Rawls Urges 'No' on Gas Tax Hike LFMS
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LOCAL NEWS: SPORTS: Bell co-sponsors Bradley Central legislation targeting Bearettes finish California: Page 6 unbeaten: Page 11 162nd YEAR • No. 246 16 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 Rawls urges ‘no’ on gas tax hike LFMS Other commissioners say water action may be premature project By BRIAN GRAVES of government of any Banner Staff Writer Tennessee governor.” He said although the state is Bradley County portraying “a big problem with Commissioner Dan Rawls is getting roads,” the state “thought it proposing a resolution that was a good idea” to spend would express the $123 million on a new state Commission’s disapproval of library. Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed “I don’t see how that’s good options gas tax increase. fiscal policy,” Rawls said. However, some of his col- He said the cost of every- By BRIAN GRAVES leagues are saying such a thing Bradley County purchas- Banner Staff Writer move may be premature. es will increase should the gas The gover- tax increase A new option has emerged to nor’s bill, “I always think it’s a better idea be approved. help pay for a $147,000 water which is to cut spending than to raise Rawls improvement project in the area called the taxes. The state hasn’t done that specifically of Lake Forest Middle School. “IMPROVE great a job.” pointed to The request was made by the Act,” increas- — Dan Rawls the cost of Bradley County Schools in the es the tax running form of a Jan. 5 letter to the per gallon of school buses, Bradley County Commission, gas by 7 cents and diesel by saying that would increase. County Mayor D. Gary Davis 12 cents. It also increases the However, according to the and the Southeast Tennessee cost of car registration fees by Department of Transportation, Development District from the $5. in Tennessee, “motor fuel used school system’s Chief of Rawls’ resolution says the in state-owned school buses Operations Scott Humbard. increases would be “a further and in state-owned adminis- Humbard was going through tax burden on Bradley County tration and service vehicles the process used when neigh- residents that can least afford used in the pupil transporta- borhoods need new water lines the additional tax.” tion programs” is included in a and apply for grants through “I always think it’s a better list of exemptions from motor the HCI water fund. idea to cut spending than to fuel taxation in the state. “During the design of the raise taxes,” Rawls said. “The “This is a 70 percent project, it became apparent that state hasn’t done that great a increase on diesel fuel tax and Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES the fire marshal would not allow job. Gov. Haslam has overseen CommISSIoNER DAN RAwlS explains why the Commission should support his resolution the largest increase in the size See RAWLS, Page 6 opposing Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed gas tax increase. See LFMS, Page 4 Senior advisory City Council hears group is named strategic planning by City Council reports by leaders By LARRY C. BOWERS By LARRY C. BOWERS Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Photo Cleveland’s Community Survey Meetings over the pre- The Cleveland City Council tuned in to six hours vious three weeks have already produced a healthy of strategic planning reports from the city’s depart- accomplishment for the city. ment heads Monday, information to be digested by District 5 Councilman Dale Hughes made a motion the city’s elected leaders prior to approval of a budg- late in Monday’s Council meeting to establish a Senior et for the coming year. Advisory Committee of community citizens, which will City Manager Joe Fivas, and assistants Shawn answer to the Council. District 1 Councilman Charlie McKay and Melinda Carroll, coordinated the lengthy McKenzie seconded Hughes’ motion, and the remainder sharing of data. of the Council agreed to form the panel. “I, for one, would not be opposed to a slight “They said they needed a voice to approach increase, since we haven’t had one since the Council about concerns in Cleveland (about) 2014. If not, property value may go down. We the quality of life of our seniors.” need to take advantage of changes to benefit — Dale Hughes the community.” — Richard Banks Hughes said two retired residents of his district approached him at last week’s community meeting in Early in the morning, Fivas discussed general fund the Cleveland High School library, with the suggestion revenue and expenditures for the past year (2016). for the advisory board. He then went over final revenue sources, and the “They said they needed a voice to approach the use of these resources, from 2013-16. Council about concerns in Cleveland (about) the quality He then touched on budget projections for 2017, of life of our seniors,” said Hughes. which would be about $1 million over 2016’s actual As the Council meeting was adjourning, Hughes numbers. These June 30 projections would leave made an amendment to his motion. It was also agreed Cleveland’s actual fund balance of $10,847,062 to by the Council. His amendment was to appoint one about the same as a year ago — at $10,858,204. of the community’s most prominent seniors as chair- The city’s projected budget for 2017 is man of the advisory board — Cleveland Mayor Tom $45,013,573, compared to 2016’s actual numbers of Rowland. $44,058,395. In other Council business: Banner photo, lARRY C. BowERS Fivas, McKay and Carroll emphasized that the pro- — Monday’s Council meeting led off with a presenta- ClEVElAND oFFICIAlS discussed strategic plans with the City Council during a six-hour posal, which would retain the current property tax tion by Rafael Santiago. The former New York City resi- planning session Monday, providing vital information on budgeting for the coming year, the rate of $1.77 should be adequate to begin construc- dent had approached the Council previously, promoting next three years, and beyond. Coordinating the long session were, from left, Assistant City tion of the new Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary his Cops & Kids Boxing program. Manager Shawn McKay, City Manager Joe Fivas, and Assistant City Manager Melinda School on Georgetown Road, retain some personnel Carroll. See SENIOR, Page 3 See STRATEGIC, Page 4 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Rick Campbell lovingly harass- Today looks to be mostly cloudy, with a high near Classified............................15 Sports.......................... 11-13 ing his sisters ... Kelly Osment 59. Tonight’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and a enjoying her new condo ... Ella 90 percent chance of rain, with a low around 41. Comics..................................8 Stocks...................................4 Rose Leamon having a special Wednesday should begin with cloudy skies and a Editorials.............................14 date with her dad, Tyson ... Bobby 70 percent chance of rain. The sun should appear TV Schedule.........................9 Goins spotted out tinting windows. Horoscope.............................8 in the afternoon, with a high near 51. Wednesday night should be mostly clear, with a low around 31. Obituaries..............................2 Weather..............................10 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Tuesday, February 14, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Nephews will serve as pall- Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation bearers. Jason Michael Scholer in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday society in charge of arrangements e-mail the information to obitu- Jason Michael Scholer, 34, and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. We invite you to send a mes- Phone (423) 472-5041. [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, attention sage of condolence and view the of Decatur, died on Saturday, Obits. Cronan family guestbook at Feb. 11, 2017, at his home. Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor www.higginsfuneral.com. A celebration of his life is planned for Wednesday, Feb. Editor & Publisher General Manager 15, 2017, at 4 p.m. in the funer- Member of The Associated Press dence. al home chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches Survivors and funeral arrange- credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous origin ments will be announced by to the service. herein. All rights of all other material herein are as reserved. ©2016 Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. Higgins Funeral Home. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting our web- SUBSCRIPTION RATES site at companionfunerals.com. 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