CITIZENS GROUP TO FORM THIS WEEK TO PROMOTE CITY SALES TAX PROPOSAL

A citizens committee will be formed this week to promote the city transportation sales tax proposal on the Aug. 8 ballot.

A group of people will hold an organizational meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

"Hopefully, we'll get everything in order at this meeting," said Larry Payne, one of those involved in organizing the committee. "A number of business leaders will be at the session."

Payne said officers of the group will be elected Thursday.

The meeting will be held at the Chamber of Commerce, although the chamber is not affiliated with the committee.

"Several chamber members will serve on the committee," said John Mehner, chamber president, "And the chamber will host the first meeting."

Payne and David Barklage, who are expected be become members of the committee, are on the chamber's Surface Transportation Committee, which helped compile a list of 20 projects that would be funded by the transportation tax.

Harry Rediger, chairman of the city Planning and Zoning Commission, is also helping form the committee. The P&Z Commission also helped in selection of the 20-project list, as did the Vision 2000 Committee.

The proposed five-year tax increase of one-half cent would raise more than $16 million for city streets and bridges.

Also included on the list of projects are sidewalk repairs, paving of the city's two miles of unpaved streets, and curb and gutter repair.

"We have a group of business people who are interested in the committee," said Payne. "We've been working on it. We're ready now to put everything together."