What to Do With Sales Tax Money? Spicer New Mayor Pro Tem; Etc.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

~ The proposal to raise Monrovia's sales tax (to keep the tax money out of the county's hands) is proceeding, but what to do with the money? Ideas:

• Achieve a AAA Rating (cheaper borrowing costs for city)
• Upgrade the Community Center
• Give money back to residents by lowering the municipal services bill
• Invest in capital upgrades: parks, facilities and infrastructure
• Affordable housing, community based organizations, and schools.

~  Last week, the Monrovia City Council unanimously selected Larry Spicer as Monrovia's next Mayor Pro Tem.

~ Old Town Monrovia has a new website, www.monroviaoldtown.org, which has a listing of all the shops, businesses, and restaurants with links to the merchants website, direct dialing on your mobile device, and directions to convenient parking.

~  Memorial Day Poppies are available for a donation at the Library's Circulation Desk The poppies are handmade by veterans as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation and 100% of donations go to help local veterans and their families. For more information, contact Mabel Cross, Adult Services Librarian, at 256-8262 or mcross@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

~  Friends of the Monrovia Public Library's annual Spring Book Sale will be held during Monrovia Days in the Library Community Room.

• Friday, 5/17 noon-5 p.m.
• Saturday, 5/18 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday, 5/19 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
• $5 BAG SALE Sunday, 4-5 p.m.

~  Grab four of your friends for a pie eating contest at Monrovia Days, Saturday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Library Park. Each team member must eat a pie before the next team member does the same, and so on. Kind of a pie-eating relay race. Made possible by the support of Merengue Bakery and Cafe.

1st Place: $300
2nd Place: $150
3rd Prize: $50

~ Brush inspections coming up on or after Monday, May 13. Athens will provide free bins from May 1 - June 30 for residents in the brush zone. If you need one call 256-8109 and the Fire Department will coordinate bin delivery.

~  SoCalGas will be burying gas lines deeper underground along Melrose Avenue (between Hillcrest and Scenic) and portions of Scenic Drive during the next 6-8 weeks. With the city pulverizing the street it just seemed the smart thing to do to have the lines further down.

- Brad Haugaard