Student Government Day.

The Carthage City Council will host its annual Student Government day today.

High School students will meet with City officials and Council members in City hall this morning and spend the day observing and participating in the daily routine of City business.

After a lunch with a guest speaker in Memorial Hall, the students will go with their designated official and spend the afternoon leaning how various aspects of the City operates.

The various members will reassemble at City Hall later in the afternoon for a question and answer session.

The group will again gather for the regular City Council meeting at 7:30 in City Hall and the students will speak for the officials they shadowed during the day.

The agenda for the evening includes an ordinance rezoning certain property at the NEC of Central and N ..Francis in the City of Carthage from "B" Second Dwellmg and "D" Local Business to "E" General Business as requested by Casey’s Marketing Company (Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission).

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF CARTHAGE, MISSOURI FEBRUARY 23,2010

The Carthage City Council met in regular session on the above date at 7:30 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers with Mayor Pro Tem Diane Sharits presiding. The invocation was given by Fire Chief John Cooper and the flag salute was led by Police Captain Randee Kaiser.

The following Council Members answered roll call: Claude Newport, Wayne Campbell,

T. J. Teed, Mike Harris, John Studebaker, Diane Sharits, Larry Ross and Brent Greninger. Council Members Dan Rife and Bill Welch were absent. City Administrator Tom Short and City Attorney Nate Dally were present.

On a motion by Mr. Teed, seconded by Mr. Harris, minutes of the February 9, 2010 meeting were approved.

Mr. Newport reported the Budget Ways and Means Committee was between meetings.

Mr. Newport reported the Finance and Personnel Committee met on this date in Council Chambers and discussed the successful completion by Kaycotec, LLC of the City Hall computer project.

Reporting for the Public Services Committee, Mr. Ross noted the next meeting would be March 1, 2010 at 5: 15 PM at the Park’s Building.

Mr. Studebaker reported the Public Safety Committee met February 22, 2010. Mr. Studebaker deferred to Captain Kaiser to explain the Digiticket Program. Captain Kaiser explained the new program available to help streamline the police officer’s and court personnel’s processing of traffic tickets. Mr. Studebaker noted the Public Safety Committee approved the program contingent upon the Budget Committee’s approval. Mr. Studebaker made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to allow the closing of the west side of the Square for an antique car show on March 20 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Motion carried. Mr. Studebaker made a motion, seconded by Mr. Greninger, to reject the single bid from John Hoffer Dodge in the amount of $17,245.00 for a crew cab 4X4 pickup truck (including trade-in) at the Fire Department and to extend the bid deadline until March 15, 2010. Motion carried. The bid rejected was over the budgeted amount. Mr. Studebaker added the Police Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DWI Task Force for joint ventures and liability issues.

Mr. Harris reported the Public Works Committee met February 16, 2010 and there was no action required by the Council. Mr. Harris noted C.B. 10-05 addresses a zoning issue and was presented to the Public Works Committee and the Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission.

Special Committee and Board Liaison Reports were given by the following: Mr. Studebaker, Kellogg Lake Committee; Mr. Harris, Planning, Zoning and Historic

Preservation Commission and Mr. Newport, Carthage Water and Electric Plant Board.

Mayor Pro Tem Sharits gave an update on Pat Woestman, Mayor Woestman’s wife, who is in intensive care at St. John’s Hospital. Mayor Pro Tem Sharits reported on the MML Legislative Conference, the McCune-Brooks Hospital Awards ceremony and the District Wrestling Match at the new Carthage High School. Boy Scout Troop 393 was in the audience and Mayor Pro Tem Sharits recognized the troop members, their leaders and their families.

Mr. Dally endorsed the Digiticket Program and encouraged City Officials to consider approving the purchase. Mr. Dally updated the Council on the site in Arkansas used by the now bankrupt Haz-Mert, the City’s household hazardous waste carrier. In another pending case, Mr. Dally provided an update on the City and KAMO easement issue at the Skate Park. As a former Eagle Scout, Mr. Dally praised the Boy Scout organization.

Mr. Short reported on meetings he had attended since the last meeting and provided details on the following: the successful e-waste program coordinated between the City of Joplin and Region M; the response from City Management on the audit recommendations; details on the MML Legislative Conference; tax legislation pending at the State level that would affect local governments; Department budgets distributed and due back in before March 19th ; the next Budget Meeting’s agenda to review the 5 year Capital Improvement Plan and future Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission meetings on the three historic districts in Carthage.

Chief Cooper announced Student Government Day would be March 9,2010.

Parks Director Alan Bull reported he and Public Works Director Zeb Carney have scheduled a meeting to discuss the proposed sign at Kellogg Lake.

The Claims Report was given showing claims against the following funds: General Revenue $36,229.85; Public Health $99,034.21; Golf Course Fund $11,446.03; Parks/Stormwater $4,625.00; Powers Museum $1,703.27; McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital $1,025,000.00: Carthage Water & Electric Plant $2,000,000.00 and Payroll $152,262.98. Mr. Newport made a motion, seconded by Mr. Teed, to accept the report and allow the claims. Motion carried.

During the Citizen’s Participation Period, the leader of Troop 393 requested a photo opportunity after the Council Meeting.

Under old business, C. B. 10-04, an Ordinance to amend Section 21-274, Creation of Tree board was placed on second reading followed by a roll call vote of 8 yeas and no nays. Bill passed. Council Members Bill Welch and Dan Rife were absent. Mr. Ross gave additional comments prior to the vote.

Under new business, C. B. 10-05, an Ordinance rezoning certain property at the NEC of Central and N. Francis in the City of Carthage from "B" Second Dwelling and "D" Local Business to "E" General Business as requested by Casey’s Marketing Company was placed on first reading with no action taken. Mr. Carney provided more information on the rezoning area.

In closing remarks, Mr. Newport, Mr. Teed, Mr. Harris and Mr. Studebaker thanked the Council for the opportunity to attend the MML Legislative Conference. Mr. Campbell praised the Digiticket Program.

Mr. Greninger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Teed, to adjourn the regular Council Meeting. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 7:59 P.M.

I suppose it took more than a little convincin’ ta get folks ta give up on the horse and buggy. More than anything it was prob’ly the idea of bein’ comfortable with a known mode of gettin’ from here to there.

Automobiles aren’t entirely the blessin’ that proponents of that industry would have liked ever’one to believe, but they did offer a lot of advantages.

The one thing that changed the most was the amount a time folks spend just walkin’. Nowadays, a visit to a neighbor on the other side of the block warrants takin’ the car. A three or four block walk would seem outa the question.

‘Course one of the big advantages of car ownin’ is ya don’t have ta clean out the stall. Another is if ya leave the car in the garage, you don’t have ta keep puttin’ in fuel just so ya have somethin’ ta clean up later.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My wife, 78, has had headaches, some memory problems and confusion. A brain scan showed hydrocephalus. We were referred to a neurosurgeon, and he ordered an infusion study. We have waited six weeks for that appointment. At an earlier appointment, we met someone who had had the infusion study and then had a shunt placed. He said he got his life back. Someone else told us that 10 percent of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease really have normal pressure hydrocephalus, which is fixable. What is your reaction to this? -- J.R.

ANSWER: Dementia is a fog that descends on the brain, erasing memory and impairing many other mental functions. Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of dementia. However, there are other causes, and one of them is normal pressure hydrocephalus. I can’t vouch for the statement that 10 percent of Alzheimer’s patients have NPH, but I am sure there are a few who do. I don’t want to raise false hopes for Alzheimer’s patients.

In NPH, the balance between the production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid is lost. The volume of fluid within the brain increases and compresses it. That leads to the signs and symptoms of NPH.

The three major indicators of NPH are an abnormal walk, a diminution of memory and other mental functions (dementia) and an urgency to empty the bladder with frequent loss of bladder control. The NPH gait is one where steps are taken slowly, in short strides and with the legs wide apart. People look as though their feet are glued to the ground and they have difficulty turning themselves. A person doesn’t need all three criteria to merit the diagnosis.

If signs, symptoms and tests, including a brain scan and the infusion test your wife is going to have, point to normal pressure hydrocephalus, then drainage of the excess brain fluid often can restore a person’s life, as the man you met in the doctor’s office said. A thin, plastic tube (a shunt) drains the fluid to other body sites where it is absorbed.