Building Maintenance Code.

Several rental property owners are expected to appear at the City Council Public Works Committee meeting this afternoon at 4 p.m. in City Hall.

Committee Chair Bill Fortune told the group at the last committee meeting that discussion of the proposed changes to the City Building Maintenance Code would continue at today’s meeting. Fortune said that discussion would be limited to how the code would be implemented.

Suggestions so far have included a some separation of critical safety issues and those infractions that are cosmetic in nature and do not pose any immediate danger to occupants. Landlords have also requested that occupants be held responsible for keeping yards free of trash and residences free of rodents and insects. The make up and criteria for an appeals board may also be included in the discussion today.

The Committee is also scheduled to consider bids for a new pickup for the Street Department. An earlier bid was rejected by the Committee because it was more that allocated in the budget. Revised specifications were put out for bid.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

If you are reading this after the election, my apologies. This column shows up at different times in different places. I am going to try to talk about the rest of the issues on the ballot in this column.

Last week I talked about Prop B and how bad it would be. That brings us to Prop A, the billboard issue. It would remove some billboards from some highways. It would also prevent the repair and maintenance of some billboards on some highways.

The worst part is that in some cases, the owners would be reimbursed with your tax dollars. Personally, I like being able to read billboards and know what is coming up at the next exit.

Because of the vagueness of the proposition, it is unclear what it might cost taxpayers. It could run into the millions of dollars.

Amendment #1 would be a duplication of something we already have. It proposes to establish a budget reserve fund in the state treasury. Like I said, we already have one. The current fund was established long ago and we have managed to keep a pretty good balance in the fund. This would be like opening a second checking account.

Amendment #2 makes some changes in the laws which regulate charitable organization’s bingo games. It makes it easier for them to operate by requiring that their workers only be members of the organization for six months instead of 2 years.

Amendment #3 makes some changes in the law that is supposed to set the salaries of most elected state officials.

The law was changed a few years ago that was supposed to take the salaries out of the hands of the General Assembly and put them into the hands of a Citizens Commission. It has been a complete disaster with court challenges and proposed huge salary increases. The entire system needs to be scrapped. Making minor changes won’t fix it.

However you vote, be sure to go vote. As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

As informative and unbiased as they are, I’ll be glad to see the political tv ads come to a halt.

I don’t know ‘bout the rest of the country, but there seemed to be a larger number of national ads in this area this year. Maybe I’m just becomin’ less tolerant of commercials in general on tv. There are several that just plain irritate me.

I’m sure you have your favorite bad commercials. I try not to watch ‘em. Switch the channel or turn the volume down.

Somehow they seem to know what we watch on tv. Now I’ve never been asked, but the reports of ratings indicate they are able to know. I’m hopin’ they are payin’ attention. I don’t know if turnin’ away from offensive commercials help, but I’m doin’ my part.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

IF THE SHOE FITS, wear it. Properly fitting shoes can be more than just comfortable; they may help you avoid serious foot problems including, for diabetics and others with circulation conditions, amputations of toes or feet. As a matter of fact, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop says that if more people wore properly fitted shoes, we’d see a large drop in the number of diabetic amputations that occur far too often among the elderly, among others. Good fit also means fewer corns, calluses, bunions, hammertoes, or other painful foot deformities. We’d also see happier women since most of these painful problems afflict them because of their shoes, which may be too tight, too short, and too high.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons cautions women not to wear heels higher than 2 1/4 inches. Heels higher than this can cause all the aforesaid foot problems, plus ankle problems. Also avoid pointed toe shoes, which force your toes into an unnatural position.

For children, the shoe should fit immediately. No child should be expected to grow into his or her shoes, or "break in" the shoes.

For toddlers, avoid heavy rubber soles that can stick to a surface and cause the child to fall. Also, have both your children’s feet measured, since feet differences are common.