Green Park Chamber of Commerce President Jim Smoot has always been somewhat of a colorful figure, though often we have been confused about where he stands on certain issues.

For example, years ago when Home Depot had targeted Green Park as the home of one of its new stores — to be constructed in part through tax-increment financing — Mr. Smoot was a vocal proponent of the proposal and the use of TIF despite nearby residents’ overwhelming opposition to the plan.

As we all know, Home Depot never constructed that store in Green Park, but we could hardly contain our surprise when in February 2003 Mr. Smoot addressed the Green Park Board of Aldermen expressing his disdain for the use of TIF and other tax tools being used by other cities.

It’s also no secret that Mr. Smoot long has been an opponent of tax-rate increases, particularly those proposed by the Lindbergh Board of Education. In fact, in April 2005 when the Lindbergh board had placed Proposition A — a 65-cent tax-rate increase that would have been phased in over a five-year period — on the ballot, Mr. Smoot had a huge sign at his business in Green Park and one right next to the Lindbergh Administration Building proclaiming, among other things: “Honk For … No Tax Increase. Vote No on Prop A — April 5th.”

More recently, Mr. Smoot voiced his displeasure with a no-tax-rate-increase bond issue the Lindbergh board had placed on the ballot, contending in a letter to the editor, “… The Lindbergh School District PR machine is in full swing for the ‘no-tax-increase’ bond issue …”

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Mr. Smoot never met a tax-rate-hike proposal for which he would vote.

So imagine our confusion when Mr. Smoot proposed during a recent meeting of Green Park’s business-license committee that the city should consider raising its capital-improvement sales tax instead of establishing licenses for businesses.

Maybe Mr. Smoot, a Green Park business owner, is only opposed to tax increases that impact his own pocketbook. As we’ve written before, his concern would appear to be solely for himself — and that’s fine.

And while Mr. Smoot is opposed, whether such licenses are needed is a decision that should be made by Green Park residents only.

As a south county resident, Mr. Smoot should either move to Green Park or quit obstructing the business of a city in which he does not live.