City Commission's Power Grab in a Rural Town

The City re assessed all properties early this year - assessments went up - so taxes went up.

The City THEN wanted to INCREASE the tax rate by 17,5%

The citizens flooded the Commission meeting.  The Mayor panicked and called the police, who were very calm and just asked the crowds that could not get into the meeting room, to keep the noise level DOWN so that the meeting could proceed.

A  special meeting was called for the second hearing of the tax increase at a larger venue.

The tax was voted down.

The City, without calling any public meeting, put 50 items on the ballot

The citizens put 2 quarter page adverts in the local newspaper advising people to vote NO on all 50 propositions

Now-----------------------------------

One week after elections - the Commission meeting which is held on the first and fourth Tuesday of every month was MOVED with very short notice to Wednesday.

There are a bunch of resolutions to be voted on at this meeting which will be the first time they are brought before the public.

One of these is the use of excessive force in the event of "non violent civil rights demonstrations".

The others give immense power to the City Manager - who was an Engineer doing some work for the City and when the City Manager left he was appointed "interim City Manager".  That was 25 years ago, and he earns twice what is the average for a City Manager in a town our size.  He has NO experience related to City Management