Council disregards mayor, chooses Nov. 6 for tax vote

RED OAK — After a contentious discussion, Red Oak’s City Council voted 3-1 last week to disregard the mayor’s request for a May special election on a proposed motel/hotel tax.

Mayor Bill Billings had suggested the Council host a special meeting Feb. 28 to discuss how the generated funds would be dispersed, who would disperse them, and when the election should take place.

However, after Billings requested a motion to host the special meeting, Council Member Larry Barnett moved that the special election regarding the tax take place during the general election Nov. 6. The motion passed 3-1 with Barnett, Jeanice Lester and Tom Pratt voting yes, and Scott Keith voting no.

The Council later agreed to host a special meeting Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the issue.

Billings had suggested the May special election in a previous meeting, and stated at this one he believed two months was enough time to promote the tax.

“If the agreement can be reached on how the money should be split, I believe a two-month time period is well enough time to market this for an election,” Billings said. “I know we have multiple groups in support of the election in May as well as 178 firm responses in my own correspondences, email, text messages, Facebook responses and personal contact that are for moving forward in May with the election and they all believe wholeheartedly it is in the city’s best interest.”

Karen Blue attended the meeting and told Billings she disagreed.

“Special elections typically do not bring in a lot of people, and typically, they bring in the people that are anti something because those people make the effort while the rest stay at home. I think you stand a better chance at a general election,” she said. “If it fails in May, it will be a long time before you can do it again.”

Representatives from four local organizations who could benefit from the tax submitted a letter to the Council and Billings.

The letter (which is reprinted on P. 6A) contained three suggestions:

— Devoting 100 percent of the tax to “increasing programming and promotional efforts by Red Oak organizations to bring about cultural, recreational, entertainment and new tourism initiatives that will bring more guests and visitors to [the] community.”

— Forming a committee comprised of the four organizations, as well as representatives from the retail sector, the restaurant industry, city government and community at-large, to disperse the funds;

— Postponing the election to Nov. 6.

Billings however attacked the source of the letter and how it was produced.

“How else am I supposed to take something when only a few people are invited to participate in a letter signing campaign and its not the entire community nor does it represent a majority of the community but a minority at a meeting held by the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Board of directors,” Billings said. “That is a select and chosen few people. I have no other definition for it.”

Presidents of Red Oak Trails (Phil Lamb), Touchstone Arts Council (Jim Hoskinson), Wilson Performing Arts Center (Paul Griffen) and the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association (Allen Pohren) signed the letter along with Randy Orme, General Manager of the Red Coach Inn.  

Billings also criticized a perceived threat accompanying the letter.

“I don’t disagree with what was in the letter or the purpose of the letter,” Billings said. “I do disagree with the fact it was put forth wholeheartedly … that if we didn’t go along with this, the issue would not be supported.”

After previously being denied an opportunity to discuss the letter, Larry Brandstetter later explained the letter was simply an opening to a line of communication with the Council.

“We did not simply get a letter and send it out, we talked to every member of the City Council because they are the ones who have the vote on this particular issue,” Brandstetter said. “We gathered this group of people together because they have a stake in this hotel/motel tax being passed. And they represent organizations that can get people out to vote and people out to the polls to support it.”

Billings responded emotionally to Brandstetter, whom he defeated in a race for mayor in November.

“Personally, I’m going to throw something out there. I think I can get out there and get votes as well as the organizations can and that was proven when I ran against you for mayor,” he said. “Now, I’m not going to argue this anymore and I’m not going to get any uglier here because I’m getting upset. This is an issue that needs to go to next week to be discussed because I don’t believe that letter or the boards or the groups represent the entire community.”

YMCA Board President Brian Mensen said his board considered signing the letter, but disagreed with the provision postponing the election.

“We were presented this letter as well and while we think it’s a good idea to have a committee … in the Y’s best interest, we think it’s a good idea to get it going now,” he said in explaining why they declined to endorse it.

The Montgomery County History Center Board also declined to sign the letter.

Council Member Larry Barnett said he was “baffled” why the letter caused so much grief.

“I don’t understand why a letter coming from an entity in the community that was presented at the chamber and industry meeting is something that is irregular or not proper because they are trying to communicate with us as a council,” he said. “Quite frankly, I want them to communicate with the council. I want to hear from these various entities.”

As a citizen, he said it would be important to him to know more about the proposed tax before voting on it.

“If I take off my council hat and become a citizen, I want to know how the money is going to be spent … and how it will be determined how it will be spent and who will make the decisions,” he said. “People want to know where this money is going, and I don’t think its unreasonable to ask the council to educate the citizens of this community.”

Jeanice Lester said feedback she’s received has urged delaying the vote.

“I have worked many bond issues and I know you have to be very, very thorough,” she said. “Even though that does not affect our community with most individuals paying that tax, the word is tax. You have to educate people what that tax is. I’m like Larry. I think we need to think it through very well before we move it forward.”

Tom Pratt said he learned from the sign ordinance how issues can deceivingly appear more simple than they are.

“The question is what happens if it doesn’t pass. If we don’t get this thing right, we are going to be in trouble,” Pratt said. “Something that is pretty simple can be very complex. It behooves us to be sure and consider what would happen if it doesn’t pass, we won’t have anything this year or next.”

The proposed tax, which will generate an estimated $75,000 a year  was last defeated by Red Oak voters in 2001 by a 3-1 margin.  

Billings had stated during his mayoral campaign that he would propose to the Council to propose the tax again at an upcoming election.