By Louie Graves
News-Leader staff
A special election planned for May 13 would give Howard County residents a chance to “re-purpose” the existing one-cent sales which now goes to pay off a loan for Howard Memorial Hospital facility maintenance, and instead be distributed per capita to the cities and county.
County Judge Brent Pinkerton introduced the idea to Nashville City Council members at their regular February meeting at noon Monday.
The judge repeatedly noted that it was not a new tax.
The sales tax receipts would go roughly 52 percent to the county, and from that figure would come continued money for the hospital, some for the economic development council, and for the county’s other needs. The county’s incorporated cities — Nashville, Dierks, Mineral Springs and Tollette — would each receive a share based on population.
Judge Pinkerton said that the idea had been discussed a week earlier at the regular meeting of the quorum court. The newspaper was not in attendance at the meeting and did not report on the sales tax development.
Speaking on the same topic, Nashville mayor Larry Dunaway said that if the measure passed, he hoped to set aside money for paving and street repairs, and for unanticipated needs.
Judge Pinkerton explained that if the sales tax measure did not pass the money would not be collected beyond the end of December 2025.
If the measure passes, the income would seamlessly pass to the county and the cities, he said.
He also said that the ballot language stated that each city governing body would determine how it would use the income.
As an example, the judge said that based upon average sales tax collection and per capita distribution, the city of Nashville might realize about $600,000 annually.
“This is a win-win for everybody,” he said.
Food trucks
Melanie Schwarz, market manager for the Farmers’ Market who is a new chamber of commerce board member, asked the council to consider amending the regulation which allows food trucks operate at the city park and the Howard County Fairgrounds without permits.
She said she hoped that food trucks could increase the draw of crowds to the market which operates from 7-11, May to September, and special events, and that dropping the permit fee might increase interest of the food truck vendors.
Alderman Joe Hoen said he was concerned that their presence on Fridays would hurt local restaurants on their busiest day.
After a spirited discussion the idea was tabled for further research by council members.
Busy council meeting
• Acting upon a recommendation by Mayor Dunaway, the council unanimously approved the nomination of Nashville Junior High principal Hannah Topor to fill a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission. She fills the vacancy created by the move of longtime Commissioner Freddie Horne to ‘emeritus’ status. The council also was given copies of a letter of resignation from Commissioner Donny Woods.
• Ryan Bowman, an attorney with the firm which sells bonds to finance Nashville municipal projects, guided the council through steps to authorize the sale of bonds.
• Mayor Dunaway told the council that repairs to a clarifier at the wastewater treatment plant would require a great deal more money than anticipated. The council approved an extra expenditure of about $250,000 on the project.
Council members in attendance included Lynn Dyer, Kathy Combs, Herbert Turley, Kay Gathright, Charles Pinkston, William Turley, Vivian Wright, Donna Harwell, Joe Hoen and Freddie Horne; also, Mayor Dunaway, Financial Director Kimberly Green, Fire Marshal Justin Thornton, Police Chief Amy Marion, Parks and Recreation Director Meghan Floyd, Code Enforcement Officer David Riggs, City Recorder Lauren Hoen and City Attorney Aaron Brasel.
