Today's Feature

Approved Despite Concerns.

Carthage City Council on Tuesday approved a comprehensive salary and compensation study for City employees, only after being assured that modifications would still be allowed following the approval. Kaatz & Associates conducted the study.

Mayor Jim Woestman prefaced the consideration by saying that after Kaatz explained the recommendation, the City Department heads, Council members and City employees would be allowed time for questions. Several City employees were present at the meeting.

Kaatz gave a detailed synopsis of how the information used in the study was collected, and how it was implemented to arrive at the recommendation. Employees are ranked on a scale, based on one already in place by the City. There are 11 grades and 17 steps per grade. The grades and steps determine the salaries of the employees. Pay scales were also compared against other similar sized cities.

"Some people got rather substantial (pay) increases, some got relatively small increases compared to the larger ones," said Kaatz, "because their pay is relatively close to what it should have been."

Fire Chief John Cooper expressed concerns about employees who are approaching the top of the scale, or "topping out." Cooper said he felt there should still be some yearly increase in pay for those who have been with the City for a long time.

Kaatz said that it was a difficult problem, but that all cities have minimum and maximum pay for positions. Kaatz added that those employees would still be subject to Cost of Living Adjustments. Kaatz also suggested that if the City approved it, a smaller percentage increase could be added for every year after topping out.

Police Chief Greg Dagnan told Kaatz that 1/3 of the Police Department has been employed by Carthage for 20 or more years. He said that some of them cannot be promoted beyond where they are, and that there are no openings.

"We’re talking about 35-year veterans topping out," said Dagnan. "What’s going to be our solution?"

Kaatz reiterated that a percentage could be added for each year after topping out, recommending something less than a full step increase.

"Is that really the only suggestion you have?" asked Dagnan, indicating that some higher ranking employees might leave as a result.

Kaatz said that if any officers leave, it would allow for more promotions.

Street Commissioner Tom Shelley said he had found some discrepancies in the report, and that some of the Street Department employees had gotten lowered 2 to 3 steps.

"The steps don’t coincide," said Shelley.

"I’ll have to look into that one," responded Kaatz.

When the Council members were allowed time to speak, representative Claude Newport noted the mistake pointed out by Shelley.

"If there are mistakes in the report that you get, you start to question the content of the report," said Newport. "Are there any mistakes?"

"No, there are not," responded Kaatz.

"Did you say that there are no mistakes?" asked Mayor Woestman.

Kaatz explained that there might be some "issues", which could be resolved by reviewing the levels.

Several other City employees expressed disappointment in the study.

Mayor Woestman said that the results of the study were late, making it difficult to coordinate it with the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. Woestman asked if the numbers could still be changed if the study was approved by Council. City Attorney Nate Dally responded that modifications would still be possible after approval.

The motion to accept the study was approved in a 9 to 1 vote, Council member Dan Rife voting against.

Mornin'
I was informed last year that my strawberries aren’t supposed ta be ready for pickin’ until the fourth of July. Now I’ve got some plants that fit that description, but I’ve also put in some a those early bird strawberries. That apparently means the birds are aware that they come on in late spring.

I’ve already spotted a couple of little beaks eyein’ my strawberry patch. I’m seein’ some good leafs and a few little blooms that not doubt have also been spotted by the neighboring feathered friends.

With all the gripin’ I did last year about the birds gettin’ my strawberries, I never had anyone give me advice of how to stop ‘em. I will continue the battle this year, but so far I’ve only tasted a handful of fruit in two years. Sure are pretty though.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My name is Daniel. I drive a 2005 Escalade (OK, it’s a toy car). I am 7 years old. Here is my question: Why do the speedometers in cars go up to 120 mph, when you are only allowed to go 65 mph?-----Daniel

TOM: A lot of advertising is done by implication. That means they may not be able to actually SAY something, because it isn’t true. But they can SUGGEST it.

RAY: A carmaker may not be able to SAY that a car goes 120 mph. That IMPLIES that the car can go that fast.

TOM: And that’s supposed to make you say: "Wow, this car can go 120 mph. It must be good!"

RAY: But smart people ---- like you, Daniel----will say to yourself: "I live in civilization. Where could I ever drive 120 mph: I can’t! So, why do I need a car that can go that fast?" Then you’ll look past the advertising to things that really matter----like whether it’s well-built, gets good gas mileage, is the right size for you and is safe.

TOM: To give you another example of implied advertising, take a look at the box that your morning breakfast cereal comes in. What’s on the box? An athlete?

RAY: The implied message is, "If you eat this cereal, you’ll be able to play baseball or football just like this athlete." Of course that’s not true, because you’ll be too fat from eating candy disguised as breakfast cereal every morning. So they don’t SAY it, they just IMPLY it.

TOM: So, you’re a very wise young man to notice that, Daniel. And if you want to learn more about tricks like these, send me $25, and I’ll send you our pamphlet, which will instantly make you as smart as two guys who write a car column in the newspaper.

RAY: That was a test, Daniel. (1) There is no such pamphlet, and (2) you’re already smarter than we are.