Playing the Insurance Odds.

The City Council voted Tuesday evening to absorb a twenty percent increase in the cost of health insurance for employees. The increase will amount to approximately $94,000 for next fiscal year’s budget beginning July 1, 2000. The health insurance budget last year was nearly $500,000 including employee contributions.

The Finance/Personnel Committee recommended the action that included adjustments that it feels will minimize the long term impact on the City budget.

The Committee recommendation included raising the amount the City covers with its self insurance from $35,000 per employee to $45,000 per employee per year. Any claims over that amount are covered by what is called Specific Reinsurance. By increasing the amount the City is willing to risk, the premium for the reinsurance is reduced by approximately $32,000 per year. The Committee recommendation was to place that reduction into the City’s health insurance reserve until the effect of the increased City risk is assessed next year. At that time, the amount placed in reserve could be adjusted. If the action had not retained the $32,000, the budget increase for the upcoming year would have been approximately $62,000.

The Committee was forced to deal with the increase because the reinsurance premium almost doubled over last year. This was partly the result of six employee claims totaling over the $35,000 limit last year.

The employee’s contributions for family insurance were raised last year from $40 to $60 per month. Committee members were reluctant to implement another increase this year, but left the option of increasing employee contributions in the future.

Total claims paid from the plan have increased from $296,000 in 1997 to approximately $680,000 for the last two years. The average claim cost per employee per year has jumped from $1,707 in 1997 to $3,881 in 2000.

Tax Day News Conference & Rally.

news release Congressman Roy Blunt

Tax day falls on Monday, April 16th this year. It’s the perfect time for those who are being overcharged in taxes to show how they feel about the current debate on tax relief. The question now is not whether there should be tax relief, but how much and how fast.

The public is invited to attend to show its support for legislation in Congress that would allow taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money.

The meeting will be held on Monday, April 16, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hall Federal Building, First Floor Lobby, Outside the IRS Office, 302 Joplin Streets (4th & Joplin) Joplin, Missouri.

Speakers include: Congressman Roy Blunt, Missouri NFIB President Brad Jones, Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan, and Missouri Farm Bureau State Board Member Elza Winter.

Show Opportunity for Artists.

news release

Coordinators of the "ART in the HeARTland, Get the Picture," extend an invitation to painters, sculptors, potters and other artisans to participate in this fine art show. Set for Saturday, May 12, 2001, the show will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the historic Carthage Square in Carthage, MO.

There is no commission fee to the artisans to show in this event. A participation fee of $35 is requested to help with advertising and promotional expenses. Deadline for registration is April 25, 2001. Artisans should call 417-358-7163 or 417-358-3316 to request a registration form.

Artisans will need to provide their own easels, panels, stands, tables, print bins, and all setup equipment for their booth space on the Square. Artisans may begin setting up at 7 a.m. of the show day.

Located in southwest Missouri, Carthage community organizers are excited about this excellent show. "Southwest Missouri is a great place to gather," said Thomas Klinginsmith, chairman of ART in the HeARTland, Get the Picture. "Many talented individuals are located in the Midwest, and this show will provide the public an opportunity to enjoy and purchase the works of these artists and artisans."

Other festivities throughout the day include musical entertainment, children’s activities and refreshments. Also on the Square during this time will be the Farmer’s Market, offering numerous varieties of fresh fruits, vegetables and other goods from area residents.

ART in the HeARTland, Get the Picture is in cooperation with the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Carthage, the Carthage Heritage Gallery & Museum, LLC, and is assisted by Precious Moments.

For more information, please call Sandy Higgins at 417-358-7163 or Tonjia Everts at 417-358-3316.

The Council bill that would have established property lines as the point of measurement on the 300 foot space between sellers of alcoholic beverages and schools, churches, parks and hospitals has been sent back to the Public Safety Committee.

The fate of that decision now lays in the lap of the new Council. A fittin’ introduction to the process of comin’ to a decision on a problem that prob’ly has no perfect solution.

The retirin’ Council members, Johnson, Bastin, Dunaway and Clark, all got a nice goin’ away plaque from the City during Tuesday’s regular meetin’. The new members, Tobrock, Woods, Whitledge (reelected), Putnam, and Woestman got a friendly welcome. New blood.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom & Ray:

Last year I forgot to drain out my gas in several lawn-mower type motors, and this spring, they all started perfectly. I know you guys have recommended a gasoline stabilizer for seasonal storage, but how come my motors started right up?

I used unleaded gas without alcohol. Without the lead, can gas be stored without varnishing? -Elmer.

RAY: I can tell you’re a scientist, Elmer. You’ve experienced an interesting phenomenon - your lawn mower started perfectly after a winter of storage - and now you’re testing a promising theory: Can unleaded gasoline be stored without producing varnish?

TOM: And like a scientist, you’re about to utter the well-worn words "Dang! Back to the ‘ol drawing board." The phenomenon you experienced, Elmer, was luck.

RAY: Unleaded gas still tends to varnish. And without a gasoline stabilizer, a lot of engines stored with sitting gasoline over a period of many months won’t start. And worse, their carburetors may need to be removed and cleaned if you ever want to get them started again.

TOM: This is a classic application of our famous Great Unyielding Truth: It’s the stingy person you spends the most. You try to save a few bucks on a can of gasoline stabilizer, and you end up having to rebuild the carburetor later on.

RAY: So you can press your luck again next year, Elmer, and you may get away with it. Or you can play it safe and take our advice: Bite the bullet, buy a can of stabilizer and ensure yourself a place next year among the great, unvarnished masses.