Department on a shiny red truck, Santa will stop at the Holden Downtown Park and light the city Christmas Tree.

Directly thereafter, a number of other activities will ensue, including the always-popular trolley rides. Two wagons with Steve Haller’s mule teams will be taking riders up and down the streets of Holden to see Christmas decorations and light displays. The rides will last throughout the evening until approximately 9 p.m.

Also beginning at 6 p.m. will be a refreshment stand hosted by the Holden VFW. Warming up what may be some chilly participants will be members of the VFW Auxiliary who will serve hot chocolate, coffee and homemade cookies. Santa, who will meet area children and pose for pictures with them.

In addition to Santa, a trio of clowns will be entertaining children with face-painting and animal balloons. They will be roaming throughout the crowd and stationed in the Holden Chamber of Commerce building throughout the evening.

Holiday music will be played over loud speakers in the downtown area and a number of live performances will take place on Main Street between Mailen Appliances and the Holden Chamber of Commerce building.

Playing at 6:30 p.m. will be Gary Green and his sons, Nathan and Matt. At 7 p.m. a group from New Life Fellowship Church will take the stage, followed by a choral group from Holden High School at 7:30 p.m. Rounding out the evening will be a performance by Bobby Kent, beginning at 8 p.m..

Throughout the evening, numerous drawings will be taking place for valuable prizes such as “Chamber Bucks,” gift certificates and savings bonds donated by the Bank of Holden and F&C Bank.

In addition, a number of stores will be staying open until 9 p.m., giving local residents a chance to pick up some pre-Christmas bargains.

The Customer Appreciation Night is being co-sponsored by the Holden  Chamber of Commerce and the Holden Image. They, along with all other members of the business community, invite the town and surrounding area to take part in what should be a fun and enjoyable evening.

Ruthane Small, Johnson County Collector announced that the Johnson County tax statements were recently mailed.  Approximately 39,569 tax bills were generated this year, 633 more than last year.  The total for 2007 personal property and real estate taxes is approximately 27.8 million dollars.
Most Johnson County residents will see a slight increase in the real estate taxes this year due to a state mandate for county wide reassessment which equalizes properties and brings them up to current market values.  2007 is a year of reassessment on real estate as required by Missouri law.  Earlier this year, the assessor’s office mailed to each property owner a post card, referred to as an impact notice, indicating the  updated property values.

Additionally, voters approved levy increases in the following districts: Holden R-III School District, Crest Ridge R-VII School District and Johnson County Fire Protection District. Other levies had a slight roll-back or decrease due to the increased values as required by law; however, most were less than 1 cent per 100 assessed value.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including through the lunch hour.  Taxes are due by December 31 each year.  As a convenience, the collector’s office will be open on Saturday, December 15 and 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Missouri law clearly states that penalties apply for any payment received after January 1.  Payments received by mail are deemed paid as of the postmark date stamped.  For convenience, a payment drop box will be located at the east front door of the Courthouse beginning December 1.

Payments may be made with cash, check, money order, credit card or debit card.  Due to high risk and fraud, the collector will not accept checks provided by a credit card company.  If one chooses to mail their payment and use a credit card, an authorization form is on the back of the tax statement.  Additionally, the law requires any fee incurred by the credit card processing company to be charged to the taxpayer.  Currently, this fee is 3.6 percent.

Taxpayers are encouraged to verify that all property is listed correctly, especially vehicles on personal property.  Commonly asked questions and answers are on the back of the tax statements.  Please review that information before calling.  Persons having questions about property listed, values, or corrections to the tax bills should contact the assessor’s office at 660-747-9822.  No changes or corrections can be made in the collector’s office.  However, if one has questions regarding the payment procedure or about receipts, please feel free to contact the collector’s office at 660-747-5531.

A courtesy card for licensing vehicles is attached to each paid personal property receipt.  In the event one misplaces this card, the upper portion of the tax receipt can be used at the license bureau.  Taxpayers are highly encouraged to retain and present tax receipts when licensing their automobiles. However, for the past eight years, the Johnson County Collector’s Office has sent paid tax information to the Department of Revenue in Jefferson City which allows any license bureau in the state to access this information.  If one took advantage of a two-year registration with the Department of Revenue, one will need two year’s tax receipts at the end of that two-year registration.  Also, a six-digit code number is printed beside each vehicle which will aid in renewing vehicle registration by internet.