Town Hall Public Meeting on Saturday, June 27th
On August 25th, the same date as our state runoff election, Blanchard will also be asking you to vote yes to retain the existing one penny sales tax that we already pay. That penny sales tax is currently scheduled to expire in 2027. That penny is dedicated and used exclusively to fund local capital improvements. Back in March, the City Council formed a Citizen’s Ad-Hoc Sales Tax Committee to meet and discuss the past impact of that penny sales tax and look at its future impact on this city. The committee has been meeting to discuss and suggest future projects that this penny needs to address.
On Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 AM, the city and members of the Citizens Ad-Hoc Committee, will host a public Town Hall meeting at the Pioneer Library meeting room. They will present a list of projects that the committee has initially identified as items that need to be addressed with the continuation of the current penny sales tax. They will also be asking the public for additional suggestions of projects. They will be available to explain further how that current penny has worked for Blanchard during the past twenty years.
The capital projects that the current penny sales tax has accomplished over the last 20 years are:
Constructed Pioneer Library building
Constructed Fire Station # 1
Replaced South Main Street Lift Station
Constructed Stormwater Improvements in Fox Run
Remodeled Senior Citizens Center
Remodeled Historic Building for Meeting Chambers @ 300 N Main
Constructed Stormwater Improvements on Rockwell
Constructed New Water Tower on West US 62
Improved Wastewater Lagoons
Installed 12” Waterline Along East US 62
Replaced Waterline Under Canadian River
Enhanced Water Distribution Citywide
Remodeled Historic City Hall @ 114 W Broadway
Remodeled Current Emergency Services Building @ 122 N Main
Installed Digital Water Meters
Constructed Fire Station # 2
Installed Sidewalks on North Main to Elementary School
Replaced Downtown Sidewalks & Rails
Purchased Firefighter Safety Equipment
Purchased Heavy Equipment for Utilities
Replaced Roof at Pioneer Library
The Committee has also tentatively scheduled two more Town Hall meetings for the same purpose. They are being planned for Saturday, July 18th and Saturday, August 15th, also at the same time and location. Please come out, view the presentation and ask questions. Your input is important for these projects.
