Sebree property owners will see a very slight increase on their tax bills for real estate and for personal property next month, if the Sebree City Council adopts the second and final reading of the ordinance at its Nov. 3 meeting.

The first reading of the ordinance was approved at the council’s meeting Monday night, and city officials said the $0.299 real property assessment rate is $0.099 higher than last year, and the $0.394 personal property rate is $0.004 higher.

During the meeting, city officials explained that the rate increases were determined as part of a formula that divides the total of city-collected taxes among tax payers. Fewer tax payers, including some new homestead exemptions, caused the slight rate increase.

In other business, a planning commission recommendation to prohibit moving single-wide mobile homes that are more than 15 years old won support from the council when members approved a motion directing their city attorney to prepare a resolution enacting the amendment.

Sebree Mayor Ron Todd updated the council on several ongoing projects, including plans to alter the flow of water lines now that construction on a new Henderson water tower is complete. Todd say the new water distribution route would help the city provide for more customers, offer stronger water pressure for that section of the city, and would be part of an overall plan to “rejuvenate” an existing Sebree water tower in close proximity to the new Henderson tower.

Council member Ozzie O’Nan asked questions about plans for blacktopping, to which Todd said is in the works, and requested the city remove a fallen tree from the park. Todd said city workers are aware of the tree and that it is on their schedule.

Council member Mark Moser then requested additional information about a side walk replacement plan the city council recently approved. Under the agreement, citizens who want new sidewalks must pay for the materials, but the city will provide the labor to build it.

Todd said he wants to work on the larger sections where requests are coming from first, rather than “piece-meal” strips of the sidewalk randomly. However, he said next spring after the larger sections are finished, he would open the proposal up to those with smaller sections of sidewalk. It was noted that the city crew has a very busy schedule and probably couldn’t do much with sidewalk replacements before winter sets in anyway.

Council members also set the Halloween “trick-or-treat” hours on Friday, Oct. 31, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The council’s final item of discussion involved concerns about a property that apparently isn’t being mowed, despite monthly requests of the land owner to take care of it.

Todd took a stern tone about the situation.

“My philosophy is if one is unsightly and they (the land owners) don’t do it, we will do it and send them the bill for it,” he said.

Todd said the city has had that ordinance for some time now, and that such procedures have been common practice in the past.