Anyone wishing to sign a petition opposing a proposed tax from the hospital district can sign up Wednesday, Aug. 8 in the basement of the courthouse annex at 424 Public Square, Columbia, from 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Vicky Pike and Cynthia Rowe, Ron Carter, Wendy Gousha and Jay Johnson formed a committee to coordinate the recall petition drive.
Committee members are circulating petitions protesting a 3.7 cents tax on taxpayers to pay debt that will remain if and when Westlake Regional Hospital and a group of primary care centers are sold. Any registered voter in Adair County can sign the petition. If 755 people who are qualified sign in protest, the issue could go on the ballot for a vote before the tax can be implemented. Because of the time frame, the issue would not be on the ballot until 2014, thereby stopping the tax for at least two years.
SIGNING THE PETITION
Anyone signing the petition must do so on a sheet of paper identified for the specific precinct in which they vote. Anyone who does not know the name of their district can call County Clerk Sheila Blair’s office at 384-2801 to find out. When signing the petition, you will be asked to sign your name, print your name, provide your address and Pike said it would help if you provide your birth-date in case there are others with the same name. The committee must file the petition with the county clerk by September 4.
Pike said anyone who is interested in helping distribute petitions or get voters signed up can call her at 384-3348 or 634-2604, or they can contact Cynthia Rowe at 384-5431.
