LAHARPE — LaHarpe voters will decide in November whether to approve a 1.5% sales tax for street repairs and other capital projects.
City Council members approved a resolution Wednesday, putting the question on the ballot.
The city’s 1% sales tax expired in April after voters rejected an extension last November that would have bumped the local rate to 1.5%.
Council members noted there may have been confusion in the 2024 question, that led some voters to believe the 1.5% would have been tacked on to the 1%, and not a replacement.
Shoppers in LaHarpe currently pay an 8.75% sales tax rate. If approved, the local rate would go to 9.25%, including the county’s sales tax of 1.5% and the state sales tax of 6.5%.
In the county, only Humboldt’s is higher, at 9.5%.
COUNCIL MEMBERS discussed at length the city’s ordinances that regulate mobile home placement.
Veronica Poffenbarger approached the city with a request to install a mobile home manufactured in 1996 on a plot of land on South Harrison Street.
The Council must approve a variance because the current ordinance prohibits bringing in mobile homes more than 10 years old.
The city has approved similar requests in the past, but the most recent request before Poffenbarger’s has some seeking answers.
That’s because the owners jumped the gun and brought in the mobile home before they were supposed to. Council members had begun the variance process, even giving the owners provisional approval to proceed, but did not have a signed contract spelling out their plans to ensure the home was up to code in a timely manner.
The move also came before the city had an opportunity to notify neighboring landowners, another stipulation to getting the variance before the home was to be placed.
Councilman Ron Knavel Sr. noted the owners have done improvements to the trailer, which sits on land directly east of City Hall, such as installing new doors and windows.
“They’re doing what they said they would, even though we don’t have it in writing,” Knavel said.
“But is it fair for the neighbors?” former Councilman Austin Lee asked. “There are still property owners all around it. If I was a landowner, I’d push for it to be removed — hard.”
Mayor Mae Crowell said the city would need to visit with City Attorney Fred Works to determine what to do. Works was not at Wednesday’s meeting.
