For two consecutive years, Pottawatomie County voters have turned down a proposal to raise sales tax by a quarter percent to fund certain county road projects.
Commissioners on Monday pointed to a lack of ability to educate the public as to the benefits of these projects. County Counselor John Watt says commissioners can’t actively push ballot issues because of state statute, something Dee McKee says she doesn’t agree with.
Commissioner Greg Riat believed the issue could’ve been helped if an outside group threw its support around it.
County Administrator Chad Kinsley says a big discussion will be needed ahead of next year’s budget.
And if the county can’t find the money to fund these projects, Watt says that also could become problematic.
Kinsley says Excel Road should be the primary focus for the commission heading into next year. Pottawatomie County owns right of way north of Excel and Harvest Road for a future extension to Junietta Road and Oliver Brown Elementary.
In other business Monday, Pottawatomie County officials were presented with a draft solar moratorium resolution.
County Planner Stephan Metzger has been in the process of finalizing the document as the county commission prepares to sign an extension of the current moratorium before the end of the year.
Metzger also noted a current gap in the regulations regarding projects for utility companies, citing a one megawatt project on Walker Road constructed by Bluestem Electric Cooperative.
The commission will revisit the draft resolution in two weeks before making final recommendations.
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