2002-11 Blair Gatewayt
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3080 Westridge Dr
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uilding renovation is underway at
>> 127 South 17th Street on the new
Blair Police Department facility, and
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I be completed
�< work should 0
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March 2003. The city council will
now ask Blair voters if the purchase
and renovation of the building should be paid
with property tax or a sales tax. The issue is on
the November 5 ballot.
The question that voters will answer is should
an additional one half percent (1 /2 %) local sales
tax be collected for thirty (30) months, or should
Blair property tax be increased by approximately
1.9 cents per hundred dollars of valuation for 20
years in order to pay for the new police facility.
In the Primary Election, voters approved
purchase and renovation of the property at 127
South 17th Street. Subsequently, the city council
issued $745,000 in public safety bonds to fund
purchase and renovation.
Public safety bonds are repaid with property
tax. The principle of $745,000 and interest costs
of $473,979 over the next 20 years will increase
property taxes by approximately 1.9 cents per
hundred dollars of valuation per year. In other
words, a home valued at $100,000 would pay
additional property tax of $19.00 each year for
the next 20 years.
The alternative to a property tax increase is a
one half ( 1 /2 p ercent increase in the city sales
)p
tax for thirty (30) months that will generate
enough revenue to pay off the bonds early. Blair
property taxpayers would save about $350,000 in
future interest costs.
The mayor and city council approved a
resolution at their August 27th meeting that
places this question on the November 5 ballot:
"Shall the governing body of the City of Blair,
Nebraska impose a sales and use tax in the
amount of one -half percent upon the
transactions within the City of Blair upon which
the State of Nebraska is authorized to impose a
tax subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. That the term of the one -half percent city
sales and use tax shall be limited to a
period of thirty (30) months;
2. That proceeds from the one -half percent
city sales and use tax are to be used for the
purpose of retiring the outstanding principal
and interest due and owing on public
___a:_..__J __ arm_
2003 City Budgeted Expenditur - es
, (Excludes Cash Reserves)
Zoning/Building
Debt Service General
P Um ump L I C mmm E E T r me 1 HU'S am"
1%
-Government
Second & Fourth Tuesday
The Library Board meets at the
12% 8%
5:00 P.M.
First Monday
Blair Public Library,
Public Safety
7:00 P.M.
First Tuesday
Police/Fire
Sewer
7:30 P.M.
Second Wednesday
All other meetings are at Blair
Airport Authority
7:00 P.M.
Public
City Hall,,
Board of Adjustment
Health/Social
Third Thursday
Public Works
Services
Streets
Water
31%
Public Works
Other
KENO Library/Cemetery/
1%
2% Recreation
Other Capital
Operating
Expenses
The Blair Gateway November 2002
2
+
Capital
Improvements
T N L
P Um ump L I C mmm E E T r me 1 HU'S am"
Mayor and City Council
7:00 P.M.
Second & Fourth Tuesday
The Library Board meets at the
Library Board
5:00 P.M.
First Monday
Blair Public Library,
.Planning Commission
7:00 P.M.
First Tuesday
21 0 South 17th Street.
Park Board
7:30 P.M.
Second Wednesday
All other meetings are at Blair
Airport Authority
7:00 P.M.
Third Tuesday
City Hall,,
Board of Adjustment
Noon
Third Thursday
218 South 16th Street.
The Blair Gateway November 2002
2
+
Capital
Improvements
nclearly or inappropriately displayed address markings
<< not only potential for delayed res ponse d times e
Y create the
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public safety personnel, but the are in violation of
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Cit Y Ordinance Section 8 -306.
In an effort to provide the highest quality service, the
Blair Police Department, the Blair Volunteer Rescue
Squad, and the Blair Volunteer Fire Department have asked the
Mayor and City Council to aggressively enforce the ordinance to
ensure that Police, Rescue, and Fire personnel can quickly and
accurately identify addresses. Under Section 8 -306, all residential,
commercial, and industrial buildings must display the building
number on the front of the building facing the street and next to the
principal entrance.
The address numbers must be visible from the street, be at least
three (3) inches in height and contrast in color with the building or
background. Please do your part to help our public safety personnel
provide efficient and effective service to you by properly identifying
your address.
i
�ilit" M,
Pursuant to city code, repairs to, or replacement of, the water
line service between the city main and a home or business is the
responsibility of the property owner. If your service line is leaking or
breaks, please contact City Hall to let us know who will be making
the repairs. The city is responsible for maintaining water mains
throughout the city.
COUNCIL TO APPEAR BEFORE THE
To schedule an issue before the City Council, simply
stop by City Hall at 218 South 16th
Street and complete a "Request E}
to Appear" form before noon on
4:
the first or third Thursday of the
month.
continued from age 1
bonds •;• • o w ith an - • - - proper t ax f or - ne
20-y
Question: What is the current city sales tax rate and term?
Answer: The City of Blair currently has a one percent sales tax that
is dedicated to the construction of the new Fire Station
(completed) and street and highway improvements. This sales
tax has a seven -year sunset and will terminate September 30,
2005,
Question: If the one half percent sales tax is approved, when
would it start and end?
Answer: The tax would go into effect on April 1, 2003 and
terminate on September 30, 2005,
Question: Can the mayor and city council extend either the
current one percent or the proposed one half percent sales tax?
Answer: No. The voters must approve any proposal for local sales
tax.
Novemb The Blair Gateway 0 0
You're having a heart attack - How do the Police and Rescue
personnel know wh • •• •
Fall Clean=Up to
wnd Nove ber 1 Oth
lair residents have until November 10 to dispose of
materials at the City Public Works yard located at 3rd
Avenue and Colfax Street. The site is open from 4:00 p.m.
7:00 .m. Monday through Friday, and 12:00
to p Y .m. to g Y p
n Sunda P remembe
r:
r and .m Sa turday da
p Y Y
® The disposal site is for Blair residents only! Proof of
residency is required.
® Refrigerators, air conditioners, batteries, tires, liquid paint,
and hazardous wastes are not accepted
• Other major appliances, including stoves, washers, and dryers, are
accepted
® Dumpsters are designated for yard waste (leaves and grass) only.
Yard waste must be separated from other clean up waste and
must be removed from bags when depositing.
T A � Al •`
w "
To ensure that sidewalks are safe for pedestrian traffic during
the winter months, the city would like to remind property owners to
be diligent in clearing off sidewalks adjoining or adjacent to their
property. Per city code Sections 8 -505 and 8 -510, property owners
have the responsibility to remove snow, sleet, mud and ice from
sidewalks within five hours of the end of a storm. Should the storm
end after 9:00 p.m., the code grants the property owner until 10:00
a.m. the following morning to clear the sidewalks. If a violation
comes to the attention of the city, the city may notify the property
owner that the sidewalks need to be cleared immediately. If
action is not taken within 24 hours of notice, the city may make
arrangements to clear the sidewalks and bill the property owner for
the work. Please avoid a violation by taking responsibility and
being prompt in clearing the sidewalks abutting your property.
0 Open Burning Allowed
Until Nove ber 1 Oth
Open burning of tree and shrub trimmings (excluding stumps and
branches), leaves, grass, weed and garden vegetation is allowed
within the city limits of Blair between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily,
November 2 to November 10.
Please use caution when burning and remember that you are
responsible for monitoring your fires. An alternative to burning yard
waste is the Fall Clean -Up site at the Public Works yard. Remember,
after November 10th it is illegal to burn yard waste within city limits.
Mom
In the past, City of Blair personnel have removed tree limbs and
branches from private property following damaging wind storms, if they
were placed next to the curb by the homeowner or tenant. Unfortunately,
city employees are already committed to other jobs that must be
completed before winter, and are unable to remove branches and limbs
left by the curb from the most recent storm. Residents may dispose of
limbs and branches at the city disposal area just south of the recycling
building at Third and Colfax Streets.
0 The Jeanette Hun Anilrwl%lal
Am
•
* Do not blow or push snow from private property onto public
streets. This is a violation of City Code Section 8 -104 and the
property owner can be ticketed.
® Remove cars parked on the street so that snow can be
removed to the curb.
® Do not pile snow on street corners. This causes an obstruction to
drivers' line of sight. In some areas, particularly in the business
district, you may have to haul away the snow.
City crews share the same goal for snow removal as you do. They
want to remove snow and ice from our streets quickly and
completely to make the streets safe for all drivers.
The Blair Gatewa
Do your part and keep Blair clean. City Clean-Up is funded by Blair
C ons t ruc ti on o - new o B J eane tt e A nim a l - e is
nearing completion. This proj is a good example o
private partnership benefiting - whole community It is being
funded in part by city funds, K eno funds and donations from priva
citizens and busin