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Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Noting the city of Loyall has the lowest rate for property tax in the county, Loyall City Treasurer Mandy Longworth, said, in her opinion, there was no reason to raise the tax because the city is “doing well financially.”

After the first reading of the Ad Valorem Tax Ordinance was completed, members of the Loyall City Council set the real and personal property taxes during their regular monthly meeting on Monday. For residential and commercial property, the tax rate was set at 35 cents on each $100 assessed value. For tangible property, the tax rate was set at 45 cents on each $100 assessed value. The ordinance states a 2 percent discount will be given to those residents who pay their taxes by Nov. 30. All taxes must be paid by Dec. 31. Taxes paid on or after Jan. 1 will pay a 10 percent penalty compounded annually.

The ordinance will be read a second time before it is approved.

In other council action, Mayor Clarence Longworth presented a certified letter from Loyall resident Owen Noe asking the city to reimburse him for the removal of a tree on city property, which he said was a danger to his home and others.

In Noe’s letter he said a tree located at 103 Marie Street was endangering his home and other residents in that area and he had contacted Middleton Tree and Landscaping and they had removed the tree. He went on to say the cost for cutting the tree and removal totalled $1,730, which he paid. He asked the city to reimburse him for his expenses.

“We checked the privilege licenses issued and found that Middleton Tree and Landscaping, of Cawood, did not purchase a privilege license allowing them to cut a tree in the city,” said Longworth. “If a tree is on city property, it is my opinion that prior approval should be gotten before it is cut down. Prior approval was not gotten in this case.”

After a row call vote of council members, it was unanimous to not reimburse Noe for his expenses in removing a tree located on city property because proper procedure was not followed in the tree’s removal.

Council members approved, by executive order, a Harlan County Emergency Operations Plan. They also had the first reading of their Insurance Premium Tax Ordinance.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com