Residents still questioning legality of Special Service Area tax

By Editor | November 2, 2022 |

By BETH ZUMWALT

Bill and Dee Walquist were at the Scott County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday, Oct. 31. The couple had questions about the Special Service Area Tax passed Oct. 24 in a special commissioners meeting. The couple had also asked several questions about the SSA at the public hearing.

“Did cards go out to all of the registered voters,” Bill Walquist said. “I don’t think they sent out notices.”

Bob Schaffer, chairman of the board of commissioners, said notices were sent to every registered voter who lives in the proposed SSA.

“People to the west and part of the north are served by the Bluffs-Meredosia ambulance, so they weren’t included,” Schaffer said. “But, as far as we know, notices went to everyone they were supposed to go to.”

Sandra Hankins, Scott County Clerk, said she sent a letter to Fike and Fike, the company that assists the county with property taxes to get the list of owners and said no one ever asked for a list of registered voters, but assumed they got it somewhere else.

Walquist said he’d also like to read a copy of the resolution.

“I’d like to compare it to the first one,” he said. “The matter of the SSA has been discussed for the past two years and last time got as far as the public hearing before dying.”

Schaffer said he would get a copy of the resolution to the Dalquists, but that not many details will be available until the 60 day period afforded to property owners and registered voters to object to the matter has passed. Those opposed to the SSA have to procure two petitions, signed by 51 percent of the voters and 51 percent of the landowners. Those opposed to the SSA have to sign the petitions and have them in the courthouse by close of business Dec. 24. Fifty one percent of the registered voters would be approximately 1,310, while 51 percent of landowners are 1,398 signatures.

“I am disappointed with the way the ambulance people have made their presentation,” Bill Walquist said. “In the two and one half years, this has been talked about, they haven’t looked into any thing else. They have just stood there with their hand out. Why didn’t they look into a flat tax or a subscription based service, This is a private business asking for tax dollars.”

As was pointed out at the Oct. 24 meeting, Walquist was reminded that a flat tax is not legal.

Walquist also said he was disappointed in the commissioners and the state’s attorney for not being better prepared to answer questions at the Oct. 24 meeting.

Schaffer also reminded the Walquists that it has not been decided that the Winchester EMS group will be the recipient of the money.

“We have the option to put it out for bids,” Schaffer said. “Another company could come in and give a better bid, than Winchester EMS.”

He did not say if the commissioners were considering a bidding process, but, did not rule it out.

In other action at at the Oct. 31 meeting, the board

• Learned the delinquent tax sale was held Friday and netted $37, 996 which will be disbursed to the taxing bodies this week, according to Mark Ford, treasurer of Scott County. There were 45 properties that were delinquent in their tax bills ranging from a low of $12 to a high of $7,515. Ford said the number, as always was very low. “Scott County people are good about paying their taxes,” he said.

• Learned the new snow plow attachments on the highway department’s trucks made it impossible to change the oil. The outfitter who designed the attachments will fix the problem at no expense to the county.

• Agreed to enter into an agreement with Hutchinson Engineering for rebuilding a section of Hoots road, approximately one and one-half miles between the Exeter Road and County Highway 1.

• There are 27 residents at the Scott County Nursing Home.