By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
An era ended quietly Tuesday night.
After serving the citizens of Dexter for more than 45 years, Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen was the last meeting for Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken.
“Chief, you’ve done a good job all these years,” said Mayor Joe Weber. In October Banken announced his retirement after nearly 48 years of service to the Fire Department and the city.
“I’m on call if needed,” Banken replied.
A reception to honor Banken, his service and his family is planned for Sunday, Jan 15., from 1 until 4 p.m., at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall. The community is invited to attend and congratulate Banken in his exemplary service and wish him well as he begins a new phase in his life.
A consolidation was approved at Tuesday’s meeting of the city liquor licenses. All the licenses were consolidated into one general category, instead of the current two divisions.
“We have two separate categories in our code for liquor by-the-drink. One is just for regular by the drink and the second is for restaurants,” explained City Attorney Bud Lawrence. Lawrence said the city had no real way of tracking the differences in the two categories. Therefore, it was suggested to combine to the separate categories into one liquor-by-the-drink ordinance.
Aldermen, with Ward One Alderman Ray Pixley absent, approved the ordinance unanimously.
In other business Tuesday evening, aldermen:
- Received a report from City Auditor Eddie Cato on city finances;
- Learned from Water & Wastewater Superintendent Tom Espy of a situation that city workers are trying to resolve on Stoddard Street, between Locust and Elm streets. Espy explained a problem erupted under the street, and machinery and flashing lights are surrounded the problem spot to alert drivers overnight
City Administrator Mark Stidham and Ward One Alderman Ray Pixley were absent from the meeting due to illness.
The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen is at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Dexter Municipal Building on Vine Street. The meeting is moved one day from its regular Monday meeting date due to the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
Action Taken
- Ord. 4663 – consolidation of liquor by the drink ordnances; unanimously approved
- Ord. 4664 – disbursements for December 2011; unanimously approved
Photo Above: Ward One Alderman Kirby Taylor (left) discusses an item with City Attorney Bud Lawrence during City Auditor Eddie Cato's report at Tuesday's meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer of Dexter said Missourians deserve to be presented with a balanced budget plan that does not rely on special legislation to pass in order for the numbers to add up.
“In 2010, I led the difficult appropriations process in order to reduce spending by more than half a billion dollars to make sure the state lived within its means,” said Mayer. “The Senate, in cooperation with the House, took the reins after the governor presented an unbalanced budget and came to us mid-session to share the full and dismal financial reality our state faced. Missourians deserve a governor that will present an honest budget forecast — no matter how unpopular — and to present a budget at his State of the State Address that is balanced. That includes not basing his budget on special legislation that must pass in order for it to be balanced.”
Mayer said the Senate’s top priority in 2012 is to pass a balanced budget without a tax increase.
“The governor has echoed this,” said Mayer, “but has failed time and again to present a balanced budget that doesn’t rely on special legislation in his recommendations during the State of the State Address.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said one of the toughest challenges this year will be to craft a balanced state budget.
“Unfortunately, slow revenue growth, increased mandatory expenses in programs like Medicaid, and the end of more than $400 million in one-time federal stabilization dollars means we could be forced to make further reductions in the upcoming budget for Fiscal Year 2013,” said Schaefer. “We want to know, and taxpayers want to know, how the governor proposes to meet our obligations and priorities while not spending more than the state takes in through general revenue collections.”
Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said the Senate has taken the lead on examining ways to reduce the size and scope of state government making it more sustainable.
“In this ongoing budget crisis, we must continually look for efficiencies so taxpayers are not burdened,” said Dempsey. “Primarily, this involves fundamental, long-term changes. Quick fixes are usually unrealistic and fall short of the savings they promise. They should not have a place in the governor’s budget plan."
Senators said some of the past special legislation proposed by the governor to balance his recommended budget included relying on additional federal stimulus dollars, a fund sweep, tax amnesty and tax collection efficiencies. For this coming fiscal year, the governor has announced a plan to use interest-free loans from higher education to pay for higher education.
A date has yet to be set for the State of the State Address. The Fiscal Year 2013 begins July 1.
Link Of Interest
1961 Bearcat Spirit!
The Dexter High School Class of 1961 gathered this fall for a 50th Class Reunion Celebration. Class members recently purchased a park bench for the newly-restored Dexter Welcome Center (the railroad depot) in Historic Downtown Dexter. On hand for the presentation of the bench were class members (from left) Judi Peck, Lynda Lovins, Grojean Weeks and Judy Gregory. (Photo submitted by Grojean Weeks)
By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
Starting 2012 with an agenda with few surprises, Dexter’s aldermen will meet Tuesday, Jan. 2 for its first meeting of the new year.
The gavel will sound to convene the Board of Aldermen at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Municipal Building on Vine Street. The agenda released last week by city officials outlines a rather “routine” meeting to begin the year.
Aldermen will receive the November 2011 report from City Auditor Eddie Cato, reports from the city department heads, as well as the report from disbursements for December 2011 from City Clerk Crystal Bishop.
Filing for aldermanic and the mayor’s position opened Dec. 13, 2011. Four aldermanic positions as well as Dexter’s mayor and city collector offices will be on the April 3 municipal ballot.
At last report, all incumbents had filed:
- Joe Weber, for reelection to a four-year term as mayor; Weber was first elected as mayor in 2002
- Crystal Allstun, for reelection to a four-year term as city collector. Allstun first became city collector in 2002; she is seeking her second four-year term
- Jerry D. Corder, reelection to a two-year term as alderman from Ward One
- Ray Pixley, reelection to a two-year term as alderman from Ward Three
In addition, Tim Aslin filled for election to a one-year term to fill an unexpired term on the board. Aslin was appointed to the Board of Aldermen earlier this year from Ward Two to fill an opening left by the resignation of Rick Hux.
The last day to file to be a candidate on the April ballot if Tuesday, Jan. 17.
A reminder: Due to the Monday, Jan. 2 holiday, the trash pick-up schedule in Dexter will run one day late this week, and there will be no bulk pickup on Friday, Jan. 6.
Photo Above: Dexter Mayor Joe E. Weber.
