Point of View

Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.🖤Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.🖤They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place, head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.🖤But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.🖤And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.🖤And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”🖤“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”🖤The Race. attributed to Dr. D.H. "Dee" Groberg [This is just an excerpt of the poem]

CCPHC recommends > age 12+ get vaccinated; No masks/social distancing if vaccinated.

Monday, Noon - Hospital Board of Trustees; 6PM - City Council Special Meeting

Tuesday, 4PM - Municipal Court; 6PM - Parks/Recreation

Thursday, 10AM - Housing Authority

Friday, 7:30AM - Council Work session

Hospital Board of Trustees hears staff reports, FY 2022 Budget, COVID Discussion, consider operating lease/upgrades, Policy Review. Special City Council - Sets 2021 Property Tax Rate. The State Tax Commission is responsible for working with county assessors to promote accurate & fair assessment. Property is assessed as to its value 1/1, assessors complete assessment rolls by 7/1, BOE hear taxpayer appeals in July, Tax rates must be set & certified to county before 10/1. Local governments set tax rates based on revenues received in prior year, with allowance for growth based on rate of inflation. Revenues are divided by AV for the current year. Values from new construction are held aside. The resulting tax rate become the permitted rate for the year. This year, the AV increased 9%; which was > the rate of inflation; City's tax rates decreased by 6%: General Fund $.5925; Park, Recreation & Hospital each $.1669.

Celebrating Work Anniversaries this week Police Sgt. Joe Cline - 4 YEARS; Finance Director Vonda Floyd & Lifeguard Alexander Hopper - 1 YEAR

Fire Department responded to 57 calls last week, which is a very typical week.

• PZ Commission has been working all year on review of zoning & subdivision regulations & development related codes. The process is focused on updating & correcting current regs & other development related sections to fix conflicting language, clarify areas of ambiguity, & modernize regulatory steps to reflect current best practices. The process will reflect existing City land use & development policy in the Comprehensive Plan. The code sections that have been reviewed include zoning district uses, non-comforming uses, special use permits, exceptions, mobile homes, parking, landscaping, accessory uses, BZA, signs, permitting, & subdivision regs. The sections that are up next for review are Historic Preservation & Floodplain & then to begin the review of new language.
• Preparation of the annual budget consumed a great deal of time over the last six months to incorporate new programs, equipment purchases, & improvements with the existing efforts in each department & balance with an uncertain revenue picture due to the pandemic. The direction was based on council priorities defined before work on the budget began. This year, we are experiencing a labor market shake-up that is in part related to the pandemic, in part negative culture, & a national distrust in government & mainstream media that collectively makes it difficult to retain & recruit service related employees. We began a Compensation & Benefit Plan review, intended to improve our compensation structure & place in the market, which should conclude in the next month.
• With the budget approved, we turn our attention to a variety of federal funding & partnership opportunities that are available now & the potential that outside funding could solve issues we don't have the resources to address alone. Specific areas of potential include responding to the effects of COVID, tourism related industry needs, water, sewer, storm water, & broadband infrastructure.

The owner was so sweet and nice. Answered all of my questions and I even left with more goodies than what I had ordered online. I will definitely be buying more items and telling all of my friends. Love little boutiques like this.🖤The owner is amazing! It’s an adorable store with reasonable prices! They have super fun little events that I would definitely recommend! [Read it on Facebook] Style By Ry

Email: mmcgovern@excelsiorsprings.gov
Website: cityofesmo.com
Location: Hall of Waters, 201 E. Broadway, 64024
Phone: (816) 630-0752