A heated debate Monday night in Clever had city officials debating whether tax payers will pay a penny more for a Dollar General store. Three of the four Clever Board of Aldermen voted to tentatively support a “self tax.” Chris Montgomery, Brandon Gilmore and Jarred King voted to support a Community Improvement District, or C.I.D. Pattsy Bacon voted against it.

The Clever Highway 14 Community Improvement District would include 1.98 acres near Highway 14 and Highway P. Patrick and Jazell Smith of Republic filed a petition.

They want to spend $822,800 with an estimated $261,700 in public site improvements. The district would pay for all public infrastructure costs including utilities, streets and parking lots. In return they could recoup costs from a 1% sales tax and a property tax of up to $1 per $100 of assessed value.

“This is a self tax,” Clever Mayor Trisha Elam said. “It’s not going to affect every resident or every retail shop, just Dollar General”

"It creeped to our doorstep," Dana Engel said, looking at construction materials near his home. Engel says he isn’t quite ready for Dollar General to be his neighbor but he doesn't have a say. "That's in the city," he said. "Even if there was a vote I live in the county."

Clever city officials had plenty to say at their Monday meeting. At times they spoke over one another, arguing about the specifics of C.I.D. statutes and city ordinances.

Three citizens spoke in favor of the district. All agreed they would prefer to pay pennies on the dollar to shop in Clever instead of dollars per gallon to drive to nearby cities. One person spoke out against it, questioning the use of sales tax for a private property.

“No one else in town has asked or got extra tax, why should we give them extra tax,” Bacon said. She says business should apply for loans like others in town. A spokesperson for the district says in today’s economy, many businesses can’t get loans and will turn to community improvement districts for help.

After two hours of back and forth, three alderman voted to support the district under the condition that an attorney make sure the C.I.D. does not contradict a Clever subdivision ordinance.

Engel says he’s almost certain he’ll have a new neighbor. He says he’s still getting use to the idea of commercial property nearby. "The older generation wants it because it's a dollar general store,” Engel said. "The younger people see it as progress."