CHAFFEE BOND ISSUE NOT ON APRIL BALLOT

CHAFFEE -- A bond issue to finance improvements for the city of Chaffee's waste-water plant won't be put before voters in April.

City officials announced at the last Chaffee City Council meeting on Jan. 21 their intention to try and get the bond issue on the ballot. But Chaffee Mayor Ron Moyers said Monday night at the City Council's subsequent meeting that the bond issue would not be on the ballot.

"We ran out of time," he said. "We went down to the wire and we were afraid we didn't have the information we needed to put it (the bond issue) together."

Now, Moyers said, city officials are looking at putting the issue before voters in a special election in June.

Money raised by the bond issue would be used to finance the deepening of the city's four-cell sewage lagoon. Effluent from the lagoon does not meet Missouri Department of Natural Resources guidelines.

Moyers has stressed that the bond issue would only allow the city to borrow money for the work at a low interest rate and that it would not involve a tax increase.

Following the sudden death of Ward 4 Councilman Keith Moore two weeks ago, council members unanimously approved the appointment of a Chaffee dentist to finish out Moore's term. About 14 months remain on Moore's term.

Council members approved the appointment of Dr. Brad Bader on a recommendation by Moyers.

Moyers said he felt Bader would do an excellent job on the council. He said Bader had contacted him about possibly filling the vacancy.

The council had to appoint someone to the position because no time remained to have the city seat placed on the April general election ballot.

Moore, 62, and his wife, Wanda, 59, died two weeks ago in a head-on collision on Highway 77 at Oran. Moore was a long-time Chaffee businessman and councilman, having served on the council 19 years.

Before Bader's appointment, Moyers said the city had lost a dear friend in Moore.

"He was very special to me, he was very special to (Councilman) Tom (Cunningham), and I can't say enough," he said. "I go back and remember some of the things we used to do. It's humorous, and yet it's sad too."

To honor Moore Monday evening, City Council members and other city officials bowed their heads in a moment of silence prior the city council's opening prayer by Ward 3 Councilman Randy Dooley.

In separate action Monday:

Council members unanimously approved a city ordinance making the passing of bad checks a misdemeanor offense. As a misdemeanor the ordinance only applies to checks less than $150.

The range of punishment for the offense allows up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail, or both.

Moyers announced a rate increase of 50 cents per month for the city's cable service, Falcon Cable TV. The mayor said the cable company said the rate increase is scheduled to take effect March 1.

The company has said the increase is needed to offset $2 million in area improvements, Moyers explained.

Both Moyers and Ward 1 Councilman Jerry Wolsey Monday decried the service being provided to the city by the cable company.