No new tax increase.
That's the vote that came down on Monday night during the Indianola Board of Aldermen meeting.
"I make the motion to adopt the millage with no increase from last year," said Alderman Gary Fratesi.
With the subsequent approval of that proposal, Indianola taxpayers were spared a 1.5 mill increase in taxes that reportedly would have pulled an additional $150,000 out of the citizens' pockets.
The proposition to keep the taxes the same as last year was approved on a 2-2 vote with Mayor Steve Rosenthal having to cast the deciding ballot.
However, before the ballot could be taken, Alderman Ruben Woods quickly asked what happened to the majority vote from the previous meeting that resulted in an affirmation to increase the millage.
"The vote last time was to approve a millage to advertise," Rosenthal explained.
He informed Woods that the previous vote was only to decide if they would advertise with or without an increase.
"If you don't advertise to allow an increase, you can't. So, we did allow to advertise for an increase and gave the numbers based on 1.5 mills," Rosenthal said.
The law requires that a public meeting to hear any citizens' views on the millage increase be held before it can be adopted and according to Rosenthal that meeting was held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
He said only one person attended and asked questions.
“Tonight, after we've had the public hearing, because you can't adopt until you have the public hearing, which we did, then the formal adoption of the millage. That’s what’s on the agenda tonight,” he said.
Woods seemingly challenged Rosenthal's explanation, so he restated it. At that, Alderman Marvin Elder attempted to make a motion to adopt the 1.5 millage increase.
“With that being said Mayor, since we done had the public hearing, I make the motion that we follow through with the 1.5 mill," Elder said.
However, Rosenthal then reminded them that there was a motion already on the floor (Fratesi's) and asked if anyone had seconded that motion or if it failed for the lack of a second.
So, Alderman Darrell Simpson then voiced a second to Fratesi's earlier motion.
The vote was carried out with Fratesi and Simpson voting yes, and Woods and Elder voting no.
Alderman Sam Brock was not present at the time of the vote.
"With that then, I'll break the tie in favor of no increase," Rosenthal said.
Unrelenting, Woods then attempted to make another motion to raise the millage by 1.5 mills.
"A motion has already been made and passed that we don't raise it," Rosenthal reminded.
Apparently, Woods was not clear on what had transpired and said, "Okay, well, I'll second that then."
After a few disjointed remarks, Woods eventually relented.
It was articulated at the last special call session that the proposed millage increase would be used to supplement the employees' portion of the health insurance premiums.
In other business,
Paving a west end portion of Hampton Street that is currently unpaved was discussed and City Engineer Ron Cassada was tasked with getting cost estimates for the project.
The city leaders also approved pay requests and engineering estimates related to the Downtown Streetscapes Improvement and B.B. King Museum addition project.
