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City holds hearing on Holiday Inn Express tax delinquency |
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Written by Amanda Moreno
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 |
Making improvements to the community is the main goal for Sweetwater City Commissioners.
At the regular monthly meeting, Robert McBride made a presentation explaining the services that the office of the Veteran's Service Officer provides. He informed the commissioners of the different areas of assistance he can assist veteran's with, such as education, employment and housing loans.
A resolution was approved at the city meeting that will amend the central rate schedule, for out-of-city refuse deposit/fees, other water sales, water taps, sewer taps, paving cut fees and transfer service charge for the City of Sweetwater. They also adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the City of Sweetwater Code of Ordinance, which pertains to "Garbage and Trash". This was the second reading of the ordinance and the updates to the operational procedure.
John McPherson was approved to fill the unexpired term of Alex Morales on the Board of Adjustment. Morales expressed the desire to be removed from the board and his term doesn't expire until October 2010.
PCK Management Group LLC requested a voluntary annexation from the City of Sweetwater regarding 11.49 acres. The petition will include the area around the new nursing home facility that is currently beginning construction. According to Eddie Brown, city manager, the company is requesting the annexation so that they can be within city limits and attach to the sewer system. There are three annexation possibilities, but the city decided to try and pursue the annexation of all the described area. The area includes acres from the city limit line, access road all the way to Alabama. There will be a total of 44.62 acres involved, including the area of the TxDOT building. Before the annexation can be completely approved, two public hearings will be scheduled. One of the meetings will take place on May 11, at 9 a.m. at City Hall and the other will take place on May 13, at 9 a.m. at the TxDOT office.
According to the city manager's report, February sales tax remittance from the State of Texas, was down 12 percent. Taxes for the year are down by $105,924. January water and wastewater sales are also down for the past five months, amounting to over $300,000. To add to the deficit, the hotel/motel occupancy tax collections are down by $26,696.37, for the quarter. Holiday Inn Express is also delinquent in their taxes by $16,443.24. A hearing was held Tuesday afternoon, seeking an injunction, due to the delinquent taxes.
According to Peter Sheridan, city attorney, this is not the first problem that they have had with Holiday Inn Express, but a continued problem. All of the other hotels are compliant. During the hearing, Sheridan said that sufficient notice had been given to numerous members of the Holiday Inn Express employees and corporate headquarters. No response had been received from the hotel, and no representation was present during the hearing.
According to a city ordinance, the courts have the power to issue an injunction closing the doors to a business that is delinquent until they pay the amount they are responsible for. Also, according to section nine of the city charter, the city is exempt from having to provide a bond to the business.
Carolyne Lawrence, finance director for the City of Sweetwater, asked the court for a fair way to solve this issue. Judge Glen Harrison said that he will issue an injunction, in 72 hours, if the money is not paid. At the time of the hearing, Holiday Inn Express was responsible for $11,443.34, after they made a $5,000 payment previously that day. On top of the remaining amount, Judge Harrison attached a 15 percent penalty, which brought the total to over $17,000. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 11 March 2010 )
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