“Serving DeSoto County since 1887” TODAY’S HEARTLAND AG Don’t miss the special insert on Agriculture in the Heartland in today’s Arcadian! Thursday,A SeptemberRCADIAN 25, 2014 - 24 pages / 50 cents A section of the Sun Slaughter resigns as city administrator By Steve Bauer 5:00 pm. I would During a special meeting held say we wish Mr. Slaughter the very best ARCADIAN ASSISTANT EDITOR ask that the city Tuesday night to address the resigna- as he continues on in his endeavors, and members of tion, the Council was mum on details whatever they may be.” Monday was Tom Slaughter’s last day the public respect surrounding Slaughter’s departure. Councilman Bob Heine moved to ap- as Arcadia’s city administrator after he the privacy of my “Upon (learning of the resignation), point Carsten as interim administrator submitted resignation letters. family and I as we after a brief meeting our legal coun- until new council members are elected This comes less than five months af- go through a very sel, finance director and marshal in November. The Council approved ter he was hired to the position in May. difficult time.” immediately took care of all the city the motion unanimously and quickly Slaughter’s resignation, outlined in two His resignation housekeeping business that needed to adjourned the meeting. letters emailed to Mayor Alice Frierson, letters were di- be taken care of. They did it in a timely, was effective as of 5 p.m. Monday. The rected to Frierson very efficient and very professional Shaky tenure letters did not give a specific reason for with copies to manner, and for that the Council Slaughter was initially hired by for- the move. City Attorney T.J. Slaughter thanks them very much,” Frierson The first letter was submitted Friday, Wohl and City said. “We may not do a lot right in mer City Administrator Judi Jankosky with the second dated Monday. In Finance Director Beth Carsten. the city, but we’ve got three good staff as the city planner but was named the latter one, Slaughter said, “I am Slaughter had met with Frierson and members.” interim administrator Oct. 15, 2013, to resigning for personal reasons that Wohl on Friday; the other four council Frierson continued by wishing replace Jankosky when she resigned. At will require my full attention effec- members were later informed of the Slaughter well in the future. “I think I that time, the city appointed a citizens tive Monday, September 22, 2014 at resignation. can speak for the entire Council when I SLAUGHTER | 2 2014 Homecoming — soggy but victorious Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of these die-hard Bulldog fans, and the team didn’t let their fans ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY JOHN BLACK down. • See more 2014 Homecoming photos on pages 12-13. On the Junior Class float, Buster the Bulldog says Booker Tornadoes will spin round and round but the Bulldogs will take ‘em down. The Juniors took first place with their entry. Shaderra Daley with her escort, Lincoln Esmie, Homecoming King Parker Brown with his date, gettin’ down with the music at the Home- Katie Pence. coming Dance. The Blazing Blue Band of DeSoto County High School set the tone for a rousing pep rally. Arcadian 75¢ NO PUPPY LOVE: Puppy mill owner ordered to pay county ............................................... 3 INSIDE SCAMMERS: The worst kind of fraudsters ............................................................... 10 Over CITRUS ROUNDTABLE: The view from Brazil ............................................................... 17 4,400 followers! County Commission .....2 Editorial ...............4 Obituaries .............9 Sports ...............14 “Like” us on Facebook Police Beat ............3 Calendar ..............6 Religion ..............10 Agriculture ...........17 Arcadian | Page 2 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, September 25, 2014 County sets final millage rates, mulls land rules By SUSAN E. HOFFMAN Commissioner Gabriel Quave said Mansfield said, “No one wants to up to water, sewer or septic. This will pre- ARCADIAN EDITOR the county should be imposing more raise anyone’s taxes. But we keep trying vent people from living for an extended assessments via MSTUs — “That creates to balance the budget with the same time in RVs. Several audience members After lengthy discussions, the DeSoto greater transparency ... by putting it in amount of money, even though the cost wore stop-sign-shaped stickers reading Board of County Commissioners decided MSTUs or MSBUs, it puts it in a separate of everything is going up. “RVs belong in parks.” While landowner to tweak the millage rate slightly, setting bucket.” He favored increasing the MSTU “What’s that they say, when you keep David Hall objected to being prohibited the millage at 8.2500 mills, and setting as proposed and reducing the ad valorem doing the same thing and expect a from parking his RV on his property by the EMS MSTU (Municipal Service Taxing millage rate. Emergency service costs different result ...?” the river and staying there for a weekend, Unit) at .9128. A mill represents $1 of tax Ultimately, commissioners voted 4-1 to for every $1,000 of taxable property value. would thus be paid out of a separate others felt RVs would devalue properties. set the millage rate at 8.2500, lower than BOCC had earlier proposed, for discus- account, not the general fund, making the Hall said he had been told 11 years ago he the 9 mill rate tentatively set earlier and sion purposes, a higher millage rate. The costs more apparent to taxpayers. could use his RV there, but when Miller 5.84 percent lower than the rollback rate; Truth In Millage (TRIM) notices listed Mansfield asked about the impact to asked, “Who told you that?” he said it was and set the EMS MSTU at .9128 (almost a possible ad valorem millage rate of 9 city taxpayers, who are assessed the ad his Realtor. “Well, perhaps that’ll be a les- double the current rate). Miller cast the mills, which is higher than the current valorem millage but not the MSTU. While son to you then,” Miller said. Hall replied, dissenting vote. Commissioners also rate of 8.4810 mills, but recognized that county residents might pay the same if “There won’t be any more lessons, not in unanimously agreed to set the budget at rate would probably be reduced some- the millage were reduced and the MSTU this county.” what in the final decision. The board also increased proportionately, city taxpayers $63,913,152. • Notification requirements for had tentatively set the EMS MSTU at would catch a little break because they proposed developments. Although the .9128; the current rate is .4514. The EMS would see a lower millage rate without LDR review proposed rules expanded who had to be MSTU is a fund specifically designated having the MSTU increase. notified and when, Joanna Drinkwater, to finance Fire Rescue and emergency Commissioner Elton Langford noted BOCC had another look at the pro- on behalf of Lake Suzy Property Owners services in DeSoto County. that the rollback rate of 8.76 mills would posed revisions to the Land Development Association, asked for more extensive Commissioners earlier had hoped to get the county the same amount of Regulations, and while they anticipated notices. “The maps printed in the paper set the ad valorem rate at the current level money as last year, “but we have decreas- a lot of public controversy, the changes are hard to read, and the lists of numbers and not have to raise it at all. But they ing property values, and if we decrease generally received public support. Among [identifying the property in legal notices] recognized the county cannot continue the ad valorem rate, we’ll have some the key provisions discussed were: are like Greek to most readers.” She said indefinitely with a stagnant budget. increase from the MSTU but we also • Restrictions on parking commer- notices should be more clear, signs bigger Commissioner Buddy Mansfield was have increasing costs. Last year we had cial vehicles in “R”-zoned residential and easier to read, and nearby residents concerned the county was putting itself $2 million in reserves because we ‘found’ properties. The proposed LDRs made should have more time to review and in a position where it could not sustain a that $1.8 million. We likely won’t be able the definition of “commercial vehicle” comment on proposed developments. decent reserve fund. “We may be digging to find more money like that, which could much broader than the state rule, She also felt the developers, not the coun- ourselves into a hole we can;t get out if,” deplete our reserves.” making it much harder for people to ty, should foot the bill for mail notices, he said. “Our roads aren’t being main- Commissioner Bob Miller questioned park trucks and trailers where they live. ads and signs. tained properly; the road striping is not countering the ad valorem rate with an Commissioners debated the pros and Another public hearing on the pro- being maintained; and maintenance is MSTU hike. “I like the idea, but it’s not cons of the restrictions and agreed some posed LDRs is set for Oct. 28 when the needed on some of our buildings. apples to apples.” tweaking of the proposal was needed. revised rules are expected to be adopted. “When we have to fix something, we Quave, though, said it was, “just • No parking of RVs at most residential County Attorney Don Conn said these are robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Mansfield different flavors. We’ve toyed with this. It’s properties unless it is owned by the suggestions will be considered and said. the direction we need to go.” homeowner, and they can not be hooked additional revisions made accordingly.