The City of Ravenwood learned from the Nodaway County Collector at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 5th that there were 61 delinquent taxpayers on its rolls. The County Collector can now collect taxes from city taxpayers for a small fee if city councils authorize them to, which allows taxpayers to pay city taxes and county taxes in one lump sum and means the city doesn’t have to find someone to serve as tax collector. Under city ordinances, people with delinquent city taxes can have their services disconnected as determined by the council.
The council voted to raise the reconnect fee from $35 to $100 for customers who have their water shut off for nonpayment. After two months, the city will send a final notice. If payment is not received by the first of the month, the water is disconnected.
Jerry Lager reported that the water plant was running fine, that he was working on excavations, and that water tank revenues were up. He was doing five samples a month. He said the city needed a place to stockpile stuff.
Councilwoman Kila Henry reported that the US Department of Justice was extending compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act until 2028 for small cities like Ravenwood. Any digital stuff the city publishes has to be ADA compliant under Title II. This only applies to local government entities and only for web content and mobile apps. Private-sector websites, apps, PDF’s, videos, and other digital assets are not covered by these deadlines.
Another measure she reported on was Missouri House Bill 3320, which seeks to create a statewide grading and oversight system similar to the one for schools that Governor Mike Kehoe is pushing for schools.
Similar to how school systems would be graded, the DNR would be authorized to create a letter-grade system. Cities and water systems would be downgraded based on violations of federal and state drinking water laws, financial sustainability, operations and maintenance history, and infrastructure failures. The first grades would be published no later than January 1st, 2028.
Ms. Henry also found an old agreement between the city and the park board that was registered with the Recorder of Deeds detailing who does what with the city park, mowing responsibilities, and the composition of the board. The agreement stated that the city was to pick two, the school was to pick two members, and those four members were to pick a fifth member. Members must have lived in the Northeast Nodaway School District for one year, and annual financial reports must be filed by December 1st annually. The parking lot was originally supposed to be on the south side, but is now located west of the ball diamond.
Christy Pearce of the Regional Council presented the organization’s Safer Roads campaign. They are putting together a First Impact program for first-time drivers. She asked for funding ideas. Jerry Lager said there were three road tubes that were on DOT right of way that were rusting out and that are expensive to replace. There was talk about the stoplight at 136 and 71 near Maryville, which is being increasingly seen as a hazard. There have been several scary near-misses at that intersection, the one at 71 and the road leading to Hy-Vee, and the stoplight linking 71 and Business 71. Kyla Henry said that she knew of a place in Indiana that put in 100 roundabouts and that they actually saved money because of fewer maintenance costs on traffic lights and 87% fewer accidents.
There was one dog violation; the owner was out of town and the dog got loose; he was put back in. There was one person using the city sewer without paying. There were also mowing issues. There was one building permit violation and one customer whose check was returned for insufficient funds; there is a $30 charge for that.
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