The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- E-911 officials met with the Kirksville City Council on Monday night to discuss how they can get more funding.

Officials say their $500,000 budget isn’t cutting it and their DOS-based computer system installed over 10 years ago is falling apart. Even worse, the only person who knows how to fix the system is going to retire soon.

Options for funding include a sales tax or a tax of about $1.45 per month on all cell phones in the area.

The Kirksville City Council was apprehensive about putting a sales tax on the ballot.

Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes says something has to be done with the E-911’s archaic dispatch system. “I think one of the council members described it as getting by with duct tape and rubber bands. At some point the duct tape will run out and the rubber bands will no longer continue to work, and there will be some pretty significant expenses,” Hughes said.

Hughes says a new system will cost about $500,000.

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the council voted not to allow hunting in city limits unless specifically stated. The council decided to take a closer look at whether bow practice should be allowed in the city.

A motion was approved to establish guidelines when giving economic incentives to companies. The idea is to make sure the city gets a return value on what they’re offering.

The council voted to approve a policy on future annexations to also make sure they are beneficial to the city.

A motion failed to allow alcohol at the Kirksville Air Show. The alcohol would only have been at a dinner associated with the event, but Council Members Aaron Rodgerson and Carolyn Chrisman voted no. Todd Kuhns and Richard Detweiler voted to allow the alcohol. Because of the tie, the motion failed. It could come up again at a future council meeting when Mayor Martha Rowe is in attendance. She was not at Monday night’s meeting.

It was noted the alcohol would only be served at a dinner and dancing event at night, and not during the airshow's day events. But Chrisman and Rodgerson didn't budge. Chrisman said she has always been against alcohol on city property. Rodgerson is known to vote against any item involving alcohol.

The City Attorney Howard Hickman says the air show might still be allowed to serve alcohol regardless of the vote because the event hangar is leased to a third party by the city. Hickman says he will check into that.