The annual South Howard County Historical Society Wine Walk was approved by the New Franklin city council at its most recent meeting on Monday, January 9. The Wine Walk will take place in downtown New Franklin on Saturday, March 25. Food, music, and wine will be available from 4 until 7 p.m. 

The Wine Walk was started in 2007 as a fundraiser for monuments to mark the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail. Current proceeds will be used to maintain the monuments.

The council also approved a bid made by Schulte Supply in St. Peters in the amount of $93,980 for electronic water meters. The purchase has been funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA), which was passed in 2021. The 400 meters have been received, and installation will begin soon.

Ordinance #806 was approved, which will allow a proposed Local Use Tax to appear on the April 4, 2023, election ballot.

The ballot language is expected to read as follows: “Shall the City of New Franklin, Missouri impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, provided that if the sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?“

The Local Use Tax won’t serve as a double tax on goods purchased locally. Rather, it will add sales tax for items purchased online or from out-of-state vendors. The tax rate would be the same one would pay if the item was purchased locally.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, February 13. Meetings are open, and the public is invited.