Concern over lack of public attendance was the focus of an Evarts City Council meeting held Tuesday.

Evarts Mayor Burl Fee expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of participation from the citizens of Evarts in city council meetings.

“People should get out and attend our city council meetings,” Fee said. “We meet the third Tuesday of every month. If you forget the date, just call city hall and they will tell you.”

Fee said that he is always getting complaints from people in the community yet they sit at home and never come to a city council meeting.

“If you don’t come to the meetings you don’t know what is going on in your own community. If you don’t come to the meetings, then don’t complain,” Fee said.

The counsel voted to set their property tax rate at .423 cents on each $100 assessed value. Fee said this had gone down from last year’s .426 cents.

The counsel had the first reading of the Property Tax Ordinance. The ordinance said all taxes shall be due and payable at the city office on Jan. 31, 2010. Taxes paid prior to the due date shall be at the face value. Taxes paid more than 30 days after the due date shall be charged a 12 percent penalty and interest at the rate of six percent per annum calculated from the due date. The second reading of the ordinance is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.

The counsel voted to contact the Kentucky State Road Department in regard to a health hazard on Kelly Street in Evarts. City clerk Kristi Lamb said the river was washing dirt from under the road and posing a great risk to drivers.

“We need this road fixed or guard rails put up. If nothing is done, then it could cause someone to end up in the river,” Lamb said.

The counsel discussed getting rid of dilapidated houses in the city. They tabled this issue until legal counsel was consulted.