It looks like the heat was still with us this week and again next week.  That means the air conditioners are running hard again and of course that means the electric bills are going to be high yet again.  So far we have not hit large peak demands and we thank you for helping us control that.  But we have at least another two months of hot weather ahead of us and controlling peak demand usage is critical to helping all of keep the cost of electricity down.  Be a neighbor and keep an eye for your neighbors that might need assistance during these hot days.  If the heat continues and there are still heat advisories out, the American Red Cross will have their cooling station operating at the Wallace Building on Hargrove Street.

Over the last several days Lebanon and the Laclede Composite Squadron of the Missouri Wing, Civil Air Patrol has been host to an amazing group of young men and women from Great Britain, Australia, Singapore, and Canada as part of the international air cadet exchange program.  I had the pleasure of having dinner with this group last night.  I was impressed.  We had some great discussions to include one on helicopter aerodynamics.  I really had to reach back into the memory cells to answer some of those questions.  I can not say enough about our Composite Squadron and the men and women that make it happen.  They do a lot for very little.  The Cadet Program is great asset for our community and I highly encourage young men and women to consider joining.

A number of great events coming up this week.  Saturday is the Relay for Life at Boswell Park. We kick off the annual New Horizons Gospel sing at the Civic Center as well and of course the Brumley Gospel Sing is with us starting Wednesday evening through next Saturday.  We will have a number of visitors with us during the week.

I have had a number of citizens ask what the fuss was all about concerning my decision to remove Council Comments from the Council agenda.  There were several reasons behind this decision.  This agenda item did not exist until a little over two years when I initiated it at my first Council session as mayor.  Prior to that time Council had no specific comment period.  Over the course of those two years, I felt that the agenda item had served its purpose well.  However, as the Council has faced more business during its sessions and that the comments being posed were of or on issues that were simply not in the conduct of city business; the agenda item had outlived its purpose.  In reviewing the recommended Missouri Municipal League’s council agenda; the item simply was not there.  To keep the Council focused upon the matters before Council and to ensure that the City’s business was being accomplished, a decision was made to remove the item from the agenda.  Council members are still free to comment as the occasion may require during the conduct of business in accordance with the governing rules of the body.

A brief definition of a “capital asset” capital improvement” was located in the Revised Missouri State Statutes:  Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 94, Taxation in Other Cities, Section 94.575, August 28, 2009 - Definitions.  94.575. The following words, as used in sections 94.575 to 94.577, shall mean:

(1) "Capital asset" or "fixed asset", assets of a long-term character that are intended to continue to be held or used, including but not limited to land, buildings, machinery, furniture, and other equipment, including computer hardware and software;
(2) "Capital improvements", any capital or fixed asset having an estimated economic useful life of at least two years.  http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C000-099/0940000575.HTM

In short, your City has been expending the Capital Improvements ½ Cent Sales Tax as authorized since its inception in 1993 and reauthorized in 2008 by a citizen vote.

The next City Council meeting is August 16^th at 7PM Council Chambers, City Hall.  The agenda is shaping up to be rather lengthy but please do join us.  The agenda will have a number of items of interest to include the second public hearing on the City’s FY2011 budget.

If you wish to make a comment, ask a question, express a concern, or make an appointment to speak with me; please feel free to e-mail me at or call City Hall 417-532-2156 for an appointment.

Respectfully,
CP Craig
Mayor